Introducing: Sip Wine Bar, an authentic Neopolitan pizzeria at Yonge and Eglinton
Name: SIP Wine Bar
Neighbourhood: Yonge and Eglinton
Contact Info: 2 Broadway Ave., 647-748-7101, sipwinebar.ca
Owner: Carmen Costantino
Chef: Andre Robustino
The Food: Costantino hails from Naples, so it’s no surprize that pizzas are the main attraction at SIP. They come in over a dozen guises, each flash-baked for exactly 60 seconds in the wood-fired oven. Salads, pastas and a few heartier meat dishes round out the traditional Italian menu.
The Drinks: The fair-sized wine list emphasizes Italian bottles and includes a dozen wines by the glass. A shiny Enomatic wine dispenser (designed to keep wines fresh after uncorking) takes centre stage behind the bar.
The Place: The modern trattoria has a big, wrap-around bar, high ceilings and exposed brick walls. The wood oven’s red-tiled dome is visible to diners in the open kitchen.
The Numbers:
• 80 seats, plus 45 in the private dining room
• 60 seconds to flash-bake a pizza
• 16 pizzas, including the “SIP” pizza, which comes folded in half like a calzone
• 1 decorative wagon wheel
255468 The restaurant is located at 2 Broadway Avenue, close to Yonge and Eglinton (Image: Sip Wine Bar/Yelp) Introducing: Sip Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/sip-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/3-15/ 3-15 0 0
(Image: Sip Wine Bar/Yelp)
255466 The space is big and modern with high ceilings and exposed ductwork (Image: Sip Wine Bar/Yelp) Introducing: Sip Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/l1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/l1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/l1.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/sip-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/l-2/ l-2 0 0
(Image: Sip Wine Bar/Yelp)
255465 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Sip Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1532-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1532.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1532.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/sip-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/800_1532/ 800_1532 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
255462 The shiny Enomatic wine dispenser (designed to keep bottles fresh) takes centre stage behind the bar (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Sip Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1558-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1558.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1558.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/sip-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/800_1558/ 800_1558 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
255467 (Image: Sip Wine Bar/Yelp) Introducing: Sip Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/sip-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/4-9/ 4-9 0 0
(Image: Sip Wine Bar/Yelp)
255461 To start: homemade focaccia with hummus and white bean purée (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Sip Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1560-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1560.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1560.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/sip-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/800_1560/ 800_1560 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
255459 Gnocchi marinara with basil and mozzarella ($15) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Sip Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1575-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1575.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1575.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/sip-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/800_1575/ 800_1575 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
255463 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Sip Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1549-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1549.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1549.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/sip-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/800_1549/ 800_1549 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
255458 Margherita pizza ($14) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Sip Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1587-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1587.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1587.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/sip-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/800_1587/ 800_1587 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
255460 Pan-seared veal chop with porcini mushrooms in a white wine and demi glace sauce ($31) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Sip Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1566-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1566.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/800_1566.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/sip-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/800_1566/ 800_1566 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
It happens that this place is right across the street from me. So,
I’m aware that there’s a story behind the story of this “modern
trattoria”.
How exactly were they able to find a space that
could fit a “big, wrap-around bar” with high ceilings, and find it on a
residential side street in the much-sought-after Yonge and Eglinton
area? Why, courtesy of a property owner who was willing to turn two
units of rental apartment stock into a commercial space, that’s how.
While the building is zoned commercial/residential, it’s always been
strictly residential for the nearly fifteen years I’ve been living here.
I wonder how the folks who live in the other apartments like their new
neighbour?
https://sean-boulton.squarespace.com/blog/2014/1/20/the-story-behind-the-story