Weekly Lunch Pick: the handmade pasta at Osteria Ciceri e Tria

Weekly Lunch Pick: the handmade pasta at Osteria Ciceri e Tria

The belly-warming orecchiette at Osteria (Image: Renée Suen)

One of downtown’s most popular lunch destinations, this Victoria Street restaurant buzzes with energy as friendly wait staff usher soul-satisfying Italian plates to lunching lawyers and city hallers. Complimentary olives and hunks of dense ciabatta bread dipped in fruity extra-virgin olive oil quell hunger pangs until our order arrives. Belly-warming orecchiette (pasta shaped like little ears) are tiny toothsome pockets zinged with bits of chili, garlic and anchovies. The subtle briny fish flavour is balanced by pan-blistered rapini. We finish the pungent affair with a cappuccino and a much needed-breath mint.

The cost: $15 plus tax and tip; $5.50 for a bottle of sparkling water and $3.25 for a cappuccino.

The time: 45 minutes (reservations are recommended to avoid waits).

Osteria Ciceri e Tria, 106 Victoria St., 416-955-0258, osteriacicerietria.com.