This Italian restaurant is replacing...an Italian restaurant
Bar Romy is the more casual follow-up to Figo
On July 2, Toronto’s most prolific hospitality impresarios, Charles Khabouth and Danny Soberano, will open Bar Romy, a casual Italian restaurant in the former home of Figo (which was also an Italian restaurant but was decidedly less casual).
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With a menu of antipasti, Famiglia Baldassare–made pasta, Roman-style pizza and a strong sandwich program, the Entertainment District newcomer promises to be (almost) as crowd-pleasing as the return of Olive Garden to Ontario.
“Bar Romy is exactly the kind of restaurant we’ve always wanted in the neighbourhood,” says Khabouth. “We wanted to create a place with genuine hospitality where people feel comfortable dropping in any day of the week—whether it’s for a quick bite before the theatre or a game or for a celebratory dinner with friends.”
The culinary program, led by chef Ben Heaton, embraces what Khabouth describes as “honest Italian cooking,” which translates to familiar dishes built from exceptional imported ingredients and finished with care. Think Nonna’s hits, but reimagined.
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Inside, the restaurant aims to transport diners to a charming corner of Italy, a welcome contrast to a stretch of downtown where chain-restaurant energy can sometimes dominate the landscape. Bellissima!
Erin Hershberg is a freelance writer with nearly two decades of experience in the lifestyle sector. She currently lives in downtown Toronto with her husband and two children.
