This Italian restaurant is letting guests decide how much they want to pay for dinner
Fine print: for one night only
Affordability has been the core mandate of Clandestino since it first opened its doors in Parkdale back in 2007. That’s why this Friday, the cozy Italian fusion spot (now at Dundas and Ossington) is ringing in its 17th anniversary with a pay-what-you-want date night.
Related: An influx of Italian sandwiches is bringing la dolce vita to Toronto
After wining and dining, guests will be presented with a bill for exactly $1 (plus the cost of any alcoholic beverages—those are full price for legal reasons). They will then choose how much they want to pay on top of that. The one-night-only deal applies to the Date Night package, which is usually priced at $100 for two people and includes two appetizers, two mains, two desserts, and either two cocktails or a bottle of wine.
“The event is a way to say thank you to our regular customers—and maybe to bring in some new ones,” says owner Desart Dulaj. “We want people to pay whatever they want, whatever they can. There’s no pressure.”
The menu at Clandestino typically changes weekly, with chef Dulaj drawing inspiration from places he’s worked around the world, including Italy, Spain, France and Japan. That said, a few fan favourites remain as staples, like the Wagyu tartare and the duck confit.
Related: This new Harbord Village pizzeria makes a real nice slice
But the restaurant’s biggest appeal is how cost-conscious the menu is. While this Friday’s $1 bills are a one-off, a $100 three-course meal for two people—including alcoholic beverages!—is pretty difficult to beat. They’ve always offered wine for just a dollar an ounce and recently launched a $27 brunch steal that includes one main, one drink and one dessert. “Our main goal is to be affordable,” says Dulaj.
The pay-what-you-want deal will be available on Friday, November 7, from 5 p.m. until close, and while some seats will be saved for walk-ins, reservations are highly encouraged. Can’t make it for the deal? Anyone who orders the Date Night package between now and Friday will still get 10 complimentary oysters.
Teagan Sliz covers Ontario real estate for Toronto Life and Storeys. She also writes for Cottage Life and has reported on everything from hidden-gem restaurants to Canadian wildlife and forest fires. She graduated from Queen’s University with a bachelor’s in history and art history and from Centennial College, where she studied Canadian publishing.
