Introducing: Destingo, a new trattoria on Queen West with a sprawling front patio
Name: Destingo
Neighbourhood: Queen West
Contact info: 739 Queen St. W., destingo.ca, 647-748-3113, @destingoTO
Owner: Monika Vacca, who used to co-own Italian restaurant Vaticano in Yorkville
Chef: Arshad Uwais, former chef at Vaticano
The Food: Basic Italian pizzas, pastas and antipasti, plus a few offbeat items, like a shrimp burger with seafood aioli. For brunch, Western staples get Italian makeovers, like pancakes drizzled with limoncello and a frittata topped with mozzarella and basil.
The Drinks: A 199-long wine list with an emphasis on Italian and Californian bottles.
The Place: A casual space with bare concrete walls, wrought-iron fixtures and a long copper bar. The patio overlooking Queen West is prime for people-watching.
The Numbers:
• 199 bottles on the wine list
• 6 healthy items for brunch: rolled oats, granola, Greek yoghurt, grapefruit, egg whites and fruit
• 3 not-so-healthy items: buckwheat, ricotta and barbecue pork pancakes
226345 Destingo is at Queen and Tecumseth, in the former digs of interior design store Pavilion (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-toronto-restaurant-01/ destingo-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226346 (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-toronto-restaurant-02/ destingo-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226355 (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-toronto-restaurant-11/ destingo-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227013 Destingo’s Queen West patio (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Destingo-patio-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Destingo-patio.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Destingo-patio.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-patio/ destingo-patio 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226347 Destingo’s Queen West patio (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-toronto-restaurant-03/ destingo-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226348 Ricotta-stuffed fig ($9) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-toronto-restaurant-04/ destingo-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226352 Grapefruit brulée ($6) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-toronto-restaurant-08/ destingo-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226470 Beet and chèvre salad with walnut vinaigrette and basil tapenade ($13) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Beet-Salad-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Beet-Salad.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Beet-Salad.jpg 624 416 {"aperture":"4.5","camera":"Canon EOS REBEL T3i","created_timestamp":"1375185250","focal_length":"32","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667"} https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/beet-salad/ beet-salad 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226349 Thin-crust margherita pizza ($12.50) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-toronto-restaurant-05/ destingo-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226350 Shrimp burger with seafood aioli on a pretzel bun, served with Parmesan-truffle fries ($11.50) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-toronto-restaurant-06/ destingo-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226472 Spinach and ricotta–stuffed angolotti in tomato-cream sauce ($14.50) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-toronto-restaurant-10/ destingo-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226351 Crème Brulée ($8) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/destingo-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-toronto-restaurant-07/ destingo-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
226471 Tiramisu ($8) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Destingo Introducing: Destingo https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Destingo-Intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Destingo-Intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Destingo-Intro.jpg 656 416 {"aperture":"4","camera":"Canon EOS REBEL T3i","created_timestamp":"1375185170","focal_length":"21","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.025"} https://torontolife.com/food/destingo-toronto-restaurants/slide/destingo-intro/ destingo-intro 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
Nice surroundings and patio but the food is incredibly banal. Very run of the mill Italian, especially for the somewhat high prices. They’d be wise to specialize in a type of Italian cuisine instead of just offering a large selection of the most common dishes everyone has heard of (lasagna, veal, spaghetti…come on). Far too many better options on Queen Street for Italian food than this place. Porzia, Terroni, Noce, Porchetta, Local…even Sud Forno which isn’t even really a restaurant but more of a take out spot. You’re going to have to step it up Destingo.
Also not a fan of the “YOU ARE BEING RECORDED” signs near the washrooms. If you’re so scared about someone stealing a bottle of wine then maybe you should put store them somewhere else.
I agree with the first comment. there are other restaurants that serve a much better fare for the same price point. read my review & the others on Yelp.
I went here for lunch earlier this week and was pleasantly surprised by the service and quality of food. As someone from an Italian heritage I am often hesitant about ordering pasta when I am out but was in the mood for it so thought I would give it a try. I had the spaghetti al pomodoro and have to say that it was perfectly cooked and the sauce was light and delicious. Everyone in our group ordered something different and our entire table loved their meals. The space (both indoors and out) is gorgeous and makes a great addition to the neighborhood.