Introducing: Extended F’Amelia, the Cabbagetown trattoria’s new next-door wine bar
Name: Extended F’Amelia
Neighbourhood: Cabbagetown
Contact Info: 8 Amelia St., 416-323-0666
Owners: John Dawson and Todd Vestby, the owners of F’Amelia next door
Chef: F’Amelia head chef James Harrison (who designed the menu) and junior sous-chef Jason Yu (who’s running the kitchen)
The Food: A handful of composed plates, like scallop ceviche and beef tartare, and a short menu of bar snacks. House-made rabbit paté comes with pickles and crunchy crostini.
The Drinks: Twelve wines by the glass or bottle, plus a rotating list of signature cocktails from barkeep Jason Fuller. His current favourite: a mango-bourbon sour spiked with Amaro Nonino.
The Place: Tucked beside big sister F’Amelia, the bar achieves its Tuscany-meets-Muskoka vibe with rough-hewn furnishings and flickering candles, which make the space feel cozy—ideal for an extended sipping session. When it opens next spring, the redbrick patio will have an outdoor grill and a smoking pit.
The Numbers: • 40 seats on the patio, which opens next spring • 15 votive candles for ambience • 12 seats in the private dining room • 2 years in the works • 1 faux wood stove for added cosiness • 0 reservations
Caroline Aksich, a National Magazine Award recipient, is an ex-Montrealer who writes about Toronto’s ever-evolving food scene, real estate and culture for Toronto Life, Fodor’s, Designlines, Canadian Business, Glory Media and Post City. Her work ranges from features on octopus-hunting in the Adriatic to celebrity profiles.
