Introducing: Osteria 55, the rustic Italian successor to the short-lived Bowery
The Bowery quietly morphed into Osteria 55 a few weeks ago
A couple of weeks ago, The Bowery, which opened last year on Colborne Street with Tawfik Shehata at the helm, was quietly transformed into Osteria 55. Uniq Lifestyle Entertainment Group is still behind the space, but they’ve brought in a new front-of-house manager and consultant, John Chetti, of the always-packed Queen Margherita Pizza. With Chetti in charge, the space has gone from a somewhat nebulous “punk-meets-farm” concept to an unequivocally Italian osteria, open for both speedy corporate lunches and dinner.
The interior has changed a little, swapping the large booths for more intimate two-seater tables. The walls show off the same exposed brick, and the open kitchen is highlighted by bright red subway tiles. Downstairs, the basement offers the plush banquettes of the old Bowery with stools and small cocktail tables that, along with a bar, give it an underground speakeasy feel.
As far as the menu goes, chef Anthony Figliano (Jump, Atlas One) keeps his Italian fare rustic with a range of salads, antipasti, pastas and centro travola (centre table) dishes, large family-style plates intended for sharing, such as a whole sea bass grilled on charcoal ($22), vegetable sides ($7-$8) and specials like a dry-aged 24-ounce porterhouse or a pig’s head. Pastas are all hand-cut and made in-house from scratch, like a pappardelle that’s served with creamy truffle wild mushrooms ($17). Other dishes include an asparagus risotto ($15) and a “tongue ’n’ cheek” dish: beer-braised veal cheek ravioli and crispy calf’s tongue ($20). The wine menu has expanded under Chetti to offer a large selection of Ontario, Italian and Californian wines, including a dozen by the glass and under $40 a bottle. Chetti is setting a high standard for the place—if all goes according to plan, he’s hoping Osteria 55 will be the next Buca.
137495 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Grilled whole branzino ($20): European sea bass with lemon thyme Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria10.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria10/ may12osteria10 0 0
Grilled whole branzino ($20): European sea bass with lemon thyme
137496 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Pappardelle with creamy truffled wild mushrooms ($17) Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria11.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria11/ may12osteria11 0 0
Pappardelle with creamy truffled wild mushrooms ($17)
137494 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Tongue ’n’ cheek ($20): beer-braised veal cheek ravioli, sweet and sour cipolini onions and crispy calf’s tongue Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria9.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria9/ may12osteria9 0 0
Tongue ’n’ cheek ($20): beer-braised veal cheek ravioli, sweet and sour cipolini onions and crispy calf’s tongue
137493 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Asparagus risotto ($15): Ontario asparagus with parmigiano reggiano Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria8.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria8/ may12osteria8 0 0
Asparagus risotto ($15): Ontario asparagus with parmigiano reggiano
137492 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Pickled beet salad ($11) : heirloom carrots, shaved asparagus, olive oil and balsamic vinegar Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria7.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria7/ may12osteria7 0 0
Pickled beet salad ($11) : heirloom carrots, shaved asparagus, olive oil and balsamic vinegar
137491 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The open kitchen on the main floor Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria6.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria6/ may12osteria6 0 0
The open kitchen on the main floor
137490 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria5.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria5/ may12osteria5 0 0
137489 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The wine cellar has been beefed up with Ontario, Italian and Californian wines Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria4.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria4/ may12osteria4 0 0
The wine cellar has been beefed up with Ontario, Italian and Californian wines
137488 (Image: Gizelle Lau) A table for large parties or communal dining Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria3.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria3/ may12osteria3 0 0
A table for large parties or communal dining
137487 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Some of The Bowery’s furniture is now part of the bar area in Osteria 55’s basement Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria2.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria2/ may12osteria2 0 0
Some of The Bowery’s furniture is now part of the bar area in Osteria 55’s basement
137486 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The Bowery’s large booth have been swapped for more intimate two-seaters Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria1.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria1/ may12osteria1 0 0
The Bowery’s large booth have been swapped for more intimate two-seaters
137485 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The Bowery quietly morphed into Osteria 55 a few weeks ago Introducing: Osteria 55 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Osteria_intro.jpg 656 440 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-osteria-55/slide/may12osteria_intro/ may12osteria_intro 0 0
The Bowery quietly morphed into Osteria 55 a few weeks ago
Osteria 55, 55 Colborne St., 416-901-2332, osteria55.com
nice
Thanks for the intro to the new/rebranded restaurant.
Admittedly the space looks awesome.
The photos are nice, but I am not driven to want to visit. The whole grilled fish seems to be a strong dish.
Will have to visit in person to try and see.
Just what Toronto needs! Another “rustic” Italian restaurant.
I loved the Bowery!!!-I am sad to see it go! The food was great and the space was really unique.
I hope they still have all the same staff working there— the service was AMAZING, honestly the best service I have had in quite some time.
Good luck Osteria 55- I’ll have to come and check you out soon!
You would think that this new manager would have his website up and running if his new restaurant was featured in Toronto Life….
Friends who have dined there did say however that the food was amazing and service was top notch.
Congrats Johnny…!
Definitely will check it out.
the next Buca? better up the creativity to match the dishes Rob is putting out.
Looks so good! Will try for sure!
Everyone loved The Bowery, we went by with a group and didn’t notice the name had changed. When we opened the menu we realized that someone had made a huge mistake!!! There were boring quasi Italian choices, and not very much to chose from. We left, saddened as we love the staff and the old menu. There was nothing really like The Bowery , but there are a ton of Italian Resto’s around……. Bad move I feel :(