A popular pasta chain is opening its first North American location in Toronto
But it isn’t Italian
Move over, authentic Italian trattorias that forbid substitutions or modifications (you know who you are). There’s a new pasta place in town, and it’s all about giving the people what they want.
Related: Toronto’s top 10 new pasta dishes
Mailo’s, a fast-casual, grab-and-go Greek chain known for its signature “street pasta” concept, has already built a devoted following across Greece, Cyprus and Lebanon. And on June 12, it will open its first North American location in downtown Toronto.
The pasta selection keeps things simple, with just three traditional shapes—rigatoni, casarecce and campanelle—but Mailo’s breaks all the rules with its sauces. There’s creamy truffle mushroom; velvety tikka masala; Greek-inspired pastitsio sauce (a slow-cooked combination of minced beef, creamy cheese béchamel and breadcrumb crumble); and the brand’s wildly popular (but unfortunately named) Pink Sauce, a blend of crushed tomatoes and parmesan cream.
The lineup is unapologetically indulgent, a little unconventional and designed for diners who care more about flavour than tracing every recipe back to its regional origins.
Related: This new Italian spot specializes in choose-your-own-adventure pasta
Choose-you-own-adventure is the name of the game here. Pick your pasta, get lost in the sauce, then make a beeline for the topping station, stocked with chili flakes, infused oils and piles of grated cheese. The only thing missing is judgment.
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.
