Introducing: Nuit Social, a new charcuterie bar on West Queen West
Name: Nuit Social
Contact Info: 1168 Queen St. W., 647-350-6848, nuitsocial.com
Neighbourhood: Little Portugal
Previously: Low-key snack bar Happy Child
Owner: Tino Bianchi
Chef: John Rosal, formerly the executive chef at Modus
The Food: The menu is divided between “social boards” (pick-your-own charcuterie, cheeses and olives) and “social plates” (shareable snacks). Meats and cheeses are sourced from all over the world—there’s soppressata from Richmond Hill, salami from Milan and a rosemary-rolled sheep’s cheese from Spain, plus a varied assortment of olives, including a Peruvian option. Traditional Italian plates (arancini balls, crispy artichokes, citrus-braised octopus) round out the menu, which will continue to evolve over time (for instance, chef Rosal is planning to add some Asian dishes, like maple-soy glazed short ribs).
The Drinks: All 20 bottles on the globetrotting wine list are available by the glass (in three- or five-ounce pours). Lee alum Tess Cheung prepares prettily named contemporary concoctions like the Blue Botanist, a gin-based drink with elderflower liqueur and fresh blueberries.
The Place: The narrow room is anchored by a backlit stained glass bar. (Artistic Glass’s Joseph Aigner had never designed a bar—he’s usually commissioned to make church windows—and he thought Bianchi was a bit crazy to put such an expensive and fragile centerpiece at foot-level. A protective layer of tempered glass guards the multicoloured panel from stray kicks.)
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- <b>Nuit Social</b> is located at 1168 Queen West, in the space that used to house <b>Happy Child.</b> The cursive neon sign, which reads “Nuit,” is in manager <strong>Janelle Roberts’</strong>s handwriting.
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: Nuit Social
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- The backlit bar is made out of stained glass (a protective panel guards the artwork from stray kicks).
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- Meats and cheeses are priced as follows: one for $4.50, three for $12 and five for $17. Olives are $3 for one variety, $6 for three, and $9 for five.
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- On the meat board: Milano salami, Rosette de Lyon French salami, lonza, sopressata and bresaola ($17).<br /><br /><br /> On the cheese board: Farmhouse Red Leicester, Bleu D'Auvergne, BellaVitano Merlot Sartori, Rondin du Poitou, Heliodoro Rosemary ($17).
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- Scallops with brown-butter glaze, corn purée and honey mushrooms ($14).
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- Fried artichokes with puttanesca dipping sauce ($11).
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- Citrus-braised octopus in a Vidalia onion and San Marzano tomato sauce ($13).
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- Beef meatballs served in a San Marzano tomato sauce with Parmesan ($14).
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 and “social plates” (shareable snacks). Meats and cheeses are sourced from all over the world—there’s soppressata from Richmond Hill, salami from Milan and a rosemary-rolled sheep’s cheese from Spain, plus a varied assortment of olives, including a Peruvian option. Traditional Italian plates (arancini balls, crispy artichokes, citrus-braised octopus) round out the menu, which will continue to evolve over time (for instance, chef Rosal is planning to add some Asian dishes, like maple-soy glazed short ribs).
The Drinks: All 20 bottles on the globetrotting wine list are available by the glass (in three- or five-ounce pours). Lee alum Tess Cheung prepares prettily named contemporary concoctions like the Blue Botanist, a gin-based drink with elderflower liqueur and fresh blueberries.
The Place: The narrow room is anchored by a backlit stained glass bar. (Artistic Glass’s Joseph Aigner had never designed a bar—he’s usually commissioned to make church windows—and he thought Bianchi was a bit crazy to put such an expensive and fragile centerpiece at foot-level. A protective layer of tempered glass guards the multicoloured panel from stray kicks.)
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