Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta, a new coffee shop, trattoria and snack bar on Dundas West
Name: Cafe Bar Pasta
Neighbourhood: Dundas West
Contact info: 1588 Dundas St. W., cafe-bar-pasta.com, 416-534-4794, @CAFEBARPASTA
Owners: Husband-and-wife team Tom Bielecki and Christine Vieira
Executive Chef: Edward Furlani, who trained at Front Street trattoria Paganelli’s
The Place: Cafe Bar Pasta is exactly as advertised: the place serves espresso during the day, pasta for dinner and drinks at night. The small space is furnished for all three functions with fresh white brick walls, magazines for coffee reading and a chandelier made out of dangling silver cutlery. A private dining room in the wine cellar doubles as a classroom for pasta-making, preserving and wine tasting workshops.
The Food: Simple Italian starters, salads and hand-cranked pastas for dinner, like a roasted fennel salad with oranges and olives, and pappardelle with pork ragù. The short bar menu includes Spanish tapas like empanadas and cod fritters. Coffee, croissants and muffins during the day.
The Drinks: Wine on tap, plus cocktails like the El Terrible, a citrusy tequila-calvados blend that’s served hot, and the Necktie, a cognac-based drink that tastes a bit like a butter tart.
The Numbers:
• 16 seats at the chef’s table, which has a built-in ice trough for chilling bottles
• $5 for all bar snacks
• 1 master sommelier, John Szabo, who developed the restaurant’s wine-on-tap (there are only 188 master sommeliers in the world)
227629 Owner Christine Vieira took over the Dundas West space formerly occupied by her father’s insurance business (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-01/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227630 Magazines for coffee reading and a chandelier made out of dangling silver cutlery (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-02/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227632 Swirling scarlet wall art created by Jose Ortega, who also designed the sign for Lula Lounge across the street (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-04/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227644 Celebrity portraits from the archives of photographer George Pimentel (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-16/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-16 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227640 Roasted fennel salad with oranges and olives ($11) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-12/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227642 Kitfo (Ethiopian steak tartar) with pistachios and cardamom ($15) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-14/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227646 Fresh-cranked pasta (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-18/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-18 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227647 Tomato-basil tagliolini ($14) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-intro/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-intro 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227639 Bucatini Amatriciana ($16) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-11/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227641 Strawberry-basil pannacotta ($8) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-13/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227634 The Ryemes with Orange: rye, Aperol, Amaro and Nonino ($12) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-06/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227635 The Mexican Stand-Off: tequila, mescal, lemon and lime juices, burnt orange bitters, poached red wine, cognac, egg whites and espelette pepper ($14) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-07/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227638 Each cocktail comes with a prescription. For the Ryemes with Orange: “Take 2 daily. Repeat as necessary” (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-10/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227636 Bar Manager James Playford (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-08/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
227643 The chef’s table has a handy built-in ice trough for chilling bottles (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta Introducing: Cafe Bar Pasta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurants/slide/cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-15/ cafe-bar-pasta-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)