Introducing: The Peasant Table, a Germanic-Italian restaurant in South Riverdale

Name: The Peasant Table
Neighbourhood: South Riverdale
Contact: 782 Queen St. E., 647-343-7022, thepeasanttable.com
Previously: Table 17
Chef and owner: Boris Babić (Autostrada, Michael’s on Simcoe)

The food

“It’s food from where the Alps meet the Adriatic Sea,” says Babić about his German-influenced Italian menu. Though he’s adamant that this is unfussy food, the plates are more than just meat and potatoes. A smoked pork chop with potatoes, for instance, comes wrapped in crepinette, topped with black-cherry chutney and garnished with balsamic-splashed grilled radicchio. On weekends, Italian brunch is served.

Burrata with red wine–poached pears and crispy prosciutto splashed with vincotto and honeyed truffle oil. $12

Cod is dunked in squid-ink batter and quickly fried, then served with a smoked paprika aïoli. $10.

An inside look.

Wild boar meatballs on grilled polenta are topped with pistachios, chèvre and basil oil. $18.

Grilled octopus is braised in red wine and then served on a shaved heirloom carrot salad. $11.

House-made gnocchi is served with smoked ribs and sauerkraut. $19.

Grilled pork chop wrapped in crépinette and served with black cherry chutney, grilled balsamic radicchio and crispy smashed potatoes. $24.

The drinks

Bottles from Tuscany, Friuli and Veneto dominate the wine card; French and Californian offerings round out the list. Six taps pour Canadian craft beer and a single German weiss, and cocktails like the Pearsecco (prosecco, pear brandy, apple juice) or the Peasant Bellini (prosecco, Chambord, peach nectar) are of the light-and-fruity kind.

The space

A butcher’s block built into the 10-seat bar, an antique hutch and a few barn-board accents are the only distinctly peasant-like decorations in the two-room space. This summer, Babić plans to open a 50-seat backyard patio and host weekly pig roasts.