Weekly Lunch Pick: a hearty plate of spaghetti all’Amatriciana at Strada 241
Strada 241, the new restaurant and espresso bar from Made to Order stars Michael and Guy Rubino, is a rustic Italian retreat among the hole-in-the-wall pho shops and greasy Chinese noodle and dumpling houses that line the southern end of Chinatown. Diners snack on the packaged sandwiches, baked goods and pizzas by the slice on communal tables in restaurant’s lofty front area, while the buzzy back dining room, with its bright marble-topped kitchen bar, serves Southern Italian classics.
The simple spaghetti all’amatriciana ($16) brings sautéed strips of crisp guanciale (unsmoked Italian bacon made from the pig’s jowl) and tomato-slicked noodles beneath bright sprigs of parsley and basil and a sprinkle of grated pecorino. A small carafe of light, fruity 2009 Dardo Sangiovese from Tuscany ($12/200ml) washes down the rich forkfuls of pasta.
The cost: $37.50 including tax and tip.
The time: 54 minutes
Strada 241, 241 Spadina Ave., 647-351-1200, strada241.com, @Strada241
