What’s on the menu at Edna and Vita, a splashy new Italian restaurant in the old Reds Wine Tavern space
Including made-to-order lasagna and an Italian take on nachos
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Name: Edna and Vita
Contact: 77 Adelaide St. W., ednavita.com, @edna_vita
Neighbourhood: Financial District
Owner: Peter Fowler (SIR Corp.)
Chefs: VP of culinary development Gordon Mackie and executive chef Peter Sharp
Accessibility: Fully accessible
The space that once housed long-time Financial District staple Reds Wine Tavern, which closed this past January, is now home to Edna and Vita, a two-storey, 6,500-square-foot trattoria specializing in old-school Italian cuisine with touches of modernity here and there. “The demographic of the downtown core has changed so dramatically since the pandemic, and with that, eating habits have too,” says Anesie Johnson, the former VP of marketing for Reds (and current one for Edna and Vita). “People are looking for an experience that’s less corporate, more social and casual.” When it came to choosing a concept for the reinvented space, the team turned to Gordon Mackie, vice-president of culinary development, to decide on the right fit. “We let the food take the lead and built the brand around it,” says Johnson.
While the menu of sharable family-style plates is consistent across the first (Vita) and second (Edna) floors, the vibes of each space differ significantly. “We think of Edna and Vita as two different experiences,” says Johnson. “The upper floor, Edna, is meant to represent the sophisticate who enjoys an evening of conversation, many plates of food and a variety of wine and prosecco. Downstairs, Vita, is for a more lively bar crowd.”
The food
The menu includes all the Italian comfort-food hits: house-made pasta, lasagna, Roman-style pizzas and old-school entrées like chicken cacciatore. Unabashedly purist plates like tagliatelle ai funghi, caesar salad and bone-in veal parmigiana are executed with attention to detail and the odd twist (Was that a pickled onion?) that doesn’t seem out of place.
The drinks
There’s an extensive (but not overwhelming) wine list that includes plenty of bubbles as well as a list of decidedly Italian reinterpretations of classic cocktails—like a cosmopolitan that subs out Cointreau for cranberry-infused Campari.
The space
Each floor is designed with Italian-inspired elements—mosaic tiling, a geometric terracotta wall installation and a spiral staircase with built-in wine storage. Colourful photos of Italian beach scenes and framed vintage magazine covers of Italian icons (Sophia Loren, Frank Sinatra) line the walls.
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.
