What’s on the menu at the Berczy Tavern, a piano bar and bistro from the team behind Amano Trattoria

Name: The Berczy Tavern Contact: 69 Front St. E., theberczy.com, @theberczy
Owners: Michael Angeloni, Adam Teolis and Yannick Bigourdan Chef: Michael Angeloni Accessibility: Fully accessible

During chef Michael Angeloni’s culinary-school days, 69 Front Street East was his regular haunt. “It was a Japanese restaurant back then,” he says. “I used to look around and think: I wish I could open a restaurant in a space like this.”

Co-owner Adam Teolis had also admired the lofty venue over the years, so when it came up for sale, the pair jumped on the opportunity. “The space has always meant something to us because of the memories we have in it,” says Teolis.

Angeloni and Teolis set out to create a restaurant that would capture the spirit of its Old Town surroundings, dubbing it The Berczy after nearby landmark, Berczy Park. “We wanted the concept to be something that speaks to the heritage of the area,” says Teolis.

The loosely American bistro menu includes dishes that pay homage to the people and places that have shaped Angeloni’s culinary career. “I wanted to do a lot of dishes that were inspired by different times in my life,” he says. “We wanted to replicate that same dinner-party vibe you get at home, when everything is just right and you create that sense of warmth,” adds Teolis.

Related: What’s on the menu at Buvette Pacey, a Montreal-style morning-to-midnight café and bar in Corktown

The Food

Angeloni has channelled the history of Old Town into a timeless menu that’s crowd-pleasing yet elevated. “I wanted to do riffs on things that wouldn’t be out of place in a classic bistro or tavern,” he says. “The food is south of France and north of Italy with a touch of Spain and a kick of Scarborough. It’s a little bit of everything.”

The Drinks

The cocktail menu is divided into updated classics and original creations, reflecting the Berczy’s ethos of reimagining the familiar. And the growing wine list offers something for various tastes and price points, from an easy-drinking Niagara gamay to a budget-busting Perrier-Jouët champagne. Beers are equally international, spanning local favourites like Longslice Brewery to European staples like Peroni.

The Space