Toronto Free Press Restaurant Guide

Little Anthony's

The look of New York, the taste of Milan

Little Anthony's has class and charm

Little Anthony's Restaurant 121 Richmond St. W. Toronto 416-368-2223 Hours: Monday - Saturday Lunch 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Dinner 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

By Bill Joynt

I recently found a gem in the heart of Toronto. Little Anthony's Restaurant and Lounge is conveniently located at 121 Richmond St. W. Opera lovers will become familiar with this location once the new opera house opens, as Little Anthony's is kitty-corner to that planned site. The restaurant is also a convenient place to go if you have out-of-town guests staying downtown at the Sheraton, The Royal York or the Hilton, or, if you are just downtown for the evening.

Little Anthony's has two sections, a lovely restaurant area which myself and my guest attended and a lounge area if you're just stopping by for a friendly drink. I found the atmosphere to be relaxing and an environment in which one was easily able to carry on a dinner conversation to the accompaniment of light background jazz. The place is tastefully decorated with a mural that depicts New York in the 1860's. Owner Bob Antoniou fondly describes his restaurant as having the ambience of New York at that time and the cuisine of Milan.

Speaking about the food, it was delicious! To start, I had the corn and chicken chowder, a personal favorite of mine. I was not disappointed. For the main course, I had the house specialty, rack of Lamb. My guest started with Carpaccio Del Vitello, San Marco that is a delightful light veal starter served with thinly sliced Bermuda onions, capers, sliced parmesan cheese and olive oil. I confess, I had a taste of this as well and it was wonderful. For the main course, my guest had the Salmone alla Griglia.

The lamb was prepared in a dried cherry and chutney sauce that provided a unique complementary flavour to the lamb. The salmon was, according to my guest, the best he has ever eaten and being the seafaring type that he is, I take this to be a great compliment to the chef. It was prepared with a mango and butter sauce that was incredible. Both dishes were beautifully garnished and well presented.

For dessert, I had the triple chocolate mousse for which I am now doing penance at the gym. It was worth it though and my guest had the creme brule, a concoction he thought was sent straight from heaven for his personal gratification.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience. The service was great, our waiter, a character named Bill was gracious and informative. You can tell that owner, Bob Antoniou, takes pride in his restaurant. He has worked hard to develop a wonderful menu, acquire a great staff and on top of everything else, the prices are reasonable. What more could you ask? I recommend Little Anthony's on your list of restaurants either for business lunches or for a relaxing evening out with friends.

Dinner for two with wine averages about $80 - $100.