Cantine Bistro & Bar

Annabelle Goodman —

138 Avenue Rd                     416 923 4822

When  Av and Dav area of the city is mentioned I immediately think of Cantine Bistro & Bar. It is the neighborhood ‘go to ‘restaurant. Joe Bersani is the neighborhood food guru and patron for many years. He greets the guests and makes everyone feel welcome. Kudos also goes to Robin, our delightful server. She is so beautiful and her smile is radiant. We were not surprised to hear she is also a model. We gasped when we heard she is the mother of 4 children. She was also very efficient and charming. She added so much to our friend’s birthday celebration. This place is busy and offers much to breakfast, lunch or dinner diners.

Omelettes are always a great choice. ($12.95) All egg dishes are served with Yukon frites or green salad. Tuscan Omelette features spinach, mushroom and goat cheese. Mediterranean is a delight with caramelized onion, peppers, feta, and kalamata olives. You can also create your own omelette.

All Burgers are served on a toasted egg bun with Yukon frites or salad. Turkey, ($12.95) Beef ($12.95), Chicken ($13.95) and Garden Burgers ($11.95) are all offered on the menu. Order it without the bun or choose different toppings. This is a versatile friendly menu.

I have often enjoyed the Salad Nicoise with the classic tuna, egg, green beans, tomato, potato, artichoke and mixed greens. ($13.95) My co-host enjoyed the salad on this occasion. Seared Tuna is served rare with wasabi drizzle and mixed greens. ($19.95)

The birthday girl and I opted for the Grilled Atlantic Salmon Filet with wasabi drizzle, steamed red potatoes and perfectly steamed vegetables. The fish was moist and flaky. The vegetables were tasty. It was a lovely celebratory lunch. It also meant I didn’t have to cook dinner. The Steamed Mussels and frites has been a choice on past visits. It can be ordered with tomato basil broth or white wine, shallots and lemon. ($14.95)

Pastas are always a great choice. My favorite is the Spahettini with Tiger Shrimp. ($15.95) It is prepared with oven roasted tomatoes, lemon, garlic and olive oil. Penne with Asparagus & Mushrooms is a popular choice with a white wine cream sauce. ($14.95)

Sandwiches are served on toasted Ciabatta bread or 7 grain. The fries or salad are always an ‘add on.’ Seared Steak Sandwich is topped with sautéed onions and mushrooms. ($15.95) So flavorful. Prosciutto, Bocconcini & Arugula is served with sliced tomato. ($13.95)

My only problem at Cantine is choosing an item. So many dishes call out to me. It is a friendly affordable restaurant in a delightful ambiance. There is a lot of choice and I have always found the food to be masterfully prepared and lovingly served. I hope the birthday girl enjoyed the visit as much as the hosts.