By Rosie Prata
For those who live nearby, Italian restaurant La Vecchia is a household name. It’s a classic for a reason, hitting every note for what makes a successful staple eatery: cozy, friendly ambience, stellar service and delicious, comforting food. The first location opened in 1996 at 2405 Yonge Street, in the uptown Toronto neighbourhood of Yonge and Eglinton. It was followed by the Lakeshore venue, at 90 Marine Parade in Etobicoke, and this summer, the third La Vecchia will open at 8700 Bathurst Street in Toronto.
“We’re very excited to be part of the Thornhill community,” says Pawel Nurzynski, La Vecchia’s vice president of operations. He joined the restaurant in 1999, just three years after it opened, and has been there ever since. Many of the other staff members have been there for years, too—a testament to how well the restaurant cares for both its employees and patrons. “When the owners moved here from Torino in Italy, they brought that sense of warmth and hospitality to the neighbourhood,” says Nurzynski of the restaurant’s most longstanding address. “We have been part of the Yonge and Eglinton community fabric for close to 30 years. We’re part of the BIA and are engaged with the community through different events. Over the years, many guests of La Vecchia have become close friends.”
Beloved and trusted by its regulars, La Vecchia is where locals come to celebrate milestone events. The restaurant’s elegant private dining rooms are the ideal setting to celebrate anything from birthdays and engagements to religious celebrations and even intimate weddings. “It’s amazing to share those happy moments with individuals,” says Nurzynski.
He notes that Yonge and Eglinton is undergoing extensive change, with many new developments under construction in the area. “Now we have a new wave of individuals moving in,” says Nurzynski, “And we have to reroute ourselves as a neighbourhood restaurant even though we’ve been there for so long. It’s an exciting time.” He describes the Lakeshore location as hosting “a vibrant, lifestyle-oriented community” of active people who love to be out and about.
“Even though we are expanding, we don’t want to lose that neighbourhood feeling,” says Nurzynski of the restaurant’s planned growth in Thornhill. “Human-to-human interaction is really important to us.” To draw people in at the new location, La Vecchia will continue its popular themed nights, such as live music Mondays, date night Wednesdays, and fresh pasta Thursdays. “We’ll have a live pasta cooking station, and one of our chefs will create a special regional fresh pasta for that night,” he explains. On Fridays, there is always fresh seafood.
If Nurzynski had to recommend one dish for diners to try, “It’s a no-brainer for me: capellini sardi,” he smiles. It’s a bright and fresh angel hair pasta with sautéed shrimp and scallops, artichokes, black olives, green onions, diced Roma tomatoes, and an aglio e olio sauce. “It’s just full of flavour. It’s reminiscent of being on the Amalfi Coast. You pair that with a nice glass of white wine, and it’s just a match made in heaven.”