By Julie Gedeon
DaNico hasn’t yet been open a full year but it’s quickly gaining international acclaim. The fine dining venue at College and Bathurst Streets recently earned DaNico its first Michelin star thanks to Chef Daniele Corona’s worldly Italian cuisine and has been shortlisted for two International Hotel & Property Awards for restaurant design in the Americas and globally.
“This project is a passion of ours,” says Nadia Di Donato, vice president and creative director of Liberty Entertainment Group, the hospitality team behind DaNico. “It’s part of my husband Nick’s and my mission to give back to our city by taking iconic buildings and infusing them with renewed life as we elevate Toronto’s culinary scene.”
“THIS PROJECT IS A PASSION OF OURS. IT’S PART OF MY HUSBAND NICK’S AND MY MISSION TO GIVE BACK TO OUR CITY.”
Creating DaNico has been a labour of love, so much so that the Di Donatos named it after their first grandchild. To house a project born of so much passion, they needed a special space. The former bank building that ultimately set the project in motion is one of Toronto’s architectural heritage gems with Doric pilasters framing the arched doorway and a rare Versace ceramic-tiled facade paying tribute to Roman temples. “The interior had all been gutted, except for the safe, which we’ve turned into wine storage,” Di Donato says. “The rest was a blank canvas where I set out to honour the ornate exterior with a modern interpretation that integrates some of the urban grit in this part of Little Italy.”
Opting for natural materials when possible, Di Donato imported 15-foot solid wood doors from a 19th-century Italian villa for the entrance. She retained the breathtaking grandeur of the 30-foot ceilings while establishing intimacy by expertly playing with scale, lighting, textures and even sound against black walls with burgundy undertones.
Her core inspiration came from the gothic flavour of three 12-by-6-foot mixed-media installations, created in collaboration with Toronto artists Max Jamali and Peter Triantos; they’re framed side-by-side along the main wall. “The design treatment incorporated into the windows echoes the grandness of church organs,” Di Donato adds. Drawing on her theatrical production experience, she installed lasers to pinpoint the lighting for each table, so the space retains its cloaked mystique without leaving anyone in the dark.
Di Donato eliminated any chance of a cavernous echo from the high ceilings by positioning a multitude of smaller speakers at a 12-foot height. All the sofas and chairs are upholstered in thick velvety fabrics that not only make for luxurious seating but also absorb sound. “The chairs are just slightly firmer so they have a regalness,” Di Donato adds.
Originally from Naples, Corona moved to Canada to become the executive chef of Liberty Group’s Don Alfonso 1890. Under his leadership, it was named 50 Top Italy’s Best Italian Restaurant Outside of Italy in 2021 and is one of Toronto’s first Michelin-starred restaurants. Now, he’s ready to take on a new challenge, one where he can fully dive into his unique style of marrying Italian and Asian ingredients. “He’s just so exceptional that we decided to support his innovative palate,” Di Donato says. “The restaurant seats only 60, so he and his team can prepare their Michelin-worthy dishes.”
As the world turns its eyes to the luxe and moody dining room at DaNico with high expectations, Corona, with the help of the Di Donatos, is ready to deliver.
