What can you expect to find in Little Italy? Typically, you would find nice home-style Italian bistros,;but now Little Italy is beginning to branch into neighbouring European country dishes thanks to new restaurant owners Neil Da Costa and Victor Brum.
The two are veterans to the area and after years of working together, they decided to join forces and open a restaurant of their own. BruDa is the love child of their hard work and dedication, which is now open for lunch and dinner in the heart of Little Italy (492 College St.)
Da Costa and Brum renovated a former existing restaurant to create their new bistro with a European flare; high ceilings, and art works along the walls of local artists. Executive Chef Gordon Calmon is the head honcho in the kitchen, and creates marvelous European dishes, from wild mushroom bisque to chef-rolled gnocchi featured on the lunch menu, as well as everything from slow-cooked spiced rabbit to double-smoked pork tenderloin available for dinner. Our personal favourite? The New World Carbonara, consisting of housemade pappardelle, chantrelles, Serano ham, and duck egg.
The menu, they unanimously decided, would dabble in Spanish and French cuisine, as well as traditional Italian, and is affordably-priced. The wine menu consists of fine Canadian and European wines chosen by Brum himself, who is also a renowned sommelier.