Located in an industrial area, Famiglia Baldassarre is open four days a week from Wednesday to Saturday for only two hours for lunch. They specialize in traditional fresh pasta made from scratch -- available by weight -- for takeout or dine-in.
The Space:
The pasta shop isn’t hard to find, considering you’d probably be able to spot the lineup from a mile away. Their kitchen takes up most of the space, where chefs meticulously knead, roll and hand-cut the pasta.
This is why the dining area can only seat around 10 people. They also have a patio with benches, which is perfect for the summertime.
The Food:
Right after you’ve placed your order, help yourself to some complimentary bread at the counter. Their menu rotates daily with just a few items. On the day of our visit, the tagliatelle and ravioli were the only kinds of pasta available.
The
($6) is thinly sliced with a nutty and salty flavour. A thin outer layer of fat surrounding the cured ham is what makes it buttery.
The
($13) consists of flat noodles covered in a flavourful Mantovan meat sauce. These individually cut noodles are perfectly soft and velvety.
The
($13) -- with the option of adding truffles ($8) -- is the perfect way to savour the ricotta and spinach filled ravioli to its entirety. It’s served with butter and Reggiano.
The
($13), which also has the option to add truffles, is the same as the previous dish except for the type of pasta.
The
($13) consists of the same fluffy ricotta and spinach filling but is instead smothered in their signature sugo sauce. The sauce is rich and heavier than the other dishes.
Famiglia Baldassarre is redefining traditional Italian pasta right here in Toronto. They’re a cash-only establishment, so you might want to bring a couple of extra bucks!
