Osteria Rialto and Bar Biltmore

Bloorcourt Village

Italian

Written By

Emma Kula

Paradise Theatre just re-opened after several years, and with it comes a new Italian restaurant, Osteria Rialto, as well as an upstairs bar with posh cocktails and snacks.

The Space:

The inside of Osteria Rialto.

The interiors of both the bar and restaurant are reflective of the 1937 Art Deco-style venue. The light-filled Rialto is situated on the main floor and houses a long bar area, as well as plenty of white marble tables for guests to enjoy their dinner.

The inside of Bar Biltmore.

Upstairs, the stylish Bar Biltmore boasts geometric floor tiles and gold-accented plush green stools that surround high-top tables and line the bar. The spaces are warm, inviting and cozy --perfect for a date night or an elegant dinner with friends.

The Food:

Appetizers at Osteria Rialto.

Osteria Rialto offers dishes that borrow from the style of traditional Southern Italian cooking, but with a modern twist. Diners enjoy a warm bread service pre-dinner, complete with high-quality olive oil and Castelvetrano olive puree, plus appetizers like pesce crudo (raw fish), black cuttlefish ink arancini or a selection of Italian cheeses. Mains include rich homemade pasta featuring ingredients like snow crab and veal ragu, as well as a few fresh seafood and meat dishes. At Biltmore, guests can snack on cheese, salumi, oysters, crostini and a selection of small plates while sipping their cocktails.

Cuttlefish arancini, pesce crudo and fresh bread at Rialto.

Spiced chocolate-pear cake and apple tart with lingonberry compote and fresh cream for dessert.

The Drinks:

La Rosa and La Bionda from Osteria Rialto.

At Biltmore, the cocktail menu is focused on spritzes, sours and Negronis -- with each drink ranked out of five for its level of bitterness. The Halfstack features mezcal and lime with a gorgeous blue tint, and the Buongiorno combines rum and fernet with cold-brew coffee and tonic for a bitter yet refreshing sip. Downstairs at Rialto, the bar menu offers various artfully crafted, spirit-forward drinks, from refreshing and fruity to rich and creamy.