#FOOD: NOTTE RISTORANTE OPENS THIS WEEKEND

Notte Ristorante opens January 10, 2026 at 9 Church Street with a clear intention: to create a restaurant that fits naturally into how people actually spend their evenings. Some nights begin with a drink after work and turn into dinner. Others start around the table and stretch longer than planned. Notte Ristorante is designed to support that rhythm.

Notte Ristorante marks the evolution of Amano Trattoria and Bar Notte. The same kitchen, team, and culinary standards remain, now expressed through a more relaxed, evening-driven approach. Aperitivo and happy hour set the tone early, dinner anchors the night, and as the evening unfolds the room shifts subtly. Lights soften, music lifts, and the energy becomes more social without losing its warmth.

At a time when dining out feels more considered than ever and Canadians are careful when and where they spend their money, Notte is meant to feel easy. The experience is built around generosity and flow, encouraging guests to settle in, order another round, and enjoy the night without overthinking it.

“Notte reflects how people actually want to spend their nights right now,” says Executive Chef and co-owner Michael Angeloni. “You come in for a drink, order a few things to share, and before you know it, you’re deep into dinner. The food is comforting and indulgent, but the atmosphere stays relaxed. It’s meant to pull you in naturally and keep you there.”

A Modern Italian Point of View

The menu at Notte takes a modern Italian approach, drawing inspiration from regions across Italy from north to south while reflecting Chef Angeloni’s background and perspective. Classic preparations are handled with intention and confidence, woven together with locally sourced ingredients and subtle personal touches.

Everything is cooked from scratch in-house using the best ingredients the team can source. By avoiding pre-made products and unnecessary shortcuts, the kitchen maintains both quality and control, allowing the menu to remain thoughtful and generous without becoming inflated.

Menu Highlights Include:

The Salumi Bar – a live-action station anchoring the main bar featuring:

Chicken Liver Mousse & Treviso Jam ($14)
N’duja & Straciatella ($15)
Prosciutto Parma & Compressed Melon ($18)

Roman Style Pizzas – crafted over 72 hours, made with five types of flour and high hydration for a light and airy with a crisp finish:

Crazy Calabrese: smoked provolone, spicy sopressata, hot honey, arugula, black olives ($24)
Bologna Pride: zucchini, arugula, pistachio, honey, mortadella & stracciatella ($25)

Handmade pasta – made fresh in house daily:

Spaghetti Allo Scoglio: PEI mussels, Argentinian red shrimp, clams, pangrattato, parsley, chili, garlic ($26)
Campanelle Con Funghi: wild mushrooms, braised leeks, white wine, toasted walnuts, pecorino ($25)

Large format signature dishes – perfect for sharing:

12oz Bone-in Veal Parm: panko crusted veal, 40 clove tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, parm ($56); add ball of burrata (+$10)

A Bar Program Built on Balance

Notte’s bar program is guided by a simple belief: great drinks should feel inviting, not excessive. The cocktail list focuses on well-executed classics, the amaro selection is expansive, and the wine program aims to become one of the city’s best values for premium bottles by emphasizing thoughtful pricing intended to encourage another round and return visits.

Two daily happy hours from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and later in the evening help frame the night, creating natural moments to drop in and stay a little longer. As the evening unfolds, the room takes on a more social, energetic pace while remaining grounded and welcoming.

Notte Ristorante also introduces the Notte Social Club, a complimentary membership designed to reward regulars with an even more generous experience. Benefits include complimentary bread service, late evening pricing on select dishes, including a $99 bistecca fiorentina, a 32oz T bone steak designed for sharing, and simple flat pricing across the amaro selection. The Social Club reflects Notte’s belief that hospitality should feel fair, welcoming, and personal. Membership is free and open to guests who want to be part of the rhythm of the room.

Independent, Involved, and Intentionally Personal

While Notte Ristorante brings a new energy to the space, it retains all that was loved about Amano. The same care, sourcing philosophy, and attention to detail carry through, now expressed through a more fluid evening experience.

Notte Ristorante is independently owned and operated, with its partners closely involved day to day. Chef Angeloni is in the kitchen nightly, shaping the food and the rhythm of service in real time.

“Amano was always a place people loved, but we saw room to let it evolve,” says co-owner Adam Teolis. “Notte Ristorante keeps the heart of Italian hospitality intact, with a stronger pulse and a more generous point of view. We wanted to create a place that still feels special and elevated, but without making guests feel priced out of enjoying the night fully. A place where guests feel comfortable ordering another drink, another dish, and coming back often.”

For more information and updates follow along @notte.ristorante.

#FOOD: THE CARBON BAR TORONTO 12TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

This January, Toronto’s iconic barbecue restaurant, The Carbon Bar, is celebrating its 12-year anniversary by rolling prices all the way back to 2014, with a limited-time 12-Year Anniversary Throwback Menu featuring nostalgic favourites, greatest-hits cocktails, and unapologetically old-school pricing. They’re turning back the clock to 2014!!

To mark the milestone, Sous Chef Taylor Wells has curated a playful lineup of $12 anniversary dinner specials, highlighting the most beloved dishes and drinks from The Carbon Bar over the past 12 years.

Menu highlights include:

-$12 for six fresh-shucked oysters
-$12 snacks, including KFC (Korean Fried Cauliflower – a dish that has been a menu staple since day one, handed down from chef to chef) and shishito peppers (2014’s hottest food trend)
-$12 anniversary cocktails, such as the Black Mamba Margarita (a timeless favourite that has graced the menu since the beginning), Pit-Fired Old Fashioned, Smoking Manhattan, and Tokyo Breeze
-$12 whisky pours, featuring Pike Creek Double Barrel, Gooderham & Worts, and J.P. Wiser’s 10-Year
-$12 desserts, every single one, because birthdays deserve cake, pie and whatever your sweet tooth is hunting for.

In addition, groups of 12 or more will also be welcomed with a complimentary glass of Prosecco.

Toronto is a BBQ-loving city and THE CARBON BAR is a big part of the reason why!
Reserve now.

#FOOD: THE CARBON SNACK BAR OPENS AUGUST 25, 2025

The team behind Toronto’s popular The Carbon Bar and its e-commerce ready-to-eat meal delivery counterpart, Shop The Carbon Bar, is bringing its bold BBQ flavours to a new, fast-casual setting. The grand opening of The Carbon Snack Bar, located in Toronto’s iconic 460 King Street West building, will open on August 25, 2025!

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From its early days in 1873 as the Richardson House, to its transformation into the legendary Cabana Room where The Rolling Stones and Leonard Cohen left their mark, this building has always had stories to tell. It later became the Spadina Hotel, a renowned hotel in the beautiful city of Toronto.

The new all-day snack bar brings the soul of The Carbon Bar into a fresh, vibrant setting in the heart of Toronto’s King Street West neighbourhood. Open seven days a week from morning to evening, The Carbon Snack Bar features a grab-and-go counter, a retail selection of smoked meats and sides, and a thoughtfully curated, fully-licensed beverage selection, including an espresso bar, a Craig’s Cookies counter, craft beers, curated wines and ready-to-drink cocktails.

“It’s a dream to bring The Carbon Bar experience to the iconic 460 King Street West building – this location, like for many Torontonians, holds a special place in my heart,” says Yannick Bigourdan, founder of The Carbon Bar and Shop The Carbon Bar. “I fell in love with the potential of the retail space and knew we had an opportunity to bring something exciting to this legendary corner of the city.”

Whether you’re starting your day, grabbing lunch on the go, or stocking up for a weekend BBQ, The Carbon Snack Bar is set to become a new local staple. The expansive outdoor patio is the perfect spot to enjoy an early breakfast or a late-afternoon glass of wine. Inside boasts 35 seats with bright colours, bold branding and lots of natural light.

“Torontonians know that choosing The Carbon Bar means indulging in top‑notch cuisine, crafted with premium ingredients and a dedication to excellence. That same standard extends to the new Carbon Snack Bar,” Bigourdan says. “We’re bringing our signature hospitality into a format that fits into people’s everyday lives. It’s approachable, delicious, and driven by quality – exactly what people expect from us, just in a faster, more casual setting.”

Guests of The Carbon Snack Bar can expect:

Food

Signature BBQ Bowls with options like brisket, pastrami, or St. Louis ribs
Fresh, hearty salads
Stacked sandwiches
Breakfast favourites (perfect for grab-and-go mornings)
House-made sides including Mac & Cheese, Pork & Beans
Craig’s Cookies

Drink

Full-service coffee bar
Cold beverages
Local craft beers
Curated wines
Exciting bottled and ready-to-serve cocktails

Retail

Smoked St. Louis Ribs
Famous Brisket
House Pastrami
Mac & Cheese and Pork & Beans (ready to heat and eat)
Signature sauces and spices from The Carbon Bar

The transformed 460 King Street West building also features an event space (“Block by Allied”), envisioned as a venue for celebrations, corporate functions and a hub for community gatherings – from brand activations and wine tastings to movie nights and more.

Follow along on Instagram: @carbonsnackbar.

About The Carbon Snack Bar

The Carbon Snack Bar, opened in 2025, serves as an extension of the highly-sought-after Toronto restaurant, The Carbon Bar, and its e-commerce company, Shop The Carbon Bar, which delivers chef-made frozen BBQ, sauces, and spices across the GTA. Owner, Yannick Bigourdan, is a restaurateur whose visionary leadership has shaped some of the city’s most iconic dining experiences. Yannick is also the owner of Michelin-recommended Restaurant Lucie, Amano Trattoria, The Berczy Tavern, a food delivery company Shop.TheCarbonBar and a catering company, The Social Catering & Co. Previously, he owned Toronto dining hotspots Splendido and Note Bene, which defined Toronto’s fine dining scene for over a decade.