TORONTO — Contrada has ranked eighth in Toronto Life’s Best New Restaurants list for 2024. The restaurant is celebrating by launching a new brunch menu and opening its patio doors in time for the summer season.
Recently, Contrada participated in Toronto Life’s event alongside the other winning restaurants across the city. Partners Patrick Groves, Jessie Mak and chef de cuisine Mike Vieira served their ricotta gnocchi with fresh pesto and Calabrian chili to 1,000 guests at Evergreen Brick Works.
The restaurant has begun seating guests in its two semi-enclosed patios, which can accommodate up to 50 guests cocktail style and are heated during cooler evenings. Standout dishes include agnolotti ($27) made with smooth chicken liver, mascarpone, aged balsamic, cippolini onion, squash and apple, and cod ($41) served on white beans alongside scallops, fresh artichokes and Tuscan kale.
Contrada’s extensive beverage menu features the Contrada Spritz ($17) made with a base of skin contact wine, prosecco, Cocchi Rosa, akvavit and tart sumac with tangy pomegranate. The Army Brat ($21) crafted with Tanqueray gin, Teremana tequila, Cocchi Bianco, IPA Orgeat, Nepeta Majora, vincotto and lemon is another popular drink. Each wine has been selected by Groves, general manager and sommelier, for both quality and flavour, from Italian classics to rosés, orange wines and a variety of sparkling options.
The new brunch menu features the Breakfast Carbonara ($17) topped with crispy bacon and a poached egg, as well as the Croque Contrada ($22) layered with roasted pork shoulder, prosciutto, mustard, provolone, fonduta and a fried egg. New signature cocktails include the Italian coffee ($18) with Montenegro, Bocale Grappa, Branca Menta, vanilla and cream and the Contrada Caesar ($18). Non-alcoholic drinks include Star Witness ($12) with basil, olive oil, cinnamon, lime and grapefruit or Imposter Syndrome ($13) with a blend of cranberry, beet, peach, ginger and tonic.
