Rating / 4 out of 5 stars

Campagnola Roma is the relatively new kid on the block in the Hastings and Sunrise neighbourhood. It’s part of a cluster of restaurants, both older (Le Do and Seri Malaysia) and newer (Red Wagon Cafe, Bo Laksa) providing the East Hastings corridor with a diverse range of restaurants. While the original Campagnolo’s dishes hail from the Northern parts of Italy, Campagnola Roma travels a little further South to Rome.

(Above: Tagliatelle topped with artichoke,  Calabrain chili and lemon.)

The space in Campagnolo Roma seems cramped at first, yet feels decently sized when you settle in. The gorgeous wood paneling add drama and are reminiscent of the decor from Campagnolo on Main. Outside, a few tables are set up for those that wish to dine under the stars, with blankets ready waiting in case you get chilly.

(Above: Campagnolo’s one draft ale, a perfectly light, crisp accompaniment to pizza and pasta.)

The menu is simple and mouth watering. We started with a half order of tagliatelle, a handful of homemade tagliatelle noodles cooked perfectly al dente with shreds of artichokes and seasoned with Calabrian chili and lemon. Perfectly simple.

Next, Romana pizza: a light, crispy flatbread topped with olives, anchovy and tomato sauce. No cheese. The simplicity of the dish allowed our taste buds to savour all the fresh ingredients: the subtle saltiness of the anchovies, fragrant olives and wonderful tomatoes.

(Above: Romana Pizza, topped with olives, anchovy, basil and tomato. No cheese for this pizza.)

Our bill including a beer, taxes and tips came to just under $40. The service for the most part was attentive and friendly. I have to admit a slight preference for Campagnola Roma over the original — I like the casualness. You won’t find oversized portions of pasta or greasy pizza at Roma. Instead, you’ll enjoy the simple and rustic flavours of Rome made from fresh, local ingredients.

Perfect for: Rustic Italian in the city.

The Details

2297 Hastings Street, Vancouver
604.569.0456

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Rating / 4 out of 5 stars

Campagnolo is a casual Italian restaurant located on Main street, just on the the outskirts of downtown Vancouver. Setting up shop next to the likes of the Ivanhoe in a still developing area is either a sign of foresight or craziness, or perhaps little bit of both. As we walked from our parked car, we were quickly accosted by a local who was delirious over the apparent double rainbow that was happening early in the evening. No, it wasn’t this guy, and yes — we aren’t pulling you’re leg.

(Above: Grill Octopus, radicchio and fennel salad.)

Campagnolo is a beautifully decorated restaurant — modern design with classic material. Wood beam structures were a common theme, finding its place on the walls and the atrium. Case and I found ourselves at the lounge in the back with a view of the double rainbow phenomenon fading away into the early evening.

(Clockwise: 1. Pizza carbonara. 2. Parmesan cheese, dried sage and dried chilies. 3. Cheesey breadsticks.)

Rustic Italian dishes, with a focus on homemade pastas and simple pizzas, make up most of Campagnolo’s menu. Case and I began with the grilled octopus, radicchio and fennel salad. Served warm, the fragrant greens were lightly dressed and the gremolata added an extra crunch. Although the octopus had a beautifully charred flavour, it was a tad bit tougher than we expected.

Next, tagliatelle with a pork ragu arrived smothered in a blanket of pecorino cheese. The al dente pasta was gently tossed in the hearty pork ragu. Despite the beautiful flavours, we found ourselves chewing clumps instead of shreds of pork.

As for the pizza, we opted for the carbonara: smoked provolone, lardon, chantrelle mushrooms, onions and an over easy egg served atop a fluffy, yet crispy pizza crust. For us, the pizza was the star of the evening as the pillars of decadence: provolone, lardon and egg combined perfectly to produce something special.

(Above: Zeppola — an Italian doughnut with apple compote and cream.)

We finished off with two cups of americano and a zeppola — an Italian doughnut dusted with sugar, filled with cream and swimming in a cream sauce.

Our meal came to just under $70 with taxes and tips. The beautiful, yet unpretentious atmosphere inside Campagnolo is a stark contrast to the neighborhood just outside its doors, but we suspect that just adds to its personality.

Perfect for: rustic, Italian dishes served in the wilds of Vancouver.

The Details

1020 Main Street, Vancouver
604.484.6018
www.campagnolorestaurant.ca

Rating / 4 out of 5 stars

Basil Pasta Bar, a relative newcomer to Davie street, just upped the ante for lunchtime value for the Yaletown crowd. The basic premise: one pasta, anyway you like — one price.

(Top to bottom: 1.The staff is busy finishing off a dish in the pan. 2. Basil Pasta Bar’s sparse, modern interior.)

Inside, the dining room is open, sparse and modern with splashes of green, giving a slight nod to the restaurant’s namesake. Seating is limited — no more than a dozen. An open kitchen is set to one side where diners can watch as cooks are busy dunking various pastas into vats of boiling water and finishing them up in the pan.

The concept is simple. One pasta dish, anyway you like, one price. You choose the pasta (spaghetti, linguini, penne, fettucini, etc.), the sauce (curry, pesto cream, bolognese, etc.), and the toppings (everything from chicken and shrimp to artichoke and peas). You can even garnish your masterpiece with cheeses or fresh herbs.

All this, for under $8.

Hungry? Add a soup, or a salad, or garlic bread. How about a soda? Either way, any of these additions will only run you an extra $2 or $3.

(Above: Linguine with shrimp pesto cream sauce, topped with chiffonade basil and fresh slices of parmesan cheese, plus a side of garlic bread.)

Case and I wandered in off the streets, looking for a light meal. We shared one of Basil Pasta Bar’s many preset combinations: linguine with a shrimp pesto cream sauce topped with fresh basil and parmesan cheese. The pasta was nicely cooked, and the sauce had a beautiful, velvet flavour. The sauce was a bit runny, but it didn’t dilute the flavour in the least. On the side, their garlic bread was crispy and gently seasoned.

What was amazing was the realization that we were having freshly cooked pasta for $10 including garlic bread and a pop — in downtown Vancouver. Let’s hope this catches on.

Perfect for: a nice, freshly cooked pasta meal on the cheap.

The Details

636 Davie Street, Vancouver
604.568.3106

Rating / 5 out of 5 stars

We’ve heard a lot of goods things about Nook, a relatively new Italian kid on the block. The Denman block just North of Robson to be precise. This modest sized, 30 seater restaurant boasts a humble exterior and a heavily edited menu. And they don’t take reservations, so waiting for a seat on a weekend is a distinct possibility.

(Top to bottom: 1. Handmade Burratta Cheese Crostini with Pancetta and Asparagus. 2. Smoked Wild Boar Capeletti.)

Our server seated us with a smile and a question, “Are you thirsty?” We responded with two glasses of Chianti. As our drinks were being prepared we perused the menu which we noticed was fairly brief — half a sheet of paper, no more than a dozen and half dishes with a focus on pastas and pizzas. While studying the menu, we were pleasantly serenaded by the sounds 80′s rock: The Cure, Billy Idol, et. al. — a strange counterpoint to the modern, yet bare bones Italian restaurant.

Our server returned with the wine and let loose the daily specials, which sounded so good we put aside the menu and ordered those instead, beginning with the Burratta Cheese Crostini with Pancetta and spears of grilled asparagus. The handmade buffalo mozzarella cheese was richly creamy, yet had an amazing elasticity. The soft creaminess was a nice contrast to the crispiness of the crostini, and the grilled asparagus was super tasty. You could taste all the ingredients — simply prepared and well seasoned.

(Top to bottom: 1. Double Americano, 2. Strawberry Rum Panacotto.)

For our main dish, Case and I had the Smoked Wild Boar Capelleti, a hat-shaped pasta with shards of smoked wild boar in a light creamy sauce, covered in a mound of fresh grated parmesan cheese. The dish looked plain, yet the flavours danced off our tongues the moment we tasted the pasta, which was perfectly Al Dente (something we’ve become unfamiliar with in most pasta dishes lately).

We finished our meal off with two Americanos and a Strawberry Rum Panna cotta served in a pint-size mason jar. The Panna cotta was creamy (not the last bit runny, or rubbery) and the tartness of the fresh cut strawberries played well with the drizzle of rum.

Our meal came to $87 including taxes and tips. Although not the thriftiest meal, it was certainly one of the best value.

Perfect for: good, rustic Italian food.

The Details

781 Denman Street, Vancouver
604.568.4554
nookrestaurant.ca

Rating / 5 out of 5 stars

Tosi & Company on Main Street in Chinatown is the last standing Italian business that was once part of little Italy in Chinatown. This shop is truly a hidden gem with all sorts of imported canned, bottled tomatoes, pastas, olives, olive oils, spices and a large selection of parmesan cheeses. One of my favorite blogs – everybody likes sandwiches mentioned Tosi & Company as the place to get pasta, so Tre and I went to check Tosi & Company for ourselves.

(Top to Bottom: 1. Boxes and boxes of pasta. 2. Conchiglie Rigate in cream sauce tossed with garlic, chili flakes, peas and chorizo.)

Tosi & Company is truly hidden. The windows are covered with boxes and paper and appears abandoned. Before entering, you have to be buzzed in (it’s the second door, on the right). The shop is much larger then I expected and feels like a warehouse with high ceilings and wall displays of oils, pasta, rice and variety of Italian goods, all scattered about.

Looking around, I was already conjuring up some tasty meals in my head. Bags upon bags of Pagani Italian pasta catches my eye in all sorts of various shapes I haven’t seen before. At only $1.45 a bag, I’m ready to stock up. They also carry Mutti, at the moment our favourite bottled Italian strained tomatoes at only $1.89 each (anywhere else it’s easily $3+). These strained tomatoes are delicious and have a pure smooth taste and texture with no additives. And if you’re paranoid about BPA, you’ll like that it comes in a bottle, not a can. Tre and I stock up. The owner tells us they also carry specially canned tomatoes that are non-acidic, imported from Italy. Apparently good for people, like himself, who have sensitive stomachs. After grabbing some spices and boxing up our goods, we were happily on our way.

(Top to bottom: 1. Mutti brand tomatoe sauce 2. Tagliatelle pasta tossed with bison meatballs, fresh basil, spices, and tomato sauce.)

At just under $20 bucks, we had a tremendous haul: 6 bottles of tomatoes, 4 bags of pasta, fresh cinnamon sticks and chili flakes. Our Italian shopping spree was a great deal and the service delivered with a pinch of dry sense of humour. So far, our pasta meals have been delicious. Hopefully, Tosi & Company will continue to stick around for years to come.

Perfect for: the best deal on Italian groceries around… if you happen to be in Chinatown.

The Details
624 Main Street, Vancouver
604.681.5740