Visited La Favorita on a Saturday Night during the Italian Festival. It was very busy, besides the inside dining room, they also had a very large patio that was spread out on closed off Preston Street. We had a reservation for six people, and thankfully we were seated right away… things got really hectic by 7:00 PM. I find this restaurant has a funny layout, seating on two floors all long and narrow. Unfortunately, we were seated at the table at the base of the stairs, I didn’t feel cramped there, but I was constantly aware of the waiters running up and down immediately behind me.
After being seated we were welcomed by a waitress who was friendly and had a good sense of humour. She quickly set about handing out the menus and wine list. Unfortunately, as I later discovered (upon exiting) La Favorita was doing a whole roasted lamb on a spit for Italian Week, but there was no mention of any “Special” with the menu. Once seated, I decided to try an Ice Wine Martini. A nice combination of Pelliteri Ice Wine, Vodka and Peach Schnapps, but it was powerful!
As a starter I ordered the Italian Salad which consisted of mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, green pepper, onion & olives. “The Man” had the Minestrone Soup, and others shared an order of the Brushetta. No one was disappointed. Shortly after we placed our wine order, the good humoured waitress returned (good thing she could laugh and smile thru all the confusion that was going on in the kitchen etc), she wanted to apologize for (a) the shortage of wine glasses… she’d bring them as they became available from the dish washer, and (b) that they were sold out of Rosemount Shiraz. We were able to chuckle at the first issue, but feeling pressed to make a decision on the wine, “The Man” chose a bottle of the house red. The wine turned out to be a basic Italian table wine, and not nearly up to the dreamed of Shiraz. Gradually, over the next 20 minutes or so, the wine glasses appeared in pairs. We laughed because they were “hot” from the dishwasher and stuck them in the white wine chillers to cool them off.
For mains, I had the Penne with Chicken and Peppers in a Rose Sauce. “The Man” had the Veal Marsala that came with a side of Penne in Red Sauce. Friends ordered the Surf & Turf that included a steak, lobster tail, & shrimp. Unfortunately steak knives and melted butter never appeared. We noticed that steak and seafood dishes were the most popular items at La Favorita. The Seafood Platters were huge, and featured good sized Lobsters. Although known for their “wood oven” pizzas, I did not see any being eaten. During dinner we were serenaded by two very talented Italian singers who sang a multitude of times from atop the staircase. We opted not to have coffee or dessert, but rather to walk along Preston Street take in the sights and check-out the Ferraris.
All in all an “entertaining” evening. The Entertainment Book card entitled us to a $ 15 discount per couple. I found their pasta average, but I might consider going back to try their pizza, or more likely their Seafood Platter.
Food&Think
gold
After being seated we were welcomed by a waitress who was friendly and had a good sense of humour. She quickly set about handing out the menus and wine list. Unfortunately, as I later discovered (upon exiting) La Favorita was doing a whole roasted lamb on a spit for Italian Week, but there was no mention of any “Special” with the menu. Once seated, I decided to try an Ice Wine Martini. A nice combination of Pelliteri Ice Wine, Vodka and Peach Schnapps, but it was powerful!
As a starter I ordered the Italian Salad which consisted of mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, green pepper, onion & olives. “The Man” had the Minestrone Soup, and others shared an order of the Brushetta. No one was disappointed. Shortly after we placed our wine order, the good humoured waitress returned (good thing she could laugh and smile thru all the confusion that was going on in the kitchen etc), she wanted to apologize for (a) the shortage of wine glasses… she’d bring them as they became available from the dish washer, and (b) that they were sold out of Rosemount Shiraz. We were able to chuckle at the first issue, but feeling pressed to make a decision on the wine, “The Man” chose a bottle of the house red. The wine turned out to be a basic Italian table wine, and not nearly up to the dreamed of Shiraz. Gradually, over the next 20 minutes or so, the wine glasses appeared in pairs. We laughed because they were “hot” from the dishwasher and stuck them in the white wine chillers to cool them off.
For mains, I had the Penne with Chicken and Peppers in a Rose Sauce. “The Man” had the Veal Marsala that came with a side of Penne in Red Sauce. Friends ordered the Surf & Turf that included a steak, lobster tail, & shrimp. Unfortunately steak knives and melted butter never appeared. We noticed that steak and seafood dishes were the most popular items at La Favorita. The Seafood Platters were huge, and featured good sized Lobsters. Although known for their “wood oven” pizzas, I did not see any being eaten. During dinner we were serenaded by two very talented Italian singers who sang a multitude of times from atop the staircase. We opted not to have coffee or dessert, but rather to walk along Preston Street take in the sights and check-out the Ferraris.
All in all an “entertaining” evening. The Entertainment Book card entitled us to a $ 15 discount per couple. I found their pasta average, but I might consider going back to try their pizza, or more likely their Seafood Platter.