Get transported back to a time of elegant dinner parties and secret rendez-vous with the opening of Ristorante Sociale. A King West convivial experience, at Ristorante Sociale, guests can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in an elevated setting before the venue turns into a vibrant space of immersive entertainment from dining room dancers and DJs who spin well into the night.
The upscale dining and entertainment space is the latest venture from the team behind the Michelin Bib Goumand award recipient Enoteca Sociale. Located at 545 King Street West, though Ristorante Sociale is in Toronto’s lively King West neighbourhood, it’s off the main street and tucked away from the bustling businesses of the Entertainment District.
“Ristorante Sociale is a restaurant concept that’s been years in the making. The culinary experience has been carefully refined by Executive Chef and Partner Kyle Rindinella and the approach to an elevated party atmosphere is unlike anything else in the city,” said Deni Di Tullio, Partner at Ristorante Sociale, in a press release.
Upon stepping into the space, you’ll see the influence of a 1970s Italian steakhouse. Bold accents, chic walnut, and earthy hues make up the 3,700-square foot space which seats 110 guests in a white tablecloth setting. Ristorante Sociale includes a six-seat private dining room for special event bookings.
Like its sister restaurant, the menu at Ristorante Sociale shows off Rindinella’s dedication to traditional Italian cuisine, using local and seasonal ingredients. Roman tastes and Tuscan influences combine for an abundant menu of fresh pastas, seafood, meats and steaks that pair perfectly with Italian wines and signature cocktails.
Patrons of Enoteca Sociale will recognize staple menu items carried over to the new space, including the branzino and spaghetti cacio e pepe. Other items have been given a twist, like the beef crudo, which uses flavours of truffle and lemons compared to Enoteca Sociale’s chili and parsley.
“When creating the menu at Ristorante Sociale, the intention was to have it be a companion to Enoteca Sociale, building on the quality and approach that guests have come to expect from us over the last 10 years,” said Rindinella in a press release.
Unlike other upscale dinner settings in Toronto, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., mesmerizing dancers emerge and perform right at the diner tables. If that’s not enough, on Thursdays through Saturday, beginning at 11:00 p.m., the dining room transforms into a lively yet sophisticated party scene with DJs spinning until 2am.
“Our goal was to create an all-night affair, where guests can come for exceptional food and drink and stick around for an exciting party reflective of the celebratory approach and traditions in Italy,” added Tullio.
Ristorante Sociale is open at 545 King Street West from Wednesdays to Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. Reservations for tables and private events can be made online.
