David Rocco Bar Aperitivo

If you want an authentic Italian experience with top notch service this is the place to be. From the amazing bar selection and cocktails to all the delicious regional varieties of food, this place really distinguishes itself from your typical Italian restaurant. It is also absolutely beautiful inside with a very unique and characteristic vibe. I loved the San Gennaro statue from Naples and the beautiful Venetian chandelier. The desserts were delicious with an excellent presentation. I also got to do my Christmas shopping after my meal with a nice basket selection as well as panettone and an autographed cookbook.

A taste of Italy in Toronto! David Rocco's place in Yorkville is a perfect spot to pull up a chair, enjoy a great cocktail or wine, and a fantastic Italian dish... or several! Since the menu involves small plates, you can hang out all evening and enjoy a sampling of many of the wonderful offerings. I've been no less than five times already and it never fails to impress! My personal favorite is the meatballs... or maybe it's the Francesina... or the great variety of housemade gelato, or maybe even one of the signature cocktails ask Nick to hook you up if he's in!. You get the picture. Nothing on the menu is a letdown. You'll also enjoy the outdoor dining and seating. It's a great place to hang out, perhaps open a bottle of one of the great wines, enjoy some food, and chat with old and new friends for hours. It's an amazing taste of Italy in Toronto and worthy of a flight from anywhere to eat there and yes I've done that multiple times. In fact, I think a flight boards later today. Let's meet there.

Decided to stop in at David Rocco’s Bar Aperitivo for a quick bite. As a lasagna lover I had to dive into David’s lasagna and it did not disappoint. Prices are reasonable for it’s serving size. The dessert was a very smooth salted caramel affogato. Definitely a place I’d come back to… Joe

Loved this cute place. We are huge fans of David... My husband tries to cook his recipes. The food was amazing but the service wow above and beyond. Nick our server was knowledgeable, recommended awesome dishes and was fun to talk to. Definitely recommend... Love Susana

David’s Bar Aperitivo is a taste of Italy right here in Downtown Toronto! The food was delicious and the service was impeccable. Thank you to Nicolas for giving us the guided tour of the menu and for his excellent suggestions. It was truly an experience. Try the Burrata or the polpette, you won’t be disappointed.

The gelato from this place is amazing! I had it 2 weeks ago, the white chocolate passion fruit was phenomenal. Both flavours were well balanced and not overly sweet, a great combination. I got these at the set up they had at the corner of Cumberland bellair. I went for this long weekend and they were open but at inside the bar. I got the mascarpone and cherry, while my mum got the hazelnut. These were great flavours and exceptional. Just to mention the young girl who served me the ice cream was really sweet, had a pleasant disposition whilst serving.

I have been pumped for the past few weeks about this David Rocco bar café apéritive. What a big disappointment not worth the time and not what you would expect from a renowned chef. Decor is nice if your are in your teens with metal bar stools its literally a 20 X 20 hole in the wall. So 1hr drive 9 people for 3 expressos and a lasagna…

Before going to David Rocco’s Bar Aperitivo, I prepared myself for a casual restaurant that’s meant for a quick bite, so I didn’t expect any posh seating or an extensive menu. As anticipated, their tables were set-up largely as communal shared space with a less than ideal table-to-chair height. In the end, we felt it was best to forgo any dishes requiring a fork and knife that could potentially make a mess. Instead, we stuck to a hand-held sandwich with salad – easy peasy eats to munch on while we enjoyed a bottle of prosecco. Little did I know that for a restaurant who dedicates half of their menu to sandwiches and salad, the dishes would be executed so poorly. After biting into both, I started comparing the experience to the Druxy lunches that was catered through work and marvelled how they could have been interchangeable. In the next menu update, I highly recommend Bar Aperitivo clarify that their paninis are cold. Unless you’re deeply steeped in the Italian culture, most people may not realize that panini simply means “bread roll” since the North American interpretation is generally a sandwich that’s been pressed, grilled, and served hot. Hence, when the frittata panini $13 arrived cold it was a disappointment – does anyone like cold frittatas? Perhaps the temperature could have been overlooked if the frittata was really good and incorporated more flavours than the sprinkling of herbs or if their house-made brioche bun was uber fresh rather than hard and cold. At least the salsa verde was tasty and the caramelized onions were nicely stewed and sweet. In hindsight, I should have gone with a crostino, while it seemed like it’d be messier to eat, they looked tastier than the cold egg sandwich we received. For a dish that's been so overdone, there are over a dozen that David Rocco could have gained inspiration from, Bar Aperitivo’s kale salad $16 was one of the worst I’ve ever eaten. The kale was simply ripped into large pieces and tossed with a very lightly applied mint pesto and lemon juice dressing so the almost metallic flavour of the kale leaches through, unless you can mask it with one of the orange segments, apples, cranberry, or almonds that’s tossed with everything. Nor were the greens massaged with the dressing, so it made for a fibrous salad. The crocchette di cavolfiore $7 was also cold and not made to order. Temperature aside, the dish could really use some textural contrast as the cauliflower and potato mash is soft and the fine bread crumb coating wasn’t crispy either. Perhaps adding some panko to the coating or some micro-diced vegetables into the mixture would have allowed for some extra colours and crunch. At least Bar Aperitivo’s gelato was tasty. With about half a dozen flavours to choose from, the tried-and-true hazelnut was calling my name. The gelato was served really cold, so it resisted melting, and the texture was silky and creamy. The hazelnut flavours were pronounced and the sweetness a nice balance. Yet, for $13 for a cup, it really commands a premium over the many other wonderful ice cream shops in Yorkville. While Bar Aperitivo’s gelato was good, I still find Summer’s Ice Cream to be better.

Just opened, by celebrity chef David Rocco it will give Eataly's crowd an option in tapas and wine list offered. Like any other new restaurants the opening day is on its teething stage, being in it's infancy newly opened stage. This Italian wine bar features a selection of Italian wines and tapas style menu. Apparently this wine bar, will also sell David Rocco’s own range of wines. So watchout for this! The gelato I tried the ricotta and fig with vanilla and cherry gelato was a little too sweet for me, but the eggplant parmigiana and octopus salad was in fresh and tasted well. Service was amazing and attentive. Decorations seems to be inspired from his talk show travels and what caught my eye was the beautiful and interesting chandelier inside the restaurant. Last but not least the downside is walking into the building for the shared washroom. A nice summertime patio is currently set up. A beautiful spot to sit and let the sun shine on you, when it's a bright sunny day. Inside, you get the bar apperitivo feeling, which is a nice different feel. Awesome hours for Nighthawks, as that they are open till 11pm!

A classic taste of Italy in yorkville! Such a gem, hole in the wall full of small bites and great cocktails. My partner and I ordered the espresso martini and to our surprise it was decadent and creamy, not like your usual martini. They use gelato as part of the cocktail which almost turns the drink into a melted affogado! You can come before dinner for a quick snack, or come for an awesome lunch! We got a couple slices of pizza and the burrata, super simple dishes but the quality was there. Lightly dressed arugula and incredibly high quality burrata. Would come here again if I find myself in yorkville