If you like garlic, you will LOVE the newly opened Lil’ Baci Taverna, in the Yonge and Davisville area of Toronto. Lil’ Baci has another location in the Leslieville neighbourhood that has been around for many years, and is a staple in that food centric enclave in the east end. Mark Bacci is a charming restauranteur, and his experience and knowledge are showcased in both Lil’ Baci locations. Im in love with this bright and airy space that is housed on a bustling midtown block. You know what the best part is? They are opening a sandwich shop, and it will be licensed! Amazing.

In the kitchen at Lil’ Baci is Larry Santos, and he has a wonderful new home in the space that Mark and his partners built to create the kind of food that this neighbourhood has been missing. I can really only think of a handful of decent restaurants in that area worth visiting, and am glad to have another option relatively close to home.

Local, fresh, and farm-to-table, Li’ Baci Taverna should be your kind of restaurant. A drink, a snack, or a multi-course feast, they are set up and ready to welcome you into their home. My one piece of advise: come very hungry and make sure you have room for the house churned butter and house baked bread. Mark my words that this is some of the best bread you will ever eat. I have the recipe and think I will start to make it at home.

Other items of note are the second floor raw bar that will be opening soon, and the patio that has been applied for. We were served a great deal of the menu when we visited, and let me break it down for you. Here is the menu: 

Not on out menu, but this octopus panzanella salad was one of my favourite dishes of the night.  

Look at that gorgeous egg on the Taverna Salad. 

Another wonderfully cooked egg, and some of the first asparagus of the season. 

Shrimps. Who doesnt like shrimps?

This was the mortadella gnudi. Not a fan of this, but you might like it. It was a texture thing for me. 

Sausage? Duck sausage! Man, these guys are really pushing all of the right buttons with me.

Another favourite of mine is beets, and these were gorgeous, plated with a sinful burrata.

The go to for me when I visit Lil' Baci in Leslieville has always been their pizzas. The smell of the truffle oil on this pizza is intoxicating. 

More duck and mushrooms? Are you kidding me :) 

Gorgeous, and perfectly cooked pasta. Love it. So fresh and tasty.

Didnt get a shot of the steak, unfortunately, and was so full I didnt even take a bite. The chicken above, however, was delicious. Can I get an amen for csispy chicken skin? Yeah buddy! Also, as David Ort pointed out, you have to love what animal fat does to warm olives. 

One of my all time favourites, roasted cauliflower. I'm starting to think the kitchen is trying to have their way with me.

Ok, they are totally flirting with me. Brussels sprout leaves, just missing some crispy pancetta. Still, lovely.

Tuscan kale, not the new beef as some would have you believe, but I do love kale. 

I do a version of these, smashed potatoes. So so so good! You have to make these. I boil, smash between two trays, and then roast with sea salt. 

More vegetables? Maybe they are trying to be subversive with me, instead of flirt. Did someoen pay them off to feed me healthy food? 

There was also dessert, but no pictures. The panna cotta was one of the best I have ever had. Trust. Definitely suggest checking them out when they open, and you might even see me there? Cheers!