The corner of Spadina and Harbord has long fed university students with an endless rotation of fast-casual takeout. A Montreal favourite is hoping to change that story.
Casa Donato is an offshoot of Ristorante Donato, and it has settled into the base of a new luxury rental building. The owners did not originally plan to expand beyond Montreal, but said the area felt like it needed something more substantial and the move felt right. The launch is staggered. A counter-service cafe opened on October 15 with sandwiches, pastries, salads, smoothies, house-made gelato and a full coffee program.
The bigger piece is still to come: a 150-seat dining room and bar. The kitchen will be led by chef and co-owner Takeshi Horinoue, a former contestant on Top Chef Canada who earlier worked with Antonio Park at Kasa Moto. Expect house-made pastas, Neapolitan pizzas and a range of grilled seafood and meat.
A phased opening is a smart way to build a neighbourhood following. The all-day cafe gives students, residents and passersby a low-stakes reason to try the brand, and by the time the full restaurant opens, there is already a crowd that knows the name.
It is also another data point in a growing trend of Montreal restaurants making the move to Toronto, bringing their regulars’ expectations with them.
Stop by the cafe this week for a coffee and gelato, and keep an eye out for the dining room launch. Tell us what you would order first.