Ovest

The food was fantastic and the server was extremely friendly. I really enjoyed the Gamberi Callemeri appetizer.

Modern Italian cuisine and fine wines are bountiful at the King West, cantina-​inspired, Ovest restaurant. This cozy 120-​seat space offers high ceilings, an illuminated bar, wine display, industrial flair, dimmed-​hanging lighting and an extensive food and drink menu to take your palette on a tantalizing journey. The menu is categorized into antipasto, salumi e formaggi, pizza, pasta, main dishes, sides and desserts.
Executive Chef, Danylo Mielnik, creates authentic Italian dishes with innovative twists using local and seasonal ingredients. He has added some excellent additions to the already vast menu and I recently attended a media preview dinner to try some of it out.
Tartar di Manzo — raw beef, caper, olive, shallot, arugula, egg, parmigiano
Fragola e Basilico — strawberry, baby spinach, basil, local ricotta di bufala, pistachio
Caprese di Tonno — raw albacore tuna, local mozzarella di bufala, basil pesto, crispy caper
Cavatelli — hand cranked semolina pasta, n’duja, rapini, garlic, pecorino
Gnocchi al Pomodoro — hand rolled potato gnocchi, Barese cherry tomato sauce with local ricotta di bufala
Giardino — San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, basil, spinach, roasted red pepper, ricotta salata
Merluzzo — B.C. black cod, sweet pea purée, confit cherry tomato, squid ink
Porchettina — 24-​hour sous vide Niagara pork shoulder, porchetta spices, beet and fennel purée
Crème brûlée, Tiramisu, Sicilian cannoli filling, Nutella mousse and Amarena cherries with puff pastry twists
The highlights for me were the caprese di tonno, cavatelli, gnocchi, and tiramisu. The caprese was an interesting take on the regular caprese salad. The fresh tuna with basil pesto really made this dish refreshing and light. It was easy to eat and a perfect start before the main dishes.
The cavatelli and gnocchi were both really well-​done pasta dishes. The fresh pasta and sauces were evident in texture and flavour and every ingredient came together fabulously. I really loved the spice in the cavatellii thanks to the n’duja.
The dessert we had was quite extravagant! The pastry chefs went all out and decided to create the dessert items right on the table. The live dessert making was impressively entertaining and beautifully orchestrated. It was almost too pretty to eat but I really mowed down on the fresh and creamy tiramisu.
My least favourite dish was the black cod. Maybe I’m spoiled because I have had many amazing buttery black cod dishes before but unfortunately this one seemed a bit overcooked and lacked flavour.
All of our dishes were paired with some fantastic vintage wines which really made the whole dining experience come together perfectly.
I had a wonderful time at Ovest and am really glad I discovered this Italian gem. Ovest makes the perfect dining experience for those looking for a cozy ambiance with absolutely fresh and flavourful Italian cuisine and an array of exclusive wines.

Parked in front of here to meet up with a colleague at a coffee shop. Then decided at 1pm we were hungry and decided to go inside as the patio looked very appealing, but since it was a really hot afternoon, we decided to eat indoors.
The ambiance was very striking. It looked like a high end restaurant, yet it was rustic and tastefully decorated. The bar is in the middle which gives it a unique look and the kitchen in the back is exposed so you can watch them do their magic.
I ordered the Grilled Octopus and Cuttlefish (appetizer) as my main, and had the Zuppa Di Giori (tomato bisque soup?) and my wife had the Risotto Di Giorno.
All the dishes were very tasty and the right temperature when they arrived. The presentation of the dishes were fantastic and the prices are on par for an upscale establishment.
In my opinion, this would make a wonderful romantic spot, a boys/​night out and a place I could bring my clients!

Great food, beautiful décor, and ample space. Staff is very passionate and love what they are doing. Highly recommend this place, especially if you are hosting a high profile event.

Very unimpressed with this place. Initially seated by the input screens even though there were ample open tables in the venue. Wine and food orders were taken hurriedly, and food brought before bread, despite requesting that bread precede appetizers (shouldn’t that be obvious?) Half the wine menu was out of stock, which didn’t inspire much confidence. My side dish was also delayed 20 minutes, meaning in reality I ate green beans for dessert. No wonder it was so easy to get a reservation on a Friday. Should have known better.

Visited last night with my two girlfriends for a nice dinner out. After seeing reviews online and pics of the food, we were excited to go and try this new «hidden gem» as some had reviewed.
Our reservation was for 8:30pm and we didn’t leave until 11:00pm. This wasn’t because we were having such an amazing time chatting, it’s because it took forever to get our food and the service was so slow. Our server would go from table to table chatting to other patrons — it took 30 mins to get our $ 70 bottle of wine! The place wasn’t even busy — tons of tables available. The food came and it was good but I’ve had better Italian at the same price point (Figo for example).
Overall I left exhausted and underwhelmed. I’d suggest finding another place to spend your Saturday night.

I have walked by this place so many times and have under estimates the cuteness and the romantic appearance from the inside! What a nice date spot!!!
Service was fantastic from the hostess, to our server to the owner who came by to ask how everything was.
We started with the beet salad (which I didn’t try), the marinated octopus which was my fav and the beef tartare which had a really nice flavour. For my entrée I had the sea bass which was prepared nicely — really flakey, a bit salty but overall really nice. And finally… that crème brûlée…that thing was fabulous. I almost regret getting it to share. ;)
Would definitely return to this gem!

on a Saturday night, some friends of ours decided to find a new venue, and what better place than Ovest. Located just west of Bathurst street on King, Ovest is a beautiful Italian restaurant that’s serving up some good cooking.
Upon waiting for our tables our entourage were provided some Prosecco in a designated area prior to being seated at our tables.
The ambiance is surrounded by walls of wine bottles, contemporary fixtures with a rustic feel/​twist to it. At the back, is a perfect view of the open concept kitchen where chefs are cooking a storm.
For the works we ordered two pizzas, margaritas which was their basic rated at a 3.5. Secondly their eggplant with feta which had big slices of eggplant and was a lot more delightful than the margarita.
Their choices of wines were great as we ordered glasses of chianti.
Overall the place has a great ambiance and you’re definitely paying for it lol no bones about it. However if you love picture taking, you’ll have plenty of spots to choose one.

Ovest Cucina is the best restaurant experience for me this year!!! We stumbled across this gem on King St W early summer when I wanted to wolf down a pizza when my friend didn’t want to go to a pizza joint in her lovely summer dress. We had a fantastic dinner!
Ambiance:
We love the patio and the décor inside of the restaurant. It was elegant and the bar area was very beautiful.
Service:
When we entered, the hostess greeted us with prosecco. Our server introduced himself, told us he was from Milan and ensured all the dishes were authentic Italian fare. He was really friendly and took his time to explain the menu to us. He even retold the story behind a negroni cocktail. (The menu said to ask them about it and I thought it was a joke.) He constantly checked up on us to see how did we like our food or if we needed anything. After we finished each course, he would come to clean our table. The service was excellent and attentive.
Everything we ordered was so delicious! We had:
— Tartar Di Manzo (Beef Tartar, saffron Aioli, Quail Eggs, Black Truffle)
Quail eggs and truffle on beef tartar? It was very flavourful. The beef was really fresh. I did not expect it but our server even served us the beef tartar on to our plates because we were sharing.
— N’Duja E Cipolla (White Pizza with Mozzarella, N’Duja, Caramelized Onions)
I was so happy that the menu offered white pizza because it is so hard to find a good one. N’Duja is a spicy Italian sausage. The crust of the pizza was thin, the white sauce was perfect, and the sweetness of the caramelized onions complimented really well with the spicy sausage. One of the greatest pizzas I’ve had!
— Risotto Milanes Con Burrata E Tartufo (Saffron Risotto, Burrata Cheese, Black Truffle)
Generous serving of black truffle! The risotto was so creamy. Who wouldn’t like the creamy softness of burrata cheese in the risotto?
— Chocolate Surprise
Oh this surprising «chocolate surprise» dessert! What was the surprise? We found out when our server drizzled warm caramel sauce on the chocolate ball and it revealed the nutella, berries and pistachio inside. This dessert was very delicate!
— Pistachio ice cream
The kitchen accommodated my wish for a scoop of the pistachio ice cream without the apple pie. The ice cream was made in-​house and was very smooth and rich in texture. Too bad it was on the sweet side to complement the tartness of apple.
I will definitely come back! Highly recommend Ovest to anyone looking for good food, excellent service, and authentic Italian food.

We came here for an event — the drinks and the food were amazing, and the people who work at Ovest are so friendly!
This definitely means I need to come back with friends for dinner and drinks! (AKA another review will be in order… I imagine they will further impress me and my tastebuds!)

This was an amazing experience overall. Upon entrance we were greeted with a glass of champagne and a bite size carpaccio.
The food was delicious:
Agnolotti Del Plin (made in-​house) which is buffalo ricotta and swiss chard stuffed angolotti in butter sauce and black truffle
Griliata Mista (great for sharing) ½ lobster, tiger shrimp, scallop and calamari grilled to charred perfection.
Modern décor and elegant atmosphere. The service was very attentive and timely.

Pleasantly surprised with the nontraditional Italian fare. Definitely returning to try the rest of the menu. Restaurant is relatively new, but hopefully they change up their menu regularly.
Service was exceptional. Staff was attentive, and sincere with their recommendations.
Finally, the atmosphere was just right.

Here on a Tuesday, nothing short of excellent. Tartar, Parma nest and Buffala pizza. Dessert was the apple tart.
Lamanero primativo 2013 is what we drank. It was terrific.

Awesome, great staff. Menu to please all tastes. Highly recommend for groups or a date night.

Nice ambiance, décor and very friendly server, mediocre food but waited TWO HOURS FOR OUR MAIN ENTRÉE. The owner or manager came to check up on us when the bill came and acted dumb like he didn’t know we waited that long. Just own up to it that woukd have been better. Maybe a little racist too, since they (managers or owners) personally served everyone else’s table except for ours. First time and definitely the last… Too bad cuz we live so close and the only reason why we came because we always pass by it.

Do not go! Pretentious, slow, complicated, and empty! Contrary to what Mark G. wrote, I am a «King West local» resident who lives on the same block, and i wouldn’t recommend this place. Service is terrible, and very slow because the staff are on their cell phones all the time. Presumably the chef is too, because it takes an hour to get food, even when you are the only table in the house. Presentation is nice, but small portions and no wow moments. It’s all window dressing. You can smell the desperation. I give it 3 more months.

Not sure why the previous comments. Came here and had a wonderful experience. THIS PLACE is awesome!!! Wine, Prosecco and Drinks that my group ordered was superb. The food, excellent. And the service even better. Very attentive from the moment we walked in. Those who maybe had not a great experience should really come back. Well worth it!

I’ve eaten here 4 times, once at the bar. The food is amazing. Chef Luca is the best! The service is amazing. I love that most of the staff speak Italian. Everyone is very warm & welcoming. The wine selection is great. Food was slow to come to table but we weren’t in a rush. Overall, a wonderful dining experience. Highly recommended!

PARTIAL REVIEW
Carpaccio di Polipo ($ 21)
Octopus Carpaccio with Sea Urchin Bottarga, Pomegranate and Lemon Juice
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This dish is a must for octopus lovers. The flavour of the delicate seafood was truly enhanced by the sea urchin bottarga while the sweet pops of pomegranate arils balanced out the rich umami on the plate.
Carpaccio di Pesce Spada ($ 20)
Smoked Swordfish Carpaccio with Fennel and Orange
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Satiny swordfish paired with sweet fennel, bright orange and a salty bite of anchovy. Pricey, yes, fancy, no, but decidedly well done.
Caprese di Tonno ($ 18)
Whipped Bufala Mozzarella with Tuna Tartar
14
Another stellar dish. I loved the creamy mozzarella with the meaty chopped tartar, crispy sweet parsnip chips and the herbaceous basil dressing. My only criticism would be that I had wished there were some little crostini to add some textural contrast to an otherwise compilation of «soft» foods.
Agnolotti del Plin ($ 23)
Agnolotti Stuffed with Veal Shank, Finished in Butter, Fresh Truffle and Parmigiano
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Oh boy, this was absolute heaven on a plate. Perfectly al dente agnolotti with unctuous sweet meat mixed with a perfect balance of luscious butter, salty cheese and aromatic truffle. Serious perfection for pasta lovers.
N’Duja E Cipolla Pizza ($ 20)
Mozzarella, N’Duja and Caramelized Onions
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A beautifully blistered pizza with a nice balance of chewy and crispy bits, cooked all the way through without any soggy spots. I also loved the combination of the milk mozzarella, the spicy sausage and the sweet soft onions on top. While all of the pizzas on the menu looked fantastic, I would come back specifically for this one in a heartbeat.
Merluzzo ($ 34)
Pan Seared Black Cod with Lentils
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At this point, I was pretty full, but Chef Luca and our server suggested this was a really special dish to try. Simple, it was, but man, why mess with a good thing. The cod was cooked just shy of done in the centre so that the flesh stayed moist, and buttery in contrast with the wickedly crispy skin. I also am not usually a huge fan of lentils but these were earthy without being unpleasantly starchy.
Apple Tart ($ 10)
Frangipane with Rose Bud Apples and Caramel with Pistachio Gelato
21
I had the pleasure of meeting the talented pastry chef responsible for painstakingly crafting each of these babies by hand. The result was something to marvel at. The moist and frangipane shell was filled with sweet apple rosettes made even more tantalizing by the droplets of caramel inside. That alone would have been a treat, but the creamy pistachio gelato really added a nice nutty compliment to the frangipane and a pretty colour with the blush pink rosettes.
Chocolate Bird’s Nest ($ 9)
Chocolate Cream Ganache on a Biscotti Praline Cookie, Spun Chocolate Nest, Cinnamon and Coffee Candied Pistachios
22
This here would be perfect for the chocolate fiend at your table, but is rich enough that they’ll hopefully want to share. I loved the play on textures– the luxurious ganache, the crunchy cookie, the crisp nest and the candied bite of the nuts. Yum.
Sicilian Cannoli ($ 8)
Red Wine Poached Pear, Pistachios, and Figs
23
I wasn’t going to get this dessert too, but Luca convinced me otherwise. Cannoli are without a doubt one of my favourite desserts of all time, and Ovest’s version did not disappoint. Kept simple (the Sicilian way), the cookie shell was filled with some of the most ethereal ricotta cream I’ve ever had. No chocolate, no candied citrus, no nuts inside– nothing else is needed when the baseline tastes like eating a sweet creamy cloud.
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Closing Remarks:
–In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at Ovest Cucina e Vineria and am looking forward to returning again soon. The cocktails I tried were both tasty, the wine list was plentiful, the space was beautiful, food was truly comforting and the service was beyond inviting. I was really impressed with Chef Luca’s respect for the integrity of good ingredients as he proved that sometimes you don’t need to mess with a good thing. Meanwhile, just being in his company with the rest of his friendly, passionate staff truly made me enjoy my experience even more.
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–With such a large space, I would definitely recommend Ovest for an intimate date night, a quick glass of wine with charcuterie at the bar or of course a larger group event. No, this is not exactly cheap and cheerful Italian fare, especially if you opt more for the pricier meat or fish options rather than the pizza or pastas, but I do think it’s comparable with others in the King West hood.
*This meal was comp.

I was very excited to try this restaurant out. When we arrived, our immediate thoughts were that it was a beautiful restaurant however we were left standing at the front for far too long considering there was only one other table in the restaurant taken. We even made reservations!
When we sat down, we were greeted by our server who was quite new and had minimal knowledge of the menu. We started with the chef plate for our appetizer made up of sliced salami and cheese but did not receive this for 40 minutes! Strange!
At this point, we were starving and a bit flustered. My one friend actually had to leave before she could even order dinner because the drinks & appetizers took so long. Huge disappointment as this dinner was suppose to be a time for us to catch up.
When my remaining friend and I ordered dinner, we thought perhaps because the chef was making these, that the wait time would be less. Nope. We waited almost an hour for our mains and they were both a huge disappointment. Small portions and nothing special. I forgot to mention that the restaurant was getting a bit busier now, perhaps 4 or 5 other tables now (wow!).
Our server could tell that we were pretty upset and mentioned that we can order dessert on the house. That was appreciated however when we received our bill, the desserts were not taken off so we had to wait for this to be corrected. Lovely.
Overall, a huge disappointment. Perhaps they should close down and learn how to fully operate before going public. I would not recommend this place to anyone.