Tappo Wine Bar & Restaurant       647.430.1111   lunch and dinner Tues-Fri, dinner Sat-Sun

This little Italian restaurant is tucked away in Toronto’s charming distillery district.  Inside the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and in the summer Tappo has one of the nicest patios in the area.  Tonight is the last night of Winterlicious, and it’s my first. 

Carpaccio di Manzo is a delight but could do without the globs of citrus aioli, smothering the paper-thin protein.  The Arrancini di Pomodoro is simple however, under seasoned and a little soggy, not to mention it’s lukewarm.

An over-cooked salmon in padella is sided with a lovely sweet and savory spinach salsa.  The Lombo d’agnello (oven roasted lamb top sirloin ) though deeply flavoured is smothered by over-seasoned accompaniments.

 The dessert course brings a silky, but average crème caramel, and a soggy cannoli di pistachio.

 Winterlicious does what it is supposed to do: get people out to dine in what is considered the slowest period of business for restaurants in Toronto.  For the price you pay it’s a great deal, just don’t expect grandeur.  A note to the chef I would use this “licious” not to display an economical menu but rather showcase signature dishes and grab attention, rather than going through the motions