As it turns out old Hollywood glam and pop art are the perfect accompaniment to authentic Italian cuisine.

Written by Jordana Colomby

Location:  99 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON M5R 1C1

Must-try eats: Crab stuffed zucchini flowers with Parmigiano Reggiano and truffle and any of the pizzette

Libations: The Sorrentino: Belvedere Vodka, Cocchi Rosa, Cointreau, Bergamot Juice, honey syrup, and Angostura Bitters.

Where to sit so you’re in-and-out in 60 minutes: Outside on the patio, enjoying the atmosphere of Yorkville Village.

Vibe

Sofia is more than a restaurant, it’s a carefully curated art exhibit with excellent food, specialty cocktails, and major old Hollywood glamour vibes. Surrounded by modern art, Executive Chef Christine Mast cooks up feel-good food with elevated twists. The space is unlike anything else in the Toronto food scene: chic, modern, and bright. Yet, the red velvet couches, white chandeliers, and mirrored walls scream vintage elegance.

The artwork, however, is what makes Sofia stand out. Pop art and contemporary works from legends like Jeff Koons and Andy Warhol lend to Sofia’s fun and contemporary atmosphere. Accompanying the artwork is a grand piano in the middle of the floor for live music during the week; The perfect pairing to compliment to the sophisticated charm of Sofia. This isn’t your average power lunch, this is an upscale dining experience in the heart of Toronto’s art scene. Sofia acts as a showroom for pieces sourced from the Taglialatella Galleries, opening July 13 also in Yorkville, with the rest of the artwork coming from INK Entertainment CEO Charles Khabouth and President Danny Soberano. For a healthy dose of art and culture served alongside authentic Italian cuisine, Sofia is the place to be.

Food

Sofia offers authentic Italian cuisine with modern flair. Their bright and colourful dishes take advantage of seasonal vegetables, Italian delicacies, and classic crowd-pleasers. For a taste of Italian culture, try the crab stuffed zucchini flowers with Parmigiano Reggiano and truffle. After the antipasti, move on to a pasta, pizzetta, or panino for the main. Highlights include the fried eggplant sandwich with lemon aioli, radicchio, and sun-dried tomato or the Bucatini with Bolognese sauce. And like any true Italian restaurant, the lunch menu also offers a selection of fish, chicken, and steak.

Cooked to perfection and served with a side of vegetables, there’s no bells and whistles here, just good Italian cooking. For dessert, try their fruity take on a classic Italian sweet: bombolone stuffed with lemon curd and raspberries. The small, yet diverse, the menu will keep you coming back to try something new every time.

Drink

In keeping with the theme of the restaurant, the drink menu includes bubbles crafted in honour of some of art’s biggest names, like their bottle of Dom Perignon from the Andy Warhol Tribute Collection. Their luxury signature cocktail include a Grey Goose Vodka-based cocktail dubbed the Nights of Cabiria, which is made with Aperol, Cointreau, lime & grapefruit Juice, Jalapeño Black Pepper, Japanese Yuzu, and grapefruit syrup, and the Sorrentino made with Belvedere Vodka, Cocchi Rosa, Cointreau, Bergamot Juice, honey syrup, and Angostura Bitters.

Enjoy a cocktail or a glass of bubbly with your meal to get the full experience of a luxury lunch. And with half-priced aperitivo every weeknight, there’s no reason not to come back for happy hour, too.