Journey to Italy - via King St. E.
By Rita DeMontis, TORONTO SUN

MANGIA E BEVI -- eat and drink! It's Italian for enjoying a great meal with excellent food and wonderful company. It's also the name of a new Italian eatery with a definite new twist. "It's a social hangout with a very European flair to it," is how uber chef and caterer Eleonora Caldato and her charming brother Federico describe their new eating digs on King St. E.

BRISK BUSINESS

This is food from the northern regions of Italy, where the two siblings hail from. And right now the food is quick and easy -- eat in or take out. Open just one week, business is extremely brisk for the generously-stuffed pressed sandwiches -- like the "Mangiacake -- ham, marinated funghi, Fruilano cheese, horseradish mayo on a baguette" for $6.50." Or the Senatore sandwich of grilled lemon chicken, brie, sundried tomato spread, arugula on a Portuguese bun, again only $6.50. There are other sandwiches, too, including vegetarian, along with an array of salads, fresh soups of the day -- cream of carrot with ricotta and blood oranges was on the menu the day we visited -- fresh pastas and a small but excellent "colazioni" breakfast selection.

"One of our most popular selections is the Campione sandwich -- Nutella on hot toast or brioche. It seems to be a particularly big hit with our pregnant clientele!" laughs Eleanora.

There's excellent coffee from Tuscany-- espresso, cappuccino, caffelatte or cioccolata.

With its warm, brick walls and comfortable wooden tables, along with the artwork along the walls, a menu that's full of gentle culinary surprises at very reasonable prices, Mangia e Bevi has a delightful ambience that makes one nostalgic for a trattoria in Italy.

With this restaurant, you don't have to get on a jetplane for a fast Italian fix!

Open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, for now. There's a liquor licence in the works, says Eleanora, who plans on serving little merende-type tapas treats in the evening once everything's in place.

Mangia e Bevi, 260 King St. E. 416 203-1635, Mbresto.com

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Revised: April 18, 2005