New Eats: Vicolo

Our Italian may be a little rusty since our summer sojourn to Tuscany, but our taste buds have no problem with translation.

Take Montreal’s new Italian eatery, Vicolo. The name may mean “back alley,” but the restaurant, well-appointed in dark wood and lush leather and situated on a busy section of René-Levesque between Bishop and MacKay, is anything but hidden away. Helming the kitchen is chef Adam Zaitouni, previously of Grinder and Les Enfants Terribles, who puts out tasty plates like oh-so-tender Polpo Alla Griglia, char-grilled octopus paired parsley pesto, fingerling potato, red onion and olives, and Carpaccio di Manzo, featuring velvety strips of beef carpaccio adorned with black truffle, quail egg, parmesan, buttermilk dressing and pine nuts. We were unabashedly licking our fingers after the Old Gallina Cornovaglia—a crisp-skinned roasted Cornish hen served atop a rich mount of  "orgotto" with broccolito, carrots, lemon and tarragon. We recommend knocking back a few of the inventive cocktails created by Lawrence Picard of Nectar Mixologie for a completely indulgent evening.

Buon appetito! —Jennifer Nachshen

Vicolo, 1425 Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest, Montreal, 514-544-4405, Vicolo.ca