Centro is the place to go for imported Italian foods. This family-run shop has been in the Corso Italia neighbourhood for over 30 years, and it’s one of my mum’s favourite places to shop. Upon entering, you will see an enormous array of cheeses hanging from the ceiling, a deli counter stretching the entire length of the store, and shelves with cookies, crackers, pasta, coffee, olive oil and other delights from Italy.
While some of the cheese and deli sold is locally produced, most of the products are imported directly from Italy. The cheese sold here is some of the finest. My mum will only buy her beloved parmigiano reggiano here and I really love the taleggio and gorgonzola, always fresh and tasty.
The deli meats are great too, and you can have a panino, or sandwich, made right before your eyes. The lady behind the counter can fill up a freshly baked bun with whatever your heart desires: prosciutto, mortadella, marinated eggplants, salami, etc.
My mum and I always try to get here before lunch, so we can head to the back of the store where there is a very modest dining area serving some of the best homemade Italian food. The place is usually filled to capacity, so getting here just before noon is a must. Whether it’s a veal sandwich with tomato sauce and roasted red peppers with mozarella, two sausages with rapini or dandelion on the side, lasagna with salad, homemade ravioli, and even Italian wedding soup, there is no skimping here. Portions are generous, the food is superb and the price is great - lunch will cost roughly $10 or so.

www.centrotrattoria.com
1224 St. Clair Avenue West (near Dufferin)
Toronto, Canada
+1 416 656 8111
Google map: bit.ly/GPtJ3g

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