Sotto Sotto destroyed in three-alarm fire
A massive Christmas Day fire in Yorkville has destroyed Italian restaurant Sotto Sotto, long known as a popular hangout for visiting celebrities, as well as its upstairs neighbour, Spuntini. The blaze brought more than 20 fire trucks and 80 firefighters to the Avenue Rd. building, which is reportedly at risk of collapsing. "Daylight will show us the extent of the damage, but (the building is) gone," Peter Catarino, the owner of Spuntini, told the Toronto Star, adding he was "devastated".
The cause of the blaze is not yet known; though both restaurants were closed for Christmas Day, some catering was reportedly being done in the Sotto Sotto kitchen this afternoon. The only reported injury so far is one firefighter, who was treated for minor injuries.
The extravagant Sotto Sotto was well-known as a frequent stop for visiting celebrities, particularly during TIFF, and the foyer was papered with photos of famous diners. The restaurant recently gained a boost in profile after Drake name-checked it in a verse - after he caught word of the fire, he posted a tribute to Instagram).
Photo via davinhenson on Instagram.
