Italian restaurant and Toronto bar located in historic venue are permanently closing
A restaurant and bar located in the same historic building in Toronto's Bloorcourt community are gearing up to permanently close their doors this summer.
Italian restaurant Osteria Rialto and speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar Bar Biltmore are both located inside the Paradise Theatre complex, a 1937 Art Deco heritage venue at Bloor Street West and Westmoreland Avenue.
Osteria Rialto, which opened up just a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, boasts a menu crafted by Executive Chef Jesse Serratore, inspired by his family’s southern Italian heritage and classic cooking rooted in Ligurian, Emilian, Tuscan and Roman traditions.
Bar Biltmore's seasonal outdoor patio overlooks Bloor Street, and the cocktail bar itself boasts a range of beverages, from fruity concoctions to more complex drinks and even alcohol-free options.
In an announcement to their Instagram pages on Thursday, staff at the restaurant and bar announced that both of the businesses would be permanently closing.
Dozens of loyal customers flooded to the announcement to post heartbroken emojis and words of support.
"Very sorry to hear this news! Such a wonderful spot for the neighborhood and beyond! You will be missed," one person wrote under Osteria Rialto's post.
"So sad to hear this. Osteria/Biltmore were such special venues to me. So many amazing memories there. Will be sure to come back one last time. Toronto is losing a great restaurant," another person said.
Osteria Rialto noted that its sister restaurant, Cafe Paradise, will remain open, along with its neighbour, Blue Door Wine Shop, which is also located inside the Paradise Theatre.
According to customer comments and available reservations on OpenTable, it looks like the restaurant and bar will both be closing on Saturday, August 3, so if you haven't already, there's still plenty of time to book one last dinner or date at the two businesses.
blogTO reached out to Osteria Rialto to inquire about the reasoning behind the closures but did not receive a response back in time for this article's publication.
Fareen Karim
