Alex Colle | Contributor
Featured image: Cucinetta is located in York Lanes and offers a number of combos at student friendly prices | Arfi Hagiyusuf
You people just don’t understand. Growing up as a first-generation Italian-Canadian, I was taught at a very young age one of the fundamental ideas of being an Italian. And the idea is simple. Above all else, there are two things that you must take flawless care of: your mother and your cooking.
Having the lowest expectations imaginable, in first year I entered the finely-named Cucinetta, which translates to “small kitchen”, hoping to break my streak of dining at well-meaning but disappointing fast food Italian restaurants, which sadly tend not to see cost over quality.
I was met with a warm and well-kept eatery that seemed almost out of place among the fast-paced restaurants of York Lanes. But none of this really mattered to me. I’ve eaten at absolutely beautiful Italian restaurants with unapologetically subpar food, and I’ve eaten at sketchy out-of-the-way diners in the worst parts of downtown Manhattan that had me shed a single tear at the taste of their pasta di mare.
After a couple of years of getting acquainted with Cucinetta, I can confidently say that I am happily satisfied with the only Italian restaurant on campus. And on a side note, if you consider Gino’s Pizza to be a part of this exclusive title then please promptly exit off of the bus in which you are currently sitting on.
“I went often last year for their breakfast burritos, which were awesome, and I recommend them to everyone,” says Shannon Farrell, a fourth-year theatre student.
“I feel quite at peace when I enter the restaurant.”
Here are some tips on your next visit:
BEST DISH: I am not a religious man, nor do I believe in the act of miracles. But when I first tasted Cucinetta’s prosciutto panini on a whim during a busy day at school, I swear I thought I heard my nonna calling my name from across York Lanes. The mix of succulent prosciutto with bocconcini, pesto, arugula and balsamic vinaigrette on warm chewy bread was a pleasant surprise that clearly tops any food item on the menu. It’s fresh, and no ingredient is over-stuffed in an attempt to mask others. There’s plenty of prosciutto to fill you up for a good portion of the day, and I recommend a cold can of Nestea to wash it down. Buono!
BEST DEAL: Although it won’t change any lives, I’m going to have to give the best deal stamp to the margherita pizza combo, which includes two slices of thick crust pizza, a side of Caesar salad, and a soft drink for a fair price of $7.95. The pizza is traditional, in terms of Italian-Canadian bakery standards. It should do the trick, though.
