3296 East 1^st Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-251-1122

Web: http://www.pooritalian.com/

Twitter: n/a

Advice: Reservations suggested, free parking.

My friend Ajay joined me for a delightful dinner recently at this Eastside Italian, within minutes I noticed friends Rick and Kathleen being seated at a nearby table. This was a first time visit for all of us as it turned out, and we were fortunate to be able to meet Executive Chef John Costanzi and to talk to him about his classic Italian cooking.

The large and colourful room was bustling with dinners on this Monday evening. To begin I had a glass of Di Lenardo Pinot Grigio IGT 2008 (Italy) and Ajay had a glass of the Piccini Chianti DOC 2008 (Italy). We each had the Roasted Beet and Burrata Salad ($12) Crispy pancetta, shallot and pine nut vinaigrette to start, we then shared the Linguine Vongole ($18) White wine, garlic, fresh clams, and for our entrée we each had the delicious Grilled Rack of Lamb ($32) Balsamic glazed cipollini onion and rosemary jus. We both loved the cipollini onion glaze with the lamb which made for an outstanding dish.

We were both quite full, however dessert was in order. We shared two desserts the Dark Chocolate Terrine ($11) with red wine sorbet, cracked sea salt and the outstanding Tortino d‘Olio Warm Olive Oil Cake ($9), with sweet rosemary gelato.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Vancouver, BC V5M, Canada