With their authentic Italian focus this newly opened restaurant is situated inside the Italian Cultural Centre where they are serving authentic Italian pizzas, pasta, panini and more! With accomplished Head Chef James Buchanan running the kitchen they are cooking without butter and cream, with high quality ingredients imported from Italy. The restaurant features seating inside as well as outside on the patio. You will find a good selection of Italian wines by the glass and by the bottle.

I visited for lunch and enjoyed these dishes that started off with their Rucola (arugula and cherry tomatoes) salad, their outstanding Polpette di Manzo (meatballs made with beef, pork and pancetta); and their Burrata (imported from Puglia) that is served with their outstanding house-made focaccia.

Next was the outstanding Margherita pizza (48 hour dough) that is pillowy and crispy for easy digestion topped with a cheese (made in Salmon Arm). All the pastas are made in house as well from the Spaghetti ala carbonara, and the Bucatini all’amatrciana to the pillowy Gnocchi al Pomodoro.

They also offer a selection of panini (only available at lunch) and we had the Crudo panini with fine prosciutto. The Ferrari is another new addition and it is basically a stuffed sandwich similar to a calzone but smaller and it is divine.

Of course there are also some Italian desserts and both the Salted Caramel Budino as well as the Tiramisu were delicious.

Osteria al Centro is located at 3075 Slocan Street in Vancouver and is open for both lunch and dinner Wednesday – Sunday, you can find them on Instagram @osteria_al_centro 

By: Richard Wolak