Oggi: today’s Italian cuisine

”Today’s Italian cuisine” is how we would best describe Oggi restaurant, which fits perfectly when one considers that “oggi” in Italian means today.

Today’s cooking however, would mean nothing without help from the past and Nonna (the grandmother) generously lends her support in the kitchen.

Brothers Renato and Daniele Carpanzano, whose family is originally from Calabria, in southern Italy, one of the poorest areas in the peninsula, manage the restaurant, which can accommodate more than 200 people. Nonna’s recipes are never far.

From the lunch table d’hôte we opt for rich and creamy broccoli soup, accentuated by freshly grated parmesan cheese and sprinkled with freshly ground pepper. For our main meals, I choose the vitello al Dijon ($17), a veal cutlet covered in a creamy Dijon sauce, accompanied by roasted potatoes and still-crunchy vegetables. The dish is delightful. The veal quickly disappears and the broccoli, carrots and peppers melt in my mouth.

My friend opts for a spicier dish, linguini con pollo arrabbiata ($14), a generous dish of linguini pasta with slices of grilled chicken, served in a spicy tomato sauce and sprinkled with fresh herbs. A dish that not all mouths can handle, as you run the risk of seeing red (arrabbiata means ‘mad’ in Italian.)

The restaurant also offers a large choice of pasta dishes ($13-21), pizza ($14), some meat dishes – veal and chicken, two with beef ($26-28) and one with lamb ($34), as well as a small selection of seafood dishes (ranging from $16 to $25).

On the dessert front, the Black Forest Cake that accompanied the lunch special looked like a little too much, but the restaurant offers daily desserts à la carte.

Oggi is a BYOB, so customers can bring their own wine. If you’ve forgotten it, not to worry! Oggi is located close to an SAQ Express. That being said, you can order an alcoholic aperitif.

While it was quiet in the large dining room during our lunch, every Thursday night customers can enjoy live music. Despite the size of the room, the space between the tables allows for some intimacy and privacy. As well, the spacious and beautiful terrace is probably one of the biggest attractions of this establishment and will certainly prove to be quite popular in the coming weeks and months to come. It’s advisable to reserve for the evenings, particularly if you are a group.

The price of the lunch table d’hôte, which includes salad or soup, dessert and coffee, ranges between $14 and $17. The restaurant also offers an extensive lunch buffet, with salads, pasta, different vegetables, meat, etc. for the moderate price of $9.95.

Oggi is located at 3689, boulevard St-Jean, in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, and has parking available. The restaurant is open Monday to Friday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

For more information, contact 514-620-0034.