In Italian, la casetta is a phrase affectionately used for a small home or cottage, and that's exactly the kind of energy Leaside's newest pizzeria is offering to its patrons.
Offering authentic handmade dishes of Italian cuisine, from salads to hearty pastas, the eatery is most known for its Neapolitan-style pizzas, and each dish is inspired from regions across Italy. Each of La Casetta's pizzas is crafted with handmade, 72-hour fermented dough, made with a truly authentic recipe and finished in classically-inspired flavours, from quattro formaggi (four cheese) to marinara to tartufo.
In addition to the red (sauce-based) and white (foccaccia-style) pizzas, La Casetta also boasts handmade appetizers, salads, pastas and more, from the Tonnarelli Cacio E Pepe, made with white truffle paste, pecorino and black pepper to the homemade potato gnocchi topped with San Marzano tomato sauce (pomodoro sauce in Italian) and fresh ricotta. Appetizers include a soup of the day, polpette (handmade spicy Italian meatballs) and calamari served both grilled and fried.
On the restaurant's drink menu, a selection of red and white wines meets Italian beers and a cocktail program that evokes beachside Italian ristorantes. Opt for The Corleone, made with bourbon, cassis, dry vermouth and lemon juice, or go for a traditional Aperol Spritz or Negroni. Unique to La Casetta, though, are a vanilla-infused take on an espresso martini as well as a drink called the Siciliano, concocted with vodka, Blue Curacao, Amaretto and lime juice.
Of course, no Italian meal would be complete without traditional desserts, ranging from a classic tiramisu to cannolis and a selection of Italian ice cream.
La Casetta opened in October, just after Thanksgiving, at 900 Millwood Road. It's open from Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
