Right in the heart of Little Italy, a new restaurant is offering locals the opportunity to taste everything Spain and Italy have to offer without ever leaving the city. Casa Paco pays homage to European recipes and culinary tradition through an ever-changing menu, and even with finishing touches in the decor, which showcases wooden details and deep, rich colours alongside plants and portrait walls.
Since opening a couple of weeks ago, the menus have already changed a handful of times to include dishes like house-made gnocchi served in duck ragu, Mahone Bay scallops served over charcoal with herbs and saffron, and Pasticcio di Funghi, which is a Venetian recipe featuring layers of delicate crepes, mushrooms, bechamel and black truffle.
On Family Day, Casa Paco also introduced a new, Spanish-inspired tradition: Paella Sundays. The event includes a $45 per person prix fixe menu that includes tomato bread and olives, grilled artichoke, marinated zucchini salad, and the choice of a seafood, meat or vegetarian paella. The central dish, paella, is a rice-based food that originates from Valencia, Spain, and is often associated with Spanish cuisine and culture. It's often infused with spices like saffron as well as protein, and the entire dish is served in one pan.
The cocktail menu is also heavily influenced by European flavours, and includes creations like the Sicillionaire, made with Bourbon and Amaretto and mixed with notes of cherry, lemon and ginger. Cocktails can be enjoyed with snacks in the bar area or in the dining area with the full dinner menu.
Casa Paco is open on weekends only, on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., with Paella Sundays, held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant is located at 50c Clinton Street, just off of College Street.
