Bring a taste of La Piazza Dario home with Chef Claudio's homemade goodies!

Spring is finally here! The sun is shining and air is breezy. We highly recommend joining us on our patio for fresh, authentic Italian cuisine, lovingly made by our own, Chef Claudio. However, we understand how nice it is to enjoy the sunshine in our own backyards and decks. That's why we are happy to share a few of Chef Claudio's tasty sauces and dips with you!

We're selling our house tapenade and authentic tomato sauce so you can bring the flavours of our kitchen home to yours.

Come on by to pick up your sauce and bread dip!

See you soon!

La storia di La Piazza Dario! Get to know the story behind one of Vancouver's best kept secrets!

When we say that La Piazza Dario has some history, we mean it. Our restaurant has been in business for almost 40 years, having opened its doors in 1977 alongside the Italian Cultural Centre in East Vancouver. Two years after La Piazza Dario opened, a young Claudio Ranallo joined the culinary team, instantly adding his warm, personal touch to each plate of food that he lovingly prepared. Not long after he began his tenure with La Piazza Dario, Claudio became Head Chef Claudio, and just five years later, in 1984, he was made a partner in the business.

Learn more about Chef Claudio Ranallo.

Since then, La Piazza Dario has become somewhat of an institution, consistently offering delicious, authentic Italian cuisine for the city of Vancouver. It is now a family owned and operated restaurant; one that continues to pride itself on serving exceptional Italian meals and warmly welcoming lunch and dinner parties of all size to its tables. At La Piazza Dario, you will find that each of our dishes are inspired by classic Italian food and ingredients. This is the way it has always been done. Our menus continue to be comprised of traditional Italian selections such as antipasti, pastas, Italian desserts and more. If you love Italian food and have yet to visit us for a meal, you will not be disappointed!

Grazie for taking the time to read our story. Now that you know it, we invite you to come experience La Piazza Dario in person! Make your reservation by telephone at 604-430-2195 or online via OpenTable.

(Images via La Piazza Dario)

Come celebrate the weekend with our Head Chef's specialty: spaghetti alla "Claudio"!

As one of the finest Italian restaurants in Vancouver, we are extremely proud of our wide selection of authentic pasta dishes. Consisting of pasta that has been handmade with care by our Head Chef, Claudio Ranallo, and combined with fresh, traditional Italian ingredients, our pasta dishes will have you feeling like you've been whisked away to Italy for the evening.



Among one of our absolute favourite pasta dishes here at La Piazza Dario is the spaghetti alla "Claudio". This dish is, of course, named after our Head Chef, as no one can make an authentic, mouthwatering plate of spaghetti quite like Chef Claudio. Spaghetti alla "Claudio" is made with fresh, handmade spaghetti pasta and sundried tomatoes sautéed in garlic, complete with fresh herbs. A classic meal with a delicious twist. You will not regret ordering this item off of the menu!

Peruse the rest of our dinner menu and call us at 604-430-2195 to make your reservation today. We look forward to welcoming you to our table!

La Piazza Dario is thrilled to have received a Diners' Choice Award from OpenTable!

Earlier this year, OpenTable diners voted and selected La Piazza Dario as a 2015 Diners' Choice of the month! The Diners' Choice Awards are presented to restaurants based on diners' real time feedback, and celebrate the top-rated dining establishments, giving them greater visibility on OpenTable.com. Learn more about the OpenTable Diners' Choice Award.

We are, of course, thrilled to have received such wonderful praise from our patrons! Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience with our restaurant through OpenTable. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Book your reservation for lunch or dinner this week by visiting OpenTable and come to our table with an open heart.

Learn more about La Piazza Dario and our Head Chef, Claudio Ranallo. Or have a look at what's on the menu!

October 25th is World Pasta Day! Come celebrate with us at La Piazza Dario.

The month of October brings about many wonderful festivities and celebrations. Which means, having just celebrated the first official holiday of the fall season last weekend for Thanksgiving, there are still plenty of events to look forward to this month!

Among these events is the internationally recognized World Pasta Day. Celebrated every year on October 25th, World Pasta Day is held in honour of pasta, helping to spread the word on its nutritional values. In Milan, World Pasta Day will be held in conjunction with Expo Milano 2015, and will be followed by World Pasta Congress on October 26th and 27th, which occurs every five years. Both World Pasta Day and Congress will take inspiration from the theme of this year's Expo: "Feeding the planet, energy for life."

Learn more about Milan's World Pasta Day and Congress.

In honour of World Pasta Day, we warmly welcome you to our table to celebrate this delicious Italian specialty. La Piazza Dario is proud to offer an incredible selection of different pasta dishes, all handmade by Chef Claudio Ranallo!

Discover the many La Piazza Dario pasta dishes on our menu!

Visit La Piazza Dario at the Italian Cultural Centre's Il Mercato Italian Market!

Earlier this year we shared that Il Centro's Italian Market - the only Italian market in Vancouver - was back for another season. While we didn't have a booth set up throughout the earlier dates this year, we are pleased to announce that should you drop by in the coming months, you will find us at our very own booth!

La Piazza Dario is excited to not only be located right beside the Italian Cultural Centre and, therefore, the Italian Market, but also to have the opportunity to take part in Il Mercato! Stop by and visit our booth and then make your way to La Piazza Dario for a delicious Italian dinner created by our head chef, Claudio Ranallo. In case you're unable to make it for a full meal, we will be selling Chef Claudio's famous tomato sauce and authentic bread dip so that you can take a little piece of our authentic Italian cooking home.

The next date for Il Mercato is Friday, August 21st. Following that, there will be three more dates, all of which Il Centro added due to the previous success of Il Mercato! The specific dates are listed below.

• September 18th
• October 16th
• November 20th

We hope to see you there! For more information, visit MERCATO Italian Market.

(Image via Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre and Jessica Ranallo-Baek)

Celebrate Italian Heritage Month this year with Italian cuisine and festivities!

Every year, throughout the month of June, Vancouver and the rest of British Columbia celebrates Italian Heritage Month. This year is no exception with plenty of fun-filled events that have been taking place all month long, celebrating Italian culture.

Here in Vancouver, Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre has been celebrating Italian Heritage Month throughout June by providing activities and events that pay tribute to Italian heritage. As we wrap up this month, if you have yet to make it to any of the Italian Heritage Month events that Il Centro has put on, there are still many left to attend, including banquets, festivals, concerts, and more! Visit the Italian Cultural Centre's website for more details on the days and times of each event.

Come join us at La Piazza Dario for dinner and celebrate Italian culture with authentic Italian cuisine created by our very own Chef Claudio Ranallo. Chef Claudio has been cooking since he was a small boy, born and raised in Ateleta, l’Aquila, Italy - it doesn't get much more authentic Italian than that!

Call 604.430.2195 to make your reservation, or reserve a table with us online through OpenTable.

Happy Italian Heritage Month!

(Image via Italian Cultural Centre)

Chef Claudio's delightful combination of pistachio and fettuccine is delizioso!

You will never forget the first time you try Chef Claudio Ranallo's pistachio pasta, or fettuccine al pistacchio as it's listed on the menu. Don't let the seemingly simple combination of pasta and pistachios fool you; it is far from a plain dish of pasta.

All at once flavourful, unique, yet reminiscent of your favourite comfort food, this dish is sure to please all who taste it! And don't even get us started on the fresh, al dente fettuccine that comprises this lovely plate of Italian heaven. Or the incredible pistachio pesto cream sauce covering it, for that matter!

If you've never had the pleasure of eating fresh pasta, you're in for a wonderful treat. All of our pasta, including the fettuccine for this mouthwatering dish, is made fresh every day. Read Muah! Pasta Fresca! for more information on our delicious fresh pasta.


Join us this weekend and experience this unforgettable dish for yourself! Make your reservation online at OpenTable or give us a call at 604.430.2195.

Pistachios not for you? Peruse the rest of our Dinner Menu.

Divertimento! returns to La Piazza Dario for another delicious fundraiser!



We're thrilled to once again be the venue for this year's Divertimento! fundraising event! Taking place next month on Wednesday, May 27th, we're looking forward to welcoming the Vancouver Chamber Choir as they host another evening of entertainment, fundraising - including a silent auction - and, of course, Italian cuisine by none other than Chef Claudio.

In support of the Vancouver Chamber Choir's Community Outreach and Education Programs, this is one event you won't want to miss!

The Details:

When: 

6:30 pm on Wednesday, May 27th, 2015

Where: 

La Piazza Dario!

Ticket Cost: 

$135

Ticket Purchase: 

Tickets are available by calling 604-738-6822 or emailing vgoosen@vancouverchamberchoir.com. Attendees are asked to reserve their tickets by May 20th, 2015. 

The event is called Divertimento!, which in Italian means fun, entertainment - a good time! So, you know there's fun to be had! We hope to see you here for this wonderful event.

For more details, please visit the Divertimento! Facebook event page.

(Image via Divertimento! Facebook Event Page)

Bring the tasty authentic Italian flavours of Chef Claudio's kitchen home with you!

As much as we'd love to have you with us everyday, we know that your schedule probably won't lend you the time to eat out every night. That's why we're happy to share some of Chef Claudio's delicious dips and sauces!

Bring home Chef Claudio Ranallo's authentic bread dip and tomato sauce! We're not kidding when we say these delicious La Piazza Dario treats make perfect gifts for any occasion. They are so tasty! Come on over to La Piazza Dario this weekend and give them a try!

You can take yours home for $10 and $5 respectively.

Looking forward to dining with you soon!

Discover two great deals that you'll want to sink your teeth into at La Piazza Dario!

Last week we were excited to announce our January Promotion here at La Piazza Dario, featuring 20% off on all of our pasta dishes, Monday through Thursday evenings from January 12th to January 28th. Well, today, we're happy to tell you that there are even more savings to be had when you visit us!

Now you can save up to 50% off with an offer via LivingSocial! Bring your family to our table and enjoy a sensational Italian meal created by our Head Chef, Claudio Ranallo, all for an incredible price. Buy now to enjoy $50 of delicious cuisine for only $25 on weeknights or Sunday evenings, or $25 towards a weekday lunch for only $12.

We are so thrilled to have been brought back to LivingSocial by popular demand! Learn more about this limited time offer: La Piazza Dario Deal via LivingSocial.

And don't forget to stop by for dinner before our January promotion ends next week! Call 604.430.2195 to make your reservation today.

Note: Each promotion must be used separately and may not be combined.

Get in the Christmas spirit this Monday and start your week off with beautiful music and delicious Italian food!

We can hardly believe it's December already! Time flies when you are enjoying the beautiful flavours of Italian food and excellent company of our guests at La Piazza Dario! We know the weekends get busy but we hope to see you very soon so we can share an early Christmas celebration with you!

This Monday, just across the piazza, Il Centro is hosting a community choir Christmas concert! It's sure to be wonderfully festive and will inspire that holiday spirit! So we've got the perfect Monday evening planned for you and your loved ones:

First, a delicious dinner created especially for you by Chef Claudio Ranallo in the La Piazza Dario kitchens! He's got every fresh ingredient ready to be whipped up into a truly delectable and authentic Italian meal.

Second, round off the meal with a sweet treat and Italian coffee!

Lastly, walk across the piazza for a lovely Christmas concert beginning at 7pm!

We hope to see you next week!

(Image via Pixabay)

If you don't speak Italian, even a menu can be an adventure!

Luckily at La Piazza Dario, we've included some handy descriptions of Chef Claudio's greatest creations. If you're planning a trip to Italy, a visit to La Piazza Dario is a great way to start practicing your Italian! We may have English descriptions, but those Italian names will be a perfect way to test your pronunciation and critical ordering skills! We certainly wouldn't want you to miss out on delicious cuisine here or abroad because of a little thing like language barrier!

However, we know you're going to need a little more than the name of a dish. Here are a few keywords on an Italian menu that will help you understand exactly what you are ordering and the different sections of the menu!

Antipasti: These are your appetizers. It literally translate to "before the meal" and is a great way to get your meal started as you chat with friends and family.

Primi: Meaning "first dishes," the primi on the menu are often pastas, risottos and soup. The possibilities and flavours are endless! Of course, every region will have it's own variations.

Secondi: This is where you will find your main meat, fish and vegetable dishes. It's also usually the most expensive section of the menu, but definitely just as delicious! If you see an S.Q. next to any of the menu items, they will be charged according to weight so be sure to talk to your server.

Contorni: If you're feeling in the mood for a side dish like salad or potatoes in addition to your primi and/or secondi, make sure you explore this section of the menu!

Dolci: Dessert! Need we really say more?

Digestivi: Need help digesting your Italian feast? Italians enjoy a little help from strong liqueurs.

Caffé: Coffe is also a nice touch to end a delicious and filling meal. If you have space, definitely look here.

Bevande: No Italian menu is complete without its wine list and drink menu! Definitely peruse this section to make your meal Italian perfection!

On October 25th, come celebrate World Pasta Day with La Piazza Dario!

October is a wonderful time of year to indulge in your favourite Italian dishes. All at once hearty, comforting and delicious, a good plate of pasta can warm you up even on the coldest fall day. Which is why it makes so much sense that World Pasta Day is celebrated during this transitional month between summer and autumn! It's a little something to look forward too as the warm weather fades away and we begin to remember what it's like to feel chilly.

This year, World Pasta Day falls on Saturday October 25th; an ideal night to take a break from your kitchen and join us for a plate or two of Chef Claudio Ranallo's authentic, mouthwatering pasta. So, at the end of this month if you're in Vancouver, we hope that you will come celebrate the weekend and World Pasta Day with us at La Piazza Dario!

Have a look what's on the menu!

























Book your reservation now online at OpenTable or by calling 604.430.2195.

Embrace the changing weather and join us tonight for a delicious bowl of Italian seafood chowder.

As the short work week draws to a close, we'd love to help you celebrate the weekend and embrace the changing seasons with some delicious Italian food, created by none other than our wonderful Head Chef, Claudio Ranallo. It may not be autumn yet, nor is the weather quite cold enough for those fall coats and scarves, yet there's something in the air reminding us that fall is just around the corner. The air is a bit brisker and the sun doesn't feel quite as hot.

Let us warm you up with one of our seasonal dishes, zuppa di pesce, a seafood chowder filled to the brim with crab, mussels, prawns, calamari and salmon and finished off with a tomato broth. Hearty and delicious, this is the perfect dish to cozy up to around this time of year.

Make reservations for tonight online via OpenTable or by calling 604.430.2195. If you can't join us tonight, don't wait too long - this seasonal dish won't be on our menu forever!

(Image via Pixabay)

Enjoy a delicious meal of Italian comfort food lovingly made by Chef Claudio!

It's the first weekend of cool weather and typical fall skies and nothing goes best with chilly weather than a full plate of hearty, fresh pasta filled with flavours of sunny Italia! Chef Claudio has created a delicious menu of pastas that provide an incredible variety of flavours that will have you appreciating this weekend's cozy weather!

After an authentic Italian meal, enjoy a sweet dessert, a cup of hot, specialty Italian coffee to really warm your stomach and heart as we get ready to enjoy the long weekend!

Celebrate the summer's end with a delicious family dinner that will have everyone sleeping soundly and happily full!

Contact us today to make reservations! We can't wait to see you and share the taste of our homeland!

Come enjoy an Italian specialty - burrata bocconcini.
Visit us now and take advantage of the delicious dishes on our Seasonal Menu!

As we mentioned a few weeks back, we are currently celebrating the summer season with our very own Seasonal Menu. Filled with some incredible authentic Italian dishes, created by none other than La Piazza Dario's Head Chef Claudio Ranallo, this special Seasonal Menu is not one you want to miss out on.

Today, we are spotlighting one dish on the menu in particular, the fresh burrata bocconcini. For those of you who have tasted burrata bocconcini, it most likely needs no introduction, as burrata bocconcini is one of the softest, most delicious cheeses you will ever have had the pleasure of eating! For those of who who have not yet had the opportunity to try this magnificent appetizer, burrata is an Italian specialty made from mozzarella, shaped into balls, with a mouthwatering mozzarella and cream centre. Sounds absolutely delicious, doesn't it?

At La Piazza Dario, Chef Ranallo tops this dish off with heirloom tomatoes and arugola. The perfect dish to start your summer meal off when you join us for lunch or dinner.

We look forward to seeing you! Call 604.430.2195 to make reservations, or book them online via OpenTable.

A Taste of La Piazza Dario at Il Mercato

Join us tonight for a fun and delicious Italian night market experience at the Italian Cultural Centre! This Friday we are proud to be selling our delicious homemade bread dip!

Take home a taste of Italy when you get Chef Claudio's Famous Bread Dip!

It will be filled with fun and flavour! Don't worry if you can't make it tonight though. The night market will continue into the fall and is held every third Friday of the month.

Of course, if you can't wait that long before you enjoy Chef Claudio's creations, you can always come by for a delicious meal to add to an order of bread dip!

Hope to see you soon at La Piazza Dario!

Join us this month and indulge in our Summer Seasonal Menu!

If you've ever been to La Piazza Dario, you know that Head Chef Claudio Ranallo always has something delicious cooking up in his kitchen. Whether it's a refreshing appetizer, like prosciutto and melon, an authentic Italian pasta dish, such as potato pasta dish gnocchi or spaghetti alle vongole, or a delectable dessert, such Chef Claudio's cannoli, there's always an incredible Italian meal awaiting you at La Piazza Dario, and this month brings no exceptions!

Drop by for dinner this month and take advantage of our Seasonal Menu. Packed with mouthwatering Italian dishes, such as fresh burrata bocconcini served with heirloom tomatoes and arugola, ricotta and spinach ravioli, or zuppa di pesce complete with crab, mussels, prawns, calamari and salmon all in a tomato broth, our Seasonal Menu is bound to satisfy your tastebuds.

Don't miss out on this exceptional menu selection! Join us tonight and peruse the full menu. Make your reservation online or call 604.430.2195.

(Image via Pixabay)

So you're planning to visit Italy… 

Where do you begin? Italy is beautiful, diverse and vibrant country filled with life and an abundance of places to see and experiences to be had. When you are planning a trip, there is a lot that goes into to creating the perfect Italian experience. 

When to go, where to go, what to bring, how to get there, where to stay, where to eat, what to see… Don't let the details overwhelm you! With proper planning and the best advice, you can easily plan your most amazing trip yet! 

To help answer all of these questions, travel expert and Italian enthusiast, Rick Steves, is sharing his tips and tricks to planning the perfect vacation in Italy 101 with Rick Steves!

Here are our top two recommendations for planning your vacation:

1. Come to La Piazza Dario and get inspired by the delicious, authentic Italian cuisine of Chef Claudio. Chat with us and ask your questions!

2. Add the idyllic Abruzzo region of Italy, homeland of our talented head chef, to your Italian itinerary!

See you soon and happy planning!

(Image via Pexels)