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!

Discover la lingua della mangia!

Not understanding a language can be tricky, especially when it comes to ordering food.

Don't let the Italian terms on our menu scare you off! First and foremost, we welcome and encourage you to ask any of our servers about any item on our menu should you have any questions. Furthermore, you will find detailed descriptions of each dish on our menu, translated into English.

However, if you still find yourself scratching your head, below are some Italian dining and food terms to help you out during your next visit to La Piazza Dario.

Italian Dining Terms:

• Antipasto: Antipasti are appetizer dishes.
• Bufala: Water buffalo; this term is used to describe the type of mozzarella.
• Funghi: Mushrooms
• Insalata: This term refers to a salad course; it is generally eaten between the main course and dessert.
• Polpette: Meatballs
• Prosciutto: Cured ham
• Tagliatelle: Noodles

Tonight, why not make your dining experience an truly Italian one! Come visit us in East Vancouver and put your new knowledge to the test. In the mean time, have a look at our menu.

We look forward to seeing you!

(Image via Pixabay)

Discover the flavours of Italian pasta, perfectly prepared for a cold winter day!

It's January. It's chilly. Nothing sounds better than a bowl of warm soup with noodles, no? Chef Claudio whips up a delicious Italian version of the classic chicken noodle soup that will have your mouth watering.

Rich, luxurious tortellini stuffed with veal all bathed in a light chicken consomme, Chef Claudio's Tortellini in Brodo is the perfect comfort food to indulge in. As cozy as your couch and fleece pajamas sound, treat yourself to a night out at La Piazza Dario. You'll get that home cooked meal and satisfy those comfort food cravings in style and without having to do any cleaning up!

Not a bad deal! Visit us for a delicious bowl of Tortellini in Brodo and a glass of perfectly paired wine. 

(Image via Pixabay)

Lift your mood & your energy with the appropriately named Italian dessert!

As we have explained in a past post, tiramisù is Italian for "pick me up." Appropriately named, this popular Italian coffee-flavoured dessert is a pick me up in more ways than one. Dipped in coffee and layered with a combination of lady fingers, separated egg yolks and whites, tiramisù is also often flavoured with cocoa. It's bound to lift both your energy and your mood! 

Although you may have enjoyed tiramisù in the past, you have yet to experience a little piece of Italian heaven until you try Chef Claudio Ranallo's recipe. Garnished with small cannoli, gooseberries and berries, we think the picture above speaks for itself!

Book a reservation today online or by calling 604.430.2195.

Find us on Facebook & never miss a La Piazza Dario promotion again!

Did you know that Head Chef of La Piazza Dario, Claudio Ranallo (pictured above), creates a special dish of the week almost every week? Wouldn't it be great to know what special awaits you at La Piazza Dario before you even get to the restaurant? Now you can! Keep up to date on the hot culinary creations of Chef Ranallo on our Facebook page. Our page showcases mouthwatering photos of each special, along with a description of the dish and, of course, the price.

On our Facebook page, you will also find other specials that La Piazza Dario is featuring, such as promotions and savings on wine. Just the other week we had a great promotion going on nine different labels! Talk about magnifico!

Like us and never miss a special again! 

Put one night aside this month to enjoy dinner & a movie, the Italian way.

This month stop by La Piazza Dario and Il Centro for an unforgettable Italian night! With two Italian movies screening this October, one of which is at Il Centro, plan an evening filled with Italian food and culture at La Piazza Dario and Il Centro. Located side by side, the scenario could not be more perfect. Drop by La Piazza Dario for an early dinner and then head over to Il Centro for the screening of an Italian movie, or come see us after the screening for a late bite.

"Through our Italian film nights and partnerships with film festivals, we bring the stories and the voice of Italy to Vancouver." - Il Centro

Upcoming Films This Month:

• Lo spazio bianco on October 7th at 6:15pm at Instituto.
• Manuale d'amore on October 21st at 7:00pm at Il Centro.

The Mediterranean dish with the Italian name!
Calamari is thought of by many as a Mediterranean creation that we've come to enjoy deep fried and breaded, especially in North America. However, did you know that calamari is actually the Italian word for squid? It was adopted by many Mediterranean languages and English alike to represent this delicious dish!

At La Piazza Dario, you can find Head Chef Claudio Ranallo's authentic version of this tasty appy with a little bit of an Italian flare to it. Available in three different dishes, Chef Ranallo's calamari fritti are incredible. Fresh, tender and flavoured to perfection, you can order your calamari as an appetizer, have it accompany your salad or get it atop your pasta entrée. You can even find Chef Ranallo's calamari on our lunch menu!

Get to know the truth about pasta!

And then come on down to La Piazza Dario's to taste some truly delicious Italian pastas! Here is a fun infographic full of pasta facts and trivia. We bet that there will be some very interesting pasta tidbits waiting to be discovered...

Enjoy!

Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

(Infographic via Elite Heritage)

We just can't get enough of the Abruzzo region of Italy, Chef Claudio's home in the beautiful landscapes of Italy!

We've talked about Abruzzo before but there's always more to learn. The best way to discover Abruzzo is to visit! But we know it's not always so easy. If only we could snap our fingers and take you there!

What we can do at La Piazza Dario is invite you to discover the flavours of Abruzzo found in the fabulous creations of head chef, Claudio Ranallo!

In the meantime, enjoy this regional guide to Abruzzo from Italia! Magazine online. See you soon!

(Image via Pixabay)

You've got questions. We've got answers!

Questions about our menu? Nessun problema!

We always want to hear from our customers. So, we've set up an easy, online and ultimately hassle-free way for you to contact us with all of your La Piazza Dario-related questions and comments!

Click here and drop us a line at the bottom right hand side of the screen; you'll find the form underneath the heading "Ask a Question." All you need to do is fill out your name, your phone number, your email and your question or comment and we'll take it from there! All questions about our menu are welcome. As well as any comments regarding your dining experience with us.

We look forward to hearing from you and we'll be sure to get back to you as soon as we can. :)

Fried pastry shell & sweet cream filling. Yum. Need we say more?

When I think of Italian treats, cannoli are definitely at the top of that list. A gourmet dessert that originated in Sicily, Italy, cannoli are tubular-shaped pastry shells that have been fried and filled with a creamy ricotta filling (as pictured above). Depending on where you find these tasty morsels, they can also range in size from tiny, skinny ones to big, fat ones. 

The first time I tried one of these little guys, I nearly fainted (well, not quite - but it was that good!). Clearly, I was in heaven when I discovered that La Piazza Dario makes them. 

Come visit us on Slocan Street and try Chef Ranallo's cannoli for yourself! You'll be glad you did. :)

With all the gorgeous cities in Italy, only one can be the birthplace of pizza: Naples.

Now, don't scoff at pizza and think: "junk food!" Nonsense. Truly authentic, Italian pizza is nothing like those deep dish creations or stuff crust carbohydrate plates with every topping under the sun piled on! The real Italian pizza is a simple dish with simple but incredible ingredients. You can find this pizza in Naples.

The pizza of Naples and the Italians is not about filling up till you can't eat anymore. It's about fresh ingredients and savoury, succulent flavours! We'll let Rick Steves explain the charms of Naples and the pizza...

Synonymous with thoughts of Italy are the thoughts of rich, decadent desserts, like panna cotta! Wouldn't you agree?

Panna cotta, coming from the Italian for "cooked cream", is a deliciously simple and creamy Italian dessert. The beauty of this dessert is that, even though it is so simple, it embodies a richness and decadence that is the perfect finishing touch to the meal.

And we'd like to think that panna cotta is the perfect metaphor of the authentic Italian experience: simple, fresh ingredients that together create that gioia di vivere so natural to Italians!

That perfect blend of cream, sugar, and vanilla flavours, panna cotta is a delicious culinary experience your taste buds are craving to have! ;)

(Image via Pixabay) 

The Italian appy you won't be able to get enough of!

Aside from proscuitto and melon, bruschetta is one of my all time favourite Italian antipasti. Always a crowd pleaser, bruschetta is made with grilled bread, topped with olive oil, garlic and a combination of tomatoes and other such toppings depending on the preference of the chef. For instance in Abruzzo, the region of Italy that La Piazza Dario's Head Chef calls home, bruschetta is often made with an Italian salami referred to as ventricina. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Come visit us and taste Chef Claudio Ranallo's version of bruschetta. We promise you won't be disappointed!

What's your favourite Italian appy? Share with us in the comments below.

(Image via Pixabay)

Visit an Italian gem of Tuscany: Florence, 43°47' N 11°15' E...

Famed for its beautiful Renaissance architecture, Florence is the birth place of the 14th century movement that changed history. It's the time in history that brought Europe out of the Middle Ages and into a new era of design and aesthetics.

Architecture and art history aside, Florence, like the many Italian cities, towns and villages, has much to offer the tourist in us all! From beautiful sights to fabulous shopping to the delicious places to enjoy an authentic Italian meal, Florence should definitely be on your bucket list!

Who better to tell you about the charms of this Tuscan beauty than the locals?! Check out the Florence City Guide featured on Design*Sponge! In the meantime, come to La Piazza Dario for an authentic taste of Italy in the foodie city of Vancouver!

(Image via Pixabay)

What is Piaggio? Why it's the name of the family who created the quintessential Italian mode of personal transportation: the Vespa.

Yes, this little beauty is quite possibly the most well known scooter in the world and a perfect blend of Italian ingenuity, style and charm! 

Founded in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggo, the company Piaggo began as a ship fittings, plane and sea plane part manufacturer! It was was his son, Enrico, who decided to foray into the world of personal transport. Since the very first Vespa of the 40's, the company has gone on to ship more than 18 million Vespas, produce in 13 countries around the world and market to 114 countries!

Not bad for a little scooter! Want a true Italian experience? Hop onto a Vespa and visit us in Vancouver for a tasty creation by our head chef! For now, we leave you with a great video of Vespa history...

Come help us celebrate 35 years of serving authentic Italian cuisine!
 

We're extremely proud to have provided Vancouver with authentic, quality Italian food over the last 35 years and we want to celebrate this milestone with you! Come down to 3075 Slocan Street, right by the Italian Cultural Centre, and enjoy a hearty meal made by Head Chef Claudio Ranallo.

Having worked at La Piazza Dario since his move to Canada in 1979, Claudio became Head Chef not long after. Chef Claudio's mission as a chef is to provide all customers with the best of Italy. And through his authentic yet innovative creations at La Piazza Dario, he does just that.

Learn more about la storia di Claudio Ranallo and discover what Chef Claudio is cooking. We look forward to seeing you for lunch, dinner, dessert or just a celebratory glass of wine!

Cool down from those hot summer days with the frozen treat of gelato!

Summer is in full swing here in Vancouver and it is getting HOT! And what better way to cool off than with a delicious frozen treat? (Hint: there is none!)

Gelati (the plural form of gelato) or sorbetti (the plural form of sorbet) is the perfect solution to those sizzling summer days. Italian ice cream made with milk, rather than cream, gelato is my absolute favourite Italian dessert. My first experience tasting gelato was not unlike many of my other Italian cuisine experiences: it was love at first bite. I didn't quite understand the difference between North American ice cream and Italian gelato before I tried it, but there definitely is a difference. And given the option, I would pick gelato every time.

Fortunately, for me (and all you Vancouverite gelato lovers out there!) La Piazza Dario boasts a selection of delightful gelati and sorbetti flavours. Come give them a try one night after a hot day on the beach or after a hard day at the office.

Ice cream not your thing? Check out the rest of the divine Italian after-dinner treats we have.

(Image via Pexels)

Come and join us for an authentic meal! 

It's a beautiful Monday evening and the week is sure to be wonderfully sunny. Got any special dinner plans? You're going to want to make some! ;)

We talk often here of the authenticity of Chef Claudio's cuisine. Now we'd like to show you. Here's a short video tour of our restaurant that even gives you a glimpse of the master at work in his kitchen!

Enjoy!

Visit La Piazza Dario for a little taste of Italy, both on and off your plate!

The Italian Renaissance produced many pieces of beautiful artwork that we still admire today. From Michelangelo, the Italian sculptor, painter, engineer, poet and architect, to sculptor, Donatello, to Leonardo da Vinci, who quite literally did it all, the Italian Renaissance has a special place in many art lovers hearts. And with brilliant men like these and the beautiful art they created, it definitely makes sense!

At La Piazza Dario we're proud to have renaissance inspired statues lining the walk way to our restaurant (as pictured above)! Turn into our parking lot, walk up the steps and down the path and you will truly feel like you've found a little piece of Italy.

And of course, the Italian experience doesn't end there. Once inside, peruse our menu and find your favourite Italian dishes, all made from scratch by our Head Chef, Claudio Ranallo.

We look forward to seeing you. Ciao!