Our neighbours across the piazza are teaching something delicious!

There are times we all just want to sit and enjoy a home cooked meal without the work of whipping it up. That's when you come and visit us at La Piazza Dario! We'll make the home cooked culinary magic happen and you won't have to life a finger (except for when you want to enjoy the authentic flavours of Italy!).

Then there are times we want to get our hands dirty and really create those scrumptious bites from scratch! If you are in the mood for tasty and fresh Italian sausages, Il Centro is hosting a sausage making class!

Community garden supervisor and sausage maker extraordinaire, Luigu Bastone, is sharing his expertise on March 14, from 7 to 8:30pm. You will get to learn and make sausages that you can take home with you!

Come celebrate your new skills with us and an excellent glass of wine! Perhaps you'll be hungry as well. We'll take care of you and your taste buds!

Learn more about the workshop.

(Image via Pixabay)

Curious about what you will find at the La Piazza Dario?

Take a virtual tour of our dining room! Not only do we prepare fresh dishes to delight your tastebuds, but we also pay special attention to our dining space. Everyday we prepare it in order to make your experience the most authentic Italian culinary experience in Vancouver. 

Click play to take a look around! 

For tasty luncheons and dinners, give us a call! We can't wait to cook and create scrumptious Italian treats and serve them with the perfect wine from our extensive collection (you'll see our wine wall in this virtual tour)!

Happy Valentine's Day from all of us at La Piazza Dario!



Need an idea to make the day extra special for your sweetheart? Look no further! Join us for an even of romance, delectable Italian fare and wonderful memories filled with love.

Treat your date to a delicious three course meal with fresh antipasto, perfectly rich pastas and carnes, followed by a sweet dessert. Choose from our wide selection of vino to complement your meal.

Elite Singles has kindly included us in a list of places to celebrate love this weekend and we guarantee we will transform you evening into a beautiful experience for you and your loved one. We hope to see you and your sweetheart!

Contact us today to make your reservation by giving us a call at 604-430-2195, or make an online reservation with Open Table!

(Image via Pexels)

Get ready for your trip to Italy with this four week course!

Are you ready eat and speak like an Italian? We've got just the solutions to help you before your trip to Italy!

First we recommend that you get your taste buds and palate ready for the tasty Italian meals. Come join us for dinner. Chef Claudio will whip up a truly authentic Italian meal just as if you were all over  at his home for a cozy dinner.

Then we recommend to take the Let's Go Italy, Italian for Travellers Course at Il Centro! The course begins next week on January 20th and runs for four weeks. You'll learn exactly what you need to help you make the most out of your trip to Italy, even if you've never spoken a word of Italian before now!

Learn more about the course and give us a call to make your dinner reservations!

We are thrilled to share this delicious news!

Thank you to Vancity Buzz for your kind mention and including us in your list of the Best Meatballs in Vancouver!

Come join us for some tasty meatballs over al dente pasta made with tender love and care by Chef Claudio, just for you! We pride ourselves in creating truly authentic Italian dishes for you in the same way that we cook them at home for our families.

Give us a call to make reservations and try Vancouver's best meatballs!

(Image: Mmm... spaghetti n meatballs, by jeffreye via Flickr; CC BY 2.0)

This Monday, our neighbours at Il Centro are hosting a book club night!

Keep your Italian alive and practice your reading and conversation skills over delicious dinner and short stories! On Monday, December 7th, Il Centro is hosting an Italian Book Club.

Read and discuss short stories in short stories in Italian with like minds and fellow literature enthusiasts! What would make the evening even better is a tasty meal whipped up by Chef Claudio especially for you! Join us for an early dinner or a post-book club treat. We're just across the plaza!

The book club is from 6:45 pm to 8:45 pm and is free for Il Centro members. Call Edda Onesti at 604-430-3337 ext. 239 for more information. And call 604-430-2195 to make your reservations!

For 38 years, we have lovingly cooked and created truly authentic and delicious Italian meals. 

What we love most is how we are able to share the Italian dolce vita with the people of this city. Although it's no longer Thanksgiving, we never tire of thanking our fantastic patrons. 

Recently we received a letter from a long time customer, more like a friend after all these years of sharing meals together. We are so blessed to have built relationships like this with you.

Thank you Sam! 

Join us for dinner and a lifelong, delicious memories! Give us a call at 604.430.2195 :) 

Coming to our neighbour, Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre, the work of Italian mosaic artist, Lilian Broca!

Heroine of A Thousand Pieces: The Judith Mosaics of Lilian Broca

The recipient of the Lorenzo il Magnifico gold medal at the 2003 Florence Biennale, Lilian Broca will be unveiling her new mosaic series here at the Museo. There will be seven monumental pieces on display featuring the story of Judith, a biblical heroine.

The opening reception takes place on November 12th an 7pm. Come join us for dinner and experience an evening of Italian flavours and art!

Chef Claudio will whip up a tasty and authentic Italian meal for you to enjoy with your friends and family. Discuss beautiful art and the art of living beautifully over a delicious glass of wine!

See you here!

(Image via Lilian Broca home page)

Exceptional cuisine is a life-enhancing magic

Wondering where to eat tonight? Join us of course! We are, after all, one of the best kept secrets of fine Italian cuisine in Vancouver. Creating magical and delicious dishes with only the freshest ingredients, our goal is let you enjoy only the most authentic of Italian flavours. Pair your meal with a vintage Italian wine and you are ready to be gastronomically transported to the wonders of Italy!

Take a bite of Chef Claudio's creation and close your eyes. The food will melt your mouth and invite you share a piece of the Italian la dolce vita!

Press play to learn more and take a mini tour of La Piazza Dario!

For reservations, call 604.430.2195

See you soon!

(Image via Foodies Feed)

One week from today the Antonio Ciacca Quintet plays the Italian American Song Book!

What's a truly delightful way to spend a Friday evening? Well Italian food, wine and excellent live music of course! 

Antonio Ciacca will be playing next Friday, October 16th, at Italian Cultural Centre, less than one minute away from La Piazza Dario! Pianist and composer, Ciacca carries the torch for Italian American jazz and will be bringing his musical stylings right here for youth enjoy. 

Join us for a delicious Italian meal lovingly put together in the a truly authentic Italian kitchen by our own, Chef Claudio Ranallo. His tasty meals will be the perfect way to spend a truly Italian evening: delicious food, music and dancing. It truly will be La Dolce Vita!

Here's a sample of the tastes and tunes you can expect to enjoy here at La Piazza Dario and Il Centro!

There is no better time to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee than in the fall sunshine. There's a crispness in the air and a crackle as people begin to light their fireplaces, ready for a cozy autumn season. Why do we love fall? We love it because get to cozy up to tasty, flavourful meals and sweet desserts and authentic Italian coffees with you!

From specialty coffees with Sambuca and Amaretto to a classic espresso,  our menu has something for every coffee lover.

Take a look at our specialty coffee menu if you're in the mood with something that has an extra kick! Of course, we're also happy to make you the best espresso or latte you've ever had. Come in and try it! ;)

Sweet and rich, Chef Claudio's tiramisù is the perfect way to finish your meal!

There's no better way to end your meal at La Piazza Dario than with a delicious and sweet pick me up! Coffee lovers, you're going to want to try this classic: tiramisu!

Sweet, spongy, and rich coffee flavours are what await you here. Espresso, lady fingers and mascarpone combine to become a delectable dish of authentic Italian flavour, made with love in Chef Claudio's kitchen.

Don't miss out on this tasty treat! Call us today at 604.430.2195 to make your reservations and enjoy authentic, Italian home cooking. Let our kitchen be your kitchen away from home!

See you soon!

What pasta goes with what sauce?!

Did you know that there are ideal pasta noodles for different kinds of sauces? For some, it may be very obvious which kind of pastas are perfect for the many different kind of sauces. We're guessing that for the majority of pasta and Italian food lovers, the perfect combinations of sauce and pasta is not something specifically thought of. All that matters is delicious flavour. We agree.

When you come to La Piazza Dario, you don't need to do the thinking. All you need to do is see which flavours tickle your fancy and Chef Claudio will whip it up for you!

However, if you are curious (or in the mood to make some pasta at home), here's a tasty infographic that that shares the best kind of pastas for different types of sauce...

(Infographic via Nosh On It)

Greetings all! La Piazza Dario is hiring!

If you're need of a great place to work, we're hiring! Delicious food, great people, and a team like family is what we're all about at La Piazza Dario.

Currently we are looking for a part time dishwasher and kitchen helper. Learn the ins and outs of a popular restaurant kitchen and help us create the perfect dining experience for our guests.


Available on weekends? This might just be the perfect part time job for you! 

Visit our job posting and apply with your resume today!

Looking forward to having you as part of the La Piazza Dario family!

Happy Father's Day to all the Papa's this weekend!

Treat your father to a delicious evening of tasty Italian fare this weekend. After all, it's his day! Of course, you don't need the excuse of Father's Day to give him those extra hugs and visit La Piazza Dario!

Chef Claudio (also a papa) knows his way around the kitchen and uses only the freshest ingredients that will make your Father's Day dinner incredibly tasty. Here are three easy steps to celebrating a truly wonderful and tasty Sunday with your beloved fathers this weekend:

1. Call La Piazza Dario and make your reservations.
2. Keep it a surprise. Surprises as tasty as this one are always a delight!
3. Get him a card and give him a big bear hug.

We hope to see you this weekend and looking forward to celebrating with you! Check out the menu here.

Italian Day on The Drive is back!

Italian Day 2015 is happening this weekend on Commercial Drive.

Italian Day 2015 is just two days away! This Sunday, June 14th marks this year's Italian Day on the popular Vancouver street, Commercial Drive.

Running consecutively since 2010, every year the festivities of Italian Day shut down Commercial Drive in order to host this highly anticipated event. Italian themed decorations, such as green, white and red balloons line the street as street performers entertain and Vancouverites mingle.

This year's theme for Italian Day is ART, encompassing everything from "architecture, painting, sculpture, music, cinema, performance, literature, design and culinary art." Learn more about Italian Day on The Drive 2015.

Join the festivities this Sunday any time between 12pm and 8pm and then cap your Italian themed day off with a trip to La Piazza Dario for some delicious authentic Italian cuisine. We're only a quick 5 minute car ride away from Commercial Drive!

Call 604.430.2195 to make a reservation or book online via OpenTable.

(Image via Italian Day Facebook Page)

Come join us for a tasty dish of Chef Claudio's spaghetti alle vongole veraci!

What are your plans? No plans? Well let us make some for you! Come to La Piazza Dario's for a delicious home cooked meal of spaghetti all vongole. It's a delicious and fresh plate of pasta with a light white wine, garlic and clam sauce, lightly bathing in spaghetti. 

The clams are delightful, perfectly cooked and full of flavour. Fresh basil adds a pop of colour and flavour contrast to the clams and white wine. It's the perfect way to enjoy a full dish of pasta without it weighing you down. This is a dish that, if you can't finish it, you will definitely want to bring the leftovers home! 

Enjoy it with a glass of white wine and follow this savoury delight with a sweet dessert and/ or espresso and you will be one happy Vancouverite!

Call us to make reservations at 604-430-2195.

It's Mother's Day this weekend! 

How will you be celebrating? We've got a great idea that she will enjoy and that you can easily achieve! Come celebrate Mother's Day with us! 

From our kitchen, Chef Claudio will be whipping up a culinary storm for the whole family but most especially for the moms who do so much for us all! Give your mom the gift of a night off from the kitchen and book a table with us. We'll have the pastas and the carnes ready for you all to enjoy with a delicious glass of wine.

Following your meal, we shall prepare a decadent dessert for your mom and the whole family. Enjoy the confectionary delights that Chef Claudio has waiting with an after dinner espresso or digestif liqueur!

We hope to see you and your mom this weekend! For more ideas on how to celebrate your beloved mother this weekend, explore our post from the past: 5 Ways to Celebrate Mother's Day!

Ciao!

(Image via Pixabay)

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!

Join us and experience the most delicious kind of before and after experience!

We guarantee that when you come to La Piazza Dario you are going to enjoy this exact "before and after" experience:

You are delightfully full of fresh, home cooked pasta or carne (or both?) and then it's time to peruse the dessert menu. We have a good idea that this beauty will catch your eye! This is our decadent St. Honore Cake! Layers of sponge cake and fresh cream and a chocolate drizzles are topped by a profiterole! You dessert stomach has given you no choice: it must be ordered!

Before:

After:

Come and join us this weekend to enjoy this delightful dessert after a truly authentic Italian main course, specially cooked for you by Chef Claudio!