Later this week, Lunaro Hospitality and Executive Chef Justin Friedlich are opening Shay Ristorante, a 3500 square foot upscale Italian restaurant at 1055 Yonge St. in Toronto’s Rosedale neighbourhood. The menu includes signature dishes such as Tajarin al Pomodoro, Supplì al Tonno, a tableside crudo cart, and desserts such as Tiramisù Nero, made with house-made chocolate savoiardi. Connecting every dish is a shared thread of family tradition. Shay Ristorante is the exclusive Canadian home of Baglio Rocca olive oil from Palermo, Sicily, which appears throughout the menu, including in the Gelato all’Olio and the house-made focaccia. Chef Friedlich spent close to a decade at Buca Yorkville following which he was a private chef in the years leading up to the opening of Shay Ristorante. Named after his daughter, Shay Ristorante is a deeply personal expression of his heritage and his story. Majority shareholder Lunaro Hospitality is a Toronto-based hospitality company founded by the Dilawri family and led by Managing Director Rayana Dilawri. Lunaro Hospitality is also in various stages of development on other restaurant ventures in Vancouver and Los Angeles. “From our earliest conversations with Justin, we knew he had a distinctive vision for Shay Ristorante,” said Ms Dilawri. “We are thrilled to see that vision come to life and we are proud to open our first restaurant with him.”
Lunaro Hospitality Inc., Toronto, Ontario (www.lunarohospitality.ca)
Shay Ristorante, 1055 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario M4W 2L2 (416/546-1444 www.shayristorante.com)