Cozy Italian café on Commercial Drive serving handmade pastas, craft coffees, fine wines, and authentic pantry goodies in a charming market-style spot.
"Open for: All day Price range: $$ You’ll find some of the city’s very best pasta at this wildly tempting wine bar/cafe/grocery on Commercial Drive, in a neighborhood that’s enjoying something of a renaissance, partly thanks to a strong pandemic-era patio culture. There are a trio of menus to take you from brunch through aperitivo hour and dinner. The overstuffed muffuletta sandwich is a must-order, as is the superb agnolotti stuffed with chicken and pork in glossy, buttery roasting juices, topped with crispy sage. Italian wines, spritzes, and amari (try a flight) round out the full experience. Pick up house-made sauces, breads, sauces, and pastas to prepare at home from the grocery section, where you can also browse imported olive oils, bottled cocktails, amarena cherries, and other enticing pantry items. If you drive: You can use the little car park in the alley behind sister-restaurant Pepino’s." - Nikki Bayley
"Who knew that Covid-19’s silver linings would be finely threaded with su filindeu? Caffè La Tana has been offering an enticing alimentari selection online since the Savio Volpe team (which now includes Phil Scarfone, formerly of Nightingale) pivoted last spring."
"Caffe La Tana is a tiny Italian spot in a quiet area of Commercial Drive, a neighborhood where you’ll find people who grow their own arugula and are competitive about bike polo. It has olive oil on tap and sells pastries and giant cans of tomatoes, but what you should be prioritizing is their homemade pasta. In the likely scenario that the weather isn’t great, sit inside for lunch and order dishes like agnolotti in roasting juices or pea and pancetta maltagliati. If you’re lucky enough to get a sunny day, rent a bike, pick up some prosciutto to go, and ride over to Trout Lake to have a picnic. Or go at night on weekends when it becomes a natural wine bar, especially if it’s late and you’re craving cheese. It’s a pretty casual spot, but you’ll pay a little extra for their higher quality ingredients (once you try the pasta though, you won’t mind)." - Shelley Mason
"Even though it’s only been open a few months, Caffè La Tana is one of those neighborhood joints that has already become a gathering spot for everyone—parents with kids, couples on dates, singles with a good book, restaurant-industry types enjoying a slow-moving morning, old friends looking to catch up. Light roasts and pour-overs may be all the rage at other shops, but tradition rules the roost here. La Caffè La Tana’s custom blend—roasted by local stalwart JJ Bean—is chocolatey, rich, and hearty. Potent espressos, foamy cappuccinos, and macchiatos topped with little chocolate sprinkles also hold their own." - Jennifer Van Evra
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