I’ve driven past this place literally hundreds of times over the years, always wondering what restaurant was tucked inside. There’s no visible signage out front, yet somehow there always seemed to be people dining there. Well, the mystery has finally been solved. It’s Annabelle Pasta Bar, quietly sitting at 909 Davenport Road since 2016. Had it not been for my friend at Bar Eugenie mentioning it to me, I probably never would have discovered it.
This is a tiny, charming, two-storey neighbourhood spot. The main floor holds the bar and a handful of tables, while upstairs, past family photographs lining the walls, is another intimate dining room that seats about 24 guests. The space feels wonderfully old-fashioned, almost as though you’re dining inside someone’s longtime family home, perhaps your great-great-grandmother’s house. There’s exposed brick, worn wood, wainscoting, vintage tiling, wooden chairs softened only slightly by pillows, and a nostalgic warmth throughout. The music, however, is anything but nostalgic. Let’s just say the playlist leans eclectic.
In warmer weather, two garage-style doors open onto the street, alongside a long communal table outside. The restaurant is owned by Riyaz Somani, Suresh Singh, and Mark Baci, and is named after Mark’s mother, Anna.
The menu is small and changes weekly depending on what local farmers are offering. It’s presented either on a QR code or handwritten on a chalkboard. There are typically three housemade pastas, a burrata, salad, meatballs, a vegetable dish, and a protein. Sharing is encouraged.
We started with the burrata topped with figs and toasted hazelnuts. I enjoyed the dressing on the accompanying salad, though the burrata itself arrived fridge-cold. The spicy pork meatballs in romesco sauce were unfortunately dry and overly firm, definitely a miss for me.
The pane bianco, somewhere between a pizza and pita, was served warm alongside hummus and pesto and was comforting and enjoyable.
For pasta, we tried the homemade pappardelle with Ontario asparagus, oyster and shiitake mushrooms in what was described as a tahini broth. The noodles themselves were lovely, but there was virtually no broth to be found and very little flavour overall. The second pasta, a malloreddus with wild boar and pork sausage, San Marzano tomatoes, and pecorino, had more depth, but barely any meat. It reminded us of that old slogan, “Where’s the beef?” At $25 a plate, both pastas left me wanting more substance and richness.
There was also a root vegetable side, a pork main, and a third pasta featuring jerk chicken.
Desserts and cocktails, however, fared much better. I ordered an elderflower Negroni, while my husband chose a bright citrus-forward gin cocktail, and both were excellent. The wine list is entirely Italian, with most selections available by the glass, half litre, or bottle.
For dessert, there were just two choices, but both were very well executed: a delicate chamomile panna cotta and an excellent tiramisu.
At the end of the day, this is very much a neighbourhood restaurant. The pricing sits somewhere between reasonable and moderate, and the atmosphere is warm, relaxed, and welcoming. They aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel here. It’s more the kind of comforting meal you imagine having at your Nonna’s house on a weeknight. Simple food, cozy surroundings, and people genuinely happy to see you walk through the door.
Happy dining,
Shanea
05/23/2026
