A brand new Italian restaurant, Cassius Cucina Contemporanea, is getting ready to debut in Toronto’s King West neighborhood, located at 624 King Street W.
This new concept comes from co-owners Pat Lisi and Bruno Commodari, making the restaurant 100% Italian-owned and operated. Customers can expect a menu that combines classic techniques with high-quality ingredients. The restaurant’s Executive Chef, Michael Frigo, hails from Bassano del Grappa, Italy. He began his career in some of Veneto’s top kitchens and later refined his skills in Australia, London, Spain, Mexico, and now Toronto. With the restaurant’s opening approaching, What Now Toronto sat down with co-owner Pat Lisi to learn more about Cassius Cucina Contemporanea.
Customers will have a lot to look forward to when this new concept opens. The interior design, crafted by Toby Gauley of the newly founded designPROGRAM, promises an intriguing atmosphere for Cassius Cucina Contemporanea. Lisi describes the space as a blend of “Yves Saint Laurent and Rick Owens meets Gianni Versace and Moschino,” while Gauley characterizes it as “modern, fun, futuristic, but cozy.” Gauley rose to prominence with his award-winning Gauley Brothers Studio before launching designPROGRAM.
As for the menu, customers can expect a focus on honoring Italian culture while incorporating modern elements. For crudo, the restaurant will offer branzino, tonno, and manzo. Dishes will include capasanta, pappardelle ripiena, and rigatoni alla carbonara, along with desserts such as semifreddo rocher, tiramisu, and meringata. A standout on the menu will be the Carciofo Cacio & Pepe, made with fried artichokes, Jerusalem artichokes, fondo brunno, pecorino fondue, and Sichuan pepper. In addition to these delicious entrees, Cassius Cucina Contemporanea will offer a variety of pizzas, all made with slow-fermented dough, organic flours, and top-quality artisanal ingredients. As a result, the pizza will be light, crispy, and deeply flavorful.
While the team is putting on the finishing touches of the restaurant, Lisi tells What Now that the team hopes to open in Spring 2025, although an exact opening date is hard to determine. After this, the ownership team plans to start working on the outdoor patios, which they hope to unveil during the summer. Then, in Spring 2026, Cassius Cucina Contemporanea is expected to open a lounge on the lower level of the building. The new Italian restaurant will be open from Thursday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday to Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
