Santo's Reborn - Gnocchi with Bolognese Sauce

Gnocchi with Bolonaise Sauce, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Breaking news in the dining scene of northeast Edmonton is that Santo's (10821 95 Street) is under new ownership. The family that had run the place for decades, after whom the restaurant was named, sold the place to new owners who renovated top to bottom. The dining area is far bigger, brighter, and classier than ever.

However, the biggest concern was over the menu. Would Santo's remain a place for delicious, inexpensive pizza and pasta? I am happy to say, the answer is yes. Reprinted in a much nicer form, the menu is almost identical to the previous one. There are a few new pizza toppings (like donair meat) and the smaller sizes of pasta are gone, but otherwise the burgers, sandwiches, steaks, pizzas, and pastas that have made the place famous remain intact.

I checked it out last evening and after I got over the initial shock of how the interior has changed, I ordered gnocchi with bolognese sauce for supper. The portion was deceptively large, served in a deep bowl. The gnocchi was suitably chewy while the sauce was rich and full of meat. I would say it was a winner. And at only around $10, quite affordable.

Santo's is a place some people have avoided because of the atmosphere. Yes, the horse racing and VLTs are still in the back, but much more separate than before. Now, it is a restaurant I would definitely go to more often and bring friends.

Santo's Encore: Gnocchi in Tomato Sauce

Gnocchi in Tomato Sauce, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I'm in post-Viva Italia Viva Edmonton afterglow and still feeling Italian. As a result, I headed back to Santo's today and indulged in a plate of gnocchi in tomato sauce.

The sauces at Santo's are totally homemade, and the tomato is one of the best I have ever had: not spicy, but rich and thick and full of flavour. The gnocchi is also special - the tiny potato dumplings soaked up the sauce and were perfectly chewy.

At around $10 the portion was excellent and kept me satisfied all afternoon. When it comes to Italian food served right, Santo's is hard core.