With the launch of Vinoteca Pompette, the Michelin-recommended Pompette is returning to its casual, neighbourhood-focused roots.
You’ve probably noticed that the once-white corner shop is now splashed in green — but that’s just the start. Tucked in the heart of Little Italy and steps from its sister spots, Vinoteca Pompette, dishes up Italian cuisine with a French twist.
“When we opened the restaurant, our idea was to do a casual French restaurant, more like a wine bar and cocktail bar with small plates,” says Jonathan Bauer, a sommelier who co-owns the space alongside his wife Martine Bauer and barman Maxime Hoerth.
“One of the reasons we left Paris was because we wanted to do something more casual and leave behind the Michelin standard and that kind of environment,” he says. “We chose to come to a city that was more open-minded and we could just do what we want.”
But between pandemic lockdowns shaping Pompette’s direction after its April 2020 launch, Bauer’s realization that French cuisine is often linked to fine dining and Michelin Guide recognition, Pompette evolved into something far from its original vision.
“We were turning into a spot for special occasions — anniversaries, events,” Bauer explains. “People were still coming, but it was a one-time thing for a big night out. We lost the essence of what we wanted from the start: a casual neighbourhood place where you could drop by without planning, just to have fun and enjoy a good time.”
The menu strikes a balance between accessible dishes — like the steak au poivre burger, a hit during the takeout days of lockdown — and those showcasing Chef Martine’s flair from the former Restaurant Pompette. Highlights include pappardelle al ragu, featuring three-hour confit Venetian duck in a rich red wine sauce and octopus served with caramelized yogurt and gremolata.
Returning to its roots in crafting Vinoteca Pompette, Bauer says the shift “came naturally.” The aim was to create a space with elevated wine offerings paired with an accessible menu “that people could understand.” With over 300 wines — many from new Italian producers — flights of three have become a popular way to explore the menu, with staff on hand to guide guests through the selections.
“It’s a great way to enhance the experience,” he explains. “When you order wine by the glass, it can be frustrating — once you finish, it’s gone. Wine deserves more than that. You need to understand the producer and what makes it work and flights offer the perfect chance to dive into that.”
Vinoteca Pompette boasts a brand-new cocktail menu inspired by Italy, featuring crowd-pleasers like the pistachio Negroni. The restaurant utilizes the same ingredients and equipment from Bar Pompette, the team’s cocktail bar, which just earned the number 70 spot on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list — making it the only Canadian venue to land in the latter half, with the first half still to be revealed.
The restaurant also features curated wine pairings for select dishes, like the spicy ‘nduja sausage, which pairs beautifully with an orange wine.
Diners are embracing the new, accessible menu and Bauer has noticed a greater harmony between patrons at the bar and those dining in, just as they envisioned.
“We have so many people coming back, so that’s really a good sign,” he says. “We really believe in the neighbourhood and we believe in the Italian vibe in Little Italy and we are happy to make that move because it brings life again to the neighbourhood and that’s what we wanted.”
