Full House!

The Pitch

Although located in one of the city's hottest neighborhoods, Griffintown's newcomers to the dining scene have achieved varying degrees of success.  A perfect example of this polarisation can be found at the corner of Peel and Wellington streets, where glitzy Mediterranean restaurant Doca made way for Moretti Pizzeria after a short, eighteen-month stint.

The latter is clearly not struggling to fill its seats the way its predecessor had, as made evident by the groups of diners anxiously awaiting a table at the entrance on this Friday night.  Reservation or not, a fifteen-minute wait was to be expected it seems.

tagged:  THE WAIT

The Mood

Behind the kitschy window decals depicting Italian villagers having wholesome fun lays a roomy, industrial chic space bursting with people.  No matter where you look – the fully-occupied bar, the exposed pizza oven and the packed dining room – you are faced with a beehive of activity.  The crowd is young, hip and loud (à la Griffintown), reminding me of my pre-clubbing days.

tagged:  BAR SCENE SEE & BE SEEN SPEAK UP!

The Food

Although the genre reached saturation a few years back, Neapolitan pizzerias are still all the rage – look at how fast the no 900 empire is expanding!  What sets Moretti's pies apart is their size; adding an inch or two to your standard 12-incher.  Thin-crusted with fresh toppings, their only fault was a sauce lacking that extra zing.  The rest of the food fared similarly; good but missing a little something.

Starter

Starter

$14

$14

Fritto Misto

"fried calamari, shrimps & white fish, lemon-black pepper aioli, tomato marmalade"

Starter

Starter

$15

$15

Caprese di Mozzarella di Bufala

"mozzarella di bufala, heirloom tomatoes, ligurian olives, figs, planeta olive oil, fresh basil"

Main

Main

$19

$19

Gnocchi al Pomodoro San Marzano

"homemade gnocchi, pomodoro san marzano, fresh basil, parmigiano reggiano"

Main

Main

$19

$19

Pizza Siciliana

"pomodoro san marzano, fior di latte, roasted eggplant, ricotta salata, fresh basil"

The Service

After sitting at our table, it took our overwhelmed waitress all of ten minutes to make an appearance.  Not only that, SHE asked US whether the absence of menus in our hands meant we had already placed our order; way to be on top of things!

Otherwise she took good care of us for the rest of the dinner, minus a short stretch near the end during which it was very hard to catch her attention.  All in all, service felt rushed and impersonal in a supper-club way.

tagged:  OVERWHELMED STAFF

The Verdict

Setting aside our fussy gripes, Moretti is clearly on fire!  Yes the food needs minor tweaks and the service could use some warmth; but the vibe, price point – drinks included – and crowd-pleasing fare means you will have fun while getting your money's worth.  With a trendy pre-party spot like this, where is Time Supper Club when you need it?

tagged:  DESERVES A RETRY

Price per person:  $33.50