Caro Restaurant
https://www.carorestaurant.com
4 Ottawa Street North, Hamilton, ON
Latest restaurant in the Hamilton food scene is the beauty on the corner of Main St and Ottawa, Caro Restaurant. Brainchild of Cory Tower and with Chef Joshua Dalton at the culinary helm, they’re destined for greatness in the #HamOnt culinary world.
A welcome addition to the east end of the city, the former BBQ Chicken joint has had quite a facelift – from the bright white tables and chairs to the red subway tile backsplash, the living wall (my favourite décor addition!) and the graffiti wall – Caro really beautifies this busy Crown Point corner.
Caro (meaning sweetheart or beloved in Italian) serves up Italian-inspired apps such as House Ravioli, and Roasted Beet Caprese, pasta dishes, pizzas, a small dessert menu and unique cocktails.
My first visit was one with some of my foodie friends (I’m Mad Hungry (and Calvin), Sid Friedman, Hungry Hungry Heejoo and Henry’s Culture), which meant trying lots of the menu!
Together, we tried: Crispy Polenta Fries, Foccaccia Breaded Calamari, Gnudi, Papardelle, Rigatoni, Spaghetti & Meatball (one giant one!), and Wild Mushroom Pizza.
Stand-outs for me definitely included the Spaghetti & Meatball (8oz massive beef and pork meatball with spaghetti, sweet basil pomodoro, and garnish with a generous sprinkling of parmesan) and the Papardelle (Woodland mushrooms and peas are mixed with truffle butter, blood orange reduction, sage and pecorino cheese). The gnudi was plated beautifully (hello, gorgeous instagram photos!) and I loved the herby flavour of the polenta fries. The marinara sauce that we enjoyed with the polenta was perfection.
For dessert, they offer daily flavours of gelato. If you have the opportunity to try the mango gelato, do it. It’s pure gold, with big bold mango flavours.
The tiramisu was much larger than any of us expected. Huge! The canoli had gorgeous plating and were made to order, keeping the outer shell crispy.
All in all, I’ll be back to Caro again soon to try the dishes that we missed. I hear the Garganelli Carbonara is a must try AND they have brunch!
*This post is unsponsored, and I paid for my meal. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
Visit them at
Caro Restaurant
4 Ottawa Street North, Hamilton, ON
Follow them online at
Facebook: www.facebook.com/carorestaurant
Instagram: www.instagram.com/carorestaurant