Lucky Seven on a Saturday Night

On Saturday night, Torontoist partied down to a remixed version of Monday, Monday by the Mamas & Papas with someone who may have been Jay and Silent Bob creator Kevin Smith.  Unfortunately our sources were under the influence of delicious food and Pinot Grigio and could neither confirm nor deny the statement.

So it turns out that there are trendy restaurants north of Bloor Street, who knew?  Seven Numbers has been the city’s central hot spot for Italian food for four years.  1447582 (see, there actually are seven numbers) got its name from its business number when they opened in 2001 and they’ve been lucky ever since, even taking home the Best of 2001 honour from Toronto.com. 

This cozy little spot on Eglinton Avenue West offers up great home-cooked and inexpensive meals in a fun and friendly environment.  The simple menu is scribbled on a piece of paper and also appears on blackboards on the wall.  As with traditional Italian restaurants, the menu is divided between antipasto starters, pasta secondi, mains and sides.  We started with the fried artichokes ($5), had some delicious eggplant parmigian ($7), fresh white bass with lemon and garlic ($11) and a few sides including grilled rapini ($3) and a very tangy two-tomato salad ($4). 

The restaurant’s décor is garage-sale chic with mismatched tables and chairs, and according to eye magazine, the whole place was decorated for a garage sale bargain price of less than $5,000.  It’s a mere thirty-seater so either get there early or fashionably late to avoid waiting in line, but with warmer weather just around the corner, Seven Numbers will double its capacity in no time with its roomy side patio.    

Bottom line: nine letters, e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-t.