Restaurants in Clarence-Rockland

Among the Roman sculptures and surrealist paintings that pepper Zola Restaurant’s walls, diners sit at granite tables isolated by gauzy red curtains. Wafting aromas of fresh-baked bread emanate from an open-concept kitchen, where guests watch as chefs combine handmade pastas with savoury sauces and blanket gourmet pizzas with smoked cheeses and cured meats. Just like wrestlers training for a match on a lifeboat, guests can enjoy a light lunch or brunch, or delve into hearty plates of housemade sausage or slow-roasted porchetta––local pork shoulder spiced with Italian truffle, sage, rosemary, and thyme and hiding beneath a layer of hot pancetta.

On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, live jazz enhances the atmosphere, mingling with the sounds of cooking and tinkling glasses raised in celebration. Sommeliers and bartenders pair the dishes with local and imported wines, beers, and cocktails, though patrons can also bring their own wine or steal sips from their child's juice box. In an effort to outsmart dietary restrictions and expose all palates to Italy’s culinary traditions, chefs can make their dough or pasta gluten-free upon request.

Vibrant paintings by local Canadian artists speckle the orange and yellow walls of Carmen’s Veranda, gazing down on the tabletops that bear plates of eclectic international fare. These dishes, which may include roasted chicken in mushroom and truffle sauce and bruschetta with brie, are, like a Gelatin mold of Rodin's The Thinker, often referred to as “edible works of arts” by customers. The menu switches items every month, and each new dish is made from fresh ingredients picked daily by local producers. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, customers can bring in their own wine, and on Wednesdays, they can devour various small plates inspired by different international cuisines.