25 Years Of Trattoria Nervosa
June 2021, join us in celebrating the little yellow house on the corner of Yorkville and Bellair that has been a loving home to our famiglia of staff and cherished guests for 25 years. It has been a pleasure creating lasting and impactful memories with the city of Toronto and our amazing guests. We are, and will be forever grateful for the on-going support and can’t wait to express our gratitude through a series of celebrations and stories from the past.
But first, tap below to time travel back to '96 with some tunes!
NERVOSA AT A GLANCE
75 Yorkville Ave, home to beloved neighbourhood restaurant Trattoria Nervosa since 1996, has remained relatively unchanged since its construction in the late 1800s. Over the last quarter decade, the quaint restaurant has been a home to many hungry guests, and has truly stood the test of time. It continues to serve up transporting and authentic italian experiences filled with love, good times, and of course, lots of pizza and wine.
Twist of Fate
Janet’s father immigrated from Italy the 50s, bringing with him the first espresso machine to Canada. He started his own importing business and from an early age with Janet would help him sell espresso machines to restaurants and cafes across the city. That entrepreneurial attitude is something that was engrained in Janet from day one, thanks to her father.
She spent a handful of years studying business in Rome, and further falling in love with food and travel. She happened to come back to Toronto for a friend’s wedding when she stumbled into what was then a soon-to-open Trattoria Nervosa. Janet remembers that she had sold an espresso machine to the previous owners and was curious what was happening with the place. She quickly spoke with the owners who mentioned they were looking for another partner and it suddenly clicked that this is what she was meant to do. A few days later she called up the owners and said she wanted in. Janet was able to marry to of her two passions - business and food. Nearly 25 years and a handful of restaurants later, Janet is still as passionate about the business as ever before.
“Tranquila”
When Nervosa first opened, the restaurant was only operating on the main floor and downstairs patio. During the second year of operation, the upstairs became “Tranquila,” a cigar lounge with live music 3 days a week; in year 3, the upstairs patio was constructed. The day that Janet knew she had to do away with the lounge and let Nervosa expand, was when people asked for the live music to be turned down- she realized that people just wanted to eat!
JANET & DEMETRIO
Janet Zuccarini, bona fide gastronome and Gusto 54 CEO, and Demetrio Bianco, Gusto 54’s COO extraordinaire, met in 1996 and began working together at Trattoria Nervosa (formally known as Cafe Nervosa). Unbeknownst to them, they would go on to have a lasting partnership, and friendship, that has spanned over 25 years. Janet and Demetrio embody the essence of what Nervosa represents; soul.
In 1996, Janet owned and operated a single restaurant, working day and night. Together her and Demetrio did every job imaginable to support their passion and home away from home; bussing, hosting, serving, slinging pizza’s, bookkeeping, and many more. Today, Janet has 10 (+ counting) exceptional restaurants, to which she always says she couldn't have done it without her ‘work husband, Dee’
Star Sighting
Our limonata & capellini has brought many celebs to the yard over the years, including Beyonce & Jay-Z, Jared Leto, Renee Zellweger, The Spice Girls, The Jonas Brothers, Drake and more.
Celebrating 25 Years
Summer 2021, we’re bringing the restaurant back to the 90’s and getting nostalgic for the days of Spice Girls and No Doubt! We’re dusting off the original menu (with the original prices of course) from 1996 that will feature all of the old Nervosa favourites that the taste buds will surely recognize and appreciate. We are curating a playlist with the best throwback music from the era, with perhaps some impromptu salsa dancing in the street, which Janet used to love, encourage and take part in regularly. Did I mention we’ll be live streaming Demetrio getting a tattoo of the Nervosa logo? Yup, that’s happening.
Throughout the year, we'll be sharing stories and memories on social media from our team members and guests. We have been a part of countless special occasions, birthday’s, anniversaires, first dates, graduations etc, and we want our community to take part in the reminiscing. With a full and grateful heart, we will be featuring the impact, big or small, Nervosa has left on those who have stepped into our little home.
Surviving a Pandemic
Not only has the restaurant been in business for an astonishing 25 years, it can now add surviving a global pandemic to it’s resume. This past year has been an immense challenge for us and our famiglia, however, we will continue to lead with passion, innovation and grit. Cheers to another 25 years of Nervosa!
Let's Go Back in Time
Anyone who lived through the 1990s shares a fond nostalgia for all things associated with the era. You can still practically taste your favourite Lip Smackers flavour, you remember the thrill of renting a movie at your local Blockbuster, and you still wonder if you could have actually made millions on those old Beanie Babies you eventually donated. If you long for the days of walkmans, Spice Girls, Furbys, and dial-up internet, then well… lets go back in time!
Summer 2021, we’re bringing Nervosa back to the 90’s. Just imagine, the year is 1996, No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak” is playing on the radio, you’ve got your Doc Martins on and your mind is till wondering if Ros and Rachel would ever end up back together. You drive up to the newest restaurant in Yorkville, Trattoria Nervosa, and enjoy an al fresco lunch with a $6.95 Margherita pizza and an Italian espresso.
That’s right, for one day only we are taking it WAY back and dusting off the original menu (with the original prices of course) from 1996 that will feature all of the old Nervosa favourites that the taste buds will surely recognize and appreciate.