it took a few attempts to finally nail down a lunch date with the ladies, but with a lot of persistence and determination, we made it happen: a party of four with a 1:00 pm reso on a tuesday. claudio's came recommended by a friend, run by the sons of the family behind la roca on commercial drive, many moons ago, and also the team behind pasta amore. the restaurant is named after their dad, claudio, which automatically sets expectations a notch higher.
finding the place itself was easy enough on google maps. the parkade, however, was another story. finding my car after lunch turned into a misadventure that no one asked for.
inside, claudio's is bright, open, and airy, with soaring ceilings and generous natural light. warm wood tables, a cozy booth with deep leather seats invite lingering, and vintage style photos line dark walls, adding nostalgia. greenery spills down from a ledge near the ceiling, softening the exposed pipes and ductwork above, like a leafy curtain politely disguising the ventilation system. the open kitchen, anchored by a wood fired pizza oven, is a strong visual cue that pizza is serious business here.
our arrival, unfortunately, was...odd. one friend became convinced the front door was locked. diners were clearly inside, but she swore a staff member made eye contact and didn't move to help. we circled the building like confused cats looking for a secret entrance before returning to the front door. still nothing. i finally called the restaurant and was told, cheerfully, that the door was open. eventually, another customer attempted entry, gave the door a heroic yank, and voila, it opened. shoutout to that stranger. less so to the brunette staff member whose vibe leaned towards standoffish.
once seated, spirits lifted quickly. we were celebrating a birthday and decided to share, which felt right given the generous portions. the table filled up nicely: calamari fritti, a verde salad, and a capricciosa pizza topped with tomato, fior di latte, prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, olives, and artichokes.
the spread looked inviting, exactly the kind of lunch you want to linger over.
the calamari arrived first and was a highlight, absolutely stole the show. lightly breaded, crisp without being greasy, with a mix of rings and jalapenos and a side of pale, creamy aioli, it was the dish everyone kept reaching back for. if there's one must order at the table, this is it.
the verde salad, dressed in a pinkish vinaigrette and sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts and shaved cheese, leaned a bit heavy handed on the dressing and felt slightly wilted, though the flavours were there. the pizza arrived last, rustic, with a blistered, wood fired crust and toppings scattered generously. the crust was thin and pleasantly chewy, not oily, though a touch soggy in the centre. still, it held its own and disappeared quickly.
we shared an affogato with gelato, espresso, with crumble and a generous portion of tiramisu with a dusting of cocoa powder spelling out happy birthday was a thoughtful finishing touch. both hit the sweet spot without tipping into overly rich territory.
all in all, it was a lovely afternoon, good food, plenty of laughter, and the easy comfort of catching up with old friends. claudio's has a lot going for it: a beautiful space, standout calamari, and solid pizza. the parking maze and the great door mystery were 'character building', to say the least. i'd definitely come back, though next time, i might bring a crowbar. read more