Since its inception in 1984, the folks who run Zenari's Italian eatery have stressed the family element of the business. Zenari’s is currently located on the main floor of Manulife Place, where it's easy to be distracted by the power suits dropping in or walking by, but the Zenari clan has never wavered or lost their focus.
“Most of the recipes that we use are from our family or somehow related to our own life experiences,” says Elisa Zenari, the restaurant's manager. She firmly believes their brand is a proud reflection of the family's genealogical roots. “There's a little bit of us in what we do and what we give to our customers.”
That includes a menu of soups, sandwiches, pastas, risottos and crostoni, all homemade with fresh, natural ingredients. Many of the recipes were inspired by Elisa's father Adriano’s Italian heritage. “We've always made everything from scratch and with lots of love,” says Elisa. “I think it resonates with people and shows through our food. People always know and expect that.”