Marcello Ristorante and Pizzeria is an iconic restaurant on Commercial Drive for over 20 years with Chef Marcello being the first to bring handmade pasta to Vancouver.
Commercial Drive aka Little Italy is a bustling part of town with great eateries and local shops for many many blocks. You can always find superb espressos, gelato, pizza and pasta on this street.
We were invited by Marcello Ristorante to get a taste of the different items on the menu.
Interior
They have a lot of indoor seating as well as some limited patio seats for small groups. Inside, they can seat a lot of people, but some of the tables are situated close to each other. I would suggest putting in a reservation to suit your needs. We had a stroller with us, so they made sure there was space.
Latte
I got a latte since I really needed some caffeine for the day.
Shirley Temple
They can make non-alcoholic drinks that aren’t on the menu. When I asked for a Shirley Temple, they had no issues making it at all. If you have a request, definitely ask the staff and they’ll try to make it happen if they have the ingredients on hand.
Frittura di calamari
This is deep fried baby squid and it comes in a huge portion. It is served with a slice of bread and tzatziki. They had a light crisp exterior and was pretty delicious. Don’t forget to squeeze the lemon all over for more of a citrus tang.
Caprese
The caprese has tomato, bocconcini, onion and capers with a light dressing. It is also served with a slice of bread too. It’s a good size for a group of 4 as there are 4 pieces. It’s not what I imagined, but perhaps its their own twist to a traditional caprese.
Ai quattro formaggi Gnocchi
This gnocchi is sautéed with 4 cheeses and broiled till it’s cheesy. The gnocchi is soft and fluffy, when paired with the cheese, its so good! I really enjoyed this.
Lasagna
The lasagna is prepared from scratch and baked in a ceramic dish. There are layers of spinach, noodles and meat sauce topped with bechamel. It is served with a side of bread. A good portion for one person, but we shared it among the table. It was delicious as well.
Funghi con Tartufo
This Fungi con Tartufo has a blend of cheese, mushroom, and truffle. This was really good. These 3 ingredients just meld so well together. Highly recommended.
Marcello
Their signature pizza named after Marcello has tomato sauce, mozzarella, anchovies, black olives, capers, and onion. It’s not a pizza for everyone as these pungent ingredients aren’t for all. You have the saltiness from the anchovies, while the olives are bitter and nutty.
We wanted to give this a try but didn’t jive with our taste buds.
Marscapone Cream
This essentially is Tiramisu in a cup. It’s very rich and decadent.
Panna Cotta
The panna cotta was a joy to eat. It was very smooth and went well with the cherries and whipped cream. Of the two desserts, we really enjoyed this.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it was a nice visit to Marcello Ristorante and Pizzeria as it’s been a staple in Little Italy for over 20 years. A few items that were a hit and miss, but we love the frittura di calamari, ai quattro formaggi gnocchi, funghi con tartufo, and the panna cotta.
Address:
1404 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC
Website:
http://marcellopizzeria.com/
