Taste of Tuscany is a fine little Italian restaurant located at 14^th and Hamilton in downtown Regina. Last night was cold, windy and rainy and my best friend and I decided we were in the mood for something to keep us warm so we made our way to the restaurant. It’s not a “fast food” place; it’s a bit fancier and would be ideal for a date or a night out with a small group of friends. I’m always a fan of eating at places where I’m able to sit and enjoy the atmosphere as well as the company of my fellow diners and Taste of Tuscany fit all my requirements for a perfect evening dinner out.

The restaurant is in a house with a little veranda out front that has a few small tables; the spot would be ideal for enjoying your meal on a sunnier and warmer day. The main floor has a series of tables, but the second floor (where we were seated) has a few more tables in a slightly more intimate layout. Every table was immaculately set and there wasn’t a speck of dirt or dust to be found anywhere. I was very appreciative of the attention to detail – a lot of places can sometimes forget to slow down and live in the moment, but Taste of Tuscany felt very much alive in the present and in the celebration of enjoying good food.

Our server was very personable and recommended to us the special of the night, the Gnocchi Tuscany (which my friend ordered). I opted for the Fettuccine alla Boscaiola, which I couldn’t pronounce but was able to point to on the menu. They also offered a sizeable wine menu, but we instead chose to stick with water (which never ran low). As we waited for our food we admired the décor, including a number of paintings of the Italian countryside. The cutlery, dishes and glasses on each table were all spotless and set so perfectly you’d swear someone was using a ruler or measuring tape or something to set them just right. Our server brought a small basket of freshly baked bread (made from scratch, no less) that didn’t last very long on our table. It was warm and very, very delicious.

Our meals arrived quickly and they were hot and beautiful to look at – I had to make sure to snap pictures of both our dishes before we devoured them. The Fettuccine alla Boscaiola was fettuccine in a cream sauce with mushrooms and chicken and I just couldn’t get enough of it. All the ingredients were clearly homemade and you could taste the authenticity and care put into every bite. Towards the end of my meal I switched to using a spoon so I could absorb as much of the amazing sauce as possible – it was perfect! I snuck a couple bites of my friend’s Gnocchi Tuscany, which was gnocchi in a cream sauce with bacon, mushrooms, zucchini and sausage and if I had room for two meals I would’ve wanted an order of it for myself. We left feeling warm, happy and very, very satisfied.

Taste of Tuscany can be found at 2167 Hamilton Street and it’s open for dinner seven days a week. While complimenting our server on the fantastic service and food we were informed that the owners will be opening a new restaurant at 1857 Scarth Street downtown in the Scarth Street Mall called La Trattoria Italiana. This new establishment will focus on lunch with pizzas, paninis and more. It opens on Wednesday, October 24^th and I know I’ll be first in line to enjoy it.