You could see it as a test of just how far Dupont has come. Though it's been developing over the past decade, making the transition from industrial hinterland to North Annex, with businesses like
Nancy's Cheese,
Ezra's Pound and
Frangipane bakery apparently flourishing, the step-down restaurant spot at 328 Dupont, owned by
Wynn Family Properties, has not been so lucky.
The owners of Diverso by Ferraro hope the time has come for a mid-range restaurant on a strip known until know for its relative highs (
Bistro Tournesol,
Indian Rice Factory) and its beloved lows (
AAA and
Vesta Lunch).
The second location for the company (the
first has been on Eglinton just west of Avenue for 16 years), the owners made an extra effort with the renovations to distinguish themselves from a long line of failed restaurants, the latest of which was called Trattoria 328.
The cosmetic renovation was done by
Hirschberg Design Group on a budget of about $50,000. "If this thing works well, then they're going to make a serious commitment to the neighbourhood," says Martin Hirschberg of the design that incorporates the prominent piping that's part of the building's infrastructure. "This space is really for them to find out how it's going to work in the new neighbourhood. So we wanted to do something that was kind of light and kind of fun, not too serious, kind of a bit campy, to make it inviting to the area."
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Diverso by Ferraro, Hirschberg Design Group, Martin Hirschberg