Q4 al Centro

Looking for a new lunch spot in the downtown area? Check out Q4 al Centro, which opened late 2010. I have been a few times since and here are some of my favourite dishes.

One of their most popular appetizers is the Radicchio Bocconcini. Grilled with a slice of prosciutto, the saltiness is well-balanced by the sweetness from the sauce. The secret is cherries - who knew?!

For one lunch, I tried their Rigatoni Bolognese. I've always loved their Spaghetti Bolognese and was eager to try this incarnation. On the bottom , you have the original, on the top is the Rigatoni. How could you go wrong either way when the pasta is served with a red wine tomato ragu, and a combination of braised beef, veal and pork?! A few shavings of parmigiano reggiano and really, it's amazing!

Since we were facing the amazing pizza oven, we had to try a thin crust pizza. We selected the Forno Chicken, with chicken breast, zucchini, and whole olives. The charring on the crust is perfect and the toppings don't overwhelm you at all. A nice balance of crust to topping ratio here.

Fettucine con Rucola, it's fettucini loaded with shaved beef tenderloin, arugula, fresh tomato and parmigiano reggiano. The fresh tomato really adds to this dish by bringing a lightness to the meatiness.

This is the famous Spaghetti Q4. If one of you is having this, make the other one try it. Loaded with crushed garlic, the ground chicken and black beans are tossed with spicy olive oil. You'll walk out of the restaurant with a new swagger!

I'm not a huge fan of desserts since I don't really have a sweet tooth. If you're like me, you should try their Ciliegie Filate - layers of mascarpone cheese with phyllo pastry stacked in between. And then they top it with a load of sour cherries. So rich, but not heavy at all. Don't be shy, just stab into it!

Here is another great dessert, the traditional tiramisu. Served with a biscotti and a chocolate straw, it's perfect for someone with a sweet tooth.
One more great thing about this place? They offer free valet all the time. It's such a treat being able to dine downtown and not have to worry about parking.