Griffintown has a new Italian snack bar with Mano Cornuto, which recently arrived on the corner of Ottawa and Ann streets.
It’s set to be a casual, day-and-night affair, with sandwiches and coffee, but also fresh pasta and natural wine. The team of four owners — chef James Baran, Vito Ciocca, Tyler Maher, and Alex Ragoussis bring solid experience, too. The former two have worked with Chuck Hughes’ restaurant group (at Le Bremner and Garde-Manger), while Argoussis bring experience from Old Montreal coffee shop Crew, and Maher comes over from NDG’s Monkland Tavern.
The restaurant takes up residence in the base of the Lowney condo building, which was formerly Chez Ann, and before that, café Kitsuné.
Maher says that Mano Cornuto is aiming to be an accessible, owner-operated spot for the neighbourhood. The goal is a “classic European café vibe” — focaccia sandwiches will be a main focus, with at least one meat and one vegetarian option available each day — these will vary, but Maher gives a Florentine-style artichoke spread option as just one example. On the coffee side, the owners developed their own roast in conjunction with Montreal’s Traffic Coffee Club.
But sandwiches and coffee are just one offering — a tight menu will also include fresh pastas, salads, and a crudo option, making it a potential dinner option in the evening hours (although evening hours are still in the works).
You’ll be able to make it a 5 à 7 option too — Ciocca is putting together a “fun” cocktail list, and the owners have tapped sommelier Rob Clarke (ex-Foxy, Beau Mont) to put together a wine list that will feature pet-nats, and other natural options.
STATUS — Mano Cornuto is open at 988 Ottawa from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. this week; longer hours are coming soon.
- Mano Cornuto [Official]