Chef Bruno Arcidiacono grew up in the town of Soverato, in southern Italy, and knew from an early age what he was destined to do.
Over the last 30 years, he’s been cooking authentic Italian cuisine, and in late October 2023, he opened his first restaurant, L’Altra Milano Ristorante, with his wife, Nataliya, in the heart of downtown Waterdown.
“At the age of 13, I started working at the little restaurant by the sea, and from there, my passion for cooking started,” says Chef Bruno, who was inspired by Italy’s vibrant culinary culture to leave Soverato and head north to the fashionable metropolis of Milan. There, he honed his culinary creativity in numerous restaurants over the next 13 years, culminating at the historical restaurant Antico Ristorante Boeuce. Established in 1696, the famed establishment continues to be a favourite place to dine by Milanese elite, diplomats, and artists for providing the highest level of cuisine.
After marrying Nataliya, Bruno moved to Toronto. His polished professional skills and extensive experience were recognized and certified by the Canadian Red Seal in 2008. He worked as a chef at Lambton Golf & Country Club for almost 16 years before opening L’Altra Milano Ristorante.
“When we found the place, we both liked the architecture and the character. We felt we could create our own restaurant here. We like Waterdown as a community,” says Natalyia.
At the time, the former Lord Byron Steakhouse on Main Street South still had the initials LB on the windows. “It was kind of like an omen. L for L’Altra Milano Ristorante and B for Bruno,” says Natalyia.
Chef Bruno cooks all types of Italian dishes, from the north to the southern islands. He notes the handmade pasta dishes are very popular. The Fettuccini Bolognese features Chef Bruno’s famous ground veal and pork braised with vegetables and herbs in a red wine tomato sauce. Other favourites include Penne Alla Vodka with pancetta and onion, Eggplant Parmesan, and Chitarra Spaghetti Seafood with shallot, calamari, mussels and shrimp in a white wine and
light tomato sauce.
Meat and fish entrées, include Veal Scaloppina, Chicken Supreme, and AAA Striploin Steak, served with vegetables and delicious roasted potatoes, grilled Atlantic
Salmon, and Colossal Shrimp Santa Margherita.
Chef Bruno and Natalyia haven’t finalized their website yet, so they're relying on social media to get the word out. They are active on Instagram and Facebeook, where they post weekly specials. They said their current Google listing shows a price range at $100-plus, which reflects a special New Year’s Eve dinner they did shortly after opening. People wrote excellent reviews about the dinner, but that is considerably more than what diners pay for a typical meal at L’Altra Milano Ristorante. Pasta dishes are in the $20–$30 range, and the portions are large.
“The Caesar salad almost everyone shares because the portion is so big it’s enough for two people,” says Natalyia. The consummate appetizer is notable for its crispy pancetta, soft, melt-in-your-mouth croutons, and light, fresh dressing.
Chef Bruno also experiments with lunch and other specials like braised beef cheeks with mashed potatoes, barbecued pork ribs, and fettucine with truffle.
L’Altra Milano Ristorante is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday at 10 Main Street South, Waterdown.
