With Sammarco II BY IV DESIGN elevates the experiences of both dining and interior design.

As American architect and designer David Rockwell has remarked, “Good restaurant design is about achieving equilibrium between the food, service and design — in effect, telling a complete story.” And a complete story is being told beautifully by Sammarco, the newly opened Italian steakhouse in downtown Toronto.

Designed by II BY IV DESIGN, Sammarco offers its customers a fascinating dining and design experience. This is the third culinary collaboration between Michelin-starred Chef Rob Rossi and renowned restaurateur David Minicucci after their success with the Michelin- starred Osteria Giulia and Michelin-recommended Giulietta.

Rossi and Minicucci, both pioneers in the food business, have brought together their combined experiences and knowledge to build this spectacular abode of culinary excellence. Born from their vision of building a space where a sense of belonging is felt, Sammarco is more than a restaurant — it is also an experience. With its focus on narration, sensory immersion and recollection, it takes its customers on a personal journey where feelings are celebrated.

The restaurant also honours the legacy of Michael Carlevale, the renowned Toronto restaurateur who was instrumental in shaping Toronto’s dining scene in the 1980s and 1990s. More than a decade after his death, he is still frequently cited as a key contributor to Toronto’s contemporary culinary identity.

Minicucci and Rossi’s friendship with Carlevale had a significant influence on them and motivated them to provide guests with both a space and a dining experience characterized by warmth, sophistication and remarkable attention to detail, much like Carlevale himself. It offers the perfect blend of architecture, history and culinary artistry, a multilayered experience where interiors and cuisine complement each other.

Celebration of culture is also very much at the heart of Sammarco. A testament to Canada’s vibrant creative culture, the space houses the largest collection of Canadian artwork ever exhibited in a restaurant.

The immersive experience begins with the deep wood tones and Boro-glass-coloured upholstery of the bar, which guests are invited to access through an amber glass gateway. The first sip of specially chosen wine serves as an invitation to feel and enjoy every second of the experience.

“THE PERFECT DINING EXPERIENCE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU’RE SEATED.” — Sammarco’s philosophy

The restaurant’s design has been inspired by Italian traditions and contemporary luxury. The sleek leather seats of the custom-made furniture pay homage to Italy’s automotive heritage, drawing inspiration from legendary brands like Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari. A large aerial view of Italy’s cobbled streets is echoed in the hand-poured and meticulously swept terrazzo floor.

This flooring, chosen as much for its ability to stimulate the senses as its aesthetic appeal — you can even hear the tapping of servers’ shoes as they move swiftly from table to table beneath the chatter of enthusiastic diners — highlights the space’s emphasis on sensory immersion.

Intimate booth seating surrounds the sculpted clover fountain that is the centrepiece of the room. Above, a polished globe hangs beneath a dramatic ceiling adorned with rays that fan outward like sunbeams reminiscent of a Tuscan sunset, their curves providing acoustic softening. The glowing pendant globe creates gentle, diffused light that unifies the area below and highlights the artistry above. This isn’t just a ceiling — it is making a statement.

Giving visitors a reason to gaze upward and become engrossed in a room where every element has been meticulously planned changes the whole atmosphere. Combining elements of emotion, design and art creates an exceptional hospitality experience.

Following Italy’s tradition of excellent design but from a local perspective, many of the restaurant’s essential components — its wood, stone, glass and metalwork — have been produced by Canadian artists and artisans, who in many cases display the skills and artistry that have been passed down and honed through generations.

The private dining room is a haven of sophistication, made for introspection. Its walls are painted in the sun-warmed golds of an Italian vineyard; a magnificent custom-made chandelier is surrounded by inviting royal-blue leather chairs.

The table, which blends seamlessly into the unique floor from which it emerges, was manufactured from individually veneered pattern pieces and hand-installed on location. It is a perfect expression of the talent and attention to detail at the heart of this space.

All of the carefully chosen artworks, whose styles range from traditional to abstract, foster cross-cultural communication and strengthen Sammarco’s function as a venue for artistic and culinary expression.

Sammarco is all about a feeling rather than a specific geographical location or person. The restaurant invites each customer to discover their own connection as it develops, a memory in the making.

Coexistence is central to the dining rooms’ character, with the food and the room’s design coexisting in conversation. Through their varied characteristics, they shape each guest’s perceptions of narrative, space and the sensory impact of hospitality.

Dan Menchions and Keith Rushbrook, the founding partners of II BY IV DESIGN, have brought this vision to life by personally curating each piece and aspect of the restaurant to improve its immersive atmosphere and create an environment where art and food seamlessly coexist.

The restaurant thrives on this idea: the perfect dining experience, no matter where you’re seated. By providing the best dining experience in Toronto, Sammarco tells its own beautiful story through its cuisine and style — and gives its customers a chance to tell theirs, too.

It is home to a perfect blend of storytelling, art and culinary excellence. Most importantly, it is a space where the experience matters the most.

@sammarcosteak
@iibyivdesign

KEY SUPPLIERS
Stone: Ciot
Mosaic: SICIS North America Inc.
Private Dining Room Flooring: Eurolegno Luxury Floors
Architectural Glass: Accura Glass
Specialty Glass: The Goodman Studio
Tile, Bar Feature: Viúva Lamego (through Portuguese Products)
Brick, Exterior Façade: Glen-Gery
Wood: M. Bohlke Veneer & Lumber
Kitchen Flooring: LSI Floors
Lighting: Eurolite
Fabric: CTL Leather and Wollsdorf Leather
Construction: BLT Construction
Millwork + Furniture: RFP Design Group Inc.
Upholstered Seating: Louis Interiors
Ceiling Plaster Installation: Studio Alvo
Custom Exterior Doors: Classic Crystal
Custom Planters + Exterior Patio: Rose Perri
Exterior Marble Bench: Kreoo