Who’s Behind It Owner Tony Migliarese and chef David Leeder
What’s on the Menu Elevated southern Italian cuisine with an emphasis on hand-rolled pastas
With its comforting, award-winning southern Italian cooking and warm hospitality, Dopo is a favourite among friends, families and couples. Ushered down a set of stairs and past a heavy velvet curtain, diners find themselves in a cozy trattoria with herringbone stone floors, low wooden ceilings, arched windows and the romance of candlelight.
The space reminded owner Tony Migliarese of his beloved Italian grandmother’s basement. “Most Italians live in their basement, as it has a kitchen,” he says. “I could not only picture my Nonna cooking, but also smell what she was making.”
The food, a spin on comfort Italian, approaches perfection in the hands of talented chef David Leeder. Having held senior positions at Michelin starred restaurants Frenchie, The French Laundry and Per Se, Leeder brings a thoughtful twist to Dopo’s rustic cuisine. Case in point: the beef and veal meatballs are a blend of both his and Migliarese’s grandmothers’ recipes. The signature crusty grilled bread with a mound of whipped ricotta and the pickled green tomatoes (holdovers from the days of D.O.P., one of Migliarese’s previous restaurants) remain welcoming starters.
The menu boasts a carne option, reminiscent of Bistecca alla Fiorentina, which immediately transports me to Italy. Other mains include a seafood dish which changes weekly — such as the popular Mussels Sambuca. “David loves the challenge of cooking fresh seafood and he has the chops to work with it,” says Migliarese.
While the food is consistently exceptional, the service is even more impressive. There’s always someone to greet you at the door with a glass of bubbles, pick up a dropped napkin or share stories.
Dopo was awarded fourth in Best New Restaurants on the 2025 Canada’s 100 Best list. That makes reservations hard to come by, but take heart — Migliarese makes a point of accommodating walk-ins whenever possible.
10, 1907 34 Ave. S.W., dopoyyc.com, @dopo.yyc
