The Best Italian Restaurants in Toronto
The best Italian restaurants in Toronto make for a tasty list. Like most Torontonians, I love my Italian cuisine. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that more than half of the meals I eat out are Italian in nature. In the grand sense, I suspect our communal love originated in the wave of post-war Italian immigration Toronto experienced in the 1950s. More than half a century later, the city's Italian roots - in both a cultural and a culinary capacity - run deep, with Italian eateries in virtually every neighbourhood.
That's not to say, however, that they're all good or even remotely authentic. But, by virtue of the high number of total restaurants, there's also certainly no shortage of excellent options for those looking to enjoy traditional Italian cuisine. Ranging from the casual to the fine, here's a list of the 15 best Italian restaurants in Toronto.
Pizzeria Libretto
Offering delicious and authentic Neapolitan pizza flash-cooked in a 900 degree (Fahrenheit) wood oven, this Ossington staple has taken the city by storm. Locally sourced ingredients, tasty salads, seasonal specials, and a well priced/selected wine list mean that extensive wait times are the only real negative. More...
Terroni
The multiple locations around town offer one of the best ways for Torontonians to enjoy traditional southern Italian fare. With thin-crust pizza that many believe rivals Libretto’s, perfectly executed pastas, and a variety of mains offered daily, the ever-busy Terroni has long been the city’s go to for Italian in general. The all-Italian wine list gets points for reasonability and range. More...
Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant
Also known as ‘the Nose’ (after its giant paper-mache nose in place of a sign), this casual, kitchy and unpretentious Leslieville eatery is another specialist in Southern Italian fare. Excellent pasta (especially the gnocchi) and well-priced mains ensures a vibrant, if loud, atmosphere. More...
7 Numbers
Located on the Danforth and at Eglinton and Avenue, both offer up classic Italian dishes, no-fuss plating and boisterous dining rooms. Reasonably priced all around, one of the fixed price menu options is generally my selection. The ‘homecooked’ food comes courtesy of Mama Rosa, the lovable matriarch who long ago opened 7 Numbers after years of bringing diners in droves to the previously mentioned Gio Rana’s. More...
The Big Ragu
This small (despite its name) outpost on the edge of Corso Italia represents everything I look for in an Italian restaurant - cheap but well prepared food, friendly service and requisite authenticity. And although the pizza can be hit and miss, the pasta staples and the daily specials deliver the big flavour the restaurant’s name promises. More...
Tutti Matti
Despite its presence in the club district, the food here might just transport you to Tuscany. Offering fine-Italian fare rather than some of the more casual options on the list, this is a destination to frequent when in the mood for more than just pizza or lasagna. Tough as it is to choose favorite dishes, I find the pappardelle simply divine. More...
Osteria Ciceria e Tria
Opened in the old Terroni location at Victoria and Richmond (by the same owner), the concept is altogether new. First and most notably, there’s no pizza on offer! Also notable is the compulsory antipasti component of any given meal. Whether you order a secondi or a primi, five antipasti are part of dinner. Based on the busy dining room, I get the sense most don’t mind this force-feeding. More...
Via Allegro
I go for the outstanding (and award wining) wine list. But what’s great wine without matching food? No slouch in this department either, this Etobicoke restaurant is fine dining at its best. Not rigidly traditional, nor cheap, Via Allegro nevertheless remains one of the premier options for Italian cuisine in the city. More...
Bar One
This West Queen West establishment is equally at home serving drinks to scenesters as it is at producing carefully considered takes on (mainly) Italian favourites. Tradition and authenticity take a back seat to playful flavour combinations with the mains, but the results are superb dishes that still gesture to their Italian roots. More...
CaFfino
Located in a converted warehouse in Liberty Village, don’t let the white tablecloths fool you - CaFfino offers well-priced (and well-made) Italian fare in the form of antipasti, pizzas and pastas. Mains are also reasonably priced, but less authentic (think, steak and salmon). Although initially hard to find, it features a lovely room to eat in. More...
Lil' Baci
Friendly service, simple food, and a great back patio are all attributes of this Italian outpost in Leslieville. While not as good as the pizza at Libretto or Terroni, Lil’ Baci’s offerings are nothing to slouch at. Also good are the traditional southern Italian pastas and a wine list that offers ample selection without any wallet-breakers. More...
Mistura
Chef Massimo Capra of Restaurant Makeover fame offers what I consider to be the best fine Italian cuisine in the city. Always prepared using traditional cooking methods, authenticity and quality is on obvious display here. No one would mistake it for cheap, but if Italian is your thing, this is the pinnacle. More...
Mercatto
This three-location-strong Terroni-esque eatery is jam-packed for weekday lunches, with patrons choosing from ample pizza and panni offerings. The bustling room calms down for dinner, which allows diners to enjoy the reasonably priced mains and many pasta options. An extensive wine list with loads of by-the-glass options is unexpected, but delightful. More...
L'Unita
The exposed brick walls, low lighting, and homey atmosphere make this a perfect room to enjoy Italian fare. With a focus on seasonal ingredients and a very capable chef in Doug Neigel (formerly at the Park Hyatt), you’d think the prices would match the Avenue and Davenport location. Not so, with most mains hovering just above the $25 mark and pizzas around $15, this is that perfect mix between casual and fine dining. More...
Trattoria Giancarlo
Representing Little Italy on this list, the recently expanded Trattoria Gincarlo thankfully does bring some much-needed authentic cuisine to the neighbourhood. Chef Eugenia Barato prepares the usual breakdown of courses and dishes, from antipasti to a veal chop in a Sangiovese reduction. Rather than predictable, this is a well-executed (if pricy) paean to the old country. More...
Comments (62)
Marcello's in Corso Italia should be on this list as well - great food & great service at a reasonable price.
I'm just glad bar italia isn't on this list. The newish management is horrible. (original owner was a great guy)
Great list, but how did Marcello's or Filippo's (both in the Corso Italia area) not make this list?! That's a shame.
From this list, I've eaten at Libretto, Terroni (Adelaide, St. Clair and Queen West locations), 7 Numbers (the original on Eglinton) and Mercatto (on Bay).
Friends and family have said Tutti Matti is okay. I think Giancarlo looks nice but is overrated.
I would definitely be up for trying Mistura, Via Allegro and Gio Rana's...
But the best Italian restaurant in Toronto definitely has to be Sapori at Yonge and Lawrence, and its more casual sister Trio, just a couple of doors down. My aunt has been frequenting Sapori for years, and when she took me there for my first time a few years ago, I knew it was the best Italian I ever tasted before. Particularly great are the seafood dishes. The veal chop is always a big hit too.
And to further cement that it is a true Toronto institution, former Maple Leafs captain Darryl Sittler is a regular at Sapori. I've seen him on several occasions there, and he even wished my cousin a happy birthday this past May when we were there for my cousin's birthday.
Fusaro's on spadina is awesome. Always a line up, but well worth the wait for lunch......
www.fusaros.com
147 Spadina Avenue
Toronto, ON M5V 2L7
(416) 260-8414
The top two choices should win for trendiest hippest italian restaurants, the foods ok but being seen in the line up outside for mediocre italian is where it's at
The big ragu cheap?
The food is great, but deff. not cheap. You spend $100 per person whenever you go.
Heather Li, you should know by now that according to blogto anything north of bloor isn't really considered party of Toronto
How can you take the list seriosuly without any mention of Boston Pizza?
Very happy to see my old favourite "The Nose" on this list but also new to Leslieville, Lil' Baci makes excellent Pizza. The antipasti there is also one of the best I have had in the city. Try the white bean spread!
I like it when these "Best of Lists" go east of Yonge Street.
I'd put a vote in for Capocaccia as well but I'm sure 50 more joints could make the debate & list.
Sorry, but the list is way too incomplete to have any real meaning. Just a sampling of missed restos:
Prego Della Piazza
Mangia & Bevi
Cafe Cinquecento
Casa di Giorgio
John's Classic Pizza
This list is missing my favourite - Da Gianni and Maria Tratorria on St.Clair West. Still the best gnocchi I've ever had. The grouper is a new favourite, everything else I've tried has been good as well. (Typically, we order some antipasto, the gnocchi, the agnolotti, grouper, eggplant parmesan). It's a little slow because Gianni's cooking it all to order.. but it's very worth it.
@Xavier, that jab would have worked better if there weren't north-of-bloor places on the list above!
I've never had a good experience at Terroni. The food is fine, but the atmosphere and service are terrible.
My favorite is Positano on Mt Pleasant. Nice and homey with great food. Grano on Yonge is a second.
You're right. This lists don't normally make it all the way up to St Clair. That's pratically a polar expedition. But I shouldn't complain. Its further north than Toronto Life goes
I know this isn't in toronto but....
Restorante Zafferano in Woodbridge is amazing
http://www.zafferano.ca/
Anyone know of any casual red sauce/big portions places? I've heard Woodbridge is where its at, but don't know of any specific restaurants.
Fusilli on Queen East at River - Guiseppe puts on a good show, the food is amazing and dinner for 2 with wine is a hundo all in.
Muffy I know the kind of place you like they usually start with an intro like
"Oh my god muffy darling have you tried Brigantine's, it's absolutely brilliant. There's a buzz happening there you really should try it before everyone else finds out about it, its absolutely brilliant"
People settle down. Most of us real italians don't go to italian resturants unless the're cheap. Why pay a lot for what you can have at home? AND never pay more than $10-$12 for pasta, even that's too much, you getting $2 worth of pasta, $2 sauce, garlic, veggies and some meat and your gonna pay $18.
Fogettaboutit!!
la vecchia is my favourite italian in toronto. and not just because it's so close - food is excellent and the atmosphere is always lively.
capocaccia sucks. the waitresses sell themselves out and the owner/manager is a pretentious creep.
Who did this research? And what are your criteria? Jeez. Nothing north of St. Clair? You're missing 75% of the good Italian food in town. This kind of "best of" list officially removes BlogTO's cred with anyone who really knows Italian food in Toronto. End of story.
This list, as is the case with all of our 'best of' posts is compiled through the nominations and votes of our readers.
So where do we find the announcement asking for nominations? I agree with Lisa, especially after talking with one of my students, who is Italian. She was appalled that so many fine restaurants have not been mentioned.
To have the over priced, under proportioned Terroni as #2 and not have Grazie on the list at all, has helped me to decide, never to view this site again.
Grazie not being on the list is no big deal to me. I find the food rather tasteless and unsatisfying.
Ferraro on Avenue/Eglinton is unbelievable. They're pastas are mad fresh each day and their wood-fired pizzas are ridiculous. Go.
The nominations went up weeks, maybe a couple of months ago. I agree BlogTO might do more to promote their polls -- although I'm not sure what ... maybe a quasi-permanent button on the side ("VOTE NOW: TORONTO'S BEST!", etc.)? -- but it's not their fault if you missed out.
On the other hand, it's fun pretending BlogTO suffers from a genetic loathing of the north end of the city and has organized a massive conspiracy to black out every Italian restaurant north of St. Clair.
(Isn't that a good thing? Leaves more room for you...)
I take the lists for what they are - what people who were around when the poll was posted thought was interesting.
We went to Osteria last night based on seeing it here. It was lovely. Quite possibly the best little piece of octopus I've ever had. A bit slow service wise but it was packed with pre-show diners. By the time we had dessert we pretty much had the place to ourselves and chatted with the staff. Nice.
Wow!! From an Italian girl, you guys really picked the truly best Italian restaurants our city has to offer!!! Im so impressed by your choices!! Bang On!
OMG.. Terroni!!!! Terroni!! I am so sick of this place!! I've never even been a step in the restaurant and yet I hate it!! with a passion! haha.
From the iphone ad to the huge line-ups at their door made up of for the most part rude wanna be upper class snoods taking up the sidewalk showing no courtesy to those trying to use this "public" sidewalk.
grrrr!!
sorry for the rant. I bet they make a stellar pizza wheel! rock on Terroni
Somewhat decent list, but two significant misses:
La Fenice (King West)
Regina's (College Street)
Also, a disgrace that Terroni and Mercatto made the list; try-hard Italian - not even close to authentic...
My wife and I went to Via Allegro last night for our 1 year wedding anniversary and had the greatest rizzoto of my life. Drenched in truffle oil I alomost lost my mind it was so good.
Do not expect cheap this dish was $32 however its worth it.
To top it off they have a wine list that reads like the bible and the worlds most extensive whisky collection.
Since it was our special day they also gave us a couple glasses of prosecco on the house.
A great night.
Good list, but if you live in Mississauga, I highly recommend
Thyme at 347 Lakeshore east.. (www.thymeristorante.com)
I ate there last night.. wow.
Disagree Gabe,
Libretto is the real deal, and the line-ups, while irritating, are there for the reason that others agree.
Overall, I think Toronto has pretty average Italian restaurants. But everyone should know that the best spot for Italian food is always at your Nona's (or a friend's Nona's) table.
Real deal nothing. It's only a real deal because its on Ossington. And Ossington is as "hot" as Hanzel right now. Move it to Gerrard and Coxwell and no one gives a crap about it.
If you do actually think that 'Pizza-Hut-Rules', then I suppose you might not like the food that Libretto offers (fair enough, we have different tastes). But I assure you that if Libretto were on Gerrard and Coxwell, while the line-ups might not be as long, most would still agree that the food is top-notch - as far as antipastos, pizzas and deserts go.
Do you have other spots you would recommend? I think that Marcello's also has great thin crust pizzas and like many other Italian places, they are north of Bloor St.. so where do you like? Or are you simply 'poo-poo-ing' anything that happens to be popular.
Painfully obvious lack of Sotto Sotto mention yet you include middling fare like Terroni and Mercatto ... simply unreal. I see BlogTO staff is still unqualified to offer opinions on much of anything at all.
I think Il Mulino on Eglinton/Bathurst should be on this list they have amazing food I believe the best Italian food in the city and the staff and owners are really nice.
I think one should try out Domani's Restaurant and Wine Bar 335 Roncesvalles ave. West End. The food is Brilliant at reasonable prices. The wine list is substantial. The service is friendly and knowledgeable. Try the Fusilli or any of the Chef's specials.
I just went last night to the Big Ragu based on Blogto's "Top Italian Restaurants in Toronto" article and clearly someone at Blog To must have been paid handsomely to write such a false an inaccurate article about the restaurant. IT WAS THE WORST ITALIAN FOOD I HAVE EVER HAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT GO! I've had better "Italian" food at East side Mario's. I am so upset with Blog to's top 15 list! Big Ragu should not even be listed along side great Italian restaurants such as, Terroni, (my fav) Mercatto, Mistura, Via Allegro, Osteria Ciceria e Tria. From now on I will never take a review that I read on Blog To seriously based on their recommendation of this restaurant!
The Pizzeria Libretto to me do not fit in the first fifteen best,
food dicent but nothing special, if you know something about Italian cooking.
ciao
Lina I agree 100%, if you make an Italian dish it suppose to have the test too, not just loking like Italian food.
ciao Lina
East side Mario's?? are you kidding me Ehbadaboombadbing their food is gross for one thing and should need even be allowed to call itself italian food.
Can we all agree never to write/say/think the term "resto" ever again? Unless, that is, we write for Toronto Life and are therefore, a priori, a sad, striving, clueless douchebag.
As I frequently dine in midtown T.O., I've tried every single Italian restaurant on the street ranging from St. Clair to the 401 on Yonge St. My favorite has to be Il Sogno Risto. It's one of the smaller restaurants but I find them to be the most ambitious with their cuisine and the staff seems to always be super friendly and accomodating. Definitely one of the smaller places on the strip, again, but it's that neighborhood spot that I always find myself coming back to. Decor is casual chic-nothing super fancy, but the food is top notch, and the Chef is Italian (I've seen him come out to greet his customers every time I've been there). I also recently tried Balsamico and let's just say, I will not be re-visiting it as I do Il Sogno.
The name Da Gianni and Maria Tratorria on St. Clair Ave. West should be include in the fav's list. They have the best gnocchi that I have ever had. They even taste better than my mom's and she's Italian. Buon Apetito
East Side Marios?? Ha ha, that's good. Oh no, wait, that was supposed to be on the Mississauga blog.
You guys missed a biggie: La Bruschetta Restaurant at 1317 St. Clair Avenue West. The owner, Benito, makes a lot of his own cured meat and cheese, and the food is freakin' outstanding!
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