The Best Pizza in Toronto
Ya gotta love the pizza in Toronto. Now there's perfect breakfast food (eggs benny or any thing from the late, great kitchen at Mimi's at Bathurst & Queen) and there's perfect dinner food (a huge porterhouse at the Tulip or maybe some omakase courtesy Kaji-san) but is there a better breakfast/dinner food than Pizza? Luckily Toronto has its fair share of slice-serving establishments to provide the serious foodie and the spirit-soaked post-club crowd with enough fine examples of that Neapolitan pie to almost quench this cities nearly obscene hunger.
Now I know that some of you are gonna take exception to names excepted from this list but better to keep that rage like a secret until next year's BlogTO best of survey calls for entries, then loose that rage and start reppin' for your own 'hood's gift to pizzadom (yes, we know how good Pizza Gigi and Papa Ceo are-- frosh). I personally think this list is weighted impossibly towards the downtown-centric and find it hard to believe with all the good suburban burgers, we couldn't find a decent pie in Etobicoke or Scarborough for inclusion on this list.
Be that as it may.
There's still tonnes of quality present and our number one has definitely earned its place as the pole star in this culinary constellation.
Everyone loves a Terroni pizza. From the crispy crust, to the fresh ingredients, to the family run franchises popping up everywhere to the surly reactions when you ask for a substitution (silly n00b), it's the whole pizza package.
The rest of this list (including a personal shout out to the #4 position which nursed me through a recent root canal...another reason pizza is awesome is because it can be eaten while anaesthetized) are all outstanding specimens of pizza and would all be welcome additions to any empty belly cold the next morning.
That being said, let the flame-war commence!!!
Terroni
The big cheese of our list, Terroni's been slingin' some of the tastiest 'za this side of Naples for years. Super-thin crust and a wide selection of fresh toppings but don't even think about using your fingers for this pie. Cutlery is de rigeur. More...
Magic Oven
From humble beginnings across the street from Broadview Station, these purveyors of nouveau-za are primed to take over the city across five locations offering a quirky blend of toppings (check out the tandoori chicken pizza for a serious flavour treat) and crusts for any occasion from vegan to gluten free. More...
The Big Ragu
Generous on the toppings and piping hot -- key elements to a good pizza. Mix that with a thin baked crust and what you get is a sublime expression of the pie-man's art. Big Ragu's quattro stagioni rivals Queen West's 'Terroni' for best in town. (Though if you're a big fan of preserved black olives, then Big Ragu is your winner). More...
Vesuvio
Probably one of the Junction's oldest restaurants (at 50 years young) offering the kinda wood-fired delivery 'za Plato would've ordered to hold up and flicker its shadow on the cave wall. I mean it's the archetype people! Mushroom, anchovies and black olives are my personal fave! More...
L'il Baci
Thin crust pizza that stands up to some of the best food in Leslieville. Operated by the fine folks at Kubo Radio. The pizzas are big enough to share. I don't know whether tis Tanja's skill at food pornography or mouthwatering list of ingredients but the Funghi, a white pizza with crimini mushrooms, taleggio, sage and truffle oil is definitely on the must try list. More...
Bitondo Pizzeria & Sandwiches
Named after the Italian verb for 'to bite on' ;oP, it's what you'll wanna do to the tasty slices they sling the second you walk thru the door. And housed in a quaint Clinton street storefront to boot. More...
Massimo's Pizza & Pasta
Oddly enough, I was watching the 'Restaurant Makeover' on Massimo's just last night and thinking fondly of their tangy sauce and above average delivery 'za thinking I can finally stop turning up my nose and eat 'in' for a change. More...
Pizza Pide
Turkey on a pizza! No, pizza from Turkey, fool! Well technically canoe shaped 'pide' but delicious in any language. Across from Gerrard Square Pizza Pide offers some tasty varieties including ones topped with spicy Turkish sausage and sunny-side up egg! Quite possibly making the perfect breakfast food that much better. More...
Regina Pizzeria and Trattoria
Rocco and Anna make Regina's the neighborhood place to be in the heart of Little Italy. Dine in or have them deliver their homemade pizzas, pastas, or tasty sandwiches. More...
Marcello's Pizzeria
Marcello's Pizzeria is a local favourite in Toronto's Corso Italia. There are more than 20 pizza options to choose from as well as pasta, sandwiches and salads. More...
Comments (45)
I'm obviously in the minority here but, to me, a terroni pizza is good, but goddamn is it thin on pretty much everything for the price! it's pizza for gods sake! it's good, don't get me wrong, but I suspect there's a cult of terroni going on here...
Maybe it was just me...but my experience at magic oven was way less that stellar...I'd go so far as to say it was possibly one of the worst pizza's Ive ever had.
I agree about Magic Oven - had it after reading many rave reviews and seeing it highly ranked in lists such as this and honestly could not understand why after trying it. It was pretty awful and, as I recall, there was something very un-pizza about it.
MarkH, I don't think that Thornhill counts as in Toronto, it's a different municipality. Your definition may vary.
I don't remember the name, but there used to be an incredible, tiny pizza joint right at the corner of Harbord and Spadina. They had a bunch of custom slices named after various celebs, including the Elvis (lots of meat), Tina Turner (vegetarian), etc.
I do remember eating at a Massimo's on College, which had very tasty calzones (when they first became popular, probably late 80s)
Oh yeah, it's called Papa Ceo. I guess you mentioned it, but it's not actually on your list, and I'm not clear on why. I've eaten in a lot of pizza places, in a lot of cities in N. America, and I've never tasted anything as good as Papa Ceo's.
jonson, Dr., this is a list of the best pizza in the city, not the most overcooked. Gigi and Ceo are off the list.
the best pizza i've ever had was in waterloo/kitchen at pepi's. the bacon they used were half fatty half lean and when they baked on the pizza, they had just the right amount of crunch. i would drive an hour to have that right now!
there was this pizza place i passed by on queen st. east. i think it was at the corner of carlaw? but it was a small place and had a whole variety of pizzas. not a lot of room for a sit down. i think the name starts with "am...."? has anyone been to that place?
If there is one thing aside from taxes and death as being constant in the universe, the other would be disagreeing on the best pizza.
I actually have friends who insist Pizza Pizza is the best.
Magic Oven uses frozen crusts - should not even be a contender let alone the #2 pick. RECOUNT!
Consider me also baffled how Magic Oven is still in business never mind on a list like this, good, perhaps even very good toppings on the worst facsimile of pizza crust ever concieved, I'm sure it the same stuff you can buy precooked and frozen at the grocery store. There's an old joke about the box being tastier than the pizza within, but in the case of Magic Oven it's no joke it's reality.
I have to put in a word for Mangia&Bevi. It's hidden away, but I think it's so much better than Terroni.
Restaurant site: http://www.mbresto.com/
My blog: http://icantbelieveimbackintoronto.blogspot.com/2007/12/mangia-bevi-best-pizza-in-toronto.html
http://icantbelieveimbackintoronto.blogspot.com/2008/02/mangia-i-thought-pizza-was-good.html
I myself was not a Magic Oven believer, because I kept having it at parties and events with the fake soy cheese pizzas which really...just don't cut it. But I had the pepperoni with REAL cheese pizza recently and it was delicious. Thin and not oozing and the pepperoni was just great!
Vesuvios is definitely up there on my list, however. Roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes and hot cappicollo? DIVINE.
Okay, I'm from Philly with roots in New York and I have to say of this whole list Massimo's is the closest I've come to real pizza in this city. I'm talking real, late night drunk messy, greasy pizza. All the rest are great of the gourmet variety so to speak, but this town is really lacking a real-deal pizza parlor.
Just as I suspected...nothing good north of Bloor St. Or does the former North York not count in the description of Toronto either, Ben?!?
Hi. Great, but I still don't know which pizza place serves the first picture you have posted. Now that pizza looks great. Still would like to know who.
To not have Grazie on this list is a down right offense. To put an over priced and mediocre place like Terroni as #1 shows why Toronto is no where near being a revered culinary city!!No wonder Susur Lee left for NYC!!
One of my faves is Olympic Pizza on Gloucester just east of Yonge. Good, hearty pizza and not thin and skimpy like some of the pizzas on this list.
this is as bit of a pointless argument, as pizza preference is a pretty subjective topic. first off, there should be a division of per-slice joints, and full-pie places, ie. sit down joints. i love a massimo's slice like crazy, but a terroni tirolese is a downright proper meal; really just two different types of experiences. i will say this though - terroni is slightly expensive because not only is it a restaurant (as opposed to a take-out place), but it's also a place people love to hang out. so you aren't just paying for a spectacular roman pie, you're also paying for the vibe of the establishment, as you would at libretto, which to me is one of the city's best.
and to JESSE: don't insult my city, uptowner. no one south of eglinton has ever heard of grazie, because there's nothing really great about it. and susur left toronto because he's an attention whore, not because toronto 'isn't a revered culinary city'. trust me, i worked for him.
Yes, what about Pizzeria Libretto on Ossington Ave???
Opinions are subjective. I get that...but don't tell me what "real" pizza is...because it's whatever you like and whether it's thin crust or thick crust, so long as you're enjoying it.
Been to Mangia e bevi. Similar to Terroni, Ferro and Marcello's. A friend once ordered party pizzas from Regina's and I was surprised at how good it was.
wow. that was the most obnoxious list I've ever read and lets face it-- they're no prize to begin with.
Can you get any more pretentious?
And I agree it's completely subjective. The only way to pick "the best" is to try everything until you find one you really like. I know people who love Pizza-Pizza. Just because I find it gross doesn't mean I have any right to tell them they should too.
I'd go to Pappa Ceo over of shelling out for overpriced Terroni any day.
Regina's? I am NEVER going back to Regina's. For a "friendly" 'nabe pizza joint they sure were hostile to us. We waited forever for our food and I guess I figured the food must be worth it but it was pitiful. The penne arribiata was awful. Think: Ragu sauce from a jar. With mushrooms and peppers. Weird. Wrong. And I'm sorry but any place that you have to practically beg the waiter for a spoon is just ridiculous.
Who rated Terroni's at number 1, this is an absolute joke. Terroni's is great if your a yuppie, save yourself the time and money and go get a frozen pizza at the grocery store. If you want a good pizza in Toronto the closest place I have found is down the Q.E.W., cross the peace bridge and head to Grimaldi's in Brooklyn. Unfortunately there is only ok pizza in Toronto nothing that will blow your mind. It amazes me that a city with the biggest Italian population outside of Italy can't make a pizza right. If anyone reading this knows of any place in Toronto that puts real buffalo mozzarella on their pizza and cooks it in a coal oven or even a brick oven let me know and please someone prove me wrong and send me to a real pizza joint here in Toronto
Romolo, the best pizza cook in Toronto, makes pizza at BACK ALLEY in Kensington market for a very fair price.
(on Augusta St.)
It makes Papa Ceo look like Pizza Pizza, and Terroni look like Lindsay Lohan.
hey Jay (June 22), so you want AUTHENTIC Italian pizza, and y'all want the best in the city?? ....... It HAS TO be:
Pizzeria Libretto
http://www.pizzerialibretto.com/
Look on the site... they are "the only Vera Pizza Napoletana certified experience in Canada" ... meaning they are certified by Italians who certify that standards are met in traditional and authentic Napoletana cuisine... you CANNOT get more authentic than that!
... and literally, the pizza melts in your mouth, its glorious!!!
Buddha Pie is also a new kid on the block. Located in a quiet residential neighborhood in High Park area of Toronto, BUDDAH PIE prepares real Neapolitan thin-crust pizza with an authentic charred, blistered crust - - all from scratch using the finest ingredients.
The owners were really nice -- and the “ZEN MARGHERITA” they made me was awesome, starting with the perfect San Marzano tomatoes from Italy, farm-fresh Basil, authentic Mozzarella di Bufala (again from Italy) and dough leavened naturally. I looked for a website, but only could find http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toronto-ON/Buddha-Pie/163182829093?ref=ts
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