Best of Toronto
The Best Restaurants in Woodbridge
The best restaurants in Woodbridge have an Italian bent. For over thirty years Woodbridge has been a haven for Italian-Canadian families. For those not blessed with a nonna in the family, a Woodbridge restaurant or bakery/hot table is often the next best thing. For the purpose of this list, we'll focus on sit-down restaurants, from fine dining to casual, within the official borders of Woodbridge. The majority of these restaurants serve dishes from the boot-shaped peninsula but there are two exceptions.
Note: There are many fine restaurants outside of Woodbridge though still inside the Vaughan boundary, such as Vicentina Fine Foods in Concord, Yang's Teppanyaki & Sushi in Maple and The Doctor's House in Kleinburg just to name a few.
Here is my list of the best restaurants in Woodbridge.
See also:
8 great Italian bakeries in Woodbridge
Writing by Gina Bucci
Desserts Plus
My love affair with Desserts Plus' seafood risotto (shrimp, scallops, mussels & calamari in a red sauce) began at the original, cramped location. Now that the Piselli brothers have moved the family business to a larger space with an extra room and even a hall upstairs to accommodate special occasions, they are still packed all the time. While you’re waiting on a table, take the time to go through their menu (with 22 wood oven-cooked pizzas to choose from). If there’s a type of pasta dish or sauce that you don’t see, they have no issues interpreting your instructions and making it for you. My favourite pizza here is Rocky’s Choice, a potato pie named after their late father and culinary inspiration. More »
Oca Nera
The first time I tried finding this excellent restaurant I drove by it three times. It’s tucked behind a gas station at the corner of Pine Grove. When you do find it, you’ve got the right setting for a romantic dinner or an intimate private party. The atmosphere at Oca Nera is elegant and the service is expedient and friendly. The menu changes seasonally but tasty dishes such as the Shrimp a la Strega and the Wild Boar Gnocchi are always available. Seafood lovers take note - Rodney’s Oysters are a permanent feature and PEI lobsters are served every weekend. More »
Koganei
Woodbridge has a few popular sushi restaurants. My favourite is Koganei. It was, perhaps on my fifth visit to this charming Japanese restaurant that I finally noticed a large artwork depicting a Japanese businessman from the 19th century suckling the ’teet’ of his lover or concubine, right there above the entrance bar. Under the erotic print they also display live seafood, including the largest gooyduck clam I’ve ever seen. When you get over the weird awesomeness and move on to ordering, start with the delicious Salad Roll then try their tasty Koganei Roll and Salmon Pizza. They also have a few Tatami rooms which are fun for small parties. More »
Ice Cream Patio
I should tell you up front, they have a small outdoor patio. The name refers to the interior of the restaurant, fashioned as an outdoor village of sorts. It’s not as elaborate as the pavilion in Caesar’s Palace but it’s cute. The name also suggests an emphasis on ice cream but they have a modest gelato bar. You know what, forget the name. They are on this list because this is one of the best places in Woodbridge to get an excellent wood oven-cooked pizza or focaccia. Their Soppressa sandwiches are wonderful too. More »
Bocconcino Ristorante
This family restaurant is one of the best kept secrets in town. The food is delicious and cheap! If you’re looking for dishes only an Italian grandmother would serve, then this is the place. Pasta fagiole, stuffed zucchini, Calabrese style baccala (salted cod), oven roasted rabbit, oso bucco, penne a la vodka (pasta in a vodka spiked rose sauce), the list goes on and on. The best part is you can easily stuff yourself silly for under $20. More »
Zafferano Ristorante
The pasta dishes are the star at Zafferano and my favourite is the Fettuccine al Tartufo (homemade mushroom infused fettuccine tossed with a variety of mushrooms and topped with garlic, black truffle and olive oil sauce). Other notable items include the Beet Gnocchi and the Italian Style Eggrolls (stuffed with prosciutto, smoked mozzarella and veggies). More »
Galaxie Diner
This is a diner of the greasy spoon variety but seeing as its Woodbridge and sloppy doesn’t exactly fly here, it is very clean and the service is fast. The setting is 50’s Hollywood, so be prepared to eat your breakfast with Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Elvis staring at you. I like coming here on Sunday mornings and seeing as my morning usually starts at say 1pm, it’s a good thing they serve breakfast all day, every day. The best items are the omelettes (large and in charge). More »
Peperoncino Trattoria
Walking into this place is the closest you’ll come to stepping inside a Claudio Villa song. It’s kind of like what Toronto’s little Italy must have felt like in the 60’s. This family run restaurant has Luigi greeting you at the door and his wife Ida cooking some delectable traditional dishes such as homemade lasagna, wood oven pizzas (the Calabrese is the best) and the wonderful Linguini Vongole (pasta with clams and diced tomatoes in a white wine sauce). More »
Ricci's Pizzeria
If you’re looking for a satisfying veal sandwich or need a party sized pizza with a side of wings to go, Ricci’s is a logical choice. For me however, Ricci’s is on this list because they have the best panzerotti in town. Now, I can’t speak for the fried version of this behemoth because I have never enjoyed a fried panzo. They just taste different and to be honest a huge mound of fried dough scares me a little. But the baked panzos at Ricci’s are incredible. Now, take the rest of the night off because if you can finish it, you will be in a food coma for a couple of hours afterward. Also, be sure to get spiced olives and a side marinara or meat sauce for dipping. Then call it a night. More »
Discussion
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These are MY favourite restos/ places to eat in Woodbridge. Some are unconventional (and apparently controversial??) for sure but I fully explain why they are on the list. You all mention some good ones that are not there currently and if a sequel is in order then I shall consider them for sure.
Woodbridge critics - stop hating and start eating. The food up there is wonderful.
Salut ;-)
Thanks for reading...
http://www.memphisbbq.ca/
that galaxie diner sure looks fantastic though.
I do like Memphis and like I said a sequel is order, so please mind your P's & Q's...
could be useful!
Woodbridge has come to define much more then it originally was, this list would be more accurately be named "Best Restaurants in Vaughan"
With lots of condos going up and the TTC coming up in a few years, Vaughan is becoming more urban then even parts of Toronto (Sorry Scarborough)
I would add to the list:
Autostrada (Near Vaughan Mills.) - Italian restaurant that holds its own against anything Toronto has to offer
Memphis BBQ (Islington and 7) - Amazing ribs and smoked wings
Avenue Market Cafe (In Klienburg) - Cosy modern bistro with authentic regional italian cuisuine and wood fired oven pizza
Yang's Teppanyaki (Near Vaughan Mills) - Best Japanese In the Area and nightly Teppanyaki shows
La Grill (Hwy 7 and Keele) - Middle Eastern Cuisine
All Stars Wings (Jane and Rutherford) - IMO Better then the original
thank you and goodnight
Oca Nera on the other hand is an amazing restaurant.
Ignore the trolls and keep up the good work!
WOW Galaxie Diner is disgusting...been there, and won't be back.
Ricci, pizza isn't bad but the rest of the food is terrible.
I am surprised you didn't put McDonalds and Diary Queen on Hwy 7 on the list, based on your other selections.
I feel for people like you
Seriously????? Galaxie Diner?
Where's Autostrada or Mastro Roberto?
Ricci makes a great pie, but everything else on the menu is just an alternative to Pizza Pizza.
I won't touch on the fact that Zafferano is #6 and that Desserts Plus beats them. But whatever.
Here are my top 5 categorized:
Sit Down:
1. Zafferano
2. AutoStrada
3. Motorino
4. Market Lane Pizzeria
5. Vin Santo
Honorable Mention: Oca Nera (I have never been but L raves about it. I don't like where it's located)
I will say I do enjoy Desserts Plus and Ice Cream Patio :: they are old-timers but very generous with their portions and always good.
Best TakeOut:
1. Memphis
2. Szechuan Szechuan
3. Ricci's
4. 5 Guys (yes, you can call ahead!)
5. Burrito Burrito
Best Hot Table/Italian Take Out:
1. Centro Panini
2. St. Philip's Bakery (rice balls!)
3. Emily's Bakery
4. Ciao Roma (pizza slices by weight!)
5. Dino Panino (spicy olives! and pretty good take out pasta)
Enjoy!
This is hardly like the "Best of" sections that Blog TO typically puts out.
Now...please breathe.
In truth, life and beauty exists everywhere - north and south of steeles - if you fail to recognize that, it likely is more representative or a narrow and short-sighted POV than it is about what actually exists in these cities/towns. I find that restaurants shoudl be judged on service, food, ambiance. If you can't manage to be open-minded and evaluate in this way because there is a Petro-canada nearby, then perhaps you should get out of your city block and realize that the more well-rounded opinions are based on knowledge and experience, not some self-indulgent false belief of superiority.
Just a thought...
ironically, these 'torontoians' laughably think they're open-minded. which, in essence, makes them even more ridiculous than the aforementioned group of americans.
in closing, i'll leave you with this. you know that feeling of pity and being embarrassed for someone you get when you walk away from a person who thinks people in canada live in igloos and that canada is pronounced "canadia", that's the feeling most people get when they here 'torontonians' talk about anything outside the walls of their neighbourhood.
read a book, it'll do you some good :)
The Risotto is just to die for!!!
1) Ricci's is not real pizza or panzerotti. It is no better than the crap Pizza Pizza gives you. Want real stuff? Try Libretto then go to Riccis and write a comparison.
2)Dessers Plus may have good food, but their attitude SUCKS. It's like they're doing ME a favour by dining there. Arrogant Ginos.