Danny's Next Door, an Italian-American snack bar that plays Seinfeld on a loop, welcomes diners to share and indulge in square slices of pizza pie, cheesy garlic knots, oven-roasted meatballs swimming in marinara, and a butter tart parfait that tastes as sweet as an Ontario summer.

The walk-in-only spot is an offshoot of Toronto's much-loved Danny's Pizza Tavern, located, fittingly, right next door. 

For owners Danny Barna and Anna Hopkins, it's a continuation of their goal to create a homey, neighbourhood watering hole. 

"I hate, more than anything, telling somebody you can't get in tonight," Barna tells blogTO. 

"So now, with this added space, we're able to serve more people, and it's kind of more in tune with how I originally envisioned Danny's to be - kind of like a neighbourhood walk-in spot. You should be able to just walk in, grab a pint, and leave."

The bar is where you go when you can't score a reservation at the Little Italy pizzeria or want to keep the night going with a few buzzy cocktails after a big meal. 

Take the Hurricane ($17), a sunny mix of white and dark rum, grenadine, passion fruit, house-made cherry syrup, and lime juice. Shaken over plenty of ice, it's garnished with a maraschino cherry and a paper umbrella.

The Michelada ($15) might just be one of the best in the city. It brings a smoky heat thanks to a combination of Tapatío, Tabasco, and Mexican Chamoy, all of which are balanced by fresh tomato juice and lime. And of course, no Michelada is complete without a Tajín-rimmed glass. 

The citrusy Melon Mule ($18) reimagines the ginger beer cocktail by adding fresh rosemary and melon liqueur. 

Then there's the classic Pimm's Cup ($17) designed for warm summer evenings. Essentially a cocktail dressed up as a fruity adult lemonade, it mixes Pimm's and lemon-lime soda with slices of strawberry, cucumber, and orange.

For food, the approachable menu shares Danny's signature pizza program, where Chicago tavern-style slices are the specialty. Beyond that, the kitchen is mixing it up with playful bar fare and nostalgic bites with everything from a hot dog on a pizza dough bun to a classic BLT.

Heading the brigade is Chef Jonathan Pde, who previously worked at Piano Piano and Park Hyatt before joining the Danny's team. 

The Meatballs ($22) follow a traditional, Nonna-inspired recipe made with freshly ground chuck and pork shoulder, an aromatic mix of diced onions, carrots, and celery, breadcrumbs, and plenty of Pecorino. Oven-roasted and braised for two hours, the meatballs are served in a pool of house-made red sauce with long, hot green peppers on the side.

The Lasagna Verde ($27) is another Italian-style comfort, built from delicate layers of spinach pasta, mushrooms, more spinach, creamy béchamel, and melty cheese. Here, it's served in a hearty bolognese but can be made vegetarian with marinara instead. Finished with fresh basil and grated Pecorino, the crispy edges are worth fighting for.

A punchy, savoury roasted Cabbage ($15) has also found its way onto the menu and has quickly become one of Barna's favourite items. 

"We brine the cabbage for two days, and then we sous vide it along with that brine, so it's soft and tender," explained Chef Pde. 

Once brined and dried out, the cabbage is oven-roasted and dressed with a mustard vinaigrette, balsamic, in-house chili crisp, chives, and crispy onions. 

The BLT ($17) is a classic, reimagined right. Inspired by their staff meals, which were often some rendition of a sandwich, this BLT utilizes pizza dough. 

Simple, fresh, and baked to order, the pizza pockets are stuffed with thick-cut bacon, crisp iceberg lettuce, sliced tomato, and a generous slather of mayo. 

The Hot Dog ($16) receives a similar treatment with a pizza-dough bun. It's topped with finely diced onions, yellow mustard, and sauerkraut and served with a kosher dill pickle. 

The Butter Tart Parfait ($12) is a show-stopping, sundae-inspired dessert. Built around the sticky-sweet Canadian treat, it starts with a butter tart pudding layered with pieces of house-made tarts, strawberry compote, and mascarpone mousse. It's finished with a dusting of dehydrated raspberries.

At the heart of the space is the bar. 

"The bar is the place to be," says Barna. "It's a 16-seater with a beautiful leather arm, beautiful mirrors, a big flower display and two massive TVs."

Complete with Tiffany lamps, deep red carpets, matching banquettes, and warm wood-panelled walls lined with artwork, the room shares its DNA with its sister restaurant, carrying over the same retro charm and lived-in coziness.

Danny's Next Door is located at 613 College Street.