Someone complained to the City of Toronto about pizza joint being too popular

If you've ever popped by Toronto's Pizzeria Badiali to grab a slice of delicious pie, chances are you're all too familiar with its long lineup that typically extends down Dovercourt Road. 

While it's rightfully considered a neighbourhood gem and one of the city's most sought-after pizza shops by many, the establishment (and by extension, its popularity) was at the centre of a debate during a meeting of the City's Planning and Housing Committee on Thursday. 

As with most things Badiali-related, a clip of a resident discussing the pizzeria's impact has gained plenty of attention on social media.

The meeting on Oct. 30 considered a staff report outlining recommendations on the third phase of the Neighbourhood Retail and Services (NRS) Study, part of Toronto's larger Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) initiative.

Toronto’s NIMBYs live on another planet than the rest of us.

This woman lives in Trinity-Bellwoods, one of the most popular neighbourhoods in the entire country specifically because of its vibrant small businesses and mixed urbanism.

Most normal people can only dream of living… pic.twitter.com/12Pai03rvJ

— Eric Lombardi 🇨🇦🚀🏗️ (@EricDLombardi) October 31, 2025

With the city expected to welcome at least 700,000 new residents by 2051, city planners say approximately 163,785 new housing units could be created through the EHON policies by that year. Support for neighbourhood-serving retail is considered an important part of this residential growth, according to the study. 

City staff note that most current zoning provisions in Toronto reflect mid-20th-century restrictions that limited small-scale retail and service uses in residential areas. However, the report argues that "to support the daily needs of future and current residents, it is necessary to ensure the goods and services they depend on are conveniently located, contributing to walkable and livable communities across Toronto." 

On the other hand, the Coalition of Toronto Residents' Associations (COTRA) claims that the current approach to neighbourhood commercial uses has gone too far. They reference the NRS proposal, which would allow commercial uses inside residential homes. 

"The City is proposing the biggest change to residential zoning in 70 years through the Neighbourhood Retail & Services (NRS) plan. Businesses — including retail shops, take-out restaurants, cannabis and alcohol retailers, gyms, and personal service shops — could operate inside houses on residential streets without any public notice, application, or approval process," the coalition writes on its website. 

"City Planning says this will make it easier to open 'small, local businesses' in residential neighbourhoods but many residents are asking how does this help solve the housing crisis in the City." 

The coalition has since collected resident feedback, including more than 3,400 survey responses, to call upon the City to make major changes to its NRS proposal. During the meeting on Thursday, a Beaconsfield resident and member of the coalition went over four ways COTRA is proposing to move forward, considering local feedback, that are still in the spirit of the City's proposal. 

"Businesses today rely on the internet. They have a virtual presence, and all of us, I'm sure, have gone across town to get that wonderful slice of pizza that we've all heard about and that brings in traffic into residential neighbourhoods, that brings up lineups," the resident said. 

"There's no way that you can dictate under this proposal that the business is going to be local only and only serve those people that are within the surrounding community. And that is why we’re saying we want residents to participate in these decisions and have a say."

During her presentation, Councillor and chair of the Planning and Housing Committee Gord Perks asked if Julie's Cuban Restaurant (now Bernhardt's) is considered a problem in the neighbourhood. 

"I consider Pizza Badiali a problem," the resident replied. "Definitely, Pizza Badiali is a huge issue, and it's been an issue for the church across the street. They've had to block off their stairs because of garbage issues, and there's lines down the block, and it's definitely had adverse impacts on the neighbours that live close by, and that's exactly an example of a destination business that not only attracts people from Toronto, but internationally." 

I would pay more to live next to Badiali.

That's how good the pizza is. https://t.co/fwAQBGlIvx

— Ananda Aisola (@aaisola15) October 31, 2025

As expected, the clip of the discussion went viral, with many coming to the defence of Pizzeria Badiali and other small-scale retail stores in residential areas. 

"Imagine complaining about your neighbours creating something so good that it creates international demand," one person wrote in response to the clip. 

"Allow more great pizza on all kinds of blocks so that the entire city doesn't *just focus* on the one near you?" another comment reads. 

blogTO has reached out to Pizzeria Badiali for comment and will update this story if and when they respond.