Iconic Toronto pizza restaurant is turning into something new after nearly 20 years

A popular Toronto pizza restaurant that spawned a fruitful chain is about to totally change up its concept.

As far as local pizza empires in Toronto go, you won't get far in listing them before you land on Pizzeria Libretto. 

Founded by Max Rimaldi and Rocco Agostino as a standalone location on Ossington back in 2008, the restaurant's bread and butter (so to speak) was Neapolitan-style pizza, which quickly clawed its way up the ranks of the city's favourite slices.

18 years, three additional locations and a bountiful frozen pizza business later, and Pizzeria Libretto is still going strong, but in the case of the chain's original Ossington location, change is afoot.

Starting Friday, Feb. 20, Pizzeria Libretto Ossington will reintroduce itself to the city as Bar Libretto, a new bar concept that eschews the lengthy menu the restaurant's legacy was built on, opting instead for a more condensed culinary offering.

Open Wednesday through Saturday, 4 p.m. on, the focus at Bar Libretto is squarely on late-night eats, including a selection of small bites, pasta, dessert and, of course, plenty of pizza.

Perfectly paired with the pared-down food menu is an expanded beverage program, rooted in a selection of spritzes, martinis and classics, with daily happy hours running from 4 to 6 p.m. and again from 9 to 11 p.m. DJs take the floor every Friday and Saturday night.

It's all a move that co-founder and Executive Chef Rocco Agostino says represents the next chapter for Libretto, while honing in more pointedly on what made the Libretto brand appeal so strongly to Toronto in the first place.

"When we opened on Ossington in 2008, Libretto was all about introducing Neapolitan pizza to Toronto. Today, Bar Libretto represents a new chapter for this specific address," Angostino says.

"Ossington has always had its own rhythm and we want to lean into that with intention."

Bar Libretto is located at 221 Ossington Ave.