This is how long Toronto residents are willing to wait in line for the city's best pizza
Toronto's best pizzeria officially opened its highly requested second location earlier this month, and if its opening day was any indication, the lines that made it famous on Dovercourt have followed it straight to the Annex.
After years of rumours, Pizzeria Badiali confirmed that it would be opening its long-awaited sister location on Markham Street on Monday, May 11.
The original shop, located at 181 Dovercourt Rd., has steadily built a reputation that needs no introduction, thanks to its steady stream of customers and lines that regularly stretch down the block even during off-peak hours and weekdays.
On opening day at the new Markham Street location, we asked customers just how long they've previously waited for a Badiali slice.
Most Toronto residents said they've waited anywhere from 30 minutes to a mind-boggling two hours, depending on the day and the lineup, while others admitted that they were prepared to stand in line "as long as it takes" for a slice.
Despite the buzz, the wait on opening day itself was relatively tame, taking about 20 minutes around lunchtime, although true Badiali fans will know that's unlikely to last once word fully spreads.
"We are excited to join the Annex neighbourhood, and even more excited about reopening this historic building for people to come have great pizza and hang out with their friends and family," said chef and co-owner Ryan Baddeley, ahead of the opening.
The new location is also bigger than Badiali's flagship Dovercourt shop at 1,400 square feet, with indoor seating available for 30 hungry customers.
The menu at its sister location also remains true to what made the pizzeria a cult favourite, with the same lineup of pizzas, salads, and dips, plus a thin-crust "Granny style" pizza exclusive to the Markham Street shop.
Pizzeria Badiali Annex is located at 581 Markham St.
Fareen Karim
