Top 17 Italian Restaurants in Toronto

✨ HighlightHave been visiting for years, the quality is not always good and the situation getting worse. Also, the price, my understanding for a half-half pizza is it charges base on the side has higher price, but here they added up both sides (toppings). It ends up costing $34.75 (not including tax) for a half vegetable and half pepperoni large size pizza. Considering the quality and service, I am not sure I would still going.→

✨ HighlightHad a really nice time here, the service was great and the food was quite nice. Portion sizes are respectable and the flavours were good, you can tell the produce is fresh. Favourites were surprisingly the fried olives and beef tripe appetizers. I could see myself coming back here.→

✨ HighlightWent here right at the end of happy hour and it was quite busy! We got seats at the bar which had a nice view of the kitchen and we could see them grill the stuff. We ordered the house wine which quickly came. We had some other foods as well. The mushroom pasta had a nice texture and a good cheesy flavour. The noodles were especially pleasing to eat. The texture and length were enjoyable. The pizza was tasty and had good shape. Quite pleasing to eat. The beef carpaccio was also nicely prepared. It had a lot of cheesy flavour to it as it was topped with it. It was a visually pleasing dish, while also tasting good. Overall, It was quite nice!→

✨ HighlightThis was our second visit to Donatello Restaurant this year, and it's easily become one of our go-to spots in Toronto for dinner. Each time the servers were incredibly accommodating, ensuring that our dining experience was top-notch from start to finish. We enjoyed a delightful meal featuring the peppercorn steak, perfectly cooked lamb chops, salmon, tender grilled calamari,and a fresh, flavorful Caprese salad. Each dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. We look forward to returning every time we're in Toronto—Donatello never disappoints!→

✨ HighlightFor my birthday, we got to experience the whole animal dinner. I chose high in the adventure scale and it did not disappoint. We chose cow to ease my hubby into this whole animal dinner experience lol. He loved everything and so did i! My photos do not do the food justice. Nate the chef was great. He explained all the dishes to us and was so friendly. I love his food! I loved how he incorporated the different spices in his food. I cant wait to go back and try another animal as well as their pizzas. Eating there, I could see the different pizzas being brought out for different people. 😍 Beast is totally worth the 45 minute drive! I cant wait to go back!→

✨ HighlightWhat a delicious meal. I brought my non vegan friend here and she was pleasantly surprised at just how good plant based food can be! We had the brie, meat balls, spaghetti, and ravioli — all of the dishes were incredibly good. Can’t wait to come back here again. Highly recommended to anyone vegan or curious and open minded to try it.→

✨ HighlightI recently dined at Piano Piano on Harbord Street and, overall, had a much better experience compared to their Mount Pleasant Road location. The food was excellent—the pizzas, as always, were a highlight, consistently delicious and satisfying. The pasta dishes were tasty and well-prepared, but unfortunately, the portions were quite small, leaving us wanting a bit more. The atmosphere, decor and interior design was whimsical and fun! While the food impressed, the service fell a bit short. Our waitress seemed somewhat distant and perhaps even a little sad, and we also noticed she was a bit forgetful at times. However, we tried not to let this affect our overall experience. A more approachable and attentive demeanor would have gone a long way in creating a more welcoming atmosphere. That being said, Piano Piano’s Harbord location delivers high-quality Italian food, and the pizzas alone make it worth the visit. With slightly larger pasta portions and improved service, this spot could easily become exceptional.→

✨ HighlightFood was excellent, exceeded my already high expectations. The only downside is the tables were tiny and seating very squished/close together… I considered knocking a star for this but decided to keep it at 5 because of the food. Service was also very good. Plenty of vegetarian options. It is hard to mess up a classic pasta, but it’s such a basic food it’s also hard to get one that’s above and beyond and so memorable. Mine was. I got the mushroom agnolotti with black truffle added - it was spectacular! Very unique thanks to the strong lemon flavor. A relatively generous portion. And it went perfectly with the added truffle. The mushrooms were perfectly cooked, which is rare - usually I find them soggy or unpleasant, even at top notch restaurants. These were perfectly melt in the mouth, chewy but not overly so, not overly soggy or water filled either - and fully flavored from the inside out. The sauce was buttery without being too heavy. And the lemon kick was throughout - in the filling and the sauce, cutting through all the richness. Beautiful shavings of parmesan added on to the mushroom umami. The fava bean starter was also excellent though a little small. The dandelion greens are a bit chewy and bitter, but I liked it. Most importantly, it was doused in pecorino which made it so flavorful. I tasted my friend’s squash pasta and it was also excellent. The reviews said not to miss dessert, and they were right! The sticky toffee pudding was to die for, perfectly made. I also tried the terrine and even though I don’t like mousses, it was excellent - the bitter chocolate and flaky salt cut through the richness, and olive oil added an interesting flavor. My mocktail was great - Moscow mule with a zero proof herbal “liqueur” that added a very interesting undertone. The service was very good, and the waitress described the dishes very well. Water was also refilled promptly. The only thing is there was quite a wait between receiving the dessert menu and ordering dessert - we had to flag her down after waiting around 15min. Now to the main downside, and it’s quite a bit one. The seating was horrible. We were squeezed on a bench with not even 1 foot of space between the other two parties - their feet were under our table. The table was also TINY - seriously wasn’t big enough for our two plates of pasta and two drinks… if we had ordered any sides or a third dish to share there wouldn’t have been space. I had to think through where to place my fork and water glass so as to not knock anything over. This seating situation is so unpleasant that it might keep me from retuning quickly, and I do hope they rethink it because the food was really spectacular. It seemed to be mainly the 2 person tables like this, so I plan to only return with 3+ people. Overall, food was excellent but they really need to revamp their seating to be larger tables and more spaced out.→

✨ HighlightThe decor, the vibe and service screams high end. Plenty of parking. Can't give the servers enough credit. Very accommodating, would anticipate your needs, polite and never ran out of options. What dulled the experience was one of the servers (not our main) had a strong body odor. I have a sensitive nose so whenever I see him coming close, I had to brace myself. The food was okay. You would expect it to be good for the price point but the lamb was under seasoned, risotto truffle was good but a little on the salty side. Lobster pasta was very flavorful. Veggies were cooked to perfection. I'd probably come back for a special occasion.→

✨ HighlightI have had MANY pizzas in my life and I have been to many places including Italy but this was the best one I ever had. I hope I make it back to Toronto soon to go there again. I still think about it often and my god I miss it→

✨ HighlightWe have been coming to this place for years now and truth to be told - We’re still coming here with the sole reason of cheap price (esp going out with a big group) this place has been going down hill every single time. Calamari is a big hit (although, quantity of it varies -this is proven. 4 people ordered it and some are less compared to others) Bacon scallops were good too. The Angle hair pasta in coconut cream sauce is amazing. Steak was okay. The Mussels are pretty good too. Caesar salad was mid. Service: 2 stars! Can’t find our server whenever we need her. She forgot some items multiple times and has an attitude. Big place with understaff and overworked servers I would guess. Another server was also serving some attitude whenever we ask her of something. The atmosphere? I would give 0 star if I could, place is full of uncleaned tables! We walked from our table to the washroom and we passed by tables that need to be attended to. Dont even start me with their washrooms! It stinks so bad and clearly, no one has cleaned it properly for years! Please fix the issues, we used to love this place.→

✨ HighlightWe had a three course dinner at Ardo the other night. All aspects of this meal were fantastic. This is a place that pays attention to detail. Here’s what we had: Starters - pizzas and beef carpaccio. The carpaccio is a standout bathed in a beautiful olive oil. It’s memorable. Both pizzas were light and extremely tasty - veggie and meat version. Entrees - pasta ragu was excellent. The pasta is prepared fresh on the premises. The sauce is authentic. The meal is absolutely perfect for a cold fall evening. The braised beef is another comfort food classic that this place does really well. A tad on the dry side but the taste more than makes up for it. Desert - panocotta and cannolis. The cannolis was absolutely perfect and authentic and the panocotta had a hint of fennel and lemon which made for a very light but memorable desert. The service was welcoming, friendly and attentive. I would not hesitate to recommend this place. I will certainly be back.→

✨ HighlightWe received a warm welcome and were seated fairly quickly. We had a reservation which helped on a busy night. You have to email the resto to book in advance. The upstairs patio was full but really great for a spring night. It’s in the back so it’s quieter than being out front on the street. We ordered the Mac & Cheese Balls and the Bruschetta to share for the table. Delicious. We also ordered pizza, Lucy’s Mac & Cheese and the Chicken Primavera and a salad. All were delicious and we had wonderful service.→

✨ HighlightWe celebrated our anniversary at Sotto Sotto, and the experience was absolutely perfect! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and romantic. The service was flawless—our server was attentive, pleasant, and made excellent recommendations, although I regret forgetting his name. The food was nothing short of spectacular; every dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully prepared. It truly made our special night even more memorable. Sotto Sotto has become one of our favorite spots, and we’ll definitely be returning!→

✨ HighlightThis is one of the best cocktail bars I've been to!! The atmosphere and experience was really unique and unmatched to any other cocktail bars, it's a cross between a cocktail bar and lounge accompanied with great music and amazing food!! The aesthetics are beautiful with a darker setting, great for special occasions and date nights. The food menu is more like Japanese tapas style, great for sharing or for ordering individually. My favorite dishes were the shrimp tempura, the arugula salad and the corn, everything was soooo tasty and flavorful!! They also have a unique and large cocktail menu, the cocktails are more spirit-forward, great for people who like stronger drinks. We went on a Saturday night, gets a little busy but was a fun crowd. We all had so much fun and will definitely be back!! I highly highly recommend this place!!→

✨ HighlightBricco Kitchen and Wine Bar has probably the best tasting gnocchi I've ever had! Like their waitress said, "it's witchcraft!". The gnocchi was to tender that it melts in your mouth. If there is one thing i'd change, it's that I wish that there was more gnocchi and sauce! Their eggplant with cheese dish was equally amazing, really reminded me of being in Italy! Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend this place to folks looking for a great (Italian) night out!→