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Best Italian Restaurants in Toronto (2026)

Osteria Giulia, N.L. Ginzburg, Don Alfonso 1890, and DaNico anchor this guide. Our 2026 ranking of Toronto Italian: Michelin Ligurian, Italo-Jewish charcoal, Amalfi tasting, Sicilian, Roman pasta, Cal-Italian patios, and pizza rooms that earn the night. Famiglia Baldassarre public lunch is off after August 14, 2026. Bisteccheria Sammarco stays on the steak lane. Updated for 2026.

This ranking is for people chasing Toronto Italian in 2026: special-occasion fine dining, neighbourhood pasta nights, regional rooms, and pizza destinations that earn the whole evening. We ranked on craft, room character, reservation usefulness, and how clear a first visit is, not paid placement. Famiglia Baldassarre public lunch stays off after August 14, 2026. Choose fast: Osteria Giulia or Don Alfonso for a decided night; N.L. Ginzburg for Italo-Jewish charcoal; Giulietta, Piano Piano, or Enoteca Sociale for pasta; Ardo for Sicilian; La Palma for Cal-Italian patio; Badiali or Libretto when pizza is the plan. Bisteccheria Sammarco stays on the steak lane, not this list.

Updated for 2026•18 Destinations
No.1
Osteria Giulia Yorkville dining room from osteriagiulia.ca
Restaurant• Yorkville

Osteria Giulia

“Best special-occasion Italian in Yorkville: Michelin Ligurian cooking, focaccia di Recco, OpenTable 14 days out.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Osteria Giulia?** Anchored along Avenue Road in Yorkville, Osteria Giulia is chef Rob Rossi and David Minicucci’s Michelin-starred ode to the Ligurian coast. The sleek dining room pairs warm blond oak and curved travertine surfaces with low-lit, tailored elegance and front-row seats at the chef's counter. The atmosphere is composed, refined, and distinctly sophisticated, prioritizing meticulous culinary execution over a loud scene. **Osteria Giulia Menu & What to Order** The kitchen bypasses standard red-sauce fare in favor of delicate coastal Italian seafood and regional hand-rolled pastas. Start without fail with the focaccia di Recco, a thin, crispy unleavened flatbread stuffed with molten stracchino cheese, alongside the deftly executed vitello tonnato. For mains, order the trofie al pesto or rich paccheri alla Genovese, and pair your meal with a selection from their deep list of northern Italian wines and rare amari. **Know Before You Go** Tables unlock 14 days in advance at midnight on OpenTable, and weekend dinner reservations disappear almost instantly. Prime-time walk-ins are virtually out of reach, though solo diners or early arrivals might catch an unreserved stool at the bar. The restaurant serves dinner seven nights a week from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with easy access from Bay or Museum subway stations.

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No.2
N.L. Ginzburg College Street trattoria from the official site
Restaurant• Little Italy

N.L. Ginzburg

“Best new Italian of 2026: charcoal-grill Italo-Jewish cooking that landed No. 6 on Canada's 100 Best in its first year.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is N.L. Ginzburg?** Occupying a moody space at 548 College Street on the eastern stretch of Little Italy, N.L. Ginzburg is the Italo-Jewish trattoria from Carmelina Imola, chef Zachary Kolomeir, and Tristan Eves—the team behind Dreyfus and Taverne Bernhardt's. Behind an unadorned, fiery red facade and pebbled glass, the dining room glows under amber lighting with terrazzo flooring, vintage Simonetti chairs, and cinema posters. Seating spans high-energy stools along the front bar and candlelit tables tucked through the narrow dining room. **N.L. Ginzburg Menu & What to Order** Kolomeir's kitchen draws on the natural intersection of Italian *cucina povera* and diasporic Jewish comfort food, steered by a charcoal grill and seasonal Ontario agriculture. Begin with the crostini di fegatini ebraici, a rich liver toast bridging Tuscan and Jewish preparations, alongside marinated eggplant with pesto. The house-made tagliatelle tossed in slow-braised duck ragù is non-negotiable, while pairs should split the charcoal-seared, 40-ounce bistecca alla Fiorentina finished with rosemary oil and poured alongside unmanipulated natural wines. **Know Before You Go** Prime dining room slots on Resy disappear quickly, though early birds can often catch walk-in seating at the bar right at opening. Street parking along College is tight on weekends, making the 506 Carlton streetcar the smoothest transit option. The trattoria operates Tuesday through Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to late, remaining dark on Sundays and Mondays.

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No.3
Don Alfonso 1890 Harbourfront dining room
Restaurant• Harbourfront

Don Alfonso 1890

“Best skyline Italian tasting: Amalfi pedigree on the 38th floor when the night has to feel expensive in the right way.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Don Alfonso 1890?** Perched on the 38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle at 1 Harbour Square, this Michelin-starred restaurant is the North American flagship from Amalfi Coast master chefs Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino in partnership with Liberty Entertainment Group. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the high-altitude dining room to deliver panoramic views of Lake Ontario and the city skyline, framed by modern white leather seating, striking Damien Hirst artwork, and an intimate cocktail lounge. **Don Alfonso 1890 Menu & What to Order** The kitchen operates multi-course Signature and Contemporary vegetarian tasting menus alongside a structured à la carte option. Unmissable staples include the daring eel gelato served with sturgeon caviar and wild-rose tagliatelle, delicate Ontario wagyu carpaccio dotted with balsamic pearls, and the organic Manitoba bison tenderloin wrapped in Swiss chard with buffalo mozzarella and black truffle. Pairings draw from a massive 900-plus label cellar emphasizing rare Italian vintages, followed by an artful dessert service featuring miniature Neapolitan sfogliatelle. **Know Before You Go** Tables require credit card holds via their online booking portal and routinely book up weeks in advance for prime sunset time slots. The restaurant serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday and remains closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Business casual to formal dress is expected, and valet parking is accessible via the Westin Harbour Castle main driveway.

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No.4
DaNico dining room in the restored College Street bank
Restaurant• Little Italy

DaNico

“Best theatrical Italian fine dining downtown: historic bank room, mushroom spaghettoni, chef's-table energy.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is DaNico?** Occupying a restored 1900s heritage bank at 440 College Street by Bathurst, DaNico is a Michelin-starred fine dining destination from Liberty Entertainment Group and executive chef Daniele Corona. Nadia Di Donato's design balances soaring cathedral-scale ceilings, museum-grade modern art, and an original bank vault repurposed into a 3,000-bottle cellar, with front-row seats at the chef's counter overlooking the pass. Next door, the year-round LuNa patio provides a more relaxed, aperitivo-leaning alternative to the dramatic formal dining room. **DaNico Menu & What to Order** Corona’s multicourse tasting menus and prix-fixe offerings filter classic Italian gastronomy through subtle Asian influences and hyper-local Ontario produce. The undeniable staple is the mushroom spaghettoni, simmered in concentrated mushroom broth and finished tableside with aged Parmigiano Reggiano and shaved truffles. The charcoal-grilled Miyazaki A5 wagyu with shishito and fresh wasabi is equally essential, as is the pigeon breast paired with nasturtium foam. Pair your dinner with the sommelier-curated wine flights, which highlight rare Italian estates and standout boutique Ontario vintages. **Know Before You Go** Dinner reservations through the restaurant's website are essential weeks in advance, especially for Friday and Saturday seatings or the intimate chef's table. The restaurant operates for dinner Wednesday through Sunday and stays closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Streetcar riders can take the 506 Carlton or 511 Bathurst directly to the College and Bathurst intersection, while drivers should plan for Green P street parking along College.

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No.5
Giulietta College Street dining room from the official site
Restaurant• Little Italy / Dufferin Grove

Giulietta

“Best west-College Italian original: the room that launched the Rossi/Minicucci run, still sharp on pasta night.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Giulietta?** Anchoring the quieter stretch of College Street just west of Dovercourt in Dufferin Grove, Giulietta is the sleek, moody trattoria from chef Rob Rossi and restaurateur David Minicucci. Designed by Guido Costantino, the space strips away traditional trattoria kitsch in favour of sculpted concrete, dark woods, low-slung ambient lighting, and an expansive chef's counter overlooking the open kitchen and wood-burning grill. **Giulietta Menu & What to Order** The kitchen delivers disciplined, regional Italian cooking designed for family-style sharing. Start with the fried, sausage-stuffed olive all'ascolana alongside the signature Gioella burrata paired with blistered grapes and grilled sourdough. For pasta, the lumache cacio e pepe with kampot black pepper and the slow-braised torchetti ragù consistently outshine the competition, while the Ibérico pork chop (braciola di maiale) remains one of the city's finest wood-grilled secondi. Pair the meal with a citrusy Giulietta Spritz or a bottle from the sharp, all-Italian wine list, and finish with the pine-nut-studded torta della nonna. **Know Before You Go** Tables release exactly 14 days in advance at midnight on OpenTable, and prime weekend slots disappear fast. Solo diners and pairs can often snag walk-in counter or bar seats right at opening, while street parking is available along College Street and Rusholme Road, with the 506 Carlton streetcar stopping right out front.

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No.6
Buca Yorkville photography from buca.ca
Restaurant• Yorkville

Buca Yorkville

“Best Yorkville Buca night: seafood-forward Italian with tableside branzino and Roman pizza energy.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Buca Yorkville?** Tucked off Yorkville Avenue inside the Four Seasons courtyard at 53 Scollard Street, Buca Yorkville (Buca Osteria & Bar) is the coastal-focused sibling of Toronto's landmark Italian restaurant group. Steered in the kitchen by Executive Chef Jorge Fiestas, the sleek, moodily lit dining room pairs polished hospitality with an energetic open kitchen, leather banquettes, and front-row counter seating. **Buca Yorkville Menu & What to Order** The menu balances pristine seafood with artisanal pastas and Roman-style pizzas, headlined by whole raw Cyprus branzino carved tableside and finished with prosecco, lemon, and olive oil. Start with warm garlic nodini or the crisp fritto misto, then move to the housemade bigoli with duck ragù or the stracchino-stuffed focaccia di Recco. The deep, all-Italian wine cellar makes pairing coastal whites and Piedmontese reds seamless, and vegetarians have ample choice between fresh burrata plates and wild mushroom pizzas. **Know Before You Go** Prime dinner tables book up weeks in advance on OpenTable, though walk-ins can often catch open perches at the bar counter on weeknights. Underground parking is accessible through the Four Seasons garage off Scollard, while Bay subway station is a brief four-minute walk away. The kitchen operates nightly for dinner starting at 5:00 p.m.

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No.7
Piano Piano Harbord dining room from the official Squarespace site
Restaurant• Harbord Village

Piano Piano

“Best Harbord Village Italian party: Victor Barry's loud, delicious room where pasta still leads the night.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Piano Piano?** Occupying the storied address at 88 Harbord Street in Harbord Village, Piano Piano is chef Victor Barry's spirited reinvention of the classic Italian trattoria. The dining room trades stuffiness for exuberant floral wallpaper, bold pop art, warm lighting, and a convivial front patio during warmer months. Seating spans spacious banquettes, lively group tables, and a tucked-away downstairs lounge bar primed for aperitivi. **Piano Piano Menu & What to Order** Barry delivers deeply satisfying Italian comfort food executed with fine-dining precision. The Canestri alla Vodka—tubular ridges clinging to spicy 'nduja, guanciale, and rich tomato cream—is mandatory, as is The Sweet Hornet pizza layered with hot soppressata, black olives, and hot honey drizzle. For mains, the gargantuan Bone-In Veal Parm layered with fior di latte holds legendary status, and mushroom cavatelli with porcini cream offers an earthy vegetarian powerhouse. Pair dinner with a Negroni or an earthy Barbera, and save room for the Nutella tiramisu or giant slice of spiced carrot cake. **Know Before You Go** Harbord Village is notoriously brisk on weekends, making OpenTable reservations essential several days in advance, though early birds can often snare walk-in bar seating. Street parking along Harbord is sparse, so taking the TTC to Spadina station and strolling south is usually the easiest route. The kitchen operates continuously from 11:30 a.m. through dinner seven days a week, featuring a sharp-value multi-course lunch special.

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No.8
Ardo Sicilian restaurant photography from the official site
Restaurant• Old Town

Ardo

“Best Sicilian room downtown: duck Anatra pasta and Etna pizza when you are done with generic Northern menus.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Ardo?** Set along King Street East near Sherbourne in Old Town, Ardo is the intimate Sicilian project from chef-owner Roberto Marotta and creative director Jacqueline Nicosia, named after their son's childhood moniker. The candlelit space pairs warm trattoria touches with clean contemporary accents, featuring dark wood tables, framed family photographs, an ocean-blue bar, and front-row views of the open dough station. It skips downtown pretension entirely in favour of genuine hospitality and deeply regional southern Italian cooking that has earned Michelin Guide recognition. **Ardo Menu & What to Order** The kitchen sidesteps standard Northern pasta tropes to focus squarely on the bold, coastal flavours of Milazzo and Sicily. Start with the golden arancino loaded with slow-cooked beef ragù and caciocavallo cheese, or order the raw tuna carpaccio punctuated with capers and celery. For mains, the light-crusted sourdough pizzas—especially the Etna with house Sicilian sausage—and the handmade porcini mushroom gnocchi are reliable crowd-pleasers. Complement the meal with an Etna Rosso from the southern-focused wine list, and finish with a freshly piped cannolo filled with sheep's milk ricotta, candied orange, and roasted pistachios. **Know Before You Go** Tables fill rapidly Thursday through Saturday, making an advance reservation on OpenTable essential for dinner. Weekday lunch and aperitivo hours offer a quieter, sunlit alternative, and solo diners can often slip into a seat at the bar. The 504 King streetcar drops off steps away, with metered street parking available along King East and neighbouring side streets.

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No.9
Enoteca Sociale Dundas West dining room
Restaurant• Little Portugal

Enoteca Sociale

“Best Roman pasta-and-wine night on Dundas West: house-made classics without the Yorkville markup.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Enoteca Sociale?** Anchoring the corner of Dundas Street West and Coolmine Road in Little Portugal, Enoteca Sociale has served as a benchmark for Roman-style dining in Toronto since 2010. Co-owner and executive chef Kyle Rindinella helms the kitchen, turning out rigorous regional classics in a low-lit, intimate space complete with a marble bar, chef's counter kitchen seats, and a sidewalk patio during warmer months. **Enoteca Sociale Menu & What to Order** Handmade and house-extruded pastas are the undisputed stars, especially the silky spaghetti cacio e pepe and the bucatini all'Amatriciana loaded with house-cured guanciale. Kick things off with the 'nduja and buffalo mozzarella arancini or the baccalà mantecato, followed by robust mains like the bistecca di guanciale. The beverage program leans deeply into native Italian grape varietals and amaro-forward cocktails, with kitchen staff easily adapting pasta plates using house-made gluten-free noodles. **Know Before You Go** As a long-standing Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree, evening reservations fill quickly online, though walk-in solo diners and duos can often snag a spot at the bar. Take the 505 Dundas streetcar directly to the door, or rely on paid street parking along Dundas West. The room opens nightly for dinner with expanded midday hours on weekends.

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No.10
Gusto 101 King West dining room from the official site CDN
Restaurant• King West

Gusto 101

“Best King West Italian hang: Mafalde ai Funghi in the old auto body shop that still defines the strip.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Gusto 101?** Housed inside a converted 1950s auto body garage at 101 Portland Street in King West, restaurateur Janet Zuccarini’s Gusto 101 has anchored the neighbourhood’s social dining scene since 2012. The industrial-chic space pairs exposed brick, concrete floors, and steel beams with an open kitchen counter and an all-season retractable rooftop patio. It is unapologetically loud, social, and packed nightly with a stylish, cocktail-sipping crowd. **Gusto 101 Menu & What to Order** The undisputed headliner is the Mafalde ai Funghi, featuring ruffled pasta ribbons coated in a decadent truffle cream sauce with portobello, porcini, and oyster mushrooms. Cut through the richness with the citrusy Cavolo Nero kale salad or charred grilled octopus, then share a blistered Salsicce pizza layered with fennel sausage and smoked provolone. Pair your meal with an Aperol spritz or the restaurant's signature house wine on tap, while gluten-free pasta modifications make ordering seamless for dietary needs. **Know Before You Go** Prime evening dinner reservations book out days to weeks in advance, but walk-ins can regularly snag bar seating or ground-floor tables if they arrive right before the 6:00 p.m. rush. Street parking along Portland and King is notoriously scarce, making the 504 King streetcar to Portland Street the quickest way to arrive. The restaurant serves continuously from lunch through late night on weekdays, with popular weekend brunch services kicking off at 11:00 a.m.

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No.11
Trattoria Nervosa Yorkville from the official site CDN
Restaurant• Yorkville

Trattoria Nervosa

“Best all-day Yorkville trattoria: lunch-to-late Italian when you want reliable plates without a tasting-menu fight.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Trattoria Nervosa?** Occupying an iconic yellow Victorian house at the corner of Yorkville Avenue and Bellair Street (75 Yorkville Ave), Trattoria Nervosa is restaurateur Janet Zuccarini’s flagship that launched the Gusto 54 hospitality group in 1996. The multi-level space delivers lively Italian energy across two floors of rustic-chic dining rooms, a compact cocktail bar, and two coveted alfresco areas: a buzzing wraparound street patio and a rooftop terrace. **Trattoria Nervosa Menu & What to Order** The kitchen turns out dependable Southern Italian comfort dishes anchored by city-wide favorites. The non-negotiable order is the Mafalde ai Funghi, pairing ruffled pasta ribbons with portobello, porcini, crimini, and oyster mushrooms in a rich truffle cream sauce. Balance the decadence with the signature Cavolo Nero kale salad or cheese-stuffed Polpette con Provolone, paired with an Aperol spritz or a pour from the curated Italian wine list, and conclude with the espresso-soaked tiramisu. **Know Before You Go** Nervosa releases limited reservations on OpenTable but operates primarily as a high-volume walk-in restaurant, so expect waits during sunny weekend afternoons and peak dinner rushes. Bay station is a five-minute stroll south, with multiple municipal and underground parking garages directly across Yorkville Avenue. The kitchen operates continuously from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, staying open until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

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No.12
La Palma Dundas West from the official site CDN
Restaurant• Dundas West

La Palma

“Best Cal-Italian patio night west: 100-layer lasagna and a second-floor terrace on Dundas.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is La Palma?** Perched at 849 Dundas Street West near Trinity Bellwoods, La Palma combines breezy Venice Beach aesthetics with sharp Italian cooking from chef Craig Harding and designer Alexandra Hutchison. The sunlit dining room features soft pastel murals, terrazzo finishes, and warm brass fixtures, extending outward to a curbside patio and upward to a second-floor terrace lounge. Seating options range from sociable bar counters facing the open kitchen to plush banquettes tailor-made for date nights. **La Palma Menu & What to Order** The undisputed headliner is the 100-layer lasagna, layered with razor-thin sheets of fresh pasta, rich beef-and-pork bolognese, béchamel, and melted mozzarella. Balance the rich pasta with the spicy lumache alla vodka, blistered cacio e pepe pizza, and the charred lamb chops scottadito over tahini yogurt. Weekend brunch shifts seamlessly to sweet and savoury crowd-pleasers like tiramisu French toast, accompanied by a grapefruit-forward La Palma Spritz or a pick from the thoughtfully curated natural wine list. **Know Before You Go** Tables for prime evening hours and weekend brunch book up well in advance, though the bar and counter seating work well for spontaneous walk-ins during off-peak times. Street parking along Dundas West is tight on weekends, making the 505 Dundas streetcar the most hassle-free transit choice. The restaurant serves dinner nightly alongside daytime weekend brunch service starting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

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No.13
Bar Prima Queen West dining room from the official site
Restaurant• Queen West

Bar Prima

“Best Italian-American glam on Queen West: Harding/D'Ippolito red-sauce theatre with martini polish.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Bar Prima?** Located at 1136 Queen Street West beside The Drake Hotel, Bar Prima is a cinematic Italian-American dining room from chefs Craig Harding and Julian D’Ippolito. Designed by Future Studio, the glamorous 70-seat space evokes vintage mid-century Rome with hand-applied gold leaf ceilings, Cy Twombly-inspired marble flooring, and striking Klein-blue leather banquettes. Seating spans white-tablecloth tables on the main floor, a bustling six-seat mahogany bar counter, and an intimate lower-level club room. **Bar Prima Menu & What to Order** Guided by chef de cuisine Nicholas Iaboni, the kitchen takes nostalgic red-sauce hallmarks and sharpens them with meticulous technique and luxury ingredients. Start with the savoury cacio e pepe zeppole and the indulgent chicken liver and caviar maritozzo before ordering signature mains like the scallop Rockefeller, swordfish piccata, or lobster fra diavolo. Cocktails are taken just as seriously as the food—pair your meal with their ice-cold house dirty martini or the bergamot-infused Uncut Gem. While seafood and butchery dominate the entrées, the kitchen offers thoughtful vegetarian pasta and antipasti options. **Know Before You Go** Dinner reservations on OpenTable fill up quickly weeks in advance, though walk-in diners have decent luck scoring an early bar stool right when doors open at 5:00 p.m. Street parking on Queen West is notoriously tight, making the 501 Queen streetcar or a rideshare the easiest transit option. The restaurant serves dinner nightly, closing at 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

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No.14
Bar Vendetta Dundas West pasta and wine bar
Restaurant• Dundas West

Bar Vendetta

“Best low-key pasta-and-wine hang on Dundas: Jen Agg's room when you want Italian without the tasting-menu posture.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Bar Vendetta?** Occupying the storied Dundas West address formerly home to The Black Hoof, Bar Vendetta is restaurateur Jen Agg’s punchy, retro-styled Italian pasta and wine bar. The narrow room leans into 1970s warmth with colour-blocked flooring, vintage rock posters, and a sculptural wooden canopy over the central bar, backed by an intimate hidden back patio. It trades fine-dining stiffness for an unpretentious west-end hangout where serious cooking meets easygoing neighborhood charm. **Bar Vendetta Menu & What to Order** Handmade pastas and shareable small plates lead the kitchen, paired alongside low-intervention wines and classic amaro cocktails. The warm, cheesy pull-apart garlic bread and the tender pork-and-veal meatballs in bright tomato sauce with basil pesto are essential table openers. For the main event, the signature Crown Cacio e Pepe—a coiled crown of fresh pasta stuffed with ricotta and finished with lemon, butter, and black pepper—is non-negotiable. Finish dinner with the house lemon torta layered with mascarpone and bourbon caramel. **Know Before You Go** Reservations are available through OpenTable, but walk-in diners can reliably snag stools along the front bar counter on a first-come, first-served basis. The restaurant is situated right along the 505 Dundas streetcar line near Gore Vale Avenue, with metered green P street parking scattered on Dundas. The kitchen serves dinner seven nights a week from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

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No.15
Sotto Sotto Yorkville from the official restaurant site
Restaurant• Yorkville

Ristorante Sotto Sotto

“Best old-school Yorkville romance: candlelit classic Italian that has outlasted every trend cycle since 1993.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Ristorante Sotto Sotto?** Found at 120 Avenue Road on the northern edge of Yorkville, Ristorante Sotto Sotto has been Marisa Rocca’s flagship temple of South-Central Italian cooking since 1993. Rebuilt after a 2014 Christmas Day fire destroyed its original subterranean digs down the street, the polished two-storey space features low candlelight, framed photos of celebrity regulars, intimate dining tables, and a discreet seasonal front patio. It trades fleeting food trends for classic Roman-leaning warmth, professional career servers, and a deep Italian wine cellar. **Ristorante Sotto Sotto Menu & What to Order** The kitchen sticks resolutely to the classics that built its reputation. Start with the Antipasto Gordonia, a generous platter of grilled tiger shrimp, calamari, and charred vegetables, before moving to the rich, slow-cooked Fettuccine Bolognese Mamma Laura or the signature Pennette Via Frattina tossed with east coast smoked salmon and asparagus in rosé sauce. The grilled Moroccan octopus with cherry tomatoes puttanesca-style and the bone-in veal chops are standout mains, best matched with a bold Brunello or Super Tuscan. Pastas can be prepared with gluten-free or whole-wheat options upon request, though the kitchen politely refuses recipe modifications to keep flavours authentic. **Know Before You Go** Dinner reservations are essential on weekends and during TIFF season; lunch can be booked via OpenTable, while prime dinner seatings often require reserving directly online or by phone. The multi-level heritage room has main dining floor access, but the washrooms are located up a steep staircase on the second floor. Street parking along Avenue Road is tight, so plan on using nearby commercial parking garages or riding the TTC to Museum or Bay station.

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No.16
Pizzeria Badiali pizza, official photo from pizzeriabadiali.com
Restaurant• Beaconsfield Village

Pizzeria Badiali

“Best NYC-style slice in Toronto: Dovercourt lines, foldable crust, zero reservation games.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Pizzeria Badiali?** Anchoring the corner of Dovercourt Road and Argyle Street in Beaconsfield Village, Pizzeria Badiali is Toronto’s benchmark New York-style slice shop founded by Ryan Baddeley, Nick Halligan, and Owen Walker. The compact century-building space features exposed brick, an open prep line where pies are tossed and fired, and a narrow wood standing counter inside. Indoor seating is strictly standing room only, with a handful of sidewalk benches outside during warm weather months. **Pizzeria Badiali Menu & What to Order** The kitchen turns out 16-inch foldable pies and oversized slices defined by a light, airy, shatteringly crisp crust dusted with Pecorino Romano and Grana Padano. The Vodka Pie—slicked in a rich, chili-flecked rosé sauce with fior di latte—and the peppery Cacio e Pepe slice are essential orders, alongside classic pepperoni finished with hot honey or garlic dip. Vegetarians are well served with the Burrata Marinara and portobello-topped Mushroom Bianco, best paired with an ice-cold Brio Chinotto or house salad. **Know Before You Go** Badiali runs on a strict walk-in policy with no indoor table reservations, meaning sidewalk queues regularly wrap around the block during peak lunch and dinner rushes. Slices move swiftly at the counter, but ordering whole pies in advance through their online portal is the smartest way to bypass the wait. The shop operates daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., within walking distance of Trinity Bellwoods Park and the Queen streetcar.

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No.17
Pizzeria Libretto Neapolitan pizza from the official site CDN
Restaurant• The Danforth

Pizzeria Libretto

“Best classic Neapolitan in the city: the VPN standard that still defines Toronto pizza nights.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Pizzeria Libretto?** Anchoring the bustling Greektown strip at 550 Danforth Avenue, Pizzeria Libretto is the east-end outpost of the institution that introduced authentic VPN-style Neapolitan pizza to Toronto. The dining room features warm brickwork, soft globe lighting, roomy leather banquettes, and high-top counter seating overlooking the blazing wood-burning oven. It delivers a polished yet easygoing neighbourhood atmosphere that effortlessly accommodates everything from casual mid-week dates to boisterous family dinners. **Pizzeria Libretto Menu & What to Order** Pies here rely on a 72-hour naturally fermented sourdough base flash-baked at 850°F to produce a light, leopard-spotted, blistered crust. Start with the tender beef-pork-veal meatballs simmered in San Marzano sugo or the crisp, scamorza-stuffed arancini before ordering the textbook Margherita or the fiery 'Nduja pie. The white Funghi pizza, dressed in cremini mushrooms and gorgonzola crema, remains a longstanding crowd favorite, while dietary restrictions are expertly handled with housemade vegan fior di latte and arguably the city's finest gluten-free crust. **Know Before You Go** Reservations for parties of up to six can be booked easily through OpenTable, though tables fill up fast during peak weekend dinner services, leaving brief waits for walk-ins. The restaurant sits conveniently between Chester and Pape subway stations on Line 2, with several Green P parking lots accessible along Danforth Avenue. Doors open daily at 11:00 a.m., operating continuously through lunch and dinner.

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No.18
Terroni Queen West dining room from the official Terroni CDN
Restaurant• Queen West

Terroni Queen

“Best Southern Italian original on Queen West: the basil-patio Terroni that still refuses to sand off its edges.”

— Very Toronto Editors

**What is Terroni Queen?** Occupying 720 Queen Street West since 1992, this flagship location is where founder Cosimo Mammoliti transformed a modest Southern Italian shopfront into the benchmark for Toronto’s trattoria culture. Following thoughtful multi-room renovations across merged storefronts, the space combines exposed brick and amber lighting with leather banquettes, a polished cocktail bar, and an enclosed back garden patio where the kitchen once cultivated its own fresh basil. **Terroni Queen Menu & What to Order** The kitchen adheres rigorously to regional Southern Italian recipes, famously backed by a strict no-substitutions rule and crisp, thin-crust pizzas sent out deliberately uncut. Start with the iconic Funghi Assoluti—baked oyster mushrooms over peppery arugula with shaved parmigiano—before moving to the truffle-laced Tonnarelli alla Norcina or the seafood-heavy Spaghetti in Canna a Mare. Pair dinner with regional Italian bottles imported via their Cavinona wine agency, and finish with the flourless molten Torta Calda al Cioccolato. **Know Before You Go** Reservations are available through OpenTable, though counter seats at the front bar make snagging a walk-in spot manageable for solo diners and duos. Queen West street parking is notoriously tight, so take the 501 Queen streetcar directly to Tecumseth Street. Operating daily from midday through late evening, Terroni runs a weekday afternoon aperitivo that softens the rush before prime-time dinner crowds arrive.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Best Italian Restaurants in Toronto (2026)

Very Toronto's 2026 Best Italian Restaurants ranking covers Michelin Ligurian at Osteria Giulia, Italo-Jewish charcoal at N.L. Ginzburg, Amalfi tasting at Don Alfonso 1890, Sicilian at Ardo, Roman pasta at Enoteca Sociale, Cal-Italian at La Palma, and pizza icons Libretto and Badiali, plus Giulietta, Buca Yorkville, Piano Piano, DaNico, Gusto 101, Terroni Queen, and more. Famiglia Baldassarre's public lunch is off after August 14, 2026. Sammarco is treated as steakhouse spillover.