Zia's Place

What is Zia's Place? Perched along the Little Portugal stretch at 1543 Dundas Street West, Zia's Place is a spirited collaboration between Pasta Forever founder Jess Maiorano and the hospitality duo behind Happy Coffee and Wine. The intimate 50-seat room glows with understated under-bench lighting, walnut finishes, and plush burgundy booths framing views into an arched kitchen pass. Seating options include curved dining banquettes, lively front window counters, and casual bar perches.

Zia's Place Menu & What to Order Maiorano focuses on the rural *cucina povera* traditions of Puglia, Calabria, and Sardinia, building dishes around seasonal Ontario produce and handmade pasta. Start with the Napoli-style fried pizzette crowned with rich stracciatella and mortadella, alongside cornmeal-dusted fritto misto. The crown jewel is the culurgiones—hand-pinched Sardinian pasta dumplings stuffed with potato, pecorino, and fresh mint, bathed in rich single-herd butter. Pair dinner with natural, low-intervention Italian farmhouse wines curated by sommelier Madeleine Hayles or a pour of Posto, a custom house lager brewed by Sonnen Hill.

Know Before You Go Reservations drop on Resy and fill up briskly on weekends, though bar seats and window counters are held for walk-ins. Zia's operates for dinner service Tuesday through Sunday and remains closed on Mondays. Arrive effortlessly on the 505 Dundas streetcar, as street parking along Dundas West can be competitive on busy evenings.