A flourishing Italian community calls Toronto home, and the city has been rewarded with stellar Italian restaurants in the lively Little Italy area. Whether you’re looking for specific regional cuisine or Italian classics, the best Italian restaurants in Toronto’s Little Italy have a table for you.
Dip your focaccia bread in olive oil as you enjoy Roman cuisine and savor plentiful portions of handmade pasta on red-and-white-checkered tablecloths at a traditional trattoria. Try gnocchi baked beneath golden brown cheese in a wooden oven at the first gnocchi bar in North America and explore the fare at a restaurant that offers Italian food with an Asian twist. Sit on a rooftop patio to watch the hustle and bustle of College Street below and stop by a spot that specializes in wood-fired pizza for a universal favorite.
For budgets large and small, for romantic dates or family gatherings, Toronto’s Little Italy has the right hometown restaurant to fit your Italian dining style. Read on for the best Italian restaurants in Toronto’s Little Italy to discover more and book your table on OpenTable.
The best Italian restaurants in Little Italy Toronto – Read on for a guide
For a romantic pasta experience – visit Enoteca Sociale in Little Italy
If you want to explore the best Italian restaurants in Downtown Toronto, make sure to stop by Enoteca Sociale. On Dundas Street, Enoteca Sociale offers a menu of simple Roman cuisine and Italian quality. Begin with an order of sourdough and focaccia bread served with Sicilian olive oil to share with your table and choose from an Italian-focused wine list with uncommon varieties from regions all around Italy. For an outstanding pasta experience, try the spaghetti cacio e pepe, with pecorino romano cheese and black pepper. Meat lovers will want to try the 30-day dry-aged ribeye steak with salad and olive oil. Complete your Italian immersion with a torta caprese and castagne and enjoy a flourless chocolate cake drizzled in chestnut sauce. Soft lighting and modern interiors make this spot an excellent choice for a romantic evening. Warmer days can be enjoyed on the outdoor patio.
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For a family-style trattoria at one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto – book a table at Trattoria Taverniti in Little Italy
Trattoria Taverniti in Little Italy is an intimate spot with a menu focusing on the family recipes of chef Rosina Taverniti. With red checkered tablecloths and old barn wood around arched entryways, terracotta flooring and brick walls, the trattoria feel comes to life. Start your meal off with a selection of cured meats and imported cheese with honey, and dried fruit and move on to a more substantial main like the creamy gnocchi gorgonzola with crushed walnuts. For a pizza that will be loved by adults and children alike, order the fior di latte pizza topped with basil, soft fior di latte mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes for a familiar combination of beloved Italian flavors. For dessert, don’t skip the vanilla ice cream nestled in a warm sweet bun when you order the brioche con gelato. Reinvigorate conversations with old friends or treat your family to a filling meal from the Mediterranean.
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto for pasta and seafood – try Zitto Zitto Taverna in Little Italy
If you’re looking for a stellar Italian dining experience with a special focus on pasta and seafood, Zitto Zitto Taverna is one of the best Italian restaurants in Little Italy Toronto. Relax in the intimate, softly lit atmosphere in one of two dining rooms. Chef Alessandro Militello creates beautiful Sicilian-inspired dishes presented by friendly servers. Begin your meal with any one of a selection of wines from around the globe to pair a shareable dish of black peppercorn-encrusted venison tenderloin served with berries. For housemade pasta that leaves an impression try the ravioli con zucca, stuffed with butternut squash in sage and butter sauce. Seafood lovers will be impressed with the mixed grilled fish dish where lobster tail, calamari, scallops, and jumbo shrimp soak in herb-infused olive oil. A perfect place for groups small and large, visit Zitto Zitto Taverna at 593 College Street for Italian fare in a friendly atmosphere.
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For top-notch pizza at one of the best Italian restaurants in Little Italy – grab a table at Tav Gnocchi & Pizza Bar on College Street
For homemade Italian fare at North America’s first-ever gnocchi bar, visit Tav Gnocchi & Pizza Bar, part of the Taverniti restaurant group. Arrosticini as an appetizer gets things off to a great start. Lamb skewers are roasted over a wood fire for a tender and succulent starter. As a main, go for the Sorrentino gnocchi dish baked in a wood-fire oven in tomato sauce under crispy golden cheese, or try the pizza gorgonzola topped with olive oil, gorgonzola, mozzarella, pear, and toasted walnuts drizzled with honey for a special comforting meal. The Rosina original pizza with nduja, homemade basil pesto sauce, hot soppressata, and roasted red pepper brought together by mozzarella cheese, is a local favorite. Simplicity meets elegance in the dining area where energetic servers offer fast and friendly assistance. Tav Gnocchi & Pizza Bar features traditional Italian food and a love of gnocchi, so make sure to stop by the next time you’re in the College Street Little Italy area.
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For a bold Italian meal infused with Asian flavors – don’t miss DaNico in Toronto’s Little Italy
Discover one of the best Italian restaurants in Little Italy Toronto at DaNico on College Street. Chef Daniele Corona shares his love of Italian cuisine, developed in Rome while working at a 2-star MICHELIN restaurant. Italian fare is served with local ingredients and comes with an unexpected Asian twist. Duck breast with endives marinated in star anise, orange jus, and cinnamon with fennel puree is one of the top creations at DaNico’s. For a seafood dining experience, try the black cod. Steamed and deglazed with miso, it comes with caviar, white asparagus, and vermouth sauce. If you’re in the mood for beef, order the charcoal-grilled Wagyu tenderloin served with potato terrine and shishito pepper. For a finishing touch, embrace sweetness with the cocoa sponge cake and house-made fig ice cream. The dining area has towering walls tastefully decorated for a modern and elegant feel. Plush seats accompany tables covered in white cloth on a clean wood floor. To enjoy Italian food with a creative Asian flair, make sure to visit DaNico on College Street.
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For a budget-friendly Italian meal – grab a chair at Bella Vista in Little Italy
For a casual and intimate dining experience, don’t miss Bella Vista, one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto. Clean and modern with soft seating, relax in a mellow ambience as you are attended on by welcoming servers. Start with an appetizer of mussels marinara in a fresh spicy herb and white wine broth. Vegetarians might try the gnocchi Bella Vista made with ricotta cheese and spinach in a creamy basil pesto sauce. For seafood lovers, don’t miss the lobster risotto with tiger shrimp and scallions in olive oil. If you can’t choose between land and sea, have both and order the veal and shrimp scallopini.
Pizza is another highlight from the menu: try the signature Bella Vista pie topped with roasted red peppers, chicken, onion, goat cheese and pesto sauce. Martinis, bourbons, and scotch whiskey are offered at the wine bar, along with beer. An outdoor patio is open when weather permits. If you’re ever on College Street, pop by Bella Vista between Bathurst and Ossington for a budget-friendly Italian meal.
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For an Italian feast at one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto – visit Vivoli in Little Italy
At 665 College Street, you’ll discover one of the best Italian restaurants in Little Italy Toronto – Vivoli. Begin with the taste of the Mediterranean with the must-try marinated pan-seared calamari dish before moving on to a Canadian AAA flat iron steak served with seasonal vegetables. Vivoli specializes in wood-fired pizza and does not disappoint – don’t miss the Calabrese pizza with Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, and hot peppers. If you’re in the mood for pasta grab a penne alla vodka with onions and sauteed pancetta in a vodka rose sauce. Finish off with a creative blueberry basil gelato for a sweet treat you might not find anywhere else. Recently renovated, the rooftop patio is open on nicer days and allows you to sip wine and cocktails as you gaze across the buzzing city. The dining room provides an elegant atmosphere to enjoy all your Italian favorites. You can find the enclosed private patio available all year round and heated in the colder months – the perfect idea for parties with up to 30 guests. Diners of all tastes and preferences are sure to enjoy Vivoli at Beatrice Street on College Street. Bring your appetite and your favorite people and prepare to be delighted.
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Toronto is home to am Italian community that has given the city many stellar restaurants. From elegant seafood specialists to wood-fired pizza that the whole family can look forward to, the best Italian restaurants in Little Italy Toronto are worth a visit. Experiment with new pasta creations designed by passionate chefs. Walk around Toronto’s bustling downtown on College Street and soak up the sounds of Canada’s largest city in a neighborhood known for Italian cuisine.
