Some time ago, we have proposed five of the most popular Italian restaurants in Toronto. But the list is much, much longer, of course! Today, therefore, we want to continue it suggesting 5 more restaurants where to taste Italian cuisine. With pizza, ‘cacio e pepe’, that is cheese and pepper, ‘nduja and wines, you will feel like you are traveling through Italy bite after bite. Come with us on this tasty tour.
Giulietta and Mattacchioni
Let’s start our gastronomic tour to discover other Italian restaurants in Toronto with Giulietta. It is located in 972 College Street West. Olives from Castelvetrano, ham, burrata and Cutro bread among the appetizers. Fresh pasta with meat sauce or cheese and pepper, but also with black truffle or with sea flavor are served as fist course. Among the main courses there is a wide choice of meat and fish accompanied by vegetables. Not to mention the gourmet pizzas that make us travel to Italian regions with a single bite. And then desserts are a must-have: it is not possible to go home without having tasted the red life tiramisu or a slice of torta della nonna. The chef is the young Rob Rossi. A few months after the opening, two years ago, the restaurant won a place in the top five of Canada’s Best New Restaurants by Air Canada enRoute.
And we continue with Mattachioni. It bears the name of the pizza maker and creator of the restaurant: David Mattachioni. It is located at 1617 Dupont Street. Here you can taste classic pizzas, such as margherita and marinara, but also more particular ones, with taleggio, ricotta or buffalo mozzarella. Do not miss the aperitifs with excellent sandwiches, toast and various “apristomaco”. Typical Italian salami and cheeses dominate. Salads with mushrooms or legumes or fresh vegetables are also special. Among the first courses, then, the best of Italian cuisine: lasagna Bolognese and eggplant parmesan. Here too, desserts must be tasted. Do not miss the tiramisu, the most famous dessert in the world. But there is panna cotta, brioches, caprese cake and Sicilian cannoli. We recommend these two restaurants.
Among the 5 more restaurants: Campo and Baldassarre
And now let’s stop at Campo Restaurant, 244 on Jane Street. Here Italian cuisine is contaminated with the Spanish. The result is a union and a mixture of perfect flavors. And we pass from a carbonara to polenta, to gnocchi with ‘nduja, from meatballs to chorizo as if nothing had happened. Catalan meats and Italian first courses accompanied by white, red or rosé wines. And it is here that one of the best Bolognese sauce is made. Then, an excellent, rich and tasty lunch must be concluded as real Italians, that is with the ammazzacaffè. In fact, at Campo it is possible to taste Italian digestive and amari. Mark it among the next restaurants where to go for a dinner.
Fresh pasta is a distinctive feature of Italian cuisine. And you can find it at Geary Avenue, 122, in the Baldassarre Family restaurant. With or without eggs, with spinach or dark flour, long or short. Tortellini, ravioli, agnolotti, cappelletti and cappellacci. Just some of the infinite types that are prepared every day in the Leandro Baldassarre’s restaurant by hand, seasoned with sauces of the Italian culinary tradition. You can taste it only from Tuesday to Friday from 12 to 2pm. In addition to being a restaurant, it is also a real pasta factory that supplies other Italian restaurants. But anyone can buy this genuine and exquisite handmade pasta.
A jump in Sicily at Ardo Restaurant
We conclude this journey made throught the senses and tastebuds and we suggest you the last of the 5 more Italian restaurants. This is the Ardo Restaurant, in King Street East. The chef, Roberto Marotta, directly from Milazzo, is specialized in Sicilian cuisine. Book the table near the kitchen to watch him while preparing a pasta alla norma or pappardelle with meat sauce. And it is here that you can taste excellent fresh bread, olives grown under the Sicilian sun or Etna pizza. But in a typical Sicilian restaurant can arancini never be missing? Of course not! They are a speciality by Ardo. As well as cannoli, cassata and Modica chocolate. So, to make a jump in the Sicilian land, we recommend you to eat in this restaurant.
Featured image from Ardorestaurant Facebook page