I had a really good meal here. The dinning room is very intimate with not a ton of tables. I would say this is more of a home feeling/cooking than trendy. Everything we ate was really good. The lasagna stole the show for me. Salads and other pastors were good as well. Trust this place for rustic home cooked Italian food. read more

Caffino Ristorante - Linguini and clams - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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What a gorgeous restaurant inside the old carpet factory. I was unsure at first when we arrived for our 6pm reservation as the place was completely empty with our table of 4 friends being the only guests. It quickly turned into a full house though! Our server was kind, patient, and knowledgeable about the menu speaking of the new dishes and past dishes. I ordered the salmon with putanesca and vegetables and it was absolutely amazing, the best I've ever had. I gobbled up every savory bite, only stopping to share a bite or two with my friends. I really wish I lived closer so I could return for this. It paired beautifully with the white wine we ordered that was kept cold on a standing cooler. read more

Had a wonderful experience at Caffeino. The atmosphere is warmly lit, intimate, and upscale. I came to celebrate my mom's birthday, and our server was incredibly friendly and attentive. We ordered the meat and fish specials, all of which were delicious! The cheesecake dessert was also perfect. Great food, great service, and an overall 10/10 evening. read more

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I wanted to go to this spot for a very long time. Finally, had the opportunity. We came as a group of 6 on a busy Saturday. With my double vaccine proof and ID ready.....I was shocked that no one asked us for proof. I saw them asking our server if he had this taken care of and he said yes, so I was still thinking he would ask but he never did. That does not me make me feel very comfortable. It's the first place I've gone to that did not ask for proof in Toronto. The shining star is the old world setting. It's beautiful and if you are going on a date quite romantic. Ask for the back half with the chandeliers. Aside from that, the owner was great. She was lively and came to each table to greet and see how everyone was doing. We had this running joke that if we dropped something we might get our servers attention. It took a long time to get our food. We arrived at 7 pm and our mains arrived at 830pm . That's a long time. But honestly, Vince was perhaps not prepared for the busy night. I don't know. He would say, "I can't reach that far." So we had to pass our bowls for parmesan cheese. My dish went to another person and was called pescatore instead of chicken. We passed our plates to the right people that night. Not so good. And we understood that they couldn't separate a bottle of wine but he made such a heated fuss about it....he set us up for not a pleasant server if we wanted to ask for anything. He said, "No, we don't do that. No!" He seemed very angry and it made us all very uncomfortable. This may not have been his intention but six people feeling this way can't be wrong. The food was okay a little heavy and salty. We had the osso bucco, pescatore, toscana, gnocchi and bruschetta. We also tried a few of their wines. Honestly, not knowing if anyone in that restaurant was checked made us uncomfortable. Definitely, a reason for not going back while this pandemic is still going on. The customer service our table received was not very pleasant. We were left alone quite a bit. Getting his attention was difficult and just how he spoke to us made the worry of coming back to receiving this again. So for that reason I can't say we plan on returning. read more

Great atmosphere, reasonable prices for the quality , nice staff. Food was amazing! Too many places in Toronto are over placed and over hyped , this is not that ! read more

This place was a big disappointment. The ambiance didn't feel right. It felt a bit tacky. Like a place my high school boyfriend would bring me in the late 90s. The service was weird. My husband ordered a seafood pasta, and it smelled very bad. One of the mussle has clearly gone bad. We called the waiter over to let them know, and they said they would remove the bad one and replate it!! Don't they know that this could lead to bad food poisoning!!? We had to insist that we didn't want any of their seafood and he ordered an osso buco instead. The dush didn't taste good either. Meat was so chewy. My pasta dish was not memorable at all. Quite disappointing to be honest. I had better pasta at a mall takeout place. The only decent thing we had was the tiramisu. But it's definitely not worth the trip back. Would not recommend. read more

Caffino is a hidden gem in Liberty Village. Coming from an Italian background, where we make a lot of family style dishes at home, it's hard to go eat out at an Italian place and expect the same. Caffino delivers that experience time and time out, and you know it's good once you've brought the parent's over to try it out and they enjoy it! My absolute favourite is the Chicken Parmigiana, it's one of those things I have to try everywhere I go. I highly recommend the either the Grilled Lamb Chops with Homemade Gnocchi or the Veal Ossobucco. Always get an order of the bruschetta and/or Calamari to start. The atmosphere is great for an intimate setting, going out with the family or even a group of friends. Finally the staff at Caffino are incredibly friendly and always go out of their way to ensure you're having the best experience while dining with them. read more

While visiting Toronto for a birthday weekend mid November we dined at Caffino. I spent time researching Italian restaurants that met my criteria: great food, simple yet presentable (the way Italian food should be), nice ambiance, good service and fair pricing. My research paid off as Caffino met them all! Service: Upon arriving, we were greeted by a lovely hostess and Vincenze (Vince) who runs the establishment. He was also our server for the nite and most attentive. He started us with complimentary champagne for the birthday celebration. Throughout the evening, he visited tables and talked with the patrons. We enjoyed conversing with him about Italy, his restaurant's history and his family. He made us feel we welcomed - which is taken for granted at many restaurants. Our meal was spaced out perfectly and we were not rushed. Ambiance: the restaurant is located in an old carpet factory building. The brick walls, high ceilings with wooden beams and long windows tastefully appointed with old-style moldings and simple dressings take you back in time. We had a great window seat. Lighting was dim, making for a nice ambiance. Food: I specifically wanted lamb chops. When I reviewed the menu during my research and saw they served them with ricotta gnocchi - at a price of $38 - it was a no-brainer (most upscale places were charging $63 on average - no gnocchi included)! The chops were AMAZING - perfectly cooked inside and covered in a balsamic glaze. I literally cleaned them to the bone! The gnocchi was blended with greens (broccoli rabe) and baratta cheese. Speechless. First off, any place that makes a handmade ricotta gnocchi is legit as most serve manufactured potato gnocchi I could buy at Trader Joe's. My plate - as well as my girlfriend's - were cleaned. Nothing was going home. We were then treated to an almond tortilla cake and cappucino for dessert - a perfect end to a great meal. I'm not claiming to be a Michelin restaurant critic. But I grew up in an Italian family so know Italian food. I also spent over 20 years in NYC discovering some of the best hidden places for Italian food and had amazing meals in Italy. Caffinos is the real deal. If you want overpriced/over presented food and more interested in the "scene," there are plenty of other choices. If you want Italian food the way it should be made (like you're in Italy), a quieter and old world ambiance, great food and service at a FAIR price - then give this place a shot. You won't be disappointed. Thank you Vinceze (Vince) for a wonderful experience! read more

The food at Caffino is magnificent. I ordered the calamari fritti (MUST order), Caesar salad with salmon, burrata gnocchi, and tiramisu with espresso. I was impressed by the quality of their espresso. The calamari is fresh and just crispy enough that it doesn't take away from the seafood itself. Definitely recommend everyone to order the calamari fritti. I would say the food is pretty authentically Italian. Compared to the food I've had in Italy, Caffino is authentic and very very delicious. However, the service was very slow both times that I went. The ambience and setting of the restaurant are great and match the food well but the seating could be organized better since people were constantly bumping into our table or chairs. The food definitely deserves five stars for its price range and portion in consideration of the Toronto food scene but a star is taken off for service quality. read more

We were a young asian couple just trying to have a romantic date and will definitely not go back here again. For the price of their food you can get something better. The servers didn't take a liking of us in the beginning and they made us feel like we were not treated the same as the other tables (maybe because we were young?). Wish I read the negative reviews about here before we went here and I also realized the servers were not wearing a mask and following covid guidelines. read more

It is located at Liberty Village, sharing the same entrance gate of the Toronto Carpet Factory building. We came here for dinner prior to our event at the Liberty Grand which is only 4 mins drive away. I love the interior. Their prosciutto (not the cheap fatty one) salad, Veal T-bone steak (very tender and well cooked), tuna steak (good taste and popular dish at the restaurant) and tiramisu (just soft and wonderful) are all amazingly good. Service is attentive and friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant. Must go back! read more

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The prices have gone up! I see there are no recent reviews from the last few months so I wanted to update mine. I've been coming here for 4-5 years and the food is still amazing, but in the beginning the value was also amazing. My favorite is the Biftec aka Griglia (t bone steak) which until couple of years ago was only $22!! Amazing steak and amazing value !! Served on bed of vegetables with amazing presentation. It went up to $27 a year ago which was still ok but now it is up to $34. That is not such a great value anymore. Pasta dishes went up too. Pasta is amazing here but the portions aren't big. For mid teens price it was a good value , but right now they are all over $20. Also they used to make their own bread and the bread basket you get before the meal was a treat in itself! Now you get regular French loaf, store bought. Still one of the three best restaurants in Liberty Village (with Mildred's and School) but not an amazing value anymore. read more

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I think this is my first 5 star review! I couldn't find one critique of our meal at all! First off I have been wanting to come here for ages! Thank goodness their groupon was still available for purchase! $89.99 for 4 people, was a small family get together. The atmosphere of this restaurant in the main room was homey & quaint! However in the second room, it was cozy and romantic! It's true what the other reviewers said very romantic! The food was superb! First off the bread, I have a love for warm bread at restaurants! It's such a simple but rare offerings? This place not only toast their sliced baguettes but it's also a bit garlic seemed like a light garlic spread was already spread on it! Warm and toasty! Appetizers: My eggplant parmigiana, eggplant was nicely breaded, the tomato sauce was sooo yummy! We also had the mussels, grilled calamari (tender and not over done!) and the beef carpaccio! All nicely portioned! Main: My veal chop (off of the daily special) was fantastic. Perfect medium, the sauce was to die for! A rich reduction with some sort of cream drizzle We also had a T-bone steak, the fish which also came with like a crab meat rice, and a seafood risotto all tasting delicious Dessert: I had the pumpkin cheesecake (also off of the daily special menu), I usually don't like pumpkin so was very reluctant to try this but gave it a go. Am glad I did coz it was like a taste of heaven! The pumpkin wasn't too overwhelming, the cream cheese and pumpkin conmbination was a perfect balance along with a bit of the whole pumpkin spice! Kind of like starbucks PSL in a dessert! The cookie crust bottom was crunchy indicating it must have been recently made! we also got the tiramisu, tartufo, gianormous slice of truffle cake. I still liked my cheesecake the best! They had a whole lot of other selections like cannoli, creme brûlée, a pistachio mousse crunch which they ran out on. Overall a very extensive dessert menu! I was reluctant to write this review as I wanna keep this place a secret! But on a wed night it had only three other tables of twos! This place is such a hidden gem that I really want it to stick around! Can't wait to go back and try their pizza! Overall a scrumptious Italian feast! read more

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I came here before quite often but this might be the last time I come. I came here with a group of co-workers to grab lunch and Vince, our waiter, was already giving us some bad vibes. When we first stepped in and told him there's 4 of us, he grabbed menus and walked away without telling us that he's taking us to our seats. We waited a full few minutes before I decided to peer through the next dining area and ask whether those seats are ours. When we came to order, he had the worse grumpy face on (and the entire time after). After we made our orders, two of our coworkers swapped seats. When the food came, we told the waiter which order is which girl's and he gave us an attitude and made a gesture like we aren't allowed to swap seats. Every time we had to interact with him, his tone of voice (almost yelling) and face had been stern and borderline rude. We can tell he didn't like us. Meanwhile, I watch him serve other guests with a smile. Not trying to place a race card here but we're a group of Asian women and all the other guests were white. He didn't seem to take a liking to us from the beginning. We were polite the entire time too. When it came to asking for the dessert menu, he brought 4 menus over and simply tossed the stack onto the table and walked away. Very unimpressive. We tried to be polite but we we're giving each other looks by the end of our meal. We opted not to bother staying for dessert as we did not want him serving us anymore. Needless to say, we tipped less than what we normally do to get the message across. Even during the process of paying, the waiter simply ripped the receipt and tossed it over and walked away. Good job, Vince. You work in the customer service industry. At least pretend to look like you're enjoying your job. Rude waiter, terrible service. Food is good but would not want to be served by Vince again. read more

Booked a table on OpenTable in April so i could take my Mom for a nice dinner (she's visiting from Vancouver). When we arrived, there was a wedding party and I was told that our reservation was cancelled. Nobody contacted us from the restaurant to let us know. I have been to Caffino before and it was my absolute favourite restaurant. I will not go back because of how they treated us - can't even be bothered to notify us of a cancelled reservation. We ended up having a wonderful meal at Arvo in Liberty Village. My Mom had a really great time. Arvo has a great wine/cocktail list and great food like lamb, steak tartare and ravioli - she liked it better than what she saw on the menu at Caffino, Disappointed that Caffino couldn't be bothered to let us know that our reso was cancelled as a better offer of a wedding came up. Glad though that Arvo was able to provide us an amazing experience. You just can't rely on Caffino to uphold their end of the reservation. read more

Caffino Ristorante - Confirmation of a reservation at Caffino that wasn't honoured by the restaurant. - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

A gorgeous intimate restaurant with above par meals - excellent taste & presentation! Perfect date night or group outing. Meals pictures are their sesame tuna, lamb gnocchi, seafood risotto & pistachio sponge cake. read more

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Hi Rosa.I tried to contact You,left my phone number but You never called me back.On Oct.1 I've had attended wedding party and most of it was O.K. But we sat so close to next table(back to back) and was impossible to get out if You sat at the end by the window.Trying to go for smoke or washroom had to push myself really hard between chairs.And there is the problem,the chairs behind back support have sticking out bolts,some really sharp.So I've had ripped my pants (bought already new -same ones)and lady sitting behind me demaged her special dress and sweter.Next time any place,specialy Yours if ever I'll check the the place for safety before I'll sit. Andy K. Toronto read more

We decided to come by for dinner on a Saturday after seeing all the great reviews but we were very disappointed by the service, food and disregard for covid safety here. Servers do not wear masks, tables are not spaced (we were seated outside literally 5inches away from the tables beside us), and table clothes are re-used after each meal. But what really left a bad taste in our mouths was the service. Not sure why but our server was blatantly rude to us the entire night (we were also the only asians there don't know if that had anything to do with it - i've never had such blatant difference in treatment at a restaurant before but our experience here made us feel unwelcomed and just left a bad taste in our mouth. We asked him what was in the pasta and he looked annoyed, walked away, and only came back to get our order 45 minutes after (he actively ignored us when we tried to let him know we were ready to order throughout those 45mins of waiting). However, there was a white couple seated next to us that came in after we did he greeted with a smile, got them water right away and took their order immediately (we were also ready to order at that time and we were seated right next to them, he completely ignored us then and for the next 45min). Basically when he came to get our order, the couple beside us was ready to get the bill. We waited another 45min for our food, and only then was water served to us. The whole he's avoiding looking at us and just bad vibes y'know? Not to mention, our food came out cold, like it's been out for some time and the pasta we got was raw/frozen in the center and the sauce was unbearably salty. We were really excited to try out this place and celebrate a graduation but we were left feeling parched, hungry, and unwelcomed. Edit: Read through some other recent reviews and seeing a pattern of racism and disregard for covid safety here. read more

Caffino Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Came across this place while walking around Liberty Village. My food experience was pretty meh, portions are not on the large side, and service is average as well. Had the lamb burger (dry and missing other components, like some nice arugula or something) and a side salad (some leaves a piece of cucumber and a cherry tomato). What really makes this place great is the location. It is nestled between the buildings in Liberty village to create a kind of hidden courtyard feel hidden in the brick, but the ambiance is beautiful and so relaxing on the patios. I would definitely come back just to sit on the patios and enjoy a nice drink! read more

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Lovely romantic restaurant With a very nice concise menu yet with variety Really enjoyed the dining experience, would come back again! read more

I'm already updating my Caffino Ristorante review, because I have already returned, and they deserve the five star bump. What a delight! My husband and I had cocktails and mussels followed by pasta and wine on their patio while our baby napped and it was a near perfect evening. Saying this is a hidden gem is such a cliché, but goddamnit, that's what it is. Check out Caffino, it's a shiny hidden gem. read more

Caffino Ristorante - Risotto - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Went last night, loved it. Really cozy and intimate space. Service was nice and old school, we loved our server! Not overbearing, but always around. I had the pasta pescatore and the sauce was delicious and it was filled with seafood. The bruschetta was so tasty we ordered a second order. The wine list is well priced and for myself and a girlfriend, it was the perfect night out. Really enjoyed it. My husband also said he used to go there often when he worked in the area for lunch, so I think it's a safe bet for both lunch and dinner. read more

Five stars without doubt - this is probably one of my top 3 pasta places in the city. An Italian feel, romantic vibes, a great and cozy location (the old Toronto Carpet Factory / Liberty Village) and most importantly abundant and delicious pasta. I've been here several times but I've ordered their Gnocci La Romana twice (soft flavour, creamy texture with a bold touch of Gorgonzola cheese...). A must if you find yourself walking around Liberty Village! read more

*4.5 stars but I didn't have the heart to round down* To celebrate getting my Yelp Elite 2015 status today (AWW YEAH!), I decided to go out to dinner at Caffino. I had bookmarked a Groupon for this restaurant to buy one fine day, and today was the perfect occasion. The Groupon was $70 (not incl taxes) for 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, and house wine (we don't drink so we had this replaced with pop). I called the restaurant up in advance to confirm that I could buy the deal at 5pm, and make a reservation the same night, and was given the green light. Anyhow, at the restaurant they confirmed that the voucher was valid up to a certain $ value per app/main etc from their regular menu - we were told there may be cases where you have to pay a couple dollars more (we ended up paying $1 extra for our selections only). This is stated on the deal as well and seemed reasonable. The complimentary bread had a herb spread on it - one of the best complimentary starters I've had! Our 2 apps were Eggplant parmesan (fantastic - rich tomato sauce, lots of cheese) and Arugula with almond crusted goat cheese (well dressed and apricot slices with cinnamon added to it was a nice touch). Our mains were Tuna steak and Margherita pizza. The tuna steak was cooked medium rare perfectly, came with delicious crispy wontons and house made guacamole. The margherita pizza was OK but I'd have preferred more cheese. Desserts were tasty as well but honestly we were too stuffed by that point to truly enjoy - there were several options, and we went with the Chocolate truffle cake and Vanilla/chocolate tartufo. Our server was excellent! He was nice, joked around a bit, refilled our drinks without us requesting, offered more bread, etc. Also, the service was quick - we never felt rushed but we never felt like we were waiting long for the next course either. read more

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I stopped in here for a quick lunch with some coworkers on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. To be honest we didn't originally intend to visit Caffino since none of us had even heard of it. But, I'm so glad our original choice of lunch spots was closed that day and we noticed the sign for this place. First of all, this place is so charming. Located in an old factory building nestled amongst many similar other ivy covered buildings, it feels really secluded even though its only a few steps away from the bustling activity of Liberty Village. We grabbed a seat on the partially shaded patio because I feel strongly that you should always sit on the patio if you can. All three of us are suckers for pasta so even though we had to go back to work and would later require large coffees to do so, we went for it. As a vegetarian I was pleased to learn that, since all dishes are made to order, its easy for the chef to leave out the meat in any of the dishes should you want. I was really into the idea of the Gnocchi La Romana (which features asparagus, prosciutto and gorgonzola cream sauce), but was not so into the prosciutto part. No problem. We were served bread with olive oil and balsamic while we waited for our meals to arrive, which wasn't very long at all. All three of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals and the lovely service. And since we were on lunch and not boozing it up, we were left with a very reasonably priced bill. read more

Caffino Ristorante - A peak at some of the menu - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Came here on a groupon deal - 4 appetizers, 4 entrees, 4 desserts and 1L of wine. I had rounded up a group of 5 to enjoy this Groupon together, only to be told when I called in to make a reservation that only 4 people could use the Groupon. One friend gracefully backed out after I informed the group, but it's unfortunate because this amount of food is definitely enough for a group of 5 to enjoy. And this was confirmed after we left our meal each being super full, and wine unfinished. This was all quite upsetting because the restriction wasn't specified on the groupon (i.e. it could have simply stated "max 4 per table"). And to top it all off, the restaurant was far from full on the night we went - so we wondered why we weren't allowed to have 5 people enjoy the food together (as the 5th person wouldn't be taking up a spot of another paying customer). As for the food, it was well done and the portions were large. For app, ordered the Spinach salad (had sundried tomatoes and roasted garlic cloves), mussels, calamari (on arugula) and eggplant parm. Everything was great - mussels stood out the least. For mains, ordered the tuna on nachos (tuna was good, nachos were overcooked), pescatore (seafood pasta), lamb gnocchi, and risotto. They were all nicely presented and well cooked. I wasn't wowed by any of these dishes though. In the whole 3 course meal, I actually enjoyed the mains the least. For dessert, we had carrot cake, tiramisu, pistachio chocolate crunch, and donuts. Donuts came out fresh and hot which was awesome, but they didn't have enough filling. The pistachio chocolate crunch was incredible - I've never tasted any dessert like it. Made the meal worth it. The rest of the desserts we tried were forgettable. read more

What a magic, mystical restaurant in the middle of a stretch of Toronto's history. In a beautiful little urban courtyard there is a stunning patio lined by old lofty factories, and the inside is equally majestic. I've been here a few times now when the vibe required is a sit down lunch that is actually good. You know, when you're just not feeling an overpriced, over-iced cocktail with your happy hour. Every day, there's a special menu insert with specials of the day. Pay attention to it because I've found myself with serious order envy! Also, pay attention to the pasta offering that specify "handmade" pasta, as they are the same price but worth so, so much more in so, so many ways. Not EVERY non-homemade pasta dish has been my favourite, but Caffino is still a serious hidden gem. There's also a soup/salad/sandwich combo that can make this a more casual experience. I haven't been here at night yet, but I imagine it would be LOVELY all lit up. Must return. **** read more

Hidden behind a metal gate in a former factory, Caffino Ristorante looks like it could belong in the streets of Italy. Eating there, it actually feels like I'm back in Italy - with beautiful and rustic décor, friendly service, and amazing food, it seems like I don't have to get on a plane to enjoy great, authentic Italian cuisine. I went there for three different occasions and never left disappointed. The Risotto di Mare stands out for me - perfectly cooked and seasoned and definitely delicious. Overall it was a great experience - if you're near Parkdale, make sure to check out Caffino Ristorante! read more

Caffino Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

First time going to this restaurant and loved it! Our waiter was amazing and the owner came out and asked us how our evening was! Super friendly staff and amazing food and drinks! Salmon was cooked beautifully and also started off with the calamari and steak! Highly recommend, will be back forsure :) read more

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Absolutely amazing! I loved everything about Caffino! The decor is very vintage and rustic, which adds to the restaurant's charm. I had purchased a Groupon voucher for a 3 course meal for two with wine. To our surprise they provided us with 1L of wine! I was honestly shocked, I believe it was a house wine, but it was actually very delicious. Our server was extremely helpful and very courteous. Even though we had a Groupon we were treated the same as any regular paying customer. I ordered the spicy mussels, La Veneziana pasta, and the Lindt chocolate tartufo for dessert, and I honestly have no complaints about any of it. The wine was delicious and the food was cooked perfectly, I will definitely be coming back in the furture! read more

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Caffino is a nice little hidden gem. The food is generally excellent. The specials change regularly and the print menu is varied enough to appeal to most. The only reason I don't give Caffino 5 stars is because service can be really hit and miss. We've had amazing, attentive service and also arrogant, dismissive, snotty service. Seems random - they need to screen staff better perhaps ;) read more

Caffino Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Warning to anyone who decides to dine here... no staff members wear masks. Food is good and building is beautiful but customer service/wait staff were less than ideal. We were sat beside a group of four and they were treated horribly! Manager herself was not wearing a mask and gave attitude when asked by (the very uncomfortable) customers to follow covid guidelines and wear one. She also argued with the customers when asked to have staff members wear masks as well. Overall their staff were non-compliant with covid guidelines and I am surprised they still can get away with it after the almost 2 years of dealing with this pandemic. read more

My advice for others trying to book their wedding with this venue: Maybe it'll be easier for the folks to visit and sign in person. But my experience of all this was a complete nightmare. I now have to look for another wedding venue. Final reach out to Rosa: Hi Rosa, if you are reading this - I have tried to call multiple times and was willing to sign without any covid clause. I love the venue so much I'm even willing to see if another date is available. I don't want to leave this negative review up and would love to support local businesses. I'm still open to talk through options if you are. I would also suggest Caffino have a wedding brochure and a list of commonly asked questions so that we do not have to go back and forth over email. I think that would've helped our communication a lot. Background: I really didn't want to leave a negative review but I am heartbroken by my communication with Rosa (owner). I started my wedding inquiry on may 4 over email and because I reside overseas all communication was either email or phone calls. Communication was a lengthy process and we spent about a month talking through email/phone. I sent over an initial list of questions I had and would wait ~2-3 days for a response back. I thought this was no big deal and is likely due due to their reduced hours. However, not all the questions were answered either. I was finally able to get a hold of her and had a call to go through all my questions. I thought the conversation went well and I was ready to sign the contract. I also inquired if I would be allowed to push back my wedding if there were still covid restrictions in 2022 to which a Rosa said yes. I followed up again for a video walk through and price breakdown down which took another week to receive. We were all finally ready to sign the contract which Rosa said it'll be sent over ASAP. I had to wait another 3 days before receiving it and I also followed up to make sure everything was ok and that date was reserved for me. Rosa said it was so I was not worried. The contract was finally sent over and I noticed there was no covid restrictions clause or a force majeur clause so I sent over an email to ask if that can be included. I thought this was a reasonable clause as my wedding photographer also had a similar statement in their contract. I got no response back for another 2 days but assumed everything was ok. Rosa responds back saying that this was an unreasonable request and did not want to go back and forth anymore and that the deal was over. I was shocked and tried to ask what had happened because no one responded to my last inquiry. If they had responded back saying it cannot be included and gave me a deadline to sign it, I gladly would have still signed it. But to take away the contract like this was the most shocking and unprofessional experience I've dealt with. I had already booked my photographer knowing that Rosa told me the date was secured for me. I didn't think a question about covid would completely destroy our month long work towards this contract. read more

Came here on a Friday night, wasn't too crowded when we came and were seated right away. We ordered 3 dishes Veal Osso Bucco - this was the star dish - the meat was fall off the bone tender, and came on top of a mushroom risotto. Best of both worlds - protein and risotto *drools*. It was my first time trying Osso Bucco and now will look out for this item whenever I go to an Italian restaurant. BISTECCA A LA GRIGLIA - t bone steak served with veggies and topped with mushrooms. Also good! Risotto Di mare - seafood risotto - good dish, came with a good amount of seafood. Overall the quality of the food was excellent, however if you care about atmosphere I would make reservations and ask to be seated in the main dining area. We did not have reservations so we were seated near the bar which had a different feel. The atmosphere of the whole restaurant in general is more rustic, but the side we were seated in looked more dim and run down, and our table was wobbly. read more

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Came with a group for dinner and overall, was pretty pleased. Caffino is tucked inside the old brick buildings that have been well restored on the south side of King St just east of Dufferin. To get inside from King Street you have to enter through some vintage gates which give the place a neat, off the beaten path type of vibe. The restaurant is broken down into 3 areas: The main dining room which is the nicest area, complete with white table cloths and candlelight. Then there is the bar area which actually is where you'll enter when coming in through King Street. This area is a bit more relaxed and casual vibed, but still quaint and comfy to be in. There is a tv over the bar which was showing a Blue Jays game when we came. Lastly there is a patio area which runs along the side of the building and is facing towards the courtyard area hidden from street view. Coming for dinner, our group tried a few things and no one left unhappy. First thing you'll get is bread brought to your table which is toasted and covered with a lovely variety of herbs. Dip it in the accompanying oil and balsamic for further flavour enjoyment. I rarely get excited about a restaurants bread, but this stuff was delicious. Bread aside, I will say that the Veal Osso Bucco was prepared very well. The meat just melted off the bone, and while I'm not a huge fan of mushroom risotto, it was well prepared and did go well with the oh so tender meat. I was able to also try the lasagna, which was good, but admittedly a bit boring, and even their house made hot sauce was a bit bland and unable to give the lasagna the kick up I was looking for. Service was friendly and on point when we first arrived. Admittedly once the mains were served the attention dwindled and dessert menus weren't even offered until long after our plates were all taken away, and our glasses were completely empty. So at that point rather than order more drinks and dessert, we moved our party elsewhere. Overall, I still enjoyed the place. I'll be fully honest in saying I'll be more likely to come back for a lunch visit as their lunch menu has some good looking paninis that weren't on the dinner menu. read more

Went here for a celebratory dinner - what an experience lol. It's a tucked away treasure located in the Carpet Factory in liberty village. The fresh pasta was delicious and the service was great. Definitely a good spot for a fancier outing. read more

I love this restaurant. The atmosphere here is fantastic, the pricing of the food is very good and the wait staff was also great. They were very attentive to my table and made regular check ups to see how we were doing. A very unassuming location, but very quaint and peaceful. I had the chicken parm, soup, and cannoli, the other person at my table got the lasagna and cheesecake and the food was absolutely great. I would love to return here and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for some really good Italian food in Toronto. read more

Can't believe I did not think of coming to this hidden gem sooner! Caffino's decor is a mixture of vintage eclecticism and old world charm. The service was very professional and friendly. The food was delicious and very filling - I had the risotto piemonte and it was one of the best risotto that I've ever had! I am definitely looking forward to coming back for future visits! read more

Caffino Ristorante - Risotto piemonte. - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I love love love Caffino's. I've been there multiple times and have had their food catered to the office several times. I've only been there for lunch and it is generally packed. My go to's are: - Insalata Salmone: It's really just the normal salad but the dressing they have is to die for and I can't figure out how to recreate it or find it at a grocery store - Pasta Caffino: Great pasta and I haven't met someone who didn't like it. Caffino's is great for having fresh pasta. - Risotto Umbria: I was hesitant at first when this dish arrived cause it wasn't really well put together and smelled slightly off putting. But... it was delicious. It has a blend of flavours that work real well together. As much as I love the place, my few put offs about Caffino's include the slow lunch service and the $15 delivery charge. I work about a 2 min walk from Caffino's and they wanted to charge $15 for delivery after ordering $150 worth of cater food. I thought it was ridiculous so I came to pick it up myself and they weren't even sympathetic that I was carrying large boxes of food in my nice work clothes. read more

Came here last night to celebrate my birthday with a Groupon. When my husband and I arrived, we sort of stood around while a waitress/bartender was cleaning glasses behind the bar (near the entrance). Another waiter passed by us as well... Then a group of 4 came in and the lady/bartender immediately tended to them and had them seated. I was a bit confused as to why we were ignored .... But I didn't want to let that get my birthday down. Finally an elderly gentleman waiter seated us and apologized for the young lady. No big deal I thought.... Now for the food: Seemed like everyone in the dining area was using a groupon. We had the choice of 2 antipasti, 2 entrees and 2 desserts... Plus house wine... Bonus! Ambiance was great! Very warm, romantic feel. I ordered the pear and arugula salad for my antipasti and my husband ordered the grilled calamari... My salad was the bomb dot com! Loved the goats cheese covered in almonds! It was great! The grilled calamari was not the best... Very chewy, rubbery and was a bit burnt.. So my husband didn't eat his antipasti. For entrees I had the t bone veal, and he had a potato and mushroom pizza in a white sauce. The pizza had whole (un-roasted) garlic cloves covering the cheese... Why??? At least roast the cloves. My husband bit into a few because he mistakened them for potatoes... The pizza was in no way authentic italian wood oven burning etc ... Very mediocre pizza... My veal dish was $32 and was it worth it? Not in my opinion. It was cooked perfectly, the sauce was a nice compliment and the mushrooms were great! But lacked that ooomph flavour. a little blahh. It was definitely better than the pizza though. Now to dessert... I ordered the chocolate truffle cake because I'm a sucker for chocolate... And my hubby ordered the tiramisu ... The waiter told us that the tiramisu and bomba (homemade filled donuts) were made in house and that the rest of the dessert options were ordered in from bakeries etc... That being said, The tiramisu was okay... My cake was awesome. Food all in all was a 2.5/5. Would I come back? No. Now for the service: so if we forget the whole seating debacle at the beginning the service was still a solid 2/5. We had the older gentleman waiter... Vincenzo?? Can't remember... Anyways, he seemed to be rushing us to order, seemed to be bothered if we asked him for water/bread etc... And barely tended to us. The other waiters (all the younger ones)... Were amazing! If Vincenzo ignored us, we were helped by the younger guys that worked there with a smile and an apology (for not getting water till after our main course or bread before our main arrived or the bill after a whopping 45 mins after we were finished our dessert waving our arms at Vincenzo... ) never have I ever waited so long for a bill or felt so ignored. I understand that the restaurant was busy because of all the groupons... But then they should staff accordingly. They only had 3 waiter/esses working on a Friday night ... These 3 also worked behind the bar.... It just seemed like the older waiter was overwhelmed by the crowd and didn't know how to prioritize. Oh well! So much for my birthday dinner! I'll stick to Il Mulino! read more

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