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    Cantina Mercatto

    3.9 (71 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

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    Recommended Reviews - Cantina Mercatto

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    Jason C.

    came here for a nice italian dinner with friends! Servers were nice and it had a good atmosphere. I went with the chitarra alla Carbonara (pictured at the bottom - $23). I also had a taste of the pepperoni pizza (pictured top left - $24). I found the pasta to be tasty but was surprised by the portion size. I was expecting it to be a little more and didn't feel very full afterwards. I also had a taste of the pizza and found it very good but a little bit too greasy. The pepperoni were crispy but I found the pizza overall okay. I've had better. Overall, the food was not bad and the place was nice but it wasn't particularly filling and didn't blow me away at any point and was pricey. A little bit disappointing.

    Pollo Alla Diavola
    Terry C.

    After checking the reviews on Yelp we decided to give this restaurant a try. After struggling to open the front door :), I had to fight through some curtains to get to the front desk. We were promptly greeted and seat. Once seated, our waiter was very attentive and informative. Once the order was placed, the food came very quickly. I had the arctic char. The servicing size was good for the fish and the accompaniment. The skin was nice and crispy and the fish was not overcooked. The sizes were also cooked well. Quite tasty. Ricotta Gnocchi - The gnocchi was tender and the tomato sauce tasted homemade. Linguine di Mare - The seafood was fresh and the pasta had a nice seafood flavour. Pollo Alla Diavola - Spicy chicken. The chicken was lightly spiced. It had good seasoning. This also came with creamy fregola. I've never had this before and it was tasty. This was a nice discovery. The only issue I had with the restaurant is that it was cold. I would return.

    Beet & kale salad
    Hazel P.

    Food 3/5 Service 4/5 Ambiance 4/5 I will say that I'm biased about this food because I got sick eating here. I have a sensitive stomach & I was here for a work event. We had a set menu which was supposedly catered towards my food intolerances. I'm not sure what upset my stomach exactly as I had a mocktail & the hors d'eouvres that were being passed around by the waitstaff. Service was good. The waitstaff seemed a little frustrated because we were a large group (we closed out the restaurant) & there isn't much space in between the tables. One of the servers mixed up my dish with someone else who had a regular dish. I will give allowances for that, as I found it quite noisy & chaotic with such a large group of people. I think the servers did their best & some of them were even enjoying the excitement of a big group. Ambiance for this restaurant is nice. The decor is green, medium wood tones, and gold/chrome accents. It's a nice looking place. There are only 4 single washrooms though on the lower level. So there were lineups. Also there isn't adequate signage to show where the washrooms are. You would have to ask the servers where the washroom is to know where it is. Otherwise you might accidentally walk into the kitchen. LOL. I'm rarely in this area so I will most likely not try this restaurant again. I'm not sure if I would try this restaurant again despite the other good reviews.

    Shigei H.

    Decor 4.5/5 Service 4/5 Food 4/5 We went there for brunch on a Saturday morning. When I stepped in, I instantly liked the modern and refined decor of the place, it's pleasant, bright and beautifully decorated. We ordered gnocchi, sausages, mushroom pizza, with Tiramisa and canola as desserts. Most Italian restaurants serve fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar on complimentary basis, but here we had to pay to order. The foods were on par, the mushroom pizza was only good as mushroom aroma didn't stand out; and the desserts were delicious. The gentleman server was friendly, he missed our gnocchi order and quickly placed it for us. All in all, we enjoyed our dining experience and won't mind to come back again.

    Seatings
    Lynn Z.

    The linguine I ordered tastes amazing I can taste the fresh ingredients and I love the sauce/juice as it is reduced to the perfect amount by preserving the delights from seafood and richness from the butter and not too thick Service was good and I love the ambiance and the wine shelf in the basement. It might be absurd to mention but I even love the washrooms too

    Interior
    Tiff E.

    Got the mushroom pizza, it tasted delicious even tho I wasn't hungry at all, that's how you know something is actually good lol! Freshly made dishes, nice interior and awesome service. Had a great experience here, would recommend!

    Insalata Verde, Pesto Bread, Octopus Salad, Albacore Tuna Salad, Arctic Char, Mushroom Pizza
    Sel Z.

    Great restaurant with friendly service, spacious interior, nice ambience, beautiful wallpapers, and delicious food. We came without a reservation on a weekend afternoon and were seated right away (there were plenty of empty tables). The interior temperature of the restaurant was a bit on the cooler side when we were there (perhaps for the wine cellars located both on the main floor and basement level), so bring a sweater or long sleeve. Restrooms are downstairs and they're gender neutral. Everything we tried was excellent: APPETIZERS / SIDES: 1) Insalata Verde (leafy greens with pine nuts and sherry thyme vinaigrette) - Loved the subtly crunchy pine nuts in the salad. Good portion size. 2) Octopus Salad (grilled octopus with frisee, potato, olive tapenade, grape tomatoes) - The grilled octopus is cut up into pieces and they're quite tender. I liked the fingerling potatoes in this dish. 3) Pesto Bread (grilled sourdough with basil pesto and shaved grana padano) MAIN DISHES: 4) Mushroom Pizza (with cremini mushrooms, besciamella (béchamel sauce), grana padano, fontina, thyme) - Thin crust pizza with very thinly sliced cremini mushrooms. 5) Albacore Tuna Salad (grilled rare albacore tuna, chickpeas, kale, grilled peppers, cucumbers, carrots, orange vinaigrette) - The tuna reminded me of the seared tuna in aburi sushi (great texture and taste). The salad ingredients were very fresh with a small amount of dressing, which was perfect. 6) Arctic Char (with green beans, roasted cauliflower, castelvetrano olives, almonds) - LOVED this dish. The arctic char was cooked nicely with the skin still crispy. The cauliflower and carrot were still crisp, the green beans were perfect, the sauce and little bit of mashed potato smear on the plate were delicious, and the seared almonds added crunchiness. Note that the menu on their website might not be up-to-date. (When we went, the menu presented in the restaurant was slightly different than the one on their website... with differences in some of the menu items.)

    Judia L.

    Decor was bright and modern. Service was super friendly and helpful with the menu. We ordered drinks and two entrees, everything was solid and would recommend for a quick lunch/dinner.

    Blake H.

    Can I say amazing??? We had the pepperoni pizza with a spicy oil on the side that was one of the best pizzas I've ever had. You gotta go here! We sat at the bar and had a great bartender/waiter who was very friendly and the restaurant was cute. I'd say this is a great place for anything (date, business, family etc.).

    Arancini
    nicole f.

    Typical Italian restaurant good food good vibes not too expensive good for a night out really loved the interiors - very modern. Service was very fast.

    7 oz flat iron steak with house wine
    J M.

    This is one of the most convenient and ideal spots for a lunch or dinner for business professionals & overall anyone looking to dine at an Italian restaurant in the core of downtown Toronto! The food was really good, I had the Orecchiette Pugliese and my colleague had the 7 OZ flat iron steak. Both dishes were amazing! My only comment is that the orecchiette was slightly bland. Otherwise, my colleague said her dish was perfect! The service was okay. I believe that since we were on the patio, we were less attended to as opposed to being seated inside the restaurant where the service is prime. The ambiance on the inside of the restaurant is beautiful, open and warmly lit. Front of house employees were kind and welcoming. Waiters & waitresses are very knowledgeable about the menu & drink pairings. Overall, good food, ambiance is great on the inside of the restaurant but slightly lacking on the patio. Service is good inside but lacking outside. Staff are great and friendly. Make sure to book a reservation if you're planning to go during peak hours as they get booked up quickly!

    Carbanera
    Jacky P.

    Walking in, the vibe in the restaurant is super chill. There is music playing in the background, but enough to have a conversation with your table. The waiter was very attending, and made good recommendations. We got Calamari Fritti- shareable for 2 and pasta - Chitarra Alla Carbonera - shareable for 2. I ended up getting a fruity drink - a peach spritzer. I'm unsure of the name. It was overpriced and honestly not the greatest. Try something else. Overall, I will still rate it a 5 star. Everything else was delicious.

    Chitarra Alla Carbonara
    Bailey G.

    Chose this with some friends to stop at for dinner before a show. Great ambiance and decor. We made a reservation less than a week before and we're able to do so for peak dinner hours on a Saturday night. My friend and I had the carbonara and HOLY it was amazing! My other two friends had the pan-seared lasagna and linguine di mare and both were great as well. I'm already thinking about when I'll be coming back to have that carbonara again!

    Linguini Di Mare and Mushroom Pizza

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    9 months ago

    Food is amazing, staff is friendly, and the environment is super nice. Would recommend going just for the pizzas

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    Donatello Restaurant

    Donatello Restaurant

    3.8(223 reviews)
    1.2 kmDowntown Core
    $$$

    Of all the Italian spots in downtown Toronto, Donatello felt like one of the most homey and…read moreold-school. I came here with my best friend for a birthday dinner, and I could immediately see why this place has lasted for decades. It's tucked inside an old house on Elm Street, and the whole restaurant has that warm, family-run charm that makes you feel like people have been coming here for years and bringing more people back with them. The tables are definitely close together, so it's a little tight when the restaurant gets busy, but honestly that also adds to the lively energy because there was a steady flow of people coming in all night. Food-wise, there were a few dishes that really stood out. The carpaccio is such a good order, very thinly sliced raw beef, simple and classic, and honestly one of the most reasonably priced versions I've seen. My personal favorite was the prosciutto & melon. It's such a simple dish, but when it's done well, it really hits, and this one did. The real star for me though was the Cozze Marinara. The mussels were plump, tender, and clean, with no sandy bits, and the garlicky tomato sauce was so good that I ended up scooping it up with bread until the plate was basically spotless. We also tried the Vitello Marsala with mushrooms and Penne Arrabbiata, which felt very classic and comforting. If you like traditional Italian flavors, this is the kind of dish that will make you happy. That said, I personally wouldn't recommend mixing the meat and pasta together too much, I think they shine better on their own. Later we also ordered the garlic grilled seafood fettuccine because we were enjoying ourselves so much, and that one was much lighter in flavor. Nice enough, but probably not the best choice if you like richer or bolder pasta dishes. By the end we were completely full and had to leave a few strands of fettuccine behind, which almost never happens for me. Overall, Donatello feels like the kind of neighborhood Italian restaurant people return to for comfort, generous portions, and that warm family run atmosphere. It may not be the most spacious or modern place, but it has heart, and some dishes were genuinely memorable.

    Donatello is considered a fine dining Italian restaurant. And it didn't disappoint. The foid and…read moreservice were excellent. The vibe was a slightly darkened room (for the evening). There is an upstairs balcony seating but I've never sat there. During warm weather, there is plenty of roadside outdoor seating too. This is my fourth time here but I never wrote a review fir the restaurant before. We ordered the following: 1. Shrimp Perno (daily special $6/shrimp). Jumbo Shrimp sautéed in garlic, white wine, tomatoes, scallions, and finished off with a shot of perno liquor. 2. Rack of Lamb (daily special $59.95). Four pieces of lamb in a rack, with a rich portion wine reduced sauce, that has a touch of mint to it, and Penne Pasta in a tomato rose sauce. The table bread was really good. The crust was crispy but the inside was fluffy. The soft butter that came it was so tasty. The bread was perfect for dipping in the sauce that came with the shrimp. We asked for a second basket of bread and they put two loafs in the second basket. It was too much so they were willing to let us take it home. The shrimps were definitely jumbo. It was so filling. Two pieces (per person) were good enough as an appetizer. The shrimps were perfectly cooked. We requested the lamb be cooked medium rare. It was definitely medium rare. It was juicy and did not have a gamey taste. It tastes great. The pasta was perfectly al dente. The tomato rose sauce was really good. They offered to grind parmesan cheese and pepper so we got both. There is free WiFi. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. There is paid neighbourhood street parking and paid parking lots. Review 2025-187

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    Donatello Restaurant
    Donatello Restaurant - Lobster pasta

    Lobster pasta

    Donatello Restaurant - Italian wine

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    Terroni - spinach ravioli-the BEST

    Terroni

    3.3(864 reviews)
    0.3 kmDowntown Core
    $$

    Terroni on Adelaide is a beautiful Italian restaurant with a lot of character and history, set…read moreinside a former courthouse building from 1852 that still shows off its dramatic ceilings, fireplaces, and sunlit atrium. It's a dining experience you don't see every day in Toronto. Even the washrooms are memorable, tucked away in the basement in what used to be old jail cells, which adds to the charm and gives the whole place a bit of personality. We went for an early Sunday dinner before a concert at Massey Hall. The restaurant got pretty busy as the evening went on, but it never felt chaotic. The atmosphere is lovely and lively, a great choice for a special night out or a pre-show meal. We started with Calamari alla Griglia with mixed greens, capers, onions, and fresh tomatoes. It was a fresh, bright appetizer with good balance. For mains, my date had the Spaghetti in Canna a Mare with clams, mussels, calamari, scallop, and tiger shrimp in a tomato sauce. The menu described it as mildly spicy, but it definitely had a noticeable kick. Still, the flavours were really good. I ordered the Ravioli al Brasato with braised beef, butter, sage, and parmigiano. It was tasty and comforting, though portion-wise I could have used a few more ravioli. I was still a bit hungry after and honestly double the size would have been perfect for me. For dessert we shared the Tiramisu with espresso-soaked savoiardi, mascarpone, and cocoa. I had an amaro while my date finished with zambuca. A sweet and satisfying way to wrap up the meal. The service was friendly, though drinks came out a bit slower than expected. Terroni's food is tasty, the setting is gorgeous, and it's easy to see why locals keep coming back. It's not cheap, but the quality and ambience make it worth trying, especially for dinner before a show or a relaxed date night in one of Toronto's most unique spaces.

    I wish I could say I enjoyed Terroni more. The venue itself was not held in the main restaurant…read more The company I work at booked out some of the upper floors for an event. There were four flights of stairs to get up to the first floor with the bar and main dining area. There was another two flights of stairs to get to the upper bar (which I was too tired to walk up to). The drinks at the bar were good and the staff were all great. We started with passed apps. Some of the flavour combinations were just off (the skewer with fruit, cheese and something else) - like they paired the wrong cheese with the fruit. The meal itself was a seat down meal (family style) which did take over two hours to complete for the amount of guests that were present (over 200 ppl). My favorite dish was the tomato and mozza salad. My most disappointed dish was the ragu pasta. Though containing a good amount of meat it was not saucy at all. The pizza was the brocolini was good as well. The reason I gave this restaurant three stars is strictly for the lack of elevator and the food quality vs the price. For what you are paying, there is so much higher quality food in the city and I honestly think you can get better bang for buck elsewhere.

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    Terroni - Special event dining area

    Special event dining area

    Terroni - Olive oil and bread

    Olive oil and bread

    Terroni - Special event space (upstairs)

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    Piccolo Caffe E Vino - Frittata

    Piccolo Caffe E Vino

    4.3(19 reviews)
    1.1 kmEntertainment District, Downtown Core
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Went here for dinner on a Saturday night / great location and cute spot! I love the branding and…read morethe inside + feels very trendy. This is a wine bar - the house lager was bad (maybe my own bad decision) and the red I got was fine ... nothing to write home about. However place fell apart with the food - the shrimp came with 5 medium sized shrimp with the tails, legs and shells on and were under seasoned. The artichokes were mediocre (loved the sauce they came with). Worst of all was the "Ontario peaches" with the burrata were totally canned peaches - could've even been dole brand! This place has amazing potential with the location and vibe - but the food just was not it. Small portions and the price didn't match what was served. The service was friendly but nothing too crazy. Go here for the drinks, but maybe not for the dinner!

    Went with a friend on a Saturday night and it was pretty easy to get a seat, but they do take…read morereservations. Our server was great at helping us pick our wine, he mentioned that their wines are all on the dry side which is perfect for me, I'm not one for sweet wines. We also had two of their small plates the mussels and the burrata. The mussels tasted great with the sauce, a little garlicky which I prefer. The combination of the peach and mint went really well with the burrata. Light and easy to eat. The patio at night is one of the highlights. The only small complaint was it did take a while to get our wine after we ordered it and a little while to get our check. Otherwise cute spot.

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    Piccolo Caffe E Vino
    Piccolo Caffe E Vino - Smoked salmon bagel

    Smoked salmon bagel

    Piccolo Caffe E Vino - Fried Artichoke, shrimp and peach burrata

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    Fried Artichoke, shrimp and peach burrata

    Cantina Mercatto - italian - Updated May 2026

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