My wife wanted Italian for dinner so we searched out a place and visited Carisma. Everything and I mean everything was excellent. The service was extraordinary and the food was divine. The place was full with lots of groups but my wife and I were attended to just as well as the larger tables. The drinks were excellent as well. Our table was at the front of the restaurant which gave us a front and center view of all the action. Everything was clean and orderly and not loud at all even with a full restaurant. In the midst of eating though I watched the staff which is just something I do sometimes in restaurants. These folks run like a well oiled machine. Everyone watches over the diners and while you are never hounded with "is everything okay?" You will feel that folks are watching over you and if you need anything you are just a glance or raised hand away from anything you want. If you are looking for a wonderful dining experience I would tell you go to Carisma. read more

Carisma - Wild boar ragu - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

Food is not bad, but considering the prices I probably expected more. Service is quick. Would have been a nice place for a business meeting but if you're looking for good food at a good price, you're better off somewhere else read more

Carisma - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Pretty, quaint restaurant. Exceptional service with very attentive servers who provided menu suggestions. The couples shared their meals so the meals were served split into two, which was awesome! The shrimp spaghettini was creamy and delicious. The brown buttered halibut was a bit dry but tender and flaky. Met the owner who was very friendly. I would return and try other dishes. read more

See all

So, we ended up here after the original spot we chose was fully booked (even though you couldn't make reservations online) Walked to another spot and it was closed. I really really wanted Italian so we walked .3 miles and landed here. 1st - thank you for seating us. We were very underdressed & had no reservation. What we noticed was how lovely the staff are. And they spoke Italian and I knew immediately we would have a wonderful dinner. Please - order the bread. It's served hot on olive oil (but not too much) - it's got a nice crisp crunch & is topped with some rosemary. I looked away & my co-workers ate it all so we ordered more. We decided to split a Tuna Tartare. It's delicious but please note - it's served with avocado (I'm sure you can request it without) and Taro Chips (however- save some bread because yum) I could not decide between the pappardelle with wild boar ragu & the Vitello Limone - so they said how about a taster of the pasta with the veal! I highly recommend this - or split some pastas. 2 of my co-workers split the lasagna & penne pastas And my other co-worker ordered the spaghettini with black tiger shrimp. He loved it. Desserts (all homemade including the gelato & sherbets) We split the pear & apple strudel & I tried the strawberry sherbet. I asked the guys to rate our experience and the consensus 4.5/5 I loved watching the im guessing owners interact with customers. They seemed to know the customers. The restaurant has a warm inviting atmosphere- and Italian is being spoken by many (lots of Italian speaking customers). I swear I was in Italy read more

See all

A restaurant that lives up to its name! A lovely place with gorgeous decor and fantastic service. There is a sort of traditional Italian vibe present, from the elegant ambience to the courtesy of the staff and certainly to the heavenly food. We were here for a business lunch, and almost everyone (wisely) decided on one of their pasta dishes. Rave reviews all around the table! The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauces all bursting with flavours. My calamarata also came with a variety of seafood - the shrimp was particularly scrumptious. Just one of their appetizers fell flat - the burrata was rather bland. On the other hand, the complimentary bread was unequivocally among the finest I've had, crisp on the outside while soft on the inside, drenched in olive oil with a sprinkle of rosemary...I couldn't stop myself from gorging on half a plate. There is sufficient space between the seats, and it never got very loud even during the lunch rush. Service was exemplary, our waiter never missed a beat when it came to taking our orders, refilling our glasses, or getting the bill - he just somehow magically appeared at exactly the right time. This place is easily one of the most authentic Italian restaurants around the downtown core - would definitely recommend, if your wallet can handle it! read more

See all

I tried this place last summer and decided to give it another go. Unfortunately, it's just not for me. The atmosphere and environment is very fancy. The people dining there were also very fancy and dressed up. Seems like a very popular date night and celebration spot. However, for me, the food was average. I liked the house made burrata appetizer the best but the pasta mains were just eh. I would have loved more flavour. Not good enough for me to go back. read more

See all

Despite being in Toronto for many years, I never even knew this place existed! It's a small unassuming storefront on Toronto Street (a little more noticeable now, given there is now a makeshift patio in front), but walk inside, and you'll be surprised by a bustling Italian restaurant! I came there on a Wednesday and the place was quite busy. The atmosphere is lovely; the lights are slightly dimmed and the waiters seem quite close. It's a bit loud inside - I could hear the noise even being inside a private room, and we actually had a few instances of broken glass / dropped utensils clattering in the space where we were! We ordered some appetizers to share, each had a main of our own, and got a few desserts for the table. There is rosemary bread served with olive oil as you're seated - and it's good stuff (crispy on the outside, soft on the inside), definitely hits the spot! In terms of appetizers, we got the burrata cheese (super creamy, paired perfectly with the multi-coloured tomatoes), truffle fries (you could smell the fragrance of the truffle parmesan), and a plate of assorted meats, including the Carpaccio di Manzo (sliced marinated beef - honestly, was quite bland), Tartare di Tonno (ahi tuna tartare - I wished there were more taro chips served and more seasoning in the tuna), and Polipo (shaved octopus - this was the BEST one, the lemon flavour was great). I chose the Agnello del Contadino, medium rare herb crusted lamb chops, served with some vegetables of the day. Frankly, it was also quite bland... the herbs added a nice touch, but the meat itself wasn't adequately marinated nor seasoned. It wasn't tough nor rubbery, and the portion size was decently sufficient (four chops / rib bones)! We then ordered a TON of desserts for the table (my favourite). Honestly, I found dessert to be the best part of the entire meal. We got the tiramisu (classic, well-executed), torta di ricotta (the cheesecake), and strudel classico (apple pear strudel served with vanilla gelato - the warm fruit just melted in your mouth and worked well when paired with the crispy strudel). My personal favourites were the tortino al cioccolato (molten chocolate lava cake - very chocolate-y with a suuuuper gooey centre) and, surprisingly (for me), the torta di noci (crispy, candied walnut baked in a buttery crust). I left absolutely stuffed and satisfied. The meal kept improving with each course served! read more

See all

3.5 really but doesn't warrant the round up here. Came here with a few friends for a fancy dinner. The ambiance is very intimate and it was really nice inside, albeit a tad loud. Loved the seating and glad we made a reservation on Opentable as it was pretty much filled on Friday night. Ordered the Carisma Cocktail ($15) to start which was a gin/orange kind of flavour. Pretty good cocktail, I quite enjoyed it. For appetizer we ordered the Capesante Con Funghi ($24), which was a scallops, mushroom and spinach dish. Scallops were cooked really nicely and it had some good flavour. For my main, I ordered the Spaghettini ($30), a shrimp, brandy tomato cream pasta. This is where I was slightly disappointed. For $30 I'm expecting something quite decent but it was honestly just a run of the mill shrimp pasta, nothing special. If the pasta dish was elevated just a tad bit, this would be an easy 4 star review but it was just alright. Good vibe, good cocktails, ok food. read more

Carisma - Spaghettini - shrimp pasta ($30) - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The interior is nicer than the pictures! Food was decent and came very quickly, but the server was somewhat unwelcoming and made the dining experience not as enjoyable. It seemed that he did not want to be serving us (perhaps because we did not order any drinks or antipasti). read more

After 11+ hours on 3 flights from an Italy vacation, we landed in Toronto (for my husband's work event) and found Carisma through Yelp. The availability of osso bucco, their location and great reviews helped us choose this bustling Italian restaurant. We didn't have a reservation and the place was packed. (We called first and a gal told us to come and we'd get a table.) The owner lady was so welcoming when we arrived (matching the history information of treating guests like family!). She seated us at the bar to start and again told us she'd work on getting a table. But we chose to stay at the bar because it was super loud and crowded where the tables were. It was more fun to people watch from our bar seats! It was just like being in southern Italy. Diners were having lively (and loud) conversations and the owners seemingly milling about like they knew everyone! We ordered the osso bucco (4.5/5) and lasagna (4.5/5). We had the best Italian food on our vacation, which probably made us more critical of the food here. It was still delicious and just needed a tad more seasonings. The well-prepared osso bucco was served with a smooth and creamy risotto, plate presentation was stunning. The lasagna was also delicious and my husband asked for more pomodoro sauce and that elevated all the pasta flavors. And the bread was one of the best we've ever had, wow. The restaurant is a gorgeous and fancy restaurant, though as travelers we didn't feel out of place. Service was wonderful and genuinely caring from the owner lady and the lovely bartender---who made me a delicious Irish Coffee! We would definitely return if we are ever in Toronto again. Thank you Carisma for being a great place to dine, after a long trip. It turned out to be perfect place for a spontaneous date night as weary travelers in a beautiful and welcoming setting. read more

Carisma - Delicious Irish Coffee---perfect after an 11+ hour flight! - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Excellent Italian with great service! Went here with a colleague and had an excellent meal. Great upscale ambiance with attentive waitstaff that make good suggestions. Owner/hosts are friendly and helpful. Had the pear cocktail and it was fantastic. For starters had the polipo (good) and carpaccio (good). On the advice of the waiter also had the lamb chops and they were among the best I had. The bread that comes at the start was fantastic. Warm, olive oiled, toasted deliciousness. This will be one of my go to restaurants. read more

Went for my birthday while I was in the city. A bit busy but I made reservations and was seated right away. Great customer service from the waiter and manager! I ordered a glass of gavi di gavi. Bread is complimentary. My entree was duck tagliolini. It was sooo flavorful. The sauce tasted amazing. Looked like a small portion but I was quite satisfied afterwards. I ordered the pear strudel and it was just okay. They have me a shot for my bday. Not sure what it was but it tasted good . It was nice bday dinner. read more

Carisma - Duck Tagliolini - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

Went here for my anniversary. Everything was superb from the service to the food to the ambiance. I told the staff that the dinner was for our anniversary and they gave us the best seat in the house. We were facing the entire restaurant and were sitting next to one another. Price-wise, it is on the higher end but nothing unusual for Toronto. I wish they gave us more for the dishes but I guess if you're used to smaller meals this would be perfect for you. Would love to come back to try out more dishes. read more

Its a cute Italian restaurant with a chic decor. The staff are extremely friendly and attentive. The price for the portion size is opposite. I got the smaller size, thinking it was reasonable. There were a total of 9 pasta noodles in the smaller size (I counted them). Another person ordered the full sized, but it wasn't that much bigger. The flavour was ok, nothing special. The creme brulee tasted like burnt. Not the sugar topping, but the custard itself. It seemed like they burned the caramel before adding into the mixture. You can get better food for cheaper or bigger portions at other places. read more

Carisma - Appetizer sized parpadelle with wild boar ragu - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

Dropped by for dinner, the service is great. The waiting staff was very attentive, and provide good advice for our order. We were seated at the round table. For the folks that's sitting inside, the seats can be tight and not the most comfortable. Food is nicely presented, what's rememberable is our order of steak was served with rosemary flambé. It was quite a scene. To bad, due to the crowd I was with, photo of the menu is not available. Other food like truffle pasta, grill calamari, shrimp and scallops, etc. They were not bad, but nothing exceptional for restaurant in this class. I would give it a 4.5 star, but rounding down due to the seating I had. read more

Not feeling it for the new fancy location. Love the old location with old friendly staff than the new ones. The price is more expensive, and the food is not as good. The new staff didn't know about serving / dinner etiquette. Serving both left and right side. With the lower food quality and higher price tag / seemed more fancy environment will look for more. The owner is still there and he has to work hard and busy himself by telling the new younger staff what needs to be done. Really disappointing that the food was not as good as before (far from it). read more

See all

After not having been to Carisma in over five years, I was excited to take a client there for lunch. Lovely to see the owner Mike again after all these years. The seating offers attractive banquettes and comfortable tables. I was quite surprised to see that the menu is almost exactly as it was five years ago and hasn't really changed. I did enjoy the beef carpaccio. It was fresh & flavourable and the olive oil was good. Also, the bread is as delicious as I remember. However, I must say that the ravioli was bland and more than al dente. The tomatoes were mostly just skin which made for an unpleasant bite. I can't remember the last time I had to put salt on a meal (many places over-salt theses days) but it was necessary here. I hope they were just having an off day. read more

This restaurant had nice modern decor and comfortable seating. I went with a group of 9 people and they gave us a large table that was sectioned off so we had some privacy. Food wise I would say was ok, like 3.5/5 stars. This is because the portions seemed very small. The calamari appetizer tasted good, mushroom salad appetizer was good but not worth the price in my opinion, the complimentary bread was a bit burnt and too crunchy, the mozarella with tomato wasn't worth the price and was too simple ... For the main course I got the chicken (first item on the menu under secondi). It came with two large pieces of white and dark meat with potatoes, a grilled lemon on top, and some veggies. This was worth the price because of the amount of meat that was given. A few people at my table ordered the gnocchi which looked very plain when it arrived, but tasted ok. The gnocchi is the same price as the chicken and I would say the chicken is worth more. Overall, Iikely won't return often to this restaurant due to the portion sizes, however if I had to pick a few items to have again it would be the calamari appetizer and the chicken dish as the main course. read more

See all

How did I not know about this institution?! What an incredible treat. Right from the start we were welcomed like family - all because of Michael. And we weren't alone. As we were seated by the "hostess" stand, we watched patron after patron greet Michael with familiarity and in return, Michael greeted each person like they were his friends. When Michael asked what we wanted to eat, and I told him that I couldnt decide, he told me not to worry about it and he would take care of me. And he did NOT disappoint. The first course was a tasting dish of two pastas - and they were incredible. In fact, easily some of the best pasta I've had in a very, very, very long time. The second dish I got was the veal scallopini porcini. It, too, was better than any veal I've had before. Truly incredible. The scallops my boyfriend got as a starter were heavenly. As a main, Michael gave him a bigger portion of 2 entirely different pastas - just as delicious as the ones I got. My boyfriend and I are already planning our return trip and I'm already having trouble deciding which pasta I'm going to get. Thank you, Michael, for making not just an incredible meal, but an incredible experience. Sincerely, "magandang baba eh" read more

Carisma - Pasta sampler appetizer. - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

WOW to Carisma... if you read up on their history they write "it is a place where you feel at home and as if you have been coming for years, even if it is only your first visit" and this could not have been truer. We had amazing timing and got to meet the owners and they were so sweet and welcoming. I truly felt right at home when one of the owners was taking away all our cleared plates after devouring all the delicious food and she said "you did a good job" just like my own Italian parents do at home. The bread they serve before the meal is amazing. We tried a few different options and my favorite was the truffle pasta followed by the wild boar ragu. read more

See all

Came here on a Thursday night and the place was pretty packed. Great ambience and friendly service. Food was good but portions are small. We had the mushroom salad with goat cheese - excellent, spaghettini with tiger shrimp and the lamb chops. We ordered the lamb chops - medium but got it rare and had to have them cook it more. The food was pretty good but nothing outstanding! The one thing I was really surprised about was a $10 charge for water on my bill. Apparently water is not free at this restaurant . So with tax and tip, we paid $13 for regular water. read more

Great little Jen tucked away in the financial district. We went for a birthday Celebration. Warm upscale ambiance for the holidays. Service was exceptional- no rushing and very accommodating. One person couldn't decide on a dish and they made a custom pasta dish for us! They did a lovely gesture for my birthday. Veal was excellent, calamari was good and deserts were awesome! Highly recommend for a nice night out! read more

See all

The restaurant gets my full 5/5 stars. The service was incredible. All the servers we had were wonderful, especially one of the guys who went out of his way to get me a hair tie (you a real one!!), candles were available when asked for, even was sweet enough to help get a stain off the dress of one of the owners. It's impressive when your servers are on their feet and are constantly making sure everything is perfect. Now the food, I've had some heavy plates before. The lasagna was delicious, even big for its size. Definitely super filling but enough to give you room for dessert. The dessert (finished before I could take photos) was light on the tongue. For someone who enjoys Tiramisu, it's great for coffee lovers. All their drinks were delicious too, I suggest getting the Pear Te if you like sweet or a Lychee if you like strong. 5/5 recommend checking out, especially with the patio seating. read more

Carisma - Meat Lasagna! - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

The restaurant was beautiful, service was great. The food, however, was not as good as I had expected it to be for the price. The tuna tartare was overly tart. The red snapper fillet was small and not fresh because I had to add lemon to take away the fishiness. The lasagna was good, the gnocchi and penne was ok but not worth the price. The osso buco was dry and lacks taste. However, I loved the zucchini blossoms, they were great. The desserts were ok. For the price, my expectations were higher. read more

Such a beautiful ambiance. The servers and staff are all so kind and accommodating and you feel warmly welcomed from the moment you're walked to your table. The layout of the restaurant is gorgeous, and again I can't help but emphasize how beautifully executed the service is, it created a beautiful atmosphere for our date. The food was obviously skillful, many very quality ingredients used and respected, but I have to say a bit on the blander side. I know authentic Italian food shines in its simplicity so it may just not be my favourite genre as I tend to prefer bolder flavours. The complimentary bread was delicious hard on the outside, soft inside. For our starters we ordered the Tartare di Tonno, and the Cozze Al Guazzetto. The mussels I enjoyed, but wouldn't order again as they had a bit of a scent and added flavour of the less desirable aspects of a whole organism, of course this is more of a personal taste thing that I certainly don't fault the restaurant for. And ironically it could just be that the mussels were of higher quality than that of others I've enjoyed more. The broth was lovely, it didn't pack as much of a punch as it could have in my opinion maybe that would have done more to cover the bodily flavour of the mussels. The ahi tuna tartare was very enjoyable, however it could have used a bit more flavour in the tuna. For a first course we shared an order of Pappardelle. I don't have much to compare it to in the way of fine Italian restaurants. It was enjoyable, and topped with freshly grated parmesan. I would say again the palette of the dish was on the blander side of things but from what I've observed of Italian chefs through media, they really like to keep things simple in order to allow the ingredients to shine. The pasta itself was very nice. For our next courses I ordered the Agnello Del Contadino (herb crusted lamb chops, goat cheese, rosemary jus) with mashed potatoes and my boyfriend had Filetto Di Manzo (grilled beef tenderloin, frois gras tochon, barolo wine reduction). My dish was cooked perfectly, but I came to realize I'm not a very big fan of lamb apparently. Too gamey for me and the meat tastes like the animal smells. But that's a personal preference and the meat itself not the preparation. However if I had liked the flavour of lamb ribs I still would have to remark on the generally bland flavour of the dish. It definitely needed salt, the mashed potatoes and side vegetables were also relatively unseasoned and nothing to write home about. The temperature and cook on everything was perfect the ingredients were certainly quality it was just the seasoning that was lacking. I enjoyed a bite of my boyfriends beef tenderloin better than my lamb but it too leaned towards bland and needed salt. For dessert we ordered the Torta Di Ricotta, (classic italian cheesecake with strawberry compote) and the Daily Creme Brûlée. The dessert was definitely my favourite part, and was delicious. No complaints. read more

AUTHENTIC & YUM! Starters consider Insalata di fungi for mushroom bliss or bufala for fresh mozz. The wild boar ragu over pappardelle or tagliolini with fresh truffles is choice. Great place to hit read more

Carisma was beyond delicious! The customer service was amazing and the food was even better. We started with the complimentary bread seasoned with rosemary, olive oil, and salt. It was amazing! I ate a piece before I could even snap a picture. We ordered the grilled calamari as an app. It was seasoned simply and well. You could taste the charred, grilled flavor. It was served with tomatoes, olives, etc. 5 stars for that alone. For entrees my friend got the daily special of halibut served with an avocado salsa she tasted tasted amazing. I got the rack of lamb cooked medium. The seasoning was perfection and the lamb was cooked perfectly. It came with mashed potatoes and vegetables. I cleaned my plate. Our server and the other servers helping him were hilarious. They were the nicest gentleman ever and really great at their job! Our Carisma experience was outstanding. I highly recommend dining here! read more

Carisma - Grilled calamari appetizer with a shot of the bread I. The background!! Yummy!! - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

First time trying their new location, and see if they can keep up their best quality of food and services. Carisma never disappointed me. Upon arrival, I notice the environment is much nicer and more elegant than their old location, as well as their wide open kitchen. We ordered scallop with foie gras, and squid with tomato salsa. Both are delicious, but the scallop is memorable. For main courses, we had the tiger shrimp tomato sauce pasta, and mix seafood in tomato soup. The tiger shrimps are so huge, never seen such a huge size in dining for a long time. For dessert, cream burlee is a must, a small shareable size to finish off the meal. Carisma is definitely a well known high quality Italian fine dining in the downtown Toronto area, and already start my planning to go again for dinner! read more

See all

Such a cute restaurant, inside and outside. Service was great, and the food was delicious. Their complimentary ROSEMARY BREAD with olive oil was so good, I wanted to eat like 5! Highly recommend the main I ordered which was the FILETTO DI MANZO. Beef tenderloins with foie gras torchon. YUM! ENJOY! read more

I booked a table at Carisma for NYE for a few reasons. First, I wanted something relatively low key since we had to head to the airport early the next morning. Second, I liked that they had their regular menu going on NYE and we weren't going to get a prix fixe meal; I find holiday ones like NYE and Valentine's Day usually disappoint. Third, it was walkable from our hotel, so we didn't have to contend with surge pricing or getting a ride (not sure how hard that is in Toronto, but it's a mess at home). I'm not sure when the restaurant moved, the interior looks quite different from the pictures I saw in reviews. White tables, teal, velvet seating left it feeling much brighter that the old space. The acoustics aren't great, it was quite loud in the place which detracted from the romantic vibe they seemed to be trying to create. We started out with cocktails and the burratina appetizer. He got a manhattan and I got an aperol spritz. They split the appetizer for us, which was very nice. The appetizer itself was good, but not outstanding. We had planned to each order an appetizer portion of pasta and a secondi, but our server felt that might be too much food. Instead, we opted to split the gnocchi as our primi, which again came split for us. It was creamy and rich and the gnocchi delicate, but I felt that it would have benefited from a but more salt. For my main, I got the sea bass and boyfriend got the filet. We also split a bottle of valpolicello. My sea bass came over veggies and potatoes and was quite delicious - my favorite of all the things I ate. Boyfriend like his dish, but felt like it had a bit too much char on it. For dessert, we had a glass of dessert wine and split the walnut tart. Both were quite good and to cap off a very filling meal, we had a glass of champagne at midnight with those that stuck around to ring in the New Year. Service was attentive and knowledgeable. My only knock is that the pacing at the beginning of the meal was quite fast. We had barely finished the last bite of burratina when our gnocchi arrived. Overall, I got what I wanted; a nice low key NYE and a good meal. read more

My boyfriend and I went here for my birthday a couple weeks ago. The staff were all very friendly, and our server was equal parts funny and knowledgable. We started with the grilled calamari, which normally isn't my cup of tea but it was delicious. Very light taste, excellent for an appetizer. For the main course I had the beef tenderloin with wine reduction and it was quite probably the best beef I have ever had. It's quite a pricey dish but well worth it if you can swing it! Finally, I had the tiramisu for dessert. They brought it out with a sparkler, because my boyfriend mentioned it was my birthday. The dish itself was perfect, light and creamy with a good balance of chocolate and coffee tastes. If you want an elegant dinner served by kind and attentive people, this is a great place for it. Also a perfect date night restaurant! read more

Carisma - The tiramisu with birthday sparkler! - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great food and service highly recommended Make reservations, Ambiance is relaxing and classic read more

Well what a night. Great meat and service. However one table had no mask walking In or out or to washrooms. The owner also walk around with no mask. When we confronted the manager and owner about this they became aggressive and threaten violence. The owner was drunk and threaten us will physical harm. They don't care about COVID read more

When I asked around for the best Italian restaurant in Toronto everyone said Carisma! I now understand why. The ambiance, the service, the wine selection, the food...magnificent! Thank you Carisma for a great authentic Italian dining experience! Grazia mille Margi!! read more

Carisma - Spaghettini! - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Visited On: October 2017 Meal: Dinner Dining Style: Dine-in Would I Return: Yes Ordered: -Steak Thoughts: Came here as part of the Lincoln Motor event where they had a 3 course menu. It was my first time having steak and I really enjoyed it. The fluffy bread with the rosemory and oil was to die for. Dessert was an assortment of fruits and baked goods. Service was really good. Our waiter was friendly and funny. He was super quick in refilling our empty wine glasses. read more

See all

Terrific anniversary dinner at this Italian eatery, something about a family restaurant jammed on a Friday night, with joyful, loud, boisterous atmosphere, and of course great food! I had the Grouper and wife had the truffle pasta, both great. read more

Carisma - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My boyfriend and I came to Carisma for dinner. The atmosphere is dim and candlelit - great for date nights! Service was excellent. Our server was very entertaining and checked on us at good intervals. He was great at answering the questions we had about the menu items (translating some words for us in Italian haha). * BREAD It was complimentary bread but I felt like I should write a note about it.. It's yummy!! I love how sizzling hot it was - the olive oil + salt was a great combo for dressing. * TAGIATELLE IN BUTTER AND TRUFFLE SAUCE (4/5) I loved this pasta! It was one of the pastas of the day, which was recommended by our server. Loved the truffle sauce. I've always been a fan on truffle-anything so I am picky when it comes to this! The sauce was creamy and flavourful, the cream does not overpower the truffle flavour. I'd recommend you order this if they make it available for the day :) * BRANZINO (3/5) (Mediterranean Sea Bass, Grilled with olive oil and lemon) This was ok - I felt like the lemon sauce was too much. The fish tasted sour-y because there was too much lemon juice drenched over it. It would be much better if the lemon juice was toned down a bit! * OSSO BUCO ALLA MILANESE (2.5/5) (Veal Osso Bucco, Saffron Risotto, Herbed Gremolata) This was too bland for my liking. The risotto was watery due to the sauce from the veal. The veal didn't have much taste to it - not sure if this was marinated. I wouldn't recommend this dish. Overall, I'd recommend ordering the pastas at Carisma. read more

See all

I have frequently gone by this restaurant, and was curious to try it out. I dined here for a business meeting with several of my colleagues. The ambiance and decor is elegant and romantic overall, and the staff are very welcoming and hospitable. Carisma has been an establishment in Toronto for years, and I was eager to try it out based on recommendations. Upon entering, I was greeted by very hospitable staff. The restaurant was entirely empty upon my arrival, which I found to be unusual given that it was peak dinner time. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable and had great recommendations about specials that evening and the menu. My colleague and I decided to share the Grilled Calamari appetizer, which was quite flavorful in nature with the addition of olives and herbs. Although I didn't partake in the bread, my colleague mentioned that it was quite soft and delicious overall! For our entrees, we ordered the SeaBass Filet which according to my companion was well-seasoned and delicious overall; another colleague asked for a 'surprise' entree and was presented with a combined dish of the gnocchi and agnolotti, which she enjoyed. My entree was the ahi tuna dish which I was excited about; however, I must admit that this was overdone. It was presented as an entire tuna steak, which was likely the issue in the cook overall, as had it been sliced tuna, there may have been more control over the cook. I had asked for it to be rare, and it was far more than well-done, and even charred on one side. Overall, I am glad that I tried this establishment. I commend the staff and service for their efforts. read more

Carisma - Carisma Restaurant - Grilled Calamari and Ahi Tuna Entree - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Just had a business lunch. Great service, great wine list and nice space. I ordered the veal Milanese which is described on the menu as a breaded veal chop with arugula salad. What I was served was one small breaded veal cutlet (not a veal chop as advertised). I cannot imagine how they can justify charging $45 for this. I left feeling hungry and ripped off. read more

Good meal last night at Carisma, an old school Italian resto. Michael, the owner, and staff were gregarious and took great care of us. Food was good, but nothing out of this world. Food: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Value: 4.5/5 Ambience:4.5/5 That said, with the equivalent of a glass of wine per person and a bottle of Prosecco, appetizers, mains, desert and tip the total bill came to 138$ per person which was reasonable for fine dining. If this place offers corkage, I can see ourselves returning. read more