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    Joia Ristorante

    3.4 (55 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndItalian
    Open 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

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    Scipiano Pizza, sloppy soggy and shoddy. Really looked forward to something great and got the opposite.
    Johnny B.

    4/5 service - for those prices it's a little stingy to give 0 paper napkins for pizza and when asked only drops 2-3 tiny squares without even bother to ask if would like more, made decision for me when and if dishes will come together or as soon as ready 1/5 food - sadly... really looked forward to enjoy this place. An easy tell for skill and attention of Italian restaurants is Carbonara. All the quality issues aside let's talk very basics: salted meat and salted sauce and seemingly lightly salted spaghetti makes for a bit too salty. Temperature a bit too hot for the egg which seems to have been skimmed on too. Pizza was thin ok, but dough was tough and also soggy middle bottom, also just too salty (and I enjoy salty foods)... and next day I had pizza nova and wow. They should have just ordered pizza nova to fool customers. My roommate in college tried making pizza first time and it ended up like what I had here. Portions are all also not impressive at all. Extremely disappointed.

    Bill for dinner
    Travis N.

    I would like people to know that when they read this review I speak from the heart and really enjoy good food when it is presented to me with care and quality produce. My opinions and views are not with favouritism or with regret, but with honesty so here goes............. Joia Ristorante is a ristorante that shouldn't have any expectations put on it. If you are looking for a ristorante or regular restaurant in Aurora Joia fits the bill. A established ristorante that has firm roots in Aurora for over 20 years should have learned more then what it is willing to give and preset to you at your table. Joia should actually care about what it puts on the plate. Joia isn't a Italian ristorante, nor is it a high end ristorante. It's just a establishment that is trying to play the part. The food isn't surprisingly over the top nor is it mouth watering. It may look fancy on the plate but lacks taste, flavours, substance and overall pride. Let me be honest, I took my wife out for a romantic dinner out. Drove over a hour to walk into something special and to be mesmerized. I was expecting these flashes of flavours, for my belly to be content with all the high hopes that I read from yelp. But it was a disappointment on all levels. Here is what my wife and ate for dinner: Cesar salad wasn't more then unseasoned dressing with no cheese or anchovies to brighten up your pallet. Portobello mushrooms that tasted like they were out of a can. Cozzie marinara was totally off base and wasn't worth the hassle. Veal Marsala was out dated and hard to eat when it seems they use the same sauce for the portobello ripieni. Over priced wine list that no one should have to pay $30.00 for 1/2L of 17.00 Chianti. Please don't get me wrong or think I am bashing Joia, I enjoy great food and I am willing to pay for it and when it's amazing I rave and when it's totally average I have to say it. This ristorante needs to either be a totally Italian ristorante and start from scratch and learn the basics of real Italian cooking and not try to be a ristorante that just gets by on wishful thinking of being a Italian ristorante and just serve high priced wine and below average food at a high price. Because Joia has that hitting on all cylinders. I will not go back or recommend this ristorante if you want real Italian food. But if you want to be over charged and feel like you have wasted some hard earned money it's the place for you.

    I really enjoy this spot. It's warm, friendly and the food is delicious, and their presentation is lovely. I have never had poor service or a mediocre meal. Special mention to Lucien, who handled my father with absolute grace and dignity (he had a stroke which left him with some deficiencies). I highly recommend this restaurant, it has become our go to in this area.

    John F.

    We came down for our anniversary with our best friends, based on reviews. It turned out to be one of the best nights we ever had!! Our server, Gustavo made our night, made us feel like family. He made some suggestions regarding a few simple substitutions to some of our orders which took the meal to a whole new level...Gustavo, if you are reading this, Mille grazie amico!!!! As long as we know we can experience the atmosphere provided last night and the food is as amazing as it was, we will definitely reccomend Joia to friends and will visit again next time in town.

    Cannoli are so good! Mamma mia!!
    Linda M.

    We celebrated New Years eve at this restaurant last night. The staff was amazing. It was crazy busy and they were clearly working very hard to make sure everyone was having a wonderful dining experience. We appreciate all your hard work! The menu had a lot of selections and we found it difficult to choose. Everything sounded so good. I finally decided on the escargots just because I haven't had those in years. Brought back some good memories. The main course I chose was the linguine with lobster and shrimp in a Sambuca sauce. It was divine. The portion was generous. For dessert we all had the cannoli. Very good, we all agreed. And a lovely presentation with fresh fruit, sauces and shaved dark chocolate on a long white plate. Thanks again to all the staff for making this a very special New Years Eve dinner with friends. Perfect in every way. See you in 2015!

    Complimentary bread

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    3 years ago

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    7 months ago

    Food was delicious,service was perfect, and Ambiance was great even though the restaurant was fully occupied.

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    8 years ago

    We usually come here when we want a delicious and satisfying Italian meal couple with the great service and ambiance.

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    Casa Carbone - Golden beet salad

    Casa Carbone

    4.2(52 reviews)
    2.2 km
    $$$

    Tried Italian North of the city and it was good…read more Pretty busy on a weekend so be sure to rsvp. Upon entering, you'll notice it's not the biggest restaurant but they use their space efficiently to maximize tables. Their drinks were a good pour, came nice and stiff. Cesar salad was salad and homemade dressing. Dressing was fresh with a hint of mustard. I enjoyed that slight variation. Didn't come with Parmesan cheese or croutons - not sure I'm in for or against that as of yet. Pastas were good. Had a spaghetti carbonara and a farfalle carbone which had smaller sized tiger shrimp. A little pricy for what it was but still really amazing food.

    Casa, means home in Italian. I was hoping this restaurant would hold true to its name. However, I…read morecan't tell you how unwelcome I felt the moment my family (me and my two kids) stepped foot in this restaurant. On a Wednesday evening just past 8:00pm, we arrived at the doors of the restaurant and was greeted by I presume the owner of the business who mumbled something along the lines of them getting ready to close shop. And if we are dining in we should make it a quick one. This is despite the fact, that they were scheduled to close at 9:30, both according to their sign and Google. Anyways, we were seated by the owner and eventually served by the server. To be objective the server was courteous and generally competent, however, he did fail to top up our waters throughout the duration of the meal. Food wise it was above average. The Caesar salad was quite different from most restaurants where there's no croutons, no bacon and no shaved cheese. But I thought it was enjoyable and I like the fact that the salad had traces of anchovy taste. The Margherita pizza was alright. The tomato sauce was refreshing and the cheese tasted right. The flour had a a pretty good floury taste, but the body of the pizza could be a bit more well done. My favourite part of the meal was the Bucatini All'Amatriciana pasta. It's an interesting pasta texture that I've never experience before; clearly homemade. The guanciale gave the pasta a nice umami taste. However, the above average food was not enough to overcome the unwelcoming feeling that hung over us. One thing I forgot to mention is before the meal, I had a couple pieces of garbages from my kids that I wanted to dispose of. The washroom had no garbage bin and on the way out they had a box that resembled garbage bins in a fast food restaurant. I mistakened it for a garbage bin and after I disposed of the garbage, I was told by the same owner that it was not a garbage can. Although I wouldn't say he was totally rude, the statement was blunt and the facial expression and body language pretty much gave it away. One thing that was positive about the experience was at least their transparency toward their non-participation in the tax break government initiative. They had a sign posted right on their main entrance. Mi Casa, Sous casa... my AXX... no wait that's Spanish. Whatever... you know how I feel about Casa Carbone.

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    Sarpa Restaurant

    Sarpa Restaurant

    4.0(130 reviews)
    6.2 km
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    I came here while visiting a friend, and this restaurant was their recommendation. I'm really glad…read moreI listened, because Sarpa ended up being such a lovely surprise. The atmosphere was polished without feeling stiff, elegant but still very comfortable, and on the evening we visited it was pleasantly calm rather than crowded, which made the whole meal feel even more enjoyable. The staff was also very friendly, and that warmth added a nice personal touch to the experience. We started with a few dishes to share, and everything felt thoughtfully prepared. The pasta was rich, comforting, and full of flavor, the lamb was tender and satisfying, and the fish was beautifully cooked with a nice balance of freshness and smokiness. Even the presentation had that refined look without trying too hard. By the time dessert arrived, I was already happy, but it ended the meal on such a cozy note. Overall, this is the kind of place that feels elegant and understated at the same time. Definitely a great spot near Oak Ridges when you want a dinner that feels special but still relaxed.

    I called Wednesday evening to book for 13 people and they said they would let me know. Over 24…read morehours later I have not heard a word back. Nice to have so much business with all these restaurants going out of business that you can ignore a request for this type of reservation. If this is the service they provide before you get there what is it like when you are there? Very upset potential customer!!!!

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    Levetto Aurora - alla vodka

    Levetto Aurora

    3.6(94 reviews)
    2.5 km
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    The pasta tastes just like I remember it at the Dufferin location in Thornhill Woods. The pizza…read morehowever, does not. Idk if it's just this location, but the pizza really was a miss here. The dough was missing crunch and the sauce didn't taste super fresh. I would stick to ordering pasta at this location. Also ordered tiramisu and it was just ok imo. The tiramisu was still a little frozen in the middle lol. Overall, I think the Thornhill Woods location is better but if I'm in the area I'll order pasta here again. There's only a couple pastas I haven't tried yet. Oh yea, they also removed the smoked prosciutto pizza off the menu (BIG SAD). It was such a TASTY pizza when I had it at the Thornhill location. It had a unique, sweet apricot sauce base! Wonder why they chose to remove it but owner, if you're reading this, BRING IT BACK!!!

    Came because my friends wanted to come after having it at another location. First impression is…read morethat the restaurant seems to be more setup for takeout, but has about 5 tables for dine in. You come in and order at the front then take a seat if you're eating in. Considering this, it takes a surprisingly long amount of time (15 minutes or so) to get your food. Pepperoni pizza - Big sized rectangular shaped pizza. The dough was terrible, it dense and tiny bubbly, kinda like baking soda was the leavening agent... I would describe the dough as a dominos thin crust with baking soda added. As for toppings, I would have liked more tomato sauce and cheese to balance out the crust. Would not recommend getting the pizza here. Pistachio Funghi pasta - I only had a couple bites but the pasta was cooked well. The pistachio funghi sauce was tasty as well, pistachio bits added a bit of crunch to the pasta which is nice. A bit pricey but nice to try. After looking at reviews, I think my experience should only be limited to the Aurora Levetto. Will have to try else where to get another Levetto experience.

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    Fishbone Kitchen + Grill - Niagara peaches & burratini

    Fishbone Kitchen + Grill

    4.3(88 reviews)
    1.4 km
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    We recently celebrated a family birthday at fishbone for lunch and it was a great experience from…read moreservice to food. The restaurant is brightly lit with lots of natural sunlight, the decor is a mix of elegance and rustic at the same time. It's got an open and inviting feel. Our server was fantastic - very patient with a large group like ours, able to tell us right off the bat what is and is not customizable, recommendations of when to order to ensure flow works out. Food: Charbroiled octopus - one of my favorite dishes I tried - perfectly cooked, has a nice char, good meaty bits but not chewy, has a really nice chili oil on it. I can not stress how much I recommend getting this if you enjoy seafood. 5/5. Chorizo appetizer - comes out in a little pig plate with an open flame underneath. The chorizo itself is good with a nice spice, dense meat. The best part of this dish (IMO) is the spiced apple sauce on the side that cuts the richness of the sausage with a sweet and tangy apple and a little spice kick. 4.5/5. Bread - fresh baked bread with butter, a pumpkin jam and cheese. Everything on that plate works so well together. I definitely recommend this as an all rounding pleasing appetizer - 5/5. Beets - the beets were fresh with a vibrant orange colour. The apple, walnut and goat cheese all work together. I do wish this dish had a bit more but it works. 4.5/5. Brussel sprouts - amazing deep fried brussel sprouts - makes me want to always deep fry them for life. The spicy harissa sauce works well with the sprouts. Crunchy peanuts on top add both a texture and nuttiness that is refreshing to the brussel sprouts. 5/5. Oysters - super fresh, absolutely delicious without any condiments needed. Loved them. 5/5. Paella - this is definitely large enough for 2 people to eat so consider sharing unless you have a monster appetite. As with all their plates, it is beautifully constructed. The shrimp are huge and meaty. Mussels are plentiful, lots of chorizo and bay scallops. The rice has that really nice briny seafood flavor from the broth. It was just a teeny tiny bit overly salty to my taste but it's cut with the dollops of sour cream. Has this really nice low level heat that just works without burning your mouth. 4.5/5. Lamb sirloin - great crust on the lamb and cook as well. Flavorful sear and crust on the lamb with a soft tender meaty interior. Can't go wrong with- 5/5. Branzino - delicious flaky and light with a great grill. If you're interested in a fresh fish, this is a good choice. Was a special on the menu - 5/5. Prices: Fine dining pricing but you get the excellent food, service and experience for the price.

    We came here for our anniversary dinner and had a very enjoyable meal. Fishbone offers a…read moreMediterranean menu with bold vibrant flavours. We started the meal with peach with baratta salad which was so refreshing. Next we got the grilled octopus which was nicely charred but I have to say the amount of octopus is pretty small for a dish that's almost $30. When I saw paella on the menu, I knew I had to get it. It was topped with seafood including 2 giant prawns, clams, mussels and sausages. The rice was cooked perfectly with bold flavours. However I felt that the seafood was slightly undercooked. We told our server and he asked the kitchen to cook us new shrimps right away. I would def recommend sharing this entree as the portion is enough for 2. We finished our meal with an affogato, which is no longer on the menu but our waiter kindly let us order. We loved the decor and vibe at this restaurant! Check out Jess.feed.me on IG for more food stories !

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    Joia Ristorante - italian - Updated May 2026

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