We didn't have a reservation at Joso's, but the owner was so kind and still found a way to make it work for us. That kind of hospitality goes a long way and immediately made the experience feel special. The food was really good and the customer service was just as great. Everyone was welcoming and attentive, which made the whole visit even more enjoyable. And as a Drake fan, I have to say... finally a Drake recommendation that didn't let me down! I'll definitely be back when in Canada! read more

This is indeed THE place for seafood, if you ever want any! The inside is extremely cozy with lots of infamous erotic arts and paintings... very quirky and unique. The waiters came out to walk us through their fresh fish platter before we placed our orders. We started off with some seafood misto, which was perfectly and lightly fried, a grilled sardine each (yummy but slightly on the salty side), octopus salad, and a tomato & bufala (way more cheese than I expected, but the bufala is nowhere comparable to that which I've had in Italy). Then, we moved onto our mains. We shared the steamed clams / mussels / shrimp, the pescatora risotto, and a seafood platter of grilled octopus, plump langoustines, and grilled white fish (I believe it was halibut). The risotto was OUT of this world! The best I've had thus far... so rich and seafoody. The grilled octopus was fine... because it was so big and thick, it was a bit dry. The halibut, unfortunately, was a disappointment. The fish was pregnant (had ample roe) and so the texture of the filet was off, and it wasn't as tasty as it could've been. All things considered, Joso is a well-known establishment filled with lots of family and group parties. It's a fun vibe and the food (especially the risotto and fried insalata di mare) is quite good! Would love to come again. read more

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Great service and great food. Two levels and a little snug but worth it. Perfect for a date night or night out with friends.

I have been passing by this restaurant for many years before finally trying it. I LOVE seafood, so I thought I would finally give a try. All the food & desert were excellent. Service is also very friendly & not overly pushy. Only thing I did not love was the decor, but i will definitely come back to try other options from there today. read more

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Celebrated my birthday dinner here with my boyfriend and we had such a great time. Such an interesting restaurant with very stimulating decor. Definitely fits the sensual theme. You can feel it's rich history, and it just has an overall "home-y" feeling. Here's what we ordered: For Spaghetti * Alla Leonardo $33 - 7/10 For Mains * Clams, Mussels w/ white sauce $32 + full pasta $9 - 7/10 (pretty much a spaghetti) * Grilled Octopus (half dish) $36 - 10/10 *i recommend trying this !!!! For Fish * the Spigola (Sea Bass) $40 - 8/10 For Dessert * Mango Sorbet $6 - 8/10 * Lemon Sorbet $12 - 10/10 Everything was delicious. I would recommend trying some of their fish of the week. The Spigola we had was so good, flaky and soft. I've never had Grilled Octopus like this in my life, definitely recommend trying that. The lemon sorbet was just too cute, comes in a whole rind with a little hat haha. We had a couple servers cycle in and out but each of them took time and effort to explain the menu and what their seafood of the week was. And to ensure we had everything we needed and that we were happy at all times. read more

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the seafood here is legit!! so fresh and sweet, the open fire grilling of food just takes it to another level. I can see why this is a favourite for people since 1967, it's so iconic. the service was also very attentive and detailed; the fish selection is brought over at request and our server did an amazing job at explaining all the fish and their respective traits. I would definitely come back on special occasions and to try their marinara sauces as well, since we stuck to their signature squid ink pasta as our first time! beautiful, rustic restaurant and definitely worth your buck over other yorkville restaurants ;) read more

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top shelf seafood! the very best, in an intimate dining atmosphere. the service is personable and sincere. read more

We went to josos as a big group and the experience was really nice. The first thing I noticed is how homey and warm the whole restaurant feels the interior is nicely lit and there's a lot of creative art hanging on the walls. The service we got all night was very attentive and helpful. The staff around the restaurant answered all of our questions about the menu which led to a very positive experience. The food itself was really delicious. We started off with the calamari, which is a must. We also got the grilled octopus, fish of the day sea bream, Leonardo spaghetti, and a risotto. All the fish was grilled really nicely, and the pastas packed a lot of flavor. My personal favourite dish was the Leonardo spaghetti. It had a really nice simple lemon sauce that tasted amazing. For dessert we got the tiramisu the cookies and my personal favourite the lemon sorbet, which was served in a frozen lemon peel. I thought the presentation was very interesting and it was a really nice refreshing dessert to end the meal. Overall, we had a really nice time and I would definitely recommend josos for either a date or a night out with a group. read more

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Ordered: Calamari & Shrimp Kornati (~CAD$30): a Joso's specialty; lightly floured, canola fried Grilled Octopus (~CAD$36): tentacles grilled whole, drizzled with olive oil and garlic Alla Siciliana (~CAD$36): a recipe unique to Joso's; cuttlefish (sepia) simmered in its black ink Tiramisu (~CAD$14) Glass of Grasevina (~CAD$14): white wine from Croatia Aya's take: What an excellent dining experience! First trip to Toronto and being a huge Drake fan, I already had high expectations. We were seated upstairs right across from the infamous booth were Drake was seated. That table was occupied but we were able to take photos there once that party left; the staff was super chill about it as long as it's not busy and you're not disruptive. Joso's is filled with art on all the walls which was fascinating to take a deep look at while waiting for dinner. The Glass of Grasevina was pleasant, fresh, and dry with a delicious aroma. One of my favorites! In terms of food, you can tell it was all prepared with utmost care and simple yet traditional flavors. The Calamari & Shrimp Kornati was light, crispy, and just the right amount of saltiness. I absolutely loved the Alla Siciliana. Paired with the Grilled Octopus, both were remarkable dishes. The Octopus was also tender yet firm. The Tiramisu was tasty and light with balanced sweetness but not too memorable. All in all, this was one of my favorite dining experiences. Decently priced, amazing service, and outstanding food/drinks! read more

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You have to make reservations for this place. Can't stress enough it's a very popular spot on weekends and also not that big of a space. We got a table early right when they opened, I have been dying to try this place. There were a lot of staff on hand when we got there almost too much. The decor has a lot of really different and unique art. Many people are probably familiar with the picture from Drake's Take Care album one of Joso's paintings. The food was pretty good, I won't say best I've ever had but it is very good. I was super impressed by the smoked trout it was perfectly smoked and seasoned. The octopus was prepared and seasoned nicely but was a bit over cooked and became a little chewy. For the price as a main I entree I expected a bit better. It was not terrible chewy but a bit more cooked than I would expect. The pastas were very good. A ton of flavour and the ratio of seafood to pasta was perfect. I'm not sure if the pasta was homemade or not. I regret not trying more of the fish menu items that they display to you fresh before ordering. But I was over all satisfied with the dining. It does have a bit of the pretentious feel to it but so do many places in Toronto. Over all good experience. read more

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I hear nothing but good things about this place. Yet I never have a good experience. The first time I ever went there I was given warm bread fresh from the oven yet when I cracked it open it was frozen in the middle. LOL I was prepped to expect amazing food... then frozen bread? LOL basics The second time I went there was last night and I didn't even make it to be seated. The manager at the time was nothing but dismissive and rude the entire time after we arrived late to an already seated table. It's understandable to be tired after a long day or to simply say I'm so sorry guys but we tried to stay open as long as we could however the kitchen is now closed. I've owned numerous restaurants from franchises to the hottest supper clubs in the city. I understand. However, this manager was nothing but snide, snarky, dismissive and rude which was surprising considering who the patrons were. Lol I read more

The ambience is lovely with nice background music, and the interior decoration is unique with character. There are 2 floors of seatings, and the walls are adorned with very colourful paintings and sculptures. Before you order, the waitress comes with a platter of fresh fish and seafood of the day. You can select from a combination of octopus, mussels, clams, shrimps / prawns - usually grilled. You can also mix and match by doing half or three-quarter order of each. There is a good selection of fresh fish including sea bass, sea bream, arctic char, etc. The garlic butter sauce that comes with the grilled octopus and shrimps is really delicious. Tip: use the bread to dip in the garlic butter sauce. The fish is also perfectly grilled without the need of any additional sauce or seasoning. The Siciliana pasta (with cuttlefish ink) has a creamy texture with umami flavour. It turns your teeth and tongue black, but so worth it! It goes great with the mix of grilled fish & seafood, and side of platter of vegetables (grilled peppers, steamed Swiss chard, beets, and stewed vegetables). read more

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Nero($86.00) risotti to serve 2-4 people. One of the best risotto I have ever had. Three people could not finish this gigantic risotti. Menu describe it as "A secret Spralja family(owner) recipe following ancient Venetian tradition. Cuttlefish in its ink stirred to perfection." They served cute half cut lemon to squeeze in which definately elevated to a whole other flavour level. Simple dishes like grilled octopus & tomato basil buffala was excellent as well. . Was intimidated by all the art work by desceased owner, but soon felt comfortable by amazing service. Especially when wait staff showed-and-tell the daily seafood selection in details, I was impressed read more

For a restaurant with decor as raunchy as they have, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Turns out the food is pretty darn good. Their specialty is seafood, and they do the classics well - calamari, branzino, shrimp, etc - but the star of the show was the seafood risotto. Warm and hearty, bursting with flavour - it was by far the favourite dish of the night. I would go back just for this dish. read more

If you don't mind dropping $200-$300 on a 3-course dinner for two with two glasses of wine, then this place will not disappoint you. Located in a wealthy area of Toronto, this place is a true gem. Everything from the exterior decor to the interior decor, to the choice of music speaks of a founder who is passionate about creating a warm and memorable experience for his patrons. Leo and Shirley Spralja, who own and operate this restaurant, are clearly passionate about art and music. This place feels nice and has a unique vibe to it. I fell in love with this place after my first visit. I recommend booking a table either on the patio in the summer or on the second floor. You get more privacy and it's quieter on the second floor. Service is fantastic. All the waiters are super attentive and courteous. The food is expensive but very tasty. Everything I ordered was tasty and done to perfection. Check out the attached photos to see for yourself. If you can afford to splurge on a special night, I highly recommend this place. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Simple, yet fresh and beautifully prepared seafood. Croatian wine is a must-try for anyone who's never tried it--it's very unique. The decor is famously bohemian and risque, but truthfully is looking a bit shabby these days and in need of refreshing. read more

Inspired by the Dalmatian Coast, Joso's is a destination in and of itself. There's no shortage of character in this Yorkville restaurant that has stayed in the same family since the 1960s. Patrons will escape to Croatia for an evening with some of the freshest seafood in the city. For a more intimate experience, snag a table on the second floor and let all your worries melt away. read more

A bit pricey but a lively ambiance. Super fresh fish and amazing oysters. Have t been here in a while but use to come often enough few years ago read more

Joso's provides a unique experience to fresh seafood and fine dining. The decor is mediterranean eclectic, the service is impeccible and the food is amazingly fresh. Each visit begins with an extensive tour of their fresh seafood options of the day, with the waitress patiently explaining flavor profiles and answering questions. My first visit was to celebrate an anniversary and it was the perfect choice. The atmosphere is romantic but relaxed, everyone is enjoying their meal and the food was delicious. We had the oysters, bronzini and the octopus. The fish and octopus was simply grilled and sprinkled with lemon juice but each bite was unique and flavorful. They even surprised us with dessert to celebrate with us! Friendly note that this place is not that child/kid friendly. The space is a little tight and the art in the washrooms may be cause for a lot of explanations. read more

There's a reason this place has been here so long. It's truly awesome. It was a special occasion dinner. I can't imagine coming here for anything other than a special occasion dinner. It's not cheap by any means. I mean it's crazy expensive but that said the food was amazing. I don't think I can bring myself to spend over 80 bucks on a risotto. I don't care how many people it serves. My husband and I split the rainbow salad, grilled calamari, and the clams, mussels and shrimp buzara. Everything was fresh and oh so tasty. Bread on the table was perfect for dipping. Service was top notch. There was always someone around to check on us. The venue itself is cozy with very fun porn all over the walls. We will definitely be back to split a few more meals. read more

Joso's is always one of my favorite italian dining restaurant in Toronto. The seafood risotto never disappointed me, and it is a must have for everyone. As usual, I ordered the risotto, the portion is the same as before, however I noticed there is price increase from $62 to $82 now. It is a big jump in price! I also ordered fresh oysters from P.E.I and New Brunswick, grilled jumbo prawn, as well as seafood pasta with fresh lemon and garlic sauce. All deserved 5 star quality. What Joso's set apart from other italian restaurant is the interior design of the restaurant, the waitress bring the raw seafood platter to introduce the daily seafood selection, also the quality of the food. read more

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Delicious fresh fish. The grilled fish was the highlight, by far. The seafood risotto was great, but not the best I've ever tasted. The smoked fish appetizer was on the dry side. The grilled fish had a lovely charcoal flavour and the flesh tasted sweet and savoury. Next time I return, will just buy a few grilled fish in lieu of the accompaniments. read more

Joso's - Seafood Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

SUMMARY: If you are craving a risotti, I would highly suggest this place! (The price of it is affordable. ) 4 of us came to dine here, we did have a reservation. Atmosphere: (4 stars) The place is very unique, lots of pictures of celebrities, and paintings of naked girls in very sexual/provocative poses. It is a bit on the cozy / cramped side, but is definitely on the fancy side. For example, the washroom has really thick and soft hand paper towels. Food: (4 stars) We ordered: Fish Soup $9.00 (3.5 stars) tastes like it sounds. Nothing amazing, but a good way to start the meal. Tomato & Buffala $14.00 (1.5 star) You get 3 slices of tomatoes and some mozzerella, its tasty, but nowhere worth the 14$. If it was around $9 it would have been like a 3.5 star. Risotti: Pescatora - $82.00 (5 stars) Lots of flavour and sea food! This is a huge portion, 4 of us with were full at the end. If you share this with one other person, it will be enough for a whole meal. Calamari Griglia - $32.00 (4 stars) Perfectly cooked, but a tad smaller than expected. Gamberoni - $36.00 (4 stars) Really delicious, but a bit on the expensive side. You get 4 pieces. The total was 80$ a person with tip/tax and a drink each. Service: (5 stars) Add and remove cutlery as the dished are changed. Clean the table when necessary. They also do have free coat check. read more

3.5 stars really.. This place has been on my list for a while for my love of fresh seafood. It was good, but quite expensive for the portions. Interesting decor, think that grabs a lot of attention to the place. Knowledgeable waiters all that extra touch needed to go above and beyond in service (changing cutleries/plates in between) We ordered a Scorpion fish from their selection (mid range fish) it's prepared on a fire grill I think. A bit too much on the burnt side for our liking, but not bad! The side potatoes ($6) wasn't that impressive. Ordered shrimp and calamari for appetizers, shrimp being the star of the show, extremely tasty. Calamari had a thick batter, which highlights the oil taste. Ended with tiramisu. Good experience, but probably good for one visit. Came down to around $150. read more

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Bit of an odd location but full of charm! The inside is full of photos of celebrities that have stopped in to dine. Food was delicious, but at the price I have actually had better (mind you that was in coastal cities). Grilled octopus was very good, but not outstanding, small portion for the price. We were also asked if we wanted wine about 3x lol. read more

Joso's - Spaghetti any other Siciliana with squid ink sauce - Seafood Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

One of my favorites in Toronto...maybe even one of the best for seafood / Italian food. This place is full of story and history..and it is family operated since the 70s. Started as a cafe and now an iconic seafood restaurant in Toronto. I have been coming here for a few years now and it has always been a amazing each and every time! The seafood is super fresh, in the past they have presented their seafood offers on a platter to show the diners what they have, but I think due Covid they have stopped doing that. However, the staff are great at explaining what type of fish is offered (taste n how it's made). They menu offer a variety of items and yes they are all amazing!!! Here are some of my favorites: *Grilled octopus (they offer two size portions) *Their risotto are amazing.. I love the all seafood and squid ink one * A must for their grilled fish!!! * All their apps are good Price wise, it is a little bit on the $$$ but well worth it!! It's very hard to get a rsvp during prime dinner time..if you are okay with an early dinner (5 to 5:45pm) you can book via OpenTable, but if you want to go during prime dinner time always give them a call n see what they have available. Enjoy!! read more

Squid ink pasta and fresh grilled fish are their signature items, highly recommend to try. Overall, average dining experience. Diners most are their long term customers. They kinda knew each other in the neighborhood. Service can be improved and needs standardization. Servers vary. I cannot give five stars because It was odd when our server brought over raw fishes which we was not informed beforehand. And she kept touching those raw fishes and showing to us at a limited space on the table. The place is too small to fit for all tables, the space between each table in my opinion ,is too close. If you would like a quiet and private dinner party time, this is something you should consider . You hear what others say from the next table. Decor is cozy and artistic, we went there because uniqueness and artworks and fresh fish from worldwide. We enjoyed our dinner read more

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There's no doubt that Josos has great seafood and ambiance. Unfortunately, it employs one of the worst waitresses in Toronto. Forgetting to take our drink orders, declining small requests, lack of courtesy - overall very rude and condescending. Will opt to spend my hard earned money elsewhere and support other local businesses. read more

Excellent restaurant the fish is fresh service is very good. I highly recommend this restaurant

Eclectic is definitely the word to use when describing the decor. There are plenty of nudes of various types on the wall in this cosy seafood restaurant. The atmosphere is light and the dining room is not very loud. Perfect for a romantic dinner although you are sitting elbow to elbow with your neighbors. Because I didn't have a reservation I was stuck at the front counter which turned out for me at least to be the best seat of the house because it was a great spot to people watch and take in all the ambiance. More on this later. As a starter, I had a grilled calamari. Very nice and tasty. A little heavy on the char for me but I still enjoyed it very much as the flesh of the calamari itself was not over cooked. For my main course I had the grilled "guraz", spelling? And it was perfect. Simple preparation and execution. I even liked my basmati rice side which as it turns out had a pinch of salt and garlic butter. Simple and effective as it matched the fish perfectly. I was very satisfied with my meal and was ready to settle up when the hostess offered me a free dessert on the account that they did not have seating for and I had to sit at "the bar":). This was not needed since I thought the food and service up till now was near perfect but pushed my rating to a five. For a restaurant to give something extra based solely on their dedication to complete customer satisfaction is so refreshing in the world of pop up eateries and trendy gimmicks. This is truly a neighborhood treasure that according to the hostess has been around for 40 years. Here is to 40 more!! Great job. read more

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The food and service at Joso's are always marvelous. Everything is fresh. I highly recommend them.

We have been wanting to try Joso's for over 20 years, even though we lived right across the street for a period of time. We finally had the chance to come here tonight and we were not disappointed. The atmosphere was very cosy. We only ordered seafood dishes as they were known for their seafood but we probably ordered one too many octopus dish, although all dishes were amazing. There were 4 in our party and we shared all our dishes so that we were able to try everything. For the appetizers, we had the Fish Soup and the Smoked Trout. The Fish Soup was delicious and very flavourful but wished that it was hotter as I like my soup very hot. The Smoked Trout was amazing and perfectly flavoured. It was my favourite dish for the night. We also ordered the Alla Leonardo (spaghettini with lemon white wine sauté of octopus, shrimp, garlic and caper) and the Alla Sicilana (spaghettini with black sepia ink sauce). These pasta dishes were amazing and the Alla Sicilana was really good and very unique and very rich in flavour. For our mains we ordered the Grilled Calamari, Grilled Octopus, Clams, Mussels, Shrimp in a white wine garlic sauce and the Octopus Schiavona (steamed octopus). All the seafood was very fresh and cooked perfectly. The Octopus Shiavona was good but more on the plain side. For dessert we had the Kifli (shortbread cookies) and the Palacinke (crepes with peach). The desserts were all very good and the homemade whipped cream was perfect. read more

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Great place but quite expensive. Very fresh fish and wonderful place to be on the weekends.

I've been going there since the late 70's. Always wonderful. Staff always great. I've never had a bad meal there. The absolute best grilled octopus. House salad is delicious. My favourite however is pasta Leonardo. read more

My favourite restaurant in the city. It is small and cozy and delicious. I get the spaghetti with clams and mussels every time and it never disappoints. My mom loves the fresh fish and the novelty of picking the one she wants grilled from a platter. The best calamari and tiramisu ever. All in all just an amazing culinary experience. Pretty decent service. Coat check is efficient. On one occasion I had a server that slammed down dishes and was not polite which embarrassed me since I recommended coming there and it was his first experience dining there. But two other recent visits were more pleasant. Bottom line, the food never disappoints. read more

The food is always fresh and tasty with a flavour of the Mediterranean. If you like fish you will love this place. They do accommodate for vegans and vegetarians as well if you ask. Their salads are delicious and the side veggies are scrumptious read more

This is a Toronto institution. Any place that has been around for as long as they have been, must be doing something right.

I consider myself very fortunate finding this restaurant. We had the grilled octopus, fried calamari and shrimp, and Risotto Nero. Every was very good, and service and attentive and friendly. I would come here again when in town. read more

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The cooking is fantastic and the team is very friendly and cooperative. The calamari was super crispy and delicious and the schnitzel sandwich was a bit dry but still good. They keep their very high level service and the highest level of meals they offer. Kind atmosphere and staff! Super highly recommended. read more

I went here with a couple Croatian friends who have been coming here for years (the owner's family is from Zadar). This is one of the best seafood restaurants in the city and it's surprising that it has gone under the radar for a while. I mean, there is a wall of celebrities who have visited the restaurant, but I haven't read a recent review of this place in any website/magazine/newspaper for a long time. So, even though Joso's has been in business for decades and is Zagat-rated, it still felt like a "discovery". I went for dinner on a Friday and they do 2 seatings, 6:30 and 9:30pm, so plan/reserve accordingly. This is the kind of place to have a long, unhurried dinner with lots of courses! The restaurant itself is cozy with 2 floors and the walls are absolutely covered in art. The current owner is Leo, the son of "the" Joso behind the name. His father's art work is on display, including paintings and sculpture. I sat in the corner table on the first floor, which has a lovely collection of Picasso sketches to admire while you eat. The whole atmosphere is very European with a laid-back elegance. There is a small, covered patio in front. The food is best enjoyed with a group. We ordered the famous risotto nero (black risotto dyed with octopus ink). It's around $45 and only comes in one serving size for 3-4 people. We were just 3 people and definitely had leftovers. Beware, the dish is delicious but it does sort of turn your teeth black for the rest of the meal! So be careful if you're on a date:P Next we shared a seafood platter. At the beginning of your meal, the waitress brings out a display of the seafood available for the day and you can choose whatever looks good. We opted for the red snapper, with some sardines and calamari (a must here!). Everything was very fresh and cooked in a healthy way, without a lot of oil or butter, just grilled with some seasoning. Delicious. It came with some potatoes cooked in the Croatian style (sort of like potato salad but the potatoes are sliced, not mashed). Decent wine list with choices in a wide price range. Exceptional service. Although it was my first visit, I got kisses on either cheek from the owner. It's the kind of place where it seems that everyone is a regular. We unfortunately did not have room for any desserts. Next time. There will definitely be a next time! read more