Joso's is the instant embrace of your bust-loving, essentric, gourmand of an uncle. I've been several times as the place has grown to be my marquee spot for birthday celebrations and tasteful nights out. The service is impeccable and a highlight of the evening is always seeing the fresh seafood spread they've got available. When you're here, you CANNOT miss the Grilled Octopus and Seafood Risotto (tomato-based) - no other place in the city can compare. There are the occasional art piece nipslips within the setting, but all in good fun. Despite the price, any Torontoian or tourist, needs to make a trip here to experience the mind & taste of Joso! read more

Usually come here once or twice a year with my family. We always order a platter of grilled octopus, grilled shrimp, fried & grilled calamari, oysters and Adria salads as appetizers. I always order a grilled fish (type varies). The waiter/waitress will bring a platter out with different fresh fish that they are serving that day and tell you where that fish came from and what to expect taste wise. I also steal a few bites from the Leonardo pasta that my dad always orders. The bill definitely is expensive for 5 people but the food here is so delicious that it's worth it. read more

My bf actually took me there for my birthday... the food was okay, so for the over priced amount that they were charging.... NOT WORTH IT! And the SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE... instead of them singing that happy bithday song for me with the desert... they sang to the next table as we were eating our appetizer. The girl at the table was so confused. The girl, her boyfriend and the staff were asking around for my name. And to top it off, they actually took the time to check which table and they announced that it was suppose to be for me... thanks for the embarrassing experience and NO I would not like my desert now... I told the couple they can have that desert. My bf was fuming... that I had to calm him down!!! For spending $300 and be embarrassed like that... NEEDLESS TO SAY, NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They actually deserve a NEGATIVE 5 STARS. read more

Make reservations otherwise you may not get a table. The interior was full and fun, a cool and cozy mediterranean vibe in a house. We had: - The grilled octopus: well cooked with a charred taste. - The grilled shrimp: perfectly cooked with garlic and herbs, butterfly style. - Oysters (6 pieces): had two kinds, both great, one more meaty than other. Really fresh but wasn't a fan of the tomato cilantro garnish they had. I felt like it over powered the taste of the oysters. - Shellfish risotto : The best risotto I've had, some people might not agree but this one was perfectly cooked with big chunks of seafood like shrimp, squid, clams and mussels. Portion was large, enough for up to 4 people. I feel like this place was great except the only thing is, its a bit pricey. The quality of the food is great but they should be able to do half sizes for dishes to cut costs and large quantities for people that want more variety at the table. Next time must try their flamed grilled fish from their great selection. read more

Exquisite food, service and ambience. Their seafood dishes are incredible and the ink pasta is a must!

Let's face it, when someone writes a review it is either to rave about a job well done or to do the complete opposite. I am not one to write a review however this is completely necessary after the experience my boyfriend and I had. From start to finish it was awful. My one star rating is for the food and really, it is fresh beautiful seafood, other than over cooking it how can you really screw that up? Food was good, not spectacular. My boyfriend took me to Joso's for my birthday, we were both looking forward to the Joso's experience, ambiance and food after reading countless fantastic reviews. From the moment we stepped foot inside felt unwelcomed. We we're standing at the front of the restaurant for what felt like 10 minutes (reading some other 1 star reviews this is not uncommon) and we're not looked at once by any of the circulating staff. When we we're finally greeted we gave the name the reservation was under and asked to be seated on the patio, the gentleman mentioned he needed to check the I-pad. He then proceeded to say go ahead and pick any table you like, no escort, that is fine, this was the least of our worries by the end of our experience. Once seated we were greeted by the first of 3 extremely rude female servers. Number 1, there should not be more than 1 server tending to your table unless the second is to drop off food, let alone 3 people. Each server was rude, made you feel awkward, unwelcomed and question decisions made. We had a chance to review the menu (keep in mind this was for a birthday, we we're well aware that this was going to be a splurge, one we did not mind whatsoever) and made our meal decisions. We planned to order the Insalata di mare to start (shared) and the Leonardo pasta dish( shared) followed by Calamari Griglia and Grilled Octopus. The first server greeted us, offered to show us the fish selection for the evening I kindly declined and let her know we had decided on our order. My boyfriend proceeded to order the appetizer and said we would place the mains order once finished (we wanted to take our time and enjoy.) The server blatantly laughed at our decision and said "ok" we we're EXTREMELY thrown off and couldn't understand the need to laugh (we felt she was implying it was not enough.) We we're ready to order the bottle of wine that interested us but needed a minute to process this awkward moment. The second server then greeted us, we let her know which wine we wanted, she brought it out a few minutes later poured into each of our glasses then went inside with the bottle. We are in Yorkville, chill the wine table-side, don't make guests wait 10 minutes+ for a refill and question whether the bottle has been finished or not! The third server then plated our appetizer, it was good, small portion and nothing to rave about. The second server then came back to clear the plate and ask if we wanted to see the fish selection, we let her know we had already said we we're not interested but she insisted as this was part of the Joso's experience (we then caved because anything to brighten this so far odd experience would have helped.) The first server then came back and asked if we we're ready to order, we ordered the grilled Calamari and Octopus, opted out of the pasta because we we're so turned off by the service we just wanted to try this famous fish and get out of there. The food came relatively quickly and it was very good, grilled nicely and not over dressed, very fresh tasting. Once we finished our meals and wine we were asked by our first server what we would like to order next. I let her know we we're ok and would just like the bill, she then laughed (AGAIN) and said "what about a desert menu" I repeated myself and said "we are ok can we please just have the bill?" She then sent the second server to our table WITH DESERT MENUS, she placed them down and walked away. That same server came back an asked what we had decided on for desert I had then repeat myself for a third time and say "can.we.just.have.the.bill.PLEASE" she then walked away grabbed the terminal, set it down on our table and WALKED AWAY, she didn't just walk away to give us privacy with the terminal, she walked into the restaurant and was in there for so long that we processed our own payment and did not even see her before we left. I cannot put into any more words than I already have how terrible our experience was, the food we did eat we could not even enjoy because of how turned off we we're. Word of advice to the public, if you are not a celebrity and can't get yourself on that wall, don't bother showing your face in here, there are plenty of beautiful restaurants in the city that can serve you seafood just as good if not better accompanied by PROPER SERVICE! Word of advice to the owner, manager and all staff at Joso's, FIX THIS PROBLEM. This is a fine dining restaurant, there should be fine dining service to follow! Each customer should be treated the same!!! read more

I'm about to embark on a familiar trope for yelp reviews but I can't help myself - the food here is very nice but the service does it a savage injustice. like some other yorkville restaurants, joso's suffers from a favouritism for familiar customers that it hardly attempts to conceal. Our table received very spotty service while other tables had servers basically hovering over them. It became clear quite early on that out server did not deem us worthy of her attention, and wordlessly plunked our plates in front of us without any kind of description of what we were about to eat. In terms of the food we ordered, the cuttlefish pasta was very nicely done, if not a bit too heavy on the olive oil, and the octopus schiavone was very tasty but the presentation was lacking, as it was hacked to bits, tasty bits, but bits. read more

This place is special. Really special. For a bustling city like Toronto, you know something has to be good if it has lasted as long as Joso's has. My boyfriend and I visited Joso's during our Canada Day/4th of July trip from DC. We had an early reservation because we went to Second City after (another Toronto must!) I had done some research prior to our trip and saw Joso's was highly rated for seafood. I also saw they were owned by a Croatian family. I'm part Serbian so I tend to feel drawn to places like this. As other reviews state, the artwork is very eclectic! We were warmly welcomed as soon as we entered. We started with a half dozen oysters as we were presented with the fish platter. I had never seen anything like this before but it was amazing to see what the fresh selection was that day. We decided early on that we wanted to do the seafood risotto and we were warned not to load up on appetizers. As we sat sipping our wine, several tables filled up and all of them were regulars who knew everyone else. This place was full of characters which made it that much more enjoyable to visit. You were practically treated like family. Our seafood risotto was impeccable. Clams, shrimp, calamari, mussels. I am picky about my risotto - it needs a good base, a good sauce. The sauce with this risotto was a delicious tomato-based sauce but not too heavy. It was probably the best seafood risotto I've ever had. We almost polished the entire bowl off (and it can feed four people!) This is a special place worth visiting and returning to. At one point, my boyfriend said it felt like we were in someone's living room. Charming and lovely. read more

Joso's - Amazing seafood paella - Seafood Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I love this place so much. The staff are so welcoming and professional, the food is amazing. Worth every dollar

One of the best seafood restaurants in Toronto! It is also considered to be one of the top high end restaurants in the city. The food is absolutely delicious, the squid in pasta is to die for! What is great about this place is that the owner's son greets everyone and knows all his regulars. The restaurant also has a great wine selection, so if you're a wine enthusiast you are in for a treat! read more

Cute quaint restaurant with great fresh seafood. Service was good, not exceptional. For example, your water glass probably won't be refilled but servers are courteous. Great grilled octopus, you get to choose your fish from a platter of raw samples. Naked women decor everywhere, was a hit w the guys! ;) would go back, would recommend. read more

The seafood was very fresh, the service was flawless and the ambience could not be more fun. Joso's has held up over time from all accounts, and I enjoyed myself. read more

Eclectic room by a mile. Some of the fish can be pricey BUT no better grilled fish anywhere. Leonardo pasta is a dish I have to order everytime I go there read more

Joso's definitely offers a unique dining experience. We always drove past it's beautiful patio and always wanted to try it. On our visit we were seated inside, very interesting decor all around will entertain you until your food comes. The menu is pricey but I would say worth the experience. You can pick and chose different things on the menu as you like. Staff is very helpful in making suggestions and extremely professional. The only negative for me was the smell of seafood. I know its asking for too much since this is a seafood restaurant but I hate the smell of fish while waiting to eat, it's kinda unappetizing for me. read more

My favourite restaurant in Canada. Period. Fresh fish, shown to you, served in an unpretentious restaurant in a hood renowned for blow hards and overpriced restos. Located in an intimate venue (a converted house on Davenport right at Avenue) the owners brilliant Daliesque art adorns the walls and his statues tower in the corners. The staff and meal consistency are always on point. A meal here is all about the no frills fish & the gang you're with - this place remains a rock steady institution for very good reason. read more

Tried and true, I keep coming back for the seafood here. I literally have never tasted anything bad here. I love the saganaki, though you can't go wrong with that. Nice atmosphere and great service every time. Just nothing to complain about here! read more

Very charming and intimate. It is small so you'll nee a reservation, it was packed on a Wednesday night. There's a lot to look at with art everywhere. Lovely patio but we ate upstairs. Service was first rate very professional, lots to choose from on the menu. Being from the Midwest I consider myself a man of simple tastes so I had a bit a sticker shock when I saw the prices. However, most items are big enough for two. We tried the cuttlefish ink risotto which the waitress warned us was "massive". It was, it could have fed 6. It was delicious as were the clams in white wine. I'd love to go back and try some of the fresh catch. It is a place we wanted to try and splurge and had a great time. Emphasis on splurge. read more

A favorite in Toronto. Entertaining atmosphere and wonderful food.

Very nice squid ink pasta and seafood. Interesting decor inside. They bring the seafood plate over to ask you which one you'd like to try. Recommend you make a reservations as they were quite packed when we went read more

This restaurant is excellent. From atmosphere, waitress, food, wine list, food presentation, to desert. The only criticism I could say is that the bread could be a bit better in the antipasto. Thumbs up! read more

We were looking for a seafood joint for lent n came across joso on yelp. Overall everything was pretty tasty. We ordered the octopus, seafood soup, grilled fish (they have so many types I forgot which one we ordered) n the squid ink pasta. Everything was light n fresh. The only downside was the black ink mad my teeth all dirty, but it's worth the experience! read more

The best italian food I have had. The squid ink risotto was one of a kind. It was my friend's bday and I asked for a pastry. They gave a small surprise by singing a song and making the bday special. Everything we ordered from the fired calamari to grilled octopus was toothsome. However, i gave them four stars as they asked us to pay for the bday pastry which is a shame in regard to such a classic restaurant. No complaints with the service or food though :) would definitely reccomend it to anyone. read more

I had heard about this restaurant being a "must go" experience when in Toronto. You will not be disappointed- the eclectic decor, the service, and especially the food - is what any special dinner should be - memorable. The appetizers were fun - the wine selection was plentiful, and the fresh fish - presented whole and on a platter to the table for one to make their selection - was an enjoyable and educational experience. My freshly grilled whole fish was simply delicious. When in Toronto, Joso's will be at the top of my list for an excellent evening. read more

I don't understand why people like this place. I tried quite a few things on the menu and felt pastas are boring and the seafood is way over priced. The ink squid pasta we didn't enjoy at all and you would think after telling the waitress she would charge us for it especially since we sent it back during our meal. read more

I've never had a bad meal at Joso's. It's my first choice for special occasions. I'm a huge seafood lover and this is by far the best seafood in Toronto. read more

Masterful fresh fish flown in every day, great ambiance, all while surrounded by various artwork celebrating genetalia. What's not to love?

The spaghetti and grilled sea food are tasty, but the most impressive to me is the style of the restaurant. There are so many collections and paintings that you can think it as a museum. Good for dating. read more

I always find time for this jewel, food excellent staff friendly and a very enjoyable way to spend an evening. Very reasonably priced for what it is. Treat yourself and go. read more

Came here for birthday dinner with my special friend. The food was delectable. The seafood out of this world fresh. The atmosphere is a little kitschy to say the least, but somehow it all blended together to create a classy, romantic vibe. Despite it being a busy Friday night, the wait staff were very attentive. I've seen some complaints on Yelp about the place being quite pricey, so we went in there with the mindset that we would be dropping quite a bit of dough. But we actually found the food to be quite reasonably pricey. Wine was abut $50-60 per bottle on average. The fish that was recommended was $40. All in all, with appetizers, mains, a bottle of wine, post-dinner drinks, and dessert, our bill came to about $250, which included tax and 18% tip. Would definitely visit again. read more

Decoration is unique. Very good taste! Best choice for seafood! If you want seafood you must have to be Joso's!

I spent my birthday dinners and my anniversary days there. Intimate vibe and classy decoration.

Truly the best Fish Restaurant in Toronto! The Risotto is amazing and the Fish is Fabulous! The atmosphere is cozy and warm. Just an amazing place to eat! read more

I was underwhelmed given the reviews both online and word of mouth for this place. We ordered calamari, and two fresh fish dishes. Loved the presentation and that you can see and pick your fish, but very bland and over priced. The restaurant itself is cluttered and seating was very tight. Service was decent, but nothing to write home about. If I go back I'll make sure to try the squid ink pasta as this is what people seem to be raving about read more

Really solid seafood and italian food - I loved the calamari and octopus (so many other places have a rubbery texture). The pastas and risottos are rich and flavourful without being heavy and oily. Attentive service. I would absolutely go back. read more

This place was amazing!! The food was delicious. I will definitely return back here to eat again. Everyone is so friendly and attentive. Nice cozy place to dine in or out on their front patio or upstairs I ordered the shrimp with marinara and rice and my husband ordered the octopus with beets. We were impressed on how delicious everything tasted. read more

No other restaurant compares to this one in the city. Best service, best ambiance, best food. Period. They know how to grill any and all seafood. If they have octopus or tuna on that nite - I would definitely recommend ! I have tried everything from Arctic Char to the Tuna, Pasta to the Gamberoni... a little salt, a little pepper, some oil and some grill marks... it doesn't get any better than this. read more

Very interesting ambiance and choice of decor, not for the virgin eyes though. However, the food was delicious and satisfy all. We had the oysters (love them small, and far from fishy with a home made light cocktil sauce), the procuitto and cheese (a little dry though), the pasta and squid was delicious (was a little messy... left my lips and teeth dirty looking, so not ideal for dates but was worth it, next time I want to try the rosotto though), and for fresh fish picked the scorpion fish which was simply heavenly (grilled to perfection, light and far from fishy, which I can't stand). Great quirky place to wine and dine. Definately coming back. :) read more

Had the squid ink pasta and black mouth fish. Simply prepared and very delicious! Would definitely come back and try the risotto.

I would describe this as one of my worst dining experiences in recent memory. The restaurant, at least upstairs is not air-conditioned and was far too warm. The food was mediocre; hit and miss with some decent but not outstanding items and several disappointing ones. The grilled fish was particularly disappointing. The most disappointing part was the service which could charitably be described as inattentive but bordered on rude at points: they forgot the sides and then after being reminded bought them out after the entrees. I will not return to this restaurant and will not recommend it to any of my friends - in fact I would actively discourage them from dining there. read more

Excited to be having our company Christmas Party at Josos this year! Best Fish in Toronto!