If you like seafood, you must try! We ordered the Siciliana and Muscles & Clams spaghettini and both were delicious. However, we did wait almost one hour for our entrees to be served. Good thing we were patient and not in a hurry or super hungry. Maybe if we ordered appetizers maybe the wait would not have been as long?? Service was attentive. A basket of bread is brought to your table along w/ a presentation of fresh seafood you can order. We sat on the front patio which was nice touch. read more

What is there to say about the legendary establishment that has been treating Toronto diners for years on end? Well it turns out a hell of a lot. Leo and Shirley Sparlja have been friends of our entire family for an extremely long time and treat us (as well as every other patron) like royalty as soon as they walk through the door. For the lucky few who have been to Santa Margherita in Italia would know that the décor and quaint feel of the restaurant captures that feeling perfectly (which is not an easy task). Now besides the unbelievable lighting, décor and unmatched hospitality, everyone returns time and time again for the food. Some restaurants like to hide behind an eccentric décor to cover for their lack of experience in the kitchen, but this is not the case at Joso's. Whether it be for lunch or late dinner, Joso's never ceases to impress diners with a wide selection of seafood and fish of the highest quality. One of my favorite aspects of this restaurant is that Leo is not scared to sit down at your table, share a glass of wine (if they are not too busy) and discuss what you like so he can put together a seafood platter that fits your preferences. Now I want to stress to you that your first experience should be with a couple people so that you can taste a bunch of dishes. Try the chopped octopus salad, insalata di mare, grilled fish (whatever is fresh) and please please for the love of god get the Siciliana. This is the glorious unctuous sauce of sepia simmered and stewed in its own ink, it is nothing short of a triumph of culinary tradition. Joso's is considered an establishment for many reasons, however one lies above all. The consistency. Joso's most impressive feature is the fact that they NEVER have an "off-day". The front and back of house work so well together it almost seems to be choreographed, which allows them to handle the immense amount of traffic that migrate there every night. Leo and Shirley I would like to tip my hat to you for creating such a mecca of gastronomy. You are greatly appreciated, I will see you again very, very soon. read more

A couple of friends had told us about Joso's. Last month we tried it and definitely will be back. It was certainly one of Toronto;s best sea food experiences. The fact that one of the ladies of my household loves guitar music set the tone for our experience there. The colorful art along with Leo's and Joso's guitar stylings creates kind of quirky offbeat ambience that has always appealed to us. Lysanne had the Shrimp Jadera, Nina had the Risotta alla Milanese with porcini mushrooms and saffron. It smelled wonderful. Electra had the Risotta alla Pescatora and I being rather cautious in new establishments had the Fillet of Beef. I also had a side of grilled peppers and stewed vegetables. Everything was truly fantastic, most of it greatly exceeding our expectations which were pretty high given the enthusiasm with which our friends had recommended Joso's The service was personable, attentive and timely. The overall feeling was cozy and relaxe. Joso's was the start of a perfect evening. read more

My experience at Joso's is always wonderful. The atmosphere and decor are unique and full of character; the seating is cozy, the people are beautiful, the food is well prepared and delicious, but most importantly the staff go out of their way to make you feel welcome, comfortable, and looked after... and in my opinion that is the true sign of a good restaurant and the foundation for a positive dining experience. Yes, it's an expensive place to dine, but... the quality of the experience and food is worth every penny. I highly recommend!!! read more

Went to this place for the first time last night. Overall favourable impression. Will go back to try new dishes next time. read more

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Oh Joso's, what are you? From the pictures of celebrity-patrons (Mariah Carey, Springsteen, De Niro, Kate Hudson, etc.), you seem like a VIP-only establishment that requires reservations weeks in advance and a special connection to get past a velvet rope. But, no, you're down-to-earth and don't play difficult-to-get with your reservations (though reservations are recommended). From the photographs and paintings of women (and the occasional man) in stages of undress lining the walls and from the boudoir red color of the establishment, I would expect Hugh Hefners in silk pajamas smoking Cubans in the corner. But instead I see a very mixed crowd of couples and families and friends. And I worry that the ostentatious decor hides sub-par food, but, no, the food is amazing. From the simple yet fresh goat-cheese salad, to the creamy and delicious risotto prepared with sepia (squid) and its ink, to the mousse and creme brulee that were perfectly sweetened, my taste buds were pleased. Joso's is a treat for the senses. read more

Friend brought me here saying that Drake eats here. That wasn't really a convincing factor for me, but a nice FYI for those that don't know. The place itself is decorated in aqua themed art and naked people. The staff was very caring and informative. I had the scorpion fish, it was good and tender, but not mind blowing. This place is very pricey which makes sense if Drake eats here. read more

Brace yourself for a unique meal with fairly wild art (prudes avoid this one) and possibly the best seafood I've had in Toronto. From apps to mains, service to atmosphere, the meal was simply outstanding. read more

We really enjoyed the atmosphere here. It reminded us a little bit of Boba (really miss that place!). The service started out excellent but did wane a little bit as the evening wore on and the place got busier. The food was good. The hubs ordered the whole arctic char, lightly seasoned, and thought it was delicious. The grilled shrimp were excellent. Decent wine list. Dinner for two including a glass of wine each and dessert was around $200 with tip. Yep, we'd go back. read more

Honestly, I do not understand the hype around this restaurant. I mean unless one is going there for the atmosphere, it just doesn't make sense. The food is sub-par, unimpressive and bland. I had the fish and octopus and I noticed nothing spectacular for the prices they charge. The pasta was just horrible, completely inedible and sloppily plated. The only redeeming quality was that the pasta was al dente. The squid ink pasta smelled like rotting seafood and tasted "off." The server had made this suggestion and failed to mention that this dish is somewhat of an "acquired" taste; to put it mildly. She also failed to mention that this dish would stain one's teeth and lips black. Ultimately, this restaurant is pretentious for no good reason, really. read more

Food was good. Nothing inventive. Fresh fish. Very very expensive. I understand the art with all the boobs is suppose to be kitschy but I'm not sure I like the protrayal of women when waitresses are dressed with as much cleavage as possible. I didn't expect that in a family looking business. read more

The service was excellent and the staff were lovely. We had the oysters, a few pastas, the calamari and the mussels and clams. The food was excellent but the noodles were all a little too oily. Atmosphere is quirky, and interesting. I brought my son and he was a little uncomfortable with the large volume of nude photographs and pictures, but he didn't complain once! read more

I've been there several times，the risotto and squid ink spaghetti were better than other places I tried in Toronto.

After reading many good reviews, my bf and i have decided to give it a try. And I have to say, I was a little disappointed. The services was good but the food...I expected a little more. Especially their "secret ingredient" squid ink pasta, I found it was overrated. We also ordered the grilled octopus which is literally 3 grilled tentacles that were over cook and the grilled octopus costed us $39. I think I can find better seafood restaurants with a more reasonable price. read more

As soon as the plane lands in Toronto I always remember first thing is to call Joso's to reserve my fav fish, Scorpion, which is from Croatia. I love the Leonardo pasta and black ink. My husband and I ate here 2x a day for 5 days straight and he had fish soup for appetizer and as for his dessert. We got upset when we found out they close on Sunday. Daily fresh made tiramisu which I never missed to order to complete my meal every single time. And exquisite arts on the walls! Every where we travel we brag about Joso's and I think it is our best restaurant ever. Too bad Leo doesn't want to branch out to Vancouver. We'll see you soon in few days! read more

The service is impeccable. They have mastered sexy with their servers. Provocative art is present all over this cozy seafood spot. Pasta is great for the veg diners. A great spot for a romantic dinner for 2 or for small groups maybe up to 10. Reservations likely required. Honestly, all restaurants should strive to have the same level of service and quality. Not cheap but worth it. read more

Amazing fresh seafood prepared simply, great service and worth the price. Grab a bench seat as the chairs are not comfortable at all.

Joso's is, hands down, the best seafood restaurant in the city. While the prices are a little steep, it truly is the best quality that money can buy. I have tried almost everything on the menu, and it is all superb. Excellent service, gorgeous staff, and the decor--wow. Joso's is truly a feast for both the eyes and the stomach. I never want to eat anywhere else. read more

By far my favourite restaurant in the city. Yes it's pretty expensive but the food is out of this world! The decor is kind of odd; Mediterranean with naked statues inside but the little patio outside is quaint. I've also sat upstairs by the window which is a great spot as well. I've been coming here annually for my birthday dinner and it never disappoints. The service is always friendly, and the servers really know their menu and can speak to what each fish is like. We order the same appetizers each visit: the smoked trout (unbelievable), calamari, oysters and shrimp by the piece. The flavours are so good and fresh, I hate calamari but this is the only place I will eat it as it's not that rubbery texture you find at other places. The waitress greets you with a large dish of every type of whole fish you can imagine, all from different parts of the world and flavours. We always pick a different one every time to try. The fish is cooked whole with a little olive oil and salt so you really can taste the natural flavours of the fish. It's recommended to get the sides like vegetables and rice to go with your fish to make it a meal which are additional. Every year this place doesn't disappoint, and worth every cent! So great for a romantic dinner with someone special or for an occasion. read more

Best Seafood downtown Toronto. Hands Down. Definitely recommend as a solid date place.

It was a last minute decision to try this restaurant but it turned out to be a great choice. The food was excellent and the service was great. Definitely on my list of favourite spots. read more

Joso's has been one of my favorite restaurants since I first went there 3 years ago. Best calamari in Toronto! And if that is all you are ordering, the price is under $30. Excellent service with a staff that knows their stuff. read more

I have been going to Josos for 30 years and it remains one of the finest restaurants in Toronto for Mediterranean food/seafood. The spaghetti 'Leo' is sublime and the octopus and calamari are outstanding as apps to share. Yes, it is very expensive if you choose a whole grilled fish --- but ask it to be weighed / priced beforehand and share one. There are other menu options such as the char-grilled shrimp (outstanding) or lamb chops which are priced consistent with other fine restaurants in Toronto. read more

A diamond on the rough? i think not! This cozy little treasure is nestled in nicely along Davenport, West of Avenue Rd. This place is easy to miss but hard to forget. To begin, the decor was spectacular, even if you're not an art fan you have to appreciate the beauty of each hand made piece of art. Each piece was made by the owner or gifted to him by someone he knows. The seafood was amazing, grilled perfectly as it should be. We ordered a seafood sampler platter, it's not on the menu but they catered to our request and let us select what we wanted to try. They have a wide assortment of fresh fish from around the world. The service was truly great, our waitress was very knowledegable and attentive. Make sure to save room for desert, all thier deserts are home made by a couple of Portuguese ladies and the Tiramisu was to die for. Prices are a little steep but the experience will leave you on a high. Do book ahead or you may not get in. read more

I went with a friend from LA here and it's known even out there about the fantastic fish and seafood offerings. It's a really cool restaurant with interesting nude art and very cozy atmosphere. I ordered the pasta and shrimp but wasn't really blown away. Next time i'll be ordering something different. read more

Went there with a horrible date, yet felt incredibly good. Why? Because this restaurant is a gem. Don't bother comparing with Milos in Montreal, there's no comparison. Incredibly quaint, attentive and qualified staff, they found a place without us having a reservation, is that done in Montreal? Never in a lifetime. Food was grilled to perfection, mixed grill and calamari plate, wine was a delight exactly what matches with the food after I explained the waitress. Milos' food swims in oil Joso's is just the best seafood I ever had. Paid whatever the bill was, couldn't care less. Go and feel incredible because they just are. read more

Will not be returning. My boyfriend and I were just taking a stroll into Yorkville and thought we'd stop there for a few drinks and appetizers on the patio. Decor and food was very good. As for service. Very poor, We waited over 20 minutes for our drinks. We actually finished eating before our drinks arrived. The server seemed annoyed that we didn't want to order much else off the menu. read more

Sadly this was one of the worst meals i have ever had in Toronto. I was really expecting a special, nice meal just as in Croatia, but sorry not even close. Firstly this place didn't even have bread for our meal, and when we asked again they brought us crackers!! Are you kidding me. The sea food was definitely not fresh. One of my friends was served a bad oyster. The grilled shrimp were dry, and flavorless, just as the fish. The platter of sides was a joke. Truthfully, the best part of our meal was the arugula salad, which is sad for such an established place. True we had a late seating, however we weren't even informed that certain dishes were sold out, we discovered that when we started ordering. We were told that we should have come earlier, but why would they have a late seating if that was the case. All and all not a good experience and i would tell anyone to be aware before dropping $300 to $400 on a meal at this place. I've had better meals for less. Huge disappointment which definitely will not be repeated again. read more

We booked a table for 6 people for a 10pm reservation and while I realize that this is a late night reservation if this is not something that can be accommodated then it should not be a viable booking time. More than 50% of the fresh fish selection (its a seafood restaurant - and specifically what we came for) was sold out. There was no fresh calamari, no fresh octopus, and only two sardines remaining so our only option was a larger turbot ($60+) and prawns at $9/piece which is exorbitant at best. While we attempted to make the best of this disappointment we were just irritated to find out that the restaurant had run out of bread and our buzara (a dish made in a white wine broth and served with bread) was served without, when we complained we were offered a few dry crackers. This is just unacceptable. To further add to our disappointment one of the oysters we were served was pungently spoiled - there is no way that this should ever have been served to a table. While the service was good, there should have been accommodations made for the numerous disappointments during this service - of which there were none. For a bill of $640 this is not only disappointing for a restaurant of this caliber, but just plain unethical. We will not be returning to this restaurant again, and I suggest other diners use caution before booking here. read more