I had seen La Veranda Osteria outside Royal York subway station for a few years now, admired their flower-festooned summer patio, and enjoyed the aromas wafting across the street. Finally, I visited for the first time. I had perused the menu extensively, as part of a quest to find an Etobicoke restaurant suitable for my Mother's upcoming Birthday Celebration. They had so many, appealing Italian and Italian-Canadian options, with pasta, veal, steak and seafood selections. My Mother wanted to check it out before committing to a family gathering, hence our recent visit. The restaurant is airy and spacious, with pleasant and elegantly simple decor. Its vibe is upscale casual. We were greeted and seated right away, and our delightful server offered us beverages and answered our questions about the menu. She was, throughout the meal, really excellent: charming, with a good knowledge of the menu and thoughtful recommendations. We started with some cheesy garlic bread, which was very enjoyable: a good artisan bread with plenty of garlic and melted cheese. They clearly had heeded our request for extra garlic. The stuffed pastas had been enthusiastically recommended by both the menu and the staff, so my Mother and I went for that. She had the Veal-Stuffed Ravioli, with pesto rather than rose sauce. I had the Manicotti Gratinato stuffed with ricotta, with a rose sauce. My daughter ordered the Gnocci with Pesto Sauce. All three choices were excellent, and I can highly recommend the pastas at La Veranda. Although we were feeling quite satisfied, we couldn't resist the European desserts. We shared house-made Tiramisu and the Italian, imported Hazelnut torte. They were both excellent. The Tiramisu was light and flavorful, and the Hazelnut torte was bursting with hazelnut flavor. The desserts were not too sweet, which is how we happen to prefer them. In short, everything was to our satisfaction, and more!! The prices were not to bad either. My Mother felt that this would be a great location for her birthday gathering, so we made the booking then and there. Evidently, we were not the only ones thinking along these lines, as it took a while to find a Saturday night which was not already booked up by large parties. If you want to book at La Veranda for a larger gathering, best to do it well in advance. We finally settled on an evening about a month away from the date of our visit. La Veranda is a wonderful place to gather and dine, from couples to larger parties. The washrooms are beautiful, the service is gracious and knowledgeable, and there is plenty of parking across the street at Royal York station. It is accessible to disabled diners as well. With excellent food, great service and amenities, La Veranda is worth consideration if you are in Toronto's West End. read more

Exceptional dining experience by very attentive caring staff and delicious authentic Italian fare of the highest caliber in warm surroundings that created the perfect atmosphere for our family gathering. Highly recommend this hidden Etobicoke gem...can't wait to go back. Thank you Tami and your staff for making us feel like family! read more

Met a friend for a Friday night evening out. Didn't know it was a birthday celebration. Perfect venue for a lovely night out. Service could not have been better. Constantly checked on to make sure we were ok. Started with drinks. Ordered a Pinot Grigio and they recommended something similar, which was excellent. Then we split a Caesar salad. Plenty for two people. Lots of fresh Parmesan. I ordered the chicken parm with penne and tomato sauce. Penne was perfect. The chicken, unfortunately, was way overcooked. Two very thin pieces of very crunchy chicken. I had high hopes for this but didn't want to complain. The staff were all so lovely. We will definitely be back but will order something else from their extensive menu. read more

Great portions. Attentive & polite service. Scrumptious food, no matter what you order. Chef's pasta of the day is always a hit. read more

Although I've not yet visited La Veranda in person, I have ordered from here a bunch of times during the pandemic. I've tried many of their pasta dishes and also their pizzas - all have been delicious. My fave dishes include the agnolotti stuffed with mushrooms and leeks, the cheese manicotti, fettuccine alfredo, and the angel hair in tomato sauce. Pizzas are also super tasty, thin crust and a decent amount of toppings. Portions are generous and there's usually lots of leftovers for the next day. We've only tried their hazelnut dessert which was delicious, but would like to try some other varieties next time we order. Looking forward to visiting them in person someday in the future! read more

I was there on a Sunday night with a friend. Great greeting at the door. Our fabulous server was Melana. She was over the top excellent, and when I go back I'd like to have her again. The wine list is short, but good. I had the seafood linguine,and it was perfect and plentifull. We shared the cheesy garlic bread and mopped up the delicious olive oil,white wine garlic sauce...yum! Believe it or not we even had leftovers to take home. All the staff there that night helped Melana out and were very pleasant.. Lily was a doll...great team effort. We were too stuffed to order dessert. I did enjoy the feel of the room and overall ambience. read more

Although we have not been to this restaurant in person, my husband and I have ordered from here on multiple occasions over the past year. I love the Greek salad, garlic pizza and pasta dishes! read more

Fantastic, authentic Italian. We come every Sunday Eve with our three young boys. We come at 500 so as not to disturb later diners. Menu is traditional old school. Food is way better than the pictures in the menu. Staff are fantastically friendly. Service is really quick for pizzas. read more

Had better veal from Metro, after it has sat on the hot table since noon. What a shame, Uber eats supporting their restaurant and that's the quality/ portion I get for dinner. Will not be seeing me again. read more

La Veranda Osteria - $28.95 "veal tenderloin grilled to perfection" - apparently. - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is a nice cozy resto right across from the Royal York subway. It has cozy corners as well as larger open tables for larger groups. The decor is open and the service is the best part of the entire experience. We ordered bruschetta and grilled calamari to start. The bruschetta was serviced on dough white bread as opposed to a good crusty chewy italian bread with sad tasteless tomatoes that are prevalent in supermarkets. The grilled calamari was tasty in a lemony sauce. We ordered pasta stuffed with lobster, veal rolled around prosciutto with risotto, and linguine pescatore mains. The veal and risotto was very good as was the stuffed pasta. The seafood pasta had nice fresh perfectly cooked shrimp and mussels but the crab leg and scallops were over cooked and rubbery. Dessert was chocolate truffle cake, cheesecake, and creme brule. All delish. The resto was very accommodating and let us girls sit and catch up for an hour after we finished our meals. They even refilled our water glasses. Definitely coming back! read more

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Truly disgusting....they do not deserve a single star, but I can't continue without selecting one. Overpriced food,slow service. It is spelled MARGHERITA not Margharita. The bread was at least a couple of days old. The prosciutto on my pizza smelled bad and when I told the waiter he argued with me. I arrived with a empty stomach and left with an empty stomach...something that should never happen in an authentic Italian restaurant. ....never again ! read more

Ordered the chicken in lemon butter and herb sauce with vegetables and potatoes. As soon as it came me and my friend both made a face at the way the chicken looked . It was so pale and bland it literally looked like perogies, if someone had given me 100 dollars to guess what meat it was I would have lost . When I decided to give it a try you can literally smell and tell that they had put it in the microwave to defrost it , threw sauce on it and called it a day not even a charbroil mark to show a pan had touched it. I politely just pushed the plate to the side didn't even want to complain and continued drinking my drink . A waiter came over to ask if everything was ok I said it's ok I don't want it but I don't even want the hassle I'll pay for it . A few minutes later the manager came over very aggressively and said "did you even try it ?" Even when I proceeded to say it's ok I don't want to take it home it's fine I'll pay , with an attitude he told me this was a best selling dish and nobody has ever had a problem and walked away . FYI ownership/management, the polite thing to do is to ask what's wrong , possibly offer something else or simply just apologize and take the food away especially when the customer said they don't want the fuss and will pay . Maybe you should downsize your menu and not be shocked when someone orders something you obviously aren't prepared for and have to give them subpar food for $25 . read more

I honestly don't understand why anyone would give this lovely spot less than 4 stars. Is it the BEST restaurant in the 416? No. But is it consistently satisfying? YES! We order from here via Uber Eats/DoorDash at least once a week and are always impressed with the quality of the food, the portions, the care at how it's packaged for us. If you're interested in a solid Italian meal that really fits the bill, La Veranda is a great spot. If it's your anniversary dinner and you want something epic, this may not be the spot for you. But if you like solid red sauce, kind humans, generous portions and a friendly atmosphere, this is a local spot not to be missed! read more

Went with my daughter at 6:30 pm to find that we are ALONE having dinner Wednesday 02-02-2022. She ordered grilled calamari and a salad, the moment they put the dish on the table the smell of rotten fish overwhelmed our nose. My dish was pasta with seafood in white wine sauce, tasteless, unappetizing presentation, 2 shrimp, one clam, and crab leg the size of a 3 inch pencil and 2 scallopsthe size of a pencil eraser. . The pasta is cooked in water without salt..literally has no taste. Bread basket was 2 mini Baggett cold wrapped in cling film and butter. We said that we are not going to eat this food. . She came back later and said no charge but the food is fine. She was total dizaster from A to Z. What a dizaster. Shame on them. I think the food is stored pre COVID lockdown and they are using it. The dizaster is, they think they're right and we have the problem...no decency in this world anymore. read more

I have to judge a place on the food only and not their service. I figure, are you willing to get slapped in the face for some of the most delicious things you can eat? I guess so, because I keep coming back for more. The wait staff at this place is horrible, orders messed up, the way they talk to you and make you feel. The manager lady is great. But one waitress said my kid wasn't allowed to cry. It's a family restaurant, I see babies coming and going all the time, I mean who says that? Tables take long to get cleaned up after a dish is done. The bar waitress however did seem to have a good head on her shoulders, friendly and prompt on drinks. All that being said, everything I've had on their menu is perfect. That freaking rose sauce, I want to drown in it, it's that good. Just that with spaghetti and I'm set. But everything, the best bruschetta, eggplant, chicken, dessert, I haven't been disappointed by a dish. Go there for amazing food, it kind of reminds me of the soup Nazi from Sienfield, they have all these rules and warnings there read more

Terrible experience. First time I have left a restaurant and not tipped. Came for lunch with my two kids, ordered a kids pizza and spaghetti with meat sauce immediately upon arrival (as any parent does when dining with young children). 30 minutes later, the food has still not arrived. Four servers had to check on the meal. I ended up having to leave soon after it arrived, and when I got the bill the pizza was double the price of the one I had ordered. Upon questioning the bill the server said, "oh you can't order that one for lunch." I told her it was the one I showed the original server and he had said nothing. I can't believe they contested the price at all. I left so upset, as it's a lot of effort to take a one year old and a four year old to lunch. Never go here. Nobody seemed to know what was going on, and we received no apology. Terrible. read more

We choose La Veranda Osteria for a be-lated birthday get together. I had eyed this place a few times because of its lovely flower filled front patio. I had also eaten at this restaurant when it was called Cru but had not been back since it became La Veranda. Came in around 7pm on a Monday night. Restaurant was pretty busy...a good sign. We had made reservations via Open Table but it probably wasn't necessary. We were assigned a table for two inside in the corner that backed onto a circular booth. It was fine but the table beside us remained empty throughout our entire meal so for the sake of personal space, I would have preferred to sit there than to be so close to the booth next to us. It's like being on the TTC, having empty seats all around and the next person who gets on needs to sit immediately right beside you. Grrr. The menu at Le Veranda is thick...so thick in fact that it comes in a hardcover bound book. There are so many menu choices that I could literally hear Gordon Ramsey screaming on Kitchen Nightmares about the dangers of having of a massive menu. Nevertheless, a few pages of the menu book was dedicated to a gluten-free section, which was fantastic for my friend with a gluten allergy. We ordered the grilled calamari to start ($12.95), mains - grilled salmon salad (gluten free - $21.95) and tagliatelle ala veranda ($18.95) and a half litre of white wine ($18.95). The wine list had a few red/white choices with bottles priced between $29-$40 which I thought was quite fair but being that it was a school night, we decided to take it easy and go with the half litre. There was also a secondary wine list on the table that had many selections stroked off using a metallic marker so not sure if that list was the most recent. Our server was an older gentleman...neither friendly or surly - just present. He brought us over a bread basket that contained 2 white rolls and a whole wheat one, but no gluten-free bread. You would think it would just make sense to bring gluten-free bread for someone that just ordered from the gluten-free menu. The calamari came next...generous portion of grilled squid topped with rosemary and I think an exotic spice called salt. Next came the mains. The salmon a top my friend's salad looked like it had been hacked to bits with a knife. It was not in a filet form...just hunks of salmon on top of a bed of spinach (dressing on the side but no other veggies in the salad). My pasta was quite good. The tagliatelle came with pieces of roasted red pepper, asparagus and cherry tomatoes tossed in olive oil and garlic. We decided to skip on dessert since we were both pretty stuffed. When paying the bill, they put my credit card into one of those machines but the part for tipping was not clear. I hit okay and it processed the final amount and I didn't have a chance to type in the tip so I left cash. Le Veranda is a decent pasta joint, would have liked service to be a little more lively. Just a word of warning, the meal lasted close to 2 hrs. There is fine print in the menu that says the pastas can take up to 50 min. to prepare so not a place for those look for a quickie out-the-door meal. read more

Ah, I don't know... on a recent visit, it just didn't impress me like the last time I ate there. $26 for penne pasta? Are you kidding me? It was always expensive, but lately excessively so. And while I do greatly appreciate attentive service, I also appreciate some privacy while I eat my meal... WAY too much hovering. Here's what really got me - this time we dined with our 1.5-year-old (we went early, long before most people would have dinner, so it was mostly empty at that point. Also, we know the etiquette of dining with a toddler, and we do our best to keep her quiet, respectful, and neat... and we would take her for a walk if we needed to... I think MOST parents know that too). What rubbed me the wrong way, was the sign on the wall that professes that they are a family restaurant, but please keep your kids quiet. Really? Don't you think most parents are trying to do that anyway? Doesn't it go without saying? It just seems a bit tacky to put it in writing on the wall. While my kiddo was very well behaved for the whole visit, I felt extremely on edge for the whole meal, nervous that one wrong move might have us shunned. Won't rush back I'm afraid. read more

We dropped in for dinner on a Wednesday night. It was busier than expected and there was a few families in the restaurant. I was impressed by the decor of the restaurant and that this restaurant is run by a family! The menu is well done except for the fact that any corrections are written in with a sharpie. The problems started after we were seated. We had about 5 different servers. I know that one was a bus boy but we had 4 waiters/waitresses. When our food arrived it was sub par. I had the lemon chicken with veg. My veg was a giant pile of mushy crap. The chicken was okay but nothing to pay $20 for. My Fiancee ordered Agnolotti and it was okay. It had a store bought quality to it and something we could of made at home. Once we finished eating we waited 15 mins for our bill and this was after we asked for it from one of our four servers. A fifth server came with the credit card machine. As we were leaving my Fiancee mentioned that she felt like we were in one of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and that about summed up our experience. I don't think we'll be heading back anytime soon. read more

Sunday night, Labour Day weekend, 2011. we were headed down to Little Italy after an afternoon movie but the traffic was bad. My wife had often seen the ouside of this place with its very welcoming gardenlike patio, so we figured "what the heck"? The patio was closed due to inclement weather. No worries, we went inside. It has a very nice warm, welcoming atmosphere. It was very busy with families, a good sign! The wait staff was very fast and attentive. The menu was a bit daunting, in that it is a book of pictures of Italy and menu items. There seemed to be WAY too many choices. They really should limit it a bit. We ordered some drinks. Kudos for having something for kids. Our daughter is 13 and we always order a chocolate milk, which they had. My wife ordered the Ministroni soup, My daughter had the Child's menu pizza ( the child's menu is for kids up to only 10 years of age! The waitress asked her age and I said 10. My daughter is 13 going on 15. The waitress laughed and said OK. I'm not trying to be cheap, but my daughter doesn't even finish the kids meal at ANY restaurant. Plus, 10 does seem a tad young for a Kid's meal cut-off age. .) I ordered the Pasta Carbonara. My wife's Ministroni was a bit of an over-boiled, gloupy mess. Once the celery turns grey, it's time to make a fresh batch! I'm glad it was only an appetizer. My pasta was overly rich. There was way more sauce than pasta, which with a carbonara, is NOT a good thing. Very salty as well. Sorry to be nit-picky, but the carbonara should be creamy...i.e, not scrambled eggs and cream and cheese. If i am going to pay 19 bucks for a pasta I can make at home for a couple of bucks, I would think it would be made properly. My Daughter's pizza was OK. Very thin crust. A tad skimpy on the sauce but plenty of cheese, which kids like. Kudos, once again for them only charging us for the kid's meal pizza....liar that I am. :-P The atmosphere is very friendly and family oriented, which is what I like. The staff is very attentive as well. Nice ambience, although, since it's a family friendly place, a tad loud. My main beef with this place is that it is over-priced for what you are getting. I would give it 3 stars if the mains were 7- 10 bucks cheaper. It's just not worth the money for the linen napkins and tablecloths. This is what you are paying for. If you want a good, decent family Italian restaurant for half the price in the area, try Vesuvios on Dundas West or go all the way to little Italy and try Cafe Diplimatico or Gato Nero on College St. Bottom line:They are very nice but the fine linen isn't worth the extra 20+ bucks on the bill. read more

We met friends for dinner on a snowy night and decide to give it a try. My first impression walking into the place was negative - because there is a bold message as you walk in, "we do not provide separate bills, we will split across 2 separate credit cards" or something to that effect. There was plenty of wait staff, but 3 different people were tending to our table. So we were not sure who to talk to about questions. The menu is very large (unnecessarily large) too many options. And there were pictures of the food - like we don't know what a bowl of pasta looks like or a pizza. Our reservation was for 7:00 pm. And while the restaurant wasn't too busy because of the snowy conditions, service was slow. We had the Caesar Salad as an appetizer - and it was good. My wife had a pasta carbonara and I had the chicken parm. Both were good. We had dessert, which was a purchased cake - I think La Rocca - and it was very good. All in all, I would say the meal was nothing special. Though, I am not a fan of when the server clears plates while others are still dining. There are much better options around. The first thing you see about separate checks, the inattentive service, the dated presentation and lack of focus on the menu (with that many options, you begin to suspect items may not be fresh) though our food was good. I wouldn't go back and I wouldn't recommend. read more

It is definitely worth it for the food. Pasta was perfect. Pizzas were delicious. Everything was fresh and beautifully prepared. The only down side is the interior is a little weird with signs that warn you not to ask for separate cheques, kind of creates a weird vibe. But the food is good. read more

I came here with my Grandma and Aunt and I was immediately shocked at the beautiful decor and sheer size of the restaurant when I walked in. For my whole life pretty much, I have driven past this restaurant coming down Royal York and only really noticed it in the summer time with it's front patio jam packed with flowers and foliage. I thought it was a little cafe, but I was so very wrong! Once I got over the looks, it now came down to the food. That's really what it's about, right? I had the veal parmesan. It was pretty flavourful coating on the veal, but I did find the sauce to be a tad bit on the bland side. Mind you, I have been spoiled my whole life with my Grandma's sauce, so I may be slightly biased! Others in my party had the sea bass, pizza, and fettucine alfredo and there wasn't a sad face in the bunch. I would come back but probably only for special occasions as it was a tad on the pricier side. I definitely would sit inside though, no matter what time of year. A few too many flowers outside on the patio for me! read more

My friend and I moved to High Park/Bloor a few months ago and we've been doing a LOT of exploring around west Toronto. La Veranda is conveniently located across from Royal York subway station and its beautiful patio caught our attention right away. The food is delicious, very big portions and the owner and staff are so friendly; they make you feel like you're a VIP customer! The Pappardelle Carbonara is my favourite meal on the menu, followed closely by the Passionfruit Bomba for dessert!! We enjoyed our first experience so much that it's become one of our local favourites. Definitely recommend it! read more

We took our Dad who was visiting from Italy out for what was supposed to be a nice dinner and it turned out to be not so good. To start with the wine wasn't good for the price that we paid. When it came time for our food the prosciutto was foul. I understand mistakes happen, but when we mentioned it to the staff they decided to argue saying the prosciutto was fresh. The problem is most of the table grew up eating prosciutto in Italy and knows bad prosciutto when they smell it. So after the long wait for the food we continued to wait longer for our bill. Overall for the money we paid the overall dining experience was very poor. I wouldn't recommend a family to eat here. It was too bad that our Dad had to eat this for one of his last dinners in Canada. read more

Enjoyed dinner at this place on April 2/15 with some friends. We had the full Monty..appetizers, drinks, dessert & main. The menu was large & varied. I had the Chicken Gorgonzola which was beyond creamy & wife had Chicken Parmesan. Both very tasty dishes & fair size. Nothing to really complain about. Waite staff was polite & patient & served us at our pace. I always find Pasta WAY to pricy for what you're getting anyway. One thing did stick in my mind...the menu as very commanding. What I mean is "we won't do this or we won't do that"!! They may have forgotten who's in charge here of this relationship. read more

Just got back from a terrible lunch. The greeting hostess was just plain rude. I ordered the special, angel hair pasts with asparagus and shrimp. When it came ther was not an asparagus to be seen. I called the hostess over and told...I could not believe it...she just turned her back and walked away. When I told the other hostess about it on leaving, she could have cared less. Will not be back or recommend this place to anyone. read more

When you first go into this restaurant, you will notice that it is rather strange....there are a ton of signs on the walls that have various messages telling you that it is a family run restaurant...not to ask for things...be a nice customer...etc etc.........which seems rather rude. But, when you get to know the wait staff, you realize that it is a lovely venue with really nice people who run the joint!!! The menu is HUGE....they have a really good selection of italian food. Their home-made pastas (egg noodles) are some of the best that I have tasted in Toronto -- which is amazing for such a random place in Etobicoke. Try the lunch menu -- value for money, it is excellent!!!!! The salad is large and the main course is also very big!!! It is served quickly and piping hot!!!! In the summertime, the patio is beautiful, with a ton of flowers outside that create a very private atmosphere (even though you are eating on Royal York Rd!). Make sure to indulge in a glass of wine. For a restaurant in Etobicoke, La Veranda Osteria has a great wine list! We were very impressed with the selection of non-Ontario wines!!!!!!! All in all, good food, good prices, good service!!!!! read more

Very good for groups as the will accommodate within short time. Food was good quality, generous and tasted like they were cared after not your typical read more

La Veranda Osteria - Limone Ripieno - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I had a baptism lunch there as it is close to the church and can accomodate large groups. I love that it has a family style option. The food was great and my guests left very happy and full. From my perspective I did not like that children as young as 4 were charged the full portion. I also wanted my uncle to choose the wine and I mentioned this upon reservation but when I arrived two bottles of wine were alrea dy open. The servers had no problem serving the wine and asking to bring more bottles but I had to ask 3 times for a glass of water. My baby was only 3 months old and I was nursing so that meant I only had the water. I brought my own cake and they charged a cake cutting fee for each guest even though many of the guests did not have the cake. I would have appreciated if they asked the guests prior to cutting. Having worked at a high end chain restaurant years ago, I was trained to go above and beyond the guests expectations. Here I just felt like they tried to squeeze as much out of me. I wont be back. read more

Mama Mia! Bring the whole family here! Amazingly huge plates of pasta, along with well-priced wine and great service. Try the lasagna and bring a big appetite! Definitely a great winter spot to hunker down for a hearty Italian meal! read more

I have been living up the road from La Veranda for over 2 years, and have been there 5 or 6 times in that time span. All I can say is that being raised with an Italian grandfather, I know a thing or two about what authentic Italian food tastes like. La Veranda is definitely it. The veal cannelloni rose is to die for, and not only do you have a waiter, but you have a wine guy as well as a pepper guy! It is definitely not in the cheap price range, but again, the quality of the meals is what makes this place special. Great atmosphere, always love taking friends there. read more

Service was very friendly and fun to talk to. Although there were weird signs everywhere warning that you can only pay one bill, no separate bills. Pizza was good but the pasta was super wet and texture was weird. The taste was there though just the texture was off. Wouldn't go back but wasn't terrible. read more

We hosted a 30 year reunion for 35 adults and 5 kids recently at La Veranda and we are so happy with the choice we made! The management and staff there were accommodating from the beginning with our fluctuating numbers and on the night of the party they were patient with our large group and went above and beyond making sure the night was a success. Even helping pack up leftover food for everyone, encouraging them to take their pre-paid desserts to go, giving the kids lollipops, offering to warm up bottles etc. Just the little things that mean a lot. And above all the food was delicious. We had the family feast menu and there was SO much food and something for everyone. they even accommodated special dietary restrictions. We had a wonderful night and La Veranda helped make it a success so we could sit back and enjoy the company instead of micro managing the event. My sincere thanks to everyone at the restaurant and I am looking forward to hosting our next event there! Nadia Tedesco read more

This place is always a winner when it comes to choosing restaurants. The atmosphere is very good, the service is great and the food is even better. The garlic pizza (I believe thats what it is called) is really good. the soups are very good. their version of a fettuccini alfredo is amazing! read more

Incredibly dated. Weird, tacky decor. Incredibly strange signs and lecturing policy statements. Feels like you're eating at a crotchety relative's. I don't remember any plants inside, but if there were they would be plastic and have an inkjet sign telling the guests not to touch. It's that persnickety sort of place. My guess is that they have suppressed an inferiority complex; they certainly seem to be overcompensating for something. Service feels oddly formal given the estate sale decor. But it's strangely forced -- instead of practiced elegance it oozes the self-indulgence of third-rate high school theatre. The food is okay. It's dated too, but Italian is rather timeless. The menu is huge. And full of pictures. As though it was created back when photography was something new and exciting. There is one rather unfortunate respect in which they do seem to be ahead of the times: their prices cleverly already account for the next decade of inflation. Perhaps they wanted to make sure they wouldn't have to re-laminate the menu in 2027. read more

This restaurant was recommended to me by two people and a friend and I finally made it there. I go along that part of Bloor all the time; but I guess I never go along Royal York because I had no idea this place was there. I was surprised at the size when we walked in. We had a lovely table by the window. I had lasagne and my friend had another pasta dish, both were excellent. As for the dessert menu - I've never seen one like it - spoilt for choice. The service was excellent - but not intrusive. We didn't require separate cheques, but I agree with comments here that seeing a sign saying not to ask seemed a bit weird ... although they do take separate credit cards. I don't really understand some of the comments here stating that the place is dated, or tacky decor. The patio looks charming, although there is a sign stating that there was a 2-hour limit to sit there. It's a keeper. read more

I have been coming to La Veranda since it first opened. The last few years the service and food have gone so downhill. Last year a friend did a large birthday party there (10 people) and they screwed up our food, would not alter any dishes (ie leave out red peppers for someone with allergies) They told that person to choose another dish etc. My mother in law loves the place and insisted on Mothers Day dinner. Disaster from start to finish. We had 4 waiters serving us which was annoying for consistence. Then they forgot my appetizer and everyone at the table felt bad. Also I order the buttered pasta for my daughter and said no cheese. Still came with cheese, and she would not eat it. I mentioned it and the waiter shrugged his shoulders, said sorry and charged us anyhow. We waited over an hour for the main course. Then the clincher was when the soup that never arrived show up on the bill still. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! I am never returning to this spot. My pasta was average at best with overcooked shrimp (only 3?!!) for $25. I would much rather go to Pulcinella's on Lakeshore-- WAY better Italian, great service etc. read more

Went to La Veranda last night finally for the first time. I have heard so many great reviews from people and was dying to check it out myself. It was very good. The Vegetable Antipasto was amazing and the wine selection is fantastic. Everyone in our party had a pasta dish. The gnocchi was as good as any other italian place I've been. The agnolotti was great, the texture of the egg pasta firm and delicious. Beautiful bathrooms and decor. The only down side I found was that we felt as though they were trying to get us out asap and the servers sort of hovered. Of course that could be chalked up to it being a Saturday night. This will be a go to spot for us. read more

I discovered this place late in time living in Etobicoke, and I wish I had known about it earlier. I'm big on Italian seafood, but Grappa on Queensway has such bizarre business hours and was so far out of my way that I rarely went. Then I found La Veranda Osteria. Its location is convenient, right next to Royal York Station on the Bloor subway line. Because of poor exterior layout, with too many trees obscuring its so-so marquee, it can be a little hard to spot; the main door is hidden under the trees and shadows. The first time I went there I had the seafood medley with pasta, and I'll be honest -- I was blown away. It's rare that I'm impressed by pasta itself, but this pasta tastes firm, fresh, and special. The wine sauce is absolutely delicious, and the seafood is flavoured very well. I brought a party of four here the second time I came and my fellow diners were singing praises about the salmon dish. I had the Zuppa di Pesce and its quality is comparable to the first dish I had. Seating is more cozy than posh, with the layout of the restaurant being a bit chaotic. Visually it's more of a family-restaurant vibe than a high-price restaurant. The food takes a bit of time to come, but everything feels like it's made traditionally and with care, accounting for the longer wait times. The service personnel is good, warm and personable. read more