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    Padella

    4.2 (28 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

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    Jenn W.

    To avoid sounding repetitive, I found Padella best suited for people who enjoy under seasoned dishes, which allows an ingredient's natural flavours to shine, but was too plain for me. Some restaurants add a lot of toppings to their beef carpaccio ($16), the only garnishes at Padella were well-drained capers and shaved parmigiano; even the greens were left undressed. Indeed, we could taste the beef, it just doesn't taste like much without seasoning. Similarly, the pan seared octopus ($16) and cannellini bean salad barely had a lick of salt so the flavours were derived from the herbed olive oil. I just couldn't get used to the octopus' texture, which was too soft. Sure, you may be thinking tender octopus is a good thing. Yet, when the seafood flavours disappear and the springy texture almost becomes mushy, it no longer tastes like octopus. The clams to linguine ratio in the vongole ($19) was impressive: equal amounts of seafood to pasta. Moreover, both ingredients were prepared to perfection - the clams just cooked through but still juicy and the pasta retaining that lovely chewiness. If only the sauce wasn't so acidic - it's like the chef forgot he added lemon and did a second squeeze, then the person at the pass added a third helping - rendering everything so sour that even the garlic and white wine were masked. This could have been an amazing dish with a quarter of the lemon and double the salt. Only the spaghetti carbonara ($18) had a decent amount of saltiness from the guanciale, pecorino, and parmigiano. If you like bacon, this dish is for you as Padella doesn't skimp on the guanciale. Combined with the egg yolk, the cured pork's fat creates a rich smoky sauce that covers the fresh spaghetti. For me, I would have like more pepper to balance out the flavours.

    The bar.
    Peter M.

    This could easily be a five star review but it falls a bit short on the food. The ambiance is chillaxing - though can get pretty loud, and the service is spot on for this simple and small Italian restaurant. Padella is one of the many new restaurants that fill the Avenue Road corridor between Wilson and Lawrence. You have to be a standout to survive the ever changing gastronomic landscape of this trendy upper Toronto Neighbourhood. Stepping through the single door you are confronted with a heavy curtain (used as a pseudo-second door that usually baffles the wind and cold). Once you navigate that, you enter a small restaurant that is BZ! Almost every seat was taken. Ended up at the table next to the swinging door of the kitchen. The aroma of the place made me hungry and I wanted to try so many things. I ordered the Padella Pizza - can't go wrong with ordering a meal named after the restaurant, it's kind of my thing when trying a new place. My bud order the scallopini and I also ordered the chopped seafood appetizer. A couple glasses of wine to complete the order. The appetizer was ok. Lots of various seafood served on makeshift radicchio bowl but I found it more salty than it needed to be. The wood-oven Padella Pizza was better than an Il Fonello but not stellar - simple prosciutto and spinach. The scallopini was covered in chopped mushroom but my bud seem to somewhat enjoy it. I watched the other patrons and what they were having. Next time back, I want to try one of the many pasta dishes they have. As this is Avenue Road, parking is at a premium and the Parking Enforcement Officers are aplenty here. Watch out. Cheers.

    Margherita Pizza. Who wants the last slice. Meeeeeee.
    Erica L.

    One of my favorite Italian restaurant. My go to is their Margherita Pizza. Simple ingredients yet makes such a statement with your taste buds. Light and delicate, a real good eat. Here is the last slice left.

    Amazing cheesecake

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

    Excellent food and great service. The pasta was terrific as were the appetizers. I highly recommend!

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best Italian food in the area! Owner is very charismatic and has a great service! Ambiance is cozy

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    3 years ago

    Owner is really nice, place has a nice coziness to it, food is great! Nice intimate place

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    4 years ago

    Great Italian food! Have had quite a few items on their menu and were great - would definitely recommend.

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    Review Highlights - Padella

    The restaurant felt inviting and intimate.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Gusto 101

    Gusto 101

    4.0(1.3k reviews)
    10.1 km
    $$

    Returning to Gusto 101 for five consecutive nights proved to be exactly the right move during my…read moreToronto trip. I knew from previous visits that the food and service were exceptional, but this week reinforced why this has become one of my go-to spots whenever I'm in the city. Max and Trevor behind the bar made the experience seamless from night one. Not only did they remember my name, they recalled my exact order and dietary needs every evening without hesitation. Traveling for work while maintaining a low sodium, heart healthy diet can be challenging, so finding consistency matters. I did not want to chance food remorse or uncertainty with ingredients, and they made sure my burrata and salmon were prepared perfectly each night. By night five, I was basically in a legally recognized relationship with burrata, salmon...and the guys. Sofia, who had provided exceptional service to us on a previous visit months ago, was there as well. I made a point to remind her how memorable and appreciated her hospitality had been, and it was great to see the same professionalism and warmth continue throughout the restaurant team. Five straight nights at the same restaurant says a lot on its own. Consistent food, genuinely attentive staff, and an atmosphere that makes you want to come back. Gusto 101 continues to deliver every time.

    I ordered the mushroom mafalde pasta and the beef lasagna. Both dishes were delicious, flavorful,…read moreand cooked to perfection. However, the portion size was a bit small for $28. The taste was indeed good, but the portion wasn't generous. The restaurant had a great atmosphere, especially the rooftop terrace. Overall, it's a nice place to go, but the prices are a bit high, considering it's downtown.

    Photos
    Gusto 101 - Inside

    Inside

    Gusto 101 - Lasagna with fresh basil

    Lasagna with fresh basil

    Gusto 101 - Outside patio

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    Outside patio

    Donatello Restaurant

    Donatello Restaurant

    3.8(223 reviews)
    9.1 kmDowntown Core
    $$$

    Of all the Italian spots in downtown Toronto, Donatello felt like one of the most homey and…read moreold-school. I came here with my best friend for a birthday dinner, and I could immediately see why this place has lasted for decades. It's tucked inside an old house on Elm Street, and the whole restaurant has that warm, family-run charm that makes you feel like people have been coming here for years and bringing more people back with them. The tables are definitely close together, so it's a little tight when the restaurant gets busy, but honestly that also adds to the lively energy because there was a steady flow of people coming in all night. Food-wise, there were a few dishes that really stood out. The carpaccio is such a good order, very thinly sliced raw beef, simple and classic, and honestly one of the most reasonably priced versions I've seen. My personal favorite was the prosciutto & melon. It's such a simple dish, but when it's done well, it really hits, and this one did. The real star for me though was the Cozze Marinara. The mussels were plump, tender, and clean, with no sandy bits, and the garlicky tomato sauce was so good that I ended up scooping it up with bread until the plate was basically spotless. We also tried the Vitello Marsala with mushrooms and Penne Arrabbiata, which felt very classic and comforting. If you like traditional Italian flavors, this is the kind of dish that will make you happy. That said, I personally wouldn't recommend mixing the meat and pasta together too much, I think they shine better on their own. Later we also ordered the garlic grilled seafood fettuccine because we were enjoying ourselves so much, and that one was much lighter in flavor. Nice enough, but probably not the best choice if you like richer or bolder pasta dishes. By the end we were completely full and had to leave a few strands of fettuccine behind, which almost never happens for me. Overall, Donatello feels like the kind of neighborhood Italian restaurant people return to for comfort, generous portions, and that warm family run atmosphere. It may not be the most spacious or modern place, but it has heart, and some dishes were genuinely memorable.

    Donatello is considered a fine dining Italian restaurant. And it didn't disappoint. The foid and…read moreservice were excellent. The vibe was a slightly darkened room (for the evening). There is an upstairs balcony seating but I've never sat there. During warm weather, there is plenty of roadside outdoor seating too. This is my fourth time here but I never wrote a review fir the restaurant before. We ordered the following: 1. Shrimp Perno (daily special $6/shrimp). Jumbo Shrimp sautéed in garlic, white wine, tomatoes, scallions, and finished off with a shot of perno liquor. 2. Rack of Lamb (daily special $59.95). Four pieces of lamb in a rack, with a rich portion wine reduced sauce, that has a touch of mint to it, and Penne Pasta in a tomato rose sauce. The table bread was really good. The crust was crispy but the inside was fluffy. The soft butter that came it was so tasty. The bread was perfect for dipping in the sauce that came with the shrimp. We asked for a second basket of bread and they put two loafs in the second basket. It was too much so they were willing to let us take it home. The shrimps were definitely jumbo. It was so filling. Two pieces (per person) were good enough as an appetizer. The shrimps were perfectly cooked. We requested the lamb be cooked medium rare. It was definitely medium rare. It was juicy and did not have a gamey taste. It tastes great. The pasta was perfectly al dente. The tomato rose sauce was really good. They offered to grind parmesan cheese and pepper so we got both. There is free WiFi. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. There is paid neighbourhood street parking and paid parking lots. Review 2025-187

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    Donatello Restaurant
    Donatello Restaurant - Lobster pasta

    Lobster pasta

    Donatello Restaurant - Italian wine

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    Italian wine

    Terroni - spinach ravioli-the BEST

    Terroni

    3.3(863 reviews)
    10.0 kmDowntown Core
    $$

    Terroni on Adelaide is a beautiful Italian restaurant with a lot of character and history, set…read moreinside a former courthouse building from 1852 that still shows off its dramatic ceilings, fireplaces, and sunlit atrium. It's a dining experience you don't see every day in Toronto. Even the washrooms are memorable, tucked away in the basement in what used to be old jail cells, which adds to the charm and gives the whole place a bit of personality. We went for an early Sunday dinner before a concert at Massey Hall. The restaurant got pretty busy as the evening went on, but it never felt chaotic. The atmosphere is lovely and lively, a great choice for a special night out or a pre-show meal. We started with Calamari alla Griglia with mixed greens, capers, onions, and fresh tomatoes. It was a fresh, bright appetizer with good balance. For mains, my date had the Spaghetti in Canna a Mare with clams, mussels, calamari, scallop, and tiger shrimp in a tomato sauce. The menu described it as mildly spicy, but it definitely had a noticeable kick. Still, the flavours were really good. I ordered the Ravioli al Brasato with braised beef, butter, sage, and parmigiano. It was tasty and comforting, though portion-wise I could have used a few more ravioli. I was still a bit hungry after and honestly double the size would have been perfect for me. For dessert we shared the Tiramisu with espresso-soaked savoiardi, mascarpone, and cocoa. I had an amaro while my date finished with zambuca. A sweet and satisfying way to wrap up the meal. The service was friendly, though drinks came out a bit slower than expected. Terroni's food is tasty, the setting is gorgeous, and it's easy to see why locals keep coming back. It's not cheap, but the quality and ambience make it worth trying, especially for dinner before a show or a relaxed date night in one of Toronto's most unique spaces.

    I wish I could say I enjoyed Terroni more. The venue itself was not held in the main restaurant…read more The company I work at booked out some of the upper floors for an event. There were four flights of stairs to get up to the first floor with the bar and main dining area. There was another two flights of stairs to get to the upper bar (which I was too tired to walk up to). The drinks at the bar were good and the staff were all great. We started with passed apps. Some of the flavour combinations were just off (the skewer with fruit, cheese and something else) - like they paired the wrong cheese with the fruit. The meal itself was a seat down meal (family style) which did take over two hours to complete for the amount of guests that were present (over 200 ppl). My favorite dish was the tomato and mozza salad. My most disappointed dish was the ragu pasta. Though containing a good amount of meat it was not saucy at all. The pizza was the brocolini was good as well. The reason I gave this restaurant three stars is strictly for the lack of elevator and the food quality vs the price. For what you are paying, there is so much higher quality food in the city and I honestly think you can get better bang for buck elsewhere.

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    Terroni - Special event dining area

    Special event dining area

    Terroni - Olive oil and bread

    Olive oil and bread

    Terroni - Special event space (upstairs)

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    Special event space (upstairs)

    Piccolo Caffe E Vino - Frittata

    Piccolo Caffe E Vino

    4.3(19 reviews)
    9.9 kmEntertainment District, Downtown Core
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Went here for dinner on a Saturday night / great location and cute spot! I love the branding and…read morethe inside + feels very trendy. This is a wine bar - the house lager was bad (maybe my own bad decision) and the red I got was fine ... nothing to write home about. However place fell apart with the food - the shrimp came with 5 medium sized shrimp with the tails, legs and shells on and were under seasoned. The artichokes were mediocre (loved the sauce they came with). Worst of all was the "Ontario peaches" with the burrata were totally canned peaches - could've even been dole brand! This place has amazing potential with the location and vibe - but the food just was not it. Small portions and the price didn't match what was served. The service was friendly but nothing too crazy. Go here for the drinks, but maybe not for the dinner!

    Went with a friend on a Saturday night and it was pretty easy to get a seat, but they do take…read morereservations. Our server was great at helping us pick our wine, he mentioned that their wines are all on the dry side which is perfect for me, I'm not one for sweet wines. We also had two of their small plates the mussels and the burrata. The mussels tasted great with the sauce, a little garlicky which I prefer. The combination of the peach and mint went really well with the burrata. Light and easy to eat. The patio at night is one of the highlights. The only small complaint was it did take a while to get our wine after we ordered it and a little while to get our check. Otherwise cute spot.

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    Piccolo Caffe E Vino
    Piccolo Caffe E Vino - Smoked salmon bagel

    Smoked salmon bagel

    Piccolo Caffe E Vino - Fried Artichoke, shrimp and peach burrata

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    Fried Artichoke, shrimp and peach burrata

    Padella - italian - Updated May 2026

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