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    The Old Spaghetti Factory

    3.5 (527 reviews)
    ModerateItalian
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

    The Old Spaghetti Factory Photos

    Business Info

    THE OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Old Spaghetti Factory

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    Cesar Salad
    Shaharyar C.

    The service here was excellent, our waitress was attentive and checked in on us regularly. The ambiance is the standout feature. The decor is beautiful, full of ornate antiques and wall pieces. It's worth visiting at least once just for the atmosphere alone. I could tell it's a tourist favorite. The unlimited bread with garlic butter was delicious, and the Caesar salad was super fresh and crisp. The bam bam shrimp had great flavor thanks to the sauce. The Tuscan lasagna was the only miss for me, it lacked seasoning and needed salt, so I wouldn't order that again. On the other hand, the goat cheese agnolotti was creamy, rich, and very enjoyable. A nice bonus is that your main meal comes with ice cream and coffee, which is a great touch. Overall, I'd definitely recommend visiting, especially for the unique ambiance and solid service.

    Jocelyn C.

    I still remember the first time I went to the Old Spaghetti Factory - I was 7 years old, newcomer to Canada, and the entire restaurant was just so magical. The decor, the stain glass, elevator, tram, carousel, the mural with Jesus and the lambs with the heads of Blue Jays players.... It left a lasting impression on me. I visited a handful of times throughout the years and now, I get to bring my own children there, how cool is that! The food quality has stayed consistent, with their all-in-one pricing still in effect. Every entree you order comes with minestrone soup or garden salad (with your choice of salad dressing), fresh baguette with garlic butter, then ending the meal with ice cream (I suggest the spumoni because it has pistachio ice cream) and coffee or tea. The kids meal has a bonus option - if they finish the pasta, the kids can get more! I ordered my usual seafood linguine (6 big shrimps with tons of bay scallops), served in a rosé sauce. My husband ordered the chicken parm - delicious and cooked well. Service is always good, the servers were attentive to our needs. Now that the kids have had their first experience, they want to go back every month. Let's see if I can make this happen!

    Spumoni dessert
    Clara C.

    Been a while since I've been here. This time I tried the goat cheese agnolotti which I enjoyed more than the spaghettis which I've tried before. The portions are quite large, and they all come with a starter (soup or salad) - I got the minestrone soup which was regular, and an ice cream for dessert (vanilla, chocolate, or spumoni) - I got the spumoni which is a combo of vanilla-chocolate-pistachio, and a coffee or tea to cap off the meal. Overall, the food was regular and nothing special, but it is nice that you get a 3-course meal and a drink for the price. The standout of this place is the decor inside. We came during the Christmas season so there was even more decoration than usual. Our server was very nice but sometimes it was hard to get her attention as we got seated in the corner and was not able to wave her down.

    Spaghetti with Spicy Meat Sauce.
    David N.

    One does not go to The Old Spaghetti Factory for above-average food. It's all about the ambiance and the nostalgia. So when we decided to celebrate a birthday, we figured why not go to The Old Spaghetti Factory. Reservations are inexplicably not allowed after a certain point, but we nevertheless managed to snag a table within the legitimately enormous restaurant. And yeah, the ambiance was exactly as I remembered it. It's super kitschy and fun, and the packed restaurant only enhanced the boisterous atmosphere. This is definitely not where you go for a romantic night out. For my food, I opted for the Spaghetti with Spicy Meat Sauce ("Our homemade meat sauce enhanced with additional spices and herbs"). It's fine. It's the kind of Italian food you remember eating as a kid, with its straight-out-of-a-can sauce and decidedly far-from-al-dente noodles. But again, the nostalgia factor ensured that I enjoyed way more than I would've expected. It's not difficult to see why The Old Spaghetti Factory is still a huge draw. Family-friendly joints like this have sadly become obsolete in this day and age. I'm looking forward to returning on a more frequent basis in the future, that's for sure.

    Fantastic prices, with fresh bread, soup and salad and fantastic meat sauce spaghetti.  Kids had options for veggie dipper.
    Patricia P.

    The service and our waiter Adam was fantastic. The atmosphere for kids is great and fun. Very fun places that doesn't exist in many places. I really loved it. I loved the bread and meat sauce.

    Jen H.

    Tried and true the Old Spaghetti Factory is a childhood staple! Love the thousand Island salad dressing and the spamoninisw cream which are both signature to the restaurant. Not only that, but the staff are so nice and friendly. I love bringing the family here!

    Butternut squash pasta
    Laura R.

    The Old Spaghetti Factory, a staple on the Esplanade since 1971, is busy for good reason. Each meal is served with bread and garlic butter (yum!), a soup or salad, the main course and dessert with coffee or tea. I had the butternut squash pasta, and it was very good. Our server was nice and very prompt, and the atmosphere is eclectic and interesting. There is an old streetcar that you can sit in and ornate lights throughout.

    Dhara J.

    I love going to these place for the vibe and live performances. Service is good but slow! As this is very popular and busy restaurant. I will rate food 3/5 but drinks are nice - both alcoholic and non alcoholic. Vibe, ambience is something you should visit here. Also who would have thought that an old factory can be shaped like this amazing restaurant.

    Chandelier and mimosa special
    Karen S.

    Love the decor! See photos; but I also really like the carousel in the air and the red telephone booth (not pictured)! Noting the great service, from start to finish. Staff are great communicators: on arrival, was advised of the short wait time, when escorted to the table, was also advised where the washrooms were, and when bread, etc was forthcoming. When I mentioned my dish had one mushroom, the waiter brought a bowl on the side;), saying the menu does say mushroom"s", but don't worry, you don't need to eat them all! I didn't indulge in the soup this time, but definitely yes to spumoni! Followed by tea or coffee. (I did indulge in the refillable Coke Zero though...!) Am here for a SIAL Canada, a food expo- (& am praying my farmer enjoys great success at the show). I am so glad I checked Yelp for what's near my hotel! This was such a pleasant diner experience! The venue is huge, with many families and gal groups celebrating birthdays and the like. Did you see the $7 mimosa special sign? Saw a few on several tables, ha ha!

    Souk S.

    Expectations were set low, so when we took our kids there for lunch, I made sure to make reservations because this place is always busy. When we walked in it was empty so I wonder if they just hold tables for walk ins?? The decor is eclectic with some interesting pieces like the elevator car with a table for 2 and the trolley car. It's interesting that it looks unique but I guess all the OSF have the same decor. It is nice that all the meals come with salad, bread, dessert..so you get multiple courses. The salad was okay, bread was warm with very good garlic butter and the soup was very good. We all tried the spaghetti; the meat sauce was good, meatballs had too much filler, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. My wife had the ravioli and she loved it. Everyone enjoyed their ice cream to finish the meal. Server was very nice and attentive. People may give this place low marks but if you set your expectations correctly and realize this is a tourist restaurant- then you will have a good time. It's worth a visit with young kids or foreign guests, when you are visiting St Lawrence Market.

    inside
    Gigi G.

    I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant! What seemed like an average Italian restaurant, turned out to be one of the best fettuccine alfredo dishes I've ever had! I think the unique decor and vibe of the place makes it stand out too. There's vintage painting, gumball machines, an old red phone booth, and so many other cute photo locations all in this one building! The ice cream was also delicious. I would recommend trying this when in Toronto!

    Cesar
    Shae R.

    First of all, I have been wanting to come here for several months and I finally made it! It was absolutely worth the wait! The inside of the restaurant is absolutely jaw dropping. My server Adam was absolutely delightful. He was attention, polite, joyful, and made wonderful suggestions also our meal. He was the perfect blend of being available and not hovering. The food was absolutely 11/11. I had spaghetti with meatballs, it was a perfect classic. The homemade butter and dressing set off my bread and salad. To top off the night they have 5$ dessert cakes AND everyone gets free ice cream. I mean come on.... If you are in Toronto, do yourself a favor and come check out this restaurant.

    Mascarpone fettucini ravioli
    Jessica L.

    Food was delicious ! Our server was very attentive and the atmosphere was very nice, felt nostalgic !

    Butternut squash ravioli with chicken & spinach, cherry tomatoes

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    1 year ago

    Service was fast and friendly but I would recommend booking in advance as it can get busy during the dinner hour.

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    Awesome vibe and delicious food! Great customer service. I will return next time I'm in Toronto :)

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    Donatello Restaurant

    Donatello Restaurant

    3.8(222 reviews)
    1.4 kmDowntown Core
    $$$

    This place has it all. No wonder it's rated as a top 100 in the USA. Service, food, music…read more outstanding!

    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 - Lobster pasta

    Lobster pasta

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    Terroni - spinach ravioli-the BEST

    Terroni

    3.3(863 reviews)
    0.4 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)
    1.3 kmEntertainment District, Downtown Core
    $$

    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

    The Old Spaghetti Factory - italian - Updated May 2026

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