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    Valens Restaurant

    3.5 (106 reviews)
    ModerateItalian

    Valens Restaurant Photos

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    VALENS RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Valens Restaurant

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    Pasta
    Golds V.

    Nice spot, clean, friendly staff. We came here for summerlicious, and we enjoyed the meal. It started with appetizers, I had a beet salad, with goat cheese and walnuts, went down nicely. My main was a salmon with rice and veggies, my dining mates ordered the pasta and steak. We were surprised it was a ten ounce that came with this deal and we enjoyed it. Dessert was out of. A box tartufu, not amazing. The lava cake was mostly chocolate cake with ice cream, was decent. Staff were funny and engaging, would go back for more menu items

    Green salad
    Jinzi H.

    Overall a good restaurant. This is the second year in a row that I've been here for their winterlicious menu. They had a good selection of appetizers and a good number to of main course and dessert options. We went for our galentines day dinner and we split a bottle of red wine which was delicious. I started with the green salad and it was good, I really liked the goat cheese and peeled tangerines. The lamb shank has a delicious sauce and the lamb itself was really nicely cooked. The vegetables it came could have been cooked for longer and I thought the carrots and green beans were still pretty crunchy. But the mashed potato's were perfect. For dessert, I got the lava cake and it was really good, the ice cream complimented the cake very well. Our waiter did forget about one of the appetizers, wrote down one of the main courses wrong and forgot a Diet Coke but we were a table of 6 and the restaurant was busy so we didn't make a big fuss about it. The wait staff was apologetic and still have nice. Inside had a mom and pop restaurant vibe with antique decor. Overall it was a good meal and I would come back again.

    Tiramisu
    Lilian C.

    I really loved the rainbow trout, the skin was crispy and the fish was salty, the way I like it. We were a party of 4 enjoying summerlicious 3 course menu. I should have gone to dinner instead of lunch as I would have tried the lamb shank. The service was standard, we had our food in good timing. The place is getting a bit old so I think it needs some renovations or cleaning up more, but it's still decent, at least no fly was bothering me.

    lobster tail, jumbo shrimp, baby spinach, red peppers, and mushrooms in a white wine cream sauce
    Louis J.

    Was recommended to come to Valens by a friend of mine and was not disappointed! Seemed like the perfect place to unwind, have a nice glass of wine, and a great meal! The restaurant was chill and relaxing and the staff were so welcoming!

    Valens Restaurant - 10oz grilled veal chop coated with bourbon sauce
    Mike H.

    Baldwin Street has a great selection of restaurants that have sprung up over the years. There were once even two Indian buffets, along with Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Korean, Vegan and other local offerings! Valens Restaurant is another addition offering $33 Italian prix-fixe menu and more. Come to think of it, this place might've once had an Indian buffet. It didn't take long for us to be served and for our food to arrive which was a good start. First came the PEI mussels with leeks & tomato in light curry sauce. I hadn't had seafood in curry before, but the large bowl of mussel was tasty and fresh. After this "appetizer" came the entrée: a 10oz grilled veal chop nicely seared then coated with rich red pepper bourbon sauce. It was simply delicious, and full on flavour. My friend tried their seafood linguini with mussels in white wine tomato sauce, and gave full marks too. At this point, I was not surprised by their portion size when a large plate of crème brûlée arrived for perfect dessert. Overall, quite a satisfying meal. We came ahead of a Raptors game figuring that restaurants a bit further south on Dundas, Queen and King would be packed on Friday night. Baldwin was relatively quiet and Valens only had a few seated when we arrived. It's a decent option when you're looking for a relaxing place for dinner compared to the normal hustle n' bustle of the big city.

    STEAK - Grilled strip loin with red wine demi glaze sauce, served with mashed potatoes and steamed seasonal veggies.
    Chelo S.

    Our holiday dinner was cancelled due to Covid. In lieu of dinner our department ordered us food from the $23 Prix Fixe Lunch Menu (appetizer, main, and dessert). We provided sticker labels with employee names and a list of their orders. VALENS was able to package over 40 lunches, labeled and delivered warm. I enjoyed the food. I chose Greek salad, Steak and Tiramisu. Note: I have rounded molars and did not find having a hard time chewing the steak.

    Starter-mussels in white wine sauce
    Wynne L.

    My friends and I came on a hot summer evening looking for a place to eat on Baldwin St. There wasn't much of a pull to go to any other restaurant and Valens looked inviting with the patio doors open and all those customers on the patio. We started off with mussels to share and then I had the seafood pasta. I should have thought this through more thoroughly since my dish came loaded with mussels but I wasn't complaining, it was great with all those mussels. It was definitely too much pasta for me to finish so my friend and I both doggy bagged our dishes. I may go back to try their prixe fix menu another time.

    P.E.I Mussels in Curry white wine
    Loretta S.

    Great great find. Hidden gem. Food is amazing and inexpensive. Great prix fix offerings. Staff is courteous friendly and attentive. Love the PEI muscles and the pasta. Don't pass up the Tiramasu

    Tammy N.

    I came here for winterlicious last year! The dessert was definitely the best part From their winterlicious menu I got the Deep Fried Spicy Chicken Ravioli, Fusili Pasta, and the Lava Cake. There was only 4 pieces of ravioli but it was so filling and a bit too heavy for me. The pasta was good, you get a ton of mussels and half a lobster tail with it. The lava cake was just a brownie, not a lava cake, and was a bit too sweet for me. The tartufo had a very subtle mocha flavour but I like it that way! Overall, decent value for the price, since the portions were huge.

    Prix Fixe starter: mussels with curry sauce
    Linda L.

    Review for their $28 Prix Fixe Dinner Environment: Located near Chinatown and the Kensington market, Valens is at a really vibrant spot near lots of restaurants and unique shops. The restaurant has a covered patio at the front and more indoor seatings at the back. The patio is only good for groups of 4 or fewer, and since we reserved for a party of 14, we ended up split into 2 big tables indoor. Food: I got the Mussels to start. I was surprised by how big the portion was when the server brought me my food and I really liked the unique paring of curry sauce with the mussels. For main, I got the T Bone Steak cooked medium rare. Once again, the portion was massive, but the meat was more cooked than I would have liked. Also, the meat was too tough that I struggled I cut the meat. As for my dessert, I chose the Creme Brulee. It was the largest Creme Brulee I've ever seen! It was literally served to be from a soup bowl. However, the cream was thicker than I would have like. Service: I think the server got slightly annoyed of our big group lol, but that's understandable. She offered fresh pepper and cheese to be sprinkled on the dishes, and came over every once in a while to check up on us and add water

    Creme brûlée

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    Donatello Restaurant

    Donatello Restaurant

    3.8(223 reviews)
    0.8 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(864 reviews)
    1.5 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)
    0.9 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

    Valens Restaurant - italian - Updated May 2026

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