REVIEW | Pi Co. Pizza

We all know that there's a LOT of options when it comes to pizza in Toronto. We haven't even come close to trying all of them as there's a new pizza shop popping up every few months! There are obviously differences - gourmet, brick oven, fast food, DIY, gluten-free, thin/thick crust, etc. the list is endless. When it comes to Pi Co. it's the perfect compromise in between all of that. It's a custom pizza that's authentic and cooked in minutes in a brick oven. The best part is that it's fast!

REVIEW | Ufficio

'Never drink on an empty stomach' is a lesson I learned during my time in university and an important one at that. Before a dance-filled night out with girlfriends, what better way to start the night than with good food and cocktails? A few weeks ago, we headed over to Ufficio on Ossington Ave. and Dundas St. W., a new spot that's been getting great reviews by many.

 

LAUNCH | A Taste of FELIX LA at Gusto 101's Private Wine Cellar

Last week felt like real Canadian winter in Toronto: snowy, slushy and dreadful. Thankfully I had a memorable dinner in the Private Wine Cellar at Gusto 101 - one of my favourite Italian restaurants in the city. The Prosecco, wines and of course the food left me and my tastebuds so satisfied that the cold was the last thing on my mind for the rest of the week.

REVIEW | Sunday Brunch & Cocktails at FIGO

Lazy Sundays are one of my favourite things but if there's something I would get up & try to look decent for, it's brunch. Especially if the restaurant is as stylishly elegant as FIGO is.  This pretty spot is located in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district, so if you live in the area, I'm quite jealous!

REVIEW | Francobollo

We made our way to Francobollo Posto Italiano towards the end of last year to satisfy our cravings for Italian food. If you guys remember, we went to Terra in November and loved everything from the decor, meal and right down to the service. We had just as high expectations for Francobollo being the newest addition from the Substance Food Group. 

LAUNCH | Buonanotte Supper Club

We were treated to a special tasting of a Summer Menu at Ristorante Buonanotte in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district.  It is actually located in a quiet street off John St, and Wellington St., which is why I've never heard or seen it, even though I wok 5 minutes away.  I didn't really know what to expect for dinner as I did some research beforehand and there were a lot of disappointing reviews about this place.  But, I went with an open mind as it would be my first time dining there!

Carpaccio du pesce spada

REVIEW | Trattoria Nervosa

Italian is probably my favourite cuisine as I simply cannot live without pasta - well, it's a close race between Italian and Korean. One of my go-to spots in Toronto for Italian is Trattoria Nervosa, tucked away in Yorkville. It's one of those places that I revisit often and order the same dishes so I assumed I wrote a blog post about it previously but I was wrong! I will share my favourite dishes at Nervosa - the ones that I always order - in this post.

REVIEW | Levetto Restaurant - College St.

Levetto currently has 5 locations (soon to be 6) across Ontario and one thing is clear, if you're looking for great Italian food with affordable prices, Levetto is the place to go! If you want to find a location in downtown Toronto, you won't have to look far as they have recently opened up shop in Liberty Village and in Dufferin Grove on College Street. 

REVIEW | Città

Just 6 weeks ago, Città opened in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of CityPlace between Spadina Ave. and Bathurst St. on Fort York Blvd.  Nestled on the main floor of one of the many highrise buildings, this may just become the community's favourite brunch spot on the weekends or a lunch and dinner spot on weeknights!

REVIEW | What to expect & indulge in at Destingo for Winterlicious 2015

My first visit to Destingo was during Winterlicious last year (read review here) and I can't forget the experience because I fell in love with their tiramisu. This year, this Italian restaurant is offering up a Winterlicious menu once again so if you haven't been, it's a great opportunity to see what Destingo has to offer in a 3-course meal.

REVIEW | Ovest Cucina e Vineria

Ovest Cucina e Vineria, a cantina inspired Italian Kitchen has recently set roots in the ever growing King West District. With its wide pane windows, it definitely sparks interest to anyone walking by to take a peek inside to find out whats going on. Oh, and we forgot to mention, it's also a wine bar, meaning this might be the next go to place for anyone that wants to grab a drink during happy hour or on the weekend. 

WORKSHOP | cooking class & family style dinner with Mama Rosa at 7 Numbers Restaurant

I've seen or heard about 7 Numbers Restaurant and its delicious authentic Italian dishes it offers for as long as I can remember.  Recently I was invited to a cooking class & dinner with the woman behind the delicious food - Rosa Marinuzzi - of course I didn't hesitate to attend.  There are two locations in Toronto: one on the Danforth and one on Eglinton ave., the restaurant I visited.

LAUNCH | Bar Mercurio - introducing the 'Love our pizza or it's free' challenge!

For the past 17 years, regular patrons have come in and out of Bar Mercurio solely based on word of mouth. Rather than continuing to keep its authentic Italian cuisine a secret, they are launching their “love our pizza or it’s free” challenge. After having tasted their food first hand, we don’t think they’ll be giving many pizzas away for free!

REVIEW | Grazie Ristorante - one of Monica's all time favourite Italian restaurants

If there is one type of cuisine that I have to eat for the rest of my life, I'd choose Italian. Don't get me wrong, I love all types of food, but if it comes down to one, I can eat endless amounts of delicious pasta, stone-baked pizza, or a chicken Parmesan all day, every day.  That being said, one spot in Toronto that I've loved over the years is Grazie on Yonge & Eglinton. Every time I go, I leave satisfied and happy with the service and the food.

OPENING | Scaddabush Italian Eatery & Bar - Italian dining redefined featuring Nonna's Kitchen Table concept

Italian eating in and around the city has always been upscale and classy or small, rustic, feel good dining.  Scaddabush has managed to successfully merge the best of both worlds and created a dining experience that will surely keep you coming back for more!

 

REVIEW | Cibo Wine Bar for Winterlicious 2014 - a trendy ambiance with tasty dinner & cocktails on King West

Cibo Wine Bar is a sister restaurant to Yorkville's Ciao Wine Bar by Liberty Group. Both Cibo and Ciao offer the same menu by Chef Saverio Macri, an authentic rustic Italian and exudes a very trendy and chic vibe that many nightlife venues by the Liberty Group signifies. I have always been a fan of the food and ambiance of Ciao Wine Bar, so I took the advantage duing Winterlicious to try the spot on King West.

REVIEW | Destingo for Winterlicious 2014 - quaint & casual trattoria on Queen West

Queen West is one of those neighbourhoods where you're bound to find a great place to eat.. on every corner! I have yet to visit Destingo so Winterlicious was a good excuse for me to see what they're all about.  Yes, it's hard to judge a restaurant during this time as service may be compromised, but my dinner at Destingo was close to perfect.

REVIEW | Gusto 101 - tasty Italian fare in Toronto's King West including a sweet potato pizza!

We absolutely love pizza… and not just the fast food pizzas that you can get but restaurant quality pizzas that make you feel like you’re sitting at a restaurant in Italy. There are classic pizzas such as  Margherita or Funghi but each restaurant will usually have their unique take with toppings that you are unlikely to find anywhere else, like the C’T Mang pizza from Terroni (read the review here). Gusto 101 is no exception and I finally decided to pay a visit!

Image from Gusto 101 website

REVIEW | Si Andiamo - best pasta joint in Streetsville that you gotta try!

Since we've started blogging, I'm always on the hunt to try new restaurants and stray from the usual big name chain restaurants. For my birthday dinner I decided to try out Si Andiamo, an Italian in Streetsville after recommendations from a friend.

REVIEW | Terroni Adelaide - fresh pastas made in-house & traditional Italian pizzas

Had an intense craving for Italian one night for dinner so my friend and I decided to try a place we both haven't been to.  Terroni was on my mind for a while now so thought this was the perfect opportunity to finally try and see what all the talk was about!  We went to the Adelaide location  in the financial district, it's easily accessible for anyone. 

Image from Terroni.com