Toronto’s Lamanna Bakery is adding to the great Toronto debate on the best pizza in the city, while at the same time making serious social media noise far beyond the city’s boundaries.
What’s one of the quickest ways to get Torontonians to disagree? Ask them where to get the best pizza in the city. Toronto is home to a staggering number of mouth-watering pizza joints serving up a plethora of options from deep-dish and Neapolitan to plant-based and gluten-free. And while the best pizza debate will continue to rage on, one Toronto bakery has taken the crown for serving up the largest pie in the city.
Lamanna Bakery, located at 6758 Kingston Road makes jumbo – 28-inch – slices of pizza. Dubbed the Big Slice, these supersized creations are racking up the Insta likes thanks to a menu ranging from the classics like the Italian Margherita and the simple Americano to non-traditional options like the grilled cheese – a slice covered in a dozen or so mini-grilled-cheese sandwiches and the Poutine loaded with French fries and smothered in gravy.
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And let’s not forget that Lamanna’s is also a bakery, so dessert slice options are as drool-worthy (and photographic) as their savory cousins. There’s the birthday cake Big Slice which, you guessed it, is topped with buttercream and birthday cake, and the Simpson, topped with pink dipped sprinkle donuts. Dessert lovers can get their fix with other decadent options that include churros, brownies, and cannoli.
The bakery is run by brothers Joe, Lorenzo, and Dave Lamanna who opened it for their parents, Peter and Rosa back in 2004.
“Our original idea was a small and cute boutique bakery which would feature some of their favourite recipes,” says Dave, whose parents emigrated to Canada in the early 60s and worked in bakeries for most of their lives.
And Lamanna’s is truly a family affair: Rosa is the master baker and head of the kitchen, Peter makes all the bases and dough (and has been using the same recipe since the 1970s), Lorenzo is the head baker and creative director, Joe is in charge of the gelateria, coffee, and retail while Dave is busy with pastries, cookies, and overall management.
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“Our parents have a great sense of humour so they were always supportive of whatever we wanted to do,” says Dave, when asked how his traditional Italian parents reacted to their non-traditional menu additions. “The main thing for them was that no matter how crazy we take things, we needed to ensure it tastes good.” And they’ve continued to lure locals and tourists alike with a diverse menu that doesn’t take shortcuts when it comes to quality and creativity.
Few places have become as food-obsessed as Instagram and Lamanna’s has certainly capitalized on this with its inventive options, boasting a social media following of just under 150,000. There’s also been major attention from south of the border including a write-up in People Magazine and a feature on Good Morning America. There was also that one time Shawn Mendes showed up with a bunch of friends. No big deal.
While the shop is currently only offering takeout, Dave hopes to resume indoor dining in the new year.
“We do miss the social experience that Lamanna’s has brought over the years, so hopefully we can get back there soon,” he adds.