About two hours east of Toronto, in the heart of Ontario wine country, 7 Numbers Picton is serving traditional southern Italian fare, family style. Since 2001, Mama Rosa has been dishing out some authentic Italian fare to the people of Toronto. After 19 years in the business, 7 Numbers decided to open up a new

Etobicoke’s own special little spot, 850 Degrees Pizzeria serves up homemade pizzas, featuring local ingredients, cooked in an authentic wood oven. There is nothing not to love about its pizzas. The dough is homemade using a 120-year-old recipe from southern Italy. The meats come from the Belaga family siblings’ family farm in Ontario, who all

Located just around the corner from BOB in Leslieville, Annabelle Pasta Bar is a comfortable space with a little “old world” feel, featuring a great downstairs bar and open kitchen.

This hotspot should be named Experience Aperitivo because it’s more than just a bar. David Rocco’s Bar Aperitivo will transport you from Yorkdale to Italy with the decorative photos of Napoli that surround the entrance of the storefront. Bar Aperitivo is the type of place you stop for a Spritz on your way home from

Tucked away underneath the bustling Terroni Price Street location sits Bar Centrale, a casual, yet refined wine bar serving traditional Italian cuisine with a modern twist.

With its old-world ambience and too-good-to-be-true prices, Bar Poet feels magical in more ways than one. Sparkling fairy lights and sky-high greenery add to the already enchanting architecture of the one-time church space. The bar’s self-dubbed “Toronto-style” pizza is made using stone-ground 00 flour and priced at less than $10 per whole pie. For an

Boccone Deli and Pizza Bar looks to bring a traditional European deli experience to Toronto. They offer a selection of fresh made focaccia sandwiches, pizzas, rotating pasta and dinner specials and a salad bar. Patrons can eat-in, take-out or take advantage of their catering service and have the food brought directly to you.

Inspired by the café scenes in London and Paris, Café Plenty is a slice of Europe in the heart of Toronto. Owner Melissa Patterson’s charming spot aims to satiate lunchgoers’ craving for good, honest food, tempting the hungered with freshly made salads, tartes, galettes and sandwiches.

Cumbrae’s is Toronto’s top artisanal butcher. The beautifully designed interior sports marble countertops and hanging chalkboards that feature the day’s specials and cuts, in beautiful script, along with imported goods, so pretty you might not want to eat them. Cumbrae’s oozes luxury. The cuts of meat sit serenely behind the glass cases along with multiple

Founded by Dante Paoletti, who in 1959 got on a ship with his mother and brothers for an 11 day trip from Abruzzo, Italy to join his father in the new world, Dante’s Pizzeria offers a variety of culinary options from Dante’s home country. Order one of Dante’s signature pizzas or build your own by

This financial district restaurant is the first North American location of Michelin star chefs Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino’s Don Alfonso 1890. Brought to Toronto by Nick Di Donato of the Liberty Entertainment Group, the Don Alfonso brand is recognized worldwide with locations throughout Italy as well as New Zealand, China, and now Toronto. It showcases

Frankie’s Italian brings fresh pasta and pizza back to Leslieville in the space formerly occupied by neighbourhood Italian standby Lil Bacci.

Gia, a reimagining of much-loved Dundas West restaurant Ufficio, brings to life the version of Ufficio that owner Jenny Coburn had originally envisioned. “When I first started Ufficio with my partner we were going to do it vegetarian,” says Coburn, “but this was five years ago.” At the time, Coburn says they weren’t sure Toronto

Barber shops that offer an array of accoutrements while you’re getting coiffed is all the rage these days, but Hastings Snack Bar isn’t quite that. Nearby Hastings Barber Shop owner Ania Garbos snatched up this spot and enlisted her mom as chef after its previous owner of 50+ years decided to retire. So a change

At King Rustic Kitchen and Bar, they pride themselves on being a laid-back and local spot where you can enjoy a good bite and a relaxing evening. This place feels like a neighbourhood eatery among the more industrial and corporate restaurants that are scattered along King West. The menu here is a mix of modern

Hidden up and away from bustling Bloor Street West is Kintori Yakitori. This dimly lit restaurant is positioned atop one of the Kinka Family’s 10 Kinton Ramen locations in the GTA and is the first yakitori concept from the Japanese restaurant group. When you walk up the stairs you’re immediately met with aromas of charcoal

La Fenice Tucsan Chophouse has been a source for authentic Italian cuisine since 1984. The menu at this Entertainment District diner features an extensive list of Italian dishes made with fresh local ingredients including pizzas, sandwiches, pastas, steaks, and seafood. La Fenice additionally features a pantry on their menu with ready-to-cook meals and pasta sauces

Chef Himi Hunaidi has been cooking up her concept for modern Levantine eats for years now, and after studying in the south of France, running a farm-to-stroller cooking class in Los Angeles, and catering events in Toronto, her restaurant Madame Levant has opened in Leslieville. Each menu item is tied to a piece of Hunaidi’s

In my opinion, Bosnian cuisine is a rarity in the GTA, and you’d be hard pressed to find a restaurant that serves authentic fare if you don’t know someone who's from the Balkans. Luckily, there’s Mak European Delicatessens, where tasty cevapi are not too far away.

Mezes is a family-run operation that has been a part of the Danforth dining scene since before Miley Cyrus was born. At Mezes, the emphasis is on sharing plates, which is the namesake of the restaurant, mezes. We love the ample selection. Conservative eaters will likely stick to the standard Hellenic offerings, like calamari and