The chefs behind Baro and Home of the Brave have taken over the former home of SpiritHouse and have transformed it into a laid-back bar.

Victor Barry had Splendido. He was chef/owner and it was fancy and delicious and beautiful … and not so full. Because fancy is over. It’s gone the way of quiche and French onion soup. Also, Mr. Barry (so he says on the menu of his new resto) wanted to slow down and be more family-focussed.

“It’s pronounced pee jo,” is written across the top of website for Pigot’s Burger Club, but you’d know that if you’ve been following award-winning Chef Mike Pigot. Now, the Calgary-based chef’s burgers are in Toronto, and they’ve brought all their delicious toppings with them. That includes the favourite buttermilk onion rings and Pigot’s Secret Sauce.

Homemade ingredients are the key to the greasy, cheesy delights crafted at this west end corner shop. A few blocks away from the Queen West and Ossington strips, Pizza Badiali is kept hidden from tourists, but it remains a local favourite. Outside, a black picket separates the sidewalk from Badiali’s comfortable front patio (which is

St. Clair West's latest pizzeria hasn’t opened yet, but co-owner Danilo Scimo has a pretty good idea what won’t be on the menu. “You’re not going to find pineapple on your pizza here,” he says. Instead, expect sauce from DOP tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, porcini mushrooms or basil. Authentic Neapolitan pizza in Toronto has just found a new advocate in Pizza e Pazzi, set to open mid-April.

This place is serving up exactly what its name promises: pizza, wine, disco. While the menu features Italian-style shareables like garlic knots and pizzas, this place is more about the experience and the party. DJs take the stage every night, straying from typical Top 40 tracks to spin the ones everyone loves (like ABBA, duh).

Pizzeria Du is the ultimate place for classic Italian pizzas that are vegan and vegetarian. Sure there’s a pepperoni pizza on the menu, but it is plant-based house made seitan pepperoni which sits on a bed of San Marzano tomato sauce and cashew mozzarella. Add some chili oil to kick it up a notch. Another

To know ’em is to love ’em with Pizzeria Libretto. The chain of Neapolitan pizzerias is one of the city’s best known because it is so many people’s favourite. You should definitely come for the pizza no matter if you’re vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free. The funghi di boscowhite pizza is one of Pizzeria Libretto’s most

Pizzeria Via Mercanti has gotten some big praise over the last couple years for its good pizza and Italian eats. Originally on Augusta Avenue in Kensington, this pizzeria now has five locations all over the GTA. Opened in 2012, this Romano pizzaiolo is committed to serving truly authentic Neopolitan-style pizza. The menu is full of

Gerrard East has become a hot spot in the east end for new restaurants with up-and-coming chefs. Andy Wilson, executive chef of Pinkerton’s Snack Bar (an anchor on the strip) is now a first-time restaurateur with Poor Romeo, just across the street.

Italians have a saying: “Quanto basta.” Salvatore, Julia and Daniela Mele, the family of restaurateurs behind midtown darling Capocaccia, adopted the name for their wine bar and upscale Rosedale eatery. “The name means ‘how much is enough?’” says Salvatore Mele, noting it suits the enoteca perfectly: “You just want more and more.” Patrons of Quanto

With a passion for Neapolitan pizza and a tomato sauce recipe that came from the old country, Queen Margherita Pizza is serious about a good pie. The Dundas West Pizzeria sits on the corner at Markham Street and is cooking up some zesty Italian fare, with a focus on perfect Neapolitan-style pizza. After the success

The Fairmont Royal York’s new signature restaurant Reign is serving artful plates of French fare in a sophisticated setting. Reign was introduced as the more food-focused half of a two-part redesign meant to mark the historic landmark’s 90th anniversary this year. Its sister restaurant, Clockwork — which got its name from the massive 90th anniversary

The family-owned and -operated purveyors of Sicilian eats Scaccia, has set up shop in the Union Station food court, giving their Yorkdale location a sorella (sister). This new location has transformed the menu classics to be more on-the-go friendly, with everything still being made fresh in-house. Scaccia has expanded its salad options and has many

Carmine Costantino has been in the service industry for years. He founded Zaza Espresso Bar in Yorkville, and he’s owned a slew of restaurants across the city. So when he decided to open his own Neapolitan pizzeria, he got serious. He placed a job ad in a Naples newspaper and landed three chefs from the motherland, including pizza maestro Pasquale Ponticiello.

A classic diner by day and buzzing bar by night, Skyline Restaurant has been keeping the Parkdale community fed since the 1960s. Even a recent change in management can’t alter the homey feeling the overwhelms you as you come inside. Very little has been done to alter what Skyline looks like: red vinyl dining booths,

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Smash Kitchen & Bar (@smashkitchen) This restaurant, with two suburban outposts, serves up Southern-inspired comfort food from mac and cheese to BBQ ribs to, as the name suggests, burgers. But, the chef-curated menu has one common theme running through it: freshness. High quality ingredients are key

A restaurant so nice they named it twice! Ristorante Sotto Sotto is the Annex’s long-established destination for upscale, south-central Italian fare with all food made as if it were the old country. Owner and founder Marisa Rocca moved to Toronto from Rome over 25 years ago and, through much hard work and determination, has an

The only thing better than going to a bar to watch a Blue Jays game is when that bar literally overlooks the Rogers Centre with floor-to-ceiling windows. Located inside the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, Sportsnet Grill offers up exciting takes on traditional pub fare, like pulled pork mac and cheese, on a menu organized

Sprezzatura Spaghetti Disco serves up fresh, handmade pasta with a side of Italian disco! Featuring pasta favourites including bucatini al amatriciana and cacio e pepe and hearty entrees including meatballs and chicken cacciatore, pair your dinner with a cocktail with an Italian twist (try the limoncello martini for a real kick) to start the night