Tips for Dining, Eating and Food Shopping in Ontario (including Toronto and Ottawa)
Start New ThreadShe has come up with the following candidates:
Tutti Matti
Camapagnolo
Zucca
Marben
Oro
What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance!!
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Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5V1R7, CA
Zucca
2150 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4S 2A8, CA
Marben
488 Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1E5, CA
Oro Restaurant
45 Elm, Toronto, ON M4W1N6, CA
By DUH CAR
on Nov 15, 2011 01:04 PM
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I've been to Zucca, Capagnolo and Oro - of those 3, and on my Toronto Italian short-list in general, I'd definitely go with Zucca. I liked the food at Campagnolo but wasn't a fan of the room -fun to sit at the kitchen pass, though. Marben isn't Italian. I had a meal at Oro years ago and it was quite lacklustre - it's possible the chef has changed since then but you certainly don't hear much about it. Opus, Enoteca Sociale, Noce and maybe Terroni's Osteria (or Bettola) would be other options.
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Zucca
2150 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4S 2A8, CA
Noce
875 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J1G5, CA
Marben
488 Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1E5, CA
Osteria
106 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5C, CA
Oro Restaurant
45 Elm, Toronto, ON M4W1N6, CA
Enoteca Sociale
1288 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J, CA
Campagnolo
832 Dundas St. W, Toronto, ON , CA
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Tutti Matti and Zucca are both excellent upscale spots. Tutti Matti is downtown, maybe a bit more romantic, and focuses on tuscan food. Zucca is uptown and a bit louder and brighter. I can't fault the food at either. Service is generally good at both althought sometimes I do find Tutti Matti slow.
I wouldn't call Marben an Italian restaurant, really. There's nothing wrong with it but I don't think it is their focus. There are better options on your list if Italian is really the focus.
I haven't been to the other 2 so can't comment and will leave that for others.
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Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5V1R7, CA
Zucca
2150 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4S 2A8, CA
Marben
488 Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1E5, CA
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Okay, I'll bite. What are "better options"?
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Hi - sorry - I meant Tutti Matti and Zucca as better options on your list. My real fav in Toronto though is Trattoria Giancarlo on College (in Little Italy), followed by Mistura (much more upscale). Enjoy!
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Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5V1R7, CA
Mistura
265 Davenport Rd, Toronto, ON M5R1J9, CA
Zucca
2150 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4S 2A8, CA
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Tutti Matti is one of my fav go-to spots for Italian so that would be my personal pick from this list. In the winter they often have a sausage in tomato sauce and white beans dish which I LOVE!!
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Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5V1R7, CA
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My vote is for Tutti Matti too
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Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5V1R7, CA
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Just an aside!
Every time the subject of Italian food comes up, interesting no body mention the two 'dark horses' - Il Mulino and Il Posto. Two of my favourite Italian places and I found their food better than say ' Zucca which I find bland and over-rated!
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Il Mulino
1060 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, ON M6C 2C9, CA
Zucca
2150 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4S 2A8, CA
Il Posto
148 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON M5R1C2, CA
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Fantastic choices!
Also Carissima on King street.
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If you want the real Il Mulino, go to Carisma where the former Il Mulino owner/chef now operate.
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I'm not a fan of Zucca either and have never understood the praise it gets.
On the other hand, I gave Il Posto three chances over a number of years and never came away with a good experience. Found it very average.
I give points to Mistura and Noce.
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Not a fan either of Zucca and Tutti Matti. We were very underwhelmed at both.
I would also suggest Mistura although the bill can creep up fast.
I would also consider Enoteca Sociale or the new Terroni at Summerhill and Yonge. Great spot and excellent food and service. Not at all like the other Terroni. I believe its called Terroni Centrale.
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I like both Mistura and Noce as well but both will be more expensive than the the OPs resto list.
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Mistura
265 Davenport Rd, Toronto, ON M5R1J9, CA
Noce
875 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J1G5, CA
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Wow. We're all over the place on this one. I'm going to need a scoring system and a calculator!
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If you want to go with one of your wife's choices, it sounds like Tutti Matti and Zucca are your best bets but lots of great recs if you're open to a wider field of choice. Many of those suggested will divide themselves based on price point and atmosphere. Do you and your wife have a preferred budget? Preference re: casual or more upscale?
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Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5V1R7, CA
Zucca
2150 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4S 2A8, CA
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No budget really. But don't like noisy places eg. Origin where you can't hold a decent conversation. Casual or upscale doesn't matter either. Thanks.
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someone i know swears by Just Desserts on (I think) Warden. Anyone know about it?
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Just Desserts Cafe
555 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y3A6, CA
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For Italian Food?
There were a few Just Desserts on Yonge Street about 25 years back, and each one had an address roughtly double the one just south of it. TThere was on around 5000 Yonge street, and another around 10,000 Yonge Street (just north of Major Mac) plus a few further south, and they all followed that address pattern!
If I recall, they did have some Italian lunch and dinner items on the menu.
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The Just Desserts being discussed would be that in Woodbridge. It's on Weston Rd just north of Langstaff. Very casual place, usually busy with the local's (italians). Also they often have a birthday or babtism celebration going on in the rear and upper rooms. Family run and has solid italian fare, not fussy at all. Pasta, Pizza, Salads. Portions are of fair size.
Again not fancy by any strech. Great for a family meal, this is italian comfort food done very well.
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Do you mean Desserts Plus in Woodbridge? Haven't been there in ages but used to go there regularly when I worked up there.
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Desserts Plus
8611 Weston Rd, Woodbridge, ON L4L9P1, CA
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not sure if its was Desserts Plus or Just Desserts...
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Just Desserts Cafe
555 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y3A6, CA
Desserts Plus
8611 Weston Rd, Woodbridge, ON L4L9P1, CA
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