Toronto Exhibit
Each region of the GTHA has its own unique story to tell. These exhibits highlight some restaurants within the Toronto region that have serve important roles in their communities.
By clicking a business, you will be taken to that establishment's collected artifacts.
Angelo's (1921-1959)
In 1921, Cielia Bollo and Angelo Belfanti opened a three-storey hotel/tavern on the corner of Chestnut and Edward Street. The area is called “The Ward” which is known for their junkyards, taverns, dodgy hotels, and bus stations. Angelo’s was able to liven its streets with Italian cuisine and vivacity. Angelo’s is one of the first of its kind in Toronto and introduced many Torontonians to ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, and spumoni.
Bar Italia Caffe & Gelateria (est. 1987)
Chef Andrew Milne-Allan started his Italian culinary career in the 1970s when he worked for a restaurant called the Parrot on Queen Street. At this restaurant they had a rotating Mediterranean menu that often featured Italian food as it was quite famous. On a trip to southern Italy with friends Chef Andrew deeply connected to Italian food and found a love for it. Chef Andrew opened Giancarlo in 1983 with partners Giancarlo Carnavale and Eugene Baroni. Giancarlo was originally an old Italian sports bar that they had converted into a restaurant. The dishes Chef Andrew makes reflect southern regions such as Sicily, yet Giancarlo did not focus specifically on regional dishes on their menu. Zucca’s opening in 1996 highlighted different regions each month, even having regional wines. Chef Andrew strongly believes that the best way to attract customers is to simply make food people will enjoy and come back for. Many of the ingredients used by at the beginning of his Canadian culinary career were purchased at farmers markets. One of the best-selling items Chef Andrew makes are whole grilled fish, which are quite rare to find in Toronto restaurants.
Biagio (est. 1988)
Biagio Ristorante provides a fine dining experience to its customers since 1992. It is located right next to the business district in downtown Toronto. Biagio Vinci is the founder of the restaurant, and the headchef at the time Gianpiero Tondina comes from the rice-growing region of Piedmont. So, unsurprisingly, the restaurant has a spectacular offer of risottos done alla veneziana with chicken livers and asparagus or alla mercate with saffron and fresh herbs. Currently their executive chef is Tommaso Lepore who studied in Napales and most familiar with foods from Southern Italy. With guitar accompaniment in the background on the back patio with umbrellas and a gorgeous fountain, Biagio Ristorante is sure to present an interesting night to its guests.
Bitondo’s (est. 1960s)
Bitondo’s Pizzeria is an old-school pizzeria on Clinton that has been opened for more than 50 years. It has always been a hall mark of the Original Little Italy. The Pizzeria supported its neighbor Monarch Tavern. In a National Post article written in February 2, 2009 by Peter Kuitenbrouwer, Peter describes that customers would buy their sandwiches or pizzas from Bitondo’s and head to the Monarch Tavern for beer to wash it down. It has also been listed as one of the best places to get your pizza slices in Toronto by the National Post in the same year. Bitondo’s Pizzeria offers takeout only and is supported by a loyal following.
Buon Giorno Café (est. 1970s)
Buon Giorno Caffe and Panini started as a butcher shop in the 70s. Antonio and Maria Di Principe owned the butcher shop called “West Farm Meat and Cheese”. They lived above their shop in an apartment where they raised their three sons. When their sons took over the family business in the 90s. They converted the butcher shop into the Buon Giorno Caffe and Panini that stands at Queensway Toronto today. Buon Giorno uses the best and freshest ingredients to create authentic Italian food served to you by a loving family. The Caffe serves veal and chicken sandwiches, eggplant parmigiana, Italian sausage or meatball on a bun, and lasagna. They also maintained their connection to their past by offering fresh deli sandwiches. Buon Giorno also offers catering services for your event.
Café Diplomatico (est. 1968)
Café Diplomatico was founded by Rocco Mastrangelo Sr. in the spring of 1968. The establishment’s mission was to offer espresso and gelato for the neighbourhood to build a place of community. Rocco is from a town in Italy called Anzano di Puglia and worked as a Sergeant Major in the military. He left his post in order to help his family which had immigrated to Canada earlier. The restaurant attracts many families, tourists, young students as they offer a patio and are open from 8am to 2am. As time went on the establishment added a large menu with pasta, pizza, lasagna, parmigiana, and North American foods such as burgers chicken fingers, fries, and onion rings. Their menu tries to capture both Italian food and something for Torontonians. Yet, recently more traditional items have been added back onto the menu as the food scene in Toronto changes. Many of the ingredients, such as tomatoes, are imported from California or Italy and some are made here in Canada such as the pasta or mozzarella. Café Diplomatico has survived government lockdowns throughout the pandemic and looks forward to opening up in full capacity soon.
California Sandwiches (est. 1967)
California Sandwiches started as a family-owned grocery shop in 1967 known as La Rinascente. Even then, their veal sandwiches were a local must have. Before the pandemic, the sandwich joint makes 200-300 daily, and double the number of sandwiches over the weekend. As big box chain grocery stores populated the area, making the small business grocery store harder to run against the competition. They decided to transition into a sandwich shop, forming California Sandwiches. In addition to veal sandwiches, they also serve chicken and beef sandwiches as well as eggplant sandwiches and meatball sandwiches. Many famous faces visited California Sandwiches like Phil Kessel, former Blue Jay Dave Stewart, Rick Mahorn, the Ford brothers, and Justin Trudeau.
Camarra’s Pizzeria & Restaurant (1958-2019)
Camarra Pizzeria opened in September 1958. The family franchise started in Italy in 1953 and moved to Toronto in 1958. The family changed the shop from a pastry shop to a grocery store then to a pizzeria over a five-year period. Word caught on to the pizzeria’s reputation for serving amazing freshly made Italian cuisine. The Financial Post’s Brett Halliday wrote a short article on Camarra Pizzeria in 1995 and quoted Elisa saying “quality cannot be bought two-for-one.” Elisa and Emilia are the daughters of the original owner of the pizza joint, Domenica, and the daughter ran the pizza joint after their mother retired on the Pizzeria’s 50th anniversary. Camarra Pizzeria’s unpresented growth lead them to move away from their initial location in Rogers and Oakwood to move to a larger premise at 2899 Dufferin Street. On July 28, 2019, Camarra Pizzeria closed its doors. The Pizzeria served old-school pizza, pasta, meat entrees and gelato.
Carlo and Adelina’s Place (1986-?)
Carlo and Adelina’s Place was the highlight of Markham Street back in the day. The restaurant was in Mirvish Village, home to the Honest Ed department store for over 50 years and has a rich history of the artist’s colony. Actors working on a shoot near the Village will visit Carlo and Adelina’s Place for delicious veal and chicken slathered in sumptuous creamy sauce. They served homey Italian styled dishes. But the restaurant closed sometime during the 1990s to early 2000s after the death of Adelina’s husband Carlo.
Cena Ristorante (1988-1993)
The restaurant was open from 1988 to 1993. Cena Ristorante is now closed and if you have information and you wish to contribute to this profile, please contact italiancanadianfoodways@gmail.com.
Centro Trattoria & Formaggi (est. 1979)
Centro Trattoria and Formaggi has been open for over 40 years. It is a family run grocer that serves locally produced and imported Italian foods, and scrumptious Italian hot table dishes. The hot table at the back that serves delicious authentic Italian recipes at great prices. A quick delicious bite of cannelloni, lasagna, rice balls, and eggplant parmigiana is available to purchase there. The grocer is well stocked with cheese, cold-cut deli, and groceries, and they are well known for their imported Italian cheese. Centro Trattoria and Formaggi carries the rare crotonese sheep’s milk semi-hard cheese from Southern Italy. The Trattoria also carries locally produced cheese like Santa Lucia made at International Cheese that is housed in Toronto. The movie Moonstruck, starring Cher, was also shot at Centro. Centro has also been voted to be the best hot table in Toronto, and has been complimented to be a neighborhood “hidden gem” by the Toronto Sun.
Cora Pizza (est. 1984)
Cora Pizza is a late-night pizza joint that is perfect for a cheap bite and fun pizza party. They have a wide variety of options like Cha Cha Cha Pizza, Sicilian Style Pizza, and Cora Special Pizza. Cha cha cha pizza is created using roasted chicken, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, onions, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. They make the pizza dough in house using authentic Italian techniques. They are located around the Annex and has been a University of Toronto student favourite.
Faema (est. 1958)
Founder of Faema Canada, Michele Di Donato, immigrated to Canada from Campania in 1957. His son Joe Di Donato describes him as an entrepreneur who was always concerned about his next big move. The idea to distribute espresso machines in North America occurred to Michele when he asked for a “café” at a coffee shop in downtown Toronto and was disappointed to receive a coffee instead of an espresso. He realized North Americans did not have good, authentic, European espresso, and thus came into contact with Faema in Italy. Later, Michele would begin selling espresso machines out of his garage. This business soon grew, as Michele was purchasing properties to sell the machines out of, the largest and oldest being the locations on Dupont and one on Davenport. In addition, Michele then realized there was more to the Italian food scene that Italian immigrants missed from Italy. Therefore, he also began selling pasta and gelato machines, as well as the products to create authentic gelato and pasta, so Italians in North America could recreate their favourite Italian dishes. The company also expanded into selling espresso machines for the home so that customers that loved espresso could make it in the comfort of their own home. Fortunately, due to the retail side of their business the COVID-19 pandemic has not greatly affected the company as many people still bought espresso machines for their home, but they did notice a significant decrease in sales from the commercial sector as many businesses shut down.
Trattoria Fieramosca (est. 1980)
Mario Micucci founded Trattoria Fieramosca in 1980, after immigrating to Canada from Basilicata. Mario’s mission was to share his love for Italian food with Torontonians. He began by selling pizza and panini but as time went on his business expanded into a trattoria. The menu has not changed much over the years as people want their usual dish when they return for their next visit. The most famous dish is the seafood pasta which largely reflects Mario’s hometown in Italy. Many customers that went to the restaurant as children still go to the restaurant as young adults, and much of the clientele is attracted to the establishment through word of mouth. Quality is key to Fieramosca as customers want to have the same quality when they return. Thus, to get the best and consistent products Fieramosca imports some ingredients or makes many by hand such as dough, sausages, and sauce. As restaurants open back up, slowly, Fieramosca hopes to add aperitifs to their offerings.
Frank Vetere’s Pizzeria & Tavern (1972-?)
Frank Vetere’s Pizzeria Tavern was a Toronto based chain. The pizza chain was founded by Frank Vetere in 1972 and the Tavern was known for their Chicago style deep-dished pizza. They have even trademarked the phrase “Deep Dish Pizza”. Italian Sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and all you can eat salad bar are available to their customers. Arcade games also line the walls of the restaurant that take plastic coins. Although after taking a hit during the 1982 recession, 40 of its Ontario locations were bought by Pizza Hut. However, it is still a beloved and missed Toronto pizza chain.
Fusilli Ristorante (est. 1988)
Giuseppe Pelligra was born in Canada yet grew up in Sicily. In Sicily he worked at growing vineyards and learned about the restaurant business from his uncle who owned a restaurant. When he immigrated to Canada in 1983, he worked as a dishwasher while learning English as his second language. In 1988 Giuseppe opened a restaurant in Corktown and promoted it through word of mouth. The name Fusilli was chosen because it is a popular pasta and an easy name to remember. Their menu was simple, offering appetizers like caesar salad, mix caprese salad, and some soups, four or five different pasta offerings, and two to three meat and fish offerings. Recently the establishment added pizza to their menu which is popular among younger customers. Most ingredients used at Fusilli are imported such as the olive oil, pasta, and tomatoes. The items purchase locally are vegetables and meats. To survive the pandemic the establishment has relied on take-out and has recently opened their patio for dining. Giuseppe does not plan to retire anytime soon as he believes working keeps him young!
grano (1968-2018)
Lucia and Roberto Martella opened Grano in 1986. They are children of Italian immigrants, and their love for traditional Italian cuisine is apparent when they speak of the food they serve at Grano. As Lucia ran the restaurant from the back as the chef, her husband, Roberto, greets the guests at the front with a warm “Buon giorno!”. The couple live in a flat right above their restaurant. As their family grew, their restaurant did too. And by 1996, Grano has tripled in size. The Martellas’ love for the Italian tradition and cuisine is very apparent in the National Post article published on May 10, 2003 “Slowly simmering with love”. In the article, Lucia shared with Sara Angel how to make her signature sugo di pomodoro. Grano serves a selection of Antipasto, Pizza, Panini, Primo, and Secondo that are tailored for lunch and dinner, paired with a reasonable wine list. Some highlights are the calamari, gnocchi, and the raspberry strawberry tart. And in 2006, due to their contribution to the fabric of Toronto life in unique ways that exemplify the ideas of Jane Jacobs, Roberto Martella received the Jane Jacobs Prize. Unfortunately, Grano closed its doors in late 2018 due to Roberto’s failing health.
Il Gatto Nero (1960-2020)
Il Gatto Nero also known as the “cat” was a well-known Italian Café Bar restaurant established in Toronto in the heart of Little Italy. It was family owned and operated by Carmine Raviele, the father and entrepreneur who started Il Gatto Nero and Michael Raviele who succeeded him, having been running the restaurant since 1960. Their main goal was to dedicate themselves to their customers by treating everyone who walked through the door like family. Their iconic black cat statues could be found throughout the restaurant. Il Gatto Nero hosted many events that brought the Italian community together such as the FIFA World Cup in 2006. They have served the community for 60 years, however due to the hardships of the pandemic, they closed their college street location. All is not lost; the owner’s son, Michael Raviele, has now established a new location in Etobicoke located at 73 Advance Rd. The Italian Café Bar is described as a casual dine in location that serves great pizzas by Jason Rehill in the National Post. Since the original pizza oven is now at the Etobicoke location, the legacy will surely live on.
Il Paesano Pizzeria & Restaurant (est. 1959)
Il Paesano Pizzeria is one of the oldest pizzerias in Toronto located in the west end in Etobicoke. It was originally opened in 1959 by the Mallozzi Family, however new owners purchased the pizzeria in 1972. The new owners, the Casale family, Nino, Emilio, and their uncles Alex and Tony really transformed Il Paesano to what it is today. The origins of their pizza making originates from Nino’s father and uncle, who came from Lazio, a region in central Italy. From the father’s and uncle's experience, the Casale family brought over the experience to run Il Paesano. Their focus was to keep their pizzas simple with fresh ingredients, without being extravagant, which has been a winning formula for them for 50 years. They have been serving the Mimico and the Alderwood area and attracting local residents including Toronto Maple Leafs’ Brendan Shanahan. The quality of their food and pizzas speaks for themselves since they operate only by word of mouth. As the locals lovingly refer to the pizzeria as Il Pae, it has since further expanded into Mississauga.
Jolly Il Italian Ristorante (est. 1988)
Jolly Il is one of the restaurants established by Michel Mousavi and was first opened in 1988. Its second owner purchased Jolly II not long after it was opened. He previously worked at its sister location Jolly, an Italian cafe, for two years starting in 1986. They finally sold Jolly II to move to Etobicoke to open La Veranda Osteria in 2009. The focus of the restaurant is to deliver quality ingredients, and that everything is made from scratch. The uniqueness of Jolly Il is the wide selection in their menu.
Kit Kat Italian Bar & Grill (1989-2020)
Kit Kat Italian bar and grill was established in 1989 by Al Carbone and is in the heart of the Entertainment District. At first the restaurant was a storefront for Al Carbone’s sausage and grilling business. It transitioned several times in the 1980s. It was also known as a barbecue location in the beginning. Then in 1989, it became a cappuccino and sandwich bar. Lastly, it became the iteration it is known as today. The formation of Kit Kat was established with wife Cathy Horvath, and it was initially just a store and lunch counter. Unable to secure money, they renovated the storefront themselves into a restaurant. Their restaurant served the local communities that built the entertainment district neighborhood, which includes the SkyDome, Metro Hall, and CBC headquarters. Kit Kat would later attract famous Canadians, such as John Candy and Shania Twain, to dine. John and Shania would sit in the very chairs that Al and Cathy built themselves. Kit Kat has been serving the entertainment district for 31 years, but unfortunately due to the pandemic lockdowns, they had to finally close their doors.
La Fenice (est. 1984)
La Fenice, which means “The Phoenix” in Italian, is a restaurant located in the heart of the entertainment district. First established in 1984 by Luigi Orgera, the family's history can be traced back to Italy in the hospitality industry. The family, however, lost their livelihood due to World War 2, and the family decided to immigrate to Canada. Orgera brought the recipes from their native lands and decided to rebuild their business here. Orgera would import olive oil and cheese from Spigno Saturnia where their family originated from. The food that Chef Luigi Orgera would prepare was well liked and became a popular Italian restaurant in the entertainment district. Unfortunately, Luigi was diagnosed with leukemia in April 2000 and the restaurant was succeeded by his daughter Rita and her husband Rocco Fosco. However, the restaurant was sold off to new owners and the restaurant continues to thrive today.
La Gondola (1967-?)
La Gondola is a pizzeria that was first established in 1967 by Anna and Antonio who were the second generation pizzaioli, who are pizza makers. Anna and Antonio’s Canadian restaurant has its origins in a small town in Southern Italy called Montorio nei Frentani started by Anna's grandmother, Ida, and her grandfather, Giuseppe. These skills were passed down to Anna and Antonio who moved to Toronto in the 1960s. Then, they opened La Gondola located at Keele and Wilson. The restaurant was successful, and a second location was opened near Bathurst and Harbord called Pizza Gigi. Unfortunately, the management of the two restaurants along with their children proved too much for them to handle. As a result, the restaurants were sold off to Sam the Pizza Maker. Fortunately, not all was lost, one of their three children, Luigi, wanted to open a pizzeria and opened Pizza-iolo, which has become a popular pizza franchise in the GTA. Pizzaiolo’s pizza are also nut free and non-GMO.
La Lucciola Pizzeria (1986-2006)
The pizzeria closed in 2006. If you have information and you wish to contribute to this profile, please contact italiancanadainfoodways@gmail.com.
La Luce Ristorante (est. 1976)
The new owner, Richard, of La Luce Ristorante took over from the previous owner Gorgia D when he retired. Richard states that the menu reflects the previous owner’s northern regional Italian culture. The restaurant had begun as a hot table then expanded into a fine dining experience on the other side of the establishment with a kitchen in the middle to cater food to both sections. The mission was to offer a motel restaurant for construction workers that started building Woodbridge in 1977 as many of the workers were staying overnight. Being one of the only Italian businesses in the area Richard states it was not hard to attract customers at first. The menu used to be quite simple, but as time went on more complicated dishes were added that require more attention to detail. To create authentic Italian food many ingredients are imported from Italy such as cheese like mozzarella, tomatoes, olives, tomato paste, and olive paste. The future of La Luce is to turn one part of the restaurant as a casual walk-in pizzeria and keep the fine-dining room for reservations and more sophisticated sit-down meals.
La Paloma Gelateria & Café (est. 1967)
La Paloma Gelataria and Cafe, also known as “the window”, is one of the best gelato establishments serving Toronto since 1967. It is faithfully called “Gelato Heaven on the Corso” due to its location on St Clair West. It was first started by Sicilian immigrants Giannone and Vincenzo Ciarlandini who continued the same style of Italian cafe but serving gelato. The uniqueness of La Paloma is the development of its own proprietary recipes. As of now they have developed 50 of their own recipes that cater to many of the taste buds of its cafe goers. The styling of the original cafe still holds true for 50 years featuring Mediterranean murals of Italy and Sicily. They have expanded from their original location and now have franchises in Woodbridge as well as Yorkdale Mall.
La Scala (est. 1962)
La Scala was established in 1962 in Toronto and was known for its great excellence in hospitality, service of fine Italian cuisine. La Scala was opened by the father of J. Charles Greico was succeeded by him. Charles Grieco mentored many of the hospital's future leaders in Toronto, who worked at La Scala. It was located on Bay St, where many of Toronto’s political elites and CEOs made deals, while eating the best of Italian food that Toronto had to offer. Sadly, despite having a very successful business, La Scala was sold to new owners and closed in 1993. Charles, after selling La Scala, continued in the hospitality industry as a mentor and a leader. He presided as the director of the Canadian Hospitality Foundation continuing to mentor hospitality experts from his experience at La Scala.
Liberty Entertainment Group (est. 1986)
Liberty Entertainment Group mainly catered as a sports bar group, but it also contains restaurants, event facilities, and nightclubs. The group was founded by two brothers Nick and Pat Di Donato in 1986. Pat, who had previously had 30 years' experience in the hospitality industry, wanted to run a restaurant and bar. Nick, however, was an engineer by trade and decided to switch into the hospitality industry with his brother. The business was a sports bar that became a success catering to hockey fans that could not attend the nearby Maple Leaf Gardens. The group's venues were in downtown Toronto with 10 different establishments, however further expansion to the United States, specifically Miami with the acquisition of the Coral Gables Country Club in 2008. The properties that Liberty group owns are preserved for their historic interior design and feel, while still being state of the art. The Coral Gables Country Club, Rosewater, Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex, the Courthouse are the facilities in which they had renovated and modernized to preserve the historic look and feel. Liberty Entertainment Group continues to expand its holdings and holds a special contribution to Toronto’s entertainment district and abroad.
Mamma Martino’s (est. 1983)
Mamma Martino’s opened in 1983 and has been at its current location ever since. The restaurant is currently run by Bruno Martino and his Mamma and Pappa. They have served Torontonians with authentic Italian dining at affordable prices for the last 40 years. Pappa and Mamma Martino arrived in Toronto in 1953. They had their four children Mike, Tony, Bruno and Clementia after settling down in Etobicoke. In 1966, Mamma opened a variety store in the same location where it stands now. By 1983, the variety store had become a 30-seat eatery. In the next 6 years, they tripled in size. In 1991, the eatery was expanded to have a 60-seat outdoor patio complete with plants and a fountain with seasonal celebratory decorations. Mamma operates the kitchen and Pappa visits the food terminal to pick up fresh produce and meats from the butcher. Bruno, Clementia, and Clementia's fiancé, Frank, helped to run the restaurant as well. Martino’s has a wide variety of parmigiana, which is a dish made with eggplant layered with cheese. He has selections from veal to chicken to eggplant. Martino’s pasta is hand prepared by Pappa Martino and serves a collection of ravioli, lasagna, and good old spaghetti and meatballs. Mamma Martino’s was handed the platinum award for the best local pizza, outdoor patio, and restaurant atmosphere in 2002.
Mastro’s Ristorante Italiano (est. 1964)
Mastro’s Ristorante Italiano opened its doors in 1964 with Rino and Livio Camarra. The couple were determined to serve quality authentic Italian Abruzzo cuisine to their customers. Pierre Trudeau dined there in the 1980s. Together the family, Livio Camarra, Luisa Morgillo, Guiseppe Farinacci, and Cosimo Bruzzano, has 130 years of cooking experience to serve their customers.
Milano’s Pizza (est. 1963)
Milano’s Pizza has withheld its reputation for delicious pizza with generous cheese and toppings since 1963. Their pizza has made it to the top 10 old school pizza locations in Toronto on BlogTO. They have also earned the Readers’ Choice Awards in 2020 from The Etobicoke Guardian. Now, Milano’s Pizza is open during COVID-19 with limited hours and staff.
Mirra’s Place (est. 1961)
Mirra’s Place is a family-owned restaurant that opened in 1961 and they are proud to serve great Italian cuisine. Their menu includes homemade pastas and sauces, great veal, seafood dishes, and desserts paired with a large selection of red and white Italian wines that feature Italian cuisine at its best. Mirra’s offers specially made “Miramisu,” which is their version of a Tiramisu for order during the pandemic. They have also provided drive-in service during the Vaughan International Film Festival in 2021. Lastly, Mirra’s Place was featured on the Johnny Lombardi show.
Paese Ristorante (est. 1989)
Paese Ristorante opened in March 1989 takes on a handcrafted house made approach to create cuisine inspired by the owners’ Italian roots and Canadian heritage. “Paese” means town or village and its wooden furniture, gorgeous patio with white outdoor patio chairs builds a cozy atmosphere. Paese is hosted by Tony Loschiavo who is a self-made restaurateur and savvy-smart businessman. They are well known for their wine tastings and once hosted a wine tasting program that included more than 800 wine labels. In 2019, their Chef De Partie at the time was sent to World Pasta Master, a global pasta competition, to represent Canada. Paese Ristorante is under the L-Eat Group that includes L-eat Express, L-eat Market, Great Gobbler, Upstream Salmon and Elite Gifts. Their menu is categorized in by Primi, Secondi, Pasta, Pizza, and Contorini. The meals can be prepared with veal scallopini, grilled 28-day aged ribeye steak and Cornish hen. Cornish hen is a USDA-approved name for a particular variety of broiler chicken.
Papa Ceo Fine Italian Foods (est. 1984)
Founded in 1984 by Sicilian immigrants, Tony and Cathy Bonventre, Papa Ceo was originally started out of necessity, in order to survive after they arrived in Canada in their 20s. What was started as a necessity quickly grew into a passion, and Tony, who previously worked in construction learned how to make pizza from a relative working at Gino’s Pizza. Located downtown near UofT, Papa Ceo’s attracts a large clientele of students. Its name is an homage to Cathy’s relative in Italy, and their mission was to create a family run business (their daughter Piera is now active in restaurant operations) and serve delicious pizza in their community. Tony went on to found other pizzerias in the GTA, such as Gigi’s, and kept the majority within the family. Although, it’s unclear how much Sicilian inspiration went into the menu’s pizza varieties, many of the items are Tony’s early original recipes, and have proven to be the most consistent and best-selling items on the menu, such as the Margherita Pizza.
Piazza Manna (est. 1982)
Piazza Manna was started in 1982 by Paul Manna. He first worked in various pizzerias before establishing his own. He first worked at Vesuvios, in his early teens and later moved on to find his own Milano’s Pizzeria in the 1960s, which is in the west end of Toronto. Paul was not satisfied with just one pizzeria and further expanded into the downtown core with the opening of the first Piazza Manna at Brookfield Place. The success of Piazza Manna led to the development of a franchise and the opening of several locations in the downtown core, Yonge & Finch and Scarborough expansion.
Pizza Gigi (1970-?)
Pizza Gigi is a family-oriented pizzeria that has been open for over 31 years. They offered fantastic late night delivery service that was popular with UofT students, employees in the Central Technical Institute, and residents of the Annex. The pizza joint was originally opened by the family who ran La Gondola but has since changed hands to Salvatore Crimi who worked there since he was a teenager. They’re named Best Pizza in 2005, and Best Delivery Pizza in 2013 by NOW Magazine.
Pizza Nova (est. 1963)
Sam Primucci founded Pizza Nova with his brothers. The business started in 1963 in Scarborough, and slowly a sit-down version of the establishment was founded called Nova Ristorante. In 1969 the first franchise location opened. At this time franchising was not common and quite difficult. Yet the owners valued franchising as it gave new immigrants an opportunity to support themselves. In order to preserve the heritage of Pizza Nova over the years through franchising, several interviews and workshops are conducted with franchise owners. One of the few regional dishes from Italy offered is the Focaccia Barese, known from Basilicata Italy. Most of the dishes are inspired by southern Italian dishes. Domenic believes that Pizza Nova has played a big part in the Italian food scene in Toronto for the past 58 years and believes that it is due to their commitment to quality. They also believe that their significant role in Toronto giving back to the community by giving opportunities to immigrants and by supporting charities.
Regina Pizzeria & Trattoria (est. 1967)
Regina Pizzeria is one of the oldest pizzerias in Toronto and has been owned by the Balzamo family since the late 1960s. The pizzeria was founded by two friends, Domenic and John, who immigrated to Canada in 1966. Shortly after coming to Toronto, they established their own trattoria, which means a cafe or restaurant, that focuses on Italian dishes. BlogTO had listed Regina Trattoria and Pizzeria in their Top 5 Best Old School Pizza list. And as they became known for their scrumptious pizzas, the restaurant focused their efforts on pizza making. They offer other dishes as well like antipasto, soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, shellfish, chicken with mushrooms, steaks, and dessert. The business has been passed on to three different generations of the family already, and the fourth generation of the Balzamo family is working in Regina’s kitchens today.
Remezzo (est. 1978)
Remezzo Italian Bistro has been specializing in Italian cuisine since their opening in 1978. They offer bookings for a variety of different private events with customized menus and drink lists depending on the needs of their customers. emezzo expanded their services to lunch and dinner options including a variety of pastas, seafood, pizzas, meat dishes, desserts and drinks. They describe their atmosphere as cozy and encrouage dressy casual attire. Find them at 3335 Sheppard Ave., Scarborough, ON.
Ristorante Boccaccio (est. 30+ years)
Described as “Modern Italian mainstay hosting theme nights highlighting dishes & wine from various regions” (google), this Italian restaurant is located at 901 Lawrence Ave W, North York, ON. Ristorante Boccaccio has been sharing their passion for Italian culture and food since their opening over 30 years ago. They cherish the traditions that have been passe don to them through the years and hope to preserve them through the authentic, fresh, and delicious Italian home cooking. Everything from their food to restaurant decor hopes to preserve and share the Italian culture. Ristorante Boccaccio also extended their versatile dining space to any private events their customers require, hoping to have their customer experience go beyond just dining! (parts taken from opentable and google)
Rossini Restaurant (est. 1969)
Located at 1988 Avenue Road, North York, ON, and operating since their opening in 1969, Rossini Restaurant is happily serving customers traditional italian food. Their specialties include “handmade pastas and traditional veal dishes as an elegant option for italian dining” (google). The atmosphere is a combination of welcoming and elegant, and they are proud to be a perfect setting for special occasions. Rossini Restaurant serves both traditional italian food and their modern dishes dubbed “the Chef Inspirations” (their website). There are options to dine-in, takeout and cater! Another offer from Rossini Restaurant is the space for private events. There is a prix-fixe menu that pairs well with small or big parties! This restaurant is proud to serve their high quality ingredients imported from around the world and brought to customers with attention and care. Their goal is to serve all their guests like they are their only guest.
San Francesco Foods (est. 1954)
Their motto: “Discover the real taste of great food”, San Francesco has been around the corner from Saint Francis of Assis Church in little Italy since their opening in 1954! After a young Italian couple came to Canada post WW2 with the desire to serve heart foods to the working class, San Francesco Foods was born! They source the freshest ingredients locally and have been increasing their customer family for decades! They operate at four different locations and although they offer some pizza’s and pasta’s, their famous deliciousness comes from their sandwiches! On top of take-out, San Francesco Foods is happy to work with customers to make a custom catering menu!
San Remo Bakery (est. 1969)
San Remo is a family-owned Italian bakery aimed to serve the GTA since 1969. The café’s name is inspired by a popular music festival held in Sanremo, Liguira; however, the founder himself is from Calabria, a region in Southern Italy. Natale Bozzo started in the back kitchens of Sicilian bakeries, washing dishes, but was taught how to run a restaurant business after his passion was recognized by his employers. Natale Bozzo ensured that his sons learned the trade and could carry on his legacy. In the beginning, they only sold cakes and pastries, as one of the few scratch bakeries in Toronto. They expanded into sandwiches, pastries, gelati, and more.
Sicilian Sidewalk Café (est. 1959)
Since 1959, Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe has been occupying 712 College St. West, Toronto, ON as the “grandaddy of Toronto’s Gelateria world” (website). As one of the oldest geltaerias in Toronto, Sicilians strength comes from their products and authentic italian products. Speaking of products, their selection ranges from Tartufo to Sorbets, Crepes, light meals, and of course, ice creams and gelato. Their history begins in Italy with secret of traditional ice cream making were passed on from their grandfather to the founders, the Galipo brothers. They wanted to make their establishment a heritage site for italian culture and values and make a worthy space for the term “Sicillian”. Sicilian’s is happy to make any event extraordinary through their private event and catering options. They also have their own line of pre-portioned desserts to indulge at home, with impeccable craftsmanship and the ability to customize products based on customer desire!
The Old Spaghetti Factory (est. 1970)
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Trattoria Leonardo (est. 1988)
Opened in 1988, this restaurant has been a cozy nook for Italian comfort food occupying 4740 Dundas Street West, Etobicoke, ON. Trattoria Leonardo is an intimate space for dining during dinner. It’s a casual atmosphere with casual attire. Trattoria Leonardo is happy to host private events/parties during lunch or dinner and for all patrons, offer a wine list that compliments the dishes they serve. Trattoria offers a VIP list with additional benefits and correspondence with the restaurant. Their menu varies from various antipasti, pasta dishes, entrees, seafood and meat dishes and gluten free options.
Vesuvio Pizzeria and Spaghetti House (1957-2020)
Opened in 1957 and permanently closed after 63 years on April 19,2020, Vesuvio Pizzeria & Spaghetti House was a family-run Italian business in West Toronto. The ugliese family proudly served high-quality food and was deemed one of the oldest pizzeria and spaghetti houses in Toronto. They specialized in authentic italian cuisine and occupied space at The Juction.