Bloordale’s dressed-down restaurant for red sauce eats cooks up mozza-covered veal parm and plates of Uncle Scotti’s famous meatball. Simple Caesar salad with pancetta is far from basic.

Leandro Baldassare provides wholesale pasta for a number of small businesses in Toronto, but his Geary Avenue kitchen is where to get long egg and filled pastas fresh during lunch pop-ups. 

Pasta and salumi from scratch has made this Dundas West restaurant a staple for over a decade. Their Roman-inspired menu has evolved to include dishes like Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara. 

Inspired by a paunchy Formula One racer with a lust for life (food, in particular), Ascari’s menu includes refined crudo, agnello, and cocktails. Head to King West for Ascari or to Leslieville for the cozy original.

Dishes to share at this College St. spot include spicy sopressata pizzas from the wood-fired oven and side plates of roasted mushrooms, foraged locally. 

Seeing the bold, floral exterior is just step one of the dining experience at this local favourite with locations in Harbord Village and Midtown. Charcuterie, canestri alla vodka and wilted dandelion pizzas next up. 

It’s been nearly three decades since this West Queen West mainstay opened up its doors to the masses. The Terroni empire continues to grow, with other locations in Toronto and in the U.S., plus offshoots like Sud Forno and Spaccio.

This Italian hub in Corktown spans multiple levels, with a menu that runs the gamut from morning espressos to nighttime cocktails. Unlike its sister restaurant Gusto 101, 501 has a wood-fire oven.

If you can score a reservation (during dine-in days, at least) count yourself blessed. This Dundas West restaurant remains a hit thanks to dishes like the 100-layer lasagna and lamb chops with tahini yogurt.