We'd passed by this restaurant countless times in a busy Markham plaza, but this was our first…read morevisit. We made a semi-last-minute reservation the day before Father's Day weekend for a party of seven at 6:00 PM on a Saturday. Surprisingly, it wasn't very busy during our visit, aside from one larger group and a few couples, the dining room remained fairly quiet. The restaurant itself is quite spacious, though only about half of the venue is dedicated to dining. The atmosphere strikes a nice balance between casual and upscale. It's not fine dining, but it's polished enough for a date night or celebration while still being comfortable for casual attire. Service was provided primarily by two servers throughout our meal. They were friendly, attentive, and consistently kept our water glasses topped up without being intrusive. The food was enjoyable, though not the best I've had at this price point. That said, it's a solid option for the area. The grilled calamari appetizer was cooked well, being tender rather than chewy, and nicely seasoned without being overly salty. The kale salad was a pleasant surprise, featuring a fresh, homemade-tasting dressing that complemented the kale perfectly without any bitterness. The garlic bread was absolutely loaded with garlic, which I loved, though it was softer than expected and could have benefited from a bit more toasting. For my main, I ordered the mushroom truffle pasta. The pasta was cooked al dente, and the generous amount of mushrooms was a highlight. Around the table, the spicy chicken rosé pasta was well received, though the spice level was quite mild. I recommend asking for their chili oil for an added kick. The aged striploin was cooked medium as requested, tender throughout, with nicely crisped edges. The accompanying truffle fries and truffle aioli were delicious. The clam linguine had good flavour but could have used a bit more sauce. The branzino was the surprise of the evening, as it arrived as a whole fish, which wasn't what we expected in this type of setting. While flavorful, it required navigating quite a few bones (wouldn't really recommend it for this reason, not the classiest dish to eat). Dessert was a mixed experience. The banana pudding was unfortunately a miss, with an unusual stretchy texture and an overly sweet flavour profile. In contrast, the house-made pistachio tiramisu was outstanding and easily the standout dessert of the meal. It's a must-order. The restaurant was clean and thoughtfully decorated, and the washrooms were well maintained. I especially appreciated the complimentary mouthwash, a small but memorable touch that added to the overall experience. Note: They change their menu from time to time!

Love the space. Very tastefully decorated. Pasta dishes are delicious. Sauces for the pastas…read morehave depth of flavour and are perfectly seasoned and balanced. The pastas themselves I think are house made....not sure but they're are the perfect texture. The service was good. It didnt feel the warmest and was awkward at times. Clearing my side plate without asking if I was done with it was a little annoying because we weren't done with our appetizer. Overall I would definitely visit again based on the food. Its yummy.

I think one of the best Italian restaurants I've been too so far…read more I had the calamari and bruschetta, the calamari was good well seasoned the bruschetta was my favourite, the tomatoes and the feta cheese worked perfectly together. I had the special very expensive 50 bucks wild mushroom ravioli, with rack of lamb, portion size is massive, the lamb was cooked perfectly and the mushroom ravioli was one of the best pasta I ever had. This once every ten years because it is very expensive. The dessert was really good a gelato really tasty and not too sweet. The service was excellent the server was really attentive and brought more bread, and the ambiance is really nice I can't believe I never heard of this for all the years I lived here

Came here on a Friday evening for birthday celebrations. The restaurant looks like it was…read morepreviously a house. Most of the restaurant is quite tight and close, but the bar area is probably the most snug. It wasn't too busy when we sat down, so service was fast; even when it got busy we had no problem getting the attention of a waiter/waitress to get what we needed. Calamari - One of the top calamari batter I've ever had. The batter was fluffy and still crispy, the perfect compliment to a nice chewy calamari. Wished the calamari was a little thicker to give it more of a chew and a bit more seasoned. Fried peppers were a nice touch! would get again. Sofia Mia Pizza - This was an absolutely amazing pizza. Crust was not the best but the toppings stole the show. Normally I don't like goat cheese, but that was balanced by the fruitiness of the fig and the balsamic reduction. The prosciutto brought on some meaty flavours while being balanced by the caramelized onion and arugula. Would come back again for this. Cheese wheel pasta - some mushroom pasta - A bit of a gimmick in my opinion, but it was a fun experience. The head chef comes by and does the final touches of the pasta in the cheese wheel. The pasta itself was a bit lacklustre for me. It lacked flavours compared to a saucier pasta, probably because they wanted the parmigiano cheese more forward. Nice to try, but would not get again.

Food and service was excellent. Some vegetarian options. The only thing is the place had a strong…read moreair freshener scent and the washroom didn't have any paper towel and only one stall had toilet paper. Other than that, a great little place to enjoy.

This is a hidden gem near the bluffs. I would not have imagined to have found such a quality place…read morein this neighbourhood. Their pasta is delicious with a generous portion.

The food was quite good. I tried the fettuccine selvaggia and it was really good, not too heavy and…read morea good amount of mushrooms. The tiramisu was also quite good, not enough coffee for me personally but was still very enjoyable. The service was excellent, the food came out quickly and the server was also attentive. The owner even came around checking in on everyone, which was nice to see. The ambiance was also nice, a well furnished restaurant and ample seating. It'd be perfect for little get togethers as well as large parties. It wasn't too busy when I went so the noise level was fine but I can imagine it getting loud when the restaurant fills up. Overall a very enjoyable experience and worth a spot for anyone wanting a new Italian spot!

Celebrating 10th year anniversary! Novita Italian Cuisine has been around for a decade and…read morehonestly, this is still my favourite spot for Italian food in Markham :) It's great for date nights, GNOs and even large group parties. I have hosted so many dinner parties here in the past years, and I seriously only have praises for this place! Recent visit on a Thursday night for their Twist & Twirl Thursday dinner specials (20% off pastas and cocktails). We ended up going for the seasonal 3-course meal :D Our server was especially warm and welcoming, even though you can tell he is so swamped. He brought us some bread and olive oil dip shortly after putting our orders in. The lobster bisque was chef's kiss. It was so creamy and flavourful; I wanted another bowl lol. The warm beet salad was also really tasty. On to the main: the creamy seafood pasta was amazing, it was loaded with shrimps, scallops and mussels. I would definitely order this again! The duck was also tasty. As for dessert, the tiramisu and the panna cotta are must-orders #nobrainer

Came here on a Friday evening for dinner. Called ahead to make a reservation and they reserved two…read moretables for us to choose! Service was superb with very friendly servers - so friendly that even my toddler with stranger anxiety liked them and engaged with them! Atmosphere and view were great since it was sitting on Toogood Pond. Inside was really cute too. Tables, chairs, and even the booster were clean. Zero complaints! The only thing is the washroom is the public park washroom so it's not the prettiest and cleanest; there were some bugs and some smell. In terms of the menu, there aren't a lot of choices for pasta but it makes sense since it is a bistro. Ordered the Mortadella & Burrata and Tagliatelle al Ragu. Both were really delicious and the pasta tasted fresh even though we don't know if it's fresh pasta. Had a really good experience here and would definitely come back! This spot is perfect for date nights since there are many small tables and the vibe is just a date night vibe!

There are restaurants that earn their success through great food, relentless hospitality, and years…read moreof hard work. And then there are restaurants that win the geographic lottery. La Fonte sits on one of the most enviable pieces of restaurant real estate in Unionville. Perched beside Toogood Pond, with a patio facing west, it offers the kind of sunset view that would make a mediocre sandwich taste profound. If you're taking an evening stroll around the pond, there is essentially one place to stop, sit, sip a cappuccino, and watch the day disappear. La Fonte knows this. And perhaps that's the problem. On a cool evening, we approached the mostly empty patio with modest ambitions. No elaborate dinner. No special requests. Just coffee, a couple of treats, and a front-row seat to one of the best sunsets in Markham. The greeting? "Do you have a reservation?" No. Reasonable question. What followed was less reasonable. Instead of the traditional hospitality playbook--"Welcome, let me see what I can do"--we were informed they were busy - did I mention the empty patio? And immediately questioned about whether we intended to order food - what does what we intend to order matter if a seat can be made available? We did say we would like a seat on the deck/patio. We explained that it was our first visit and, not being blessed with psychic powers, we had no idea what they served. Snarky attitude in check - with pleasantries exiting the oral interface. A menu was handed to us and we were instructed to step aside and review it. Step aside....???!!!??? As if there were crowds of eager diners stacked ten deep behind us... There was nobody. Not a single soul waiting for a table. No line. No rush. No visible crisis requiring crowd-control measures. Just an oddly defensive interaction taking place on a mostly empty patio overlooking a beautiful pond. The conversation somehow became more absurd from there. Every answer seemed to generate another hurdle, another question, another subtle suggestion that perhaps our presence was creating administrative difficulties. Eventually, we did what any rational person does when hospitality turns into a bureaucratic exercise: we left. The funny part came later. Walking around to the opposite side of Toogood Pond, we could clearly see people casually strolling onto the patio and taking seats. No interrogation. No menu review committee. No apparent examination of intent. Just people walking on past the gatekeeper and sitting down. Which naturally raises the question: Is the secret to dining at La Fonte simply to ignore the front-of-house operation altogether? Not that we'd ever do that. Most of us were raised to believe civility matters. You wait to be seated. You speak politely. You respect the establishment's process. But La Fonte provided a fascinating case study in how that social contract can break down. Because when courtesy is met with indifference, and curiosity is met with suspicion, one begins to wonder whether good manners are simply putting oneself at a competitive disadvantage. The tragedy is that none of this has anything to do with the food. The kitchen may be wonderful. The coffee may be excellent. The patio is unquestionably spectacular. The problem is that the first course served at any restaurant isn't food. It's hospitality. Perhaps what seems to be nepotism at the gates is not the best hiring practice. And on this evening, La Fonte managed to take one of the most beautiful dining locations in Unionville and make it feel strangely unwelcome. That's a remarkable achievement, though probably not the one they were aiming for. Carpe diem, indeed. Just don't expect anyone at the front door to help you seize it. JEERS!!!

I have dinner with my friends at this location several times a year because the service & the…read morefoods were good. I write this review is to thanks your company policy & the excellent service from Liz on the past Wednesday. I ordered the pizza & the meat ball pasta this time but the pasta was over cooked & the meat ball tasted like meat sauce instead. I only let Liz know after I finished the meal. She did ask me do I want to replace another pasta instead but I say 'no, thank you'. I was very surprised that the manager has removed the charges of the pasta & the birthday cake. This is not what I expected. Also, my friend was happy & enjoyed very much of the birthday cake & ice cream because that day was his birthday. Greatly appreciated of the service. We have a great time. Thank you.

had Jonathan as our waiter and he was great! very good service. food was also great!read more

Amazing hidden gem located in the heart of an older neighborhood. Came here with some friends on a…read moreFriday night. It wasn't too busy and they also had live music. Very traditional Italian feel as well. We ordered: Roast Garlic + Garlic Bread - 8/10 Penne Alla Vodka - 8/10 Spaghetti Alla Carbonara - 8.5/10 Total cost: about 70$ after tax + tip Everything we ordered was delightful. Prices are reasonable given the large portions. Service was amazing as well, our waitress was patient, accommodating and really friendly Would definitely visit again and highly recommend if you're looking for a nice Italian restaurant around Bayview Village area!

Great local spot located in the heart of an older neighborhood. Great for families and date nights…read more Cozy interior lined with booths, long and round tables. Live music. Very traditional Italian feel. Lots of parking. What we ordered: * Roast Garlic + Garlic Bread - $23 - 8/10 * Penne Alla Vodka - $24.5 - 8/10 * Spaghetti Alla Carbonara $25.50 - 8/10 Everything we tried was delicious. Prices are reasonable given the generous portion sizes. Our server was a gem - super friendly, funny, and attentive. She always came back with water or just to check on us, making sure we had everything we needed at all times. Would definitely visit again!