I visited Italy last year and this restaurant is on that level or, dare I say, BETTER. I'm extremely impressed with the amazing service from David, the authentic Italian ambiance of the restaurant, and I cannot give a higher praise for the food. We started with the calamari and Cesar salad. The Cesar salad was very fresh with crunch romaine, salty and crispy bacon bits and a nice dressing. The calamari REALLY started our meal off on the best note. It was batter with what looked like cornmeal making it not too overly batter like most places and it allowed the squid to really show. The squid so so soft (not chew) not overly seafoody flavour. It was so light yet delicious, it paired so well with the aioli it came with. Next they brought over a basket of focaccia made in the morning. This was the most fluffy and lightest focaccia I've ever had. I consider myself quite the focaccia connoisseur and this was literally the best focaccia I've ever had... and I've had a lot. It came with a small dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Next we shared Nonnas gnocchi as they are most known for it. The waiter said nonna comes in extra early every morning to hand make her gnocchi. I've actually only ever had the gnocchi from Eataly and there is absolutely no competition to Nonnas gnocchi. It was so light and soft like delicate little pillows. We had it with the Gorgonzola sauce and it was incredible. The sauce wasn't overly stinky as I was expecting from the Gorgonzola. I definitely recommend getting the gnocchi with this sauce. The lasagna was massive, really nice meat sauce and good amount of cheese. The fettuccine was really good, the sauce and mushrooms were my favourite part. And the chicken was cooked perfectly. Juicy, not dry at all with a delicious topping of some type of cheese and tomato mixture. We ended with a cappuccino that cake with a little cookie. For dessert, we had the tiramisu which was spectacular, a must try! And the cannoli had a very crispy exterior with a light filling with chocolate chips and it was on a drizzle of a berry jam. I came from Toronto to try their food and the quality, presentation and taste is impeccable. If I could give 10 stars I would. I will definitely be coming back! Keep it up, Ritorono! read more

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A few weeks ago, I visited Ritorno with my friends to sample their homestyle Italian dishes . They do certainly live up to expectations as it's a small taste of Nonna's kitchen! The Linguine Pescatore Aglio E Olio is a nice balance of textures from the al dente pasta with the variety of perfectly cooked seafood medley wrapped in each bite. The Spaghetti Pomodoro is a solid balance of rich pomodoro served with their giant meatballs to soak up all the sauce. The Risotto Confunghi Matta is well seasoned with a crack of black pepper to enhance to overall body of the dish with the rice and mushrooms blended well in the stock and Parmesan Cheese. Overall, we all enjoyed the dishes and experience and we can't wait for the next visit! read more

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This restaurant is one of my friend's favourite spots. They did not disappoint. We decided to order for pick up. The serving sizes were fantastic and we both were full afterwards. The gnocchi was perfect and the Bolognese was absolutely delicious. The pizza was lovely with a thin crust that crisp. It was so easy to order by phone and they were ready in 15 minutes. The gentleman who answered the phone sounded happy and was very helpful. I didn't go in (my friend went in) but the exterior was tidy, well lit with a patio area. read more

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Absolutely amazing! The atmosphere is wonderful, a great get together in a wonderful setting. Loving the Nonna wall read more

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Cool about the Nonna wall and server was polite, interesting and overall great. Not cool was the lack of Taste of Oakville menu not being available, "ran out". Also the food was pretty average tasting, lemon dish was not lemony/barely traceable. Garbage was taken out of Washroom in large bag and trailed through multiple (more than 4) tables where guests were eating. The garbage bag was literally at the same height of our faces as we ate. This was before Closing time and bag wasn't overfull/even full. The cannoli filling was bang on. Prob won't go back though as put off and food not too awesome. Sucks as I wanted to like it more because of the business' values and Nonna directive. read more

Covid patio experience: Hubby and I walked in without a reservation on a Thursday night. The patio is small and only has 6 tables, so do try to make a reservation. I believe they are opening the indoor dining rooms Fri. July 24. Before we were seated, we were told that we had to vacate our table by 7:00pm (gave us a little over an hour to eat). But despite this, the service was on the slow side (slow to take our table, slow to get the entree and tiramisu). Our waiter had a mask on the whole time and there were bottles of hand sanitizer both at the front of the restaurant and in the bathroom. Hubby and I both ordered the calamari appetizer. This was the highlight of our meal. Coated in cornmeal, the calamari was tender with both the ring pieces and tentacles (so it has to be the real thing!) and came with a nice dipping sauce. The portion was huge and we ended up packing some home. We also ordered the primavera pizza (super cheesy, great topping with the juicy tomates and crunchy broccollini; a thin pizza though it could've been crunchier in my opinion) and the veal parmigiana (huge portion, the veal was extremely thin, unfortunately all of this was on the soggy side). We finished off the meal with tiramisu (which they said are made daily in-house). While the flavours of the tiramisu was on point, I felt that the lady fingers were too soggy (it didn't taste like it was made today). Overall, we had pleasant experience and the staff were friendly and attentive. I would probably go back just for the calamari. read more

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The high reviews on Google match my experience. Came in around 8pm on a Saturday night and the staff were very friendly and seated us right away. I guess we lucked out because our server mentioned that it was packed earlier that night. Ordered the gnocchi with rose sauce and the chicken Alfredo with linguine. They must be known for their focaccia, because it was a delicious alternative to the regular dinner rolls you get served at other restaurants. The gnocchi was too soft for my taste, but the rose sauce was . The chicken Alfredo linguine was very yummy. I loved the fresh pasta. The cream sauce was rich and delicious. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant to friends and family. read more

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Delicious food right up my alley. I've been here a few times and always satisfied with the quality of the food. Their pizzas and pasta are a must order! I'm a lover of rose pasta and they've got their rose perfect other items to try are their calamari, meatballs and caprese salad. Check pit IG: @ooi.eats for all food reviews and your next foodie adventure. read more

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Great little Italian place. I highly recommend that you have a reservation due to this restaurant being small. But is is mighty. The pasta is wonderful and the service is just as good. This is not for someone that is on a keto/low carb diet though as there are no protein options. This place is al about the pasta. read more

Great homemade Italian food, especially Nonna's gnocchi! A bit pricey. Cute intimate setting.

Attended again with my family for our wedding anniversary dinner. Our server, and team assisting her, were fantastic! We enjoyed everything: Caprese Salad Cheesy Garlic Bread Calamari Pasta with seafood Veal Parmigiana Chicken Alfredo Penne Rose Gnocchi Rose Wine San Pellegrino water Soft drink, etc... Again, everything was great, as usual. 10/10 We also supported this business over the pandemic, and nice to be attending and enjoying a meal, as previously. Will be back again. Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

A cute little gem in Oakville! We were craving some Italian food but could't go too far cause of work, so we decided to check out Ritorno and were not disappointed! The food was good, the area was classy and had a cute outdoor patio, and the service was amazing! Everyone was super welcoming and kind, the waiter bought our food SO QUICK! And it was all delicious! We ordered the Linguine Pescatore and the Penne Formaggio! Both were absolutely delish! Also- this place serves HALAL chicken which is a huge plus! They also have an in-house chili oil that's absolutely delicious! Great experience! We'll be back!! read more

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Do not recommend. Fast food quality. The price is not matching the quality. Will not come again. read more

Best Italian restaurant! Family owned establishment. Food really takes you back to Italy! Love the ambiance, and the overall experience. Friendly staff and great food options read more

This is our 'go to' for authentic Italian food. The gnocchi is fantastic and all their pastas are homemade.

My husband and I grabbed takeout for a date night from Ritorno and we were so pleasantly surprised. Covid has made date night tough this year and take out has become the norm but the food and packaging from Ritorno was definitely a little more elevated and felt like there was some care put into it which was really appreciated. I had the bolognese and my husband had a spaghetti & meatballs, I think we both agreed the bolognese was better but both dishes were great. We also grabbed the bruschetta appetizer which was my absolute favorite and I'm salivating a bit just thinking about it right now.. will definitely be grabbing it again the next time we order! read more

Love the gnocchi at this plane any the ambience Is nice too. My wife loves it and i will keep going here. We are vegetarians and the margarita pizza was super read more

Always love coming here for dinner! The Caprese salad is amazing, and the pitcher sangria is the best I've ever had. A favourite main is the classic Penne Bolognese, but all of their main dishes are to die for; their gnocchi is made fresh everyday by the owners grandma! The Nonna wall adds a nice warm community feel to the restaurant, and the owner herself often comes by the table to greet you! Just a great little Italian restaurant. read more

Ritorno - Italian Near Me - Oakville, Ontario

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I visit this place every weekend or whenever I feel stressed to have a great meal, this really recharges myself. It is a surprise too me that I can find such a decent, authentic Italian restaurant just in walking distance near my home. The service here is nice, there is this guy David who remembers what I like to order and recommend specials read more

Wonderful food and excellent service. Thank you for making our staff feel extra cared for. You all went above and beyond. We appreciate it!

Ok so the food was very good. Actually some of the best Italian food i've ever tasted in the GTA. HOWEVER, their service was really crappy. The servers were not friendly and the manager was rude to say the least. Let me explain... I had my sisters family including my 2yr old nephew with us. They did not have high seats for the kids... ok so we took the stroller in. At first the staff seemed friendly.. however after our order we had to wait aprox 1hr till we got anything on the table... Due to the long wait my nephew started getting upset and started crying for aprox for 2 mins. The staff there (including the manager) were clearly not happy about the kid making some noise... That's ok too...what really made me angry is when the manager aproached my sister and told her 'can i pack the lasagna fro you.. 'the food will taste much better at home'... Need I say more... read more

Ritorno - Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Oakville, Ontario

Awesome experience.. Tasty ample servings.. fair prices and great service. Ambiance was better than expected. App platter was massive with interesting odd and ends. Approx $80 taxes in for two with appetizer, and two drinks each. Will definitely return to try other dishes after I stop dieting..lol! read more

Ritorno - $12 Appetizer Platter - Italian Near Me - Oakville, Ontario

We love Ritorno. Outstanding food every time. Great atmosphere and Julia is the most wonderful hostess in Oakville. Try the Gnocchi. Julia's Nona still makes it by hand everyday. read more

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Love the feel of this restaurant.. family and traditions. Service was great. Caprese salad and gnocchi were good. I need to try the pasta next. read more

Ritorno - Italian Near Me - Oakville, Ontario

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A very nice Italian restaurant that serves traditional Italian food. We celebrated our friends birthday here with a party of ten. The table was ready when we arrived. Our servers were friendly and quick to serve. We all started with a cocktail before dinner. The drinks were acceptable for most of us but the birthday girl did not like here martini and thought it was too weak. My manhattan was delicious. After hearing the specials we placed our orders. We didn't have to wait too long for our food which was great. We started with appetizers and a few of us shared. The highlight of the appetizers the Burrata dish. Everyone who tasted it loved it. The winning entree dish was the braised short rib special. I was one of the lucky people who ordered it. The short ribs were melt in your mouth tender. The most disappointing dish was the fettuccine Alfredo. The person who got this dish said it was too bland. Overall it was a tasty dinner with fresh ingredients and good service. There was a mix up with the bills but it was settled quickly with no fuss. I would totally recommend this place for its tasty Italian food. Great for big groups. read more

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Delicious Meal, So Very Good Chicken Marsala with Broccolini and Pasta instead of Potatoes. Magda was an Awesome Server Dan Boaz read more

Ritorno - Delicious Meal, So Very Good Chicken Marsala with Broccolini and Pasta instead of Potatoes. Magda was an Awesome Server Dan Boaz - Italian Near Me - Oakville, Ontario

Went here for the first time on Sunday. I had heard great things and have always wanted to try it. I went with family for Father's Day, and it was a good choice. I rarely go for Italian as there are so many other cuisines that I enjoy and since I am quite the cook (and enjoy making fresh pasta and sauces from scratch), I tend to no go for Italian. Being Father's Day, and my dad loving Italian food, we decided to give it a try. The highlight, one of them, was the calamari. Many restaurants have it on the menu but few pull it off with perfection. Tender, fresh, light crispy coating, etc 5 starts all around. Worth the visit for that alone. I ordered the gnocchi as it is the one dish that is specifically made fresh on site by the owners mother. Again, perfect. I had the gnocchi a la vodka and was very pleased. Others had pizza, veal parm, spaghetti pescatore, and also mussels. Caesar salad was also great with crisp pancetta on top. The $5 margaritas were a hit too.... Not Italian, yet a percentage of latino blood at our table did appreciate it :) I give 4 stars for it being quite loud ( not that my family didn't contribute) and service was good yet slightly slow.... Yes, it's Father's Day but in that Type of business, plan for it. It happens yearly so be prepared to serve and delight your clientele. read more

First time to Ritorno in Oakville, At first I didn't didn't know if the Restruant was open because the sign wasn't lit up. Lucky for us... It was. At first walking into Ritornos it looked very comfortable and welcoming, the only thing I don't like about the decor is (and other reviews have mentioned this) the wicker chairs. Not comfortable to sit on for a while. It wasn't that big of a deal though. Once we were given our menus and told about the specials the waitress left us to be. This would be the last time we saw her for 15 minutes... Well I saw her but she didn't bother to come and take our order. The menu isn't massive and it was a party of two so 15 minutes was a bit excessive. They couldn't read our body language either I guess because sitting back with the menus closed should be enough of a cue that we're ready. There was a total of 3 tables in use including ours. They were not by any chance busy. There was a couple sitting at the bar for as long as we were there, they were there when we came in and also when we left. Out of all the customers they got the most attention. It was a bit frustrating when there is only two wait staff and there serving this couple. Our food was served very hot. Fresh out of the pan, this I was very pleased about. Most times at other restaurants it's cooled a bit. The meal tasted fresh and "clean" a great portion, great color and smell. Taste was great and wasn't salty at all. Very much enjoyed it. After we were finished the plate was taken promptly and a dessert menu was brought. I got the NY Cheesecake, it was served fast and tasted great. I ate the entire thing and didn't feel sick afterwards. To finished I ordered a Latte, it was very good but I don't think the water is filtered after it entered the building. It tasted a bit like chlorine... And smelt like an indoor public pool. Sadly the only thing that came the fastest was the bill. Over all I would probably come again if there were more waiters/ waitresses. Waiting for service was my biggest dislike. The food was amazing A+ read more

Ritorno - This was the pasta special of the day, I swapped the Rosé sauce for the Vodka. Very good, not too salty! - Italian Near Me - Oakville, Ontario

My wife and I decided to go here during Jazzfest weekend and to my surprise, it was really good. I've driven by it numerous times on Dundas thinking that it was a cookie cutter Italian restaurant surrounded by big box stores ala East Side Mario's. Instead, the dishes were both unique and delicious. The service was a bit on the slow side but the food more than made up for it. And to Fareeda S., what do you expect? This restaurant is not for 2 year olds. If I was there and heard some kid screaming while I'm trying to eat my $30 entree, I would be PISSED. I can't stand people like you who bring small children into adult restaurants and act all shocked when they start crying and the people eating there get mad about it. Next time, think about someone other than yourself and take your nephew to McDonalds. Bottom line: this is one of Oakville's hidden gems. read more

Wow, wow, wow. Okay let's just get straight to the point, you need to come here for the Gnocchi alla vodka... now, seriously you're depriving yourself if you don't. Honestly had no clue that gnocchi could be like that. I always had associated it with being this thick sort of chewy heavy pasta. No, this gnocchi literally melts in your mouth it's absolutely incredible. Now that we got past that, I called for a reservation for my boyfriend's birthday and they informed they do not do reservations for Saturday nights but they said I shouldn't have a problem getting seated. And they were right but it was shocking because the restaurant was packed, I swear we had the last seat. The inside isn't super fancy, and the outside looks like a chain but the food certainly proves otherwise. We were dressed up for a wedding and didn't feel out of place, but nor would I had I been in jeans, a weird phenomenon. We luckily got a booth seat and it was pretty loud since it was a full house. I got a Cabernet sauvignon which paired very nice with the food. The other entree we got was the eggplant parmasean. This is not going to be like the one you're used to in Canada and US, it is baked and not breaded, much healthier. The sauce it is in is very nice, but I felt it could have been hotter both heat and temperature. However still delicious. We will be back for Nona's gnocchi, oh did I not mention that it is hand made everyday by the owner's grandmother!? Yeah. read more

Ritorno - Nona's handmade gnocchi alla vodka - Italian Near Me - Oakville, Ontario

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Fantastic food. Really it is very delicious. The atmosphere is very nice as well and the staff is great. Honestly the only downsides (that aren't really that bad) are that it gets pretty loud during the dinner rush, they don't take reservations, and the wait time for your main course is looooong. The appetizers tend to come out reasonably fast and are very yummy (so you won't starve) but hopefully you're there with someone that you can have a nice conversation with to pass the time. A couple of things to keep in mind: You need to order an appetizer from the mozzarella bar. AMAZING! Really, really delicious. And listen to the waiter/ress for wine suggestions. They are on the ball. Enjoy :) read more

We've eaten here many times but tonight just didn't pan out. They've changed the menu apparently and unfortunately, tonight it did not taste fresh. The chicken in my linguini had a weird texture. I sent it back and had to wait to get a replacement. My family's leftover boxes came and I still hasn't had my meal yet. I ended up cancelling my main course altogether. When someone sends a dish back because it isnt right, you expect it to be prioritized in the kitchen, but it wasn't. I hope this was a one off because we do like eating here. I was disappointed that our waitress seemed to be offended that I was not happy. read more

We enjoyed Ritorno a lot and observed lots of returning customers. Fresh and hot homemade gnocchi and pizza, excellent service, bread and oil to start too. They also have a patio, and have lots of indoor decor and posters about parmesan and old Italy that you will feel stereo-typically at home in an "Italian restaurant". One star off because it's uncomfortable to sit here during sunsets, and once blinds are down, the restaurant ambiance is a bit too dark. read more

PEI mussels in marinara were lovely. Ravioli with mushrooms and artichoke were very tasty. Good execution. Service was very good but only a few tables busy at 2pm. I enjoyed it much more than their sister restaurant Julia's. read more

I stopped by before visiting a very sick friend at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Giorno. I heard great things from the work staff on a previous visit. He was in critical condition. We had tried to make reservations to ensure we would have enough time to stay for the duration of visiting hours but they would not accept them on the weekend. Regardless, the friendly staff ensured me that I would be out promptly. What happened, however, was not the hasty service I was expecting. I've had double-knee cap replacement surgery and have issues standing, but was told to wait standing while a table opened up. The staff was friendly, and we finally got our table somewhat shortly after. The food itself was pretty good, the gnocchi alla vodka was just like my nona used to make before she got cancer. On that topic, the wait times ensured that I didn't get to visit Giorno before he passed that night. Sometimes I am kept up at night debating whether or not the food was worth it. Great service, wait times went from long line to flatline. RIP Giorno, A-Reaver- Dairchi, I will not be Ritorning read more

I'm not even one to write reviews, but I feel like people need to know this before walking into Ritorno- it's nothing shy of disgusting. I am Italian, have traveled to Italy and have eaten at MANY authentic Italian restaurants in the GTA, and Ritorno is by far the worst. If you want REAL Italian food- try Marcello's (located in Vaughan) or Cibo Wine Bar (several locations in Toronto). My boyfriend ordered the Linguine Alfredo which was extremely undercooked. As we tried to tell the "Assistant Manager" the pasta was undercooked, she attempted to insult our intelligence explaining to us what Al Dente meant, I then let her know that I am Italian, and understand exactly what that means, but there is a huge difference between rock HARD pasta and Al Dente. We also got the Meat Pizza to split in the middle... again, GROSS is an understatement. The sausage, and all the of the assorted meats on top of the pizza really, tasted old and flavourless. The pizza dough itself also tasted like cardboard, which the "Assistant Manager" again, insisted that it is imported from Italy therefore it is impossible it can be "bad". All in all we definitely will not be returning here, this place doesn't even deserve to be in business. read more

We love this place! It's the perfect restaurant for special occasions - we always go for family birthdays. The food is fantastic, the ambiance is great, and the staff are always friendly and attentive. You should definitely check it out! read more

Excellent !!! Had the spaghetti and meatballs and let me tell you the meat balls were fantastic ! Also ordered the meat pizza and it was lovely , thin and perfect amount of toppings. Lastly ordered the Gorgonzola gnocchi and it was very tasty! I can't wait to go back and try more items. The only downfall is that they don't have high chairs for kids or booster seats , not sure why.. when it's a family restaurant. read more

Loved everything about it. Have been twice recently. Once with just the two of us, once with us and our kids. Everybody loved everything. All the pastas, cheeses, meats, salads. Dynamite. Can't go wrong. And you have to try the homemade gnocchi. read more

Best Italian restaurant for a first date in town. Reasonable price, Actually to reasonable. Wonderful service and authentic amazing Italian food. I Found out that their nookie pasta is made Daily, fresh, by the Italian grandma and brought in for the dinner service. Unbelievable!! Great place. read more