There's a lot of good places on College street but despite the welcoming, rustic decor, this is not one of them. The marinated olives are just unico from a jar with some weird oil and Italian shake added to it. The meatballs may have been okay but they were too soft for us, just didn't feel right in the mouth. The rice balls were good. The wine was warm, old, had obviously been opened for a week or more, and was served in a water tumbler. Speaking of, the tap water smelled really off and tasted funny. We were in and out in 15 minutes and will not be returning. Try the corner place two doors over for quality Italian in Little Italy or always a favourite is Regina's further west down the strip. For a place that's been around awhile, we could tell that this wasn't just an off day--this is the quality they serve up. Don't waste your money. read more

First the good. The service was good, mostly attentive and caring. The bread was fabulous The bad. Too much of everything. Too much dressing on the salad even after sending it back. Too much salt in the red sauce. Too much money. $18 lasagna was overpriced. And what Italian restaurant has what we call "shaky cheese". Nothing seemed fresh and modern. This is Italian from 1970's Orillia. read more

very nice pasta and great olive appetizer. the restaurant is tiny and we saw a bunch of other parties get turned down because it was so busy... read more

Enjoyed a great meal in this fantastic family restaurant. The pasta was perfect! The service came with a smile. Rosina is a joy! The tiramisu was a great way to finish the evening. The place is small, but that's part of what makes it special. read more

This place is lovely! Cozy and intimate. Great service and food, and the prices are fair. Would definitely recommend.

Hands down the best Italian food! Authentic, fresh, home made! We even had the pleasure of meeting the master chef Signora Rosina! Small, quaint, excellent!! Highly recommend! read more

Sometimes you find the best wonderful little treasures when you are just wandering around an area looking for a place to eat. On one of my many visits up to Toronto from the New York City area yesterday evening I was walking through Little Italy and just happened to walk by Trattoria Taverniti. It is a small place, but had the look of a place I might have bumped into wandering in Trastevere in Roma or perhaps in a small town in Calabria. It was busy, but I was pleasantly greeted and offered one of only two seats at the small bar. Once inside and gathering that the owner was in the kitchen with an apron on and his young daughter was helping with tables I knew a special meal would follow and I was not going to have to ask that the macaroni come out perfectly al dente!. A pitcher of water was placed on the bar for me and I had a nice glass of Valpolicella wine...served in a wine glass one might be served in when visiting in a friend's back yard. I started with some prosciutto e melone and was very pleased with the choice. The melon was fresh and the prosciutto sliced nice and thin and of high quality. The owner's daughter twice checked in with me to see if I was pleased with the quality. Now, came the big treat of the evening! I was thrilled to see that they had Cacio e Pepe on the menu. It is one of my favorite parts of visiting Roma but it is extremely hard to find in North American Italian restaurants. In fact, in my many, many visits to some of the traditional Italian restaurants in New York I don't believe I have seen it on a menu there. When the macaroni arrived and I took the first bite with the perfect blend of cheese and pepper a big smile came to my face. The last time I had this dish was in Harry's Bar on the Via Veneto in Roma last fall and at less than half the price Taverniti's version was every bit as good, and better. In a few seconds Dominic, the owner, came out of the kitchen to check with me on the quality of his little masterpiece of a meal. He also checked on the quality of the waitress and his daughter's service (they got an A+). Despite being busy in the kitchen Dominic came out a few more times to chat during the meal, adding to the welcoming touch to it all. I closed the meal with a nice glass of grappa. Though I have eaten in many "fancier" restaurants my experience at Taverniti's reminded me why why the best experiences come in places just like this....a legit Italian meal in a warm and welcoming atmosphere delivered with clear family pride. A little slice of La Dolce Vita in Toronto. read more

We went on a Saturday night after a show at the Royal Theatre across the street and walked in without a reservation. The atmosphere was warm and inviting and felt like an authentic Italian taverna. The staff were very friendly but very disorganized. They were not familiar with the items on the menu, brought the wrong orders to our table and brought me a completely different dish after I ordered off the specials menu. At that point they informed me they had run out and I had to wait for another dish to be made while the rest of the table ate their dinner. We also had to ask them to bring bread to the table. To their credit they tried very hard to make things right and comp'd us a free dessert for the trouble which was a nice gesture and made this an average experience from what was shaping up to be a bad one. The calzone was enormous and the food was good but not exceptional. I would go back there again another time in the hopes we caught them on a bad night. read more

kept hearing good things about this place so finally tried it. ATMOSPHERE: authentic with a positive vibe. it's like you walked into a popular resto in italy! It can be romantic in a booth, fun with friends at a larger table, or go for drinks at the bar or patio. i'll def come back with friends. SERVICE: there were more than enough waitresses to serve all the tables so no waiting longer than you have to. FOOD: had 2 apps (Figs w/goat cheese/prosciutto & cheese/olive/cured meat plate), a bufalo mozz pizza and gnocchi in tomato sauce. the tomato sauce is divine! im italian and have made hundreds of jarsbefore...it actually tastes fresh and like nonna's sauce. Apps were creative and absolutely delicious. believe it or not every single gnocchi has hand rolled grooves! (like nonna taught me). the pizza is amazing and a different style from the floppy terroni pizzas. the crust is thin yet stays firm. and again...that tomato sauce! DESSERT: we were so stuffed we only had cappuccinos. OMG...that had to be the best cappuccino i've had. ever. including what i had in Italy! LOVED the experience and the food. I don't normally review restaurants but it wouldn't be right in this case not to 'cause it deserves credit for all the care put into the quality of the cuisine. VERY IMPRESSED. 100% favorite restaurant in Toronto. read more

Good Day: Thank you for taking your time to read my review. This restaurant does make reasonable Italian food. What they do not do is take care of their valued customer base. I always make reservations and I prefer restaurants that take reservations. I reserved a table for two at 8:30 hrs. We arrived 15 minutes before our reservation and we were greeted at the door by staff who told us that they did not have a table for us. I explained to the staff that we had a reservation. It did not seem to matter. I asked if they could accommodate us at the bar until there was a table available and all we were given was an "icy stare". I asked to speak to the manager who was "absent" during the time we were there. They offered no apologies or explanation. I have been a patron many times in the past, but that did not matter. We left and crossed the street to Cafe Diplomatico for dinner. We were so well taken care of, it was unbelievable! A private dining room was opened for us and Tina and Fabrie were Excalibur in their service to us. The repas is delicious and we have never returned to Trattoria Taverniti. I suggest that the owners of this establishment, cross the street to Cafe Diplomatico to witness how incredible customer service is delivered! Govern yourself accordingly. read more

Good service for this small Italian restaurant. Very authentic Italian food at a more than fair price. The owner is a wonderful chef making fresh pasta and gnocchi. We loved it! If you are expecting soft cushy booths in a quiet setting this is not your place. If you want authentic Italian in a small restaurant in the heart of a vibrant city, then this is your spot. read more

Great place for classic homemade Italian food! Fast and friendly, perfect for families or date night.

We came across this amazing little gem on Saturday after wandering around Little italy. It was recommended by a local as one of the best. She was right! From the moment we walked in, we knew it was going to be special. Exposed brick, red checkered table clothes, and packed! We were lucky enough to snag the last table and happily settled in. The food didn't disappoint. We've never had the type of crust they use for their pizza, it was absolutely the best. The dough is from Calabria, Italy. So it's nowhere else to be found in the entire city. Also had the homemade eggplant parmesan, it was fantastic!!! The service was polite and prompt, lots of smiles and attention. Highly recommended little spot, we just can't say enough good things about Taverniti!!! read more

Was hoping to have some really delicious homestyle Italian food but came away disappointed. 2 pasta dishes were middling in taste and quality. Sub-par Caesar salad as well. I've had much better Italian food! Service was ok but waiter looked like he was doing us a favour by taking our order. read more

We went here tonight with my family for our anniversary. The restaurant is small and you should make a reservation. I have to say everything we ordered was delicious. Lasagna, gnocchi, spaghetti, pizza. The chef came out to great us. Please give this little gem a visit. read more

I can honestly say that the people who wrote the first review must have gone on a bad day because this fantastic little restaurant is absolutely the best place to go in LIttle Italy. The atmosphere was great with the checkered tablecloths and brick interior, it reminded me of cooking in the kitchen with my grandma. The pizza was just fantastic and the waiter was great to talk to. Our whole family was eyeing the calamari at the table across from us which looked amazing as well. Once you enter the restaurant you are surrounded by the smells of homemade pizza and italian pastas. If you're in the mood for pizza this is the place to go. I haven't tried the pasta, but from the looks and smells of the dishes around us, I will be soon. read more

We had a good dinner. We had a small cheese plate, arugala salad, arancini, pasta in gorgonzola sauce with walnuts, and cocktails. The food came out fast. There was plenty of wait staff. It is pretty cute inside the restaurant. It all tasted quite good. Worthy of a visit. read more

I was there for dinner tonight with my family and we will definitely be back very very soon! From the wonderfully helpful, friendly staff, to the incredibly delicious food (every bite was SO amazing), the whole experience was memorable and we look forward to becoming regulars at your restaurant. Thank you to everyone at Taverniti for the amazing evening! See you soon! Grazie :) read more

I was craving some penne alla vodka and came across this local spot. I headed into the restaurant which was busy and asked the waitress if I could place an order for takeout. She confirmed my order and told me it'd be about 10mins. I waited and waited as they turned away several customers because they had reservations booked until closing. Again I waited some more. Then I saw the cook place the takeout bag on the counter hoping and praying it was mine. For about another 20mins I stood there waiting; zero eye contact and complete avoidance while the waitresses brought other tables their food, handed out several bills and cleared the tables by literally turning the used tablecloth over-not cleaning or wiping anything down-the waitress with cockeye had the audacity to tell me my food was ready and tried to discretely hand me the takeout bag that had been sitting on the counter for 25mins! I confronted her and told her it was beyond unacceptable to have someone waiting there for 30+ mins all the while their food is ready, ignore me and acknowledge all the white clientele and tell me a bold face lie about how she was having trouble printing the bill, but had given three tables their bills right in front of my face. She made every excuse in the book and even told me to just take the food to which I refused. I told her she should've communicated something to me. I will never eat at this establishment and hope people take note of this poorly run restaurant. I wish I could've rated them -10 stars. Beyond disappointed and disgusted! read more

The BEST pasta I've ever had. Seriously so delicious- I got the fettuccine. I can't explain for amazing it was. Others I went with got the seafood pasta special and veal parm, everyone loved their meal. The decor is really nice and the service was amazing! Very knowledgeable, friendly, nice and attentive staff. Definitely my new favourite spot, can't wait to try the pizza next time. read more

We visited Trattoria with a group of ten friends. We had a great time and delicious food. The waiter was very personable and told us everything on the menu was good. After our visit, we had to agree. The atmosphere was very sleek and modern, and the staff and owner were warm and friendly. We will be back to visit. read more

Ironically it is almost impossible to find good Italian food in Little Italy. I always suggest this place when people ask for a spot in the area. The food is traditional and tasty. Service can be a little slow and scattered but the staff are so nice it didn't trouble me. It's busy and crowded is a positive way. You get treated like a person here, I like the place a lot. Best to go when you can linger over your meal with good company. read more

Been here at least a half dozen times and the quality has always been consistent. Sauces have always been full of flavour and never watered down. The atmosphere is definitely more intimate than most, better for special occasions or dates then a night out with friends. read more

We were on vacation and had visited Little Italy in Boston and New York prior to coming to Little Italy in Toronto. Trattoria Taverniti was one of the best restaurants we came across on our vacation. We had the best pizza in all the cities we visited. It was made special for us by the owner/chef Domenic Taverniti. It was the first time I had experienced a drizzle of honey on part of the pizza and it added a special flavor to the pizza. The service was wonderful, the atmosphere was great and Domenic came out and talked with us regarding his family business and their secret ingredients of the dough and sauce which he would not share. If you are in Toronto, don't miss this chance to experience a great pizza and a wonderful resturant! read more

Looking for some good Italian downtown on a Saturday night on the spur of the moment, we found this restaurant rated as #3 in the city by TripAdvisor, based on thousands of reviews. Despite it's' small size (seating for approximately 30-40 I would guess), we got a reservation for four at 8:30pm after calling at 7pm - not sure if this is indicative of demand, as the first two higher rated couldn't fit us. Anyway... the people were pleasant. When we arrived, although our booth was a bit tight, it is a cozy space with a somewhat rustic, minimalist feel. I will say that the night was one of the first hot evenings of the season, and it was quite warm in the restaurant, so it seemed like this might be a really good spot for those cold, winter evenings, but less suitable for the warmer weather. Moving on... the service was very friendly, but there was one hitch: our waitress had a strong Italian lilt, but seemed to have a bit of trouble with English. No worries, as that could add to the ambiance, but she often seemed confused. After we had been sitting, quite warm for approximately 15 minutes, the other server, who one would guess is the experienced and senior member of the staff, came to our table and asked if her colleague had told us about the specials (yes) and offered us water (we had requested it 15 minutes earlier) - whether accurate or not, our impression was that she was "checking up" on her. Anyway... we did eventually get our water, but only four small glasses, instead of just leaving us with a water carafe as they did later. The appetizers that we had ordered earlier with the water came probably 30 minutes after we ordered them, which seemed a long time for bruschetta and some stuffed risotto balls. In the intervening period, we had ordered our mains. Anyway, the appetizers were good quality - not fantastic, but solid, good food. Now... before I outline our main issue, I should provide one caveat: on the menu, there is a note that food can take time because it is all hand-made from scratch. Having said that... our mains did not come until more than an hour after we had sat down, and we did not order a long list of apps - just a couple of things to share. By this point, we were hot and famished. Despite the menu warning, it is a little bit surprising to find that a restaurant can not handle dinner for four in a quicker fashion, when there are approximately 10-20 people in the restaurant who seem to be not already in mid-meal. The mains were again very good, solid quality - portions not overly generous, but not skimpy either. My wife actually ate her entire portion (seafood pasta) which is a rarity, and a good sign. By the time we had finished our mains, rather quickly I admit since we were famished, we were still hot and simply did not want to chance another lengthy period for dessert or aperatifs. it was the right decision because after I asked for the cheque, it took another 15 minutes for that to be executed. I should add one final note: none of us ordered the pizza, but three of them passed while we were waiting for our food, and while I should warn you that our hungry state would have made kraft dinner appear as a delicacy, the pies looked really yummy, and I am tempted to go back at some point just to try one. Perhaps I'll look into whether they do take out and order in advance to avoid the wait. So... in summary: nice atmosphere for cooler weather, good quality food, and very good looking pizzas. Worth a try, but unfortunately can't be highly recommended at this point. read more