This is a tiny place but luckily there were tables open without a reservation on a Friday evening. They have a good amount of wine options and the wine doesn't come in wine glasses but just normal drinking glasses. I had the gnocchi with bolognese sauce and the portion was large and it was really good. Maybe not the most flavorful Italian meal but very good. read more

Absolutely terrible food and even worse attitude and service. Didn't even have a bite of the food read more

I was in shock with food here...the food was extremely disappointing. For prices that are on par with most mid-range Italian restaurant, the food was horrible. I came here with reservations and we were seated immediately. It was during dinner hours but they only had one staff serving all the tables. With just one server, the service was really slow from bringing us the menus and taking down our orders. Service: The service was slow since they don't have many staff. Food: My friend and I ordered two appetizers and two entrees to share. Out of the four items we ordered, only one of the item was decent with the rest being disappointing. N'duja bruschetta - We were deciding to order a bruschetta and opted for this one because it was different. The menu described this to be a bruschetta with a spicy pork sausage spread drizzled with honey. Although I was aware that this was going to be just a spread on bread, it looked disappointing when it arrived to the table because the spread was so thin. I was expecting something thicker to give it more flavor. I also looked at other tables bruschetta and it looked very average. Calamari Fritti - Another disappointing appetizer. When this arrived, I was a bit shocked because it didn't even look like there was batter... When my friend and I tried it, we both agreed that there wasn't enough crisp. The dish didn't look appetizing either. Gnocchi Gorgonzola - I wanted to try the gnocchi since the menu states they are handmade. The pasta came out and I thought the color was unappealing; it was like a greenish/greyish color. I guess it is because this sauce is a nutty creamy sauce. The texture of the gnocchi was chewy and nice. However, I wasn't a fan of the sauce. Tagliatelle al Funghi Misti - This was AWFUL Some of the noodles were stuck together and this is the first time I've experienced this at a restaurant. The menu does mention this is a lighter sauce, and I thought it was a lighter flavor....but I didn't expect it to be less saucy. There was BARELY any sauce actually. The sauce was pretty much nonexistent and I felt like eating noodles in water. This pasta had no taste. It was $18 and it was literally just plain noodles without much sauce and flavor; the pasta was very dry. Overall: I would never return. With most of their pastas ranging from $17-20, I was expecting similar quality to other restaurants in this price range. The tagliatelle was so dry and awful. The bruschetta also barely had any toppings on it. read more

This was a very memorable dining experience in Little Italy and was a very good choice. We made the mistake of coming on a Saturday night without reservations; however, we were able to sit outside. The poor Canadians! Most of them couldn't handle the summer heat of dining al fresco on a sweltering day, but this was fine with us. We were well cared for outside, and the food was terrific. We got the house red wine which was an affordable and pleasant option. I got the daivolo pizza and it was cooked to perfection. These guys really should think about expanding, because they could probably double their business with the number of people they turned away as we dined. Granted it was a Saturday, but it was obviously a popular option for both locals and tourists like us. read more

I was very disappointed with my meal here. The calamari was soggy and did not come with any dipping sauce. The carbonara tasted like plain boxed spaghetti with a hint of scrambled egg. The pesto tasted store bought and was way too greasy. read more

Delicous Italian food in my old hood on a gorgeous summer evening. Perfect way to cap off a day with friends.

They kept the people waiting in the cold and kept 3 tables empty for two full hours. That is sick. When questioned, rude and disrespectful attitude was we got. Eill never go back. read more

This is my favorite Italian restaurant! My first thought was, "this tastes like my neighbor's nonna's cooking!" Turns out all of the pasta, sauce, etc IS made from scratch by a sweet Italian lady. Wait: Usually very busy but we got lucky when we went for lunch and were seated right away. Ambiance: Exposed brick, checkered red tablecloth, small but very comfortable. Service: Both times that I've been here the service was excellent. This time I brought my infant son and was very hesitant that the staff/guests wouldn't appreciate that, but we were treated very well! Food: AMAZING! I am already wanting to go back and try more dishes! The portions were huge! I thought I would take home leftovers but it was too good that we ate everything. The first time I went we had: Penne alla Vodka: Perfect sauce! Perfect ratio of pancetta to sauce Calabrese Pizza: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, hot soppresata, n'duja, black olives, drizzled honey. This pizza was delicious and all of the flavors complimented each other very well! I've never had honey on pizza and it was a really nice touch. The crust was perfection- thin and delicious. This last time we had: Prosciutto and bocconcini pizza: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, and bocconcini My husband and I both agreed that this was the best pizza we've ever had. I can't wait to go back and get it again. Fettuccine Bolognese: Amazing sauce, pasta cooked to a perfect al dente. I'm still dreaming about this sauce. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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I crush on all candlelit yet casual Italian joints. I just do. Tavernitis (which reads like an infection in English, let's be honest) fits the mold. This place is so quaint it hurts, and is located on the main strip in Little Italy on College. It's a good place for a reasonably priced date, and their pizzas are the star of the show. The four cheese was simple and perfect. Thin crust, but not so thin that it got soggy when I was eating my buds' leftovers. I however, went with the veal parm and was greatly disappointed. The pasta on the side was 'plain tomato', but tasted like it could have come from a jar. Bummer. I started with the lentil soup, which I really enjoyed, though. So, you win some, you lose some. I choose not to comment on the service. A cornucopia of minor disasters and mix ups, but they were very busy and both servers seemed sweet. But like, they never brought my friend a fork... fork that. Oops, I guess I commented. PEPPER POINTS: For the red and white checked table cloths. So cute. 15/30 read more

Taverniti - Checkered table cloths and exposed brick. Cute! - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This place is awesome!! Very authentic and intimate. The food is really good. The service is great and even the chef comes at each table! The place is small, reservation is needed and there's a line outside! I recommend this Italian traditional place! read more

I was in Little Italy this cold, February morning for an appointment and decided to grab some lunch with a couple friends afterwards. I'd heard mention of this restaurant before and noting its proximity, decided this would be a great opportunity to check it out. The first thing I will note is that we accidentally showed up at the restaurant 20 minutes before they opened (noon), but our server (Natasha) was kind enough to let us in early. She seated us and brought us water and menus promptly. This was much appreciated considering it was a bitter -25C outside today! The restaurant itself is cozy and quaint, with exposed brick walls and red-and-white checkered tablecloths. It is simple, but very welcoming. To my knowledge, the restaurant also has a patio area out front during the warmer months. While we perused our menus, Natasha brought us a basket of crisp, warm bread and a olive oil & balsamic mixture for dipping. Throughout the entire meal, she was very attentive to us (although we were the only table in the restaurant) and made us feel well taken care of and comfortable. My friends ordered the gnocchi venezia and pizza mediterraneo. I myself, being a fungi fanatic, had to try the agnolotti al funghi. I was not disappointed. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the agnolotti pockets were filled with amazing umami flavor from the wild mushrooms. I was in heaven! The sauce itself was very creamy and delicious. I tend to prefer red sauces to white, but this Alfredo is so, so flavorful with bits of sweet/peppery basil scattered throughout it to keep things interesting. I am usually pretty good with cleaning my plate when I eat, but my friend commented that she half expected me to pick up my plate and start licking it. If that is any indication of how good my dish was, I don't know what could be! I will definitely be going back in the future to consider bumping this 4-star to a 5. read more

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This is a cute little restaurant. We ordered arancini to share with the table. These arancini weren't the best nor the worst arancini. It was a solid B+. It was hot, crunchy and cheesy so it'll definitely satisfy your arancini craving if you have one. I got the penne salsiccia. Again, I would give it a B. It's a step up from a chain restaurant but I wouldn't say it's the best pasta I've ever had. The sausage was a bit dry and the sauce wasn't the most flavourful. There are so many Italian restaurants around the area, I would probably give those restaurants a try before returning back to this one. read more

Taverniti - Penne salsiccia - $15 - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

If you're looking for the best authentic pizza in the town, this is the place to go. My partner & I enjoyed tasting really good pizzas. The dough & toppings were super delicious, and the staff was friendly and welcome! Thanks for this lovely experience! read more

Great pizza place for sit down pizza meal! Service is good, pizza amazing, nice location, and very charming interior! read more

Taverniti - We're full and satisfied! - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Amazing food, staff were out of this world, made the meal so enjoyable. We had calamari, Caesar salad, spaghetti and meatballs and the mushroom Ravioli and finished it off with the tiramisu--- all were phenomenal! read more

I ordered calamari for take out and it cost me almost 16$ with tax and they couldn't even include the sauce that usually comes with calamari for free they asked me to pay 2$ , and they only gave maybe 10 -15 pieces of calamari if I could post the pic It's kinda sad ,was Kinda disappointing considering the times were in ... read more

Taverniti - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The hallmark of Italian culinary artistry is the pasta. I ordered the Rigatoni Al Pesto. All aspects of the dish, except for the tomatoes, were subpar. In fact, the rigatoni noodles were overcooked and mushy. Even when I returned the plate, it was returned cold. Salt was required to make the dish palatable- a no no in a good restaurant. The wine, the house's Farnese Sangiovese, was as uncolorful as the main entree. Contrary to my understanding of the grape, it lacked body and taste. I also ordered a mixed green salad, which was impregnated, or I also should say, dripping with a sweet balsamic imbalanced with a modicum of olive oil. All and all- a very disappointing meal, despite the ratings. To add insult, it was expensive- Can$60. Beware when a restaurant in Little Italy, Toronto, advertises on the street placard, "Authentic Italian cuisine- you can't refused." I would suggest you do the contrary- your pallette would be better for it! read more

Stumbled upon this restaurant when we were looking for a place to eat. Made a reservation through Open Table. I would suggest that you make a reservation because the restaurant is very small. Being small, they take their time in preparing wonderful dishes. Our appetizer, entrees and dessert were excellent. Fresh pasta, fresh cheeses and fruits, if I had a bigger appetite I would have ordered one of their pizzas because they looked delicious. I am giving them 5 stars because I would definitely take family there and recommend to friends. read more

I live in Ny and this is the best Italian food I've ever eaten. I ordered a penne a la vodka and it was so fresh. My five year old devoured his pepperoni pizza and there was still a good amount to take home. It has an intimate environment with a lot of character. Gets busy fast so maybe make reservations? Service was great they were super warm and the owners mother adds a special touch to the experience. It really is a taste of Italy in the heart of Torontos little Italy. Next time we're in Toronto we're totally going back. read more

A wonderfully elaborate menu with all the right dishes, emanating authenticity and care. The wine list is meagre but you can (and maybe should) bring your own bottle. The Covid back patio was somewhat improvised, but with this much choice at truly agreeable prices, there is no need to give this restaurant any less than five stars. Our dishes, including Spaghetti Alla Carbonara (with Pancetta) and Tagliatelle with mushrooms, were prepared in a way that suggested the homemade origins from which they stemmed. read more

Perfection. Completely understandable why you would need a reservation. Every course was absolutely delicious. Authentic, fresh, homemade Italian food. Can't wait to go back. Pasta and gelato are not to be missed. read more

Amazing food, atmosphere, and workers. The owner and his mother are really down to earth and the waitress was super nice and gave good recommendations. read more

In a word, mediocre ! Always a hit or miss. Cramped ,over priced and not overly well trained servers. Stick to the basics when ordering & pass on the deserts. Try this place , you may get lucky but it's always a gamble. Sometimes it pays off , sometimes bust.... read more

This is a great little spot in Toronto's little Italy. We really loved the exposed brick walls, checkered table clothes, and old wood decor. It's a family owned restaurant opened in 2011 and they make everything from scratch. The menu is also very decently priced, my friend and I had 2 drinks an appetizer and 2 entrées for $60 We had Arancini - Homemade rice balls stuffed with mozzarella, parmigiano It had a crispy crust, perfectly season and cooked to perfection. I've had Arancini in the past that was under seasoned or the rice was undercooked, I will most definitely be ordering this again Parmigiana di Melanzane - Layers of breaded eggplant baked with parmigiano, mozzarella, in pomodoro sauce The Taverniti Pomodoro sauce is amazing, they need to jar and sell it. The Pomodoro made this breaded eggplant was one of the best I've ever had. Ravioli di Carne - Handmade ravioli stuffed with all ground beef in pomodoro sauce Perfectly cooked, and stuffed with love. I was very impressed by this dish. I usually find ravioli to be boring, but this dish was packed with flavour Overall this was a great experience the food was fantastic with great service, we will be back again very soon. read more

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So I went here on a. Friday night and our eyes caught on to the authentic Italian cuisine sign outside. My girlfriend and u decided to give this a try... It was relatively busy but we found seats at the bar. The food was good decent portions and quality ...what made this place feat however was the great service and friendly people. For Italian cuisine trattoria taverniti has pretty decent prices. Would definitely go back. So CONGRATS Trattoria Taverniti you are TooTuff Approved!!! read more

Taverniti - Spicy italian sausage - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

If you are familiar with South Italian cooking you may think this place is great. There are some very positive reviews and thats what brought me here. First interaction was awesome; friendly waitress/hostess, nice cozy booth for 2, immediate menus and water service, nice. The waitress was the highlight of our dinner. I didn't get her name but she was the only one there, next to Nonna who was floating around the bar, serving customers Like my daughter said, "you know a place is authentic when there's a Nonna behind the bar". And authentic South Italian it is. The menu is full of comfort foods: pasta, pizza, and many things with red sauce. But there lies the first problem. The tomato sauce was very salty. Unfortunately I ordered the aranchini and polpette (rice balls and meatballs) and both dishes were heavily laden with sauce. Somewhat tasty but too salty. The seafood pasta noodles were cooked perfectly al dente but then slathered with the same salty red sauce. I read the pizzas were awesome and I would loved to have tried it. Maybe next time, although I'm not sure that will happen. There are so many great Italian places along College that I can think of several that I prefer. The interior is very small and the problem with that occurs when there's a couple of loud guys at the bar drinking and laughing it up with Nonna. You can hear that loudly throughout the whole restaurant which doesn't make for a nice experience. read more

I am Italian, and my extended family owns a restaurant, and this is by far one of the best Italian places I've ever been to. A total hidden gem, small little place with only a couple tables and a very small outdoor seating. It is very clear that it is authentic Italian- simple ingredients, wood fire pizza, even (very sweet) Italian waitresses! read more

Taverniti - Butternut squash ravioli in a butter and sage sauce. So simple yet delicious. The pasta was cooked to perfection! - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I went there yesterday with my hubby and we both though this place was very authentic. First off, the old lady which is likely the owner speaks some English, but definitely Italian. The staff speak Italian together and they seem to be family. We ordered the arancini for starter and then the dominico pizza as a main. They were both very good and fit well with the Sangiovese red wine we ordered. The place is pretty small and the decor is modest, it's quiet so I would recommend it for couples or small groups. read more

Food 4* Ambiance 4* Service 4* So why the 3* rating? Simple. They have 'halal' options on their menu. Both of which have alcohol on them? Then I was given the 'scientific' explanation. Sorry but that doesn't cut it. Make it without alcohol. Most 'halal' eating patrons will likely never come here to start so for those moderate people who are willing to come you need to change. Had the beet salad - really good. The Salmon was pretty good too. The server was nice and easy to deal with. read more

We initially came at around 6:45pm on a Thursday, it was already busy. We left our number and got a missed call about 10 minutes later. We came back and waited about 10 minutes. The ambience of this restaurant is homey. It is quite cramped though given the size of the place. They give you bread and balsamic vinegar to start. We were able to ask for more bread. I got the carbonara which tasted fresh and creamy. Although, I felt like mine was a little bit on the al dente side. The owner checked in with us during our meal. The tiramisu was also delicious. We had to get their attention a few times though. However, I would come back. read more

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I went to this restaurant during the Taste of Italy festival. They had a limited menu which is understandable and all their dishes were plastic BUT they did have pizza options. I chose to go for a pizza because I noticed all the pastas were pre-made. I ordered the Gorgonzola pizza and thought it was fantastic. We also ordered the Cabrese salad and a fig dish and it turned out excellent. I really felt bad for the staff though...they had a few rude customers who were impatient. They did not understand that bc of Taste of Italy, their pizza orders would take awhile to cook and noticed a couple took off without waiting for their food which is not right. :( The staff members did handle it professionally. They did what they could do for a busy weekend. I would definitely come back and try their full menu. read more

Really thought this place would be great; it was not ! Hot white wine , and could 't get an ice bucket with any ice . The food arrived : cold and dry, followed by a small fire that left the place smoke filled. The main courses arrived , a sad mess cold tasteless and the pizza , burnt. Now we know what the fire was about! This place was over priced and so disappointing on so many levels. How it got any good reviews is a mystery. read more

What can I say about this place? Everything. The Mamma is so precious visiting every table explaining her fresh food to just about everything on the menu and the place. I would give it a high 5 for her devotion for simple italian food. The place is so noisy telling me everybody is enjoying their food. All food are rich and full body. I dare to finish any of the food on the menu. read more

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Prob the best Italian restaurant in downtown Toronto. Very authentic fare and service.

The oizza was OK here. Not awesome but good. The crust was a little thicker than I had expected but still relatively thin crust. The overall flavour was pretty good but it was missing something that would make it a 5" star. Maybe next time I will try the pasta. I do really like the indie of this spot, a real nice feeling to it and the staff were great. read more

Great pizza and gnocchi. Honey atmosphere. Rosina was wonderful to talk to and ur server was very nice.

This restaurant was a random but wonderful choice for five hungry people at the end of a long day of visiting Toronto's tourist attractions. (I felt a teeny bit of pressure as my guests from Michigan have Italian heritage and were keen to see what Little Italy has to offer!) The proximity of a gelato bar (The Mad Italian) factored in our first idea of getting dinner at Tavernitis, but the friendly waiter who saw us loitering outside looking at the posted menu kindly gave us menus to look at more conveniently, and the selection of salads, pastas, and pizzas drew us inside. The cozy atmosphere and aroma of Italian food reassured us as we made our way to our table. The restaurant isn't large, but it is charming, with exposed brickwork, and cheerful red checked tablecloths. Our waiter was even more charming - an Italian newly arrived in Canada. He was patient with us (two adults, two teens and a child) as we asked about menu items, helped us arrange tables to accommodate our party, and he made useful recommendations about food and drink. We were craving pizza, and ordered the carne (pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon) and primavera (artichoke hearts, black olives, red peppers). As we waited, we noted that dishes at other tables looked very good - we wondered if our decision not to order an appetizer was wise, after seeing the bruschetta and calamari at the next table! We were very happy with our pizzas - thin crust, with a nicely flavoured tomato sauce, perfectly baked, and a good mixture of cheese and toppings. The toppings themselves were high quality - the pepperoni and sausage were much better than I am used to seeing on pizza. We all enjoyed the food ... the adults enjoyed the wine, too! The prices were reasonable and the service was excellent. (Our experience couldn't have been more different than A.B.'s!) While there are lots of Italian restaurants to choose from in this area, I wouldn't hesitate to go back. read more

Lovely small romantic place with Great fresh food. Pizza's are amazing, and you can find a lot of creative pizzas - which you cannot find elsewhere. Cannelloni was also great. Great Wine selection, and very friendly service. Highly recommend it, especially for a date night. read more

I don't normally write reviews unless I have something bad to say but this place is just awesome. Best Italian food I've ever had. I've been here twice now and while it's sometimes hard to get a table and the service can be slow on busy nights, it is absolutely worth the wait. You MUST try the Arancini appetizer. I've had 4 things on their menu (my friends and I split our dishes cause it was all just so delicious) and nothing was ever even close to disappointing. I forget the chef's name but she's this tiny little Italian woman - so incredibly sweet - that has obviously spent a lot of time perfecting these dishes. I cannot do her food justice though. You must try this place at least once. read more

The good news: the pizza is worth the wait, the bad news: you may want to pack snacks to hold you over. Granted, we visited on a Friday at 8, but it took 50 minutes to get a table and then another 35 to get our pizza. The crust was delicious and crunchy and the sauce had lots of flavor, overall I'd say one of the best deep dish pizzas I've had. It was super loud, though, and at times almost impossible to hear your server. The prices were decent and they don't charge too much per topping. read more

Taverniti - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario