Came to Terroni with two friends of mine and two of us ordered the seafood pasta. Had no idea that we could create a culinary crisis by ordering parmesan cheese. I wish we had taped the interaction with manager because it was almost Saturday Night Live-worthy for a Rude Waiter Skit. It went something like this: "May I please have parmesan cheese?" "No, we don't allow it on fish." Long pause. Speechless. "But I'm the customer." "I'm sorry, the owner won't allow it. It impacts the flavor." "Can my husband have it on his pasta?" "Yes." "Can you bring it on the side for him?" "No, I cannot do that because you might put it on your fish." Overwhelming pretension creates tension. Husband says, "We aren't in Paris; this is Toronto." Waiter maintains posture of faux graciousness. Husband says, "We won't be returning." Fixed smile remains. Husband tries to fleck some grains of his parm on this wife's pasta with little success. And then -- amazingly ---- the waiter returns -- "How was your meal?" "It would have been better with parmesan." Fixed smile. I'm surprised he didn't confiscate the red wine that I sipped with my seafood! I'm a cook and an entertainer and I cannot imagine not accommodating my guest, even when they ask for ketchup or A-1 on a prime ribeye. That's what you do when you host a meal. But this restaurant seems to believe we were some schlumps from Moosebreath who just came to town and need to be counseled about how we should enjoy our food. Leave the regulation to the government and try some hospitality. Your food is good, but many people like us won't be able to enjoy it because your arrogance gives us such indigestion. read more

Just another Italian restaurants. The food is good but not any better than any other decent real Italian restaurants. But their attitude would make you think they are the best Italian restaurant in the world. Been there once and thanks to their arrogant attitude I will never go back again. read more

First time eating out since pandemic and we went to this restaurant. The food was amazing as you can see from the pics. I am writing today because of the great service we got from our waitress Shannon! Extremely accommodating and pleasant during this difficult times. Kudos to her positive attitude! Thanks Shannon! read more

Terroni - Spaghetti al Limone - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I wish I could go every day. I have seen this place growing organically under my eye... from a hole in the wall of queen west, to an empire with locations in L.A. you will never get tired of Terroni's menu. Also, an important thing about restaurants is that, their food menu has to be complimented by a likely amazing wine list, and these guys do. Best white wines from the northest regions of Italy, cans find that easily in Toronto. I took my parents visiting from Rome, and my mom ended up kissing one of the owners... I think I don't need to add anything further about Terroni. read more

Terroni - Fried calamari: if there are on your menu, they better be good!! And Terroni got it down packed! Perfect salt, and clear fry. - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Delicious Italian food in a beautiful setting, particularly in the summer when the patio is open. I've had several pasta dishes at Terroni and none has disappointed. The lemon spaghetti is lovely with a glass of white wine in the summer. On my last visit, I sat under the large old tree on the patio and ordered the pasta dish "alla Norcina" ($25) with a sparkling red. (What a pleasant surprise to find sparkling red on the menu). The pasta had a very nice chew and the sauce was delectable. The service was friendly and fairly efficient, though a friend did wait 10-15 minutes for a glass of beer in a slow mid-afternoon period. My only criticism of Terroni is that it is expensive; you are paying for the ambiance as well as the food. However, your mileage may vary and considering how lovely the ambiance is, it doesn't seem unfair. read more

Terroni - Tonnarelli alla Norcina on the patio - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

the hostess charlie gossack is extremely rude and made my friends and i extremely uncomfortabl. she was unfriendly and at one point pushed my friend into a walk when she was seating us. disgusting behavior. my friends and I will never be returning. read more

The experience at Terroni was very wonderful overall. Our server was great! He was quite personable, attentive & very knowledgeable regarding the menu. My friends and I began with a cheese platter that was really delicious and our server helped us pair our choices with a great wine. My friends chose pasta dishes that were really outstanding (and I couldn't stop sneaking bites from each of them!) and I got a pizza. The pizza was really delicious complete with sundries tomatoes and arugula. The crust was sooo crispy. I would say this was my favorite dish on my trip to Toronto. read more

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After hearing tons of good things about Terroni, I suggested it for dinner with friends one night. The decor is cool, no doubt about that, but the food was pretty average and it's quite pricey. We sat on the patio which was really cute. I loved all the greenery and it had a really relaxed vibe. The server was friendly but not super attentive. The water glasses are teeny tiny which bugs me but they do provide you with a water jug to re-fill yourself. That said, we ran out of water pretty quickly and it wasn't replenished until the end of our meal. I got the Tortelloni di Ricotta ("handmade spinach tortelloni filled with ricotta and pecorino with butter, sage and parmigiano") and it was decent. The portion was smaller than I expected and it was sort of watery. Not terrible but not great either. One of my friends got the Farinata con le Barbabietole ("chick pea pancake, roasted beets, heirloom carrots, ricotta salata, arugola, watercress, sunflower sprouts, pistachios, mint") and really enjoyed it. The presentation was really nice too (for all the dishes). I'm actually going to try the Adelaide location next week so hopefully the dish I choose is a little tastier. I'll definitely be referring to reviews so hopefully I'm not disappointed! read more

the gnocchi was very overcooked, so we sent it back and it still came out overcooked. it was so mushy. the spinach ravioli was delicious and cooked perfectly. read more

Terroni - gnocchi alla simi - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Worst experience ever. Waiter refused to serve me cheese with my pasta because it had seafood. I've had this dish several times and had cheese but apparently the chef won't allow it here because it ruins the taste. If I prefer the taste I don't see what that should matter to anyone else. To top it off it was my birthday. I would of appreciated the disclaimer before I ordered this dish. Totally ruined my meal. Will not be returning. read more

Hmmm...I've been twice and I not overly impressed. I just feel the food could be...better. Staff is super friendly but don't go to any of the Terroni's if you want a quiet meal. 1st time: Tasty Lambrusco to drink, calamari(just ok), lemony pasta that was good but just ok. 2nd time(another location): Hot as Hades. My husband and daughter were sweating profusely. Best salad had some unnecessary tasteless chickpea pancake and was decent but meh. Salmon was on slightly over cooked and over salted. So what I'm saying is...so many amazing restaurants in Toronto, so little time. This one wasn't a stand out:( read more

My Fav place. I come here at least every 2weeks. ups: amazing food you cant go wrong with any selection. Staff is extremely friendly and accommodating.. If you are particular about where you want to sit they will find a way to make it work. Amazing service, its fast, the place is always busy. Its has a lovely ambiance to the place, perfect for entertaining your friends, tell them all about the history of the building etc, its a great story; if you dont know it, then look it up read more

Tsk, tsk, Terr(ibl)oni. If I were your Nonna, I'd tie you up and beat you silly with a rolling pin. Your pappardelle ($16!) was a mass of doughey, pastey mangles that still tasted of flour. I had to pick out the scant add-ins of shrimp and artichoke, leaving the tortured pasta behind like humiliated Abu Ghraib prisoners. Your pizza's good, I'll give you that. But if you have an entire page of primi, boasting handmade pasta, either learn to cook it properly or just buy it from someone who knows their buccatini from their strozzapreti. The service is authentically Italian; brusque and indifferent. However, you don't tip in Italy whereas servers in this country depend on gratuities. So next time our waitress should offer our table of 4 a little more than a stank attitude and over-exposed chesticles. I don't get the lineups. Is it a case of the Emperor's New Blows? read more

Terroni needs to get over itself. My husband and I came in over the weekend for dinner and we left wishing we'd grabbed fast food instead. After scouring the menu I decided to order the shrimp and asparagus fettuccine, which has a "light yellow tomato sauce", and my husband went with an eggplant pizza. I was originally eyeing another pasta dish but it had a long paragraph under it that said they didn't put parmesan on that particular dish so I didn't order it and went with the fettuccine instead. Once our food arrives I asked for some parmesan. NOT ALLOWED. I was told it is one of their "Famous policies" in order to "bring out the natural flavours of the seafood". Just hold it right there, if a restaurant has a "famous policy" about telling grown adults what they can and cannot have on the plate they are paying for then said restaurant needs to step back already. This is not a michelin-starred restaurant, not even close. Not to mention this "famous policy" wasn't listed anywhere on their menu except for underneath that one pasta dish. I was actually in disbelief he was telling me I could not have it. Charge me extra, whatever, but to say I am *not allowed* to put parm on *my* dinner? Which I am paying 20 dollars for? I also need to state right now that, while I am originally from Toronto, I now reside in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY, one of the most thoroughly old-school pure Italian Brooklyn neighbourhoods in New York City, luckily still untouched by ironic mustachio'd Williamsburg influence. If any Italian restaurant in my neighbourhood tried to pull something so ridiculous they'd be shut down by angry Brooklynites in a matter of days. Once the server disappeared upstairs to never be seen again, my husband began hacking at his pizza with a butterknife because Terroni doesn't cut their pizza either. I took a bite of my pasta and didn't even like it. The pasta was floppy and sad, and the mint and chiles overpowered the non-existant "sauce". I stopped after 3 small bites and waited for someone to come back around so I could order something else. It would be a while, with my husband fumbling through 3/4 of his pizza before anyone swung by. I sent the dish back and got the only non-seafood/parm-permissible pasta that even remotely appealed to me: plain spaghetti and red sauce. As the server dropped it off he incredulously asked "would you like cheese on THIS?". Yes, I would. Thanks. My husband told him that while he understood it was not the server's personal policy, he found it ridiculous and had never heard of such a thing between living in Bay Ridge or Bensonhurst (even more Italian than Bay Ridge) for 7 years,he'd never experienced such a "rule" without at the very least giving the patron a heads-up. The server told us that the restaurant is full every night and that the owner would rather lose customers than "compromise the integrity of the food". Is the owner unaware of the fact that Terroni is a chain? I used to work for Cosimo Mamolitti's brother's tile company before Terroni was a "thing". Terroni catered this company's first staff party and it was great then! It's a shame it's become such a needlessly pretentious place. Regardless of the owner's idea of the integrity of his chain restaurant food, the food itself was not worth the price. I am an avid cook and food is my main passion in life, and I have had years of experience in the restaurant industry. My husband on the other hand knows how to cook exactly one dish, and he commented on the sloppy presentation and poor execution of his pizza. If he noticed it, it must have been bad. The eggplant was certainly not salted because it was chewy and mushy, half-hazardly thrown on the pizza in too-large slices which made it difficult to eat. Sick of the attitude and disappearing server act, we scarfed our food down, paid the bill and still tipped well, and got the HELL out of there. I always thought part of a great restaurant, besides great food, is a good customer experience. Don't make your customers feel Less Than. I left disheartened and frustrated and like we'd wasted a bunch of money. I left feeling judged by the waitstaff. Save your money and go find an authentic mom-and-pop Italian joint that will treat you like a human being. read more

0 stars. I went inside the restaurant to be put on the waiting list and was told that it would be a 30 minute wait and I would be contacted by text message when my reservation was ready. I waited in front of the building so that I would be ready when I was called. After over an hour they closed the front door, I went in a few minutes later to inquire when my reservation would be ready. I was told that they cancelled all reservation they said opentable is to blame for me not being notified. I don't get how you can cancel reservations and not tell someone. No apology either, all they had to do is provide me with a sincere one and I wouldn't have been so frustrated. I would NEVER go back here and I would recommend anyone avoid this location. read more

Terroni is a place you can find yourself coming back to often. Is has that chill vibe and balance where it's acceptable for both very casual or dressy occasions. Their menu is classic and their service is pretty consistent. You could hang out here for awhile and not realize how much time has past. You get the complete experience ^^ read more

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Terroni is stupid. It's just plain crap yo. Don't believe the hype. This is the most scenester joint in Toronto. All the Toronto musicians and scene "operators" who talk down about scenesters are contstantly at this place eating dinner. This is also where hipster parents take their brat kids even though screaming kids and strollers are totally inappropriate in the cramped, adult joint. There's only one thing I can eat on the menu, and that's the nicoise (they call it something else because they're so brutally Italian that they wouldn't dare admit that they have a French dish on their menu) and whenever I ask if they can modify or make me something without meat, they basically spit on the ground by my feet. And that's what the hipsters like. The shit service and treatment. I don't like being treated like crap when I go out. And I like paying for what I want. And I also like leg room. I am not interested in words like "no". The only thing it's got going for it, is a good coffee. But shit, I can get that a a zillion spots in Toronto. read more

I hate Terroni, it makes me eat. A LOT. Everything here seems perfect - courteous servers (they're beautiful too by the way), the food, location and over all look of the place. This is a place to relax and hang out with with good friends. The server is slower than average... but that's ok... you're in a group of nice friends. Right? The price is just about right, right in the middle of cheap and expensive. I always order the pizzas... oh they know how to make pizzas. Wait, they know how to make tasteful pizzas. Burp. Their line of pastas isalso excellent. There are tons of parking on the street... on Queen Street. Could be quite a hike sometimes... but you'll find parking. After dinner, if stores are still open, you can walk around Queen Street to burn off your carb-fest. I will definitely come back. This is my favorite pizza place. *wink* read more

As the 55th review for this popular pizza place, feel free to totally ignore it. Quick overview; We thought we would avoid a line up by arriving at 6:30 on a Saturday night. We were wrong. By 7:30 there was a bit of a lull, so that may be a better time to go. Perhaps the early arrivers were going to a movie or something else the kids enjoy. The "gourmet" pizza here IS very good. My arugula, sun-dried tomato and some kind of fancy cheese version was delicious. And this from a guy who prefers old-timey pizza. See http://www.yelp.ca/list/pizza-toronto The $3 Italian hot chocolate, served in an espresso glass, was the perfect dessert. VERY chocolaty, with whipped cream on top. And as a bonus, if the hugeness of the line-up turns you off, there are plenty of other options within a block or two. read more

Terroni deserves its high ratings and ubiquity in this city (I also hear they opened up an LA location). It's not exactly revolutionary or exotic food, but that's not what you come to Terronis for; you come for casual and rustic Italian dishes and the bright and lively atmosphere. I have been going to the Queen location for years and have been to the Adelaide location a handful of times because I work nearby. Both locations are bright, busy and serve tasty (though not amazing) food. I find the service to be good most of the time despite how busy it is. The Adelaide location feels "fancier" because it used to be a courthouse. The ceilings are high and the general vibe is a bit trendier and more upscale than the more chalkboard, jars and knickknack feeling of the Queen location. Call me a narcissistic but I used to frequently get the Natalina pizza. The Queen location has a nice big patio which is always a bonus. One last random tidbit is that they do not serve diet soda, balsamic vinegar or caesar cocktails. read more

Price quite high for the amount of food, customer service so-so, quality of food decent. I went for dinner to this venue with several co-workers. I found that the appetizers were quite nice and plentiful, yet the main course that I ordered (and seemed to be the case for the ones my co-workers ordered as well) was very pricey for a tiny dish. I ended up stopping over at a fast-food joint on my way home, as I was starving after my $33 meal there. They asked us before starting our meal if we wanted water, and then whether we wanted flat water or soda water. One of the 3 of us who had arrived at that point asked for soda water, and they served us all a bottle of soda water without confirming that the rest of us agreed. Later I realized that there was a charge for a soda water, which was split between everyone at the table (I was asked if I wanted a second one, and I said yes, so again they split the bill for that part based on 2 out of a total of 5 people at the table, which I found odd). Speaking of the water, the server initially refilled our glasses with the bottle she left on the table, but eventually the refill stopped happening, so after waiting a while, we ended up refilling our own glasses. Based on my experience, I don't see me returning to this venue, mostly based on the fact that the value for the money was not there at all for me. read more

So far, best pizza I've had in Toronto and very authentic. While on the expensive side,($14.95 for basil, mozzarella and pepperoni) I'd still come back to try other versions of this. A family friend in northern Italy makes pizzas in his outdoor pizza oven that are the best I've ever tasted. While the pizza I had here today wasn't as good as that, it was surprisingly close! The staff were friendly and welcoming and we didn't experience any of the negative stuff I'm seeing in the reviews here. Susan suggested that may have been due to the fact that it was lunch and not dinner. read more

I've always had pretty good service at both Terroni locations. In fact, my favorite server from Sweet Lulu on Queen West turned up at the Adelaide Street location. He is wonderful. And the servers really know the menu, including the wine list. I've always been impressed. I live just around the corner from Terroni on Queen and I always marvel at the line-ups when there are so many other good choices within a few blocks. I end up there every once in a while because friends want to go, or because we want to go somewhere kid friendly with our two year old. I have to hand it to them--they are really accommodating of kids. They don't bat an eyelash when you come in with a stroller and ask for a high chair. The only rudeness I've experienced is from the patrons waiting in line, who seem really put out when they need to move six inches so I can get out the door. The food has always been good, sometimes fantastic. I've never had anything terrible, but last night I had a just ok dish for the first time: the spaghetti alla norma. The pasta was perfectly al dente as always, but the tomato sauce lacked flavor and the chunks of deep fried eggplant were soggy and bland. I started with the giuggiolosa salad, which was wonderful and kept the meal from being a loss. The pizzas are really tasty, and the spaghetti with lemon and capers is one of my favorites. The pasta portions are pretty small for the money, I find. They are just the right size, if you ask me, compared to the monstrous portions at other places, but $16 or so for a small portion of vegetarian pasta seems excessive to me. My biggest peeve is that the salads are all just shy of entree size, which means too large to be starters, but at entree salad prices. It feels indulgent (and it is expensive) to get a salad and a pasta, but pasta alone isn't enough veg for me, and a salad alone isn't filling enough. Actually, that's my second biggest pet peeve. My biggest is the little note on the menu that says, "While alterations may seem easily accommodated they compromise the unique characteristics of our food. Please respect our menu." I find that really obnoxious. I'm sure I'll be back, not even kicking and screaming, but it just doesn't live up to the hype for me. read more

I went to terroni for one of my friend's birthday servers are amazing foods are amazing the timing of serving is absolutely muched with the timing when we wanted to have next plate! highly recommend! read more

Terroni is a really a mixed bag when it comes to service and food. And frankly, it's more often than not erring on the mediocre side of things. The wait depending on the night can vary between brisk to outright mental competing against the crowds on Queen West. And for what really? Well, Terroni's operates like a brisk and at times brusque! commercial operation, ushering diners in and out quickly, no substitutions or reservations thank you but come on down anyways and have our middle of the road fare. Not unlike a finer east side mario's with their requisite fine ingredients on the menu and the quirky decor of fellini posters and modern italian adverts. Their cheese and meat boards are beautiful and vary regularly in terms of selection. One night I sampled a beautiful assortment of pingue proscuitto, breadsticks, foccacia fingers, nuts, cheese, honey and a poached pear-outstanding. Their pizza's are terrifically thin crust, a crisp cracker consistency that manages to be among the best thin crust pizza's in town even with Libretto now in the mix. Although I do think that Terroni's is slightly better because it isn't as soggy as PL's . And the atmosphere here and on Adelaide is lively and boisterous making this a nice to place to share food with friends. For tiramisu lovers-Terroni's version is top notch, there's plenty of marscarapone but not too much so that the lady fingers are crushed or crumbling into tatters as is often the case at other places. However that being said, there's always a few irks at Terroni that limit me to only a few visits a year. The service though usually efficient and pleasant enough may come only after 20 minutes have passed by before you're noticed. Or several requests for fresh pepper go unanswered. And the pasta is not their strong suit, what I've had has come across as pastey, doughy or gummy. Not something you'd want to wrangle your choppers through when you can achieve a better result at home! Accompanying sauces though simple verge on blandness in some dishes. All that being said, I will still come here once in awhile to sample what's among the best of Toronto's pizza's. read more

I don't get the big fuss. Terroni really isn't all that fabulous. I can list ten other incredible Italian resto's while spinning upside down and blind folded. I swear I'll do it. A few months back I went to the Terroni on Adelaide and it was lack luster. One of those forgettable meals, and that never happens to me. I decided to just call it a 'fluke' and head to the original Queen St location for a dinner with friends last month. The ambiance is relaxing. Great spot for a date, or a dinner with friends for catching up. On many occasions I've turned a blind eye to 'poo poo food' for a really good ambiance. The service and the food that night were just shameful. I was running late, and the moment I sat down a man in a plaid shirt, sporting a serious hipster mustache came over to take our drink orders. He was a little out of it and not spot on. After he left, we didn't see him or our drinks for another 15 minutes. I started making jokes that maybe he was just some joe shmoe off the streets who decided he wanted to be our waiter. Someone else delivered our drinks and our waiter was no where to be seen again. After another 20 minutes we finally tracked him down to place our food orders. We ordered to share: The Caprese with Bufala Mozz - We paid a little extra to get the real Bufala but what a disappointment. They were the same texture and taste to boccocinni. They can't fool me. Really disappointing and for a price tag of $16, huge ripe off. Warm Mixed Mushroom Salad - The mushrooms were delicious. A little crusty and dry, but that didn't stop me from trying to steal more than my portion. I can't remember my main, but it was an olive oil pasta with capers. I asked the waiter if the capers over powered the dish and he insisted not at all. I couldn't taste anything but capers, but how would he know any better...I mean, I'm not even sure he works there. Our mains were delivered by another waiter and he was nowhere to be seen for the rest of the night. Could it be possible? Was my theory coming true? Could a random stranger just walk in and pretend to be a waiter? Sidenote: They don't give you balsamic and the olive oil has no body. It taste like generic grocery store brand. The evening was wrapping up. Tables we're clearing and we were ready for the bill. A waitress was kind enough to bring our bill, as our disappearing waiter was up to his antics again. As we were paying, guess who suddenly appeared. THE WAITER! How convenient. I'm still not sure whether he worked there or not, but I know I won't be running back to Terroni for his service or their food. read more

This Terroni location on Queen Street serves better Italian food than all the restaurants in Little Italy combined. Yeah, I'm willing to say that. Terroni knows what they're doing -- they've opened a couple locations here in Toronto and one in LA, and all the ones here are out-the-door busy, so they must be doing something right. Everything on their menu is authentic Italian, and authentically delicious. All their pasta is made from scratch, in-house, their sausages are home-made by relatives of the owners, and their ingredients are either fresh and local or fresh and right off the plane from Italy. And if you're doubting their Italian-ness...get over it. Both founders of Terroni are from the same region of Italy as my family (Foggia/Bari area), and I've had food there enough times to know that it's authentic and amazing. I've had a couple nights when all I've wanted was some Terroni loving to remind me of all the meals my family cooks in Italy, but the line-up deterred me and I had to go somewhere else for inferior food. Not again. Next time, I shall wait. And in my opinion, you should wait too. Everyone should go to Terroni at least once (or a million times) but you should definitely take my 5 tips into consideration: 1) Arrive early! There are no reservations. I know, it's sad. But just show up early, especially if you have a big group. Groups of two tend to move through the line more quickly. 2) Order wine with your meal. Terroni has a booklet of wine choices, and a handful of Italian reds that they carry exclusively. So take advantage of the selection and order some wine. Even their house wine is delicious. 3) Don't cheap out on your meal. Honestly, to have the best experience here you should get at least an appetizer. I'd suggest one of their amazing salads with your meal, preferably some mozzarella di bufala, buffalo mozzarella straight from Italy. And do not share a pizza between two people as a meal for you both -- you will regret this after your first bite. 4) Tip your servers well because they are awesome. I have never had a problem with the service here, everyone is friendly and nice, the food comes fast, and the bill comes exactly when you're thinking about it (or when you ask for it). 5) Tell all your friends you ate real Italian food at the best Italian restaurant in Toronto (and LA). Because you definitely just did. read more

This place is always packed. Why? Because in the end the food is pretty decent for the price and some people don't mind bad service. It is just downright atrocious sometimes. They employ a wait-in-line only policy which is ridiculous. I can agree with a restaurant that chooses a no-reservations policy. But honestly, how hard can it be to take a paper and pen, right down a name, number and party size, give an "approx" accurate wait time, and call the party when the table is ready. Not hard, makes good business sense and would ease the traffic nightmare that is ruining it for your current diners. Nope, instead they've decided to employ an arcane system and just piss everyone off prior to their meal with a 40-60 minute wait despite over promises of seating in 15-20 mins. Unbelievable. So, why come here? Because the food is pretty decent. Good selection of pastas. The antipasto was well constructed and the pizzas can be quite tasty with a crispy thin crust. Would I ever step foot in Terroni's again? Nope. Not unless I have no choice because my friends are already there and seated or I'm going at a time no normal person would eat, say 3:30PM. Service is an important part of any meal and they will soon realize that their horrible lack of it will eventually catch up to them. Then again, they occupy a great niche in Toronto, well-priced Italian food made from quality ingredients in a casual setting. Someone needs to fill this void. read more

Meh...didn't live up to the hype. Overall, It was under-seasoned and lacking much interest. I wouldn't go back. Nice wine list and nice ambience though... read more

-Went for lunch during a staycation as i heard about it on BlogTO and was blown away by the quality of the pasta - best I've ever had -Duck ravioli and squash and Pasta with meat sauce were amazing. -Coffee was amazing -Pizza was extremely good -Gelato / Affogato was also extremely good, but not the best ever. -The chef's appetizer special is expensive but well worth it, always blows me away -Expect a 45-60 minute wait at Queen West location. I went to the La Bettola location which is almost zero wait time but same food quality -Trendy music, but might be a bit loud. -Not technically pricey (~$20 for meal) but find we end up spending quite a bit read more

I hold conflicting beliefs about terroni. Some of these are: The servers know their stuff and can engage in meaningful conversation about the food and wine menus, which really makes the experience for me. But the service is pretty terrible, full of cooler than cool attitude and not nearly full enough of attention. The food is amazing and authentic (the salads are big enough to share as an app and delicious, the cheese, meat, and olive boards are a must for me, and the thin crust, perfectly sauced pizzas are always tasty) but the food is also terrible (both pastas I've sampled have disappointed with mushy texture, bland sauce and/or seasoning and paltry servings of meat or veg). It's also a bit overpriced, which would probably feel fine to me if a) the service was better b) I avoided the pastas and c) I had a good table. But the service isn't better, so although I enjoy my visits, I always leave feeling a little bit foolish for spending the money. But visit I do. And will again. Probably with a couple of girlfriends who are happy to share the salad, meat board, and pizza with me while drinking whichever wine our server recommends and talking at such a pace that we don't really care that our server ignores us after taking our order. read more

It isn't amazing and it isn't terrible. Each time I've come here my food has been good. BUT, it seems like around every bend there is a stop sign. They don't have Diet Coke. I don't even drink it, but someone I was with was super disappointed....because they had regular Coke. Then my friend asked for a particular pizza without the olives....but just a heads up, they don't do ANY alterations to their menu (i.e. not putting olives on a 4 topping pizza). And a grilled panini? Just another FYI: it is a sandwich. Pressing it does not mean it is a panini. What is the deal? Things like that are so minimal. They pressed the panini in the end but you're a restaurant. If I wanted lip about how I like my food, I'd go home to my parents' house. There are not huge, out of control requests. I also heard from a friend that they got scolded for asking for parm to add to their dish (although this could be hearsay). The food is good but not amazing, the service not so much and there are other better Italian restaurants for the same price with less BS. And if you just have to have Terroni? Go to Adelaide. read more

I like this place. It has an old school feel/vibe which is nice. I like the food; most pasta items are good. The fried calamari is very good but very expensive! It was $17 and so puny! I wish they would at least add more calamari serving though because it's a total rip off. For that amount of serving for that price, I don't think it's worth it. The grilled sea bass fish with salad was absolutely delivious! Again, for its serving, I think it's also pricey, but because it's grilled and fish seemed fresh, it was ok. I gave it just 3 stars cos their servings is not quite reasonable to me. read more

So lately I've been on a bit of an Italian kick. Maybe its the changing of the seasons, and I'm subconsciously trying to carbo-load for the winter months ahead and preparing for hibernation. Whatever it is, this past Monday I was looking for just that at Terroni on Queen West. The camp is divided on Terroni. People either rave about it or complain about the pretentious servers, the 'no-substitution' rule, or the slice-it-yourself pizza. Being a fan of this place, I have a rebuttal for each of these complaints. While (some of) the servers may seem a bit curt at first, I owe this to the fact that Terroni is busy - always busy - and their no-nonsense attitude is often mistaken for pretentiousness. Our server, although brusque, took our order diligently while complementing our choices, had our wine to the table in no time, and managed to pour two glasses of the stuff from the awkwardly shaped porcelain decanter without dribbling it everywhere (which is something we later failed to do). As for the no-subsitutions rule, if you want to choose your own toppings, then head on down to that infamous sub-par pizza joint (you know the one...with its orange boxes and redundant title) and stuff your crust while you're at it. Since when did slicing pizza become a chore? Just a few simple back and forth motions with a knife and voila! Freshly sliced pizza. Regardless of the division, Terroni is always packed. Monday at 9:00 found us one free table upstairs, which was where our preference lay anyway. Although I do love to pull up to the bar, it tends to get a bit clustered on the lower level, and while the upstairs isn't exactly quiet, shouting across the table isn't required. Our waiter promptly brought us the menus and we poured over the apps and the twenty-nine - yes, twenty-nine - pizzas they have to offer. We started with the Funghi Assoluti ($12.95): breaded and baked oyster mushrooms served on arugula, sprinkled with parmesan, and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. It was superb, but sharing proved to be problematic, not because the portion wasn't large enough, but because we simply didn't want to. Social graces saved us, but I had visions of the two of us in an Animal Planet-esque showdown... circling the last mushroom with fangs bared and hackles raised. We chased all of this down with a velvety Piemonte that was oddly served in a jug, which made it difficult to pour. Our server made it look effortless, but us? Well, we just made a mess. I did manage to solve the problem however (pour from the side, and not from the oddly shaped lip) and fortunately for us we had a seemingly bottomless half litre. No sooner had we finished sharing the last 'shroom was our pizza delivered to the table. We went with the Primavera ($15.95) to contribute to our daily recommended dose of veggies and to somehow convince ourselves that we were being healthy. All of the pizza at Terroni is thin crust and ours was weighed down heavily with tomatoes, red pepper, (more) mushrooms, and artichokes with a few black olives decorating the centre of the pie. Now when I say thin-crust, I mean it. Maybe I'm just speaking for myself here, but I have absolutely no difficulty finishing a whole pizza without any assistance at Terroni. I'm a big fan of folding slices before biting into them, and the crust at Terroni is so thin and pliable I always envision myself folding a whole pizza in half,...and then in half again...and then having my way with it. Once again, as with the sharing, social norms seem to get in the way... read more

I'm in Toronto for a few months from Australia and have to say that this place is wonderful. Always long lines so we generally pop up the road for a cocktail and return when things have quietened down. Pizza is great, wine is great, servers are lovely and helpful and dessert is always amazing. Leaving Toronto in November and have to say that this will be one of the places I'll miss most. read more

Terroni's is one of the first restuarants that we went to when we first moved to Toronto, based on feedback from our friends who live here. I have nothing bad to say about the place. The place is busy but it didn't take longer then 15 minutes for us to get in. The dining room is casual and just a fun diining experience but if you're there during the summer, try and get seated on the patio. As for the food, I was in love! The pizzas are large and taste amazing. I have been to a lot of well known pizza joints in NY and Chicago but Terroni's is my favorite so far. If you are in Toronto for a visit be sure to check them out. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed. read more

My wife and I live in Toronto, and have dined at Terroni a number of times over the years. Today is the last time we will visit any of their restaurants. While the food is good, fresh, and genuine, Terroni has, on multiple occasions, worked really hard at trying our patience. The first time, as our waitress had poured the obligatory olive oil to dip our bread, my wife politely asked if she could have a drop of balsamic vinegar. The waitress staunchly refused, and when asked the reason, began lecturing us on the purity of the Terroni brand, and how mixing balsamic vinegar with oil didn't represent the true expression of Italian culinary tradition - not only was she forbidden from serving us vinegar, but how plebeian of us to ask. Stunned by the reaction, my wife decided to bypass the neurotic waitress and ask the kitchen for a little balsamic. As she approached the counter, she was deftly intercepted by said vigilant waitress who, nearly in tears, sternly reminded us that vinegar was "verboten". First evening ruined. The second time, we visited a Terroni restaurant that had just opened on Adelaide Street. Once seated, we were asked for our drinks order. Our friend ordered a diet Coke, to which the waitress replied that "our owners does not believe in diet colas". Stunned by such direct, scolding reply, she chose a regular Coke, which thankfully appeared to be an acceptable choice. Second evening ruined. Finally today, for the third and last time, we visited Terroni's Queen Street restaurant with friends from the United States. I was sensitized by our past experiences, but was willing to give the place one last try, even though it was not my first choice. I did warn my wife to kindly avoid questioning in the slightest any and all food modifications - no matter how slight - fearing reprisal. Unfortunately, as the waitress was taking our orders, one of our blissfully unaware friends fell into the diabolic trap and dared "I'd love your Nizzarda salad, but would it be possible to please hold the anchovies?".... well, that was simply too much of an affront to the legendary purity of the Terroni tradition: the waitress, on cue, began lecturing us on the impeccable quality of their food and ingredients, and the historic tradition behind them that made it so very unthinkable to substitute or modify any and all dishes - all of Italy and civilization itself had been insulted by a request to hold an anchovy. She concluded the sermon by admonishing that Terroni "was all about being true to their food". The tone was sanctimonious, arrogant, and unbelievably presumptuous. Toronto is still a little childishly full of itself, as in New York's poorer cousin trying hard not to be ignored. Some of its restaurants reflect that, with Terroni at the head of the pack. I informed the waitress that perhaps they should think of staying true to their customers form time to time. It so happens that I was born and raised in Italy, but never found a restaurant there or anywhere that took itself quite so seriously, and made a point of lecturing its customers quite so sanctimoniously. You can remain true to your tradition and still be kind to your customers - we did not ask for ketchup on our spaghetti. Dogmas do not belong in the kitchen. If you value Italian food and customer service, and would rather avoid a sermon delivered by a clueless 25-year-old on the fine culinary traditions of their founders, go to Trio Ristorante and Pizzeria: you'll spend less, get better service, and taste the best authentic pizza this side of the Atlantic. read more

In an attempt to satisfy my hankering for some authentic Italian food I went to try this place out. Called ahead to see if there was a lineup to decide which Terroni I should go to. The guy told me there was no line (but that could change). When we got there 20 mins later a lineup had formed to the door. The hostess said there would be a 10 min wait but we waited about 25. I'm not going to fault her because its hard to judge when people leave. This place was busy at 6pm. The tables are fairly close together to try to accommodate all the small parties. Luckily for us we didn't get seated by one of the 3 tables that are situated right alone the lineup. As for the food I would say I enjoyed it. It has been a long time since I have seen gnocchi on a menu that didn't come from the freezer; it was actually fresh made (or close to it). Couple that with some authentic tomato sauce and you have a satisfied my craving. My wife had the Puzzo pizza and enjoyed it a lot. For an appetizer we shared the carppacio. The dish didn't knock my socks off but I did enjoy it and would get it again. Our server was very cordial, pleasant and attentive. Other servers brought our food to the table which gives me the message that food isn't sitting waiting to be served to long. 4 stars about sums it up for me. I am a fan, it's better than average, but not quite the best. I will also be returning. read more

No Substitutions...any of us that have had a meal at Terroni know the policy is quite strict but if you have actual dietary restrictions or are pregnant in the case they will usually accommodate to a certain extent , I.e if a salad comes with an unpasteurized cheese they will usually sub with a pasteurized cheese as was the case with the Price street location a few weeks ago. The Price street location is actually my favorite Terroni in the city but tonight we were visiting a friend in Queen west and popped into this location. Our waiter was great for the most part was quite friendly and wanted to accommodate with the exception that he kept saying the kitchen could not sub any of the app dishes and could only completely eliminate the dietary concerns from that particular dish, does that not require the same amount of effort as the latter? I just find it quite odd that one location is so strict with a policy and the other is willing to accommodate when a particular situation arises. Continuity is key! just my two cents. In the end my wife had to settle for the Verde salad as app which was not her ideal choice, she ordered the calamari ala grillia as a main and to her surprise it did not have any olive oil or balsamic vinaigrette to her surprise which it is usually dressed with.I can only assume this was her punishment for having dietary restrictions while pregnant. Overall my Caprese salad was good and my Burrata pizza with shisito peppers had a nice kick as well, I fell like they skimped on the burrata a little but I felt like this was just one final reminder to stick to the Price Street. read more

Yay, Terroni! I have been to their Adelaide street venue a few times, but I finally got a chance to visit the Queen West location this week. We strolled in here early (around 5:30pm) and it was an easy time to grab a table. The bar area had quite a few patrons who had stopped in for a pint or glass of wine after work. (By the time we left at 7pm, there was already a queue of people waiting for tables) Terroni on Queen is quite a bit smaller than the Adelaide street branch, it's a little bit more intimate. I would say there are no more than 15 tables. I always stick with the pizza (I never order pasta out, somehow the thought of spending $15-$20 on a bowl of pasta sends shivers down my spine) For this particular dinner we tried out the Puzza (a white pizza with mozzarella, mascarpone, gorgonzala, mushrooms and italian ham) and also the Peppino (tomato, garlic, grilled eggplant, zucchini, grilled red peppers and parmigiano). Both were DELICIOUS. The thing I love about Terroni pizza is that it really is nearly bang on to what I remember eating in Firenze, Cinquo Terres and Pisa on a few vacations to Italia. The crust is paper thin. Ingredients are extremely flavourful but they are placed somewhat sparsely overtop of the pizza (unlike the mounds upon mounds of greasy toppings you get at a fast food joint). The service was A+ at this place. Our server knew everything - gave us detailed information about the wine list, the beers on tap, plus interesting information about the food once it was brought out. They had a lot of serving staff on hand and our server came back just enough to check on us but without being annoying. I wish the pizzas were a few bucks cheaper (most are $15-$17) but other than that, I can't find anything else to fault Terroni. read more