Trattoria Taverniti

Pleasant Italian restaurant in the heart of Little Italy. On weekends is usually very busy. Very good food and portions. Service is friendly, and they don't leave you sitting ignored. The only complaint I could find is the staff putting the chairs of empty tables up as the night grew later. Sort of a subtle hint "to go home. "

Cozy atmosphere. Like eating at your grandmother's. Food was okay, nothing special but very consistent.

One of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto, home made pastas, gnocchis, delicious pizzas, the Italian cocktails are the best. Fabulous place!

Best Italian restaurant I’d say I’ve visited in terms of ambience, service, and food quality!

Trattoria Taverniti is a hidden gem! The food here is simply amazing. The cute interior adds to the cozy atmosphere, making it a perfect spot for a meal. Don't miss out on their pizzas – they're an absolute must-try!

The food was delicious, if you want to try good Italian food I would 100% recommend this restaurant. The service is TERRIBLE, the waitresses do not know how to open a bottle of wine, they throw the plates on the table, they never change them, they do not remember the orders, they are not aware of what the tables need (to ask for the bill you have to get up to look for someone or have your hand raised for 10 minutes), the service they have is shameful. The kitchen work is impeccable but their waitresses ruin the job.

I ordered their Quattro Formaggi pizza through Ubereats and it was amazing! So generous with the cheese, crust was delicious. Cesar salad was well dressed and fresh.

A trattoria with a long history on College Street. Went without a reservation and had fettuccine alfredo with chicken. It was so delicious. The staff are cheerful and pleasant. I love family run trattorias like this and the people who work here.

Took my daughter Crandice here for her first intervention (She's been DMing Blue Man Group on instagram to the point where it was problematic. Kept insisting that she knew they weren't actually blue and that she was going to expose them).

We ordered the polpette (meatballs), domenico pizza, and the Parardelle Bolongnese. It was all divine. Some of the best pizza I had ever had. The pesto was an excellent touch - some of my favourite in the city. The polpette had that authetic italian creaminess that felt like a warm hug. I cannot recommend this place enough, and the staff were so friendly (even though we were staging an intervention for an 8 year old). No doubt, we will be back!

All the food was very well executed. The crust on the pizza might be the best I’ve ever had. I would definitely go back.

The service is fantastic and the server was very attentive. Ambience is really good as well. The food is above average for sure, but not quite perfect. Small nitpicks, but we expected the burrata to be creamier and the tomato sauce was a little more tart than anticipated. But overall still a wonderful experience and the food was delicious regardless

The restaurant's look is romantic with the exposed brick walls and cozy lighting and the food is great, but the music that was on the night we dined in ruined the experience for me, very loud bar type of music that clashed with the cozy ambiance.

One of our favourite restaurants for authentic Italian cuisine. The place is so cozy and makes you feel like you’re having homemade meals! Service was a bit slow the last time we were there, but everyone is still very nice and friendly.

Cant wait to go back soon.

Super cute and cozy family owned Italian restaurant in Little Italy. It's a very busy restaurant, and rightly so, as the service and food were both superb. We had the figs for appetizers - stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in prosciutto. A great sweet and savoury and creamy dish. We also had the penne alla Calabrese. The sauce was very flavourful and spicy. Pasta were cooked perfectly Al dente. Their tiramisu cake was light and fluffy packed with espresso flavour. Delicious meal. The staff were attentive to our needs despite it being so busy. Highly recommend.

Old time Regulars: Reset your expectations if you go here now.
Dear “Nona” Taverniti died last July and she took her magic recipes with her.

For years we came here for superb home cooking, home of the finest Penne a la Vodka in the city. Dining here last night it’s clear a new regime is in the kitchen. I should have sent it back. The PV was pasta and marinara. No pink creamy yumminess. My wife got sick because her regular Veal Parm now has olive oil in it. It never occurred to us to ask. It was always the same last ~20 years.

When I called to ask what happened I was assured the recipes have not changed one bit. Ok. That means the kitchen messed up both our meals. Unlikely. We are told the new chef is “better than the old one” but we want our old favourites. And we want our soup back. Rosa was thrilled when we once praised her soups. She was very proud of them.

So a caution to reset your expectations; it’s not the Taverniti we all loved.

A very average meal. I was looking for good, authentic pasta and this was very unremarkable. I have travelled Italy on many occasions and cook better pasta myself. Service was fine but not friendly at all. Would not reccomend.

After the New management post COVID, surprised to treat my family with excessive SALT in all the dishes ordered. Wasted time, money and energy to sit outside with uncurteous waiting staff in October having an unfriendly, non Italian treatment unlike caring one from previous senior restaurant owner Wow what a SALT loving non-Italian Chef!

Authentic, melt in your mouth Italian. Loved the checkered table cloths and brick walls. My husband said it was the best pasta he's ever had!

Great little spot on College. Cozy and great atmosphere. Found was great. Will be going back to try more!

Overall the food and service is good, but there are some points to be improved:

+ The staff were helpful and nice.
+ Anthony Pizza is a plus. A unique pizza with fig jam, gorgonzola, and prosciutto. It has some sweetness in its taste that I really liked. I am a fan of experiencing new food.

- Pastas were good but not exceptional to our tastes. Similar to many other restaurants.
- A small cockroach was next to us moving up the wall. I know that the windows were open and it seems unavoidable, but no one likes to see them while eating.

Not sure if I will come back again, but I don't want to give them something less than 4 stars. I hope they address the issues. If I come back, I am curious to order Gnocchi from their menu.

Been to this restaurant two times already because I just had to go back! What a great experience, it's like a mini escape to Italy. We always speak to the servers in italian and they are all so friendly. The food is amazing and everything is authentic. I personally have been going for the pizzas as they have so many to choose from and you can't beat a good wood-oven pizza.

Foods are below average, ordered spaghetti con pomodorino and Rigatoni Al pesto are all way much lower than my expectations, and the only thing I would recommend is their pizza. As for service, it’s a disaster. The servants didn’t provide tableware even after they’ve put food on my table. What if I didn’t ask for folks and knives, they might’ve just let me eat with my bare hands. Not recommended this restaurant at all.

Service was exceptional and definitely not the issue! The issues were the portion and quality of food, first off any Italian restaurant should have bread at the table or that comes with appetizer, had meatball appetizer, was ok would have been exceptional with bread, got the chicken parmigiana ($29) for that expensive the salad, the pasta and chicken should not come on the same plate, that's insane, the salad should be big and on a separate plate, and again the meal should at least include one piece of bread, the worst was my friend got carbonara and it tasted like gross egg or uncooked meat taste, avoid the carbonara for sure

Menus are dirty. The deck smells like urine.
Alfredo pasta lacked salt, pizzas were very good, ravioli mushrooms was wonderful, bolognese was very good. Service was good, although we were not serviced for some time at some point.and we had to get up and ask for it…

One of my favourite resteraunts in the city. Amazing old school Italian charm that transports you right back to Italy. The Penne Rosina is incredible - as is their entire menu. It’s family run with the friendliest staff who always have great suggestions. Couldn’t recommend more!

This is the best Italian food I’ve ever had. No joke. We had a pizza and a pasta and they were absolutely amazing. The place’s vibe is also on point, feels very cozy. Staff is friendly and efficient. This is my new favourite Italian place in Toronto, by far.

Beautiful, cozy and local place. Their Anthony pizza was one of the best pizza I ever had in Toronto. Their customer service was excellent. We will definitely will come back!

We tried the Fettuccine Alfredo, Margherita pizza, and tiramisu. All of them were out of this world delicious! Especially the pasta!

Really amazing restaurant! Went there for an anniversary dinner where we ordered bruschetta, one pasta & one pizza. Everything was wonderful, and service was excellent ️ can’t wait to go back

An incredible experience if you want an authentic Italian experience at a lovely family run establishment. Great food, warm, friendly service I recommend to anyone.

Great food! I was there 2 years ago and I have nothing but praise for their delicious Italian cuisine.

Awesome cozy Italian little place! Food is really good, and the environment and hosts are so warm and nice! I would definitely be coming back! Loved it! I had the gnocchis gorgonzola and 100% recommended

Fantastic food, 5 star spot! Our party had classic calzone, seafood pasta and pizza - all delicious! Staff were so helpful and friendly too!

Great experience, the calzones was one of the best I’ve tried ever. Totally recommend this place

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. Never will go back.

The ambiance was wonderful for our first visit. Food was great and the poor single server did a professional job even though everybody who was hungry in TO decided to show up at same time.

The guy who was serving the good was very rude. I didn’t like the food that’s why I didn’t gave him tip. And he insulted me that don’t come to eat if u don’t want to give tip. I ordered lasagne and Pizza which wasn’t that great. Very Poor customer service. Highly not recommended.

First time at this place did not disappoint! The service was great and I loved the ambience. They have a wide selection of pastas and pizzas. Super filling and packed with flavour! We also tried the Nutella pizza, it was so decadent and a perfect end to a great meal. Will definitely be back.

Was the first time Weitried this restaurant. It was extremely understaffed. The number of mistakes was unbelievable.

1- they served our food without any cutlery or plate. We wait 5 min to find a server to ask her bring plates and cutlery!
2- because it was too busy and understaffed, we order two appetizers and our food together and asked them first serve our appetizers and when they down serve the food. They deliver every thing at the same time and they forget to make one of our appetizers. So we canceled it
3- one of the pizza that they delivered was totally black on the bottom. It was not burned but some burned pieces from oven stick to it.they never check the quality of food and was hard to find them. So we try to clean it and eat it while we did not like it at all.
4- then we order another round of drinks, they forget it and had to call them after 15 min and remind them.
5- they never ask us if we need anything else! We had to call them when they are passing around!

This restaurant has around 20 tables and it was full. Running full service restaurant with 20 tables with just two servers is almost impossible. They had no bar tender either. This two servers had to serve alcohol as well! That is way all this happened. I do not blame servers. But how the owner or manager expected their customer having a good experience there?

Won’t come back there and won’t offer them to any of my friends.

Very excellent pasta, southern Italian style pizza really nice overall ambiance. The service was very slow but it was a busy Saturday night and so that is expected. The pizza is not in a nice thin crust Northern style Italian pizza.it is NOT a stretched dough, and not at all very thin like many other Italian spots on the street. It is a little bit thicker and crunchy on the bottom but very tasty all over. Definitely Calabrese style. And yummy! The pasta sauce was truly amazing although a little salty for myself. Definitely try the bruschetta with the sausage paste and cheese. Overall definitely five stars and I would recommend this to anyone.

Great Italian food. Very authentic and the flavours are balanced. The service isn’t The best and the AC inside the restaurant wasn’t working because they have giant windows disrupting the airflow. You’d sweat here if you went on a summer day/eve but the food was good.

We were speechless when we tasted “The Anthony” pizza. One of the best pizzas I’ve ever had (and I’ve had so many.). My pictures don’t even do it justice. The pasta was perfectly cooked as well. Portions were quite reasonable for the price, and service was very friendly! It was easy to call and order takeout. This place is such a gem in the community. We will be back!

My favourite Italian restaurant in Toronto! Reasonably priced and great menu. Gnocchi is fantastic. They are open during COVID typically Thursday-Sunday.

We ordered via Uber Eats and the food we received was a low quality. The Spaghetti Pomodorini e Gamberi had only 3 small shrimps in it, and a bland sauce. The Gnocchi Viola e Zafferano was very elastic and did not taste good. The appetizers we ordered was also not looking or tasting good at all. Will not order from here again.

The excellent authentic Italian food, service and ambience set this place apart from many Italian restaurants in Toronto.

Judging from the reviews I probably went there on their bad day. I was debating between 3 and 4 stars for 15 minutes. Their story, location, overall design of the restaurant and hospitality deserves 5 stars however the food is meh.

-Mista salad literally felt like the chef threw in some greens, raw salt not even mixing it in and half a tea spoon of balsamic.
-Spaghetti con polpette was enjoyable.
-Tagliatelle with seafood was enjoyable too, tasty but nothing that I will remember.
-Spaghetti alla carbonara! HAS! To be the worst carbonara I have ever had in my entire life i don’t know how the chef served us that.
-Suggested Red wine was really good.

Patio is small, 2 tables and always full and I believe they have no heaters (didn’t see any outside).

Not a pricey restaurant with not great quality. Overall, I would not recommend. I will be back to try your pizzas.

I honestly enjoy their dishes and service, awesome location to where I live. The staff members are always super friendly. Will come back again.

I told my friends about this restaurant with my highest recommendations. I go to this restaurant often. I get very good feedback from my friends. The dishes they serve are flavorable and the stuff is welcoming and cooperative.always when we visit this place we pass a gorgeous evening. I warmly recommend this restaurant.

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.

This is one of our favorite Italian restaurants. It's small and usually requires a reservation, but the food, atmosphere, servers and cooks make it a great experience. We enjoyed most pizzas and the lasagna or carbonara, but everything on the menu is good.

Amazing pasta, I had the squash/sage butter ravioli and my partner had the mushroom tagliatelle. Serving sizes were reasonable. Our server was really lovely and after our meal who we assume to be a ‘Nonna’ figure, popped past our table to ask how our meal was which was a nice touch and added to the authenticity of the family restaurant.

My family had a mix of pasta, bakes and pizzas - and desserts - and it was all excellent. Great service too.

Service is terrible and food is not that great either. Place is very small. I wouldn't go back here and I would not recommend going here

Tried it for the first time and fell in love with this place. It's been a month and I still keep thinking about the food and the ambience and our kind waitress and the old lady who was the owner. One of the best restaurants I've ever been to if not the best ever.

Absolute favorite in Little Italy. Authentic food, intimate setting, great service. Highly recommended.

Service and food was great with generous portions. They have a large menu so options are endless. My friend and I ordered their pastas, Spaghetti alla carbonara and penne alla calabrese. Left feeling full

What a great place with good service. A small, but warm and cozy italian restaurant with delicious food. I loved the pizza and pasta!

2nd visit and will definitely come back. This plaxe is amazing: the food, the setting and the owner/chef you get to meet are all so worth it! Homemade italian cuisine at its VERY BEST

An authentic Italian restaurant, with fair prices and a fantastic food. It’s worth the waiting time!

Great trattoria! Treated with amazing risotto balls and thin crust pizza to die for.
The chef is a “Nonna” from Calabria, she comes around to say hi to people sometimes.
Nice family restaurant feeling

Prefect Italian trattoria, red and white square table clothing, bricks walls, cozy environment. Friendly and courteous service, excellent food and if you’re wondering why does food taste as good as it does, well let me tell you the owner is there with her traditional apron and almost 90 years old.
When I saw her talking with customers, I knew nothing can go wrong with this experience and I was right. Just looking forward to go back and enjoy another meal here.

Food was delicious. It’s not cheap but definitely worth it ($200 for 4 adults not including tip). It gets busy real fast. The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. Nonna is always out and talking with customers, and she loves the little kids. It can take time to get your meal if they are busy. Based on my visit I wouldn’t say its baby/toddler friendly but great for older kids.

Omg the little old lady on the menu straight up made my gnocci by hand and came to our table to say what's up and she's the sweetest woman I've ever seen, the food is delicious, and prices are great

Arguably the best Italian restaurant in Toronto. I lived in NYC for 15 years and this is the only place in town that is of the same quality you can find in New York. Best pizza, best pasta and best “hole on the wall” period. Recipes have been passed down for generations within the family. Be aware that this place has been “discovered” and reservations for the weekend far in advance are necessary.

We were ignored while we were waiting to be seated — not even a slight acknowledgement. It was busy, but not that busy. Finally, we are seated and then right off the bat; the waitress rudely asked to see my ID. Even though we were looking to eat dinner, she didn't ask anyone else. Our waitress was rude and didn't serve us after being seated for so long. We were the only people of colour in the restaurant, and it looked like we were not a priority. We got fed up and left, another waitress asked if everything was okay after she saw I looked visibly upset, she offered for us to have a seat at the booth, but we were over it. The whole ordeal was embarrassing because the people seated next to us were treated so sweet and began to notice the rude treatment it was incredibly awkward. We wanted to have a cute date night to celebrate our, but the night had been ruined. I won't be going again and don't recommend it.

Very mixed feelings about this place, particularly the service. This place bears the marks of management that really doesn't take pride in their establishment. Came in with a group of 9, which was a little larger than they usually handle as the largest table sat 8. We were served by a girl in track pants which was a little off for an Italian restaurant. The paper menus aren't laminated, oil and sauce stains from over the years are visible. The dessert menus were even worse. My order was somehow lost, chef whipped mine up last minute as they were serving my friends. She was nice to us but just overall not good at her job. The food itself was somewhat redeeming but that was the most embarrassing service I've ever seen at an Italian restaurant.

I made a reservation for Valentine’s Day two months in advance at this restaurant that my partner and I used to go to for a special evening. I booked this place because we always enjoyed the comfortable yet classy atmosphere, and the food is amazing and so reasonably priced. However upon entering the restaurant we were stunned with a two option prefix menu; either we each spend around $50 for the standard prefix (mimosa, appetizer, entree, dessert) or around $75 each (mimosa, appetizer, entree, dessert, 1/2 litre of wine).

When they confirmed my booking yesterday, they never indicated we would be hit with this kind of cash grab. Truly disappointed. Definitely better off at Café Diplomatico across the street!

Incredible authentic Italian food at a reasonable price! Love that the servers and the atmosphere are very much Italian as well!

P. S. I highly recommend The Gnocchi, Risotto balls, and Pizza from here.

We were lucky enough to be in Italy a couple of months ago and had a hankering for Italian recently. The restaurant is a cozy spot on College and easy to miss compared to glitzier restaurants but you will not be disappointed. The appetizers were good but the pastas are AMAZING. The carbonara was stellar and through it's simplicity you can really taste he quality of the ingredients and care in preparation. The pizza's seem to be a favorite as well but we didn't get a chance to try them. Probably some of the best pasta I've had in Toronto hands down.

We went without booking, so we got the worst place, in the middle of the room. The chair was a bit broken. The staff forgot to bring me a second glass of wine when I've asked for it. Yet, it deserves 5 stars because the food was wonderful. The atmosphere is very nice and tables have tablecloth. Unfortunately they don't serve wine in glasses of the proper shape ().

Very Disappointing appetizer. We had the Arancini. It did not taste homemade. The cheese in the center was still frozen. The pizza was good.