I am not sure what I would do in a world without pizza. Toronto has lots of Italian (and mostly Italian) restaurants, but I’ve narrowed down the ones that do pizza particularly well. I’m not asking for much. All I want is a bit of well-prepared dough topped with fresh, high-quality ingredients, made by someone who gives a little bit of a damn about their work. Is that so much to ask? Stop eating crappy pizza, and save your calories for the good stuff, right here. Average price between $15-25 a person (for the pizza).
Tried and True:
- Piano Piano: Victor Barry closed down Splendido and reopened as Piano Piano mostly because he wanted to make ridiculous pizzas. I can’t believe iceberg lettuce and mayonnaise (which can be found on the “Bodega”) actually works!
- Pizzeria Via Mercanti: The Kensington Market location is my favourite restaurants in the area. It has a very laid back vibe and a lot of happy customers. The College St. location is almost as good (but not quite).
- North of Brooklyn: A trendy spot designed for most to pick up a slice, but ordering a giant pie is even more satisfying. A little bit New York, a little bit Toronto.
- Conspiracy Pizza: Their pizzas are giant and are mostly named after actual conspiracies throughout history.
- Gusto 101: Provided that it’s not too busy that night, this is a great pizza you can enjoy in a fun, King Street environment.
- Terroni: (and La Bettola di Terroni) These guys have a great history and really great food. Just don’t go if you require any kind of substitutions at all.
- Pizzeria Libretto: It’s a solid, solid, can’t-go-wrong establishment.
- Pizzeria Defina: This one’s kind of out of the core, but it’s got a great mix of flavours that keep it Italian but always a surprise.
- Queen Margherita Pizza: I like them a lot. It’s just hard to keep up with their changing locations and constructions.
- General Assembly Pizza: A casual but stylish spot that pairs its quick Italian pizzas with VQA wines. The space really is the biggest sell!
- Blondies: A pizzeria designed for the self-aware Millennial. The Food Dudes-adjacent chain uses a fermented crust and a really fatty mozzarella.
- Levetto: It’s a chain, but the Romano style pizzas here designed by Shahir Massoud are some of my favourites for an easy night in. The Chinatown location even has a Peking Duck pizza!
On My Radar:
- Magia & Bevi: Eat and drink. Can’t deny that.
- Maker Pizza: I’m actually a little scared that this place will hit me with too much trendiness, but I’m willing to take the plunge.
- Descendant Detroit Style Pizza: The name explains the draw!
Last updated: October 2019