Diners' Choice: Contemporary Italian restaurants in Toronto / Ontario

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary Italian cuisine in Toronto / Ontario? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Valley Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (2738)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Italian

St. Catharines

About the restaurant

The Valley Restaurant brings a European feel to Niagara dining. Tucked away on a quiet street in north St. Catharines close to Niagara-on-the-Lake this trattoria style restaurant serves homemade Italian inspired cuisine. Everything is made in house from the fresh baked bread, fresh pastas and sauces, gelato and incredible desserts. The menu includes veal, seafood, steak, a variety of pasta dishes including gnocchi, lasagne, ravioli. There is a full cocktail menu and fabulous wine list including local and imported selections. The atmosphere is warm and inviting with a large fireplace, intimate tables, white linen tablecloths and impeccable service.

Top review

AndreaGold

Dined on Oct 29, 2026

As always we had a lovely dinner at The Valley . Food is always excellent.

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La Cucina Pizzeria - Guelph

4.9

4.9 (682)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Italian

Guelph

About the restaurant

TRAVEL ITALY THROUGH TASTE...
La Cucina is a NEW authentic Italian restaurant and pizzeria in the heart of downtown GUELPH.
Our chef Francesco Monaco has a passion for creating authentic Italian dishes using only high quality and fresh ingredients.
La Cucina Pizzeria will soon be your favorite spot to eat and hang out. The irresistible aromas from our custom-built Malagutti pizza oven will draw you in, and the delicious dishes that emerge from it will keep you coming back for more.
The Pizzeria will be serving more than just pizza: our menu includes antipasti, homemade pasta, and delicious main courses.
With wine and beer to compliment your fare, this will be a nice place to spend dinner with family or a night out with friends.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 7 days ago

Always fantastic at La Cucina Pizzeria. The food, the ambiance, the service… all great. My only wish is Italian bread to dip in oil and vinegar vs pita bread lol. Just not the same and not Italian 🤭 We’ll be back!

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La Cucina - Kitchener

4.7

4.7 (666)

CAN$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

Kitchener

About the restaurant

La Cucina is a NEW authentic Italian pizzeria and restaurant in the heart of downtown Kitchener. Although a new location, the owners are not new to Italian food. With strong Italian roots, a passion to create authentic Italian food and a love of quality and fresh ingredients, La Cucina Pizzeria will soon be your favourite spot to eat and hang-out. The irresistible aromas from our custom-built Malagutti pizza oven will draw you in, and the delicious dishes that emerge from it will keep you coming back for more. Malagutti has been creating these refractory stone culinary masterpieces for over four decades. You will be able to see your pizza or calzone cooked right before your eyes.

The Pizzeria will be serving more than just pizza slices: our menu includes antipasti, homemade pastas, paninis, and larger dishes like Veal Parmigiana and Porchetta.

Dine with us at La Cucina and fall in love with Italian food all over again.

Top review

TiaanGold

Dined on Oct 30, 2026

Great service , great food and great value . Was our first time there and definitely not be the last !

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4.8

4.8 (28)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Italian

Hamilton

About the restaurant

Born from a passion for Japanese and Italian cuisine, Utamami brings together two culinary traditions in a way that feels both familiar and unexpected. Our chefs honour classic techniques while introducing thoughtful, modern twists that make each dish distinctly our own.

Designed with sharing in mind, our menu features seasonally inspired plates, handcrafted pastas, and signature centrepieces that invite guests to dine together. Whether you're joining us for an intimate dinner or a lively gathering with friends and family, Utamami offers a warm, social dining experience where exceptional food is meant to be shared.

Top review

BenGold

Dined on Oct 25, 2026

What an incredible menu! Everything was cooked to perfection, I can’t wait to come back!

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Experience

Tini Tuesdays 🍸✨

HEIST Restaurant + Wine Club

4.7

4.7 (1216)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Italian

Kingston

About the restaurant

Enjoy exceptional food prepared using local, seasonal ingredients + a curated wine and cocktail list in a vibrant downtown atmosphere.

Located on the corner of Brock and Wellington streets, just steps from the shops and entertainment of Downtown Kingston with a seasonal patio for al fresco dining. A place to plan, to meet and to mingle, HEIST offers its clientele a chance to ‘steal the moment’ of fun and provide an escape from the mundane within its beautifully designed setting.

Top review

Bruce

Dined on Oct 27, 2026

Venue was excellent. Food was excellent. Service was excellent!

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Tagliatelle Bolognese

Don Alfonso 1890

4.8

4.8 (2849)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Italian

Harbourfront

About the restaurant

The City’s most internationally acclaimed restaurant, Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto has been awarded a Michelin Star in the inaugural Michelin Guide – Toronto 2022. Created in partnership with hospitality icon Nick Di Donato of the Liberty Entertainment Group, Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto is the only North American location of world-renowned Michelin Star Chefs Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino’s Don Alfonso 1890. Sitting atop the iconic Westin Harbour Castle, on the edge of Lake Ontario, the spacious new location on the 38th floor, offers stunning views of the city skyline and Toronto’s harbor. Showcasing the incredible cuisine of Michelin Star Chefs Ernesto & Alfonso Iaccarino and the wonderful fresh flavors of the Amalfi coast, Don Alfonso 1890’s cuisine is characterized by its modernity, Mediterranean flare and the exceptional quality of the raw materials used.

Top review

Robert

Dined 2 days ago

Amazing culinary experience. Found a wine by the glass from the castle we stayed in visiting Piedmont Italy which was an unexpected treat to start the night. The seasonal white truffle add on elevated what was already a well devised menu and progression of courses on the signature menu. The premium wine pairing was exquisite, well thought out and paired amazingly. The wines were spectacular on their own and changed in elevated ways when combined with the dishes.

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Experience

New Year's Eve - Tasting Menu + Wine Pairing

Experience

New Year's Eve - Tasting Menu + Wine Pairing

Experience

Rolls Royce VIP Experience

Garlic's of London

4.7

4.7 (495)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Italian

London

About the restaurant

Garlic’s of London offers a thoughtfully curated menu of traditionally inspired, contemporary cuisine in the heart of Ontario. Our dishes are crafted with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, highlighting organic and sustainable practices whenever possible. Each plate reflects our passion for artisanal cooking and bold, memorable flavors.

Under the direction of our Head Chef, Oliver Thomas, the kitchen delivers seasonally inspired creations alongside signature favorites like our slow roasted garlic bulb and classic hot smoked garlic fettuccine, dishes that have become synonymous with the Garlic’s experience.

Top review

CherylGold

Dined on Oct 30, 2026

We had a wonderful evening at Garlics again. As always, our entrees were exceptional, and the food was delicious.

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Black Garlic Fettuccine

Bar ARDO

4.6

4.6 (211)

CAN$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

St. Lawrence Market

About the restaurant

The latest addition of the celebrated ARDO Hospitality Group led by co-owners, Sicilian-born Chef Roberto Marotta and Jacqueline Nicosia, Bar ARDO is for the discerning and culinary curious without ever being pretentious. It’s the place you can meet friends for a casual, authentic aperitivo that turns into dinner. It’s an expression of serendipity when a memorable night just happens but feels fated.

Offering an array of small plates for convivial cocktail hour to generously portioned shareable dishes for leisurely repasts, the dining experience is punctuated by a curated selection of Old and New World wines, along with an innovative selection of signature cocktails, like the Carla Carla – an ocean infused martini elevated with caviar, alongside an exceptional assortment of non-alcoholic libations like the perfectly balanced Dry Pina which includes charred pineapple, pink peppercorn and a touch of chili.

Top review

AmandaGold

Dined on Oct 22, 2026

Great experience. We enjoyed Happy Hour pricing including fresh oysters and some great Rose. Will be back soon!

Eloise

4.7

4.7 (192)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Italian

Harbourfront

About the restaurant

Serving Lunch and Dinner, this 85-seat dining room serves a menu that refuses to be boxed in. Rooted in nostalgia yet forward-looking, designed for memorable meals that invite guests to connect and linger.

Before or after dinner, discover cocktails and conversation at Bar Cart, the perfect spot to extend the evening.

Top review

DeanGold

Dined 1 day ago

Lovely dinner, and a great ending with their sticky coffee pudding.

Buca Vaughan

4.4

4.4 (359)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Italian

Vaughan

About the restaurant

Modern Italian Dining, Rooted in Tradition

Buca Vaughan was born out of a deep reverence for Italy's rich and varied regional culinary traditions, as well as an unwavering commitment to upholding the highest benchmarks of quality, culture, and design. We adhere to these principles by exclusively sourcing the finest, seasonally available ingredients from select purveyors and local farmers. Our enduring love for Italian culture fuels our dedication and passion in every dish we prepare.

Moreover, in a nod to our heritage, we have merged the beloved concepts of Buca King and Buca Yorkville. This union offers our guests an even more extensive and diverse culinary journey, celebrating Italy's timeless flavors and traditions.

Top review

AngelaGold

Dined on Oct 30, 2026

Great food and atmosphere, amazing wait staff, Overall excellent!

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