Pizzeria Libretto – Toronto

I can honestly say that I’ve been waiting a really long time for a Toronto restaurant to awe me in such a way. Authentic Italian pizza, an extensive wine list, service that isn’t pretentious and a warm friendly atmosphere all make Pizzeria Libretto (221 Ossington) one of the best dining experiences you’ll have in this vast city. Expect prices to be a little higher than your average chain pizzeria but parting with your money won’t be hard once you’ve tasted the food.

Having a tiny storefront in a neighbourhood that mostly shuts down at night makes locating this wonderful restaurant is a little difficult but the lineups will definitely give it away. Since they don’t take reservations, the dining experience is on a first come first serve basis so I do recommend going before or after the dinner rush. They are open until 11pm so you can always go in for a late meal. I know I should really mention the simple but welcoming decor and the open kitchen being located at the very back of the restaurant allowing all diners to see the hustle and bustle going into their meal.  However, I’d really just spend all my time talking about the food.

The restaurant is a registered pizzeria under the Vera Pizza Napoletana Association and enforces their very strict rules in order to deliver a true Neapolitan pizza. The size, ingredients, texture, aspect and flavour of the pie is highly regulated making this the only certified pizza of this kind in Toronto. The tomatoes are imported directly from Naples; the mozarella brought in daily and the flour strictly organic and stone ground; all various aspects on ensuring quality. However, the most important element of this process is the hand made wood burning pizza oven imported directly from the source in Italy.

Our first appetizer of the evening was the buttermilk battered, crispy, perfectly cooked calamari served on a red pepper and almond sauce. With serving sizes fit for sharing, this dish definitely set the standards high for the quality and flavours of the meal to come. Following this was one of their specials for the evening, a Prosciutto tasting. Served with bread, preserved pears and figs, this spread showcased the popular preserved pig like none other. It was a world tour including Spain, Canada, Italy and the United States displaying the variety in textures and flavours of such a wonderful cured meat. However, the pizza is definitely “la pièce de résistance” of the entire meal. Thin crust, smokey aroma from the wood burning stove, crispy bottom and a variety of delectable toppings all make this pizza unforgettable. I can personally recommend the “Hot Pepper” pizza which comes topped with a very thin layer of tomato sauce, homemade sausage, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil and obviously some hot peppers. It is the perfect mixture of fresh ingredients that I could have definitely eaten until eternity. Our second pizza for the evening was topped with shredded duck confit, bosc pear and mozzarella. This was a slight twist on the classic combination of these wonderful flavours but in comparison to our first pizza it lacked a certain freshness. I honestly cannot wait to return and try all the other combinations they’re showcasing on their menu.

Before I end this little review, I would really like to draw attention to the quality of service received at Pizzeria Libretto. From the hostess trying to find every possible way to cram two hungry foodies into their full restaurant, to our server being very knowledgeable on the menu and wine pairings, our experience was unforgettable. Overall, I recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting to stifle a craving for authentic pizza and real Italian food. I might even go as far as mentioning that this might be my current favourite place to dine in Toronto, but we’ll see after the return visit.