Consistency is a big thing and when it comes to the food at Bar Italia, its fresh, great looking ingredients, tasty and very affordable. I also find the service to be casual/professional, whether with a group of friends or just sitting at the bar by myself. When in season, the patio is also great to sit back and just watch the world go by as some Italian old school classics filter through the... more

A solid choice if you are in the area. It's a large restaurant that can definitely hold a big group. There is also a decent size patio in front.

Was here for lunch and our server was so nice and friendly. The lunch menu is kinda disappointing in terms of selections - a few apps, and then lots of salads and sandwiches. There is only a pasta of the day and no pizzas. The wine/beer list is pretty... more

We often go here but I have to say, last nights service was horrible. The restaurant was virtually empty - the server forgot to order two appetizers and one of our mains - I actually told him he was screwing up - then they started to trip over each other - but the experience was spoiled. Food was good, but not good enough to return there. They need to turn up their game and get better staff.

I've never been more disappointed or upset by a restaurant, ever. I usually try to find some kind of redeeming quality - this place doesn't have one. I don't even want to spend the 5 minutes to give a play by play for this review, that's how annoyed I am. To keep it simple: horrible service, sub-standard food, rude management, and expensive.

If you have a group, go somewhere else. If you want... more

Went here on a Monday night for a Paint Nite event. The restaurant look nice, but barely had any customer for dinner that night. I got the spaghetti bar Italia, it taste pretty good. Wasn't too wow by it. Overall, very nice looking restaurant, service was okay. Price was decent for food. Atmosphere was good.

We went here for the Little Italy Festival to grab a few drinks. Mr. H had the chardonnay and I had the red wine sangria, both were around $11 which I thought was pretty expensive. The sangria was good though and we shared an appetizer, crostini gorgonzola. Unfortunately I had forgotten that I don't like gorgonzola, so I didn't enjoy it much. However, people next to me were eating pasta and it... more

I used to like this restaurant, but after tonight's experience I am not gonna get back there. It took one hour for them to bring our order, when they did, I had to return my pasta because of its taste. It was the first time I returned a food and the reason wad that it was bitter.
I ordered another food which got ready in 10 minutes, however when We got the bill my primary order was still on the... more

The best way to describe this place is, overpriced. We were three people for dinner, we all had an appetizer, entrée, and split a bottle of wine. This cost us 177$ + tip. Seriously? I understand it's Toronto and prices can be a little more than elsewhere, but I felt like I got robbed.

After being seated at the table and given menus, our waitress and the owner (?) or maybe he was the maitre d',... more

From the moment we checked in I knew it was going to be one of those nights. It took about 10 minutes till someone greeted us. I finally had to say we have a reservation where I was told it will be a few minutes they are setting the table. The restaurant want busy at the time so I don't know why the table wasn't even set.

Sat down we were brought menus and then for the next 20 min we waited... more

Food was great...when it finally game. Server kept on bumping into me when she was putting items down on the table, multiple times knocking into me, bumping water jugs and plates past my shoulders. Automatically added gratuity to the table, without informing anyone at the beginning of the meal. When confronted, was rude about it. Also careless about splitting up the bill, which we asked her to... more

Have been going here for many years. Have taken people from out of town here on many occasions and we generally have enjoyed it. Its nothing amazing, but its always decent. Last time we went will probably be my last. Bar Italia must have some managerial problems as the staff are totally incompetent. Our server seemed like she just arrived from Sudbury and was reading from a script. Had no clue... more

I go here every year as my Valentine's Day tradition. The food was stellar.

The server was awful. Un bussed tables, inattentive, I was constantly trying to get her attention for another drink.

Great Prix fixe menu with seasonal foods. Desert portion could have been a bit larger.

Wonderful Staff!!!! Amazing Food!!!!!
First time trying Bar Italia and definitely going back.

3 of us went for Winterlicious Lunch. Tried the Appetizer, Crostini Funghi - bread was nice and warm and the mushrooms and goat cheese went well together on top of it. A bit more goat cheese would have made it PERFECT but it was a nice appetizer; For main course, Panino Di Polpette Di Carne - Home... more

First visit had a reservation for 7 they called and asked where we wanted to sit and gave us a great table in the front. Everyone enjoyed their meals , the mushroom gnochi and the chesse canneloni were very good but we all left very happy and we will be back.

Perfect place for a group event

Recently, I had to find a dinner place for a group of 30 international professionals who participated in a conference event in Toronto. Naturally, Bar Italia came to mind - a place I have known and loved for many years for their great food and wine selection, great vibes and for their friendly and professional service. So I contacted them.... more

Really good food, good service, nice setting

After walking around the different ethnic areas of Toronto, we arrived in Little Italy, and we were tired, and very hungry. There were only a few people at this restaurant, but we were happy to be there and were welcomed by our waitress. Her service was friendly and fast. She answered our many questions. The antipasto platter for two was... more

Okay food and good service, but worst summerlicous menu

We have seen lots of very good reviews of this place and its very close, so we have decided to add it onto our summerlicous visiting list. The service from booking to serving food and getting bills has been very pleasant, we are happy.
However, their 3 course lunch menu was the WORST among all the places we have tried... more

Loved it

Went there with 14 people for lunch. Outstanding food and service. The owner came by our table at least 4 times making sure we were enjoying ourselves and seeing that all of our needs were filled. Everyone loved the food and atmosphere. Our waitress was great !! Wide selection of wines and the food was expertly prepared. Will definitely good... more

Plenty of much better Italians

Food was nothing special - pretty bland. Atmosphere was quiet for a Thursday night - half empty. Washrooms were disgusting I was told by a female guest. For the price they charge you're better off going elsewhere for an Italian meal

summerlicious

My first time at summerlicious. Glad I picked Bar Italia.

Great ambiance

We decided to check out Bar Italia for a Summerlicious lunch at the last minute. We got a lovely outdoor table, service was good. Food was good - nothing exceptional but good for the price. Italian sangria also great. Overall, cheap and cheerful lunch for people watching in Little Italy!

nice

I thoroughly enjoyed dining at Bar Italia and I recommend it whether you are going for a meal or just appetizers and drinks.

Bar Italia is one of those Little Italy staples I'll happily go to with you if it's your jam, but I will never suggest it as an option.

They do mussels, pastas, paninis and salads but no pizzas. They have a cute shaded patio right on college and drink specials. These things are mostly wins, save the lack of pizza. Pizza is my fave food group, so their utter disrespect of pies really gets my... more

Had a nice light lunch at Bar Italia while at Taste of Little Italy. Loved the Insalata di Bresola (shaved dry beef on a rocket/endive salad with shaved parmasan, avocado and lemon dressing). The bruschetta was slightly dry and should have had been drizzled with more olive oil. I've also never had olives in bruschetta before... Odd.

The patio was pretty nice, but the service was super slow. We... more

In Toronto with my family and had a really nice experience at Bar Italia. Not much a Little Italy in Toronto, but that doesn't take away from this place. We got a table right on the street. Great for kids since they can make most pastas and sauces for the little ones. Mine had the Rigatoni Vodka, of course I sampled it, excellent. My wife and I split a crostini with arugula and ricotta with... more

an ITALIAN restaurant with CUBAN food and a PUERVIAN waitress

after my friend had his cataract removed, we went out for lunch in little itay. he raved about the food at bar italia and their super cuban sandwich!!!!
great to be able to sit outside in the warm weather and watch the people as we ate and talked!
jimmy raved about their cuban sandwich with pork -- i am a... more

A taste of Italy

I had dinner at Bar Italia last night and it was BUSY!!!!!! so making reservations is a must!! one big reason was because it was such a beautiful evening that everyone were taking advantage of it. Service was a bit slow but then again it was busy. I started off by having the pan seared calamari on a bed of... more

I happened to be passing through Little Italy, and decided to try out this landmark. My friends and I were not disappointed. We shared the Antipasto Misto, and it was reminiscent of antipasto plates I've had in Italy. For main, I had the veal- it was perfection. The service was awesome, our server was very attentive and took care to recommend wines to pair with our meals. It was my first time... more

100

Never fails. AMAZING. I have been coming here for years and it never fails to impress me. Its hip and fun with the most consistently amazing food an service.

Great Food at a fair Price

We had not been to Bar Italia for a while and decided to try. Booked through Open Table, but the reservation was not in place when we arrived. Table was OK, but in a very busy spot and there was a lot of activity around me. I got bumped by both patrons and staff.Putting that aside, the food was great, our hostess attentive but not overbearing.
Left happy, but we felt a bit rushed.

Great Fun Atmosphere

Good food, Excellent servers, Added Bonus Coffee Bar...Loved the Atmosphere. Inhouse Tiramisu is the best and not to be missed if you are there.

Came here for a Wednesday lunch at noon on a cool, sunny spring day. Just walked a block or two along College and it was one of the first place we found that was actually open and looked like it would have an acceptable menu.

Greeted immediately upon entrance. Long and narrow inside. Booths and tables. Modern, chic, simple with some interesting designs but nothing that really stands out or is... more

I've always marveled that this place has been open as long as it has. There never seems to be a crowd when ever I pass by. We came here for lunch. The place was pretty sparse, and our service was still a little slow. We didn't mind though as we were in good company. I had a panini, and I have to say that it was yummy and perfectly made. I tried my friend's mushroom pasta and that too was top... more

Service was fast, food was yummy though nothing spectacular. I was going to get the gnocchi, but then changed my mind at the last second because my bf ordered it and I wanted to try a different dish than him. I was recommended the special by the waitress. Now this was my fault, I didn't ask exactly what it was and didn't quite understand what she said. She described it as delicate and... more

great food- service a bit slow. the grill calamari is great- fresh pasta and seafood.

i would go back, the food is very good and the price is reasonable. the grill calamari was good and dessert was fantastic.

Good dinner was had by myself and my companion at Bar Italia on Monday February 24. We were there around quarter to 7 in the evening and at first were the only patrons in the place, but it filled a bit more later on. Blame it on Monday! Anyways, they were out of calamari, but the same bed of mixed greens was a gracious host to a few delicious and garlicky seared shrimp. Our other appetizer was... more

i found the service here slow and the staff were stiff. The food was bland just like my review.

Best Restaurant All Around

Amazing Food. Their pastas and panini's are unbelievable. The prices are very reasonable and the staff is super helpful and friendly. Great and highly enjoyable experience every time I go. . Cool crowd and ambience. Friday and Saturday nights there is fantastic live music. A true favourite and a represents modern italian dining perfectly

I was taken here on a first date, which is odd because it's quite loud on a Saturday night. After spending 10mins with this guy, I realized that I was going to need wine (a lot of it) to get through the evening. Luckily the wine list is good, good enough to distract someone from a dull and obnoxious date, and the service is great too. The food and desserts are pretty mediocre but if you need a... more

Great Rehearsal Dinner and Party

We held the wedding rehearsal dinner at Bar Italia last week and it was a great success. Bar Italia was very flexible about the menu for the dinner and cooperative thorughout. Amanda's communication, organizational abilities and suggestions were excellent. They really went out of their way to accomodate and design a menu for a bridesmaid with extensive allergies. We took... more

Allergy Aware

Had an amazing dinner with dh and dd. Was recommend by Allergic Living magazine as a "gem" in Toronto and we could not have agreed more! We deal with peanut, treenut, sesame and sunflower seed life threatening food allergies.
Even the bread was safe for dd to enjoy. Food was delicious, hot and beautifully presented. The staff was friendly and... more

Very good service. Food is okay- not terrible but not amazing either. Probably wouldn't go out of my way to eat here.

I have been coming here ever since I lived in Toronto years ago and it was always a charming place. Chic but casual.

My fiend and I were in need of a good espresso and we thought that Bar Italia would be a great place to get a double. We sat at the bar seated next to a former governor general. I had no idea who she was but my companion seemed to think it was better that I did know who she was.... more

Summerlicious experience

We made reservations with Bar Italia this past Saturday. They participated in the Toronto Summerlicious menu and we decided to try it out. We have two children under the age of eleven which means an early dinner is necessary. Upon our arrival we noticed the restaurant was practically empty but in all fairness it was only 6pm. The staff was... more

I wandered into Bar Italia last Saturday afternoon with a friend. I wanted to treat her to a nice lunch, and went for the Summerlicious Prix Fixe menu. It was definitely a disappointment.

I ordered

First Dish - Mushroom crustini, which was regular white or brown mushrooms that tasted like they were tossed in some balsamic. They were put over a crusy piece of bread. And that was it. Nothing... more

Yummy lunch on a patio! Tasty sandwich. I was wondering around hungry and found this place. Glad I did.

Came here after work on a Friday evening with work friends - reservation for 11 people. The restaurant is very cool and trendy looking. We were seated in a nice spot.
I ordered a stiff drink while we waited for the rest of our friends to arrive. Menu looked good... everything was shaping up.

I ordered the following app:
Prosciutto e Fico Crostini - Shaved Parma prosciutto, herbed ricotta,... more

We came here on a whim on a Saturday night at 8p for a group of 6. Where in Toronto's good spots could a group like that really get a seat? Not at Bar Italia. But the hostess was nice enough to offer up a reserved table if the group does not show. Just as she's telling us, the first of the group shows.

But fear not, there is another table eating dessert and should not be long we're told. But... more

Great atmosphere and food

Besides our server being amazing - the place has great atmosphere and great food - i had a half portion of the antipasto and it was a great light dinner. It was terribly loud in there - so much so that the server mentioned, but hey, it was Saturday night and everyone was just having a great time.

We went here for winterlicious. It was a birthday party and about 10 people. I had been here before and it was nothing special.

The thing that killed our experience was the service. We asked for water for the table at the beginning of dinner. We received 2 glasses somewhere in the middle. and then after asking several times, we were given 2 more glasses of water.

Some people asked for coffee... more

Wonderful

I had my wedding reception at Bar Italia in August and I was blown away by the service and the amazing food. Then, my husband and I went back over the Christmas holidays and it was just as wonderful. My husband had the short ribs...A M A Z I N G!! And Joe the Manager is a real class act.... more

Food good, smell was not

I will start with all the positives, which there were many. Our waitress was awesome, very friendly and enthusiastic. She came around frequently to check on us, but not so much that it was annoying. The food was good, I had the fusilli with a basil cream sauce and my friend had the veal. My ceasar salad that I started... more

I'm a fan of Bar Italia. It's always good-quality Italian and the servers are friendly. It's a top choice if I'm looking to take someone for a nice dinner. Most of the dishes I've had there have been excellent. The gnocchi pizzaiolo I had last time was the only exception, it was decent but underwhelming. The salad with mushrooms was outstanding.

As other reviewers have noted, it can be quite... more

I like the upstairs part a lot. Great for any type of occasion. Downstairs is chaotic! I know I went on a Saturday night but it's the loudest restaurant I've ever been to. It was like sitting in a wind tunnel at some point. The lights kept getting dimmer and dimmer so all of a sudden I was deaf and blind :P
Food is so-so. Nothing spectacular . Service was good though so thanks for that!

Always a great spot

We have been here many times and always enjoy our meal. The grilled Calamari is a favorite along with the house spaghetti. The mushroom risotto is also delicious. Don't bypass the daily specials as they typically offer great options at good value. We keep going back as we love the total package.

the food was great, I had the swordfish special and my girl had the linguine pasta, that atmosphere could use a little work...they kept turning the lights lower and lower to the point it was getting a little hard to see, that and the floor and tables/chairs need some rework, the floors remind me of a 1995 cafeteria experience and table/chair combo's are just not very comfortable.

overall I... more

Had a 60th Surprise venue, food, and service superberb highly recommend

Everyone from the Manager, down to the floor staff were very helpful, courteous and efficient. My guests and I were impressed with the entire evening. We had a 60th Birthday surprise for my husband and this was the perfect setting. We were even entertained by a live band "Shugga Shugga" who were amazing! Bar Italia Lounge was by far one... more

On Saturday night, my boyfriend and I along with another couple ventured to 'Bar Italia' for Winterlicious. I made my reservation with ease along with some alterations.

Upon arrival, our fabulous 'U' shaped booth was ready for us and it was awesome along with the dim ambiance. It was incredibly busy (which is good for them) therefore resulting in a much longer than anticipated wait time for... more

Great prices and decor...food could be slightly better

A great decor and a hidden gem.
Found the placed in Little Italy of Toronto and looked forward to having a beautiful lunch after busy morning.
Walked in and was seated immediately with the Menu. I ordered the Soup of the Day, Alfredo Fettucine and a Caesar Salad.
The Soup of the Day - Minestrone Soup was good...but needed more... more

I am very tempted to give this a 1 star! The only thing that got me to give a 2 star is their oval shape table. I believe it's the only oval shape table, very cool looking in the restaurant, and the best part is no one would be isolated because they are sitting at one end of the table.

Service was the worst part of the whole dinning experience. It was a Friday night, I get that, and it's... more

Good Italian Experience

There were 9 of us went for dinner on a Wednesday night. The restaurant was fairly quiet and the service was attentive. The menu has good variety for everyone and wine list has good selections too. Although the portion was smaller than most North American size, it was sufficient. I tried the spaghetti with shrimp and spices and it was... more

Food ok, Service left a lot to be desired

6 of us went out to Bar Italia for supper on a Friday night... this really is the loudest restaurant I have ever been in... they need to invest in sound absorbing materials...
The menu is limited, only 2 pages and the appetizers were very small portions at a pretty high price...
I had the mushroom risotto as a main,... more

Bigger portion would have made it perfect

I had passed by this Italian restaurant dozens of times and hesitated to try it because of my experience at the neighbouring Cocco Lezone which everyone raves about for no valid reason. Luckily, Bar Italia offers better service and the food is very good. Growing up in an italian home, I can be quite picky about the quality of any... more

Bring your earplugs

When busy, one of the loudest restaurants I have ever been to. Loud groups, live room so sound bounces everywhere. Bring earplugs.
Went New Years Eve 2009 - place was packed and kitchen was really (1+ hours) behind. Food was good but in spite of our complaints about delayed food the restaurant did not comp one single item, not even... more

Bar italia

We had the pleasure of being there last night. The place is beautiful and excellent food and service. I would highly recommend it. The band Reeza brothers were also simply wonderful and most enjoyable.

Great Amaretto Sours

Great Amaretto Sours!

Excellent food, good atmosphere and very good bands playing upstairs on weekend nights

Excellent food, good atmosphere and very good bands playing upstairs on weekend nights

The pasta is super delicious...it's a great looking place, and the booths are comfy

The pasta is super delicious...it's a great looking place, and the booths are comfy!

great pasta and a fun place

great pasta and a fun place

Really good restaurant. I love it

Really good restaurant. I love it.

very busy, over crowded

very busy, over crowded .. love the antipasta though.

college street hangout. do-able mushroom risotto but that's about it

college street hangout. do-able mushroom risotto but that's about it