Reviews Pizzeria Libretto-danforth

Name: Pizzeria Libretto-danforth
Address: 550 Danforth Ave, Toronto, Canada, I-M4K 1P8
Telephone: +1 416-466-0400
Rating: 84

Vihan Jain

Business meeting

The pizza was really gourmet- the sauce was fresh, authentic taste- they had great dessert too- the environment was pleasant in the meeting room at the back and staff did their utmost best to keep us well taken care of.

7 months ago

Madhav Khurana

We were staying just down the road from this lovely restaurant and popped in without a reservation . Staff were were very accommodating , Pizza was very nice . The pizza sauce was amazing.
Great pizza!The dough is made from fresh ingredients and The pizza sauce is so delicious as well. The service is fast and friendly. Love this place!

Apr 13, 2019

Lunny

+4.5

2017/04/30
I've had Libretto bookmarked for a while, and today it was around the corner from where we parked at lunchtime, so we seized the opportunity. The main dining area was mostly full, but we managed to snag the small booth in the back corner, right beside the open kitchen with the two wood fired pizza ovens.

There menu offers "pizza and other things". They have four main food sections: Insalata (salads), Assaggini (small plates or appetizers), Pizza Rossa (tomato sauce; about 6 choices), Pizza Bianca (white sauce; about 6 choices).

We chose to share the Libretto Meatballs and the Nduja from the Pizza Rossa section. These meatballs were very good; tender, with a mix of herbs that gave each bite a bold flavour. The tomato sauce was zesty, with an after-burn of a mild, peppery heat.

The Nduja pizza was also good. The base was a zesty sauce, on a thin, wood-fired crust. On top of that was buffalo mozzarella, crumbled nduja sausage (spicy Calabrian sausage), garlic and basil. Just enough spice to keep the tastebuds interested from beginning to end. The crust was done just right, and was flexible enough to fold each slice.

Service was good from start to finish.

Apr 30, 2017

SarahNOM

Now I can say I've been to all the libretto locations in the city. This one is just as good as the others. I tried the arincini for the first time, comes with a dill salad instead of tomato sauce but surprisingly was good and I would order it again. We tried the eggplant pizza and the Ontario prosciutto pizza. Both were great but personally enjoyed the prosciutto one more.

Sep 21, 2016

Andrea

+4.5

My second time here & it was just as good as the first. This time there were 9 of us for dinner. We ending up ordering a few appetizers & 5 pizzas to share.

I also tried the Bellini Fiori...loved it! Great balance of flavours & sweetness. Will be ordering that again next time.

The service was also great! Our server was attentive, friendly & had a good understanding of the menu.

Can't wait to go back again when I'm in the area.

Jul 09, 2016

Jim

+3.5

Place is good. Reservations is a must. I'm not the biggest fan of the traditional pizza but if you are this place does it right. Calamari was good too.

Jun 11, 2016

AlJoCo

Delicious. Never have I been disappointed. Service is top-notch. Having a pizza here, for the first time, will make you feel like you missed something all of your life. Just divine.

Jan 31, 2016

Taylor Fladgate

+3.5

This blog post contains mostly images of our lunch at Pizzeria Libretto on the Danforth. We drank a 10 oz. Steam Whistle Pilsner 5% ABV. A crisp and refreshing European style pilsner with floral hops and sweet grassy notes. We ate house breads, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, chili oil; Arugula Salad - pears, roasted walnuts, aged piave, gamay vinaigrette (part of Lunch Prix Fixe) or $9.00; Buttermilk Fried Calamari – red pepper almond romesco sauce, Libretto herb oil $12.00; Cremini Mushroom – mozzarella di bufala. gorgonzola, roasted garlic, thyme, rosemary, pecorino (part of Lunch Prix Fixe + $5.00) or $17.00; and House-made Sausage - caramelized onion, basil, mozzarella, chili oil $16.00. The lunch prix fixe comes with a choice of desserts. My +1 chose Gelato - one scoop - espresso-cinnamon gelato.

Dec 29, 2015

Cris

Love Pizza Libretto! We come here on date nights and share 2 pizzas and a starter. This is more than enough food but the pizza is so good it's hard not to eat it all! The chilli oil isn't too spicy so if you want a bit more or a kick, it's a nice spice addition.

Nov 28, 2015

Lissa Yun

+4.5

I have never had a meal here that I did not love. The food is delicious. The service is great. I like this location because it takes reservations and it also has tables downstairs for bigger groups. I like taking out of towners here; they now ask if I can bring them pizza on the plane when I visit them!

Our favourite items: Rocco's Salad, the arugula or kale salad, Nduja pizza (my husband likes spicy food, $17) or the prosciutto and arugula pizza ($16).

Nov 10, 2015

Nikola Bogetic

Yesterday I went to the University location for the third time. Their pizza is really good: perfect thin crust, delicious tomato sauce and mozzarella. Service was excellent, they were very accommodating. For me, it's one of the best places in Toronto.

Sep 29, 2015

Katie Green

So now I can finally say I have been to all three locations, each has it's own flare. All have the same great menu. This time around we decided to stay closer to home. We were celebrating the completion of our house guests time here learning English and we wanted to send her off right. With the idea of sharing we ordered the Arancini, the meatballs, and the gnocchi. (side note: the gnocchi was fried and had a delicious sauce for dipping.) We ordered the Libretto Margherita pizza, the classic red white and green my husband would say. The crust was perfection, and the toppings tasted so fresh.
I ordered a glass of the Riesling from Colaneri Estate Winery, which is one of my favourites from this region. Tiramisu for dessert.
The service was friendly and efficient. Of course I will be returning.

Sep 08, 2015

Nucleus Solitarius

This place is a chain with delicious pizza. The Pizza crust is almost as good as the pizza itself. Interesting toppings. And a delicious dessert (try the affogato).

Jul 19, 2015

Norris Wong

+4.5

I've been to pizza libretto many times and this time also did not disappoint. Service and food is always top notch here. They have an awesome lunch prefix menu. This place gets packed easily so I would call and make a reservation. If you want great Italian style pizza in Toronto this is the place to go.

Jun 01, 2015

Ann Gagno

Pizzeria Libretto has the Duck Confit with Bosc Pears Pizza as a MealShare menu item. Now isn’t that motivation enough for you to go to Pizzeria Libretto and support MealShare Toronto?

May 24, 2015

+4.5

Friendly staff and terrific pizza. We had a lovely lunch and it brought us back to our memories of Puglia, Italy. This pizzeria beats out Una Pizza in Calgary hands down!

Oct 24, 2014

Juicegirl9

+4.5

We came here tonight for a pizza it was so good yummy but the service was so slow..we will come back with a punch of girls

Feb 26, 2014

Sunflower_christina

+4.5

Good pizza, not so good service. Second time at Libretto and both times same experience: tasty, delicious food but very, very slow service. The fried calamari is mouth watering and the pizza is just as great. Is it the best around? I don't know. But it is nonetheless very satisfying! I had a rosemary-based cocktail and that was refreshing, I loved it! However, it filled a quarter of my glass... That is an expensive drink for what you get!
The service is almost terrible. Both times, we waited a very long time to get our meals (this time over 1:15!) and we became very impatient as we were starving. Overall, it's a lot of many spent for an evening out to eat pizza. But I still had a smile on my face when I left.

Feb 13, 2014

Fernando Brandt

+4.5

The best pizza in Toronto; their Restaurant on te Danforth takes reservations and is a family friendly environment. Service is always top-notch and their wood-oven pizza takes the classic cheese-sauce-dough combo to a new high.

Oct 26, 2013

Pizzaboy

+4.5

Sunday night was our spot for pizza so good service amazing we love coming here for our pizza great spot to relax enjoy a salad and pizza cold beer

Sep 30, 2013

LoveCheese

Great Pizzas... But are they the best?. Pizzeria Libretto definitely has a ton of great selection with pizzas. And with a traditional oven - it will sure please the traditional pizza connoisseur.

However, is it the greatest pizza in the city? That's hard to say. I would say its slightly overpriced - and there are better experiences that can be had in the city. But with that said, the ambiance and the restaurant itself is very popular and you may need reservations.

Sep 02, 2013

SChuck

+4.5

Great food, great service - if you're in the mood for Napoli style pizza I have found none better in Toronto.
Love it!

Aug 23, 2013

Eamon Wild

+4.5

Dinner started with great service and got better. The ricotta gnocchi fritti was delicious as was the anchovy pizza - the crust was perfect. Deserving of all its accolades.

Aug 06, 2013

Jane

+4.5

MUSHROOM PIZZA. Try the mushroom pizza, it will blow your mind. I find the veggie pizzas actually taste better than the meaty ones. Love the pizza dough, it actually tasted... healthY! Not greasY. But still yummY!

Jul 23, 2013

ActiveGirl

+4.5

Truly Fabulous!. Thee BEST pizza in town! If you know of another pizza that's better, then please let me know, but right now I'm thrilled!!! The staff are wonderful and friendly, and that makes it fun!
The only thing I have noticed and it's a bummer, is that my favourite salad - arugula pear is getting smaller and smaller. It use to be pilled high, and now its, well, not so high.
So if any of the staff from Libretto are reading this - please go back to larger portions of salad!!! Please!
Oh, and yum, the libretto meatballs are fab-a-dab.

Jun 07, 2013

Adam J.

Having eaten at the original location I was afraid the Danforth location would fall short, but it didn't in the least. Overall great time. It's got a very nice, comfortable atmosphere inside. Our server, Dekkera (guy) was absolutely awesome. Food came quick. Had the steak spadduci to start and while you don't get a huge portion, it's a great little appetizer for $9. 3 good sized skewers. For my main I had Nduja Sausage pizza which was seriously, a top 5 pizza I've ever had. And I've had pizza of all kinds all over the place. Delicious, little spicy, huge flavor, and easy to devour. Libretto is an all around solid experience for reasonable prices that you'll enjoy unless you expect fine dining which it doesn't try to be. Would come back

Dec 01, 2012

Layal Loulou Zok

+4.5

Very good pizza! I had cremini pizza and i loved it! My friends also loved their pizzas. I loved the dough and the cheese.

Nov 26, 2012

Sabbyy

+4.5

Pizza. Got the 3 course meal deal. It was all pretty good.

Sep 19, 2012

Fat Pig-Glutton

+4.5

The best Italian anywhere in Toronto, period.

Aug 30, 2012

Tim

+4.5

Pizzaria Libretto is my favourite pizza place! I tried the Danforth location for the first time last night. It definitely has some aspects that distinguish it from the Ossington location. We were welcomed at the entrance and promptly taken to our table, which we had reserved. I had the white anchovy pizza and my wife ordered the prosciutto and arugula pizza. They forgot the arugula on my wife's pizza (we didn't mention it to the server), but nonetheless, both pizzas were delicious. How do they get such chewy dough? Wonderful. The Moretti beer went well with my pizza. Libretto on the Danforth is a great place for pizza.

May 07, 2012

Riley Haas

+4.5

Possibly the best pizza I have ever had. Had the Duck and Pear. Outstanding. Extraordinarily good. My brother had the homemade sausage which was also very good. My step-father had the potato, which was also very good.
Can't understand why so many people go to a pizza place with a specific style of pizza and then complain about the style. If you don't like this style of pizza, don't eat at pizzerias that are certified as specializing in it.

Apr 28, 2012

Mr. Lister

+4.5

I completely disagree with AstridLo. This location is much better tha. The Ossington one. I find the menu more extensive, plus they have the gnocchi.

Apr 24, 2012

Cindy Tran

+4.5

I finally had an opportunity to try Pizzeria Libretto a few days ago with a friend. I've heard so many good things about their pizza so I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Went in for lunch on Monday afternoon. The staff was really nice and attentive. Their lunch prix fixe meal was very reasonable priced (15 bucks for a salad, pizza, and scoop of gelato). I ended up ordering their proscuitto and arugala pizza; my friend ordered the duck confit. Both pizzas were pretty solid. Tomato sauce on the pizza was absolutely delicious! I think the tomato sauce is my favourite. Next time I go to Libretto, I'm pretty sure I want a margherita pizza haha. The topings were great too-- great quality and very fresh. The only thing that was kind of a let down was the crust. I know what to expect when I get neopolitan pizza (e.g. "the sogginess" in the middle and all that jazz). The texture was fine, but I was a little underwhelmed by the flavour. I felt like I got a better pizza crust from Queen Margherita.

Solid Pizza if you're looking for a cheap and delicious lunch. One of the best in Toronto, but not THE best imo.

Apr 21, 2012

Sean Ormsby

+4.5

Excellent. Delicious salads and the margherita pizza was superb. Service was very good.

Mar 23, 2012

Check Please

+4.5

What isn't good at Puzzeria Libretto? My tip: arrive after 10pm and sit at the bar! Meatballs-- yumm

Feb 19, 2012

Shadedblue

+4.5

Very Tasty. They've just changed their menu and the new items we tried were great. Rocco salad is a real winner, as is the Nduja Sausage pizza. Since it's right at the bottom of my street we'll likely go back often. The fact that they take reservations seals the deal.

Feb 01, 2012

GonzoGirl

+4.5

As a loyal constituent of the Queen (Margherita) I felt hesitation cheating with another pizzeria. But Libretto came to me, and so we made our maiden pilgrimage. I am admittedly a pizza snob. I had the duck confit & pear pizza, which I previously had @ Emeril's in New Orleans just last month. Anyway, the duck was dry, and the little burnt bits on the crust completely and utterly overwhelmed the delicate mozzarella. It was like eating in a crematorium. That said, the staff was beyond wicked, well versed in food and on the ball with anything your heart might desire. So compared to the indifferent often snooty staff at QM, Libretto will lure me back because it's nice not to feel like a intrusion on the wait staff's hipster doofdum.

Dec 04, 2011

Ava Ate Here

+4.5

Pizza eaten with a knife and fork! That’s the kind of pizza the popular Toronto eatery, Pizzeria Libretto, is known for!...This pizza is extremely thin in crust – It’s crispy around the edges and slightly chewy in the middle.

Jun 28, 2014

Carole Nelson Brown

+4.5

Sometimes it's the arugula salad with pear and walnuts in all of it's refreshing, peppery deliciousness. If I feel like I need a bit more heft, I might go with the porchetta that sits on a nice little toast that is covered in chinotto bbq sauce that I would happily brush my teeth with, more peppery arugula, some little pickled onions and some chili for my always appreciated kick of heat. If I am feeling like I really need to go light, I go for the carpaccio - sliced so thin that the first time I saw it I thought they were beet slices cut on a mandolin - it was dark and it was a couple seats over and I am old and I don't always see all that well. The meat is tender and buttery and melts in your mouth and I really love the pesto like herby oil. Its weird to say that raw beef is the lightest dish to choose but it really is.

May 07, 2014

J.culaway

+4.5

After passing Pizzeria Libretto several times in the past and reading great reviews, we decided to try it out. The hostess asked us if we had reservations in which I replied no but asked if we could sit outside since a couple had just left. She said okay and was off preparing our table.

Jul 09, 2013

Hardtopleasefb

+4.5

Now finally, the star of the show, Duck Confit (bosc pear, mozzarella ) $17. This was a wonderful pizza. The sweetness of the pear and the saltiness of the duck provided a good balance. The oven thin crust was nothing to complain about. However, I did find the pizza a little heavy. Maybe I'm used to the typical tomato sauce based pizza. I was definitely not able to have more than one slice (I was already full by the time the pizza came). It was good, but it was heavy.

Sep 13, 2013

Shawn Penny

+4.5

In typical Italian fashion, the food was simple and delicious. I had few complaints other than their insistence to bring out enough food to cover our no shows even though we asked them not to. Half of us left with enough pizza boxes to make it look like we were on our way to a frat party at the University of Toronto.

Dec 23, 2014

Chelsea

+4.5

We ended up on the Danforth, where we stumbled upon Pizzeria Libretto, which I’ve heard good things about. Everyone was in the mood for pizza, so we decided to stop there for dinner.

Jul 26, 2013

Myrtle Jurado

+4.5

Libretto did thoroughly fulfill my gourmet pizza craving. I will definitely be back to try other things on the menu.

Jan 23, 2012

Verwho

+4.5

The Duck Confit ($17) pizza really delivered, though it wasn't quite what I expected.

Dec 06, 2011

Sauced T.O.

+4.5

f course everyone loves pizza. Yet it wasn't until trying a REAL Neapolitan pie that I realized this thing that is so simple and so universally loved in a passive kind of way can also be complex, interesting and badass.

May 09, 2012

Caroline Becker

+4.5

Two levels of Neapolitan pizza bliss spark new excitement in the Broadview – Danforth Greek community. Warmer and more spacious..

Dec 02, 2011

Vickie Cheung

+4.5

I rush to Pizzeria Libretto (@PizzaLibretto) back in October after seeing their tweets about a Porchetta & Co (@PorchettaAndCo) Pizza... what better than a collaboration between two of my favorite place (^_^).
I loved it and have been wishing that it would be permanently on their menu but it was only a 3 day special.... but little would I know that this will earn Chef Rocco (@ChefRoccoTO) the title of Canadian Pizza maker of the year .... I rush over when it made a special come back for the weekend 2 weeks ago while they are headed to Las Vegas for the International Pizza Expo competition where Chef Rocco takes 2nd place in the world finals! Congrats!!!

Mar 29, 2013

Stella

+4.5

This particular meal at the Danforth location deserves some love + attention. Rocco's Salad and both pizzas were as always top-notch but what made this meal extra special was their Creamsicle cocktail and the addition of two eggs on our Nduja Sausage pizza...

Sep 01, 2013

The Urban Craze

+4.5

...lived up to its hype. Aside from the fantastic pizza (that truly deserves the VPN certification), I commend the atmosphere and vibe.

Aug 09, 2012

Theresa Albert

+3.5

Be ready for the din of dishes, kids and hubbub. Small plate appetizers this trip included a prosciutto with wee baked breadsticks and a mixed veg pickle. While tasty, the fat on the meat was impossible to chew. At the other end of the chew spectrum was the cured mackerel which had a floaty, vaguely pickled softness that paired beautifully w Israeli cous cous and orange. Don't missed the house made fluffy bread and paprika spicy oil. It has a fruity pungency that is perfect.

I always go for the pizza special which was quite creative this time. A house made sausage and four cheeses including a smoked mozzarella and a fresh pesto lacked a little something. The crust still made me happy with its chew but it got much better when I ordered a side of libretto's zesty tomato sauce for dipping. Gasp!

Mar 18, 2015

Shawn Penny

Call me an undecided voter. I’ve been to Terroni a couple of times and haven’t yet experienced Queen Margherita. I was invited to Pizza Libretto for a work function. I was coming from the East and had a treacherous drive down the Danforth in a snowstorm to get there. Once I arrived, I was greeted by the hostess and seated quickly. The waitstaff met Hudson’s definition of cool; black tees and a laissez-faire attitude that wasn’t quite pretentious. I ordered a drink and waited for the arrival of the set menu. The first course was a piatto grande; a mix of meat, cheese and other things delicious including crostinis, arugula salad, olives, pickles and a delicious spread with a good amount of heat (top right) which was one of the best things on the tray. The other stellar component was the small piece of red wine rinsed blue cheese hidden just above the pickles. All in all, it was delicious start to the meal.

Along with the antipasto, our table was treated to their version of bread. It was puffy and warm and seasoned with salt and rosemary to near perfection.

A larger arugula salad arrived shortly after which was served with pear, walnut and a nicely balanced vinaigrette. Along with it came arancini balls which were bursting with basil and pine nut pesto, bufala mozzarella, peperonata and tomato. Normally arancini are not on the top of my list, but I must say I enjoyed this version more than most.

At this point I should mention that there was too much food. As a result of the storm, we had three no shows so we only had 9 instead of 12 people. Although we pointed it out and offered to pay for the committed 12, our request fell on deaf ears. Dish after dish came out, including three of each of the following pizzas: the classic margherita, the duck confit (with pear and mozzerella) and the cremini mushroom pizza finished with Gorgonzola and spices. Each was exactly what it promised, highlighted by the signature crust cooked at 900 degrees for 90 seconds. Normally I’m not a traditionalist, but the Margherita was the best of the bunch driven by the delicious tomato sauce.

The dessert platter was a cornucopia of classics including panna cotta, tiramisu, budino and chocolate and espresso gelato. Once again, a ridiculous amount was brought to the table. What you see is what you got. It was a good sampling of traditional Italian dolci. In particular, the budino was worth a few extra bites.
In typical Italian fashion, the food was simple and delicious. I had few complaints other than their insistence to bring out enough food to cover our no shows even though we asked them not to. Half of us left with enough pizza boxes to make it look like we were on our way to a frat party at the University of Toronto. Now, I can’t confirm whether this was stubbornness, pretension or just the Italian way (ie. feed people regardless of whether they want it or not) but it was a bit against my value system. Remember, I come from a rather cheap culture where we could gladly get paid for food we didn’t serve. Compared to Terroni, I’m a fan of Pizza Libretto from the perspective of the food, service and atmosphere. I haven’t had Queen Margherita yet, but I will make it a New Year’s resolution in 2015. At that point, I can become a decided voter and join whatever pizza party I chose to.

Although I can admit that Italians can be cool (at least in the kitchen), I wouldn’t go as far as Ray Hudson in his bold proclamation of Andrea Pirlo as the coolest cat in soccer. Sure, UK players look ridiculous with long hair (google Gareth Bale if you want proof); they don’t sport facial hair very well and they would need the backing of a spice girl and a marketing juggernaut to elevate themselves to the status of cool, but the on-pitch failures of Liverpool and Italian acquisitions Alberto Aquilani, Fabio Borini and most recently Mario Ballotelli makes me think Italy still has some work to do when competing in one of the best leagues in the world (although I will admit the Italian national team has basically owned England since I’ve been born). Ray, your seditious and treasonous comments about the English game combined with the marvelous fireworks that emit from your mouth might make you football’s modern day Guy Fawkes…and I love it.

Dec 24, 2014

Abbey Sharp

+4.5

As a former Greek Towner, I am the first to admit that it took me WAY too long to make it to the popular Pizzeria Libretto on the Danforth. I had tried a few slices (take out) from the Ossington location back when they opened up shop, and was thrilled when I heard they would be opening up close to home. Even better was the news that this location would be taking reservations (which for me, increases the likelihood of me visiting a restaurant like 10 fold). It was Sunday, and we were planning on a late evening movie in the Beach, so I thought it was a great excuse for an east end meal.
Even on a Sunday at 8 pm, the restaurant was roudy and full. There was a really positive vibe going on in there, and the servers and hostesses were friendly and helpful. My only complaint about the environment was that it was pretty chilly in there, and with the weather we've been having lately, the last thing I wanted was to sit down to a meal feeling cold. Regardless, I got over it enough to enjoy our meal.

It was a Sunday so we took it easy with the drinks, one glass of wine for him, and a Sfocato (peach puree, basil and proscecco) for me. Easy to drink, and not too sweet.
We let our server know that we were in a bit of a rush as we had a move to get to in about 1 1/2 hours. Our server assured us that food would be out very promptly, and for the record, he really didn't lie (we were through three courses in less then an hour).
Knowing how large those pizzas are, we opted to share one appetizer, two pizzas and a dessert. This is what we tried:

Ricotta Gnocchi Fritti (house-made crema fresca, lemon, chives, rosemary)

This was tasty, but not as great as I was hoping. Being of the ricotta variety, the gnocchi themselves were a little heavy, which made the contrast with the crispy fried exterior a little less satisfying. The herbs were a nice touch, but I found the crema pretty bland. Actually, the entire dish was a bit spotty on the seasoning, with some bites being pretty salty, and some having little to no seasoning.

Nduja Sausage (tomato, garlic, oregano, basil, mozzarella, stracciatella)

This was the better of the two pizzas, but both were delicious. First up, I love Libretto's crust, because it's chewy, slightly charred in some places, and has a gentle sweetness. I also loved the combination of salty, spicy sausage with sweet aromatic sauce, and a deliciously creamy mild cheese. It may look large, but it's very easy to eat the whole pie. I was also pleased that unlike a lot of thin crust pizzas in Toronto, PL's crust didn't get soggy or wet.

Duck Confit (bosc pear, mozzarella)

I loved the flavours going on here, but I just wished it had a bit more meat and pear, because 70% of the time, all I could taste was cheese on bread. Regardless, the bites I did have with the rich savoury duck, and the sweet caramelized pear, were really solid.

Sfingi (Italian-style doughnuts) (lemon curd, caramel sauce & strawberry couli)

Now, I am a huge fan of pretty much any doughnut, but these were super delicious. The sfingi had a wicked golden crust, but a soft and pillowy interior that seemed to almost melt once it hit my mouth. I always feel somewhat confused when I see lemon and caramel paired up, but in this case, it totally worked where the bright citrus flavours could be balanced out by the rich caramel. I was also pretty grateful that the accompaniments were all plentiful, so that I didn't have to worry too much about rationing and running out by the time I reached the last Sfingi.

So for 2 cocktails, sparkling water, 1 app, 2 pizzas, 1 dessert and 2 (very very good) cappuccinos, the bill came to about $100 including tax and tip. Pretty reasonable for dinner, and while it wasn't anything extravagant or innovative, the food was all very food. I wish they would deliver, but then again, I think you lose a lot of the appeal of thin crust when you put it in a box for an hour and let it steam itself soggy. I guess that just means I will have to be back to indulge my frequent pizza cravings.

FOOD PHOTOS @ABBEYSKITCHEN.COM

Dec 22, 2014

Susie Hartkorn

This is the best pizza restaurants in Toronto. The pizza is always delicious. I highly recommend their home-made sausage pizza, arugula salad and gnocchi fritte. I have been here for both lunch and dinner and enjoyed myself. This place is in a great neighbourhood to walk around in and they take reservations unlike their other locations. If you love pizza, you must give Pizza Liberto a try.

Dec 10, 2014

Jess W.

You might be surprised to hear that Pizzeria Libretto is one of my favourite restaurants in the city given that I’ve never posted about them before. It’s our go-to when we’ve got a hankering for pizza or if we just can’t decide where to eat.

I can’t even count the number of times we’ve been to Libretto.

This particular post is about the Danforth location, the sister restaurant to the original Ossington location. The space is significantly larger with a basement for extra seating. They’ve also made some tweaks to this location to fit into the neighborhood including allowing reservations to accommodate the families.

Pizzeria Libretto specializes in Neapolitan pizza…not just any Neapolitan pizza, but VPN certified pizza. According to their website, “Pizzeria Libretto makes VPN certified Pizza,using the guidelines set out by the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association and as set out by the Italian Government and the European Union.” Pretty serious stuff, eh? Chef Rocco Agostino knows what he’s doing here.

While their core menu is pizza, they also offer salads and great sharing appetizers. We usually start with the Libretto Meatballs – spicy bomba tomato sauce, grilled crostino, grana padano ($10) if we’re feeling extra hungry. An order comes with three juicy meatballs which are quite tasty on their own. But the star of the show is definitely the accompanying tomato sauce. We always lick that plate clean – ask for extra bread to soak up every bit of that sauce.

Whenever I come to Libretto, I always order the Nduja Sausage Pizza – tomato, garlic, oregano, basil, mozzarella, straciatella ($17). One bite and you’ll understand why it’s my favourite. The delicious kick from the nduja, strong garlic flavour and tomato sauce… it’s just consistently SO good! The pizzas here are only blistered in their 900 degree wood burning oven for 90 seconds which gives the crust a nice char. The crusts are quite thin which makes it a little messy to eat. I normally take a quarter a fold it in half.

A fan favourite is always the Ontario Prosciutto & Arugula Pizza – garlic, tomato, basil, oregano, shaved grana padano ($16) which Mike often orders. It’s a classic combination with an intense saltiness from the prosciutto and bitterness from the arugula. There’s lots to love about this pizza as well. It’s always a crowd pleaser.

If you want to stick to a true classic, there’s always the Margherita D.O.P. – tomato, basil, mozzarella ($14) which is as basic as it comes here. The simplicity of it all showcases the fantastic ingredients used in building their pizzas. So don’t be fooled. While it’s a simple pizza, it still makes for an incredibly satisfying bite.

What we love about Libretto is their friendly service and the fact that their food is consistently delicious. I often get asked what my favourite restaurants are in Toronto, so now you know one of ‘em. Enjoy!

At a glance:

• Specializing in VPN-certified Neapolitan pizza

• 2 locations (Ossington and the Danforth) with a third on its way to the Financial District

• The Danforth location takes reservations; family friendly

• Take-out available

• One of my go-to restaurants

• Favourites: meatballs and nduja sausage pizza

Ratings (out of 5):

• Food: 4.5 stars

• Service: 4 stars

• Atmosphere: 4 stars

Dec 04, 2014

Itanni Betancourt

+4.5

When I began my search for pizza similar to the kind I eat when visiting Italy, many people recommended Pizzeria Libretto. Not wanting to be disappointed, I decided to try this restaurant during lunch because their lunch special was very tempting:

Lunch Prix Fixe Monday - Friday $15

Primi

Arugula Salad or Beet Caprese Salad

Pizza

Margherita D.O.P or Marinara D.O.P.

Substitute any pizza on the menu $5

Dolci

Biscotti or Gelato (one scoop)

And what can I say? I fell in love with both salads-the arugula salad has walnuts and pear! I love pears in my salad. I also love beets and mozarella. So the salads alone had me loving the restaurant. But now to the pizza. When it comes to pizza, I am a big believer that if you can make a simple pizza well (my favorite pizza is Margherita-with only three ingredients), then you have proven yourself as a pizza maker. It's easy to mask a pizza with sauces, cheese, ingredients, herbs, etc. But how many can make a pizza taste delicious with 3 toppings? Well, Pizzeria Libretto certainly knows how to create a delicious pizza that transported me back to Italy. The three toppings on the Margherita pizza is tomato, basil, mozzarella and after the first bite, I could taste each individual ingredient; the cheese, the fresh basil and the homemade tomato sauce. I was a happy camper.

Another item that I always order but it is a hit or miss for me is the Ricotta Gnocchi Fritti. How can you go wrong with house-made gnocchi with crema fresca, lemon, chives, rosemary? Well, it goes wrong when it lacks seasoning and the gnocchi is not fried enough so rather than having a crispy texture, you get soft pieces of gnocchi (I like my gnocchi crispy on the outside with a soft and fluffy interior). And yet, I always order it because when it is done right, it is phenomenal!

And.....

Always remind the staff about the free bread. Their bread is moist, flavored with rosemary, and worth the trip to Pizzaria Libretto. Now if I could only get the recipe!

Nov 20, 2014

Carole Nelson Brown

+4.5

Oh Pizza Libretto, how do I love thee? Let me count how many times I have eaten in your hallowed halls in the last month...

Okay, maybe I don't really want to see an actual count seeing that I have just come from enjoying a wonderful lunch at this establishment. We can start with the fact that my pants are presently all too tight and go from there. I have finally wised up and now I don't order myself a pizza every time anymore. I share a pizza with the boys or they each get one and I have a little slice of each and then I indulge in something else. Sometimes it's the spicy meatballs - all velvet textured and covered in a spicy bomba that actually gives the prerequisite kick that allows it to call itself spicy. I hate ordering something that claims to be spicy only to find myself asking for a bowl of chili flakes after the first bite but these little balls of meaty love deliver.

Sometimes it's the arugula salad with pear and walnuts in all of it's refreshing, peppery deliciousness. If I feel like I need a bit more heft, I might go with the porchetta that sits on a nice little toast that is covered in chinotto bbq sauce that I would happily brush my teeth with, more peppery arugula, some little pickled onions and some chili for my always appreciated kick of heat. If I am feeling like I really need to go light, I go for the carpaccio - sliced so thin that the first time I saw it I thought they were beet slices cut on a mandolin - it was dark and it was a couple seats over and I am old and I don't always see all that well. The meat is tender and buttery and melts in your mouth and I really love the pesto like herby oil. Its weird to say that raw beef is the lightest dish to choose but it really is.
The Kid likes the calamari and luckily, he usually shares.

Don't get me started on the pizzas. Oh okay, I will start on the pizzas.
Their crust is so chewy and thin, with little burnt bits here and there and so much flavour. Too many thin crust pizzas are either soggy or almost like matzo crackers or , in the worst case, cardboard but this crust manages to stay real soft with great chew - it helps that they cook it at 800F for only 90 seconds I guess.

They could serve up just the naked crust like a naan and I would eat it dipped in their addictive flavoured chili oil as an app but all of the toppings are so fabulous, why would you do that? You know what? You are right. Forget I ever suggested it.

Between the three of us we have ate our way through the pizza menu. The first time we went , Shack and I split a Margherita D.O.P because, to me anyway, that is the base line. It's like going for dim sum and not starting with har gow and sui mai - if they can't do those two things well, there is no point ordering more treats frankly. Clearly, we were thrilled with our margherita or I wouldn't be writing this little review.

My next favourite has to the Ontario Proscuitto and Arugula - are you getting the idea that I love arugula? When it comes to the table, piled ten feet high with greens you wonder how you are going to eat this thing and then you fold it in half and start eating or you cut the whole thing in half and THEN fold half of it in half and start eating. The heat from the pizza starts to steam the arugula just enough that it squishes down but not so much that it totally loses it's fresh crunch. PERFECTION I TELL YOU.
My next favourite is the Nudja Sausage with this spicy sausage, garlic, oregano, basil, mozzarella and stracciatella cheese. Again, the advertised spicy sausage IS spicy and everything just works. I have also had the House Made Sausage pizza and although tasty, I much prefer the Nudja, although nobody seems to really know how to pronounce it and each server has put his or her own spin on the word. I am happy to just point and grunt.

Shack seems to favour the Cremeni Mushroom pizza and the kid sticks with the Margherita DOP because he doesn't see the need to mess with simple perfection and he does have a point. The only pizza I wouldn't order again was the eggplant pizza. It had no tomato sauce and the eggplant itself was kind of dry so the overall effect was a dry pizza without a ton of zip or flavour.
All of the other pizzas on the list are delicious and I would happily eat any of them.

The wine list is nice and not too expensive and I have enjoyed the different house cocktails I have tried. A really nice touch is the bottomless glass bottle of carbonated water for a few dollars. It's so nice to be able to drink as much as I want without the sting of seeing 3 bottles of Mineral water at $7 bucks a pop and realizing that I could have paid for my entire lunch with the money we spent on fizzy water.

Yes, if you go in the evening between, say, 7 to 9:30, you are going to wait a while for a table. The good news is that Pizza Libretto now takes reservations so if you plan ahead a bit, you can still eat there at a good time on a good night. It's never all that crowded at lunch as long as you don't go right at noon and with the great $15 special for salad, a margherita DOP and a bit of dessert, it's almost a better time to try it out anyway. We have had really great service every time and it got us through a very tough couple of weeks when my father in law was dying and we just didn't have the energy to think about food - it was one of the only places we all felt like eating at during that time as well, which says a lot about the quality of the food, the atmosphere and general comfort level of a place which manages to be hip and trendy and cosy and neighbourhoody all at the same time.

Now, if only the restaurant would also provide me with a few new pairs of pants to tide me over while I attempt to adapt my new, ramped up exercise regime to accommodate all of this pizza.

Nov 12, 2014

Ashley

+4.5

My favourite pizza. Best sauce, thin crust, great chili oil. They have the best lunch prix fixe: $15 for a simple arugula pear salad, pizza of your choice and gelato.

Oct 23, 2014

Stella

My favourite place for pizza in Toronto is Pizzeria Libretto. I know there is a constant, never-ending debate about who has "the best pizza in Toronto" but seriously, who cares? At the end of the day, everybody has different tastes and I personally like Pizzeria Libretto the best. I admittedly have not tried every pizza place in Toronto but so far, Pizzeria Libretto is my favourite.
I haven't been back to Pizzeria Libretto for quite a while so I was really excited when I heard about their new Danforth location.

My friend and I went to the Danforth location exactly a week ago around 7pm. We didn't make a reservation because it was a last minute decision to go. The restaurant was completely full and we were lucky to get the last two seats at the bar (it would've been more than an hour wait for a table).

The decor at this location is very modern, very "industrial" with the exposed piping, black and white walls, shiny concrete floors and the multi-coloured lights. This location is a lot more spacious than the Ossington location, which also has a more cozy and warm ambiance.

Cheese Agnolotti: Pickled mushroom, mushroom broth - It was a perfect start to our meal; the mushroom soup was light yet flavourful...very appetizing.

Pork Skewers - I love all the herbs, spices and seasoning. The meat was also very soft and juicy...it soaked up all the amazing flavours.

Gnocchi Fritti Lemon: Lemon, chives & sour cream - Love gnocchi, love fried stuff...perfect!

Arancini: Braised lamb neck, tomato, mozzarella, mint & spicy aioli

Pizza Fritta: "Porchetta", chinotto bbq sauce, chili & arugula. Exclusive to the Danforth location, this Pizza Fritta completely blew us away. Really...how can anybody NOT like this? Thick slices of fatty pork belly slathered in a sweet & tangy BBQ sauce, topped with fresh arugula, and then all that on top of a piece of pan fried pizza dough. I can have this again and again.

Apple & Fig Salad: Blue elizabeth cheese, croutons, cider, white balsamic vinegar - I like everything in this salad. Period.

Nduja Sausage Pizza: Tomato, garlic, oregano, basil, mozzarella, stracciatella - Spicy sausage and fresh mozzarella that is tangy and creamy, along with Pizzeria Libretto's signature tomato sauce, this pizza was delicious.

Brussels Sprouts Pizza: Bomba, garlic, balsamic, bufala ricotta, mozzarella

Since this pizza is not available at the Ossington location, I knew I had to try it. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of Brussels sprouts (I don't hate it I just don't prefer it) but surprisingly, I still liked it (probably because of all the cheese and balsamic =D). Note that this pizza has a white sauce instead of a tomato-based sauce (my friend liked the nduja pizza more because of this).

My friend and I both went into a food coma afterwards =P

I can't wait to go back and have that Pizza Fritta again................

Oct 22, 2014

Jenny V

The food here is excellent. I have tried a handful of their pizzas, the only one that has disappointed me was the grilled eggplant. The house-made sausage is to die for, but I have a friend who swears by the Maragrita with mushrooms. The arugula salad is a great starter, and if you're into seafood, try the calamari. For drinks my choice is always wine or a Peroni. I've tried a cocktail here and was not wowed.
Service can be a bit slow. Libretto offers amazing prix fixe meals that are more than worth it, but be prepared to wait a bit between courses. I have gotten into the habit of asking for the bill with dessert to eliminate at least one wait period. That said, it is certainly WORTH IT. The food is great here. And though a bit slow, the staff have never been unfriendly.
This place is always busy, a good sign, and likely is part of the reason why the wait can be so long between courses. Eating in empty restaurants makes me a little uncomfortable, and I have never experienced that here. The decor is nice. A wall full of pictures hung in cute frames almost makes you feel like you are dining in someone else's house.
Recommended!

Oct 11, 2014

Akrit Michael

Good food, decent-ish prices, lovely ambiance.

Diane C.

One of my favourite stone oven pizza places in the City! Any food here is amazing!

The Dude

The staff were great. The pizzas were delicious. We highly recommend the lemon ricotta cheesecake. The cookie was not anything special.

Marika Simón

Very good food, the place is casual and adorable and the service is great. Try the meatballs if you want to have an alternative for pizza.

Jessica Diep

A bustling pizza restaurant on the Danforth. You can always expect great food and a chattery ambiance. We didn't have a reservation for tonight but they were able to seat us quickly. Fantastic service as well .

Reviews Pizzeria Libretto-danforth

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