The 38 Essential Toronto Restaurants

"To dine here is akin to making a religious pilgrimage: It takes patience, practice, and prayer. The once-“secretive” spot in the gentrifying “mechanical-industrial” strip of Geary Street is no longer under wraps. Swarms of people congregate and wait at least an hour outside before opening, a fact not lost on owner and chef Leandro Baldassarre (formerly of three-Michelin-starred Dal Pescatore). With a collected demeanor and without gimmicks, Baldassarre offers what’s considered the city’s best fresh pasta, along with rustic Southern Italian dishes. The cushy gnocchi, amped up on freshly shaved black truffles, tastes like a woodland retreat; ravioli are happy pockets filled with ricotta and spinach; and rustic tomato-beef ragu intertwines with supple strands of tagliatelle. To complement the heavenly pastas, Baldassarre sources prime ingredients for grazing, such as fior di latte, salty-sweet crudo di parma (aged 18 months), and zingy fagiolini (green beans imbued with mint, olive oil, and vinegar)." - Tiffany Leigh