Enoteca Sociale

Food was amazing but our server was not very friendly. I asked her if their gnocchi is typically served softer than the pastas and she replied with “do you know what a gnocchi is?” Yes I do know, I wouldn’t have ordered it if I didn’t. I simply asked if they’re typically served softer than how other restaurants would, which are chewier. I know a serving shift can be long, I’m a server too but I hope in the future, they can approach a genuine open-minded question with a bit of compassion and not a condescending tone

4.5 stars. Overall delicious, pasta had a good chew, flavours were decent, and food was served decently quickly. I felt the octopus salad was a bit overpriced. Really liked the ambiance! Really cozy and intimated, tables are on the smaller end, great for a date night or a group dinner hangout.

A long overdue review, had a family dinner here in a group of 6 last year. The food and service were both excellent. Worth noting though is we were told the tiramisu wasn’t “too big” so two people ended up ordering it and it took the whole table chipping it to eat them. They are massive! It’s a bit out of the way for me but if I’m ever in the area I’d be happy to eat here again and try other dishes.

We had a wonderful time at Enoteca. Our chef's table reservation was well worth it; we were seated directly at the bar with a perfect view of the kitchen. The chef prepared a special menu for us, and everything was exceptional, from the prosciutto (which included lamb, duck, and beef) to the beet salad, the refreshing and tasty octopus dish, and the two pasta courses and main course. It was quite filling. At $100 per person, with the option of wine pairing, it's an ideal date night for couples. The service was also excellent. Reservations for the chef's table require prepayment.

Good ambiance, server was a cool dude. But the food was just okay. Pasta needed salt and was overcooked. Radicchio Salad was 90% radicchio—too bitter, needed something sweet/light. Pate was standard but I guess beside everything else it tasted above average. Cannoli cream was very gummy and tasted like nothing. Sticky toffee pudding was on the drier side, which is the opposite of what the dessert should be.

Came here as it was a recommended place to try - the food was great and we were happy to be seated 20 mins before our reservation. The atmosphere is casual and we loved the open kitchen concept that allowed us to watch our food get prepared. Service overall was good but could improve - we waited a long time to order our dessert that we just ended up not wanting to wait any longer. We had the sourdough bread with arancini, cacio e Pepe, lemon ricotta agnolotti and the brazino. All were great but the arancini stood out the most and is a must try dish at Enoteca. Cocktails were also great; not sure if we would come back but worth a try for those interested!

Went for the private dining experience. Food was great, dietary restriction (vegetarian) was followed and was presented with great alternatives. Service was friendly and atmosphere was good too. Their flourless chocolate brownie was outstanding. Overall a very pleasant private dining experience as a group.

This restaurant was 10s across the board. Came here for lunch with my mom this afternoon and we left thoroughly pleased, satisfied and impressed. From Nigel’s warm greeting, to the beautiful interior, to the affordably priced, varied and DELICIOUS lunch menu, to the brilliant cocktails, to the stellar service by Michelle, and Frankie’s elegance…I fell in love with this place. They are doing everything so so right, I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for quality and service. Thank you!

Came for our 25th Wedding Anniversary on a reco from a friend. A little Italian spot in Little Portugal that gives "Nonna made vibes", this place was everything the recommendation suggested and more. The food was absolutely fantastic starting with their fresh bread. We started with the Pomodoro Salad shared and we had the agnolotti and the tagliatelle. All dishes were amazing. Aside from the food however was the amazing service. Richard's (our server) knowledge of the menu and his suggestions were spot on. Started this review before dessert came and had to make this edit. Holy Crap the pannacotta was crazy good I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for some great Italian.

Michelin Guide restaurant with great food, great vibes and reasonable pricing in downtown Toronto! The food here is great. Server was good. Drinks amazing. Got a few dishes to share based on some recommendations from friends. Here's what we thought: Albacore Tuna 5/5 - Light, refreshing and opens up the palette nicely for your meal to come. Looks beautiful and had a great flavour profile. Rapini 5/5 - Smokey char flavour topped with parm and splash of lemon juice. It's great with the drizzled oil and chili flakes as well. Would get this again! Branzino 5/5 - This was crispy on the skin side and soft and flakey on the inside. Didn't look the best in terms of presentation but the taste was definitely there. Cacio E Pepe 5/5 - An Italian classic with pecorino and black pepper. Perfectly emulsified sauce that was creamy and hearty. Guanciale 5/5 - My favourite dish since I love anything tomato sauce. Pasta was cooked perfectly to al dente, had a bite and the texture was just amazing. Great spot with great prices. I can't wait to come back to dine here again!

Made a reservation a month in advance and when I got to the restaurant I was pointed towards three tables that were outside the main dining area and where it seems like they were seating all the walk-in guests. It was disappointing but we decided to not let it ruin our experience. The service was also pretty great so that made up for the location of our table. We ordered the arancinco, beets & celeriac, and striped bass crudo as appetizers. The beets were the best dish we had overall, the arancinco didn't really have any 'nduja, and the striped bass crudo was chunky pieces of fish almost like sashimi. It was heavily oiled and didn't have enough citrus. Not the lite and refreshing crudo we were hoping for. For mains we got cappaletti and agnolotti ai funghi. The agnolotti was very good. That and the beets were the only 2 good dishes we had. The cappaletti which was supposed to have apple tasted like it was filled with apple vinegar. It was a very unpleasant flavor and once you pick up on it, it's hard to enjoy the pasta. For dessert we got the sticky toffee pudding. It was nice and crispy on the outside but honestly it's more like a muffin on the inside. I wouldn't order it again. We also got a glass each of wine and an amaro after dinner. The manager (I assume) walked us through the amaro menu and gave us tastings of the 3 we were deciding between. We would maybe go back again to try some of their more traditional dishes, but it will be a while before I give it another shot.

In the area and wanted to have a quick dinner with friends. Always had this on my list and was curious to try. Glad I did, cause what a great a resto! Recommend getting reservations but if lucky they might have a few seats for walk-in. My friends and I tried a variety of dishes: Appetizers - Arancino with tomato, 'nduja and basil - Grilled Rapini with lemon, chili flake and Pecorino Romano Thoughts: The Rapini was nice but you need to pair it with something to offset the bitter flavour. However. I could order a plateful of the Arancino. The risotto inside was soft and had cheese inside. Definitely my favourite! It was so good! Mains - Gnocchi Pomodoro with tomato, chili, garlic & smoked ricotta - Agnolotti ai Funghi lemon-ricotta, wild mushrooms, porcini de Parmigiano Reggiano Thoughts: Both dishes were great, pasta was so fresh and Gnocchi was especially soft and pillowy. Dessert - Chocolate Terrine hazelnut, olive oil and salt - The Maker Fire with panna cotta, rum, pine nuts & persimmon Thoughts: The Maker Fire was my favourite surprisingly, it was just so tasty! Flavours went well together. The Chocolate Terrine was nice but I felt there was a bit too much olive oil/ salt for my personal taste. Service was not bad and I think our server was trying to give us space but at times during our meal it would have benefited to ask us if we needed anything as we were there for a quick bite. Ambience: It does get noisy in late evening. We were sat by counter looking at the kitchen and found it more fun than expected. Kinda cool to see dishes being made and what people are ordering. Felt a little like watching a cooking show. lol. Overall, a lovely dinner. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place for dates, friends, family or work. Want to come back to try other dishes, especially the huge tiramisu!

Enoteca Sociale at the corner of Dundas St. W. and Coolmine Rd (near Ossington), serves up classic Roman cuisine in the city. This place has been on my to try list for years and I'm glad I was able to try it recently. They also renovated in 2020 for their 10 year anniversary with a beautiful new space. There is indoor as well as patio seating as well. My friend and I dined at Enoteca Sociale on a Wed night where I made reservations ahead of time. Upon arrival we were greeted and shown to our table. Our server was attentive and friendly and was knowledgeable about the menu giving us options and suggestions regarding food and wine when we asked. The white wine she recommended me based on my preferences was great (forgot the name though!). The meal was paced well and our server came to check up on us making sure that we were doing okay. When I went to the washroom staff even folded my napkin as well! Food wise, these are the following dishes we ordered to share: - Arancino (tomato, 'nduja, basil) - the price listed on the menu is per piece. - Chicken liver mousse (frutta cotta & toast) - Carne crudo (beef, tomato, celery, pecorino, mint, and chili) - Fava e cicoria (fava bean, dandelion, and pecorino romano) - Spaghetti cacio e pepe (black pepper & pecorino romano) - Agnolotti ai funghi (lemon ricotta, wild mushrooms, porcini, & parmigiano riggiano) - Tiramisu We ordered quite a bit but we finished everything and were stuffed in the end! We were also celebrating a special occasion and our server was nice enough to put a candle with the tiramisu dessert as well. In terms of the appetizers, my friend and I enjoyed the arancino, chicken liver mousse and the fava e cicoria was unique. The arancino was perfectly crispy on the outside but melty and cheesey on the inside. The tomato sauce it came with was perfect, the right amount of tart where the basil complemented everything. The chicken liver mousse was light and airy without being too heavy and the toast it came with worked well as a vessel to enjoy our mousse. The fava e cicoria was an interesting unique dish as the dandelion greens were bitter tasting, however, when eaten with the fava bean puree the flavours were more balanced. This dish grew on me the more I ate it. Lastly, the carne crudo was unique in the sense that it had chili but I felt that the beef was too heavily salted, making the dish more difficult to eat. For the pastas, the cacio e pepe and the agnolotti were cooked to el dente. The cacio e pepe was classic, super peppery though! Our favourite was the agnolotti. The wild mushrooms gave an earthiness to the dish while the lemon ricotta filling of the agnolotti gave the dish a nice citrus contrast that did not overpower the whole dish. It was a nice refreshing summertime dish that was delicious. The tiramisu was a big portion made to share where it was pretty classic. We did feel like it was quite heavy on the coffee but we finished it to end our meal. Overall, great Italian food in the city, a staple for classic Roman cuisine. The restaurant got busier as the night went on but we never felt rushed to leave. The food is good and the service was great.

Popped in here for brunch on our way to see the cherry blossoms. We've heard good things about their pasta and I was not disappointed. We came on a Sunday at around 3 which is their brunch menu. They did tell us that at 5 they would be preparing for dinner service but that's plenty of time to eat. We ordered some sour dough to start along with spaghetti cacio e pepe and carbonara, and some espresso to drink. The sour dough was very good, albiet not warmed up, and the olive oil they used was very mellow and buttery. The espresso was also good albiet basic. The pasta dishes were very authentic Roman staples and we were not let down. They tasted exactly as I expected with no shortcuts or inauthentic ingredients used. The carbonara was very good, and the guanciale they used was the right amount of crispy and fatty. The cacio e pepe was loaded with plenty of pecorino Romano, and the sauce stayed perfectly creamy throughout the whole meal with no breaking which was very impressive. If you haven't had authentic Roman pasta before I highly recommend this place. The interior itself is very cosy, with nice dim lighting perfect for a date night. The server was also very friendly, and since there was barely anyone there for brunch service everything was very quick.

Top notch and good value Italian restaurant in Toronto. Excellent service, great cocktails and some gem dishes on the menu. Spaghetti e Pepe and Funghu pasta were both really good. Note the portions are not big.The sticky toffee pudding and ice cream dessert might be one of the best dishes. Location is in a great area for drinks somewhere afterwards. Will be back!

This was both my first time in Toronto and at this restaurant. My partner and I made a reservation in advance for my birthday dinner. It was unfortunately raining heavily so we thought we'd stop by 15 mins ahead of our reservation to see if we could get seated earlier. The person at the front counter greeted us with a cold face but seated us anyway at a small table. Not a great start so far but I was optimistic. After I returned from using the restroom, my partner told me no one brought water until 10 mins after we got seated and the waiter reacted snobbishly when we requested tap water instead of stillwater. That's strike 2. At this point, I was already hanging on by a thread when the food took nearly 30 mins to be served. What was the final strike, you ask? Well, it was, in fact, the $30 undercooked cacio e pepe I had. It's shockingly ironic that a pasta restaurant would serve undercooked instead of al dente pasta. The workers serving the food were doing their best but it was clear our designated waiter couldn't care less. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone who cares about food and service quality, much less reconsider coming back.

This restaurant is on the michelin guide (not star). We decided to try the tasting menu. It is around 100 dollar per person and including taxes and gratuity it's around 134 per person. Service is great. Tasting menu provides the bar seat to oversees the entire kitchen, which is very small but efficient. Sparking water is about 10 bucks for a small/medium size bottle. The bread was decent, but a bit too cold for my like. Olive was fantastic. Beet salad with duck breast was creative and interesting. The scallop didn't quite hit the mark, wasn't that fresh, pretty risky for searching sashimi in Toronto in an Italian restaurant. The chicken was spot on, juicy and crispy skin. The truffle pasta was very soso, almost no flavour. Overall the place had few decent dishes, but for the price. You can find much better Italian food in the city.

So happy to finally get to try this place. Dinner was spectacular! The server was very nice and the staff were very attentive. The restaurant was small but cozy. The food was good portion size, and definitely delicious!! Wouldn't mind coming back next time for a date night

The food was very good, but my portion of pasta, was fuckin sad. i left still hungry for the REST of my dinner. I wondered, almost out loud "where is the rest of it". Paid $32 for a plate of pasta that was smaller than an appetizer. Service good. Ambience good. Wine good. Food, tasty but...like I said...sad portion. i will not go back, because of that, but instead will go back to ordering form Scratch Ragu for HALF the price and twice the portion, same quality food.

This was my second visit. My initial visit was during the pandemic and before they were on Michelin Guide. My initial visit was just alright, but I wanted to give it a try again. I took my partner here for a Christmas celebration, so the place was quite busy and packed. Our server, unfortunately, I do not recall his name, was extremely nice and helpful with navigating the menu and our selections. He was considerate enough to suggest the food orders as we ordered quite a few dishes. We ordered: Sourdough&focaccia, arancini, beef crudo, gnocchi pomodoro, cavatelli con coniglio, and bucatini all' amatriciana. Bread was AMAZING. I just wish they warmed up the bread as it is served cold. The olive oil that it gets served is extremely rich and you will know it's top quality. Arancini was delicious as well, it was at the right temperature and balanced really well with the tomato sauce. Beef crudo was one of my favourite dishes as well, and the amount of truffle that was served was beyond what I expected. The only downside of this menu was that the bread was too plain. It almost tasted like wonder white bread. I wish they had come up with different ways to serve the beef crudo. The server was nice enough to check in with us to ensure we had enough bread to eat beef crudo! Overall, the pasta was amazing, I usually like more white, creamy pasta, but I loved the tomato sauce-based pasta this time. I would say cavatelli con coniglio was my least favourite out of the 3 pasta dishes we got. This is a very nice place for a date night. Since I went during the holidays, there were quite a bit of families that visited. Service is quite fast, efficient and thoughtful. From coat check-in, extensive menu explanation and making sure our table and tableware are clean at all times. My second visit was satisfying and I would definitely visit again!

Popped in here for a casual weeknight dinner after the recommendation of a friend, and it sure did meet my high expectations. Here's a quick rundown: - Amarargarita: delicious cocktail, smooth drinking and a nice twist on the classic - Cacio e pepe: great, but not blown away great that's it the best cacio e pepe I've had in Toronto. It sure is up there with the rest of them though. It's tough to make a classic your own. - Gnocchi with Ricotta: I had one bite of this and it was some of the best gnocchi I've had. They were like little soft pillows of joy in my mouth and I can't wait to order this when I come back. - Sticky toffee pudding: this was delicious, but extremely sweet and I couldn't even finish it. Overall the meal was great, but it was so rich that I was full despite eating quite little. The pasta is excellent but I would recommend trying some of their more unique pastas rather than the classics. I'm torn on 4 or 5 stars but I'm going to give them 5 due to excellent service and the fact that I know when I try the other dishes I'm going to love them.

Well, I can say I was very excited to check out this place especially with all of it's accolades However, maybe this was one of those off days. I went with eleven people spread over tables. So I can say, we were all surprised how things played out. As for myself, I just came back from Rome so I was missing some of my daily food. In Rome, sourcing local and just how things are grown it's hard to ask for more fresh taking ingredients. I was, to say the least, not that thrilled by anything. Although I will say the pasta was quite nice and so was the in house bread. But the burrata was tough and dry. I have been accustomed to a softness in the texture. You know, a good burrata you literally could just bite right into this. I didn't want much more than a few bites. I love cacio pepe but I was craving the amatriciana. It was not bad but the guanciale was over cooked and some pieces I can say were too crisp almost burnt and folks if you are familiar with the ones in Rome it's not what you want. It had a heat to it sure but perhaps a little heavy handed . I enjoy spice but the burnt pork pieces was overwhelming The squid ink was unfortunately, much too bland. You can get away with less in Rome because every ingredients sings so well solo but the harmony here was off. Like I said, every great place has its off days. Both servers at the tables we thought maybe it was their first day? I read reviews where the servers come back to the check repeatedly to see how we were doing. Do you have any idea how hard it was for us to get our server back to our table? We had a large party so we were seated at two separate tables and the reviews for the customer service and food were the same. Although we heard great things about the fish and montalpucino wine. I did enjoy the house made bread as well as the al dente of their house made pasta.

The pasta was good but overpriced. Portions were small. Same goes with the drinks. Service was good and it was not too busy on a Friday night. I walked in with no reservations.

Amazing food, the waiter was so nice, and the place was very nice and cozy. If you go here get a arancini and fir dessert get the gelato.

One of our favorite dinners in Toronto! We had a great time with the Chef's table experience. The counter overlook the kitchen and we interacted with the friendly staff there. They served a 6 course meal that was delicious. We enjoyed every single one of the courses. They use fresh ingredients and have generous portions. We will be back

Julian was amazing!! Ben was the manager that night and he was so welcoming to us, he checked on us periodically and made sure we were having a great time. The staff handled my food allergy with professionalism and care. We came here for my bachelor party celebration and rented the private room in the wine cellar. We felt so special, very VIP, and Julian even offered to let us play our own music throughout dinner. The drinks were great. We ordered champagne, wine, and espresso martinis. BEST espresso martini I've ever had. Julian says the secret is Tia Maria. The food was incredible. It was the best meal I've had in years!

Decent pasta (but could be better), fantastic desserts. Ambiance was very cozy and sophisticated.

Rude waiting staff. Unable to make accommodations. Poor point of contact. Phone lines not working unfortunately.

Love this place! The vibe and ambiance are super trendy and cool. Waitstaff is very knowledgeable and great service. Every dish was delicious. Highly recommend the cacio and peppe.

One of the best Italian restaurants I've visited in North America with a creative twist. We landed in Toronto late Friday night after multiple delays and was looking for a sit-down restaurant. After trying 3 different places that all turned us down due to not having a reservation, we finally got a seat at Enoteca Sociale. We were delighted with everything- we were seated right away, despite the restaurant being so busy; the waitress was very nice; we were dressed very casually, but they still seated us; everything we ordered was so delicious. First, we ordered the bread platter (focaccia and sourdough) and the artichoke salad. We couldn't get enough of the bread selection. Honestly would've ordered more if it were $7. The artichoke salad was a chopped salad with lots of texture. It was definitely different than any "salad" I had. For the main, we ordered the bucattini, agnolotti funghi, and fettuccine with mortadella ragu. The agnolotti- oh my goodness. It was one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. The slight hint of lemon zest just brightened up the dish to a different level. I just wish there were more on the plate. Lastly, ordered the pannacotta and the chestnut torta. They were perfectly sweet and smooth and indulgent. Honestly, everything was so so so good and there isn't a dish I would not recommend. The only comment I have is the portions are small. Be ready to spend some money here.

It was 2016 when I last reviewed this buzzy Italian bistro on Yelp...and it's still going strong. Even on a Wednesday night the place was full. We walked in at 8:30 without a res and waited about 25 minutes for a table (at a bar nearby). The cacio e pepe pasta - a simple "cheese and pepper" preparation - is always what I remember about Enoteca Sociale. This has become a very trendy dish at fine Italian restaurants, but few execute it better than here. The pasta is perfectly al dente and the cheese and pepper balance is just right (not at all too peppery for those wondering). Definitely a stellar pasta. Another dish that really impressed me was the artichoke salad with pickled fennel. It was so dainty and addictively acidic. Loved it. To finish the meal, the tiramisu was delicious, although a little small for my taste (I easily could have polished off two of these). Barolo by the glass was a nice pairing for the meal. And bonus - they have an amaro flight. A perfect digestif!! Enoteca, whatever you're doing, keep doing it.

My first time at Enoteca Sociale was amazing! They were kind enough to squeeze our party in on a Saturday night and our server was great! They were so attentive and fun! The food was AMAZING. We got the gnocchi and agnolotti and both were perfectly cooked. The gnocchi was so fluffy, I would definitely recommend ordering it if it's your first time. I really appreciated the portions as well, it was just the right amount of food and I didn't leave feeling overly full like I often do at pasta restaurants. We ended our meal with the tiramisu and an espresso, which was also perfect. I would probably make a reservation next time to be safe since they seem to be really busy most of the time, especially if you're trying to go on a weekend! A great spot for a fun date night or dinner with friends. Loved it and will definitely be back.

Came to this restaurant with friends the other night. Only one out of four enjoyed their meal. For the price there are definitely better Italian restaurants in Toronto.

I took my parents to this restaurant and we had a great experience. I'd say the food at this restaurant is elevated. This is no typical American-Italian style restaurant with excessive use of garlic and butter. This restaurant offers interesting choices such as a rabbit ragu or oxtail tortelli. Our waiter was exceptional in offering his expertise on menu recommendations and appropriate wine pairings. We dined on the patio and it made for a very pleasant experience. One of my favorite features of the restaurant is exposed kitchen that showcases the hard work that goes into to preparation of the food. I'd recommend this restaurant to someone looking to see what a skilled Italian chef can do.

If you're looking for fresh pasta and an romantic ambiance, look no further than Enoteca Sociale! This institution has been around since 2010 and has been the go to place for Italian cuisine. They have an extensive wine list (yum) and a tasting menu too! I liked the amarone since it was full bodied with a super silky finish. We opted for a la carte and ordered the arancini rice balls which were smothered in tomato sauce and nice and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The grilled rapini, omg, was sooooo delicious. I highly recommend this dish because I've never had it done like this. The rapini was so flavourful, topped w pecorino Romano and slightly crispy from the grilling yet not overdone. My review echos the other raving Yelp reviews for the delicious rapini dish! It's inexpensive at only $10 as a veg dish! Our agnolotti (mushroom pasta dish) was also super delicious like biting into pillows of lemony mushroom umami. The anchovy and crab pasta dish was a little too fishy for my liking but I'm glad I tried it. I have to go back for their carbonara and other pasta dishes!

Haven't been back to this restaurant for many years, it was so nice to be back again! Service was friendly and professional. Food was delicious. We ordered almost everything off the menu, the stand outs for all of us were the rigatoni and the lemon biscotti. The rigatoni was so good we ordered 4 between the 6 of us. The lemon biscotti was on the house and they were soft and chewy hands down the best biscotti I have ever had. The oManager was so kind he even gave me the recipe to the biscotti. They respected social distancing indoor and outdoor was as romantic as I remembered it. Only small critic would probably be the potatoes on the trout could have been crispier but the trout was also out of this world. Can't wait to be back again. It was such an enjoyable dinner!

Best dessert I have ever had was the flourless chocolate cake here. Period. The espresso martini was also lovely, the Cacio pepe was delightful and the waitstaff were extremely knowledgeable. Vibes and food are 10/10

My recent visit to Enoteca Sociale turned into a disheartening affair, marred by rushed service and a lack of consideration for guests' time and experience. Despite making a reservation with the hostess who said there would be a spot to dine at 7:30 pm, the evening quickly descended into chaos. Upon our return-arrival at 7:30 PM, we were dismayed to learn from the same hostess that our reserved table would not be available until 9:24 PM, unless we were willing to eat in a hurried manner. As if this weren't disappointing enough, the situation took an even more unsettling turn when the hostess relayed the urgency for us to leave to the bartender after we had placed our meal orders. If this wasn't bad enough, the staff began to gossip about the situation with a blatant disregard for us as they spoke about it directly in front of us. This blatant disregard for our dining experience left us feeling undervalued and unwelcome. Instead of being able to relax and enjoy our meal, we were rushed through our dining experience, with the implicit message that our presence was an inconvenience rather than a valued opportunity for the restaurant to showcase its hospitality. Not sure how this meets the Michelin Bib Gourmand standards.

Food, service, ambiance, everything, AMAZING. Will be coming back asap!! Honestly one of the best meals I have ever had in the city.

It's become increasingly clear that ambiance plays almost as big a role in my enjoyment of a meal as the food itself, and this concept was certainly illustrated in spades during my time at Enoteca Sociale. We arrived around 6:00 on a weekday, and though we didn't have a reservation, we were immediately shown to a table on the patio. It's a nice patio, admittedly, but there are definitely some problems. The biggest and most obvious issue is the lack of space between the tables. We were sitting between two other tables and there was probably only a few inches separating us and our neighbors. It was less than private, to put it mildly. We were also sitting underneath some trees and there was some sap or something that kept falling. The diners to our left actually wound up moving because of it, and my dining companion wound up with some gross-looking stuff on her shirt. It's not exactly an atmosphere conducive to enjoying a quiet, romantic meal, is my point. Anyway, in terms of the food, Enoteca Sociale is definitely an above-average destination. We were presented with some complimentary bread to snack on, and it was delicious. The bread was fresh and tasty, while the accompanying oil contained a smokiness that I found irresistible. For my main, I went with the Amatriciana ("Guanciale, tomato, Pecorino Romano & chili"), and aside from the fact that it's an almost comically small portion (I think I ate the whole thing in about two minutes), this is definitely a top-notch bowl of pasta. The tomato sauce contains exactly the sort of deep richness that one covets, while the pasta itself was cooked quite well. The concoction could've been hotter (i.e. it was probably sitting for a few minutes before I got it), but otherwise I really dug the heck out of this. It's just too bad about that ambiance.

Roman cuisine is the focus at this Dundas West mainstay, which means the menu is full of homemade pastas, such as Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe, l'Amatriciana and Carbonara, as well as Italian wines that are rarely available elsewhere. In pre-pandemic times, this recently renovated space was constantly packed with carb-eating guests. Its warm and homey vibe made it ideal for a date night or evening out with friends. Toronto can now delight in Enoteca Sociale's full takeout menu, as well as a four-course prix fixe menu "per due", curated by Chef Kyle Rininella. Rininella takes his culinary inspiration from Rome, remaining as true to the traditional culinary practices as possible. For $66, the prix fixe menu includes marinated olives, irresistible arancini, three generous pasta dishes to share, and cannoli for a sweeter than sweet ending.

I have heard so much about this place over the years and have been trying to come several times (without reservation) and had no luck. So I book ahead this time with my husband and friends to celebrate a low key birthday. They sat us right near the door, which is not really the best spot, but that's fine. We ordered a bunch of drinks and different foods to share family style. The service was soooooo slow. We waited so long for the food. One of my friend was pregnant and I felt so bad that she had to starve for that long. We told the server and he seemed a little annoyed that we asked. I understand it can be busy, but it's still fair to ask. Also, at the begining when we were placing our orders, we asked questions about the foods and drinks and he wasn't the friendliest. He even cut the conversation mid way and left to attend to another table while we were still talking to him. The entire experience with that server was so weird. Later, the manager came by and appologized for the wait and said to not worry, and that he will take care of us. I am not sure what he was trying to say by taking care of our table, but we all assumed that maybe he'll throw in some free dessert or drinks, or maybe give us a little discount. But nothing. And even after the manager came by, we still had to wait for our food. And let's talk about the food. The portions were pretty small, and taste wise, nothing memorable. The fried zucchini flowers was the biggest disappointment of all time. Needless to say, this was a big flop.

Enoteca is a nice spot with great drinks and great vibe to grab a bite and hang out with friends. I've driven by Enoteca a number of times and finally had the time to go check this place out. Located just west of Dundas and Dovercourt, you can't miss the massive doors. Service was great from start to finish, attentive and overall a good experience. However, the food was decent at best. The Cacio e Pepe was on the saltier side, so be ready for that. It was very rich in flavour, a pinch less of salt and this would be been wonderful. The charcuterie board was decent, although I must say that the cheese was really good. Best dish of the night goes to the arancini balls. Really nice and crispy on the outside, stringy and warm cheese on the inside. Drench it in the tomato sauce, you won't regret it.

Our decision to come here was pretty last minute and we weren't able to make a reservation online because all the times were full (Saturday evening), so we decided to go early. We got there at 5:00pm, right when they opened, and we were seated immediately. The service was great, as it was actually pretty quiet in the beginning. We were given complimentary warm rosemary bread to start, which we devoured immediately. They even gave us a refill of the bread which is 10/10 service in my books because I love carbs. We ordered the beef crudo ($15) to start. This was probably my favourite part of the meal. The beef and tomatoes were seasoned perfectly and paired with a crunchy flatbread. I would highly recommend this as a shared starter! I got the gnocchi ($15). The sauce was delicious and they gave me a huge slather of ricotta on top, which I very much appreciated. The gnocchi was alright, the texture wasn't as chewy as I'd hoped it would be. It was a little soft and mushy, more potato-y than pasta-y. It wasn't bad, but I would've preferred if it was a little firmer. I didn't get to try the cacio e pepe ($13), but my boyfriend really enjoyed it and said it was delicious. I was impressed by the low prices when I first looked at the menu, but the portions were a little smaller than average, so I'd say the prices were fair.

Best resto negroni I've ever had (usually I prefer mine at home) & the bucatini all' amatriciana was delicious. The vibe is intimate & cozy, but still lively & not at all boring. Service is super warm & friendly.

This may sound snobbish - but when I go to a new Italian spot, and I want to test to see if it is good, I will order the simplest thing on the menu. Pasta with a tomato based sauce. No major entree. Just an appitezer, and a pasta. To start - we ordered a prosciutto, a raw cow cheese, a raw goat cheese. Initially thought it was a bit pricey, but the charcuterie board came with pickled peppers/cauliflower, green apple slices (sliced beautifully thin), roasted spicey pecans, and a small bowl of honey. It was very good. The raw goat cheese was my favorite. I ordered the Amatriciana - it was very simple, delicious and had a nice bite to it spice wise. I loved it. We also ordered Cacio e Pepe - which I've never been a fan of because I was find this dish too salty. Overall - place was great. A bit pricy, but the food is delicious.

This has been on my Food List for almost 2 years (if you don't have a food list, get your priorities straight). I went after spending a week in the Bahamas and I was really looking forward to some good pasta. Let's get one thing out of the way, service was great - I had at least 3 different servers pouring water, bringing over fresh bread and removing plates. Moving on to the Pasta, we ordered 2 pasta dishes. The Cacio e Pepe & the Amatriciana. Now I know authentic pasta is supposed to be served Al Dente but this was taken to a whole other level, almost to a pain where I thought they may have undercooked it. That's what I didn't like, if it was cooked a bit more then I would have enjoyed it a bit more. That's just personal preference though. What I liked was the simplicity of the dishes. The Cacio e Pepe was made with sheep's milk cheese and black pepper. Super simple, not too creamy or cheesy - really good. The Amatriciana has chili, tomato and some sort of bacon. Really simple. I actually combined the 2 of them and the Cacio really balanced out the tomato in the Amatriciana. We obviously ordered dessert which was a Sticky Toffee Pudding with Ice Cream. It was very rich and sweet. I could only do 1-2 bites, because it was a bit overwhelming for me. I would love to check out the cheese cave they have downstairs, and the cute little party room. Keep Eating, Angela

This place is always such a treat! Super warm and casual spot with delicious Italian fare and great service. On our most recent visit, we had their chicken liver mousse, arancini, salmon crudo, squid ink pasta and the amatriciana. All delicious. We also really enjoyed the olive oil that they serve with their complimentary bread. If you've never been, you honestly cannot go wrong with their pasta dishes. Freshly made pasta and perfectly al dente with great flavors. Definitely make reservations in advance, especially if you want to go on a weekend.

2 separate reviews from 1 visit: 1. The takeout. Took out dinner tonight. Much like eating in the restaurant the food was freshly made and fantastic. The negative: the takeout pastas are smaller than expected. 2. The make at home pasta kit We also picked up a Cacio e Pepe kit. Not very impressed the kit would get a 2. There wasn't much cheese and the pre made sauce was also light. Would not recommend. Final comments: the food is amazing. Take it home and enjoy. Don't forgot to order an app or extra item to fill you up. The take home kits aren't the best.

Getting a reservation at Enoteca Sociale is not easy.... even for my Saturday 10 pm table for one reservation had to made more than 2 weeks ahead. I really wondering how good this place is? Why so popular? The restaurant itself is pretty small and intimate. It does feel like I am eating in a farm house somewhere in Italy. Noise level is deafening, I can hear all these chattering going on around me, at the end of the dinner I can even hear that in my head.... Enoteca Sociale is also one of those restaurants I would have come if I am on a diet. I would also come here if I am dining alone as sharing is not really necessary. The portion here is small.... really small........ House made pappardelle, Ontario lamb ragu, house smoked guanciale & pecorino ($18) was really really good. The freshly made pappardelle has this awesome texture and softness. The lamb ragu was rich and flavored. I was chewing and eating slowly....really slowly.....enjoying my every bite...................... Tiramisu ($8) accented with orange peel and preceso was a light twist to this classical dessert. Light and creamy at the same time. My waitress is efficient but a little bite cold. My food was served quickly and plate removed right when I finished.... and I was in and out in 45 minute. Will I come back? Maybe for the tastier menu, but I know what to expect... good food in small portion and pricey................

4.5 stars ... great restaurant and wonderful dishes. Enoteca Sociale is on Canada's 100 best restaurant and so my curiousity about this place was peaked even more than before when that list was announced for 2017. Enoteca would be my 6th restaurant from the list and after my Saturday early evening dinner, I can safely say it belongs there. Service was polite and thoughtful to everyone including to a young family sitting nearby, food was delicious and incredibly well priced compared to other options in Toronto for the same level of detail and execution, and I loved the atmosphere. We arrived early Saturday evening and was offered a choice of sitting inside or outseide. The patio looked great and eventually was filled with many diners to enjoy the last bit of sun of the day. We chose inside as we knew it might rain (still!) but we liked how the tables inside were nicely spaced out to not be sitting on your neighbour. It was charming with a lot of warm natural light with well spaced tables and it was just the right level of music (aka. you can definitely hear your friend) to not be distracting. The music was fun and a bit hilarious... old school hip hop wasn't my first thought for Italian food but it made for moment where you had that look of "OH wow... I heard this when I was in Grade 9!!" Loved the service here... between constantly checking in discretely, clearing plates and utensils for new ones between each dish, and filling water, it was clear they were a well polished group as they took care of the room seamless. I wouldnt say everyone was friendly but definitely they care about how you felt about the meal and the experience. The hostess and one particular young lady was just doting on the little kid at the next table and making thoughtful chit chat. It was very nice to see they welcome everyone one ... regardless of how old they were. Arancini - Something so simple looking and yet deliver a response of "damn thats good" after each bite. Perfectly crispy shell housing tender rice grains with a generous molten core of gooey cheese awaits your every bite... add the nicely spiced tomato sauce that gives your tongue a bit of heat and you got yourself one of the best arancini I've had in Toronto and rivaling some of the best I've had from my travels. 5/5 Cacio e Pepe - I debate going between a 3.5 to 4... the sauce was a gorgeous creamy texture that held its wonderful texture for quite a while but the black pepper taste was a bit subdued. You can taste it as a lingering note at the end of the bite. I've had it far more aggressively peppered in Italy but that doesnt mean this version is bad. Pasta was just a touch past al dente but I dont like it too firm so it was perfect for me. Though this was a cheese on cheese affair, it never felt too heavy and a nice portion to share as a primi 4/5 Amatriciana - The other primi was the amatriciana pasta and this was just amazing. It was a bright tomato sauce with a touch of heat from chilis and slices of guanciale (nice pieces of pork neck that reminds you of bacon). The pasta was a thicker version of spaghetti and so it had a bit more chew but it was cooked wonderfully so it wasn't mushy or firm. Just right. A definite winner. 5/5 Roast Chicken - For our secondi, we opted for the chicken and as someone mentioned "I want more of this chicken skin. What did they do to this... its like an addiction". It looks like they pan seared it before roasting the rest and it resulted in this incredibly crackly and flavourful chip like skin that was addicting. The meat was tender, flavouful, and juicy so it was so easy to just tear the meat off the bones easily. The only small note was that some pieces of the chicken was a tad bit oversalted but not all of it. 4/5 Rapini - Generous platter of deep green rapini ... i was pleasantly surprised on the size and thrilled! I'm used to (unfortunately) receiving only 5 sprigs for $10 (True story... just ask Mark McEwan). Generous pour of olive oil topped it off... perhaps a bit too generous but I know a lot of Italian nonnas just douse their vegetables this way. Most of the rapini was fresh and perfectly cooked... once in a while though you come across a tougher and slightly 'woodier' one but its a small item 3.5/5 Green Bean - Another generous side where you have bright greens. These are well cooked as they still retained their crunch while still just edging towards being tender. Nicely spiced with salt and chilli flakes. Great side to the chicken. 4/5 I really liked Enoteca Sociale especially for the price point. With drinks and tips, it came out to be $45 per person and I know I've paid more for dishes that werent as flavourful or well executed. I will definitely return especially knowing that the menu rotates seasonally.

My wife and I first went to Enoteca Sociale about 2 years ago. We were seated away from the main dining room, at a table for 2 next to the stairs to the restrooms and beside the coat closet. We were far from the main dining room and felt isolated. Whatever the ambience of the restaurant may have been, we were not a part of it. We returned to the restaurant last week (15/3/24). On arrival, we were shown the exact table we had the previous time, completely away from all "the action". We complained and asked for another table, but was told nothing was available. We asked to sit at the bar, but were told that, too, was not available. The hostess was surly, unfriendly and totally unsympathetic. We had driven from Yonge & St. Clair to Dundas & Dufferin. We expressed to our waiter that we were unhappy with the table, and he said he would see what he could do. That was the last we heard about that. The food was ok (just) but, as far as a restaurant experience, we could well have been anywhere or at home.

I've heard tons about Enoteca Sociale on my journey to find some of the best Italian food in the city, and it definitely didn't disappoint. The menu offers several items that you most likely won't find across other Italian restaurants in the city, so it provides a unique experience to say the least. Our table tried 2 dishes, the Beef Crudo appetizer, and the Cacio e Pepe Paste. The Beef Crudo was a surprise for our table. Neither of us really eat raw meat - but we went out on a limb to try something new and it didn't disappoint! The beef had a great peppery and citrusy flavour, without being gamey at all - which was fear for us! It was a great appetizer to start and to snack on over discussion. We then had the Cacio e Pepe that's been raved all over Yelp, however I feel like it left me wanting more. I know that the dish is supposed to be simple and made of limited ingredients, but I felt like I was looking for something a extra to push the flavour profile over the edge. The service was impeccable as we sat at the bar, our server was always very attentive and helpful. Would come back again to try the other options on the menu!

Almost a full restaurant on a Monday? They must be doing something right! I came in here with the SO for dinner, and it was lively to say the least! We were seated promptly. The ambience is a lovely combination of rustic with modern elements. We ordered a couple of arancini balls, and the trout crudo to start. And a couple of pasta dishes - amatriciana and turkey tagliatelle. House bread with olive oil - Just perfect way to start. Arancini - Crunchy on the outside, soft and cheesy on the inside with a beautiful tomato sauce. Probably one of the best I've had. Trout Crudo - It's a delicate dish! I should have eaten this before the arancini... and saved some bread. oh well... Amatriciana and Tagliatelle - Perfectly al dente paired with balanced sauces. If you are craving pasta, you are at the right place. The cocktails looked great, but I didn't drink this time. I'll have to make a trip down here again - maybe in the summer for the patio!

Not a good experience for my group and I. Unfortunately our waitress brought the wrong bottle of wine (we ordered a white, she brought us a sparkling wine) and when we mentioned it was bubbly she basically gaslit us. We tried to bring it up to her again and it was brushed it off. A full bottle of prosessco with our dinner was not ideal. We checked the receipt at the end and the bottle she billed was not the one we had ordered, figures. We also asked to move inside after we finished eating, as it was getting chilly out and the restaurant was half empty. But we were told we couldn't for no reason. Overall, the service and wine fail ruined the experience. 2/5.

I had this place in my list for a long time and we finally visited during the summer. They have a beautiful patio! We tried Arranchini for appetizers and just loved it... We also have two vegetarian pastas, which were good. the portion sizes were small however the quality of food was rich.

I've always been a fan here. Had the grilled beef tongue two nights ago. It was delicious. Trece with spicy octopus and sausage was okay, I rathe have the butacini or the fettucine with chicken liver. Kale salad is always my go to but opted to try there carrots bomba with candy almond (wish it was served a bit warmer). Totally disappointed by their sticky toffee pudding. I love their menu just none of their dessert. Service was good as usual.