đ¨đŚ Torontoâs Beloved Old-School Italian Gem Lives Up to the Hype
Cafe Oro di Napoli, 75 Jarvis St, Toronto This spotâs been a long-time ç˝çş˘ (internet favorite) for a reasonâafter finally trying it, the flavors totally lived up to the hype⌠and were worth every one of the six Lactaid tablets I popped before the meal đ! The vibe is warm and welcoming, with lots of grandparents dining in, which says a lot about its authenticity. They have an open kitchen, but the aroma is just rightâenough to make your mouth water without feeling overwhelming. Plus, the tables are spaced comfortably, so you never feel cramped â¨. đ Arancini: My first time trying arancini, and these fried rice balls didnât disappoint! Stuffed with asparagus and cheese, the exterior is coated in breadcrumbs and fried to a crispy crunch, while the inside is soft and creamy. Bonus: Theyâre not overly cheesy, so the flavors stay balanced đ§. đŚ Calamari Alla Griglia: This is where itâs at! The grilled squid is packed with real, fresh flavorâseared to a slightly charred finish, tender and bouncy with that perfect oceanic sweetness. They stuff the sliced squid rings with a vibrant mix of sautĂŠed tomatoes, onions, and olives, which totally masks any hint of charred bitterness. The result? A fresh, flavorful combo where the squidâs natural taste shines through đ. đ Frutti Di Mare Risotto: This seafood risotto is swimming in rich red sauce, which blends beautifully with the sweetness of the shellfish. They pile on shrimp, mussels, clams, and scallopsâall super fresh! The only tiny letdown? We found a little sand in the rice (probably from a clam or mussel), but it didnât ruin the dish overall đŚ. đ Pappardelle Osso Buco: My friend ordered this tomato beef noodle dish, and while the slow-cooked beef was tender, the sauce felt a bit light for the wide pappardelle noodles. It couldâve used a richer, more robust flavor to cling to the pasta better đ. đ¨ Affogato & Gelato: The gelato was just okayânot as creamy as I hoped. But the affogato? Chefâs kiss. Iâm a sucker for any affogato, and theirs hit the spot: a scoop of gelato drowned in rich, hot espresso âď¸đŚ. Whatâs great is that itâs surprisingly affordable! For two people, including tax and tip, it came out to around 60 CAD per person. We ate so much we could barely walk, and still had leftovers to take home for a second meal đĽĄ. If youâre craving classic, homey Italian food in Toronto, this old-school favorite doesnât miss. Itâs easy to see why itâs been a staple for so long! #Toronto #TorontoFood #TorontoEats #ItalianCuisine #TorontoFoodie #VintageEats #TorontoDining