Bellona College — Restaurant in Toronto

Bellona – Filling a plant-based need in Little Italy

After waiting all summer for Little Italy location to open, I had the pleasure of trying Bellona finally and I can say – it was worth the wait. I also love that it is adding to the growing vegan scene along college. While it is a vegetarian restaurant, the majority of their menu is vegan or can be made vegan.

Atmosphere and Service: The space has an inviting and warm atmosphere while feeling classy and sophisticated. They have tables, booths, high tops, and bar seating allowing for a range of group sizes. Sadly there is a step to get into the restaurant so if you require mobility aids, probably call ahead to ask about a ramp as I didn’t inquire. The plates, utensils, etc are all very stylish and have a great texture. My service was fantastic, even though it was a slower mid-week evening, I am sure during a rush it would be the same. Everyone had a great attitude and was super friendly which really added to the already warm atmosphere. Special shout out to my server Jo, she was lovely and she gave me the time to decide on the menu, never feeling rushed.

Drinks: I wanted to give kudos and mention that besides cocktails, wine, etc., they also have a handful of mock-tail options which is great.

Food: I tried the Caesar salad and the La Sagreta ravioli. Caesar salad: I know it is just a salad but I was genuinely so impressed - I would buy the Caesar dressing if they sold it individually. Often, I find vegan Caesar dressing has a weird aftertaste but this was delightful. Paired with their herby homemade croutons and brightened up by the acid from the lemon they serve as a garnish, it was really balanced and had a lot of dimensions. My only criticism would be that it was pretty heavy on the dressing so if that is not your thing for salads, ask for it on the side. La Sagreta ravioli: exciting to be able to eat ravioli again. It is not often I am able to find vegan ravioli so when it is offered it is exciting. The pasta is made in house, cooked perfectly, and I felt like it was a healthy portion given the price. The ravioli is stuffed with a mild tofu cream cheese which paired beautifully with the bright acidity of the tomato sauce. Obviously, the ravioli was good, but the star of the dish was honestly the sauce. It had a well-developed flavour that stood out but was not overwhelming. The chef should be proud.

All in all, I had a great time and I look forward to trying the rest of their menu. The new location is fantastic and I can see this restaurant becoming a staple in the neighbourhood. If I could make a request, hopefully you can add at least one gluten free option like a risotto or polenta dish...

The reason for the 2 stars is because I’m hoping this review will get the manager and/or owners attention.

To start, I tried calling to let the restaurant know I was arriving 10 mins late to my reservation due to traffic and no on came to the phone the 2 times I called. I was coming here on a Thursday night with a friend and expected it to be as busy as it was considering the no pick up. Once I did make it to the restaurant I realized why my calls went unanswered. I understand some nights can be hit or miss but to have 1 server doing everything in the restaurant is unacceptable and incredibly stressful for them regardless of whether or not they say something directly to management. It was very palpable how stressed out our server was given how he began disassociating when I asked him why he was the only server in the restaurant. He had 10 tables, some bigger than 2, no bartender, no host, no manager that I could see (because if there was one, why weren’t they helping run food or make drinks?), and only 2 cooks. He took 15 mins to get to our table, when it should’ve been under 2 mins, 20 mins to get our drinks which were just sodas, and another 20 mins to get out our appetizer. Mind you, when our appetizer first came out, one of the sliders had a long black hair because the cooks aren’t wearing hair nets. This is not me complaining about his service but rather the lack of management with regards to understaffing your restaurant because, “Thursday might not be too busy” or whatever the reason may have been. Regardless, 2 servers should always be a minimum even on a less busy night so your customers aren’t waiting so long to be served should there be a surprise hit. Don’t open a second restaurant and have the main location fully staffed because I’ve been there a few times now and have never had any issues but disregard...

I nearly gave this restaurant a one-star review. My wife and I took our daughter to Bellona to celebrate her birthday. When we arrived, the restaurant was completely empty, and we were seated at a booth. The server handed us menus and mentioned the $27 three-course dinner special—a great deal, so we placed our orders.

Then, unexpectedly, we were told that to receive the dinner special, we had to move to the bar. This abrupt and unnecessary statement soured the evening - especially when there was no one else in the restaurant (see pictures). I wanted to leave, but my wife convinced me to stay so we wouldn’t ruin our daughter’s birthday dinner.

Aside from that frustrating experience, the restaurant itself is quaint and cozy. The server was exceptionally friendly, courteous, and attentive (five-stars to her). The food was also well-prepared and appetizing, with portions that were just right—not too large, not too small. Compliments to the chef for the excellent preparation and presentation (another five-stars to the chef). At $27, the meal was a steal.

I would have gladly given Bellona five-stars if not for being forced to relocate from a booth to the bar. It felt like second-class treatment, especially when no one else was in the restaurant at the time.

I do plan to return to Bellona at some point, as my daughter and many family and friends live in the area. Depending on how that next visit goes, I may...