Bitondo Pizzeria — Restaurant in Toronto

We're back on the HUNT for Toronto's BEST! Stop #4 of the pizza pie tour: Bitondo's Pizzeria

We left the pandemonium of Caribana to venture into Little Italy for some pizza. After starting to question our directions since we found ourselves in a residential area, we eventually made it to Bitondo's, which for whatever reason has chosen to setup shop in a house. Bitondo's has "neighbourhood joint" written all over it, plus you get the feel that they've been serving pies for years. They've got a couple seats and tables, plus some benches outside, so bringing a small group is a-ok.

Instead of grabbing the usual pizza, we dabbled with panzerotti. The waitress and Facebook spoke confidently of these guys, so my excitement was high. They are made ready to order, but thankfully still taste plenty fresh. When you order the standard panzerotti, Bitondo's keeps it super simple and serves you marinara sauce and mozzarella nestled into a pizza dough envelope. It's essentially what a cheap flavour Pizza Pocket grows up into when it's a mature flavour adult. Things get a little out of hand though when you come to grips with the portion size. This thing is pretty damn big, and heed my warning; this will likely be the most cheese that you'll consume in a day in your life! When it comes to flavour, you'll have a satisfying time enjoying the warm marinara, the initial allure of the mozzarella, and the basic, but fitting pastry, but then either two thirds in or shortly following the meal you will pay for your somewhat irresponsible choice. I'm not saying that I didn't like it, but damn... I dare say you can have too much cheese. Good luck walking at a brisk pace afterwards. That being said, if you're walking around Little Italy after a couple pints, head straight for Bitondo's! This has the potential to be a drunk food masterpiece.

I've been told that you can call in ahead and custom order whatever you want in your panzerotti. I would definitely suggest this, because if you have somehow missed it, there's no meat in the standard version. And if you do happen to go, get some extra marinara sauce on the side, to satisfy your dipping...

Great taste. Good food. Well now pizza costs more here so I go there from time to time. But sandwiches still the same.But need to talk with the customers. Wondering if they still care about there looks. Well they don't seem to care about the store sign with more than half of the lights burned out. After finding out Erica gone, and the service level down. When you call it takes longer to get to you. The wait time for service longer than when Erica was there. The place looks like has not been renovated in years. Also Erica made you feel like Italy family. Plus most of the time remembers my order. Remember if need party size pizza this is the place. The best time was mornings to get this. I use to go everyday, and on Sundays mornings after church enjoy food with a family experience was great customer service from the person at the Cash register it great family time (plus say taking you to the people in the back, and say hello to person making the pizza in the front every time you come in they love it). So go for a pizza, and be sure thank the pizza maker he likes to hear good things. everyday the best times just because of the super service. I don't know how they remember your orders, and on top of that the place super clean. To the boss u had good person Erica with great service, and would say bring her back . I was Happy with the services that's why I come back for over 40 years. But now I'm going across the street San Francisco across the street until Erica...

My actual rating would be 3.5stars:

Fresh pizzas with fresh sauce, cheese, toppings and dough done right in front of you with thin crust, no gimmicks and no fancy/gentrified nonsense. Prices here are very reasonable, especially since it’s downtown Toronto with the ongoing inflation.

I got the small pizza which the chef was generous to make it slightly bigger than the box meant for it. Yes, if you’re looking for “presentation”, that’s some minus points for the pizza getting slightly folded but for me it’s a bonus as I am here to enjoy the food which I just got rewarded more than what I had paid/expected.

I love the crust of the pizza although the sauce and the overall pizza lacked a bit of flavour or ‘kick’ as I would put it. My pizza had onions and green peppers as the toppings, both which could’ve been given a bit more generously but for the price and the freshness of the pizza, I can’t really complain.

However, I am looking forward to trying their panzerottis which seemed to be very popular with the clientele at this family-run Pizzeria. I will be back for the panzerottis but for the pizza, it won’t be something that I will go out of my way for but it definitely deserves to be on my list of spots for pizzas when I’m on a budget in...