Cafe Diplomatico Restaurant & Pizzeria — Restaurant in Toronto

TODAY I WENT TO THE RESTAURANT CAFE DIPLOMATICO ON COLLAGE STREET. I usually go there, and the atmosphere is usually pleasant, and the restaurant is frequently busy. THE SERVERS ARE NICE AND FAST MOST OF THE TIME. BUT TODAY I WENT THERE WITH MY FRIENDS, WHO ARE HERE ON VACATION, AND I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SERVICE, AND THE VIBE WAS VERY HEAVY AND LOW, NEGATIVE. When I arrived, I stood by the door and asked a server if we could sit at a table. THE SERVER SAID YES, AND WE SAT DOWN, WAITING FOR THE MENUS. HOWEVER, THE SERVER NEVER CAME BACK AGAIN, SO WE ASKED ANOTHER EMPLOYEE IF WE COULD BE SERVED. She brought the menus and told us that we should have waited at the door for our server to know we were here, and she was rude about it. BUT, WE HAD PREVIOUSLY DID THAT, AND IT WASN’T THE FIRST TIME I WAS THERE, SO I KNEW WHAT TO DO. WE DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING AND JUST LOOKED FOR WHAT WE WANTED TO EAT. AFTER, ANOTHER SERVER CAME TO OUR TABLE AND TOOK OUR ORDERS. WE MADE OUR ORDER, AND ANOTHER SERVER BRINGED THE FOOD AFTER A FEW MINUTES, BUT SHE FORGOT A PART OF THE ORDER. So we told her, and she said she would go get it. With our food half eaten, the server still had not delivered the missing portion of our order. SO I ASKED A NEARBY SERVER IF HE COULD BRING IT TO US SINCE I DIDN’T SEE THE PREVIOUS SERVER. He said he'd get it, and a few minutes later, the server that had forgotten it in the first place brought it out. WE FINISHED EATING, AND THE SERVER WHO HAD BEEN RUDE AND SCOLDED US BEFORE CAME AND TOOK OUR PLATES. WE ASKED FOR THE BILL, AND SHE CALLED THE SERVER OF THE TABLE TO BRING OUR BILL. She brought the bill, and I paid in cash to see what she would do. When I asked if she had changed, she said yes. BUT SHE DIDN’T GIVE ME ALL OF MY CHANGE; SHE TOOK HER TIP WITHOUT ASKING IF I WANTED TO GIVE A TIP. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, IT WAS FIVE EMPLOYEES IN THAT RESTAURANT, AND THEY HAD AN AREA TO EAT OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE BUILDING, AND THE PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO EAT INSIDE HAD WAITED A LONG TIME TO BE SERVED SINCE THE 4 SERVERS WERE ALL OUTSIDE SERVING AND 2 OF THEM WERE JUST WALKING AROUND OUTSIDE. Meanwhile, the customers inside waited to be served. In my opinion, they have poor organizational skills when it comes to serving and working together. Based on my experience in the service industry, I would have placed two of the servers outside and the other two inside. The outside servers would split, and one of them would serve the right side and the other the left side. That way, they wouldn't have to be confused about what tables were theirs or which side ordered what food. THEN, THE SERVERS OUTSIDE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE SERVICE OUTSIDE, AND THE INSIDE SERVERS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE SERVICE INSIDE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THAT SERVICE. I do not think I will be a...

Ordered uber eats and was very pleasantly surprised!! The food was excellent. I was looking for an eggplant parmesan which my usual Italian spots (Gia, Gusto 101, etc.) don’t offer for takeout. I was a bit skeptical given the setup of the menu, unlike some of the upscale Italian spots it listed all their types of pasta shapes, then you basically choose any sauce to pair it with… let me tell you this more casual setup was no reflection on the quality of the food!

I got the sundried tomato pesto gnocchi and it was spectacular!! I am very particular about gnocchi because I prefer it soft and creamy instead of chewy or firm… this was exactly the former! My absolutely ideal gnocchi and I’ll definitely be ordering again. Similar vibes to a creamy ricotta gnocchi or even a choux-based Parisian gnocchi, but I believe this was simply a well-made traditional potato gnocchi. The sundried tomato pesto cream sauce was so delicious that I was worried for a minute it wasn’t vegetarian, but the other reviews confirm that it is. Perfectly seasoned, flavorful, not too much cream or too little sundried tomato - all just right.

The eggplant parm was a classic rendition, very well done with a flavorful tomato sauce and generous cheese. Less crispy via takeout but that’s also the traditional way where the breadcrumbs soak up the sauce. Delicious.

I also got the sautéed spinach, this one was bland and needed more salt, but that was easily fixed at home, I added salt and some of the Parmesan they provided. Lemon juice would’ve helped as well.

Tried their pecan butter tart as well, while the flavor was good, the custard hadn’t set and all spilled out. I prefer a firmer butter tart so wouldn’t order again, but would definitely try their other desserts.

The portions were extremely generous, the two main dishes could easily serve 3 people. They were also generous with the add-ons - free bread loaves, little parmesan & chili flake cups, butter packets! This felt like really good value for money, especially for takeout where I can stretch the leftovers and everything can reheat well. Pasta was easily double the portion of some of the upscale spots like Gia and Enoteca Sociale, also a bit bigger than more comparable/more casual spots like Gusto 101.

There is a ton of selection of pasta sauces, many of which seemed vegetarian. They also have the eggplant parm, pizzas, and possibly other apps/sides for veggies.

Finally, they were ready early so I got my delivery very quickly - another plus in the current times when takeout can take 1 full hour.

Overall this was even better than I expected, a stellar meal I am glad I discovered through Uber Eats and will definitely be ordering again! Will also consider stopping by if I’m...

to put it bluntly, this might be the best restaurant i’ve been to in toronto. where to begin with cafe diplomatico… the food? out of this world. the prices? likely the only place in toronto this affordable in 2024. the service? fantastic!! our server megan was quick, thorough, friendly and knowledgeable. she was there to cater to our needs before we even knew that we had them. we had the fried calamari/shrimp and caesar salad app. the fried cali was literally 30 seconds between the fryer and being delivered to our table. the caesar salad was garlicky, creamy and delicious. we shared the rigatoni in vodka sauce, a personal size cheese pizza and a fried panzerotti with custom toppings. although the pasta and cheese pizza sound simple, the flavours and textures spoke for themselves. the panzerotti was everything it should be and a generous portion with leftover to take home. we had a bottle of delicious prosecco that ended with me accidentally knocking the last of my glass over. not to fret, leo (who was working hard the entire night to clear tables and run food) was instantly there to clean it up and let our incredible server megan know that i had spilled. it was here that cafe diplomatico went above and beyond by bringing me a new glass of prosecco full to the brim to replace my spilt one. such attention to detail does not go unnoticed. the desserts (we had the tartufo and crème brûlée) were decadent and the perfect way to end a meal. all our food and drinks were $200, you truly cannot beat that. don’t be fooled by its tame outside appearance, the atmosphere was very relaxed and homey. this place is exactly what you want when you think of italian food, hearty, homey...