Eataly Don Mills — Restaurant in Toronto

I should've listened to the 3.7 rating on google. We arrived exactly 15 minutes late on the dot; the hostess was slouching over the stand while on the phone when we arrived. She was very short and not very nice on the phone; when she was done on the phone and I told her our reservation, she lectured us like a teacher saying "Well you're exactly 15 minutes late so we gave your table away". Without saying anything else, she grabs two menus and walks off so we follow her while she leads us through a half empty restaurant to a table. I'm not sure why she felt the need to point out she gave our table away when there were so many tables still open; I would understand if they were busy or full but they weren't. The whole time she was looking down at the iPad/getting menus, she made zero eye contact; not that failing to make eye contact warrants a bad review, but she said nothing else and did not acknowledge us other than to remind us that we were late, it's clear she did not want to be there and overall did not provide good service. When we were leaving she was just leaning on the stand and chatting with another employee with her arms crossed, again no acknowledgment to the customer.

Food was pretty bad too. The kale salad was bland and flavourless. Although the calamari was decent. Unfortunately, the pizza was the thinnest I have ever experienced, I wish I took a photo of it but it was literally the thickness and floppiness of the top layer of the bubbles that rises on the crust. We got the truffle mushroom pizza, again it was bland and not flavourful. It also cooled down very quickly; not sure why but made it less enjoyable. We also ordered the truffle fettuccine that is prepared on the cheese wheel. Continuing with the poor service: I went to the washroom halfway through our appetizers, by the time I returned, the pasta was already served with my mother sitting at the table alone. I wish they would've taken the courtesy and hospitality of a good restaurant to wait, knowing that the cheese wheel preparation is the most valuable thing about the dish instead if serving it with half the party not present. The pasta was also literally cold?? I wish we would've said something because it was not good. It also did not have the slightest drop of truffle flavour. Not worth it AT ALL for a pasta dish that is OVER $30, has no protein and is plain noodles. Our server was nice but missing the whole time, it was impossible to get anything including her attention when we did spot her. Overall, save your money and do NOT dine here. The poor experience continued at the bakery where the lady seemed nice when we wanted to order something, and for some reason her attitude immediately dropped when we only ordered one thing and she went "that's it?" and checked us out without saying anymore. Overall, high prices for poor service and poor...

Good service, terrible food.

I'll start with the food: Sour dough bread - stale. 4 slices per basket. Bruschetta - one slice of sour dough bread cut in half, with halved oiled cherry tomatoes and a leaf of basil on top. No cheese, no onion, no garlic, no drizzle of balsamic - nothing. Cost $17. Atrocious. Tagliatelle alla bolognese - sauce was extremely salty and just had no zest to it. Pasta was ok, made in house (according to menu). The meat in the sauce was ok, but also had an issue with severe saltiness. I was parched after eating. My hubby ordered the lasagne emiliane - he said it was ok, also a bit heavy on the sodium. Nothing special. The only menu item that we enjoyed was the Tartufata pizza. I didn't take any pictures of the food unfortunately. Every one of us left feeling like we just drank sea water. My tummy even hurt a bit due to the salt content in the food. It seems as though (pure speculation here but...) the sauces are made with preserved tomatoes in a can that have a lot of salt added to them. Otherwise I cannot explain why the in-house sauces are so high in sodium flavour.

The service staff were very pleasant and helpful. They came by often and made sure everyone was happy. The bill came quickly, and they even brought out a free dessert for the birthday girl. We didn't want to be the people that complained at a busy hour on a Friday evening, but the food definitely was worth a complaint.

Location is good. Don Mills is convenient and relatively easy to find parking if you're patient.

All in all, nothing about this joint is authentic Italian. Treat it like you would a fast food joint with egregious prices. Total for 6 people with only 1 bottle of wine and 2 apps was $400+. The Keg would've been a better option. Boston Pizza, or even Sbarro offers better pastas,...

Nestled in the charming enclave of CF Don Mills Mall in Toronto, Eataly stands as a delightful culinary haven. Though it may not boast the elegant eclectic flair of its New York or downtown Toronto counterparts, this NYC-owned establishment delivers a thoroughly satisfying dining experience.

From the moment you step inside, the inviting ambiance and friendly staff set the stage for a memorable meal. The space strikes a perfect balance between bustling and relaxed, creating an atmosphere where you can truly unwind and savor each bite.

The 2-course lunch menu, priced at a very reasonable $24, offers a variety of enticing choices of appetizers and an main, each more delightful than the last. Portions are generous, ensuring that you leave both full and content with enough to share.

The Bruschetta and Ravioli with Prosciutto are, quite simply, divine, while the crispy artichokes are a delicious treat. The Saffron Pasta is an absolute must-try, delivering an explosion of flavors that is nothing short of heavenly.

Amidst a lively mix of ladies who lunch, business meetings, and families, our three-year-old granddaughter delighted in her cheese pizza, charmingly shaped like a bunny.

We also indulged in the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, which was nothing short of superb.

To complement our meal, we ordered a bottle of Lambrusco. This chilled Italian red was the perfect antidote to the 82-degree summer day, refreshing and light, yet robust in flavor.

So engrossed were we in our lunch, that we entirely forgot to visit the adjoining grocer to stock up on Italian ingredients, sauces, and spices. Nevertheless, this only gives us another reason to return to Eataly in Don Mills, where each visit promises a feast...