Florentia — Restaurant in Toronto

I have no clue how this place has such a good rating. Maybe we just went on an off night, but if so, what an off night.

My fiancée and I went here for our anniversary, and it was an incredibly disappointing experience.

First, when the server took our orders, he told us about the appetizers - minestrone soup and burrata. She ordered the soup, stating that she doesn't eat cheese. At this point I said I would try the burrata. When it came out, it was massive. It was also incredibly bland, so after several bites, I could only eat the salad around it. When the server came to take the plates, he asked if I didn't like it. I explained that it was much more than I anticipated. It was only at this point that he said it was meant for two people - not when I ordered, and after my fiancée ordered her own app, and stated she doesn't eat cheese..

Then, for our mains, she got linguine al mare and I got lamb pappardelle. Both were, again, extremely bland, and I also found two large bones in my pasta. These could have either chipped a tooth or become a choking hazard but luckily I found them before either of those happened.

I notified the server of the large bones and he thanked me. He came back later to offer us dessert (it wasn't clear if this was meant to be for free as an apology, though it seemed like it), but at this point I couldn't trust anything to taste good and our appetite had been spoiled anyway. So we declined. Then the bill came, and not only did they not take anything off the bill (even a partial reduction would have been appropriate), but this was when we also found out that the burrata app (that he declined to mention until afterwards was meant for two people) was a whopping $30 - more than the price of either of our entrees.

And polite though he was, the server was also quite slow and inattentive. We even witnessed another gentlemen announce that he was leaving after being seated but not being checked on for ten minutes. And it wasn't busy - at its peak, the restaurant had five tables total (us plus four others).

Slow and inattentive service, bland food, a lack of communication, and nothing taken off the bill to compensate. I would have rather had $20 removed than two free desserts.

We won't...

I’m happy to share my experience at Florentia, an enchanting Italian restaurant that has truly won my heart. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with the utmost warmth and friendliness by Robert, who truly made us feel like family.

The menu at Florentia offers a delectable array of Italian delicacies, and we started our meal with the Cozze Marinara appetizer. Oh, what a delight it was! The mussels were cooked to perfection, tender and succulent, swimming in a rich and flavorful sauce that had our taste buds dancing with joy.

Moving on to the main course, we indulged in the Manicotti and the Penne Al Salmone. The dishes were prepared with utmost care and using only the freshest ingredients. The Manicotti had a perfectly balanced blend of creamy ricotta cheese and tomato sauce, while the Penne Al Salmone featured tender salmon pieces complemented by a delightful sauce. Each bite was a harmonious explosion of flavors, leaving us completely satisfied.

No Italian meal is complete without a decadent dessert, and we couldn't resist trying the tiramisu. It was the perfect ending to our extraordinary dining experience. The layers of delicate sponge cake soaked in espresso and decadently creamy mascarpone cheese were a true work of art. What impressed us the most was that the sweetness was just right, not overpowering, allowing the flavors to shine through.

All in all, our time at Florentia was nothing short of exceptional. From the warm hospitality from Robert to the incredible flavors, this eatery has truly captured the essence of Italy. I highly recommend visiting Florentia for a memorable dining experience that will transport you to the...

The food: We went for dinner here and the first thing I will say is the food was fantastic.

We started with Bruschetta. The tomatoes were ripe, the base crisp and there was just enough oil, basil and arugula to make each bite enjoyable.

For our main we had Rigatoni Arrabbiata con Salsiccia and Spaghetti Bolognese. The spaghetti was cooked just over al dante and the sauce was delicious. It was a little salty for my preference--I usually lean towards a low or no sodium diet so my salt tolerance is low--but even with that I cleaned my plate. It was definitely something that reminded me of plates I had when I visited Italy years ago. My partner enjoyed his meal immensely as well.

The wine list is small but going based on the wine we had, it has quite the delicious selection that pairs beautifully with the food offerings.

We were too filled after our main to try dessert but everything on the menu sounded fantastic.

Service: It's a small place so there's not much staff, however, the gentleman that was serving us and the one other table of guests was courteous and attentive.

The Place: It's a small storefront, with maybe a dozen tables. It's quiet so if the other guests are speaking loudly, it's all you hear. We enjoyed our dinner at the one table next to the window, enjoying the warm spring evening sun.

TLDR: Small Italian place that serves wonderful food, has a delicious wine selection and is definitely...