Lardo — Restaurant in Toronto

I remember walking by Lardo last year and thinking how excited I was to one day try it. So when one of my best friend’s decided to have her birthday there, I couldn’t wait. Sadly, I really should have waited, and probably skipped it altogether based on the experience I had.

The reservation was for 7:30pm and by 7:40pm, all guests in the party of 15 were seated. It took a fairly long time to take our drink order but even worse, was it taking over an hour for the drinks to come to the table. Mind you at this point, we also didn’t have any food coming out either. For context, it was a pre-arranged family style sharing menu, so no one needed to order individually. This menu was planned weeks before.

About 1.5 hours in, food started to come out. The food was good, I will not cut them short on that part. Portion wise, everything felt fair with the exception of a couple smaller dishes. For example, the fried artichokes which were delicious, were only enough for each person to have half a piece which felt disappointing. But what was most disappointing was the length of time it took for us to actually get food on the table. The mains came out probably around 9:30pm or just after. And by this point, the servers weren’t available to take another round of drink orders. It felt like a missed opportunity for them as a business, because we were eager to order drinks since the food was taking so long.

By 10:30pm we had asked them to start bringing the final course faster as there was going to be a second part of the evening and we really didn’t think it would take 3+ hours for apps and mains alone.

I would say that service was first and foremost the downfall of the experience and unfortunately a large miss on the restaurants part. Another part of our experience that would make me never come back, was that one person in our party cannot have alcohol. After emphasizing that to the server and specifically ordering a mocktail, he was served an alcoholic drink. When he insisted it had alcohol, the server claimed it didn’t, and ultimately when they checked with the bar, it did in fact have alcohol. I can’t begin to emphasize how awful this is, not to mention imagine it was someone who was pregnant or had a severe allergy. When this was brought to the attention of the owner after the experience, it felt seemingly brushed off and he claimed he had allergies too but “mistakes happen”. Yikes, definitely not the way to take accountability. And as someone who personally also has allergies, I lose respect for restaurants that can’t take it seriously or hold themselves accountable when things like this happen. As someone with family and friends in this industry that I value and love so much, ensuring an experience lives up to a promise, or in this case, very minimal standards of customer service, is so important.

There are so, so many other incredible spots in toronto with amazing Italian dining. Do yourself a favour, and go somewhere that you’ll have a much more valuable experience. Where dinner won’t take 4 hours, one that will respect simple dietary restrictions/allergies, and frankly somewhere that can take more than one drink order during a dinner service. This experience had everything to do with the lack of service and frankly in a city with so many restaurant options, I’d say your money is best...

At Lardo, an Italian culinary haven, it's not just about the food; it's about the genuine warmth and hospitality that permeates every aspect of the dining experience. From the moment you step inside, you're enveloped in an atmosphere of welcome and attentiveness that sets the stage for an unforgettable evening.

What truly sets Lardo apart is the personal touch of the owner, who graciously tends to each guest with a level of care and dedication that is truly commendable. His presence adds an extra layer of charm, making every diner feel like a cherished guest in his own home.

Now, onto the culinary delights that await. The steak tartare at Lardo is nothing short of exceptional. As a seasoned enthusiast of this dish, I've sampled many renditions, but none have come close to the perfection achieved here. Each bite is a symphony of flavors and textures, a testament to the chef's skill and attention to detail.

Dining at Lardo is more than just a meal; it's an experience to be savored and cherished. With its unparalleled hospitality, exquisite cuisine, and inviting atmosphere, Lardo sets the standard for Italian dining. I can't recommend it highly enough and eagerly anticipate my next visit to bask in its warm...

I was looking forward to try to highly-praised sandwiches here, but it doesn't seem they sell those anymore, which was disappointing.

Instead, I ordered the cavatelli. It was very tasty, but quite expensive ($28) for the appetizer-size quantity. I don't know any adult that would be close to full after eating this dish. I can appreciate the concept of quality over quantity, but I would rather go to any number of restaurants that are capable of delivering both, while maintaining a reasonable price.

Furthermore, I was seated in the front area, which has an uncomfortable and awkward setup. Instead of tables, there are barstools that face the wall, so your server serves you from behind, reaching over and around you any time they need to pour drinks, etc. The atmosphere was cool though.

With all the excellent alternatives in the area, I would not...