Morellina's — Restaurant in Toronto

This is a great place, offering great and authentic Italian food - with some delicious variations on a theme; and the owners are as lovely as the food. It’s always a pleasant and satisfying, even from the conversational point of view: one owner has a master degree in sociology and the other is a trained classical pianist. Between them, they speak at least four languages. But, when you’re hungry, your interest in the ideas of Weber, Durkheim or Marx and the notes if Beethoven or Rachmaninov fades - no matter how deep your interest in their lofty works. What you want is a hearty beef stew, a delicious eggplant parmigiana - the best I’ve tried outside of my mother’s house. Perhaps, you crave an Italian meatloaf with rapini and root vegetables. Or would you like an amazing croissant sandwich, lasagna or seafood pasta dish? All that and more are offered with care - the genuine kind - and all made, using the finest ingredients (I asked). Now, this is a small operation and mostly designed for take out and catering. Call in advance to see what the special dish of the day might be. What you will find on a regular basis are some of the best chocolate brownies and fruit filled scones in Toronto. You will also find the best cup of espresso in town. Hurry it and you too will be dancing the Morellina ( to the tune of the Macarena) Hey...

I had an exceptional dining experience here with my son last night. Lina the chef prepared divinely scrumptious dishes that were better than pasta I've had during a two week trip all over Italy. The Agnelotti Con Crema Di Pistacchio was to die for...really..and I'm not usually a pistachio fan yet I licked the plate clean. The Rosetta Alla Vodka was equally delicious and a hit with my son! We also had the Aragosta Con Risotto Al Zafferano which was an experience in and of itself due to how delicious it was, with layers of texture and flavour, and we ended our dinner with a heavenly Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. Not only was the food of the highest quality and the presentation beautiful, but so was the service. Chef Lina was a great hostess, moving between the kitchen and the dining area ensuring we're enjoying the food, and Sandra was a wonderful hostess who accommodated me and my little one ensuring we're comfortable. They both made us feel at home and the atmosphere of the place was so welcoming, cozy, and just pefect. You can tell that this place is run with lots of heart and passion, and that the owners Lina and Sandra truly care. We will definitely be back with more friends and I'll be spreading the word about this little Toronto gem! Thank you for the...

As covered in other reviews, Morellina's offers intimate hospitality and a cozy atmosphere. Because it was difficult to find a current menu online (what you see offered on the delivery apps is not offered in the restaurant), I am posting photos of the new Spring 2023 menu.

Five of us shared grilled radicchio and caesar salad to start. For our mains: Spaghetti pistachio con tonno, Fettuccini cacio e pepe, Vitello Milanese (with small sides of arugula salad, and pasta w tomato sauce, shared between 2 of us), and the special, ravioli manzo (a small portion of braised beef stuffed ravioli in simple tomato sauce, a "special," not on the menu, which was $40 on the bill). Two glasses of delicious house red wine (I believe it was Sangiovese?) at $18 each.

Every dish was very good, authentic. The standout was the spaghetti pistachio with tuna -- a unique dish, with wonderful texture and umami, not generally found on Toronto's Italian restaurant menus. There is a lot of pride in the cooking and that is evident in the quality of the food. The prices, however, take this restaurant from a "neighbourhood" place that could be in our regular rotation, to a "special occasion" place (of which there are many in the city from...