Rasta Pasta — Restaurant in Toronto

I had the very unfortunate experience of having to meet the owner and please let me detail my experience . I am flabbergasted at the level of attitude and how rude this individual was . I ordered a Too good to go bag that was to have been ready for pick up by 6pm. Apparently the owner has been wanting to cancel his partnership with too good to go for some time ( even though the service does wonders for the community it’s a business decision). This is completely fine . What is not fine was how I was treated as a customer. First of all , I walked 40 minutes to get there . When I got there and I asked to speak to him , he took out his frustrations out on me . When I nodded in agreement with him , he looked at me and said “ I don’t think you understand “. I found this incredibly insulting . I own a business . While I was communicating with him , he walked away from me and proceeded to take orders leaving me wondering what would happen to my order and didn’t bother to take my concern seriously . I turned to the individual working there and she was like “call the third party provider “. I looked at her and said “ this has nothing to do with me , this is between the two companies , I am simply here to pick up my order . At this point , it was a stand off . It was clear the owner could care less about me as a customer and would not give me food ( or even me as a future customer which was extremely bizarre ). There was nothing to do but to walk out the door , he completely ignored me .

He didn’t bother to come up with a solution that was mutually beneficial He just kept muttering under his breath The staff around him looked scared , tense and frazzled around him which I think spoke to not only the dining atmosphere but also the work environment They didn’t bother calling the third party vendor

There are plenty of great Jamaican and Pasta places in Kensington , like the Jerk Spot . Don’t waste your time with this place that doesn’t care or value its customers , or their time in any kind of capacity at all . Poor business practices all around. No customer should have to take on the owners frustrations . I have always supported local businesses. This is one I will not be supporting anytime in the future. I ended up leaving paying for my food , without any food (hungry ) , and without a refund and needing to deal with a mess that was theirs to deal with . This also comes at a time when Torontionians are experiencing a cost of living crisis . In my 43 years , I have never experienced something like this ....

When people talk about "made with love," this is exactly what they mean. A hidden gem serving up Caribbean comfort food that'll warm your soul, especially on a cold Toronto Monday.

💫 LUCKY TIMING: Found this spot open on a Monday (only their 2nd time ever!) and it felt like destiny. PRO TIP: Call ahead for Monday availability - you might get lucky!

🍽️ WHAT WE DEVOURED:

JERK CHICKEN (5/5) 🔥 Listen up, jerk chicken enthusiasts: • Tenderness level: Falling off the bone • Spice profile: Complex and perfectly balanced • Portion size: Generous • Comfort food rating: 11/10 PRO TIP: The sauce is everything - don't be shy about asking for extra!

OXTAILS (5/5) 🏆 HOLD UP. These oxtails are what dreams are made of: • Tenderness: Butter-like texture • Sauce: Rich, deep, complex flavors • Fall-off-the-bone factor: 💯 If you're new to oxtails, this is where you need to start your journey.

RICE AND BEANS (4.5/5) • Perfectly cooked • Soaks up all those amazing sauces • Authentic Caribbean-style preparation

BONUS VEGGIES & SLAW! When they realized they forgot our veggies, the owner personally brought them out. That's the kind of service that turns first-time visitors into regulars.

👥 SERVICE (5/5): • Family-run excellence • Genuine warmth and hospitality • Attentive to details • Quick to correct any oversights • Made us feel like part of the family

🏠 AMBIANCE (4/5): • Cozy, unpretentious setting • Christmas tree adding holiday cheer • Restaurant side dining available • Clean and welcoming • Perfect for both takeout or dine-in

💭 THE EXPERIENCE: This isn't just about the food (though the food is INCREDIBLE). It's about: • The family warmth that greets you • The pride they take in their cooking • The attention to detail in every dish • The genuine care for customer satisfaction

🎯 WHY YOU NEED TO VISIT: • Authentic Caribbean comfort food • Family-run hospitality • Generous portions • Incredible value for money • Those oxtails (seriously!)

💡 INSIDER TIPS: • Indoor seating available (ask for restaurant side) • Portions are generous - come hungry • Great for cold weather comfort food • Perfect for both lunch and dinner • Call ahead for Monday availability

THE VERDICT: In a city full of Caribbean options, Rasta Pasta stands out not just for their incredible food, but for the genuine family atmosphere that makes you feel at home. This is comfort food that actually comforts - from the warm welcome to...

TLDR: My order was mistakenly given to another customer and I was lied to about whether they had ingredients to remake the order I already paid for. I was not refunded properly and then told I was unreasonable. Worst experience I’ve ever had in Toronto.

I ordered the scampi linguine, coleslaw and the irie fettuccini for takeout. I was told it would take around 20 mins, and after 40 minutes of waiting, I went to check on the order. I was told that they didn’t know where my order was and that they must have given it to someone else by accident. It seemed like an honest mistake so I just asked how long the wait would be for them to remake the order. They said they didn’t have shrimp anymore for the scampi linguine. They said they were completely sold out of ingredients and the only thing they could make me was a sausage pasta. I unfortunately can’t eat meat, so I asked if there any anything else that could be done. They offered to make it vegetarian, but I had prepaid, and would be receiving this substitution for the price of a much more expensive dish. I asked if I could have a refund instead for the unavailable items. They gave me a refund for the scampi, but didn’t bother to check my original order. I got the fettuccini, but I walked about, I realized they also didn’t give me my coleslaw. When I went back to ask, they said they were also sold out (which they didn’t let me know about and didn’t give me a refund for). I was slightly frustrated at this point, so I told them that while I know it was an honest mistake, if there was any discount or anything they could do to make up for the 45 min I had waited. They straight up told me that I was “being unreasonable” to request a discount of any kind. The owner said “if you really want it, I can get some shrimp from the freezer and make it, but you will have to wait 15 mins and you will have to pay for everything.” Which meant that I was originally lied to when they said there was no way that they could make me my original order. I understand not being able to receive any discount, but at no point during this interaction did I ever receive an apology for their mistake. I also certainly didn’t appreciate...