Terroni — Restaurant in Toronto

A Review of Terooni: A High-Quality Italian Restaurant Terooni, an Italian restaurant, has quickly established itself as a beacon of authentic and refined Italian cuisine. From the moment you step through its doors, you're transported to a charming trattoria in Italy, promising an experience that goes beyond just a meal. Having recently dined there, I can attest to its reputation for delivering a truly high-quality culinary journey.

Atmosphere and Ambiance:

Terooni strikes a perfect balance between elegance and warmth. The interior design is tastefully done, featuring soft lighting, rustic wooden accents, and subtle Italian artwork that creates an inviting and intimate setting. Whether you're on a romantic date, a family gathering, or a celebratory dinner with friends, the ambiance adapts beautifully, making everyone feel comfortable and special. The background music is a gentle hum of classic Italian melodies, never intrusive, always enhancing the dining experience.

The Culinary Experience - Food Quality:

This is where Terooni truly shines. The menu is a thoughtful curation of Italian classics alongside innovative dishes, all prepared with an evident commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Appetizers: We started with the Burrata with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and the Fritto Misto. The burrata was incredibly creamy, perfectly complemented by the sweetness of the tomatoes and a drizzle of excellent olive oil. The fritto misto was light and crispy, a delightful mix of perfectly fried seafood and vegetables, not at all greasy.

Pasta: The pasta dishes are a highlight, clearly made in-house with a perfect al dente bite. The Cacio e Pepe was a revelation – simple yet profound, with a rich, peppery sauce clinging beautifully to the pasta. The Osso Buco Ravioli was another standout, with tender, flavorful meat encased in delicate pasta, served in a rich, reduction sauce.

Main Courses: For mains, we tried the Grilled Branzino and the Veal Saltimbocca. The branzino was flaky and moist, with a delicate char that brought out its natural sweetness. The veal was incredibly tender, draped with prosciutto and sage, and served with a luscious white wine sauce. Each dish felt authentic and meticulously prepared.

Dessert: No Italian meal is complete without dessert. The Tiramisu was heavenly – light, creamy, and perfectly balanced with coffee-soaked ladyfingers. The Panna Cotta was equally delightful, with a subtle sweetness and a silky texture.

Service:

The service at Terooni is impeccable. The staff are knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely passionate about the food and wine they serve. Our server was excellent at guiding us through the menu, offering insightful recommendations, and ensuring our glasses were always full without being overbearing. The pacing of the meal was perfect, allowing us to savor each course without feeling rushed.

Wine List:

Terooni boasts an extensive wine list featuring a diverse selection of Italian wines from various regions, catering to all palates and price points. Our server was adept at recommending pairings that perfectly complemented our chosen dishes, enhancing the overall dining experience.

Value for Money:

Given the high quality of the ingredients, the expert preparation, the refined ambiance, and the exceptional service, Terooni offers excellent value for money. While it might be considered a splurge for some, the overall experience justifies the price. This is a place where you truly feel you're getting what you pay for, and more.

Overall Impression:

Terooni is more than just an Italian restaurant; it's a culinary destination. It delivers an authentic, high-quality Italian dining experience that excels in every aspect – from the inviting atmosphere and impeccable service to, most importantly, the truly delicious and artfully prepared food. If you're seeking an memorable Italian meal that transports your senses, Terooni should be at the top of your list. It's a place I wholeheartedly recommend and eagerly...

Appearance: 4.5/5⭐️ I was captivated by the stunning patio. The design is both elegant and inviting, with a charming blend of modern aesthetics and cozy elements that make it feel like a little escape in the heart of the city. The presentation of the dishes matched the ambiance perfectly—each plate was a work of art, especially the spinach ravioli and the colorful Giuggiolosa salad.

Smell: 3/5⭐️ The Giuggiolosa salad added another layer of olfactory delight with the earthy smell of mixed greens and grilled red peppers, complemented by the sweet hint of honey. Ravioli were creamy and light.

Taste: 4.5/5⭐️ Every bite of the spinach ravioli was a delightful explosion of flavors. The pasta was perfectly al dente, and the filling was rich and creamy, with the spinach providing a lovely earthiness. The Giuggiolosa was a blend of flavors—the creamy gorgonzola paired beautifully with the sweetness of honey, while the grilled red peppers and black olives added a savory depth, and the pinenuts provided a delightful crunch.

Texture: 4.5/5⭐️ The texture of the ravioli was spot on—delicate and al dente, with the creamy filling melting in my mouth. The Giuggiolosa salad offered a wonderful mix of textures: the crunch of mixed greens and pinenuts, the creamy softness of gorgonzola, and the tender juiciness of grilled red peppers.

Temperature: 4.5/5⭐️ The food was served at a reasonable temperature. The ravioli arrived hot, with the filling perfectly warm and melty, while the Giuggiolosa salad was chilled just right, providing a refreshing contrast to the warm entrée.

Flavour: 4/5⭐️ The flavors were balanced. The ravioli’s filling was rich without being overwhelming, complemented by a subtle creamy sauce that tied the dish together beautifully. The Giuggiolosa salad’s flavors were vibrant and fresh, with the tanginess of gorgonzola, the sweetness of honey, and the savory notes of grilled red peppers and black olives blending harmoniously.

Price: 3.5/5⭐️ For the quality and experience, the price was on a very high end of scale. Terroni Price offers a dining experience that feels upscale,and makes it an ok value for a special night out or a casual meal.

Customer Service: 2.5/5⭐️ The service had its ups and downs. Despite specifying my seating preference when booking, we were seated right by the construction which is an opposite of what I requested. When we asked to be moved, the hostess placed us right next to the only other couple on the other side of the patio, even though the entire area was empty. And I understand you guy will say “but we had other tables booked”, but this awkward decision was baffling, especially since all the seats around us remained unoccupied for the next hour and a half…which means we could have at least been moved one table over, not to disturb the other couple and give us some space for the business meeting as well. Additionally, when we requested to split the bill according to what each of us ordered, it was instead split 50/50. While I chose not to cause a fuss, it was not the outcome we had wanted as we ended up overpaying 100$ each plus tip.

Terroni Price delivers a good dining experience in terms of food and ambiance, combining beautiful surroundings with delectable dishes. However, the somewhat perplexing seating arrangement and billing issue did detract slightly from the overall experience. Nonetheless, it remains a standout spot in Toronto, earning solid 3 stars for the culinary excellence...

I need to preface my review by informing you I am a person of colour, black specifically and all times in coming to this restaurant have come with another black individual.

I’ve eaten at this establishment 3 times. The first time was a great experience. My date had made a reservation over the phone. No issues. The 2nd and 3rd time, I made the reservation over the phone.

The second time, I had gone on a date, called ahead, asked if there was space within the next hour to make a reservation on the rooftop, standard seating for a party of 2, preferably close to the clock. The individual on the phone informed me that specific seating cannot be reserved, but there was ample seating and it shouldn’t be a problem. Arrived and was informed by a hostess downstairs that there was only high top seating, which I did not find comfortable being of a shorter height but was informed that I had to wait some time to be seated. A white male, with the same reservation time as I had overheard arrived after me, was seated before me as he was told to head upstairs, and sat at a 4 seater standard table. I assumed he was waiting for a larger party. But for the 2+ hours I was there he only had one other individual join him. There were several 2 party standard seats available, when I asked, I was informed by a blonde curly haired hostess upstairs that they were reserved which was once again contradictory to what I was told that you cannot reserve specific seating on the patio. It took me asking 3 times for the hostess to finally move me to sit at a 2 seater standard table.

I came back a third time, a party of 2, a reservation on the patio. This time there was a lot of people waiting outside. The blonde hostess was downstairs at the entrance this time. We all had the same reservation time, while some were walk-ins and were informed that we would have to wait a few minutes. As I waited, I saw party after party being called and informed to go to their seating on the patio. After 15-20 mins I asked the hostess how long I would have to wait and in a very rude tone was informed that I would have to wait a few minutes. In addition, a manager had come downstairs to ask all other parties outside if they’ve been taken care of, except for ours. We didn’t even receive a glance. After 10 minutes of basically being one of the only parties left outside, my date and I left.

The second time coming to this establishment I felt unwelcome but did not want to attribute it to my race. Upon attending again, I felt even more unwelcome. As a person of colour we know when our treatment in how we are spoken to, in the fairness of how things are done, are due to our race.

I’ve been to many equivalently levelled and more upscale establishments in Toronto and have been treated well and with respect. I never leave reviews but I felt it necessary in this case as I really enjoy the food and atmosphere of this restaurant but the treatment due to underlying...