Venga Cucina — Restaurant in Toronto

This 5-star review is VERY much well deserved.

Having lived in the neighborhood for the better half of a decade it's actually quite a shame my partner and I have never properly given Venga Cucina a chance, as it's hard to come by Italian food that really hits the mark in all aspects. Don't be fooled by the exterior because as soon as you step into the restaurant, you are transported into a rustic and romantic hideaway with brick walls, beautiful paintings and glossy wood tables.

Our servers were INCREDIBLY attentive and hospitable and took the time to explain all specials and made excellent recommendations. My partner and I ordered the octopus salad and mussels to start, both of which were fresh, delicious and flavorful.

The highlight for me was the pinsa. I'd never had a pins before and with our servers recommendation ordered the pinsa prataiola as we love mushrooms and it was one of the best things I've ever had. The truffle oil and caramelized onions along with the crispy exterior and light interior make the pinsa the superior relative to the usual pizza. Again, not a pizza the way most people know it- as the process in which the dough is made is very meticulous- as the owner Maria described. The dough is made in house twice a week and Venga Cucina is one of the only places in the city to have the official seal of pinsa certification.

Can't recommend this place enough. Gino and Maria (owners) are incredibly sweet and engaging with their patrons and it's evident that their passion translates so well into the food and atmosphere of Venga Cucina. Stepping into the place and enjoying the superb food is akin to receiving a warm hug from your Italian mom (and I'm not even Italian 😂)

Will be back for that cheese wheel pasta! Thanks again for the wonderful...

If I could give this place 10 out of 5 stars, I would have. 2 years in Toronto and I have felt like what I did after visiting Venga Cucina. My husband and I discovered this place while walking around after we were done with walk at High Park. We felt like we deserved a good meal and just when we were at the Junction, we see this place. It looked so fancy, honestly we were apprehensive, would it be too costly? Are we under dressed for what looked like a classy Italian restaurant. We still went in. The server came to us and asked us if we would like to try something special called Pinsa. I have never heard of this before and it seemed like something that would taste amazing, so we went ahead. While waiting for our order we were looking around and just then I saw the head chef walk by. He seemed like a very attentive chef who was making sure everyone at the restaurant was served well. He then walked to our table and told us about Pinsa and how is experience over 20 years got him to make this. He spoke to his and explained his love and passion for cooking. I was impressed and touched. It felt so warm. Then the pins and spaghettini arrived and you could taste all the experience and love for food in it! It was heavenly!!! From everyone working there (they are a part of the family) they make you feel like you’re coming to their home and they take care of you and feed you the best Italian food in Toronto! And the prices - very fairly priced. I want to thank you Venga Cucina for making our Sunday memorable. We will be back with...

Had dinner at the Junion Local last night with a friend and it was excellent. We were greeted at the door by the owner, who is Italian from Salerno, and offered a very comfortable table. The decor is rustic and they have a great wine list as well as a craft beer list. The waiter was top notch and very knowledgeable about the menu, which is focused on food from the Deep South (U.S. not Italy). When I asked the owner why Louisiana and not Italy he explained that when he hired the chef he gAbe him the freedom to cook what he was passionate about, hence the menu options. We actually decided to have a trio of starters vs. the large plates, although everything sounded wonderful. My companion had a pickled shrimp salad which looked beautiful and was excellent. There were around 5 large shrimp mixed in with seasonal greens and dressed in Bloody Mary vinaigrette. I had the braised pork belly which was succulent and covered with sweet onions,, accompanied by greens with a cherry gastrique....it was scrumptious. We then shared the brisket sliders, which agai were done to perfection. The meat was tender, the buns were perfect and there was just that right balance of creaminess and crunchiness between the mayo and the slaw. We finished the meal by sharing the sweet potatoe pie, which was amazing. It had a wonderful pastry and the filling was creamy and delicious. The entire time we had great service and the place had wonderful ambiance. Looking for a great place to eat in the...