| |
Review by Amy Chung |
 pinning pizza dough, chatter and lots of bustle—Terroni always has your mouth watering for more. Their thin-crust pizzas, homemade deserts and classic salads and pastas truly capture the best of southern Italy. – A.C |
720 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
| Looking for more restaurants in the Queen West area? |
|
|
|
13 Reader Reviews
What started out to be a birthday celebration ended up being a sickened and horrifying experience at Terroni - Yonge & St. Clair.
The pasta was tasteless, dry, hard and served cold. We would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
First of all we were crammed on a table that accommodate 4...and it was five of us. We didn't think anything of it since we were out to have a good time and we didn't really cared....we were all very flexible.
Secondly one of our friends ordered a drink. She looked nothing like a teenager but was requested to show an ID. We know its the law and abide by it. Still having lots of fun. We give the waiter a health card with picture, DOB etc etc everything that you will think is required to check proof of age. He denied that saying that 'they' take only drivers license. We were all taken back, but humbly obliged and give him the drivers license. We were still having fun at this time.
Thirdly, we ordered a round of Ice Tea and water for everyone. We were given a container (bottle/Jug) of water of about 1 liter of water. Within a short time we finished the water and asked for more. At that time the waiter told us that 'they' do not have any more water. We were just stunned. At time point we knew that something was going on. We told him that we were never denied water before. He then went over to another table where people had just left, he picked up their water (1/2 jug) and brought it to us saying that this is the best he can do. We were just horrified and appalled that we were treated this way. We refused the water and said that we would not drink anyone else's water. He then took the same bottle and went to the back and fill it from the tap and brought it back. When he brought it was still foaming (not sure if he did anything with it
We ordered our food plus appetizer. We waited half an hour before we got our food. The table next to us that came in after us, ordered and was eating and our food did not arrive. When our food came it was cold and dry. There was no sauce etc etc etc. One of the party in our group took a while before he was served his pizza. We were all eating while one of the party in our group sat and waited and waited and waited for his pizza. We asked for Tabasco sauce and was told that they do not have.
We were deliberately ill treated and we felt violated.
I admire the comment above for not waiting for the food and just paid for the drinks. If we did today we would have have been $200 bucks richer. Good work.
I will NEVER return to Terroni. NEVER.
Girl's Rating: 1 Stars |
 |
Very comfortable little place on Queen West (the Victoria one is shut indefinitely, but it was also cozy.) The service is youthfully random at times, but this Queen location is a nice stop for a snack, a coffee or a decent meal.
Sometimes the food is a little bland and under-presented (such as boccocini salad missing very much basil or other seasoning.) Seems to vary with what's going on in the kitchen that day. Some of the fare is quite tasty by itself (case in point, the pizza with gorgonzola, pears and walnuts) while other dishes are a bit lonely without some rugged italian table wine to support it - indeed this is a pairing which the cuisine intended.
If you can handle the emphatic 'we'll tell YOU how everything should be in Southern Italy' aspect, and just go with it, you will have a fun time at Terroni. Opinionated, yes, but Cosimo Mammoliti cares about good food and an authentic atmosphere, and has created a unique overall experience for the city. There's a whiff of real Italy here which seems like the most important thing. It must be the social dignity of ancient culture that is so appealing (and somewhat alien to Toronto as a whole.)
Points for perhaps THE most classy washrooms in a casual resto-bar, always important for the lady friend you will invite. Okay I like them too.
Jonas's Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Very comfortable little place on Queen West (the Victoria one is shut indefinitely, but it was also cozy.) The service is youthfully random at times, but this Queen location is a nice stop for a snack, a coffee or a decent meal.
Sometimes the food is a little bland and under-presented (such as boccocini salad missing very much basil or other seasoning.) Seems to vary with what's going on in the kitchen that day. Some of the fare is quite tasty by itself (case in point, the pizza with gorgonzola, pears and walnuts) while other dishes are a bit lonely without some rugged italian table wine to support it - indeed this is a pairing which the cuisine intended.
If you can handle the emphatic 'we'll tell YOU how everything should be in Southern Italy' aspect, and just go with it, you will have a fun time at Terroni. Opinionated, yes, but Cosimo Mammoliti cares about good food and an authentic atmosphere, and has created a unique overall experience for the city. There's a whiff of real Italy here which seems like the most important thing. It must be the social dignity of ancient culture that is so appealing (and somewhat alien to Toronto as a whole.)
Points for perhaps THE most classy washrooms in a casual resto-bar, always important for the lady friend you will invite. Okay I like them too.
Jonas's Rating: 3 Stars |
|
For high maintenance people like Richard Pollara who order their food like Sally in Harry Met Sally, "no substitutions" is way too complicated a concept to understand.
Terroni is awesome. The staff can be a bit aloof and cool, but I've never been disappointed with the food.
Pete Largo's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Perhaps the rudest restaraunt I have been to in a long time. Got there at about ten on a Monday night. The place was about half-full. They walked us past 6 or 7 open tables and squeezed us into a small two top that was so close to the neighboring tables that I could have leaned over and taken a sip from their drink. Ok. I guess I should have asked to be moved. My fault. We got our menus and I chose a Penne Putenseca. I asked that instead of Penne could I get linguini or any other thinner pasta. "No! Absolutely no substitutions", our waitress said. But this isn't a substitution. You are cooking linguini, you are also making putenesca. Just put the sauce over the linguini instead of the penne." No! No sustitutions. "Ok, I said. Let me look over the menu again." When she came back I ordered Pasta Pommodore. I like tomato sauce so I said, "Can you bring me a little extra sauce on the side." "I"ll check with the kitchen." When she came back she said. "No sauce." It was like a Seinfeld episode and she was the Pasta Nazi. "Come back one year later!" So I threw up my hands, asked for the bill and paid for two cokes which we didn't drink (9 dollars by the way with tax and tip) and left. Maybe I am spoiled, but I eat our almost every night and most of the places I go to are small businesses where people appreciate your patronage and are willing to accomodate reasonable requests. Not this place. Maybe the food is great but I will never find out. I do know that restaraunts live or die by repeat business. People who come over and over to a place want to feel that they matter. That is not the case at Terroni.
Richard Pollara's Rating: 1 Stars |
|
Since being introduced to Terroni's on Queen by a friend, who as a result became a good friend, I have become a Terroni's addict. The food, all of it and I've been there about 10 times now is amazing. The service is good and friendly but sometimes a little slow, the atmosphere is wonderfully genuine. Some of the seats are great, others are dismal, ie booth in front window. If I don't Terroni on a regular basis my meagre stock of humnaity just disappears. Must say smade of the negative reviewers do seem to have some very particular needs and wishes. In fact I am surprised they don't just stay at home a bit more if they are that adverse to a unique food experience. No restaurant is for everyone so no need to get bent out of shape, just don't go back.
Patrick's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I liked my meal at Terroni's but thought it was quite loud inside. The thin crust pizza is good but to tell the truth it's even better at Caffe Doria!!! I really enjoyed the mushroom salad though, that was perfection.
Judy's Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Terroni is what it is--a pretty darn authentic Italian trattoria that adheres to tradition and maintains the integrity of their food by being stubborn about modifications to the menu. Trust them. Don't add sauces where they do not belong. Don't create your own dishes (there's something for everyone on the extensive menu and daily specials). And for heaven's sake, don't bring in your own dessert--to any restaurant for that matter! That's paramount to bringing in your a Starbucks coffee and asking for milk and sugar. It's just silly, especially when the majority of their desserts are made on the premise. Service can be hurried but the competent, charming staff have a line-up most hours of the day to tend to. And the wine list--all Italian--is a treasure.
Franny's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As anyone who works on Queen street W knows it's frustrating to find a good food day after day. I agree that Terroni has great pizza but FORGET about taking it out! They REFUSE to cut it for you!They will however offer you a plastic fork and knife....FANTASTIC! Have you ever tried to cut a thin crust pizze with plastic?? As well, do not asked for sliced tomatoes on any pizza b/c you will get a whole tomatoe cut into quarters! Yah, those hunks completely stay on the pizza when you pick it with your hands b/c you can't cut it! Great taste if you look at from the mind set that it all ends up in the same place!
Joannna's Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Six of us were there for dinner celebrating our friend's birthday; a few of us were new customers. We spent several hundred dollars on wine, appetizers and pizzas. Following our meal, which we did enjoy, we asked if they would be willing to provide us with few plates as we had a personalized cake for the birthday girl. They refused until we mentioned we would like permission to ask the owner to accomodate our special request. At this point they relented. We stated that we would be happy to order coffees and cappucinnos to accompany the cake. Clearly irritated, the server brought over plates and rudely slammed them down in front of each of us. She left without saying a word. No one ever returned with cutlery. Although our server passed by us several times, in the end, we had to pick the cake up and eat it with our hands. They never bothered to take our coffee order. We then sat for an additional 45 minutes without anyone attending to our table. We finally had to ask someone if they could provide us with the bill.
Terroni had an opportunity to make a very positive impression by accommodating our unusual request with grace. Instead, they were extremely rude. They then automatically tacked on a 15% gratuity to our bill. We were very disappointed with the overall experience. If you are looking for a place with good food and equally good service, we would definetely not recommend this particular Terroni location on Queen St W.
Allison's Rating: 2 Stars |
|
| Click here to view all 13 reviews | Voice your opinion! Submit a reader review for Terroni. Click here |
|
|
|
Terroni |
720 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
416-504-0329
Queen West
Italian
Restaurant
Mon. to Sat.: 9:00am - 10:00pm
$$$ (within reach)
Master Card
Visa
American Express
Diners Club |
Related Restaurants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MBO Toronto :: Toronto Restaurants & Dining Guide
