Perla Restaurant in Toronto

539 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1A9, Canada

★★★★★
(356 reviews)
Categories: Portuguese restaurant

About

Casual eatery with a comfortable vibe, a menu of Portuguese-inspired dishes & a patio.

Address
539 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1A9, Canada
Plus Code
MH4Q+69 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy Romantic
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
Parking
Paid street parking

Photos

Reviews

4.7
★★★★★
356 reviews

Most Mentioned

paella (33) patio (23) calamari (9) sardines (9) mom (9) monkfish (7) grilled octopus (6) mussels (5) college (5) gem (5)
5 stars
297
4 stars
31
3 stars
11
2 stars
7
1 stars
10
★★★★★
June 6, 2024

We purposely came here for the pealla and clams, no regrets!!! Absolutely delicious. We’ll definitely come back.

★★★★★
May 9, 2024

Loved the meal, it was extremely delicious. The server and the restaurant was homey very hospitable, it felt like a home cooked meal. A slice of Portugal in the heart of Toronto. The Octopus, Paella and Clams were divine. I will be back for sure, no doubt.

★★★
March 26, 2024

A bit surprised we were served vegetables with our octopus that were clearly frozen. The chocolate mousse was good. Salt cod was not my thing, but the fried potatoes seemed nice on top

★★★★★
August 21, 2023

Had lovely lunch at Perla Restaurant today. We enjoyed white Sangria, black sword fish, monkfish paella, seafood paella, grilled octopus & Veal cutlets. Food well prepared - home style cooking which we appreciate. Great service. Thank you!

★★★★★
March 18, 2023

It was our first time to eat at this cute restaurant. Loved all of it! It's so nice to be able to have homemade quality food in Toronto! It seems to be a family owned restaurant which makes it even more special. We will definitely be back!

★★★★★
March 13, 2023

What a lovely little place with absolutely delectable food! It’s a family run business and they definitely make their food with lot of love. Everything from the seating, ambiance, decor to the menu and service was top notch. I don’t remember the last time I had such delicious fish in a restaurant! The European sea bass was perfectly cooked with flaky inside and grilled outside. The side dishes of boiled veggies and potatoes was just perfect. The mussels were super tasty and the broth was warm and filling. You would keep going back for it on cold winter nights and you’d love it everytime. The grouper was well done too. The service was homely although be prepared to wait as it’s a family run restaurant and they seem to be a bit stretched at the kitchen. We waited for half an hour while munching on the bread and tuna dipping sauce. Time moves slowly here so be ready to have a nice and slow evening. Highly recommended and can’t wait to be back here!

★★★★★
August 30, 2022

Such a cute and nice family restaurant. Love their little patio with grapes surrounded. I even have a chance to try the grapes in our dessert. It tastes sooo sweet. Paella is excellent, quite surprising unique seasoning. Not recommend the Cesar salad, too much sauce. Love the PEI mussels with tomato and pepper in it. The dessert is quite my favourite even a little bit sweet for me. But the texture of the chocolate mousse tastes so good. A grandma’s recipe never lose!

★★★★★
August 27, 2022

Definitely the mamas and papas style restaurant with good food. It’s a family restaurant run for over 20 years. Tried their grilled seafood and happy with both of their taste and freshness. Especially the grilled Seabass! Grilled tuna was good too. Calamari was a bit dry/overall cooked. Overall a great dining experience. They also have a lovely patio in backyard. Few things could be improved: bread was dry and old, customer service could be a bit better…

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

This is a very good portuguese restaurant, food is made on the cultural way. Recommended :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

We had a lovely dinner here, the grilled octopus was amazing.

★★
August 22, 2024

Good service.

August 22, 2024

The place was closed (out of service) on the date we tried to go there. The doors were covered in paper and it just seems either temporary or permanently closed. They didn t update them on-line settings so hopefully this helps other customers

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

One of my fav restaurants

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

One of our favourite spots! Never disappoints. The food is delicious & the staff is so friendly and accommodating.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Excellent service, cozy and beautiful back patio.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

This place is a real hidden gem. Beautiful, authentic, mediterranean cuisine. SO tasty, our 4yo devoured the octopus - his first time trying it! The service was great and you get a real sense of this being a family run restaurant where everything is made with love.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Had an amazing experience, special thanks to Silvia. I might be Perla s new regular.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

A hidden gem. Excellent food, great service. True Portuguese ambience! A definite must try .

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Delicious food and very welcoming environment! The fillet of sole was our favourite of the night.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Delicious food and great service! Especially loved the custard tarts

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

As per previous reviews- this place blows any Michelin rated restaurant out of the water!!!! I challenge anyone to find a better restaurant for Portuguese food - and especially the SARDINES!!! From the service to the amazing lady in the kitchen - they are great!!! Highly recommend!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

The lady who runs it was incredibly nice and friendly as well.

★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Family restaurant with a cute interior. We ordered the seafood rice and grilled octopus. Octopus didnt look or taste grilled. It just tasted like pre-boiled octopus from the grocery store. All the seafood in the seafood rice was overcooked. The rice itself was flavorless. It was not seafood rice. It was more like white rice mixed in seafood broth. It was quite expensive too. Definitely not coming back or recommending it to anyone.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Very pleasant family restaurant with a good atmosphere. The food is good and the manager is lovely! I recommend it! (Special mention for the home fries which were excellent)

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Everything was amazing. It s so cozy that it feels like being with your family, waiting for Mom s food. 100% recommended.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Food was delicious and great service! Thank you all

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Amazing food, amazing service, feels like you re being hosted for a meal by the whole family. It was a great experience!

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Food was outstanding and everyone in the restaurant is amazing!

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Always great. I have eaten here many, many times.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Best Portuguese food in Toronto by far !!!!!

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Excellent service and food and beautiful decor. The owner is so kind and attentive. I will definitely be back!

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

From the first moment you know that you will have an excellent experience. The food is delicious. We started with the sardines and then I had the octopus. There was no loss. Highly recommended, one of my favorites in the city of Toronto.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Everything was nice and lovely come here every weekend for dinner love it!!

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

First time at Perla and will definitely be coming back. Silvia was so hospitable. Tia Maria cooks for the entire restaurant all on her own. 11/10 authentic Portuguese food.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

An underrated restaurant in Toronto for Portuguese food! Came as a duo for Friday night dinner and had the best paella, mussels and grilled octopus. I d definitely be back here. The portion sizes are incredible for the price, and there is a range of food that is suitable for many occasions.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Great spot for Portuguese food! One thing I will say, is plan to sit and enjoy your stay. It can take a little while for food and service but it s nice. It s a more relaxed vibe. I had the grilled calamari appetizer and the veal for my main. Our group also went with the server s recommendations (including my choose to get the veal). We were all happy with what was recommended. They brought us some bread but it was toasted and really hard. I didn t love that. The food took a bit and was nice but not the most beautiful. It was very tasty though! Our server was incredibly nice and our glasses were never empty. She took extra care when splitting the bill for us and we had a great time.

April 22, 2024

The food is ok, but the beer is way too expensive. Marked as $2.3 each at LCBO but sold $10 bucks here. I didnt check the beer menu before ordering but didnt expect to be this expensive. I feel the price is discriminated. Remember always to check the price before ordering beer.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Very good food of good raw materials - delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

This place was very charming and right off the bat with the bread + homemade butter & pate you knew you were in for a treat. Recommend the octopus and the monkfish for sure.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Simply superb. I stopped by for a quick lunch and was treated to one of the finest meals I ve ever eaten. Garlic shrimp and Caesar salad. Simply sublime. And a very downhome friendly atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Stopped in for takeout. Very homey restaurant with solid home cooked like food

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Amazing traditional Portuguese food, beautifully decorated and affordable! A most try!

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Really great food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Enjoyed a nice dinner here before going out to see a show. A nice enjoyable meal, Ma & Pa style home cooked Portuguese food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Our whole experience was wonderful. The service was fantastic. The food was amazing. Everything we had, octopus, calamari, salmon, & pineapple dessert was cooked to perfection! We will definitely be back. Food : 5/5

★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

I was excited to try this restaurant given the reviews on here, and the photos of the food that looked delicious! Unfortunately, my experience didnt quite match some others on here. I would like to start by saying that I do understand that it was a fairly full Friday night, we were a party of 6, and there was only one person working the tables. However, it did take about 45 minutes from when our full party was seated to get water, bread, and about an hour total to get an order. The portions even for a full option were okay, perhaps unexpectedly a little small. The seafood was quite good - highlight being the sardines and the grilled calamari. However I would not recommend the meats (veal chop and the cubed pork), I just think seafood is their stronger option as the meat was quite fatty or in the porks case, quite dry. The fries were hot, but soggy :( I would like to comment on the paella seeing as that seems to be a highlight and a best seller, it certainly was...different from other paellas I have had, especially spanish ones. Very saucy, with peas, some version of chorizo, chicken, and seafood in it. Seafood was the highlight here, the chicken was dry, the chorizo didnt add much to the dish, and the peas werw an odd choice. The sauce was skme kind of cream base, I think. Perhaps Portuguese paella is different. Regardless I would not highlight it. The white and red ports were very good. I recommend those. Overall the atmosphere of the restaurant was very nice. Quite cozy inside. Beware...the menu is a little hard to read in the low light! Didnt hit the spot, wasnt very satisfying, but if you are looking for a Portuguese spot with some small seafood tasters then I think its okay.

★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Authentic Portuguese food Best highlight is Paella and seafood in general

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of dining at this quaint, and cozy family run restaurant. Great food, and wonderful service. Sylvia, and her mom are a very hard working team!

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Hidden gem. Perfect comfort food. Homemade chouriço. Family run with such incredible hospitality.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Excellent food. All the best

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

The paella was the best Ive ever had the owner also recommended custard as dessert, we split one because we were so full but I was absolutely delicious definitely coming back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

loved it, mussels appetizer was great especially with the bread. hostess was really nice and accomadating Food

★★★★
January 22, 2024

Paella was good but extremely pricey.

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Very good fish/seafood-focused Portuguese family-style restaurant serving simple, yet flavourful dishes in a warm and comforting atmosphere. The grilled sea bass was among the best plate of fish Ive ever had in my life. Very fresh ingredients. A great dining option in Little Italy. Food

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Definitely one of the best lamb chops I ve ever had!! The staff was very friendly too, it s clear that their food is made with a lot of love. 10/10, would eat here again!! :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Had the pleasure of enjoying a lovely meal at Perla this Friday evening with my husband. Immediately when we walked in, it felt like I was back in Portugal in my small town at a local restaurant...so warm and inviting and the family that owns the place are so sweet and welcoming! I felt like I was going to my Avos house for dinner. The soup we were served was deliciously homemade (with love) the mussels were to die for (that tomato sauce was amazing we wanted to lick the plate) I had the grilled squid (Lulas) and my husband had the Filete (which was soft like butter and the best we ever tried) Everything was delicious, great quality, the service was incredible, the atmosphere is relaxed and cozy and felt nostalgic. You can tell by their food that this family works very hard and really know how to treat their customers. I highly HIGHLY recommend Perla if you are looking for AUTHENTIC Portuguese food. It doesnt get any closer to home than this! ~Muito obrigado, nós apreciamos a sua comida.

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

If you want a true experience, come to Perla. Order the Sardinhas. Order the Octopus. Order the Mousse. It s incredible. The family environment makes you feel right at home. It makes you feel like you re supposed to be there. Don t skip this for anything else, because you won t have anything else like Perla.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Cozy and quiet little Portuguese restaurant which what I was exactly looking for. The only server here who assisted us was very nice and friendly. Dishes were superb and it definitely reminded me of the food I had in Portugal. I recommend this place to anyone interested - the paella is a must try!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Delicious Portuguese home cooking. Light and delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

We reserved a table after this restaurant was recommended by an acquaintance. Food was amazing, we ordered a paella, shrimp soup and a grilled octopus and they all came out amazing! Everything was cooked just the way we like it and even the simplest boiled vegetables that were served with the grilled octopus are very well seasoned. 20/10 for me!

★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Had paella, pretty great for a Portuguese one. Missing a variety of ingredients like valenciana one. The venue is very eclectic in the interior design which felt very European and had the kid doing homework behind the counter, which shows is the real deal. Authentic Portuguese jewel.

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

The best sardines ever Sylvia makes you feel at home . The Chef is from the old country everything is homemade

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Yummy food and lovely staff. Will be coming back !

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Authentic Portuguese food! The service was great and the food was delicious. Definitely recommend if you re looking for a cozy spot with homemade food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The best home made delicious food in Toronto! You can not find this level of super tasty food anywhere else. The most unique opportunity in Toronto to eat mouth watering fresh flavourful healthy and hearty food! I love this place. Wonderful service and feels like home. Would eat here every week if I could!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Delicious. Wonderful. Home made like grandmothers cooking. Very rare. Such kind hosts. One of our absolute favourites. Highly recommend to anyone - families, couples, individuals!!! The best!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best restaurant in the city! True hidden gem! If that s not enough to lure you in, the way Sylvia and the family treat their guests like family will! The sea bass is melt in your mouth good!! Best fish in the city! Meats are excellent too. If you want a real treat get the sliced fries that s a treat! I cannot say it enough, Perla is the best and Sylvia and her family are the best!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Visited yesterday, totally satisfied, was my first ever experience with Portegees food. Delicious sea food, top services and not to mention the fresh Nata made specially for us.. Yammi Thank you for your kindnesses

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Nice family place With good Portuguese food But nothing fancy.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing food!!! Great family behind the kitchen and serving their own family recipes. Authentic food. You won t be disappointed.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Always amazing! Delicious food and amazing people.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Were at a funeral in the area and looked for a Portuguese restaurant to have a bite before heading home. Did we luck out! Amazing family restaurant with everything cooked with love. Great wine selection, lots of daily specials, and a large menu to choose from. And when the food arrived the table went silent as we dove into our delicious meals. We will be back in a few months to enjoy the patio.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Had a wonderful lunch today. food was amazing and service was second to none!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best Portuguese seafood in the city, the polvo grilhado was perfectly tender. The monk fish was amazing. Will be going back again soon.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Started off with a caldo verde soup and oh wow!!!!! A must. Had the sardine appetizer and omg, perfectly done. For the entree had octopus and it was finger licking good. Ended our meal with house made custards pastel de nata and that blew us away. Honestly you feel like you re eating at home. The simplicity of the dishes and yet such refined flavours were incredible. Kudos to the chef and the server.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This is a very clean and cozy store Had a great experience here I heard from the boss that it has been open for many years. I was pleasantly surprised when I ate there for the first time. I m looking forward to sitting in the courtyard and eating in the summer. The boss is very friendly and patiently introduces each dish Will visit again

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Really good food. Amazing service. Really enjoy. Thank you for service!!! Kid-friendliness: Assiettes pour enfant different suggérer.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The food was absolutely amazing and the experience was even better. Thank you Silvia and Katherine for the best experience with your families restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food and excellent service. I recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Stopped for a quick lunch and had a great meal! The sea-bass was cooked perfectly and still had crispy outer skin, which was extremely surprising. The paella was also loaded with toppings, it was extremely rich and was an amazing pair with the light sea-bass! Will definitely come again when I m in the neighbourhood!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Had their version of paella. Different but excellent. My girlfriend had their whole fish. Which was nothing short of amazing. Possibly the best fish Ive had in a restaurant. The food was excellent! Everything was so tasty. The service was excellent. We were served by the owner. The restaurant closes at 9:00pm and we arrived at 8:00pm. They didnt rush us at all but next time well go a little earlier. This place is a find but sshhhhh or itll get too crowded.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Authentic Portuguese food made by a really delightful family! Highly recommend!! Kid-friendliness: Owner brought over toys for my 1 year old

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Go here!!!!!! There arent enough words to describe how amazing this restaurant is. I have no complaints. The food is worth the price (you get really good portions and everything is cooked to perfection). The Paella is especially good. Everything tastes fresh, authentic/homemade and healthy. It is a family business and they take so much pride in ensuring that the experience is up to standard. The atmosphere is great and family friendly. The service is wonderful. The interior is quaint. This is easily one of the best restaurants I have gone to in my life! I highly recommend!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The paella was great. The meat was dry unfortunately. Good wine choice.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

La Perla did not disappoint! The homemade bread plus the patte was an absolute bomb. Paella was a 10/10. Never knew sardines could taste that great. And of course the specially made pasta.. amazing! I highly recommend this place.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We had dinner last night at this restaurant with our family. The food was amazing and the service was excellent. The special paella was amazing! Home cooking at its best! Our nephew finished my plate as I could not eat any more! Silivie was fantastic and the highlight was her happy cute daughter just chatting away, and super happy! If we lived here we would frequent this place!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Excellent place, delicious food, fresh products, highly recommended

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Fantastic service and food. The delights of d. Maria helps to satisfy the longing for mommys food. The octopus was perfect, and the grilled veal with mushrooms was phenomenal. To finish, a homemade chocolate mousse. Everything served with the friendliness of Sílvia with the help of little Catarina, lol. A family that opens the doors of its home and serves Portuguese delicacies with quality and good prices. I highly recommend it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I had Paella, it was delicious and freshly made! I had Paella for dinner, the food was delicious and freshly prepared! :) 100% recommended

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The meat was so good...and the dessert was so delicious. We will be back

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Delicious food and very comfy atmosphere. Went with grilled sardines, paella and stake T-bone. Recommended

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This has been a Good Friday tradition for my family for the last 4 years. Nice little family run restaurant with amazing food. Service is good and prices are in line with the quality and taste of the dishes! It is definitely worth the drive all the way from London! Would recommend to anyone in the area who would like to try some delicious Portuguese dishes:)

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food of the highest quality that starts from the freshness of the ingredients. Family run restaurant with home cooked tastes. I had the grilled sardines as an appetizer- it comes with 3 sardines, and I had the grilled octopus main. Comes with few potatoes but many vegetables that are very lightly seasoned and yet have a delicious taste- as for the octopus just perfection.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Kid-friendliness: The best experience that you can get from a restaurant. Great food and service. Hard to find a natural, authentic, and professional service in this town. Highly recommended Dietary restrictions accommodated

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great food, great service, nice patio. One of the best, if not the best, Portuguese places Ive eaten at in Toronto!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We had a totally enjoyable experience and loved the watstaff.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Beautiful restaurant with warm, friendly staff and excellent food. One of Torontos gems - thank you for the experience. :) Dietary restrictions: Family is pescatarian, many options to choose from.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Lovely family-run restaurant! Very friendly and accomodating. Food there is excellent! Like home cooking! Fish of the day, steak, all wonderful! Food : 5/5

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

A great family restaurant with a variety of authentic dishes. Three different dishes tonight was three different successes. Awesome great service.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Everything was excellent. Dessert was amazing. Food

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good Portuguese cuisine

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Love this spot. Authentic, delicious food.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food was okay. I was expecting a different taste of paella. Service was just okay as well coz there s only 1 server so you gotta wait for long lol. Also, they don t have POS so everything is manual

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Small portions Extremely overpriced Quality is not good at all Its definitely family run with family running around and arguing

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Service was great, atmpsphere was amazing, food was bland, overpriced and small. We paid 100+ for two and we walked out hungry and disappointed.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Feels like home cooked meal from Portugal. Not a sophisticated culinary experience but hearty and friendly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Lovely place, really enjoyed the atmosphere and the wonderful tasting food. Service was great - staff was always friendly, courteous and professional despite the place being quite busy when we arrived. We had a birthday cake with us and it was very well taken care of! Thanks a mil for the absolutely amazing experience :) would recommend for sure!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We came here for my birthday dinner and couldn t be happier. Sweet family run restaurant with excellent service and even better food. We each had a bitoque (5 oz steak with an egg, fries, and mushroom sauce) and a shrimp bisque soup and chorizo as an appetizer. Everything was incredible. Very quiet, cozy atmosphere, feels like you re having dinner in Avõ backyard. Will be back again

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Have been here a few times and the food is consistently top notch regardless of what I order. This is a quaint, family run restaurant with a lovely, friendly atmosphere. The food is made fresh to order, so please dont rush them. It will be worth it!! Today we we had a leisurely Sunday lunch on their backyard patio reminiscent of Europe. Fabulous!!!!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Excellent food with a great family atmosphere.

December 22, 2023

Its not just about your over priced food; bland watery and undercooked rice. Its also about my credibility as a person. My friends will never let me pick a restaurant again. Anyhow friendly stuff good atmosphere will not visit again :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A solid 5 star experience at this really nice family owned restaurant. The whole sea bass was delicious!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Really a good place to have gathering meal with friends. A homey and comfy restaurant to dine at, and the food is very authentic too!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Amazing food, the staff is really nice. Totally recommend if you are looking for nice traditional Portuguese food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Moms and dads style restaurant with absolutely great food. It has been a family-run restaurant for over 20 years. The food is simple, authentic and delicious. A very welcoming and relaxing place, well worth a visit. This restaurant has delicious food and has been family-run for more than 20 years. Authentic Portuguese flavor, warm hospitality and pleasant environment. Its worth a try and youll definitely have a pleasant experience.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

My husband and I have been coming here since we started dating over a decade ago and it still remains our favourite dinner date spot! The service from Sylvia is always stellar and the food from Catarina is simply delicious! Their mushroom reduction sauce is *chef s kiss*! Take it from us - you need to try this hidden gem in Little Italy!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Absolutely beautiful dinner and atmosphere. The family makes you feel at home and the food is simply amazing. Thank you for one of the best meals ever. The paella is the best I ve had. Will definitely return.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The food is excellent - never had a bad meal here - service is great and a fabulous atmosphere

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious with a wide selection of wine and Portuguese food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

As good as the food in Portugal. 10/10 recommend.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

True Portuguese home tyle cooking. Always fresh and cooked to perfection.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best food I have ever had here in Canada

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing Portuguese food. Im coming here before every concert I go to in Toronto.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The best customer service with excellent food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great lunch. Felt in Portugal. Best custard in town for us so far!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Simple and homely restaurant.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great place, very good food, like visited Italy. Grazie.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

It was very nice, great experience and service

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I enjoyed my paella, it was flavourful and well portioned. The waitress was friendly and helpful. It was a nice atmosphere and seemed like a family run business. My friend had the Calamari and could it it a bit bland.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Everything very good, authentic Portuguese. Family restaurant and very friendly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Two words, SO GOOD.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Wonderful experience and food. Incredibly friendly staff!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great food!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Amazing service and great food! Good for friends and couple nights Thank you so much!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Being able to order before arriving saved a lot of time going through menus and more restaurants show allow that! The steak and fries were exceptional and the waitstaff were very friendly. My first time here and I loved the experience, atmosphere and food that I ordered!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Family style restaurant. Amazing food and great portions. Highly recommend

December 22, 2022

Bland Small portions Over priced

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Nice place, delicious food, good option!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great food. Great staff. Love the family environment and the typical Portuguese food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I cant say enough good things about this place. The food is EXCELLENT and all home-made. Their fries are especially delicious. They have a long list of wines, cute decor, and a great wait staff. Its a family run business so its a great place for families as well. Id give it more stars if I could.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

A very nice place! Staff also speaks Portuguese - a very genuine experience :).

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Lovely family own business, with delicious food. Highly recommend

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Simplicity/great fish and service provided in Portuguese/English & French provided by Silvério Júnior

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Ugh

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Where do I even begin? This is definitely a restaurant to go to if youre looking for the real deal, authentic portuguese cuisine. The clam, chorizo and octopus tapas were to die for! Lovely selection of wine and everything at a reasonable cost. I also have to mention Silvia, our server and co-owner of the restaurant who was absolutely lovely to chat with. I look forward to coming back and bring new faces with me. Muito obrigada xx

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

This place never disappoints if you are looking for a real home cooked high quality food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great Portuguese Restaurant! Delicious food!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best fish spot in town.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great food, great atmosphere

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

One of the best Portuguese restaurants in Toronto! Highly recommend their daily special paella valenciana and monkfish. The owners are really nice and it s a family run business for 22 years now

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Best Paella in Town ! The place feels like home. cozy and with the vive of a house in Portugal! 100% recommended. Also great portion and wine well served! Definitely coming back.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We support family run businesses when and as much as we can. And especially seeing the family matriarch/patriarch the ones creating all the home cooked goodness, makes me want to order every appetizer and main dish in the menu if I could. Enjoyed the tasty dishes and ate pretty much everything on the plate (except of course the olive pits and grilled sardine bones, Avó wont be upset). Tried the delicious paella valenciana (advertised at the front) but a little more rice would have been perfect. A note though that a little cheerful service from the waitress (daughter?), especially on a Saturday night, could have made our family-run restaurant dining experience better. Will try out their patio in the summer. Support The Small Business

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Food is completely bland Restaurant is empty for a reason

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Tried this place for the first time today and had a wonderful time. Everyone was extremely nice and the food was fantastic. The calamari was fantastic highly recommend to give it a try.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Nice, family-restaurant vibes with good service. The food was good! I was worried that itll be bland after reading the reviews, but I actually found it to be the opposite. The food was flavourful and more on the saltier side. Out of the three dishes, I really enjoyed the calamari!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great food and service. A place to visit again. Thank you.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The cutest, family run restaurant that served up very traditional Portuguese fare. We had incredible service and the food was freshly made with such care. They have a very nice patio area but the inside was so cozy. We had the octopus and different varieties of seafood rice. They were all delicious. A special bonus were the fresh, handmade pastries de nata.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Peaceful and cozy the people who work there are very friendly...very good menu wonderful taste

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great food and friendly service.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

It is a home away from home. With the Grandmother cooking amazing food. Kid-friendliness: They bring their own children and family to dine there We love that.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Restaurant empty for a reason Paella Valencia felt like recooked frozen ingredients with broth dumped over

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

I was able to enjoy each and every menu item very deliciously and enjoyably in the cozy and comfortable backyard. I was happy to be able to enjoy delicious Portuguese food, wine, and dessert.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great place with a top notch backyard dining area and all of the best Portuguese specialties from octopus to cod to pork.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Outstanding dinner and service! The food was amazing and the atmosphere was beautiful! The service was also amazing and she was very nice!! :)

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

good food, fair prices, and good service.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This place is cute and comfortable. Good for families and date nights. Food is simple home cooked meals, hard working family for sure. Mom, dad and daughter are working truly hard and anyone can appreciate that. They have so much potential, but lack of staff makes this place a bit hard to repeat given the service is quite slow as the daughter has to do all the serving back patio, inside the restaurant and front patio. Try it and see.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Lovely patio, delicious food, & we were treated like guests in a warm, familys home. Authentic cuisine & nice wines.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Good food, nice atmosphere, friendly staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Perla serves the kind of tasty home cooking that I love about Portuguese restaurants. I had the Paella Valenciana. It was brimming with fresh seafood. Delicious. The custard tarts are to die for.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great dinner was had here.

December 22, 2022

Ordered the paella with seafood and was sick after due to the lack of freshness of the seafood.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

perfect

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best Portuguese Restaurant out there! You won t regret it!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

My son and I were visiting Toronto from the UK. We were walking around trying to find Little Italy when we came across this little gem and decided to have lunch. What a cute cosy place to eat! The daughter who served us was extremely welcoming. We both had the paella from the special board which was absolutely delicious! I highly recommend this place for a taste of home cooked Mediterranean food. Thank you Perla!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great little restaurant. The food and the service were really good. Recommended.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Reminds me of eating in Portugal. So fresh, clean, and tasty. You leave full without feeling gross because the dishes are not loaded with butter and cream. Highly recommend the collard green soup, grilled grouper, and paella. They were sold out of pastel de nata before we arrived (apparently they are amazing) but the passionfruit pudding was still delicious. Server was attentive and knew the menu well. Food arrived quickly. Wine list is good too!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

We went to Toronto for my moms birthday and always love to try Portuguese restaurants while were in town. It was a cute and cozy family-run spot, great for Portuguese people or those looking to try some Portuguese cuisine. I had the filet of sole and it was delicious. My parents had the sea bass and it was even better! The bread, wine and appetizers were also great. My mom also said the creme caramel was the best shes had. Definitely recommend!

December 22, 2022

Don t believe the reviews folks. They must have been posted by friends and family. I had seafood pasta. It was a bowl of watery, rubbery noodles with overcooked seafood and a dab of flavorless tomato sauce in the middle. My wife had an overcooked paella that smelled and tasted rancid. Neither one of us got more that three bites in. Amazingly, that was enough to make us both sick. They should be embarrassed to serve such poor quality food at any price, and it wasn t cheap. Service was terrible. We left hungry. They should hire a chef.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Always delicious and healthy options here. I love Perlas!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Delicious food and great service. The server was nice. Kid-friendliness: Crayons and paper mat for drawing Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

One of the best restaurants in Toronto. Great food, great service and amazing environment, indoors or outdoors (theres a cozy patio opened at the back during summertime). Home made style Portuguese food cooked by the adorable Maria and served by her equally adorable daughter. Ive been eating there for the last 4 years and it has never disappointed me, whether Ive gone with my family, a date or a group of friends. As an European immigrant, I feel transported to my native town anytime I taste any of their exquisite dishes. A feast to the mouth. A free ride to the Iberian Peninsula.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Has delicious seafood linguine. Will definitely come back

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Was in neighbourhood and had a wonderful lunch. Server knew the menu and what would would not be suitable for my food allergy. Had grilled fish perfectly done served with veg and rice impeccably done fined with a lovely airy carmel mousse and pot of peppermint tea. Lovely lunch thank you

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Friendly staff and lovely atmosphere. I had the monkfish rice stew special. Very welcoming and chill place, worth checking out.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Amazing place (cozy)! The food was so delicious and fresh. The service was awesome! I definitely recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Authentic Portuguese cuisine. Deliciously incredible.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Authentic experience run by a Portuguese family and an excellent dinner and friendly service. We will definitely be coming back for dessert and coffee soon! Muito obrigado!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

This is a family run, authentic Northern Portuguese Restaurant on Carlton. The food is like home cooked and really good quality. They seem to know the finer points of Portuguese cuisine. Silvia, who runs the place is a real caring and patient person and works real hard to make everyone welcomed, comfortable and served without long waits. Her recommendations are perfect. Our Starters were the grilled sardines and the calamari. Very fresh and cooked to perfection. They also serve you their house speciality pate with pieces of bread. We then tried the traditional cod fish which is served with potatoes and steamed veggies. The cured pork with clams and potatoes was to die for. The steaks served with fries were good, but remember that they are home style. So dont expect a Keg style steak. Was surprised that homely places like this one, survived the pandemic lock downs. We must patronize and keep alive such family run restaurants which believe in treating all their patrons like family and for dishing out good food for a reasonable price.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Good , very good !!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Fantastic home-cooked food

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

So delicious and friendly!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Authentic Portuguese fare. Homey, cozy atmosphere. Sever/owner? Recommended Paella and Motherly cook fixed excellent dish.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

My hidden gem! My world may change but Perla stays amazing. Whenever I need to sit down with my closest friends and family Perla provides! Thanks for the love you put in your food and your consistency. Muito obrigado

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great food!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Pelha a valenciana dish was amazing. Food here is very good and very traditional family owned and operated. Very kind

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Family run delicious Portuguese cooking. Very friendly with good value.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

A true family run, home cooked, and authentic joint. Great service and friendly staff.