243 King St E, Toronto, ON M5A 1J9, Canada
Ardo is a Sicilian Michelin recognized restaurant in the heart of downtown.
Food was delicious, and service was excellent. The server knows menu inside out, the food was very flavourful and didn’t make you feel bloated /yucky afterwards. Simplistic/small ish restaurant, nothing is overly fancy, just really good food.
8.5/10 Love it as usual would recommend! PANELLE (Fried chickpea chips) 12/10 so addicting SICILIAN PESTO (on the special) 7/10 CON LE SARDE 10/10 will be getting again BRASATO (beef short rib) 6/10 was good to have and definitely tasted good but didn’t blow be away, will try something else next time
We had a three course dinner at Ardo the other night. All aspects of this meal were fantastic. This is a place that pays attention to detail. Here’s what we had: Starters - pizzas and beef carpaccio. The carpaccio is a standout bathed in a beautiful olive oil. It’s memorable. Both pizzas were light and extremely tasty - veggie and meat version. Entrees - pasta ragu was excellent. The pasta is prepared fresh on the premises. The sauce is authentic. The meal is absolutely perfect for a cold fall evening. The braised beef is another comfort food classic that this place does really well. A tad on the dry side but the taste more than makes up for it. Desert - panocotta and cannolis. The cannolis was absolutely perfect and authentic and the panocotta had a hint of fennel and lemon which made for a very light but memorable desert. The service was welcoming, friendly and attentive. I would not hesitate to recommend this place. I will certainly be back.
great little spot very stylish yet old world, and friendly great wine selection good bartender knowledgeable snd professional host and great food. Had a good time. Thank you.
We came here for a work anniversary, and what an experience! Get the Panelle, get the Gnocchi, get the special of the day! You will not be disappointed. This is a charming restaurant, with incredible service, and dishes that will leave you wanting to try more! Paula our waitress was top notch, she described our menu with such precision and detail it set the stage for a culinary delight… and the food did not disappoint. Arguably, the best gnocchi I’ve ever had in my life! We are definitely coming back to try other dishes. Thank you Ardo!
Had the pleasure of visiting for an anniversary. It was a nice change dining while seeing the chefs working. We both enjoyed the food of this Michelin star restaurant. However… It was a bit bothersome having our water topped up every time they passed our table. It was difficult to have an intimate conversation. Hopefully they consider this. Either way, me and the wife did enjoy the food. We recommend the Polpo, and Salsiccia
The food was simply delicious although a bit pricey with smaller portions for the $$ but in my opinion, worth it. They also serve Sicilian wine, which is different in a good way from what you usually see in other restaurants. I highly recommend you to order the tuna carpaccio with Kima (white wine) to start off!
Came here for dinner and was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance and the tasty food. It can be on the pricier side but still worth trying! We got the tuna carpaccio and octopus to start - both were delicious but pricey and smaller portions relative to price point. We ordered 3 pastas to try between the two of us as the portions were smaller. We enjoyed all three pastas - highly recommend the ragu and the gamberi. The sauce ratio is just perfection. We also ordered the special pasta of the day which was somewhat of a fennel pesto variation. All in all, had a great dining experience with the exception that service was just very very slow. We dined for 2.5 hours because of how slow our waiter was (not the kitchen itself). Would recommend!
Amazing experience at Ardo, food was to die for, atmosphere was perfect and the service from Alessandro and the crew was amazing, makes you feel right at home. An Italian gem in the city. Would highly recommend! - Francesco
The food was bland, we were given a table in a dark hidden corner where the staff kept passing by with the food. We didnt enjoy the atmosphere or the food. I informed this to the person in charge and he just made the excuse that he had too many customers, well I was one of them.
Amazing food and excellent service. Will be back again. Highly recommend
Thank you for a wonderful dining experience. Great service from Paula. Cheers!
We tried 2 different pastas and loved them, smaller portion than usual. The cannoli was really good as well. It s a pricier place
The gnocchi and the chickpea fritters are a favourite of mine. Also tried one of the 0% mocktails this time, limone something. It was delicious!
Wonderful small spot. Good was very tasty and staff were friendly and helpful. I will be back
The atmosphere and decor is non existant. Very cold, a bit like the service. The food was good, nothing really out of the ordinary. Very expensive for what you get. Unlike with Davo (closed unfortunately), the experience was not good and won t be repeated . Not recommended.
Had a wonderful meal, with delicious food and a thoughtful wine list. Service was attentive and knowledgeable. All the food was delicious but the creme brulee with orange was fabulous and so comforting on a cold evening.
Very friendly. Very busy on a Saturday night. Good food and nice atmosphere.
Too small portions compared to what you pay
Absolutely loved it! Congrads Chef Roberto and your lovely wife, Jacqueline for an amazing, relaxed uber tasty dining experience. So grateful to have dined in your opening week. I can only imagine how amazing your Resto will be in the future. Sublime simple tasty sauces, perfectly balanced well cooked meats - a true taste of REAL Italian cooking. Great service and relaxed friendly ambiance. I look forward to becoming a regular.
The staff were excellent, but the food was just okay. Delicious chickpea fritter starter and cannolis for dessert! Unfortunately, they missed with the entrees. The truffle pasta didnt have much of a truffle taste, was expecting something more elevated. The sardine pasta was surprisingly bland and the texture was a bit off-putting.
Unfortunately, my experience at Ardo has been disappointing. This is my second visit and both times were lacking attention. Our drinks came out 40 mins after seating. Meals came out 1 hr after seating. Food was also average for Michelin. Definitely not worth the hype. Will not go back again. Bye Ardo.
One of our favorite places in our neighbourhood. Food is always superb, our server Adrienne gave us great service, attentive, gave an excellent wine pairing suggestion, overall always a good experience here.
Amazing Sicilian restaurant. Excellent food and courtesy
really great food, pricey this side of Sicily, but it is toronto. like i cant afford to eat here all the time, but im pretty happy when i can and when i do
2024.10.19 Exquisite little Italian restaurant! Located in a popular neighborhood. The dishes are exquisite, small in quantity and delicious. After finishing the main course, I had to buy another piece of bread to cushion my meal .
thank you for a beautiful meal - somehow they managed to make a simple taste magically elevated. very nice. Food : 5/5
Very tasty food, deserts were delicious. Although a bit pricey. Service was good. Note that the restaurant is very loud, we were 3 and had a hard time to hear each others and not due to our age!
Amazing
I had an amazing experience at ARDO over the weekend! Their food was amazing! You must try the Gnocchi. The ambience is unmatched! I cant think of a more perfect spot for date night!
My boyfriend, sister and I came here for dinner. The service was very quick, professional and friendly. The server took pity on my bf for sharing everything with us so he slipped him a free cannoli, which was delicious (as we still forced him to share!) Gnocci, the sausage pasta and crème brûlée were amazing. We went to Bar Ardo just before for some cocktails, equally fantastic drinks, service and atmosphere. Will definitely be returning!
Amazing place with super friendly staff and great open kitchen. We ate dinner while visiting Toronto with the family. Food was super high quality ( we had pasta Salciccia and pasta with Black Truffle) prepared with the typical Italian love paired with a great glass of wine. What stood out was how friendly and accomodative they were to our 7 year old daughter. I can only recommend and say thanks
i love this place great food great customer service
Amazing place. Food is delicious. Perfect place for a date night
Love love love this place The food was outstanding. One of the best in the neighborhood. Definitely worth trying. Highly recommend. Will be back surely Food : 5/5
Took my sister her for a bd lunch, it was great. Our server, Paula was amazing. She is a credit to this little, cozy restaurant with yummy choices. Try the Gnocchi!
Impeccable! Everything extremely delicious and polite service
Good diverse menu
The pasta was salty and overly fishy. Just a really disappointing and expensive experience
The best restaurant! The pizzas are delicious, the best I had. Pasta (ragù and gnocchi) where good. I would go again, and try more pizzas, and have the Norma (eggplant) again for sure. Worth going !
I was not a fan of the food but the service was great.
Good pasta and a nice place for lunch. Service was a touch slow (considering the restaurant was pretty empty) but was still a lovely meal.
Perfect food, drinks and service. Cannot say enough good things about this restaurant.
Loved the all the meals and the Sicilian wine we were recommended. I d be back for the wine but would defiantly head to their Bar down the street.
I walked into the establishment on an impromptu lunch. We loved the service, our waitress was absolutely lovely! And the plates were very beautiful and we enjoyed them. However, upon getting home some hours later, I started to experience the symptoms of food poisoning. And at first I thought maybe it was something only I had come in contact with, but my cousin called to ask if I too was experiencing these awful symptoms. We only had lunch together at Ardo, and parted ways. So we know for sure unfortunately that our meal there was the cause of our ailments. I was in a horrible state for 20 hrs and my cousin had to miss 2 days of work. She was violently ill. Not what you would expect eating at such a highly esteemed restaurant.
This place is cute, but strange. A friend and I had dinner here tonight. I m celiac and asked if I could substitute something else for the sourdough that came with the tartare; the bartender said, we can work something out for sure - then brought me the tartare by itself. When I asked if there ended up being any subs for the bread, he said, unfortunately no, we don t do any substitutes . I wondered if I d misheard him initially but my friend commented to me that the sequence of events was so strange. The tartare itself was mediocre. Next, the chef spilled the mussels I ordered for my main all over my skirt (and apologized profusely, but it added to the unfortunateness of this whole experience). 5 of the ~20 mussels were not open, indicating they were not safe to eat. My friend was served a comically small tenderloin for his steak and frites that had a 1.5in diameter. Lastly, when the bartender asked if we wanted dessert, I said maybe, we d take a look ! To which he replied, Ok, well you let me know if your maybe turns into a yes. and turned away from us. All in all 3/5 food, odd service. It s a pretty bar, though.
The gnocchi was a huge disappointment. I saw others recommend it, but I don t know why. It s served with ~10 small cubes of carrot and porcini, barely visible. My wife s dish was great, but alas, for $30 I expected good food.
Very cozy place.
Great service, great food. Highly recommend for a fun night out.
Good food. Authentic Italian food with authentic Italian waiters! Nice place. Worth a visit.
Unforgettable Dining Experience at Ardo - A Culinary Gem! From the moment we stepped into Ardo, we knew we were in for something special, and oh, how the experience surpassed our expectations! The ambiance of the restaurant immediately set a warm and inviting tone, making us feel welcomed and excited for the meal ahead. Our waiter, Ahmer, was nothing short of phenomenal. His attentiveness, knowledge of the menu, and recommendations were spot-on, ensuring our dining experience was personalized and memorable. He truly understands the art of service and made us feel exceptionally cared for throughout our meal. Now, let s talk about the culinary masterpieces we had the pleasure of indulging in - the Gnocchi and Margarita Pizza. Each dish was a revelation in its own right. The Gnocchi was pillowy soft, melting in the mouth with a rich, flavorful sauce that was perfectly balanced. It was, without a doubt, the best we ve ever had. As for the Margarita Pizza, it was a testament to how simplicity, when executed with top-notch ingredients and skill, can result in something extraordinary. The crust was impeccably thin and crispy, the sauce was vibrant and tangy, and the mozzarella had just the right amount of melt and stretch. The service at Ardo can only be described as next-level. Every staff member we interacted with was gracious and efficient, contributing to an overall atmosphere of excellence and attention to detail. In conclusion, our visit to Ardo was an unforgettable journey of culinary delight. It s a rare find that combines exceptional service, a cozy atmosphere, and dishes that are both comforting and exquisite. A huge thank you to Ahmer and the entire team at Ardo for making our evening so special. We can t wait to return and relive the experience all over again. Highly recommended especially for a date night!
I love Ardo. It a small restaurant with great Sicilian food, and the best part for aging customers or younger health-conscious clients is that the portions are a good size, satisfying but not stomach-busting. The plates leave you wanting more -- so you share a dessert, and its enough. The last time I ate there, my friend and I had pasta dishes: she had the ragu, and I had a lemony pasta made with a Sicilian nut oil. It was delicious. As we have before, we ordered the rapini side dish to share, because it is so wonderful it goes with everything. The waiter Giorgio was delightful, a world traveller improving his English from place to place, but loving Italian restaurants that remind him of home. He picked a great wine for me, after I tasted the Sicilian wine and didnt like it. The atmosphere is not much different from the French restaurant that used to be here quite a while ago. Tables are close together, but the conversations dont travel to other tables. The atmosphere is comfortable, cozy, but with a modern vibe for the counter eating where you can watch the chefs work.
Incredible Italian food. The flatbread pizza is fantastic. The pastas are fantastic. I think I ordered the whole menu. Great place
Excellent service but mediocre food.
Good food great service portions on the smaller side, IMO, nice atmosphere. I like the gnocchi was done just right a great textures and flavour
I enjoyed it~ I made a reservation for the chef bar seat. The server was friendly The food was delicious too. I visited after seeing the Michelin Guide. It was a dish that tasted as good as I expected^^
Its a cozy and intimate setting!! Exceptional service and great dishes and dessert! Check it out. You wont be disappointed !
Great service, great steak, great pasta, great cocktails, great wine selection, and overall great experience!! Highly recommend
The menu looks good based on the paper, on the new cuisine side but in the reality it is very pretentious and the dishes are very poor: the octopus was chewy and flavorless, the pizza was more than average and definitely not worth the price ( cooking the prosciutto? Really?) And the waggu pasta tasted like regular bolognese pastas. The service was a nightmare from the beginning to the end, had to wait our first dish for one hour, waiter forgot our sparkling water, we had to ask for the menu, the payment terminal was not working so we had to pay in 2 times....well, not a good experience at all and really wonder how they obtain the Michelin guide reward posted on the wall!
My friends and I wandered in here by accident this past week. The service was absolutely incredible. They also spoke to us about our new cocktail bar which we will definitely be checking out. Thank you for a lovely experience
Fantastic food and drinks. Best gnocchi Ive ever had. I was alone for supper and the barman and manager talked with me all evening, even offered me digestivs, great evening. Food
The gnocchi and ragu were fantastic! We also had the arancino and panelle and they were delicious too! Oh, and the cannoli! We got to meet Jacqueline and received fantastic service from Ben. Highly recommended!
Wonderful service. Delicious food.
My Arancino was cold inside!! This lighting at our table was so dark that I couldnt tell what whatre in the Gamberi until looking at the photo after I left. Capriccisa pizza was the best among what we ordered. I notice other waiters were doing good job but our waiter was too laid back, like hes walking on the beach and didnt care much about asking how we found the food or would have more drinks.
Dinner for 4. Great Service... Thank you Ben. Food and recommendations were exceptional. Lovely atmosphere too.
Love the dining experience and the owner was surprised we were a big group. W loved the food! Will definitely be going back. 3rd year in a row, this restaurant is our go to every Valentines.
Had a delicious dinner here with friends. It was fully booked and took them a few minutes to set our table but the wait was worth it! The restaurant is small and cozy with an open kitchen which was exciting to watch. We had the special pizza, scallops and cocktails to start. The pizza was delicious and a perfect start to the meal for 4 people to share. Each one of us ordered a pasta as well. The gamberi tasted great, I just wish the shrimp was left in tact vs being chopped up like it was. All other pastas and the gnocchi were delicious, highly recommended!
Great service and atmosphere. Food was good but I would say was missing a wow factor, but overall solid. If youre looking for a low key Italian spot in downtown, give it a shot. Try their gnocchi.
Great food and good service. They have very nice food and sparkling drinks. This is actually my third time dinner in this nice, small restaurant. We(3 people) tried pizza salumi, another one with beef, Brasato,Panna cotta and Acciughe tonight. All food are tasty and cooked well. Pizzas and pastas(I tried before) are increddible but the Brasato is much more close to normal according to its prize. Desserts always give me suprise, the penna cotta have very strong taste of spices and just the right amount of sweetness. Our waiter is very nice and sweet too, can t wait to visit and try more food next time!
Some of the best Sicilian (Italian/seafood) food in town. Its very cozy so Id recommend you book ahead especially if you have larger group.
One of my favorite places in Toronto. The food is amazing and everything is extremely reasonable. Very small and boutique but a neighborhood favorite! The staff is always very friendly and the bolognese is a must try!
This is a true find if you would like knowledgeable staff, wonderful food and a hip downtown vibe.
Excellent all around. Great food and service. One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the area. Squid ink pasta was exquisite. Gnocchi made fresh and authentic
Cute and cozy. Food is fantastic! Service is amazing. One of fav spots in Toronto.
Sat at the chefs bar and watched them cook my meal. Best meal Ive had in months. Go here. Its delicious.
The worst service I ve had. Made us feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, and completely ruined an evening. One specific server completely single-handedly ruined the mood, the rest were lovely. Pasta was okay, pizza was very good. Unfortunate that a single server (who came off judgemental from the moment we entered, who did not ask if we would like to order any drinks, who hovered by our table without inquiring how the food was but simply hovered) completely ruined the dinner.
Starting with the best: The panna cotta was delicious, I would definitely go back just to try it again. I also tried the octopus which I was craving for and then had the ragu pasta which really wasn t as good as I expected. I could probably have a better experience trying something else.
Do yourself a favour and get the braised beef short rib with the red wine, porcini mushroom jus. I dont know what else they put in that sauce, but its amazing!
My recent dinner at Ardo was the best dining experience I ve had in Toronto in years, maybe ever. The atmosphere is perfectly balanced, the lighting is perfect, the service is warm and helpful without being overbearing, and food is exceptional. The prices are on the higher side, but it s worth it when you know your experience is going to be this flawless, especially on a special occasion. Perfect place for a romantic dinner or catching up with an old friend. Will definitely be back.
Food was really good. 5 stars if we didn t get a server who rolled his eyes twice for asking questions about the menu and was consistently condescending. Answered This is a Michelin star restaurant so we don t serve that to one of our questions.
Who is this stanky breath manager/owner being disrespectful in front of everybody because we asked for water after being seated for 10-15 mins with no water or waiter coming to see us. Food was good, but dont go for service , stanky breath man will show you what lack of professionalism really is
Amazing atmosphere, the food is delicious and authentic.
The food was way too salty and didnt have much flavour, the wine was warm, the place itself is nice and the stuff is friendly.
Best gnocchi in the city. Panna cotta to die for. Love the romantic vibe in here, for sure a classy place with good quality food.
Delicious food, and great service. Wonderful experience with my family
Great experience and definitely will go again. We ordered the burrata, capesante, spaghetti, costata, funghi, potatoes and pannacotta. Everything was flawless. The staff and atmosphere perfect! Next time I will try the other pastas and braised rib. Suggestion, dilute the price of the bread in the bill; I think that is excessive to charge $8 for 3 slices.
The manager/owner was very loudly yelling off to a table. The McDonalds on Queen & Spadina has more class than this place. Inexcusable. Based on my overall experience I will not recommend nor would I want to give the sister venue Dova a chance.
Pretentious and unprofessional service. Actually saw a waiter completely lose his temper and scream at a table! Must have been drinking on the job... Food was decent, but nothing near exceptional. Wine was too warm. Do yourself a favour and skip this one.
I was recommended from a friend to come visit this restaurant. And my experience did not disappoint at all. Food was excellent, everything felt so fresh and tasty. Panelle, arancino and cannoli made me really feel I was in Sicily. My parents enjoyed some really good red wine from Sicily with the steak for 2 and Tartufo pasta. The service was great and everybody was so friendly and attentive, made me and my family feel cared for. 100% recommended and i would definitely come back!
True authentic Sicilian food. You feel like youve landed in Italy. We were in the area and took a chance and were able to grab an early dinner reservation time slot which felt lucky since this place is commonly fully booked. The best Italian food Ive ever had. The pastas are so fresh they melt in your mouth. The flavors are luxurious and not overpowering. The portions are decent so you are full but not stuffed. We started with the bread which comes with their olive oil. They also sell bottles of their olive oil to take home and I highly recommend it. My favorite olive oil. We had the arancino, crispy, tasty and filled with beef and some veg. We ordered two pastas, I dont remember their names. One was a spaghetti like pasta with anchovy butter and truffles and cheese and it was my favourite. I could have eaten 3 bowls of it. We also ordered a second pasta which was squid ink and shrimp and tomato paste among other ingredients. It was also excellent, juicy shrimp cooked to perfection. I had a mocktail with smoked Rosemary and cranberry and it was really nice too. The space is a gorgeous cozy vibe, great service and a stunning atmosphere. Simple yet elegant. Love this place and no other place in Toronto compares to this authentic and fresh food experience
One of the best restaurant in the city and one of the best meals i have had in a long time. The pastas and pizzas are world class. Service , food and ambiance 5 out of 5.
Amazing experience. Great staff.
We went for a team event and had a great time! Service was top notch, including the table-side deboning of our red snapper (the special that day). I also tried the squid ink pasta with shrimp - loved that, and the cocktails. Would return!
My favourite Italian restaurant downtown.
Amazing short ribs and pizza. Would come back again
Always a special experience to dine here. This has become my go-to special event restaurant and it s a pleasure to introduce new people to this place. Our servers have always been and it s a delight to try whatever they recommend. Can t wait to come back!
Amazing food and fantastic service. Weve been regulars for the past four years. We always go for the burrata (simple yet tasty) and the pulpo for starters. The Ragu pasta is really good. In terms of pizza, I recommend either the Margherita or the Norma. (Note that they dont offer pizzas for lunch service) I have tried the fresh fish once before and I did not think it was that special. It depends on the type of fish though. When I had it, it was a fresh water fish.
Sicilian heaven in the heart of Toronto. This place has been my getaway for years now. Delicious food, soothing ambiance and knowledgeable staff. Food: Panelle (!!!) and Ragu pasta. So. So. So. Good. Wine go to: Chiantari Nero D Avola Drinks: Bartender makes delicious cocktails! Sicilian Margarita is a go to. Shoutout to the manager/owner for doing the amazing job. Parking: Street parking available
We ve eaten here twice and been blown away both times
Nice Italian restaurant, pleasant atmosphere and polite staff
Horrible, manager has attitude. Ruined my special occasion, never coming back don t recommend it either.
unbelievable service. came for valentine s day and the manager is absolutely horrible and gives nothing but attitude. manager could not acknowledge anything. waited over 20 minutes to be seated.. was understandable due to the occasion. we waited 45 minutes for a plate of asparagus.
Positives first: amazing service. Cute restaurant with a cozy, welcoming environment. Great wine list. Food was seriously lacklustre. With 8 people there, we ordered half of the menu and literally nothing wowed any of us. It was so so generic. I hate writing negative reviews, but this was a priceyyy dinner that couldn t have been less memorable. :( Dietary restrictions: We had one gluten free person and they were super great about it
Had an amazing dinner here. Great food, great cocktails and great service. Will be coming here again soon!!
Been here three times and it s still one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Love that I can find dishes that are native to Sicily that no one else has here. Every single item I order is always incredible. Even the cocktails are fantastic. Can t recommend this place enough. Must get the Panelle, I am addicted.
First time here and I will definitely return! Ordered the Panelle, Polpo, Ragu with an inverno cocktail and Chocolate mousse for dessert. The food and drinks were excellent. Service was top notch. I can t wait to come back.
Though the service was a tad slow, everything about this place was wonderful. The food was fantastic, the atmosphere feels super fancy and just wonderful. Not to mention the servers were so kind and helpful! We had a group here and it was cozy! Thanks for having us and hope to stop by again soon!
Authentic Sicilian food. Every bite is delicious.
Octopus was tasty and nicely cooked. Pizza was a bit dry, gnocchi was a little bit salty. Cannoli was good too. Overpriced in my opinion. It took a while to get our food. Financial district vibe.
Definitely on a pricier side, small portions but delicious nonetheless. Although the margarita pizza was a miss, not authentic and too much cheese. Cannoli was bomb.
Amazing place, sensational service and unforgettable food. Its a place that cant be missed.
Lovely atmosphere and good service. The bill was pricey, portions were small and flavours underwhelming. Our server recommended the fish as a main for our table of four and it was really only enough for two or three people. Sides also small...the mushroom dish arrived with four small oyster mushrooms. Maybe the pizzas and pastas on the menu are a better choice?
Had the pleasure of sitting at the chefs bar. It is an absolute joy to watch such a professional kitchen operate. The food is outstanding. My fav dishes were the anchovies and the short rib. Service is top notch. Shout out to amar and chrissy for making us feel so welcome. Already planning to go back and try more dishes. Very well rounded wine list as well.
Came with 4 people. The truffle pasta was great. Pulpo was my favourite. Pizza was solid as well. Service was on point. Canolo for dessert was a great finish. Would recommend. To my taste only thing was food was tad bit too salty for me.
Food quality is not good. I feel like the ingredients in making my pasta was not generous hence flavour was very minimal. Pasta is also overcooked. Home-made pasta would taste so much better and would have more flavor. Pizza was the only thing that was good in our order
Nice spot. Hard to find parking in this area. The staff were nice and our waiter was great. The Octopus was very good. The gnocchi was good but a small portion for the price. The pizza was good but weve had much better for much less. All in all a good little sicillian spot. I chose it because it was close to where we were and the web showed a lobster pasta dish that turned out not to be on the menu. In truth, were over these overpriced small restaurants. Our lunch (pasta from Pasta Bros) at The St. Lawrence Market was a fifth the price, more food and much much better in all respects. Just the honest truth. No need to spend this much on pasta unless you want the sit down dinner atmosphere.
Didnt think it was worth it for the tiny portions and high price. Felt cramped at my table, and the smell of bleach cleaner was over-powering
An authentic Sicilian experience. The service was top notch but the food was incredible. So fresh and so flavorful. Our new favorite place in Toronto!
Had the worst service. Felt like we were being judged the whole time.
Went for dinner with 4 in our group. Food tasted good. The gnocchi was fantastic (friend ordered). I had the Ragu, it was okay. Smallest portions, I left hungry. We also ordered the pizza it wasnt anything extra special. just pizza. I had the chocolate mousse for dessert and it was okay, the cannoli was better. Very SMALL portions for all dishes. It was def over priced. Service was okay. Our server was professional but not friendly. Over all we spent well over $800 ( plus gratuity) as a group. I wouldnt go back.
Delicious memories of our trip to Sicily. The flavours were perfection. Lively atmosphere and friendly staff. Save room for the cannoli
Ardo catches your attention from the street. With a beautifully inviting garage door that opens and lets the fresh breeze in on a summer day, it s a perfect compliment to the interior. From the moment you walk in, you are greeted by not just the host/hostess, but a well-designed kitchen and a quaint, cozy interior. The music comforts the environment and reminds us of the beauty in simplicity. We sat at a two-person table at the back of the restaurant. No matter where you are sitting, the temperature and noise level were comfortable. The server was timely and conscious of what level our drinks were at and if our table needed to be cleaned. Her pleasantness soothed our experience. For our food, we had the bread (Pane) to start, which came with olive oil. When the bread came, we realized we wanted butter instead, and she happily grabbed us some. It s the simple things that matter to us. For our main dish, we had shrimp pasta (Gamberi), and it was amazing. The noodles were bite size, and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. The tomato sauce they had on it was super light but tasty. We loved our food so much we ordered the margarita pizza and it came out perfectly. The cheese was light and fresh, the sourdough crust was soft, sweet, and crispy on the outside. It was all-in-all an amazing experience, and we want to thank all of those involved at Ardo - including the guests - we had a happy and amazing time. This was our experience. What s yours?
Have a dinner here, everything is well-cooked and delicious especially the spaghetti and sweets, the service is warm and the host is so nice! Will comeback again!
Best spot on King East for many years and they didnt miss a beat post covid. We are always looking forward to our next dinner out at Ardo
Authentic Sicilian Italian restaurant in Toronto . As soon as we walked in we were greeted and seated to our table, reservations recommended. Our server was friendly and informative. The food was fresh and delicious thanks to the chef at the open kitchen. See you soon
Attentive service of perfectly executed cocktails and food in a cozy environment. A hidden neighbourhood gem!
This restaurant is ideal for a date night plan. The ambience and cozy interior feels intimate for a romantic dinner. The staff did a wonderful job in attending to our table. They provided great service from the moment we entered the door. We tried the pasta and the margherita pizza. While the pasta was delicious, the pizza was the highlight of the dinner. The body of the pizza is the bread and that was baked to perfection by the ardo chefs. The crust was the right levels of crispy and soft. We went back a second time for the norma pizza last night and the staff served us a delicious eggplant pizza with that crispy crust in a record ten minutes. Id highly recommend this restaurant if youre looking for a cozy intimate atmosphere, great service and heartwarming meals.
Amazing food, ambience and staff. A lovely place for my partners birthday and everything was just right.
Went on a Saturday night after prime dinner hour. Waited quite a long time for our food to arrive. Even after the wait, three dishes came and 4th person had to wait longer cause of an error. The grilled octopus was overdone and the pasta was a little plain Jane. Only positive was that our server was attentive.
This used to be a great place. The quality is mediocre and expensive. The waitress was disappointed we didnt order expensive appetizers, and when you ask for bread she asked if we just want one piece or pay for more and we said we wanted one piece and she looked unsatisfied so we paid for it. The bread came and it was store bought. I have also never been to an expensive restaurant where you are required to pay for bread The service was on poor taste, the food was not good and the drinks were way overpriced.
Lovely Italian restaurant at King and Sherbourne. Our party of 8 celebrated our 40th anniversary here before heading out to the Jays game. Delicious pizza and pasta dishes. Glad I orderedrhe canola and coffee dor desert. Absolutely delicious!
The food here was great. We had the gnocchi and the squid ink pasta - the gnocchi was the perfect consistency and the sauce complimented it well. The squid ink pasta could ve maybe been the TINIEST bit more softer (and I like chewy pasta in general) but it wasn t hard or anything and the sauce was tasty and I felt they gave a lot of shrimp. We had a cannoli for dessert and it was really tasty. I d say though the downfall of this place is probably the service. When we arrived (with a reservation) there was a huge group business dinner taking place at the restaurant. They were blocking the entrance and we stood around waiting for someone to come around and help us for at least 5 minutes. Overall the servers didn t really engage with us much and we were often left not checked on for long periods of time. For a somewhat nicer place, the service was probably on par of a low level restaurant. However, their food was good, and the servers weren t rude - they weren t just overall friendly. I had a pretty good first experience overall.
Overpriced for the quality of food
Wonderful place to eat, service was on point and food was top notch.
I was pleasantly surprised by the food at ARDO. A small and quiet place which has the perfect atmosphere and food. The chickpea fritters were dalacious and gnocchi tasted absolutely perfect. I cant wait for my next visit. Highly recommend to everyone.
This was our first time here. We loved it. The food, staff & service were amazing. We had a great experience. We had the Tartufo & Salsiccia. Delicious!!! We also split an order of olives & Acciughe...also delicious & amazing. It was a great night out & we will be back. Cocktails & wine list are the best. Give this place a try and enjoy a great evening.
My taste buds are still tingling. Tasty, a real delight. Its been a long time since I enjoyed an Italian restaurant like this so much. You can go there with your eyes closed.
Best restaurant in Toronto.
Thank you Ardo, for making my birthday and my grandsons birthday unforgettable!! As Sicilians, we have been to Ardo multiple times and we will continue to enjoy there food for years to come! Thank you to Alessandro and Amer (sp?). They were so attentive, explained all the ingredients in our family-style dinner and their method of cooking. All the food was delicious! It was the best birthday ever!
Cute, local Italian/Sicilian resto in King East. Perfect for date/special occasion meal or drinks. Food overall is good but overpriced and a bit over-rated. Cocktails were very good! Service (i.e. friendliness/welcoming, knowledgeable/helpful, attentiveness/intuitiveness) can be spotty at best depending on your server, feels like youre being rushed at times or youre being completely ignored. Being a waiter/server is an undervalued profession and I do not lay criticism on them at all - they are doing their best under pressure! Come to Ardo if you want to impress your guest(s) with an intimate, authentic Italian meal served within a modest-sized, clean and modern atmosphere. Ardo is chic, has a local vibe dressed with high-end aspirations. Sadly will not be back.
I was impressed by their services. I just came for a take out and they treated me as though I was a dining customer. Very professional. Will definitely go there again.
The best Italian restaurant in Toronto! The arancino, the panelle and the cuttlefish ink pasta with prawns and pistachio reminded me intensely of Sicily. The superlative snapper fillet. Alessandro and his team put you at ease with impeccable service. A must in Toronto!
What a hidden gem! Would give this first experience a strong 4.5/5. Ordered the tuna carpaccio and panelle chickpea fritter to start. Would recommend the panelle to share and this second one, I d personally reorder. Had the Tartufo as the main. Love it and so recommend getting the table up at the kitchen bar. Knocked off a half point as I wish the sardine butter flavour was there so this was the only miss for me. Ordered a cannoli for dessert which was divine. Highly recommend checking this place out! The service was outstanding and you almost feel transported to Italy here!
Food is amazing, good wine too! Brasato is out of this world!!! Small portions, canolli were just ok.
Ardo is a hidden gem. Great modern Italian food with service to match. It never disappoints.
Food is great 5***, service was meh, but then again most restaurants in Toronto are MEh these days , must be a thing ... restaurant ambience was nice but its a small place, super tight seating, borderline claustrophobic experience.
Garbage. Used to be good, now its worse than slime that dripped off the table, which is I assume in line with the style of new management that wants 60$ for a reservation they wont hold. Used to be a staple, now I hope this tumor is excised by a deserved bankruptcy following a follow up about the kitchen (gross!)
Cute place, but food was not really that good. Octopus tasted horrible. Everything else was just poorly presented and nothing popped taste wise. Tipped the waiter 20% cus he was working hard but overall meh.
Drinks are pricey, but the food is incredible. The chef bar is a unique experience to witness and recommended. Wheelchair accessibility: Narrow entrance with double doors to prevent the cold along with the packed dining space make this very difficult for wheelchair access.
Is good
The Chef must be a smoker not be able to taste all the salt! We were so excited to try this Italian restaurant but unfortunately it s not as good as we thought. Octopus was so hard a chewy we had to return it. Pasta & pizza we re good but extremely salty. ARANCINO & Cannoli were really good. Food
Worst service ever. Food great. Ahmer asked us to leave before the end of the service, as though we were belligerent guests. I felt ashamed and pressured. We are good clients and also very accommodating and never in my life was I asked to leave a restaurant period. It was a question of where they will keep my handbag I have paid over quality with great service never complained. This guy does not deserve to be of service. That is saying a lot
Ardo is a consistent go to for me, the service is always great, the food is delicious. They have one of the best margarita pizzas Ive ever had in Toronto. Its location makes you feel like youve discovered something that most people wouldnt know, since theres few restaurants near them. You will not be disappointed for trying Ardo
Had high expectations. Octopus had good flavours but chewy. Main ragu was just ok. Panna Cotta was excellent. Wine chianti was so so.
Great food, great atmosphere, and fantastic service pushing the overall experience to 5
Really good Italian food that was flavorful and delicious. The place in itself is pretty small and a bit cramped up. But its worth going there for the food.
This place was so nice! My friend and I came in with no reservation and they were able to accommodate us so quickly and so kindly. The service was so speedy and the food was amazing! The atmosphere was beautiful. We didn t get the name of our waiter, but he was tall and blonde and was so sweet, definitely give him creds! Thank you so much
Excellent food, friendly service and delightful atmosphere!
WISH I COULD GIVE ZERO STARS, but 1 star is fair for the average food. NOT WORTH IT. Food is just ok. The time pressure for you to get out. YOUR CLOCK IS TICKING THE MOMENT YOU WALK IN. To be clear, we were 4 people and our bill was $650 dollars, and they still wanted us outs the server managed our whole night but literally deciding when we must order what otherwise you don t get serviced. I had never been treated like this before. We were a group of 4 people and from the very first interaction with the server, he made it clear that he would kick us out. I will NEVER return to a place that wants me out the moment I walk in. The pressure the server puts on you to order your food and get out is INSANE. Nothing similar in my life. What the heck? You don t get an extra dollar of my money, guys. LITERALLY TIME BOXING HOW MUCH TIME YOU CAN LOOK AY THE MENU, order food (YOU CANNOT ORDER APPETIZERS WHILE YOU DECIDE ON MAINS. You have only ONE chance to order your food). My advice: there are thousands of options out there, so pick another place that dont want to kick you out after 1.5 hour.
Gnocchi tasted old and chewy , octopus was undercooked , best part was the tap water . For the price of food the quality needs to improve 10 fold
A quaint little place that requires reservations. The gnocchi is the best ever and so is the melanzana. Really delicious!
Excellent choice of restaurant, amazing quality price proposition and the service was outstanding.
The staff was delightful but couldn t compensate for how bland the food was
Should not have been included in the Michelin guide. Okay food but subpar service. Our waiter was not attentive at all. We poured our own wine the whole night, constantly had to ask for more water, had part of our order forgotten, and a miscalculated bill.
The food was generally great, but the portions were very small. The wine selection was short. The burrata appetizer was 27$ with no bread. The short rib had a couple of green beans on the side with nothing else. For dessert, we had the cannolis and the cream tasted sour. We saw the cook laugh at us because we returned it. And then we waited 25 min for the bill to come. We left and we were still hungry.
Wow! ARDO truly killed it! Not just another chain Italian resto, we were absolutely thrilled with every stage of our evening! We lucked out and got seats at the Chef Bar, and this would be a perfect evening for you and your favorite person! Incredible ambience while watching the chefs create these perfect dishes! I m sure we ate too much, but our favorites were the funghi and the tartufo pasta!!! And the cannoli!!! The vibe overall was perfect, the wine recommendation was absolutely (thank you Ahmer!!) and the night cap was amazing! Give it a try, my new favorite King St east Italian spot!!
Great food, great service, knowledgeable staff - 10/10 experience.
Good service, but I was really underwhelmed by the food this for the price point. I really thhink a lot of the reviews on here and Yelp are fake. Supposed to be know for their pastas, but my ragu was too salty (and I like salty food) and Im sure my uncles gnocci was, as well (he didnt finish it). My wife said the GAMERI was just average and too al dente. The pizzas were better, though, the CAPRICCIOSA being quite good (MARGHERITA was just average). The grilled octopus, while decent, Ive had better and not worth $25 (and its small). ACCIUGHE was just OK and you really need to pair it with bread,which isnt free (bread is an extra $8 and is also average). Speaking of prices, their prices are out of date on the web site - the polpo, cannoli (nothing special tbh), acciughe were all $1 more than the web site and I believe the CAPRICCIOSA pizza was $2 more. Overall, I spent $70 a person (there were six of us) and did not think it was worth it. Taste is subjective, of course, you may think it is.
Delicious, classy, and elegant! Our waiter was wonderful. He was very knowledgeable on the menu, and went above and beyond to make our (first) experience memorable and enjoyable! Thank you!
Ive had the privilege of enjoying many fabulous restaurants in Toronto during the time Ive lived here. Google tells me Im some percentile of restaurant reviewers but plain and simple I am like you, and I love good food. So please appreciate the gravity of my words when I say Ardo is a head and shoulders above all others. Everything in every regard was shockingly good. I walked in expecting nothing less than excellence. I walked out having learned a new standard for it. Service perfect. Staff wonderful. Cocktails excellent. Food masterclass. I highly recommend sitting at the chefs bar if possible. The foods gonna taste great no matter where you sit but watching experts in their craft is part of the magic. Few restaurants are competent or bold enough to pull it off and Ardo kills it. We enjoyed the carpacio, tartuvo, gamberi, steak for two, gelato and cannoli. Portions were spot on, nothing near comically small fine dining nor Nonna serving you your weight in pasta as you too often find with Italian restaurants. I cant wait to come back, and if you happen to work in the industry I suggest visiting and taking notes!
Great service, charming ambiance and the food was amazing
Very rude host. Have tried four times to have a good experience but since COVID it has gone downhill - mostly because of poor hosting and first impressions walking in. Servers were great so a bit of a shame Used to be really good. Very sad
Amazing ambiance. Delicious cocktails. Norma pizza is outstanding. Tips for resto - pasta dishes need work, add more dessert options, add some more creativity and more true Sicilia to menu. Fantastic beginning to an amazing resto.
Exceptional experience. The only thing i would improve are the portion sizes. We had the Sicilian margaritas octopus and artichokes were superb. The tortofu was one of the best pasta i have ever had. The canolli was great. Thank you for a great Birthday experience!
Excellent in every way. I will go back.
Awesome experience! Great ambiance, friendly service and amazing quality of food. We ordered the octopus, truffle pasta and short ribs. All of which were super tasty! I m sure some people would say portions are rather small, but I would argue that its definitely reasonable given the quality. I highly recommend this restaurant as it did not disappoint.
Amazing food and service
Had dinner here last month, and have to say it was one of the best Italian meals I have had in the city.
I was recommended by my friend. However, as soon as I went, I said that there was only a bar, but there were no customers. They said the seats were full with reservations. So I had no choice but to sit down at the bar and order dinner. I ordered carbonated water, but it took up seven dollars. No one told me that before I drank. Octopus was delicious and nyoki was greasy and heavy. Most of the tables were empty until I finished eating. Why did I eat at an uncomfortable bar? Its a restaurant thats a waste of even a star. Please dont go.
Great food, great service. Can t go wrong with ARDO. Kaylen our server and Alessandro the host were amazing and hilarious. Highly recommend!
My husband chose this restaurant for our date night and I was so impressed! We sat at the chef s table and had a great time plus enjoyed the best Italian food I ve had since visiting Sicily in 2019. We kept it simple with a pizza and gnocchi but both dishes were so delicious, I can t wait to go back to try more menu items. The owner came over to say hello and chat a bit, he was generous and friendly and made our night even better. Best part and a MUST TRY was the panna cotta. It s one of my favourite desserts in general but theirs was divine and I ll order it again ever time I return here.
Superb evening! The service was impeccable! The servers suggestions were perfect. I will definitely go back!
Lovely spot with amazing food and top shelf service. Wish I lived closer!
I felt in Sicily for the amazing food and at the same time in Montréal for the atmosphere. Real coup de coeur. If you want quality and a dash of Nona s savoir faire you are at the good place. The engagement of the cooks and servers speak about the authenticity and passion of their owners.
My kinda place. I have lived downtown Toronto for just over 30 years and have spent enough money on restaruants that would buy me a small home in Rosedale. I have to say we are very luck in Toronto because its hard to get a bad meal but once in a while you come across a place that really stands out. This place has amazing food and staff that are unbelieveably efficient. They also take the time to make your experience feel very personal. Its such a nice change from King W, Yorkville etc, it just feels different (in a good way)! I had 2 glasses of Chianti, started off with the Octopus and ended with the Salumi pizza. So damn good. My bill with tip was around $115.00. This place has quickly become my favourite. You wont be disappointed, guaranteed!
Oh my god! Can t get any better. The best Italian restaurant in Toronto. Thank you guys.
We chose Ardo to kick off our year of celebrations for our 25th anniversary. This was our second time here. The cocktails were delicious. As were the appetizers, we had the olives, bread with a tablespoon of olive oil, carpaccio and cavolo salad. We spent some time enjoying our appetizers but felt rushed by our waitress who hovered around our table and removed my partners dishes before I finished. Everything was excellent until the hovering and clearing happened, it killed the dining vibe and I felt like we needed to clear the table despite being allotted two hours for our reservation. We enjoyed the gnocchi and the salumi pizza as our mains. The dough is so delicious and crispy. We skipped dessert given the rush to get us out. When booking our reservation the restaurant asks if you are celebrating a special occasion, we shared our anniversary. However, nobody acknowledged it. Why bother asking? We will be back but will try to eat faster.
Great Italian restaurant, a bit on the pricier side. This place is always busy, even on weeknights. We were seated at the Chef s table & it was fun to watch the chefs cook your food in front of you. Servers were very attentive. The grilled octopus & mushrooms were delicious & so was the pizza. The spaghetti was also good. The cannoli was incredible.
Food was great, custom service was amazing. I really love the ambience. They were playing a great variety of jazz.
Great service, nice staff, pleasant atmosphere, mediocre overpriced food. We got Ragu and Gamberi pastas, not impressive at all, specially in the price point.