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Enoteca Sociale
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1288 Dundas St WToronto, ON M6J 1X7
Neighbourhoods: Dufferin Grove, Little Portugal, Beaconsfield Village
(416) 534-1200
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
72 reviews for Enoteca Sociale
Review Highlights
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"The pasta is house made and completely delicious." In 7 reviews -
"Grilled octopus that came with fava beans, potatoes and..." In 6 reviews -
"...anchovies), sour (capers), and sweet (buffalo mozzarella." In 6 reviews
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72 reviews in English
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Review from Viviana M.
Toronto, ON
Dining Experience: Dinner
Specialty: Italian / Roman Cuisine
Menu items: Sea Bream Crudo, Toasted Spaghetti, Mezzaluna & Chocolate Mousse Cake
Enoteca Sociale is a fantastic Romanesque paradise found in the new and upcoming Parkdale district of Toronto.
It seems more and more "Enoteca" style restaurants are opening in town. When I told friends I was going to Enoteca, they asked which one? So my mind started to wonder about its meaning. Simply put, Enotecas are wine bars that offer a social cantina-style feel and specialize in selected menus paired with local and regional wines; and in the case of this Enoteca, Roman inspired dishes that are paired with Ontario and Italian wines, as recommended by their sommelier.
But wine is not so much what drove my taste buds to write a post on Enoteca. It was its fantastic atmosphere, service and delightful Italian dishes.
So first things first, the service. I haven't felt such calm, relaxation and assurance on the promise of a meal experience as I felt at Enoteca Sociale, especially on a busy Friday night service. The manager makes sure all his staff and customers are well treated, and the service does not fall short of perfect. I honestly thought it was just luck with my waiter, but as I looked around the entire room and staff, felt just as pleased as I was. So bravo to Enoteca for their spot on service.
Now on to the food. To start off, Enoteca makes some of their bread in house. Upon being seated, we were offered water and bread while we waited for the rest of our party. That night, a lovely rosemary focaccia was flourescing on the basket. The focaccia had a light hard shell with a very foamy-soft centre, the taste of the rosemary came through as I bit on it and became more present as I sipped my wine.
Our appetizer course arrives, and its a very well executed Sea Bream crudo.
Crudo means "raw" in Italian. Is a raw fish dish dressed with olive oil, sea salt, and citrus juice such as lemon juice and sometimes vinegar. Knowing how tough it is to make fish taste good when raw, I praised the chefs at Enoteca for making a hit out of this dish. Instead of just sticking to the traditional way of serving it, they created a dish that was perfectly seasoned with olive oil, basil, and fennel pollen, which in my mind was the "pièce de résistance". Fennel pollen is a new spice to North American cuisine. Discovered and mostly used in Italy, this unique spice has made its way to many kitchens and is quickly becoming a staple in imported Italian cuisine. The process of extracting the fennel powder and seeds, from the plant, by hand, makes this spice hard to get and quite expensive. But its potent and unique flavour will turn any dish from good, to great.
Knowing I needed to leave room for the pasta dishes coming our way, I left some bread on the side to enjoy alla "dip" style. That's how one carries through a pasta dish till the end, once the plate is wiped clean.
So, ever heard of Toasted Spaghetti? I hadn't heard of it till I visited Enoteca Sociale. The toastiness comes from the way the pasta is made. Served with clams, the spaghetti is first toasted in olive oil, then slowly cooked with the clam juice, risotto style, until the pasta is al dente. This process gives a nutty flavour to the noodles and darkens it in colour. Though this was a good start to my pasta experience, I have to admit, it was not my personal preference. Don't get me wrong, the dish was great, and some people in my party also thought so too, just was not for me.
Next up, and one that elevated Enoteca's status as a pasta expert, was the Mezzaluna. Mezzaluna is a type of pasta known for the way its cut into a half-moon shape. Which is literally its translation in English. The Mezzaluna was filled with wild leek and bathed in a light a tasty creamy sauce. The pasta was fresh, al dente and light. Topped with breadcrumbs, the whole dish had the perfect balance between texture and flavour.
And as it is tradition with me, desserts are always on the menu and there is always room for dessert. A chocolate mousse cake concoction, felt like heaven and a sweet way to end the meal.
Enoteca Sociale changes their dessert menu often, so I can't really recall the exact name of the dessert, but it read along the lines of a Chocolate Mousse Cake. It was decadent, nutty, spongy, creamy and crunchy all in one bite. Let's just say I had way to many bites, until once again, the plate was wiped clean. Can't wait to go back for more.
Buen Provecho,
Viviana. -
Review from Maheen M.
Updated - 5/16/2012 3 photos
I went to Enoteca last night for an impromptu dinner with friends; likely we were able to get a table of 4 without waiting.
Their menu has completely changed from the last time I was there back almost a year ago; side dishes are no longer being offered.
The aranci balls are still on the menu and they were fabulous! Things took a dip for our pasta entrees, the portion sizes were REALLY small; like REALLY small. I was expecting a full meal but I was left slightly hungry for dessert. The sticky toffee pudding was amazing, the highlight of the meal!
Service was excellent, that has not changed.
Bring back the bigger portions and all will be right in the world.Listed in: Date Night, That's Amore - Italian Eats
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/9/2011
I went to Enoteca Sociale for dinner last night with a friend to celebrate our birthdays and it was… Read more »
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Review from Daniel O.
5/9/2012
From first bite to last, Entoeca Sociale was nothing sort of perfect.
It was by boy's birthday, we reserved the private cheese cave for a party of twelve. We arrived at 9pm, seated around 9:15pm as the party before us was just finishing up.
We preordered two share boards for the table, one cheese, one salumi (both $21). Cheese board featured about 5 different cheeses, for the life of me I can't remember a single name, but all were amazing. The salumi board included a spicy pork salami, mortadella & a creamy, smooth chicken liver mousse with fried sage. Jesus Christ was it good.
Appetizers & mains were ordered. I had the Octopus ($16), Mark had the Smoked Sweetbreads ($16). Both were incredible. The swwetbreads here are by far the best in Toronto.
For our mains, we both ordered the Salt Cod Ravioli ($17), two jumbo ravioli stuffed with potato and salt cold in a creamy, buttery white sauce with tons of parmesean & capers. Incredible.
Dessert was ordered, Sticky Toffee Pudding ($8) by many. Again, pretty freaking good. -
Review from Fern H.
4/26/2012
We came to Enoteca Sociale for a friend's birthday dinner. They had rented out the private room more affectionately known as The Cheese Cave. It comfortably sat 12 people and had a window view to hanging house meats. We were tempted by the many bottles of wine also stored in the Cave, just a few feet from our reach.
When we arrived, our hosts had preordered a few bottles of wine and a cheese/meat platter. This was a great start as we all settled in.
Our waitress took drink orders and then came back around for our main orders. I went with the salt cod & potato ravioli ($16) and also had a good sampling of the stinging nettle mezzaluna ($16). The salt cod dish came with 2 jumbo raviolis stuffed with fish and potatoes, coated in a very stinky cheese (taleggio). Delish. The stinging nettle pasta was also good, much less stinky than my dish.
For dessert, I went with the sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream ($9). Seriously, warm heaven in a cup. Don't skip out on this dessert.
Temperature in the Cave fluctuated. They had the AC on full blast to keep the wine cool but it was too cold for me. Once they lowered the AC, it quickly got too warm for some of the gentlemen in our party.
Service was great. We had a dedicated waitress and she kept wine glasses filled and drink orders coming.
We noticed that the main dining area was pretty busy and loud when we walked in. The Cheese Cave allowed us to have a great time on our own. It was a fantastic dining experience to celebrate a birthday. -
Review from Steph L.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have been excited to eat here forever!
I just got home from dinner and I'm still completely stuffed and smiling.
Firstly, it's Easter Monday and the place was packed. By the time we got there, there was still a wait for walk-in seating at the bar. The bar was fun though, because we got to chat with their awesome bartenders. Fantastic knowledgeable staff.
Enoteca Sociale has an incredible wine selection.
They have quartino servings of some wines available, but I wish we had just gotten the next size up which is a bottle. :P The servers were really good with recommendations and offering us tastes and they didn't make you feel silly for asking all kinds of questions.
For an appetizer, the special was the raw sea bream with olive oil and fennel. The fish was super fresh and springy. But, I wish it was a bit more acidic. This dish was a tad bit boring.
The pastas here are all made in-house. Apparently, the chefs went out looking for leeks. The mushroom tortellini ($22) was highly recommended, so I gave it a shot.
It was super delicious. It didn't seem like a large portion, but I was pretty full after (I also scarfed down half a basket of fresh bread). The pasta was perfectly cooked and the stuffed with mushrooms and truffled cheese (droolface). It was really melt-in your mouth awesomeness. I tried to chew slowly.
For dessert we had the flourless chocolate mousse cake ($10). It was a sizeable portion and super chocolatey, light, and not too sweet. The interesting part of the dessert was the spicy almond brittle sandwiched in the middle. It added texture and it really had a kick!
There are a few items that I really want to come back and try:
* Cheese platter
* Arancini
* Baked kale salad with oyster mushrooms and apples
* I wish I could eat a 20 oz steak without entering a meat induced coma
Enoteca Sociale was fantastic. However, I can't say it's my favourite Italian resto in the city, but definitely close to the top of the list. -
Review from Joe H.
4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been reading about Enoteca Sociale in a whole bunch of places now, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I almost felt like it had way too much hype to live up to, but I went in with an open mind.
First of all, I was told to get a reservation. I did hold an event there with 16 people, so ya, we reserved about a month in advance just in case. However, through the night, we didn't find that it got busy until about 8:00pm. The table of 6 beside us stayed open while we sat there the whole night. Maybe it's just the day, but we went on a Sunday.
The first thing about this place you'll notice is the large wine list. Don't know anything about wine (like me?), the servers know everything about the wines. I was actually really impressed cause I had no idea... I just had my friend order me wine. I was responsible for drinking it (I am really good at that).
We wanted to give the whole menu a shot, so we decided to split some apps. We got the octopus as well as the "rabbit stew for two". The octopus came out on a bed of red pepper puree and some fingerling potatoes. It was kinda vinegar-ed with a bit of red wine, so it reminded me of squid you find at a salad bar. The consistancy was very nice and wasn't incredibly chewy (you know... not like when you get octopus that feels like you're chewing a piece of rubber). I thought this dish was so-so.
The rabbit stew was pretty interesting; I really liked it. They served the rabbit in a tomato, celery, cumin based stew with fingerling potatoes in it and these little "pasta pearls". I asked the waiter what the pearls were. He replied (insert italian word here for the word I don't remember). The little pasta balls were really interesting. It's like fresh pasta, but, mini. Kinda like bubble tea. I liked how homey this stew felt. Straight from nana's kitchen on the farm.
For the entree, I ordered the sausage pasta with (whatever the word for squid-ink pasta is). I thought it was alright. Not really mind blowing, but I have to say that the tomato sauce was pretty spot on. The sausage was kinda hard and dry, so I didn't really like that part of it.
I also had the opportunity to pick off everyone's plate (it's not weird at all) and got to try some of the other entrees. Here's what i found. Gnocchi, awesome! So incredibly fresh and soft. Dried italian pasta, also awesome. I loved the spicyness to it.
Lastly, we tried the toffee desert (forgot the name of it). It was really good. Basically it's bread pudding, with toffee, with ice cream on top. It's win, win, win. You can't really go wrong with that. Amazing.
I probably would have ordered the dried italian pasta next time or the gnocchi. Definitely give those a try. Oh, and also more wine. Yes... more wine. -
Review from Helen Y.
Vancouver, BC
3/29/2012
I like this restaurant on so many levels..
when my friend suggested we go here i wasn't really crazy about the idea.. only because I just got back from Culinary trip to Italy, took some amazing cooking classes.. and ate really amazing food while abroad...
but... decided to give it a try when a few restaurants told me there were no last minute seats avail when i called.. and i am so glad i gave enoteca sociale a try..
my bf and i arrived at the restaurant around 6:50pm, we were expecting our friends to arrive at 7, so asked for seat for four and was seated at the communal table...
my bf and I ordered a drink and an appetizer.. (deep fried risotto with mozzarela di buffala) was absolutely delicious...
well, my friends ended up being an hour late and i felt guilty about taking up the seats, but not once our server gave us hard time about it, in fact, he was so kind enough to bring us warm bowl of olives so we don't get hungry..! and the bowl of olives was so delicious!!!
Pastas were so fresh, i had the mushroom tortellini and my bf had pork sausage with some twisted pasta, was absolutely delicious!! lots of depth in flavor that only a great cook can create..
everything my bf and i ordered were suggested by my server Chris, if you are lucky enough get him as your server, I say order what he suggests.. from wine to appi to pasta, everything was lip smacking delicious and of course his service really added to our experience.. not too casual yet comfortable and homsey... meticulous yet not too fussed... I loved everything..
this was my last official meal in Toronto as i am moving back to Vancouver tomorrow, and I really enjoyed my evening.... thank you Enoteca Sociale! -
Review from Shannon F.
Toronto, ON
I've had another amazing meal here. So good it warranted another review. Walking in again without a reservation - 3 for 3 on that! We were seated a lovely table along the wall for two. After ordering my favourite wine from their list - Barbera D'Alba - something...we heard they were out of the two pasta dishes that are most veggie/fish friendly I had to get out of my comfort zone and man was I happy I did!
My friend and I split the always delicious cauliflower appetizer - I don't know how to do it justice as it sounds so unexciting - cauliflower? Yes, it's amazing, just eat it. And the kale is a close second in my books, we shared that too.
We were there quite late so we opted to go for a third selection off the appetizer list as our mains. CF ordered the small but adequate pork shoulder and she said it was amazing. I opted for the albacore tuna crudo, meyer lemon, celery, rosemary & pepper and was blown away. It was simple but perfect - melt in your mouth tuna so lightly but perfectly dressed.
Another great meal at Enoteca! The menu changes and I see the pork shoulder has been replaced but that's just more reason to keep going and see what they have to offer next!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/11/2012
I love this place! Trendy? Yes. Delicious? Yes! Excellent service, beautiful well crafted dishes and… Read more »
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Review from Miss C.
Etobicoke, ON
3/14/2012
3.5 stars.
We went around 6:30pm on a Tuesday night and the place was busy but not overcrowded...yet. By the time we left 2 hours later the place was full and the noise level made it impossible to hear your dinner partner.
We were seated at one of the tables in the middle of the room and when I asked to move to the last window seat I was told it was reserved for a customer with a disability. When that particular customer came in I saw what the disability was; it seemed like their fat wallet was weighing them down and they were lightening the load at ES with a literal dinner feast. Glass after glass of wine...dining on extravagant dishes that weren't on the menu...OK enough about that...
Our server was helpfully friendly and took the time to tell us about the food on the menu (the available cheeses, which things were made in house, etc.). We had:
- GRANDE CHEESE PLATE: Overall it was OK. We had two hard Italian cheeses that had been aged in their cantina and Grey Owl cheese from Quebec. It was served with maple syrup, a berry compote, candied pecans, baguette toasts and apple slices. I wish it included some charcuterie.
- LAMB PAPPARDELLE, ONTARIO LAMB RAGU: Delicious! This is a really rich dish and you will feel stuffed by the time you're done. The house-made pasta was good in texture, density and thickness.
- TOMATO PEPERONATA TRECCE WITH PORK SAUSAGE: Not as rich as the pappardelle but just right for a meal. I felt full but not stuffed.
- LEMON OLIVE OIL CAKE WITH ROSEMARY ICE CREAM: This was pretty good and the large portion makes it great for sharing.
- ESPRESSO: I had to include this. The shot was literally a tablespoon's worth of espresso. It was good but not worth the $2.75.
All in all, I would go back again. I highly recommend going early before the rush so you get the full attention of your server. I'm not saying service goes downhill during the rush but your ability to hear your server speak does! -
Review from Sarene L.
3/28/2012
Once again, major points for our hotel concierges for this hidden-away gem. Since it's far from downtown Toronto (by a visitor's standards), we never would have known about it on our own. Only downer for tourists about this place is since it is a bit of a hike from most of the hotels, it's impossible to avoid taking a taxi to and from.
Loved the rustic decor and friendly, knowledgeable servers. We devoured every bite!
Recommended dishes:
Cauliflower, olives and almonds
Grilled octopus, pepper tuffo and potato
Mushroom tortellini, arugula, black pepper and moliterno
Half lobster spaghetti, tomato, chili and basil
Sticky toffee pudding, cardamom syrup and vanilla bean ice cream
Flourless chocolate mousse cake with spicy almond brittle
Only quibble was that they do not offer tea with dessert (only coffee-based drinks). I was really in an herbal tea mood that evening... -
Review from Natalie B.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2012
I will have to go back to give it a more valid rating (I didn't even sample any cheeses from the famous cheese cave) but I am inclined to say that these Italian dishes, though extremely delicious, were not a revelation for me. I'm not raving to my friends and adding yet another voice to the toronto food echo chamber about how good this place is.
The atmosphere is pretty casual but still buzzy, and you feel rushed- they clearly have a high turnover rate. The waiter was a helpful food-snob and suggested some good dishes. A standout one was a rich appetizer- "arancini con mozzarella di bufala & soppressata"- basically fried risotto rice balls with mozzarella di bufala inside sitting in a tomato-based sauce with soppressata. A slight misstep was that their house-made gnocchi was way too soft. Texture is important and this slightly overshadowed the tasty favour of the dish. The menu items come paired with wine suggestions and we went with them. The dishes are small but this is quite appropriate as they are very rich. I will go back sometime and see if my second experience lives up to the hype. -
Review from John M.
Toronto, ON
1/2/2012 Seated via OpenTable
A great dinner from top to bottom. They have what looks to be an excellent wine list. I don't drink wine but that's no problem - they have Birra Moretti on tap. The cheese platter was excellent and similar to what I've had at their sister restaurant, Libretto. The bread in the constantly refilled basket, both the sourdough and the focaccia, was great and I appreciated them leaving an excellent bottle of olive oil at our table for dipping.
Then came the octopus. I've eaten a lot of cephalopods in my time, and this is best I have ever had. The tentacles were thick and meaty yet grilled to tender perfection. The sauce and potatoes matched it perfectly.
My main course was an apple ravioli with black truffle shavings. It was, like everything else, excellent. For those used to monstrous East Side Mario's style portions the pasta dished might seem small, but in the flow of a multi-course meal they were a perfect fit.
When they came to take my plates, every drop of sauce had been mopped clean with bread. I didn't want even a speck of this food to go to waste.
We finished our meal with a perfectly made panna cotta and I had an corretto with a hefty splash of grappa. This was truly an excellent meal.Listed in: The Best
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Review from Danielle D.
Toronto, ON
1/5/2012
Just a week before Christmas my partner and I decided to splurge on a huge, delicious, relaxing Italian dinner together before a week of family outings and events occupied our vacation, and Enoteca Sociale was the best decision we could have made.
Our reservation was for 6pm but we showed up a bit earlier and were given our choice of seating right away. The service from start to finish was attentive, warm, knowledgeable and hospitable, from wine selections to a choice of entree and dessert.
We started with the cheese platter which featured a selection of soft cheese, a goats cheese, blue and a hard cheese, with wine and beer. As we nibbled our octopus arrived and it was really was one of the shiny hits of the evening, with a savoury tomato base, meaty, chewy and nommy. I've never had octopus this delicious in Toronto or anywhere else so far, the bar is raised!
For my entree I had a rutabaga agnolotti with the most delicious chanterelles, in a maple butter sauce which blew my top off. Portions were smaller but the food was so rich I was completely full.
But of course, I HAD to go for the panna cotta which was a nice, light, crisp finale to the evening, with a sweet Noans wine, a blend of Riesling, Gewurz and Sauvignon Blanc, a perfect topper to the evening.
All together, a cheese platter, appetizer, 2 entrees, dessert and 4 alcoholic beverages with tax and tip came to about $150, but shave off the cheese platter and wine or dessert and it's more affordable, but we wanted it all :)
I would absolutely go again, I'd love to try some of the other entrees, especially the Pappardelle with Lamb, it's been in my dreams since, I swear.Listed in: Splurge-eats!
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Review from Emily H.
1/15/2012
I am really trying hard not to give Enoteca a 3 - 3.5. It felt like when people tell you to go see a certain movie because it was sooo good, and when you finally stop being a loser 3 months later and see it, it's just not as good.
I've been waiting to try this place forever and we finally managed to get a reservation at a decent hour on a Friday night (mind you, we made the reservation nearly a month ahead). I was really excited. What a zoo it was! I couldn't believe how jam-packed the place was. Service was wonderful from the second we set foot in the store right to the end.
We tried the grilled octopus and the cauliflower three-ways. Honestly, I was not too impressed. The octopus was indeed cooked very well, but flavour wise? I'm not too sure. I simply wasn't a fan of the cauliflower. I was hoping they could really redeem cauliflower's name from being a second-rate cooking ingredient, but not much success there. The flavour was just not entertaining. It wasn't one of those dishes where you begin thinking about the next bite of it as you enjoy the current bite.
The pastas were redeeming. I got the Bucatini and my date got the Pappardelle. Flavours were excellent and the pasta was cooked well. I really enjoyed the spicy tomato sauce on my bucatini, but what dampened the dish for me was the guanciale. My bad though, I didn't know it would taste so so fatty. Bah.
Highlight of the night was the server's recommendation of wine. It was delicious. I don't think I would return for a while - it wasn't a place to write home about... and my wallet really can't afford.
Atmosphere - 4/5
Service - 5/5
Food - 3.5/5
Price - 2/5 -
Review from Wendy W.
Niagara, Toronto, ON
1/10/2012
I have had the fortunate luck to have been taken here for 2 birthdays in a row. Last year i had the pleasure of partaking in the tasting menu, with a wine pairing with each course...sadly to say i don't remember much...except that it was delicious...and that the wines are amazing!
Fast forward to this year, my friend and i shared the Grilled Octopus and Potato app - wow!!!! Tender, meaty tentacles paired with perfect potatoes...you will not regret this!
For my main, i got the house made spaghetti with prawns, rapini and chili - their pasta here is perfectly made, perfectly el dente, sauce was perfect and the chili was the right amount of kick.
My friend got the pappardelle with lamb ragu, another winner. Tasty and hearty.
A warning to the hungry, these pasta portions are not very big but what they lack in size they make up in quality and taste.
If you are having a hard time making reservations (at a normal time, 10pm is always available!), Enoteca does reserve some spots for walk ins. We gave them our number and had a few drinks at Churchill down the block, took about 45 mins on a Thursday which is not too bad.
Another great thing is their extensive wine list.
I didn't get to try the dessert but i do know that i've got to come back and try more of this menu!
Believe the hype! -
Review from Happybadfish S.
Toronto, ON
1/15/2012
I really wish I tried the octopus, but for the two of us, we had a cheese plate with 3 pieces and the albacore tuna starter. The tuna was amazing, love how the lemon and celery accompanied it. I had the bucatini and my husband had the pappardelle lamb ragu.
I love home made pasta, but typically I find pasta a bit boring and predictable. I would however pick this resto over any other in the city if I had company visiting that wanted Italian.
We had the ginger molasses cake to finish and it was ginger molasses cake. I probably wouldn't bother with dessert again. I should have had the octopus instead!
Our service was outstanding. The waiter was extremely knowledgeable and all the wait staff were helping each other out by clearing plates and bringing drinks to the table. -
Review from Melissa C.
Toronto, ON
2/3/2012
A group of 4 of us went there last night and I have to say I was disappointed. We started off with the tuna, octopus and the kale salad. The octopus was byfar the best but not work the $19. I got the bucatini all'amatriciana which was ok but boring. My husband got the Steak($49) and found it fatty and chewy.
Also when asking our server for recommendations he made not eye contact and listed the most expensive things on the menu and mentioned we should all get an appy's because the entrees were not that big. I feel like our server just wanted a bigger bill for a bigger tip.
All and all not a great meal. We probably won't be back. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Getting a reservation at Enoteca Sociale is not easy.... even for my Saturday 10 pm table for one reservation had to made more than 2 weeks ahead. I really wondering how good this place is? Why so popular?
The restaurant itself is pretty small and intimate. It does feel like I am eating in a farm house somewhere in Italy. Noise level is deafening, I can hear all these chattering going on around me, at the end of the dinner I can even hear that in my head....
Enoteca Sociale is also one of those restaurants I would have come if I am on a diet. I would also come here if I am dining alone as sharing is not really necessary. The portion here is small.... really small........
House made pappardelle, Ontario lamb ragu, house smoked guanciale & pecorino ($18) was really really good. The freshly made pappardelle has this awesome texture and softness. The lamb ragu was rich and flavored. I was chewing and eating slowly....really slowly.....enjoying my every bite......................
Tiramisu ($8) accented with orange peel and preceso was a light twist to this classical dessert. Light and creamy at the same time.
My waitress is efficient but a little bite cold. My food was served quickly and plate removed right when I finished.... and I was in and out in 45 minute.
Will I come back? Maybe for the tastier menu, but I know what to expect... good food in small portion and pricey................ -
Review from Dan D.
Toronto, ON
1/21/2012
I took my girlfriend here on her birthday, this was our experience.
We started with the grilled octopus, which had a fantastic charred outside and tender meat within, thought slightly overcooked.
We then had the 6.oz pork shoulder, medium well served over a mushroom emulsion. The dish was cooked perfectly, we were quite happy with this one.
For my main I had the Spaghetti with Bottarga which I had been very eager to try since its almost impossible to find this dish/buy bottarga alone. I was quite disappointed, they were very stingy with the Bottarga and my pasta tasted more like your standard alfredo with rapini.
My girlfriend had the Lamba Paparadelle which was hearty, smokey and had tender, well seasoned hunks of lamb: a wholesome dish prepared well.
Overall, Enoteca remains overhyped in my books. The food was good, but not spectacular. I probably won't be going back, and definitely not for their Bottarga dish. -
Review from Vivek S.
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
In-house cheese cave? Go on... Other noteworthy offerings from this trendy Parkdale resto: a commitment to local fare, a Enomatic wine dispenser behind the counter to serve a hefty selection of bottles by the glass, and a totally relaxed atmosphere that will make you feel at home.
All these factors drew me to this West End spot. It's owned by the Pizzeria Libretto crew and is just as popular (that is, very). Walking in sans reso on a Friday night, we were told to expect an hour wait. The mustachioed Italian Food Gods (IFGs) must have been smiling that night as ten minutes later my cellphone was buzzing.
Enoteca is a pastoral kind of place, terra cotta floors, brick walls painted white, dim lighting and wall art by California-based Retrowhale. This is a place to bring a date, or have a relaxed meal with friends. Nothing terribly stuffy or formal about it, which I like.
The menu is large and very Italian (filled with ONOs, ANOs and ELLAs), but (not having an Italian grandmother of my own) I felt obliged to order the $45 prix fixe "nonna's dinner" which is features a sample of their menu options. I skipped the optional wine pairing with each course, but instead got stuffed on their fantastic and authentic Italian offerings. I'm not going to bother telling you what I ate: go there and discover it for yourself. This place is just that good.
Obligatory Title Pun: I wENO a TECA-nical school to get a SOCIALE-ogy degree.
Menu Readability: Pretty gorgeous.
Need to mention: Make a reservation.
What this place teaches me about myself: Who's down with IFG? (Yeah, you know: me.)Listed in: That's Amore!
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Review from Shaam M.
Toronto, ON
1/7/2012
Definitely the best meal I have had in a long time. Everything was spectacular. The food, wine and service. The arancini and the striploin with marrow is a must!
Go here! -
Review from Joe C.
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
An all around fantastic dinner service last night where everyone from the wait staff to the chefs actually have a clue about food, wine, and exceptional service. Flown in truffles from Croatia. seriously? no not the olive oil; the actual ugly looking fungus thing that smells like a billion bucks. I didnt know it was truffle season but certainly glad i was able to experience it.
highly recommend the white truffles over the homemade pasta at $42 for 5 grams, it's worth every penny.
Also the tiramisu not made from mascarpone is comparable to the all-mighty libretto tiramisu if not a level up.
This place is small and date friendly. it would be difficult to get that 7pm reservation unless booked in advance. The 9pm however you should be able to score same day. -
Review from danielle w.
Toronto, ON
3/4/2012
Fantastic dinner last night! Walked in without resos and within 5-10mins, we were seated at the bar.
Very nice, casual vibe paired with servers who could double as sommeliers. Ordered the arancini.... So delicious and home-y...comfort food done incredibly well! The octopus was out of this world! Tender, moist well-seasoned served with lemon-infused potatoes and red pepper purée. Should have ordered seconds!
For mains, we ordered the lamb ragu on parpardelle and the rutabaga mezzaluna with brown maple butter and pickled *i think* black truffle mushrooms. The mezzaluna was the perfect combo of savory and sweet (still dreamin of that flavor combo) while the lamb ragu was OK.... Leave it at that! -
Review from KL M.
Toronto, ON
11/20/2011
This place has the best pasta dish I have had outside of Italy. After reading in Toronto Life that Enoteca's house ravioli with brown butter was one of the best dishes in the city, I had high standards going in. And it delivered.
I admit my dining companions were not as equally impressed with their choices (hello, do more research folks!), but they agreed it was an all around good dining experience.
We started with the fried risotto balls (a must) and paired our meals with the suggested wines. It's a cozy place with hearty Italian offerings - what more could you ask for on a chilly autumn evening? -
Review from Jennifer L.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2011
LOVE this place. I highly recommend sitting at the bar where the dining experience feels more intimate and private. I also highly recommend doing the wine pairings suggested for each dish. Even doing the wine 'tastings' (around $4 for a 'taste') was enough for me to enjoy with each course.
Everything about Enoteca Sociale is relaxed and enjoyable! It's a popular place so do book ahead. Otherwise, show up at 5:30 if you're going to do a walk-in and beat the rush. -
Review from Valerie C.
Toronto, ON
2/8/2012
Amazing.
I want to make this place a staple of my eating-out diet.
An aside: one can sometimes sum up a restaurant based entirely on the quality of it's bread. This place has great bread. The night we went they served both a dense yet extremely soft loaf and a more porous, crunchy ciabatta-type of bread. I had an intense urge to swipe some into my purse at one point. Dammit for being seated in the middle of the restaurant.
Apart from the bread, this is what we had:
-Albacore tuna crudo (with lemon, celery, rosemary and pepper) - this struck me as more of an asian inspired dish, reminiscent of seared sashimi. Delicious nonetheless, with the celery and lemon adding a refreshing touch. Our neighbours seemed to also be enjoying the octopus and potato appetizer from the "mmm"s and "ahh"s coming from their table.
-Pappardelle (with lamb ragu) - perfectly al dente wide strips of pasta, tender but slightly chewy, while the lamb ragu had a wonderful depth of flavour to it with very tasty chunks of ground lamb.
-Bucatini all'amantriciana (tubular pasta in a tomato sauce with pork cheek) - this was an amazing dish, simple in the best way possible with each component of the pasta, sauce and meat done perfectly. Could have had bowlfuls of this.
-Gnocchi (with tomato sauce, sausage and a type of mozarella) - pillowy and soft, with a bit of a bite to it from the spiciness of the sausage, and a nice complement with the mildness and soft texture of the cheese.
-Tiramisu (with ricotta and lemon zest) - nicely done... The mains really outshone the dessert. Still, a nice finish to the meal.
The service was quick. At times, a bit too quick... which was my only (minor) quip with the place. Lingering (within reason of course) and soaking up the atmosphere of a restaurant is part of the fun of dining out, personally. The waiters seemed to be constantly monitoring our plates and whisked them away immediately after finishing, even though we were well within our reservation time. Small quibble though.
The ratings on this place are well-deserved. -
Review from Tara E.
7/13/2011
Can I just tell you how good the service was? I was there last night, and I felt compelled to write this morning (ok, it's a slow morning) just to tell you that you should go to this restaurant based solely on how good the service was. I wouldn't say that about many other restaurants.
One thing to note, they now take reservations. I wish I had known this!
The service was attentive and patient throughout the meal, and my group wasn't at it's strongest. We humed and hahed over if we wanted to sit at the bar or at a communal table, or wait for a patio seat. Once seated (communal) the server was prompt and helpful. But the icing on the cake wasn't even on our cake (does that make sense?) A mother and her two young children (I would guess 3 and 6?) were seated next to us. Not only did the server ensure a special kid friendly meal, but he also took them to see the kitchen, and also the cheese cave allowing the mother a few moments alone to enjoy her meal, and giving the kids quite the thrill. He was fantastic with them, while many restaurants would not have been so helpful. GREAT work.
As for the food, the highlights were:
-arancini con stracciatella (best of the three antipasti we tried. Technically it's deep fried risotto, but it's so much more in reality)
-bucatini all'amatriciana (spicy and salty and a lot more flavour than expected)
-sfingi al' enoteca (it's a giant tiny tim donut gourmet style. IF you don't order it, and see it arriving at another table, you will regret it. I promise). All are HIGHLY recommended.
Dinner for 3 came to $200 with tax and tip (for 3 pasta, 3 antipasti, 2 dolce, 1 plate of 3 cheeses, a quartino of wine plus one dessert wine) -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 8/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum, yum, yum yum. The food here is so fresh and so delicious. We took my mom for dinner on Saturday night. Go early - we went a little before 7, no reservation, and got a table on the patio. As we were leaving at 9, people were being told a minimum of an hour wait.
The pasta is amazing. I had the one with the rabbit ragu which was lighter than expected and really delicious. My mom had the ravioli and loved it. Desserts are great too! I was full so just had some of the others' desserts and was glad I tried them.
Great service. Lovely patio. One more yum for good measure.Listed in: Ossington Village (Dundas and…, 5 star reviews: Food and Drink, Places with patios
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2/8/2011
I went a few weeks ago with my team from work. There were 7 of us and we all ordered the tasting… Read more »
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Review from Taylor O.
Toronto, ON
10/19/2011
One of the most pleasant meals I have had in a while. The food was great and the staff were amazing.
They recommended wines and pairings to go with and between every course.
Everything was perfect. -
Review from Axel C.
Toronto, ON
2/19/2012
I'm not a big fan of eating out at an Italian restaurant. I find the food in general relatively easy to make at home, but at an exorbitant rate for the ingredients and and the time it needs to make them, and the ambiance, which I can also create at home.
This place however, made me reevaluate my opinion. The food was exciting, bursting with flavors, and quite frankly, the tuna cruda here is better than any sushi restaurant in town. We were so impressed with the food, we ordered all the deserts on the menu. Yes all of them. They were gone in a blink of an eye because that's how good they were.
This place is homey, quite packed, so if you are looking for a quiet, high-end dinning experience, this is definitely not it. But it does offer beautifully prepared food, good wine, and a fun environment. -
Review from Josh A.
Toronto, ON
6/20/2011
My Dad actually picked this spot as he had read about it in Toronto Life and off we went on Father's Day. We had no reservation so we took a chance and went down right when it opened at 5 PM (and the fact that I had to abandon the family early to catch Digable Planets and Pharcyde at Dundas Square as part of NXNE...bad son..I know). When we got there there was already a line up outside. However when they opened promptly at 5PM we were able to secure an awesome spot on the Patio in the shade.
The patio itself is ace and has two big trees that provide shade. Service was super friendly and throughout the night various people were able to help us with understanding the menus (so much for my family being partially italian).
For an Appetizer we started with: arancini con stracciatella, arugula & caramelized onion; What?? Thats what I said. Its sorta a fried cheese entry with caramelized onion. Amazing!!!!
For my main I had house made ravioli, ricotta, mascarpone, brown butter, pea shoots & breadcrumbs which was very very tasty.
The menu listed different wines to have with your meal but I'm not a wine guy so I went with the Italian beer that they had on tap.
They had a super selction of cheese but I unfortunately didn't get a chance to get into that but wish i had
I finished the night off with a Dolci: sfingi al' enoteca, caramel & lemon curd. This was basically a very spicy cinnamon donut with a lemon dip. I also got to try some of the Tiramisu which was excellent also and I started to wish I had gotten that instead but both were equally as tasty.
How did I remember all this you ask? Well the menu is on their website which is very useful.
Price wise this was a mid-priced night out although I could imagine it could have gotten costly if wine was ordered. Service again was excellent all around and we were out early enough for me to catch the Digable Planets. No. Father and Mother didn't take in the show. -
Review from Jill H.
9/14/2011
What's wrong with Toronto?!?! I haven't found a place yet that is worthy of more than 3 stars, except for Scaramouche!!!!!
The food at Enoteca Sociale was pretty good. The cheese plates to start with are very nice, with a great selection of fine cheeses that are accompanied with some yummy honey, scrumptous pecans, and a fruit compote...and some crisps. Very nice. The deep fried risotto ball was very yum, but nothing extra-ordinary. Our main course, the rabbit tagliatele was very good...but again, nothing out of this world. It was a small portion, and the rabbit was tender and the pasta tasted very good, but the homemade pasta at the Veranda Osteria in Etobicoke is just as good.
The service on a Friday was SLOOOOWWWWW! I was actually very unimpressed with the service and we ended up spending more time actually waiting for our food than we wanted to...surprising given that they should have moved faster to turn the tables!
Not sure why Toronto Life has named this one of the best new restaurants...but then again, haven't been too impressed with the fare in Toronto...yet. Please, Toronto, surprise me!!!!!! -
Review from Tanya N.
6/8/2011
I didn't make reservations since they didn't have any slots for 6:30pm. I was advised that they leave about 20 seats open for walk ins so my friend and I decided to give it a shot.
We got there at 6pm and waited for about 30 minutes - not too bad.
We ordered:
Grilled octopus that came with fava beans, potatoes and chili pepper. Loved it, the octopus was perfectly grilled so it was tender and not chewy.
House made manicotto with teleggio, ricotta, kale, shallots and tomato.
This was one huge stuffed baked manicotto. It was delicious and wasn't greasy/oily. The kale wasn't overly cooked so added a bit of freshness to the dish that would otherwise be heavy.
Mixed Grill: lamb, quail, capicollo, house made fennel & black pepper sausage. All the meats were cooked well so none of it was tough though all of it had the same grilled flavour so towards the end I thought it went from great to good. The sausage had some whole peppercorns so there were certain bites that were way too peppery.
Service was great - our server was attentive, took the time to explain menu items even though the restaurant was full and nice. We had a great time.Listed in: Buon Appetito!
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Review from Brian T.
Toronto, ON
4/22/2011
First, this is realistically a 4.5/5, but I'm rounding up as this restaurant deserves a better score than what it currently has. I have now been to all three of Rocco Agostino's restaurants (although sadly he closed Silver Spoon down over a year ago) and I have yet to be disappointed.
Second, this is hands down the best casual Italian restaurant I have tried in Toronto (better than Terroni, Buca and Local Kitchen and Wine Bar).
Our table ordered all 5 appetizers for the night without one miss. The octopus was tender and full of flavour with just the right amount of heat; the arancini: perfectly creamy on the outside with a nice crisp exterior; the baccala - just the right amount of saltiness with a strong and spicy tripe sauce packing a further flavour punch. The salad and anchovy sandwich were also winners.
As for the mains: I ordered the gnocchi because I feel it's the ultimate test for an Italian restaurant as a good gnocchi should be pillow soft without the faintest hint of gumminess. These delivered, with the house made bison sausage and sundried olives adding a hefty amount of bold flavour.
Other highlights at the table included the goat ragu tagliatelle and the excellent garum and red-wine marinated flank steak, which was incredibly beefy and seared to a beautiful medium rare; the roasted brussel sprouts they came with were nutty and not even a bit bitter. Probably the weakest main of the bunch was the carbonara, which was a little too eggy and not cheesy enough. In fairness after very recently having the duck tagliatelle at Black Hoof, every creamy and meaty pasta dish will likely pale in comparison.
Desserts were good, if possibly a notch below the mains and apps. Tiramisu was generously sized and very solid. The chocolate budino was rich and had a very interesting flavour profile thanks to the olive oil and salt that was drizzled on top.
Finally, coffee was excellent, which is so often an overlooked part of the meal.
In summary, this place is definitely a must do and I would highly recommend it to anyone. -
Review from Jen C.
So the important part of my message here is that they have the wines on their Enomatic at 1/2 price on Mondays and Tuesdays. As soon as I digested that bit of news (which was about 2 seconds after I read their tweet a few weeks ago), I knew I had to visit immediately and run through their enomatic list. This was a no-brainer, having already placed Enoteca Sociale on my re-visit list. Strong dishes and excellently-priced wines - how can you say no?
I enjoyed the appetizer of Buffalo mozzarella with anchovies and summer tomato quite a bit. But it was the tomato that stole the show. I know that despite how cold I feel now, summer will come around eventually. The tomato, however, made me pine for those hot days with its sweet and intense flavour.
The Bucatini All'Amatriciana is pretty good here and they use the bucatini pasta that I love. And loads of garlic. Good stuff. I thought it perfectly paired with the Monferatto Rosso "Pin."
Recently, I've been on a quest to banish a most terrible memory of scrambled-eggs-with-pasta (not Volo's strongest dish, apparently) and the spaghetti carbonara at Enoteca Sociale most certainly helped. Pancetta, egg, black pepper, and pecorino, in a lovely - and just-creamy - sauce. But it was the large and chewy pancetta nuggets that gave this dish its spark.
The Braised Oxtail and Polenta was very filling. While I didn't love the polenta (not my thing), it did go well with the deliciously thick and rich gravy on the plate. Great winter food.
And we come to my favourite dish so far: the mixed grill. A fantastic and hefty plate of meats: house-made sausage, pork shoulder, grilled short ribs, lamb chop, and skirt steak. All the meats were excellent, but my personal favourite was the pork shoulder. It came sided with these perfect potato wedges, rhubarb chutney, bomba, and a gremolata. You can see the order of roasted root vegetables hanging out in the back. This whole dish was just so, so, so, good. Had the Sagrantino Di Montefalco 2005 with this.
Ricotta Tiramisu. Light and lovely with a cappuccino. A very pleasant end to the evening.
In then end, we managed to sample the entire enomatic list at this casual restaurant filled with families. A lot of fun, good dishes, and good wine.
(x-posted on the blog, w/photos) -
Review from Eva T.
Toronto, ON
8/9/2011
I saw this place on Charlies Burgers' Twitter, and wanted to try it!
Sunday night around 7:30 in the middle of the summer and it's PACKED. We chose to sit at the bar (great choice in hindsight). Bartender is friendly, attentive, and moderately chatty. Food was GREAT. Nice flavours, well executed, simply delicious. I had the ontario buffalo mozzarella in carrozza, anchovies, pickled shallot & parsley - which was a delicious 'grilled cheese' like little sandwich, and the grilled octopus, escarole, new potato & chili pepper; the octopus was probably the best I've ever had. My hubby house made torchietti, speck, corn, chili pepper, egg & pecorino which was similar to a carbonara - very tasty. We will definitely keep this place on our list! -
Review from Katie G.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2011
Since I moved to Toronto, I've been trying to find a replacement for some of our favorite Italian spots in New York like Malatesta, Morandi, and Babbo - this means quaint, unpretentious, knowledgeable, fantastic food, and a great wine selection. Well, Enoteca Sociale is almost there, and I'm a big fan!
We walked in without a reservation around 7:30 on a Sunday evening, and I was very pleasantly surprised. They sat us right away at the bar. I was immediately impressed with the server/bartender's knowledge of the wine and food, and he was social and welcoming.
To drink we had a glass of the pinot noir and a barbera, which were both good. For dinner we LOVED the beets with arugula, balsamic reduction, and stracciatella - what a fantastic combination. For a main I had the tubettone with cauliflower, roasted garlic, and chickpea, which was one of the most unique and tasty dishes I've ever tasted. For dessert, I was pleasantly surprised that they carry an Italian digestif that I love called Amaro Nonino, and I still day dream about the chocolate budino with sea salt and olive oil!
Pros: Service, wine selection, food, unpretentious, decor, good vibe
Cons: Lighting is too bright - needs to dim down for atmosphere
It really does feel like a Real Italian Wine Bar, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Can't wait to get back especially when we can sit on the patio. -
Review from Jordan T.
Toronto, ON
1/2/2011
Had a reservation with Nicole M. and some friends in town from NYC, which had been made about a month prior, for 6 people at 8 pm. Left at 9 pm to go to Union as we had yet to be seated.
Between 8 pm and 9 pm we stood in the "lobby" jockeying around in order to let people past to use the restroom (we didn't go to the bar because it was full of people eating, so basically there is no bar). We were given no update about what was going on until 8:20 when one of the members of our party finally asked (despite the fact we were standing no more than 3 feet from the greeter), at which point we were told it shouldn't be more than 20 additional minutes and that it wasn't their fault, but the fault of the diners who were eating too slowly.
Apparently at Enoteca if your table is incredibly delayed it is not attributable to their inability to manage reservations, but instead it is the fault of their paying customers. Enoteca, if you can't work out how to time your reservations, stop taking F'ing reservations!
At 8:50 we were informed that the customers that had the audacity to occupy our table had been asked to leave, at which point we said, "That's convenient we were just about to tell you the same thing".
We went to Union on Ossington (which we'd had ample time to call to inquire about availability), which saved our night with great food and better service.Listed in: Places You Should Boycott
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Review from Nicole M.
Vancouver, BC
1/3/2011
I was with Jordan T. for the 1 star experience he describes below.
Mistakes and delays can happen. I can understand that. The experience was frustrating for a number of reasons, mainly Enoteca's failure to accept responsibility for the delay (they repeatedly told us it was the fault of the people still at our table). They treated us like they were doing us a favour by accommodating us over an hour after our reservation.
In fairness, Enoteca sent out some prosecco (at about the 25 minute mark) and an appetizer (at about the 50 minute mark). It was a nice gesture and the appetizer was actually quite good - but the overall experience left a sour taste in my mouth. We left shortly after 9pm. -
Review from The Vong Choice I.
Toronto, ON
6/22/2011
Dundas West, the budding street of trendy restaurants is home to Pizza Libretto's owners' newest project - Enoteca Sociale. While the restaurant is bustling, it remains cozy with checkerboard decals, with no air of pretense and we feel very lucky to get seated right away without having made a reservation. The menu is nonna inspired with classic comforts of Italy and there are so many choices. With a description to "enjoy dinner as you would in Nonna's house, served family style", we naturally select the reasonable tasting menu at $45and wine pairing for another $22 and we were set! and there's a cheese cave!!!
The meal was served with fresh baguette-textured bread and a delicious olive oil for dipping a
The pasta is house made and completely delicious!
The food on the menu is definitely made for enjoying with wine and vice versa.
