Photo Credit: scaddabush.com
Recommendations from a food blogger that will satisfy your taste buds
Sabrina Daniele, Managing Editor
With the New Year in full swing, this opens the opportunity for students to visit Toronto’s top five restaurants — as recommended by The Mike’s very own food blogger. As a TripAdvisor contributor, I have cultivated a list of my personal favourite spots to dine out that will satisfy the foodie in you. These hot spots not only range from cafés to Italian fine dining, but they also all have access to transportation that can be reached easily from the University of Toronto’s St. George campus. In no particular order, this list showcases some of my favourite places to eat that are best suited for any occasion.
Pizzeria Libretto – 155 University Avenue
My first impression of Pizzeria Libretto was how busy it was! I noticed a majority of customers ordering pizza so I decided to do the same. I was impressed by how the chefs cooked the pizzas in a wood-burning oven. I ordered the Bufala Margherita, which consisted of Buffalo mozzarella, basil, and San Marzano tomato. When I took my first bite, I realized how authentically Italian it was. You get served a thin-crusted, juicy, and flavourful mini pizza, and I ate the whole thing! How far is it from U of T? You can take the subway to St. Andrew Station or can walk 15 minutes from campus.
Vaticano Italian Restaurant – 25 Bellair Street
Yorkville’s Vaticano is known for visiting celebrities — as displayed in portraits throughout the entire place. With such a high reputation, I knew my experience would be a great one. On my second visit, I was happy to see the menu had my favourite sauce. It was a no brainer that I chose Fettuccine Alfredo. I have tasted this sauce at various Italian restaurants, and I can confidently say that Vaticano makes it the best! Vaticano is just a five-minute walk from campus, at Bay subway station. Don’t forget to order fettuccine with Alfredo sauce — I promise that you won’t be disappointed.
Old Mill Toronto Restaurant – 21 Old Mill Road
Old Mill is a beautiful hotel, and it has the best fine dining. Old Mill’s Sunday brunch menu consists of fresh baked pastries, scrambled eggs, waffles, smoked bacon, and breakfast sausages. The seating can accommodate a very large group of customers, and it is set up similar to a banquet hall. The scrambled eggs were so delicious that I went up for seconds. Taking the subway to Old Mill station is the quickest way to get there from campus.
L’Espresso Bar Mercurio – 321 Bloor Street West, Toronto
L’Espresso Bar Mercurio has the best sweet potato fries. They were the perfect combination between crunchy and soft — just how I like them! The chefs displayed my dish wrapped in doily paper, which offered an elegant appearance to this tasty treat! My first impression of the café was cozy and comfortable, not to mention the great hospitality. I sat in the back room, which was quite large and was decorated very regally. With just a one-minute walk from St. George station, it is one of the closest places to grab a bite on campus if you are looking for sweet potato fries.
Scaddabush Italian Kitchen & Bar – 200 Front St. West
My taste buds were satisfied after eating Scaddabush’s Baked Penne Carbonara. Filled with bacon, a poached egg, and Parmesan cream sauce in the pasta, the dish was very tasty my first time trying it. The most impressive thing was how my food was baked and served on a pan! The serving was very filling, and the bacon bits were baked just right. I was pleased with my experience and will be returning to eat the same dish again. It is a 20-minute walk from campus, or a quick subway ride to Union station.
Disclaimer: This article was not intended to endorse or advertise any restaurants listed, nor do I endorse any restaurants as stated in this article.
