Occhiolino

I was really excited about visiting this restaurant. The open concept design works very well with the space & the service was top notch! Our waiter always made sure our glasses were topped off, explained multiple dishes to us and answered all of our questions. The food was very well portioned and presented! All of the starters and desserts we shared were fantastic. The salted olive oil soft serve is a must try!! While the flavours were good, we found that three of our four pasta dishes were undercooked. The pasta was too hard and at one point still crunchy. Other than that, I will definitely come back again!

January 4, 2025 on Google

Absolutely a fantastic dining experience here and for a restaurant that's so humble, we'd definitely come back again! We parked on College and walked a few minutes to Bathurst which wasn't an issue. The restaurant wasn't too hard to find but it wasn't really lit outside, but we still managed to find it with the help of Google :p. Service: 5/5 Food: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Overall, we were very impressed with our mains, just but so sure about the Mortdella appetizer that might need a little work before serving. I'm not a huge fan of burnt food and it's understandable that food burns faster with sugar, but it should have been changed before being served. Maybe we'll try their Burrata and Calamari next time instead. Their cocktails and pasta were delish! Perfectly cooked pasta and seasoned, not overly salty, portion was just right! Top notch service here (really no complaints!), their friendly staff greeted us at the entrance and seated us upstairs shortly. Upstairs seemed to be more private and suitable for date nights and events and/or with children, but I suggest anyone who requires wheelchair access to ask the restaurant if they can be seated downstairs so you don't need to walk up the flight of stairs..(ask the restaurant)? Be sure to make a reservation! Will come back or/and definitely host an event here! Great job for a smooth opening and I'm loving this place already!

December 29, 2024 on Google

It's hard to come across a "trendy" restaurant in Toronto that exceeds expectations. We were surprised and delighted by our dinner at Occhiolino. The staff were incredibly kind and approachable. We sat at the bar and got to see the Chefs in their zone, and speak to them about the food. The focaccia, calamari, short rib pasta, and soft serve ice cream are all highly recommended.

December 29, 2024 on Google

Amazing new pasta place! The space is clean and modern, with an open-concept layout that lets you peek into the action of line cooks preparing, and a window at the back where you can watch fresh pasta being made. The pasta is so fresh. The ingredients are simple but so well-curated that each dish is unique and tasty. Recommend at least one small plate and one pasta per person. Highlights were the beet salad, fried squash, and the tonnarelli. Lots of options for vegetarian and vegan. The service was amazing. Plates were changed between courses, water glasses were never empty, and there were always friendly faces nearby if you needed anything. Bathrooms impeccably clean.

December 28, 2024 on Google

A very nice atmosphere. Not pictured were the pastas— which, we did enjoy. The appetizers did not blow us away— though we did enjoy the fried zucchini with honey a lot. Honestly, we were overall a little underwhelmed by this place.

December 22, 2024 on Google

They cooked the spaghetti wrong. It came stuck together prob cause the chef didn’t let the last minute of the pasta cook in the sauce. So I couldn’t swirl my spaghetti. This place is overhyped. No where near “upscale.” Calamari came overcooked and rubbery, though seasoning was good. And the Zucca was just cooked in old oil and was gross, it was dark due to the old oil and the pieces all clumped and stuck together (see photo) The only thing good was the pasta, just pasta, but sauce and balance was a miss. Their wine selection was poor and I wouldn’t consider this “upscale” given the poor table side service and no wine pairing and sommelier. Wouldn’t recommend it or go again. The top floor design of open space allows a lot of noise from all the floors. We couldn’t even hear each other and enjoy a conversation without yelling.

December 20, 2024 on Google

Pastas were amazing and worth it. Sides were pretty good but didn’t blow my mind. Next time I would come and try more pasta dishes and less sides.

December 5, 2024 on Google

Occhiolino, a hidden gem among Italian restaurants, officially opened its doors in December 2024. Tucked away from the major roads, this charming spot offers a chic and welcoming atmosphere, blending modern and industrial design with effortless style. The food at Occhiolino showcases great attention to detail, especially for a newly opened restaurant. The pasta, made fresh in-house, is served piping hot and paired with rich, flavorful sauces and a generous portion of meat. While the servings are satisfying, a slightly more substantial portion would elevate the experience. Additionally, a touch more fresh herbs would enhance the pasta's flavor, adding a burst of freshness to complement the richness of the dish. The soft-serve ice cream didn’t quite live up to the hype many food bloggers rave about. While it’s creamy, there are noticeable bits of ice crystals. The salt and olive oil, which should ideally be fused into the ice cream, are instead merely sprinkled on top, which doesn’t allow the flavors to fully meld together. The cocktails are equally well-crafted, delivering on taste. However, the minimalist glassware feels understated, leaving the drinks somewhat underrepresented. A touch more creativity in the presentation could truly make them shine.

December 4, 2024 on Google