Introducing: Queen Margherita, the new Neapolitan pizza parlour on Dundas West
Introducing: Queen Margherita, the new Neapolitan pizza parlour on Dundas West
Name: Queen Margherita Pizza
Contact Info: 772 Dundas St. W., qmpizza.com
Neighbourhood: Trinity Bellwoods
Previously: A paint store occupied the upper floor, while Hard Luck Bar called the basement home
Owners: John Chetti, Rocco Mazzaferro, Tom Mediati and Roberto Scala
Chef: Head chef John Galante creates and executes the menu with guidance from exec chef Jonathan Gushue (previously of Langdon Hall)
The Food: The menu is divided between snacks, starters and pizzas. For $38 you can sample the entire snack section, which includes prosciutto di Parma, cacciatore, olives and hunks of Parm. Familiar QMP starters (like the much-loved potenta with sausage) are joined by octopus carpaccio, ricotta-stuffed eggplant and other new additions. The wood-fired pizzas range from conventional (the namesake Margherita) to straight-up quirky (the “Roberto Scallopini AKA Birdman,” which is topped with kale, garlic aioli and toasted sunflower seeds).
The Drinks: The mainly Italian wine list starts at $38 and tops out at $90.
The Place: The two floors of the 106-seat space have distinctly different vibes. The white-tiled upstairs area is bright and cheerful, while the downstairs dining room feels like a cozy basement bunker.
Read More
- 297203
- The new <b>Queen Margherita Pizza</b> is located at the corner of Dundas West and Markham, across the street from <b>Bent.</b>
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: Queen Margherita Pizza
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-05-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-05/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-05
- 0
- 0
- 297201
- The space is divided into two very different dining areas: a white-tiled upstairs and a cozy wood-paneled basement.
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-03-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-03/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-03
- 0
- 0
- 297199
- The downstairs dining room.
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-01-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-01/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-01
- 0
- 0
- 297200
- And there's the wood-burning heart of the whole operation.
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-02-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-02/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-02
- 0
- 0
- 297213
- For $38, you can sample the entire snack menu, which includes focaccia, roasted red peppers, bocconcini, olives, hunks of Parm, freshly sliced prosciutto di Parma and cacciatore.
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-15-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-15/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-15
- 0
- 0
- 297205
- Beef carpaccio is topped with arugula, Grana Padano shavings, fried capers and lemon-garlic aioli ($15).
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-07-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-07/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-07
- 0
- 0
- 297206
- Ricotta-stuffed eggplant is deep-fried and served in tomato sauce with mint pesto ($7).
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-08-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-08/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-08
- 0
- 0
- 297207
- The kale salad includes whipped ricotta, toasted pine nuts, fried chili and Grana Padano.
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-09-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-09/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-09
- 0
- 0
- 297208
- Octopus carpaccio comes topped with fennel, radicchio and a tangle of fried shallots ($15).
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-10-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-10/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-10
- 0
- 0
- 297212
- Pizza toppings range from traditional to straight-up quirky. The one up front is "Rocco the 1st," which is topped with fennel sausage, fior di latte, red onions and gorgonzola ($17).
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-14-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-14/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-14
- 0
- 0
- 297210
- The vegetarian Cinque Stagione combines bell peppers, zucchini, fior di latte, ricotta salata and truffle oil ($16).
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-12-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-12/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-12
- 0
- 0
- 297214
- Carnivores may prefer The Dominator, which is topped with fennel sausage, rapini, smoked mozzarella and fried chili oil ($19).
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-16-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-16/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-16
- 0
- 0
- 297211
- Meatballs are made with a mixture of beef, pork and veal ($14).
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-13-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-13/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-13
- 0
- 0
- 297204
- Partners John Chetti (left) and Rocco Mazzaferro.
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-06-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg
- 1000
- 666
- https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/slide/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-06/
- queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-06
- 0
- 0
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-west-toronto-restaurants/&title=Introducing: Queen Margherita, the new Neapolitan pizza parlour on Dundas West&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/queen-margherita-pizza-dundas-toronto-restaurant-16-intro-624x395.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_297216" align="aligncenter" width="656"] (Image: Caroline Aksich)[/caption]
Name: Queen Margherita Pizza
Contact Info: 772 Dundas St. W., qmpizza.com
Neighbourhood: Trinity Bellwoods
Previously: A paint store occupied the upper floor, while Hard Luck Bar called the basement home
Owners: John Chetti, Rocco Mazzaferro, Tom Mediati and Roberto Scala
Chef: Head chef John Galante creates and executes the menu with guidance from exec chef Jonathan Gushue (previously of Langdon Hall)
The Food: The menu is divided between snacks, starters and pizzas. For $38 you can sample the entire snack section, which includes prosciutto di Parma, cacciatore, olives and hunks of Parm. Familiar QMP starters (like the much-loved potenta with sausage) are joined by octopus carpaccio, ricotta-stuffed eggplant and other new additions. The wood-fired pizzas range from conventional (the namesake Margherita) to straight-up quirky (the "Roberto Scallopini AKA Birdman," which is topped with kale, garlic aioli and toasted sunflower seeds).
The Drinks: The mainly Italian wine list starts at $38 and tops out at $90.
The Place: The two floors of the 106-seat space have distinctly different vibes. The white-tiled upstairs area is bright and cheerful, while the downstairs dining room feels like a cozy basement bunker.
[gallery columns="6" ids="297203,297201,297199,297200,297213,297205,297206,297207,297208,297212,297210,297214,297211,297204"]){kind=link}
It’s not exactly “new”, in that they already have another location on Queen East.
John is the most aggressive overbearing and intimidating person I have ever met. He walks into his restaurants with a scowl and proceeds to bully and intimidate his kitchen staff and hi servers. Or alternatively he’ll come in at 11:00pm when the place is closing and empty and make his staff stick around to serve him. They are incredibly sexist to their female servers constantly commenting on their clothing while not giving them any credit in their ability to do their job. They also allow their manager to take off for a whole shift to “run errands” yet he’ll still take half the tip-out. Lastly, they spend a ton of energy prying previous Libretto staff members, who now work for them, for their industry practices. I’ve never seen a restaurant behave so aggressively and immaturely. The only thing great about this place is the pizza crust, that is slightly thicker and firmer than it’s counterpart Libretto. Don’t give them your money and foster their growth in this city. Support businesses with happy staff and quality food.