(Image: Renée Suen)
Name: Pizzeria Libretto
Contact Info: 155 University Ave., 416-551-0433, pizzerialibretto.com , @PizzaLibretto
Owner: Libretto Restaurant Group
Executive Chef and Partner: Rocco Agostino
Chefs di “Cucina”: Tiffany Wong and sous chef Carmen Mach
The Food: The new Libretto serves the same simple, seasonal food as the chain’s Ossington and Danforth locations. The menu is divided between rustic Italian starters (including chef Agostino’s namesake arugula salad with squash and beets) and generously topped Neapolitan pizzas, which are flash-baked for 90 seconds each. At $15 for three courses, the weekday prix-fixe lunch menu is one of the better deals downtown.
The Drinks: Along with Italian wines and classic cocktails, the new Libretto has eight beer taps, including a monthly rotating guest tap. A signature Libretto brew called Capo (“boss” in Italian) is brewed in partnership with craft brewery Flying Monkeys.
The Place: The 20-foot ceilings and opulent design details (rich leathers, Italian subway tiles) should appeal to the area’s business lunchers. The long room is anchored by a pair of domed pizza ovens custom-designed by famed Italian craftsman Stefano Ferrara.
298669 <b>Pizzeria Libretto'</b>s third location is located at 155 University Avenue, between King and Adelaide. (Image: Renée Suen) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-01/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
298672 Business lunchers should feel right at home here. The stylish space was designed by Toronto designer <b>Irfan Bukhari</b> of <b>Bukhari Design Inc.</b>) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-04/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
298671 The 4,000-square-foot room’s 110 seats are divided between four areas: 20 seats in the entrance lounge, 20 along the marble bar, and the remainder divided between centre banquettes and a modular area flanking the pizza ovens. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-03/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
298679 On the list of starters, grilled calamari is paired with endive, radicchio, hazelnuts and gremolata ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-11/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
298674 Executive chef and partner <b>Rocco Agostino</b> and his namesake salad. It’s topped with butternut squash, beets, Brussels sprouts, prosciutto, ricotta salata and a deep-fried egg ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-06/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
298677 Chef Agostino preps a basic Margherita pizza. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-09/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
298670 The restaurant is anchored by a pair of white-tiled <b>Stefano Ferrara</b> hybrid pizza ovens, which are the first of their kind in Canada. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-02/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
298673 The scorching-hot oven can cook a pizza in 90 seconds flat. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-05-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-05/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
298681 The finished product ($14). Extra cheese can be added (“doppio”) for an additional $2. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-13-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-13/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
298680 Ricotta gnocchi is fried and tossed with San Marzano tomato sauce, spicy nduja and stracciatella cheese ($7). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-12-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-12/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
298682 <em>Sfingi</em> (also called <em>zeppole</em>) are traditional Italian doughnuts made with ricotta cheese ($9). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-14-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-14/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
298683 The restaurant’s eight beer taps pour pints from breweries in Ontario, Quebec and Italy. (There’s also a rotating guest tap.) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-15-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-15/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
298684 Libretto’s signature brew is called Capo (“boss” in Italian). It’s a Saison-style beer brewed in partnership with <b>Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery.</b> https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-16-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pizzeria-libretto-university-avenue-toronto-restaurants/slide/pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-16/ pizzeria-libretto-downtown-toronto-restaurant-16 0 0
It is not PATH accessible. Check your headline.
The PATH exits out 20m from the front door. I guess why that’s why they said “PATH accessible” and not “on/in the PATH”
Stickler!
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In winter, 20 metres might as well be 200. If it’s in the financial district and the Path doesn’t reach the building, it’s not Path accessible.
Come on Frank, your embarrassing yourself here. There is a difference between “accessed by the PATH” and “PATH accessible” as the headline states. If you don’t want to exit a door and cross a small street, then don’t go. It’s that easy.
Everyone knows the Path is all over the financial district; it’s asinine to feature it unless you can actually use it. I recall Momofuku mentioning their lack of connection as a concern, and it’s right across the street.
I think there is a big difference between crossing a one lane street (Pearl) and a four lane thoroughfare with a large median (University). Again, if it’s too far for you to walk then don’t go. However, the headline that states “PATH accessible” is correct.
South of Temperance did a great winter business, despite having to cross a street.
Correct. This restaurant is not ‘PATH-accessible’. You have to go outside to reach it. The closest PATH entrance seems to be 181 University Ave., which is very far in winter or when it’s raining.
The original headline of this post labelled this restaurant as being PATH-accessible. The headline has since been changed.
Use Uber code UBERTORONTOFREERIDE to get $20 off your first ride. Just download the Uber app and enter the code. Valid anywhere in Canada.