After a very stressful midterm period, my friend and I decided to rewind by having some nice food and a do some catching up. I've heard really great reviews for Terroni, some said it's up to par with food in Italy, so of course we had to try it out!
It's within walking distance from Eaton Centre, so it's very convenient and easy to find.
I was also pleasantly surprised by how fast we were seated (it's a big restaurant) despite the fact that we arrived right during lunch time.
I'm so sorry I didn't get the name of this appetizer. There were too many choices so we simply asked the waitress for recommendations and went with those. This dish is on the daily menu, so I couldn't find the name afterwards.
Anyways, the white chunk is fresh cheese made from cow's milk, poached cherry tomatoes with basil and bread in olive oil.
The cheese is very light yet the richness of the milk flavour is retained. It's a good dish even for those non-cheese-lovers (I know you're out there!). The acidity of the cherry tomatoes brought a nice balance to the creaminess of the cheese and bread and the basil is just that nice cherry on top of a perfect sundae.
Ravioli di Zio Paperone (Homemade Ravioli Stuffed with Duck Confit, Fig, Roasted Butternut Squash, Sauteed with Oyster Mushrooms & Parmigiano Cheese). After a nice refreshing appetizer, this is a very satisfying, rich, explosion of flavours that signals "let's get the party started!" Everything was seasoned to perfection, and it's amazing how I can still taste each component listed on the menu very clearly (except for the fig). The ravioli was well made, and when you bite into it, the duck flavours flow into your mouth. It's quite a bold dish because the taste of duck is not everyone's cup of tea, but I like an edgy dish. :)
Overall Review:
Food: 9.5/10
All the dishes were delicious except for the pizza. Terroni probably would've gotten a perfect score if it weren't for the pizza. Despite popular beliefs, pizzas in Italy definitely tastes a lot better. And I'm not just basing this on the prosciutto that I didn't like, but they called it a thin-crust pizza, but it wasn't! The pizza was also a bit burnt. However, I DID see people order more appealing pizzas next to us, so I think I have to go back and try another type of pizza.
Ambiance: 8/10
Located in the heart of the business district, the ambiance is very business chic with an Italian accent to the overall design. They had Italian street signs hanging on the wall etc. I loved the high ceiling of the main room, and the foyer. It's kinda like an amalgamation of baroque designs with a modern elements.
Service: 7/10
Up to par, but nothing really stood out. But I think the staff and table ratio is a bit off balanced. I also find that before we order, she's always around, but after our food came, it's so much harder to find her. The restaurant is quite big, so we did not have to wait in line much even though we arrived at lunch time (12 o'clock). For some reason, they get really packed around 1 though, so don't go there at 1 if you want to be seated immediately.
Price: 7.5/10
The price of the main dishes were quite good, ~$15, but what threw us off was that the appetizer we had was around the same price as the main dishes $13 (I believe). I mean, the appetizer was delicious, but I still think it's a bit steep. But other items on the menu were reasonably priced, ~$15-$18 for pastas.
Final Verdict: 9/10
I would definitely go back and bring my family along. It's a very nice place to eat. Besides, I've been craving for that cheese ever since I finished eating it!
Address:
57 Adelaide St E
Toronto, ON M5C 1K6
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core (416) 203-3093
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