Pizzeria Via Mercanti 647.343.6647 http://www.pizzeriaviamercanti.ca/ open daily lunch & dinner
Large open windows invite you into a boisterous Italian pizzeria, reminding me of a New York City restaurant. Carefree servers dash about the hectic looking room. The mainly Italian wine list is nicely chosen.
To start suppli al telefono: fried risotto balls with pancetta, tomato and fior di latte ($3 each) are tasty and quite stringy; if you like rice balls you will love this. Margherita pizza with fior di latte ($10) is simple and delicious. Pomodorini with fior di latte, cherry tomatoes, prosciutto di parma and arugula (I added mushroom and black olives) is masterly. I am blown away! Yes I know the city is saturated with pizza joints but this is exactly how a pizza should taste – a cross between two of my favorite Toronto Italian eateries. The crust is chewy and lightly charred, not too firm or soggy and the toppings are perfectly cooked – brilliance in simplicity. And the price is right.
This is a great first date place and a gem of a restaurant. I almost forgot I was in Toronto.
