Don Alfonso 1890

We had an incredible experience for our 15th wedding anniversary. From the moment we arrived until the moment we left, we were treated with incredible kindness. The service, the atmosphere and the food was incredible. The great thing about the food is that everything had a story and a way in which to eat the food to get the best experience. At the end of our meal and at the end of our dessert that we ordered. Our waiter came with a complimentary anniversary sample dessert plate. That little touch really helped in finishing off an incredible dinner.

A must-go! Has to be my favourite restaurant in Toronto of all time. The elevator ride up to the restaurant was stunning, with a lovely view as you’re going up. Upon arrival, you are greeted with friendly hosts. The restaurant itself felt open and bright. We did not feel like we were crammed in a restaurant, feeling like another number in line. The servers are top-notch. Has to be the best fine dining service I’ve ever had in Toronto, with servers making you feel like VIPs. Other Michelin-star restaurants can learn a thing or 2 on customer service from servers at this restaurant. We were seated right by the window. The view was simply captivating, especially at sunset hours, with the view switching from light to night. Finally, the food were all first-rate and impressive. Presentation is stunning and savory. Food was tasty and enjoyable, even for my 8-year old. Since we came for our anniversary, the restaurant made quite the lovely effort acknowledging our celebrations through deserts and some keepsakes. Just writing this review makes me want to make another reservation. If I could treat myself at this restaurant every special occasion, there’s no doubt you’d find me here.

First of all, the washroom was beautiful. City views while in the stall? Amazing. Second of all, our server Andrea was THE best! Explained everything that we needed to know. Chef Davide was so welcoming towards our family. This was truly a great experience. We had their signature menu and all the dishes were spectacular. My only critique is that the carrot in the duck breast course was a little too hard, would be better if it was softer. Make sure you get the caviar at the beginning as well as the wine pairings. The view from the restaurant was something that you wouldn’t believe. Will definitely come back. Great experience.

I celebrated my birthday at Don Alfonso last week, and it was such a wonderful experience. From the welcoming atmosphere to the impeccable service, everything was spot on. The food was absolutely delicious; each dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. You can really tell that they care about the details, and it made the whole experience feel so special. It was the perfect place to celebrate, and I’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a memorable and amazing dining experience!

My wife and I recently celebrated our anniversary at Don Alfonso 1890 and had an amazing experience. We believe it was the best dining experience we have had thus far in Toronto. We were fortunate enough to be given a window seat overlooking the water. We chose the A La Carte menu and each tried a cocktail, antipasto, primi, secondo, and dessert. Everything looked magnificent and each dish was equally flavorful. Our server, Andrea, was incredibly attentive the whole evening. He made sure that even our glasses of water wouldn't come close to empty before he filled them back up. To top it all off, the restaurant gave us a souvenir and some extra treats before ending our dinner. The chef himself came to personally wish us a happy anniversary just before we left our table. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and we will surely be back. We plan to try the tasting menu next.

One of the best dinning experiences I’ve ever had. Atmosphere and food were superb but the service level was the cherry on top. When they were informed that I was a chef I received tour of the kitchen. It was my mother’s birthday so they brought out a complimentary dessert, present and card for her. I highly recommend.

Don Alfonso’s has been a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try for quite some time, and it did not disappoint. Service was as good as it gets. Both friendly and professional they did not skip a beat. Food came out quickly and was described beautifully. We opted for the original tasting menu and found that the verity, quantity and portions were all perfect. No dish was “too much” and continued to get better and better until the final dessert. I would highly recommend going for the tasting menu as it gave a great opportunity to really explore what Don Alfonso’s has to offer. Can’t recommend enough.

I had a truly wonderful experience celebrating my boyfriend’s birthday here. I was determined to make his day unforgettable, and the exceptional staff went above and beyond to make him feel special, which, in turn, made my day. Their thoughtful gesture of a complimentary birthday gift was a heartfelt touch that added to the magic of the evening. The ambiance was delightful, the food was quite good, though the dessert we chose didn’t quite suit our palate. However, the wine we indulged in was absolutely exquisite—undoubtedly one of the finest we’ve had. Overall, it was a beautifully memorable experience, and I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an extraordinary dining experience. 😊

Second time here and the team continues to exceed expectation. The service is wonderful - with this being our second time we have a reference point. The menu is generally the same though with some substitutions we ended up tasting a new new dishes which were spectacular, almost feels like we experienced a new menu. The rotation keeps it fresh, making it intriguing to go back. There are plenty of restaurants with gorgeous views and there are plenty of restaurants with great food / service - they are usually mutually exclusive. To find one that is well rounded with both is amazing!

If there's a place in Toronto that delivers a truly heavenly dining experience--with the finesse of a Michelin-starred kitchen, unobstructed lake views, impeccable service, and a chef who feels like family--it's Don Alfonso at the Westin Harbour Castle. We've dined at Don Alfonso before, back when it was located elsewhere. So, when we made our way to their new penthouse location at the Westin, we thought we knew what to expect. But wow--Chef Davide Ciavattella (yes, I stumbled over his name too, which only proves how authentically Italian he is--lol) completely turned things up a notch. Or several. From the moment we arrived, we were transported. Our table faced the lake with a direct view of the Toronto Islands and the endless horizon beyond--simply breathtaking. Our server was warm, attentive, and intuitive, anticipating everything we could possibly need. We started the evening with some bubbly, and then the tasting menu began to unfold like a beautifully orchestrated symphony. To make the evening even more special, the manager, Filippo Alviani, kindly offered us a 360° tour of the restaurant. No pun intended--the dining room itself is beautifully circular, which made the experience feel even more immersive. It was a real treat to explore the space and admire the thoughtfully curated art pieces throughout--every part of the restaurant felt like an extension of the experience: elegant, refined, and full of character. Signature Menu Highlights: * Fresh Baked Artisan Bread Service * Collection of Canapés * La RicciolaCured smoked amberjack, chive yogurt, orange emulsion, fava beans, ginger * L'AnatraSeared Muscovy duck breast, roasted carrots, organic mizuna salad, 'Ratafia'-marinated blackberry, anise demi-glace, parsley powder * I TaglioliniFresh tagliolini pasta cooked in white fish broth, red snapper carpaccio, bottarga, wild fennel * Il TonnoP.E.I. otoro, puttanesca-style, red cherry tomato sauce, Nocellara olive purée, dried capers & smoked eggplant pesto * Il BisonteOrganic Manitoba tenderloin wrapped in Swiss chard, buffalo mozzarella, salsa verde, San Marzano red chili reduction * TiramisuMascarpone mousse, coffee-soaked vanilla biscotti, white chocolate crunch, salted caramel * Chef's Selection of House-Made Petit Four Each dish was a revelation--visually stunning, delicately composed, and layered with vibrant, complex flavors. The timing between courses was perfect, and every bite was a reminder that we were experiencing something truly special. Four hours flew by in what felt like minutes. When it was finally time to leave, it felt like coming back down to earth from somewhere magical. Without question, this was the best dinner of 2025 so far. As Ferran Adrià, the legendary chef of El Bulli, once said: "Cuisine is the most important art to share. It's not enough to create it--you must live it." And at Don Alfonso, you don't just taste the food--you live the experience.

A lovely dining experience for the books! You will need to take an elevator up to the restaurant as it's located on the 38th floor of The Westin Harbour Castle. Upon arrival, there's a check in counter where they can take your coats before seating. The views were very beautiful. I went during winter so you could see snow and ice outside, it was mesmerizing. For dining, there's 2 options to choose from - signature tasting menu ($225pp) or a la carte ($150pp). Our table opted for the signature tasting menu that featured a nice combination of different carbs, protein, and dessert. As much as I appreciated that the menu had such a wide range of flavors, textures, and uniqueness of each dish, I felt the mains didn't really stand out and was missing that wow factor. My favorite dish was the bread service where it came with three types of bread, truffle butter, and olive oil from Italy. As a Michelin- starred restaurant, the service really met expectations. The workers really set a peaceful, open space to enjoy the dining experience.

Situated on the 38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle in downtown Toronto, Don Alfonso 1890 is a Michelin star experience. Excellent service, great tasting food, and pristine presentation. The view from our seat in the restaurant was stunning, overlooking frozen Lake Ontario while the water taxis make their path to and from the islands. We didn't have any drinks, but Don Alfonso offers tap/still/sparkling water and both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. For food, you have an option of a 3 course a la carte ($150) or a tasting menu ($225 for either vegetarian or non vegetarian set). The restaurant requests that everyone at your table does one of the tasting menus, or the a la carte . We chose the tasting menus, and as expected the food was presented delicately and tasted good. I don't go to Michelin starred restaurants often. The price does feel steep if you're only thinking about the food, but in combination with the service and atmosphere of the restaurant, and considering that it's the going rate of Michelin restaurants, I'll say the price is fair overall.

Don Alfonso was long due on my wishlist to try, and I finally tried their dinner lately. The restaurant was located on high floor near the harbour so you get really good lakeview throughout the meal. On their menu, they offered three course a la carte dinner at $140 and two tasting menus (usual or vegeterian) at $220. Overall, the food was served with very small portion here with okay quality. Appetizers were wowing but mains were mediocre. Servers knew the food well but lack of awareness of timing. We communicated with two different staffs at the very beginning that we only had two hours for dinner to catch a show, but the communication wasn't passed back to the kitchen and food was served pretty slow. We had to rush to finish the last two courses and that wasn't relaxing at all. Now the food. We decided to go with the a la carte menu given the time limit we had. The chef provided us a few different bread/pastry to start with and the server gave us instructions of which one should go with truffle butter and which one go with olive oil. They were all savoury and I liked them all. The chef was so good at making doughs and love to use herbs. I dipped my bread very gently on the herb in the olive oil, and that was strong enough to bring out the scent of the herb. One of the bread had sun dried tomato on top. Very Italian. After the bread, the chef also brought out a plate of tasty appetizers. From sesame cracker to lobster bread, from fish carpaccio to tomato balls. All of them wowed me. I really enjoyed all the surprise appetizers. For first course (appetizers), we tried eel gelato and cured smoked amberjack. We were told for the eel dish, it's better to include a little bit of everything in each bite. I understood the reason immediately at my first bite. The mixed savoury flavour of the caviar, the eel, the chive, the egg yolk based sauce just went so well together. I felt like I had the entire ocean in my mouth. The amberjack was also perfectly cooked and flavoured. Both dishes wowed me again. The second course was pasta. We tried the lamb shank pasta and the pheasant ravioli. I liked the ravioli much more. It was so creamy and flavourful. The pheasant did not taste dry at all and went well with the mushroom on top. I didn't like the lamb shank pasta. The texture of the pasta was too chewy so that any flavour didn't go in easily. It was pretty strong flavour from the ground lamb but the pasta itself was completely flavourless. Last but not least were the mains. They were not good at all. The lobster was fresh but super salty. The bison tasted plain. The main dishes were not even comparable to a lot of other lower end restaurants. Total disappointment on the mains. Overall, Don Alfonso provided great dining environment and good quality of appetizers but plain mains. The food was quite pricy considering the super small dinner portion. Very likely you may feel hungry after dinner. It's definitely not gonna be on top of my restaurants to revisit list.

This was hands down the best meal I've ever experienced. It was beautifully plated, the staff was wonderful, and the food was exceptional. I had done the tasting menu, I am allergic to seafood and they allowed substitutions which I wasn't expecting. That made the experience even better as I thought I'd have to chose from the a la carte menu.

I tried the signature $220 menu and I loved it!! It was such an experience. As a Michelin star restaurant, this lived up to its title. All the dishes that came out were a piece of art and you can tell how much thought goes into making each plate. My favourite was the believe it or not...the bread. It was delicious. I also enjoyed the selection of canapés with its unique flavours. The service was phenomenal as what you would expect from these restaurants. The setting was also beautiful located by the waterfront. They also encourage you to walk around to see their open kitchen which was pretty cool! Overall, a lovely spot for a fine dining experience.

Don Alfonso has the stunning 360° views and equally as beautiful plating. Service and food were good, but there is definitely room for improvement, especially for a restaurant with a star. We came here on a Tuesday evening to celebrate my parents' anniversary. As a party of four, we were seated at one of the booths by the window. We opted for their 'a la carte' menu, which is not really a la carte, but more so a prix fixe experience, where you can pick 3 items for $140. I feel like they should consider rebranding this menu. Everyone starts with a bread course that consisted of focaccia, a bread stick, and fig loaf. Not only was the bread delicious, but they came with some wonderful truffle butter. Strong start. We also got some amuse-bouches - my favourite was the tuna. From the 'a la carte' menu, I chose the eel gelato with wild rose tagliatelle, mackerel vermicelli, and lobster. I don't think the eel would be for everyone with its rich flavours, reminiscent of foie gras, but I was pleasantly surprised. The mackerel was alright, but I did like the pairing of pine nuts with vermicelli. The lobster was overcooked, which is unfortunate because there was about a 20-minute wait between our Primi and Secondi courses. Our servers were kind and attentive, but there wasn't quite the attention to detail that we noticed at other Michelin star restaurants in the city. Menus were quite slow to come out. For the delay of the main course, we weren't really offered any communication or explanation, just some apologies when the food did arrive. Because it was my parents' anniversary, the restaurant was kind enough to offer two desserts on the house. Overall, I enjoyed the unique ingredients and innovate presentation of dishes, and had a great dining experience overall. There are only a few restaurants in Toronto with a star, so I feel like Don Alfonso didn't quite live up to my expectations for this elite group.

Sitting atop of the Westin Harbour Castle is a 1 Michelin star restaurant that mostly hits. The restaurant has nice views of both the lake and the city and it's unique in that it's a small donut where you can actually walk through the kitchen. Given it's prestige, expectations are a bit higher than normal. They offer 3 different menus - Signature (8 course), A la Carte (3 course), Vegetarian (8 course). We went with the Signature. [Good] Canapes were interesting little bites of flavour. L'Anatra - Perfect cook on the duck. Sauce was intense, maybe a little on the salty side but good nonetheless. I Ravioli - Nice truffle flavour. Foam was rich but the parmesan flakes did not add much. Il Bisonte - The star dish of the night. It's their signature dish for a reason. Amazing cook on the bison, perfectly tender. Feels like an alternate version of a beef wellington. San Marzano red chili reduction is unique and complemented the meat well. Same with the brown sauce. Salsa Verde was a miss for me as it was a bit too grassy. [Meh] Enzoni 1890 - Interesting cocktail that comes with a parmesan flake on top and a spoon that you're supposed to scoop that up and eat the flake with along with your first sip. It's fun but the flake was flavourless and did nothing to change the taste of the drink. I'm a fan of Hendrick's but didn't really get the gin flavours coming through. Got mostly grassy notes, which I'm not really a fan of. L'Anguilla - The most experimental dish of the night. Eel gelato was unique and great but the rose flavoured tagliatelle mostly overpowered everything else when all the ingredients combined together into one bite. This one had me wondering why rose? I didn't think the floral notes worked well with the other savoury flavours. Il Tonno - Maybe I'm just not used to cooked o toro but this dish felt ordinary. My favourite part of this dish were the crispy capers. [Worth it?] I think it'll be hard to get good value out of a $220 meal though I would say pricing is somewhat fair as you can appreciate the difficulty level and see and taste the amount of effort, attention to detail, and execution of each of the plates put in front of you. I would say the food is Italian inspired using local ingredients. I couldn't give it a full 5 stars because most dishes have an element of a miss for me whether it was the way it was cooked or the taste of the sauce or just the flavours didn't work well together. I have to say though that I am tempted just a little to return to try their a la carte menu that has dishes not available on their signature menu. I have no doubt that the food will be interesting and of quality execution. Hopefully the portions will be larger as well.

We brought friends to Don Alfonso's to celebrate a birthday. We had to wait a 15 minutes or so for our table due to some unforeseen circumstances. The restaurant is at the top floor of the West Harbour hotel and has nice panoramic views of the city and the water. The presentation of the food was phenomenal. Everything looked gorgeous and was well-proportioned. We ate from the cart and I had the ravioli, the eel and the bison. Everything was good but I would t say anything was outstanding. They provided us with after dessert sweets that were really good. That was a nice touch. If you're looking for a unique experience in a place with cool exceptional views and decent food, don Alfonso checks those boxes. However, for the price, I think the food was only just fine.

A memorable dinner was had at this Michelin fine-dining establishment, voted best Italian restaurant outside of Italy. First, you are treated like royalty when you visit. From the glass elevator ride up, to the menus that light up, to the artfully presented dishes that belong in a museum, food is art at this culinary destination. We tried the signature tasting menu; I had the vegetarian one and my husband had the meat/fish. The focaccia and bread at the beginning of the meal were some of the best standouts. While it was not the best food I've ever had, I give them five stars for the experience. I loved the fact that each dish looked so opulent, and so much work goes into each presentation. The sommelier was another highlight - he is truly made for the service industry; he was very personable, knowledgeable and animated about each wine! If you want to be treated to a memorable night out, you won't be disappointed!

A restaurant that lives up to its Michelin hype. I had friends visiting from the US who wanted a foody trip in Toronto and I picked Don Alfonso as one of the spots that sounded impressive. The Michelin star didn't help but I have sometimes been disappointed at Michelin restaurants. This one was not disappointment. The service was top notch, very professional, always there and friendly but without being fake or too familiar. They were also very accommodating, one of my friends could not eat fin fish and they provided many options from the tasting menu. The tasting menu itself was great. Every dish was thoroughly enjoyable, my favorites were the duck breast and the bison (which was incredible, in a puff pastry crust, perfectly cooked medium rare). No disappointments, more than enough food (my friends could not finish), good pacing. Overall, a meal worthy of multiple Michelin stars.

Came here for a birthday and it did not disappoint. The service didn't feel rushed with specific time slots, and the waitress took her time to explain everything. They were also attentive to the booking notes that we had an allergy and were celebrating a special day. The view is what people go for. You can add a note in the booking if you prefer lakeside or views of the city though it's not guaranteed. They also surprised us with a complimentary birthday dessert. We went with the testing menu and our favourite by far was the ravioli with truffle and mushrooms. The lobster was super tender and cooked to perfection. It is definitely on the pricier side but when we were there most people were celebrating a birthday, graduation or anniversary. We parked a five minute walk away for $10 you can also park valet for $25 if you say you're visiting the restaurant.

Unbelievably amazing experience with a knock-out view while you dine. Love the open kitchen concept where you can go watch the Chefs in action. Every last bite was incredible. The sommelier was so great, as was our server, and I absolutely approve of the Michelin Star. I might even say this is now my favorite Michelin Star restaurant after French Laundry. Overall Toronto didn't really impress me with its food scene, but this place stands out and if you do visit Toronto and love to spend your mortgage on a meal like we do, I highly recommend!

Birthday meal@donalfonsoto with Michelin ～What we ordered～ Signature Menu 220CAD per person (tips & tax excluded) One of the best Michelin restaurants we've been to, food is top-notch and service is exceptional. Every plate is like an art piece, making the whole dining experience so enjoyable. Every dish from fresh baked bread to mains to desserts tastes divine but the Organic Manitoba tenderloin wrapped in layered swiss chard and buffalo mozzarella is our favourite of the night. It's perfectly cooked, so tender, flavourful and well matched with the sauce. The birthday card and gift is such a surprise! Thanks for making my 2nd birthday spent in Toronto so memorable. Follow us on IG @kwanfoodie.ca for more!

This is a place to try at least once. Come for the views and take in the ambience. The best part of this restaurant is the details in the decor. From the presentation of the food to the art displayed around the space. We enjoyed the lounge service and would come back for drinks as we had appetizers and coffee. The lobster tempura was my favourite choice for lounge bites. The citrus sauce was a unique contrast to the crispness of the breaded tempera. This spot is great to celebrate an occasion. It's very easy to access and conveniently located right at the waterfront. Make sure to check it out!

When it comes to Italian fine dining, Don Alfonso is THE PLACE to try and I couldn't wait to be here! 1. Location and view is amazing, you have valet available downstairs too. 2. I preferred the A la carte menu because there is a wider variety you can go with. Now let's start: The OLIVE OIL here is the best I have ever seen, coming directly from Sicily, this olive oil is like a revolution in your mouth! The truffle butter is also amazing, very balanced. Don Alfonso is about flavours being together without overpowering each other, something you can barely find. The IL CARPACCIO here is the BEST I've ever had! Everything is balanced in it and the portion is actually very decent. The wagyu itself was tender and sliced well, not too thin, not too thick. The L'ANGUILLA, is like myriads of flavours together performing an orchestra, SPLENDID! Now for the second course, I do suggest the I RAVIOLI. It is very unique and not something you have tried before. The I PACCHERI is also decent, maybe not too unique but the saffron in it makes it perfect! The IL BISONTE presented beautifully with various combinations of sauces, and I do not really like bison so the fact that I had it makes it very good! L'ASTICE is plated well, and has a creative combination of lobster and mixed mushrooms. Finally, the espresso shot here was AMAZING, I do not know how but it was also the best I have ever had! I would like to appreciate our servers, as they were very helpful and sweet! Don Alfonso truly deserves the Michelin Star

Absolutely stunning view. Don't think you could go wrong with any of the seats at this restaurant! From the windowed elevator up to the seat, always a great view. Opted for the tasting menu and wine pairing. Menu included many dishes but the absolute show stopper for me had to have been the bison. Everything was great, but the bison for me was beyond exceptional. Service flowed well and servers and sommelier was great at explaining every dish/wine that was served.

I have mixed feelings about Don Alfonso. I came with a group of family members to celebrate a birthday recently. The restaurant itself is beautiful, it's on a high floor of a hotel so the views are stunning. The menu is a tasting menu, and this is one of the first Michelin-starred restaurants I've been to, so I had pretty high expectations. Don't get me wrong, some of the dishes were delicious. The ravioli stuffed with pheasant was a favorite at our table, it was so savory and flavorful. The toro was probably my personal favorite part of the meal, and the desserts were also phenomenal. But a few things just felt lacking to me. I was surprised that some of our cooked dishes came out lukewarm - for example, I think I would have loved the bison Wellington dish much more if it came out hot, because it had a wonderful flavor, but it was just too cold when it was served to us. I also honestly just had expectations of a more Italian-inspired menu since Don Alfonso had won awards specifically for its Italian food, but it was really nothing like the food I had in Italy. There was one dish that our table actually did not like at all - the colored noodle with eel gelato was just straight up strange, and none of us ate too much of it to say the least. I realize I'm being a little harsh, but for a restaurant with a Michelin star charging over $200 per person for a tasting menu, I was just a bit underwhelmed. One thing that was really positive about our experience was the service; our waitress was extremely attentive and wonderful. Overall I just can't really recommend Don Alfonso in a city like Toronto where there are so many really incredible restaurants.

They have a Michelin star and they've been rated the best Italian restaurant outside of Italy. So, not surprisingly, the place is really good. The dining room, up high, wrapped in glass has beautiful views of the city and the water. The service from start to finish is impeccable. The food is beautiful, and refined. The whole experience was really memorable.

The relocated Don Alfonso sits on top of the Westin and replaces and old restaurant - think last time I visited it, it was called Toula. The restaurant is very chic and modern, I wish we visited this place when it was at Casa Loma because the historic castle may have offered a different vibe. Service was amazing from top to bottom, and everyone we engaged with was friendly and very knowledgeable- part of fine dining is exceptional service and this restaurant did not disappoint. The amuse bouche was a great start..it was a deconstructed caprese salad that offered an intense punch of flavour. Bread service was fabulous especially with the imported olive oil that smelled like fresh cut grass. L' ANGUILLA - very interesting eel dish that my wife loved (who is a picky eater) L'ANATRA - the preparation of the duck breast was so elegant and moist...great bite I RAVIOLI and IL VESUVIO DI RIGATONI were are next plates. Hate to say it but the pasta dishes were just okay. Funny that we expected to be blown away by these dishes but were disappointed. They looked beautiful but the flavours were typical. IL CROCCANTE DI VERDURE BIOLOGICHE was selected by my wife. She doesn't eat a lot of meat so she settled for this veggie dish. When they brought out the tempura vegetables she wasn't expecting a lot but we were both so impressed with the execution and flavours of such a simple dish. Very good plate of food. IL MANZO was perfect and tender. I provided my wife a few bites and she also loved it. The portion size was larger than expected. IL BOSCO DELLE FRAGOLE was very strange as a dessert but it was tasty. I didn't like olive oil in the gelato because I thought it was too strong, but my wife loved it. They also brought out PETIT FOUR, which offered additional sweets to end the meal. In summary, great fine dining experience that left us amazed and satisfied. Value for the money is always subjected and based on your own personal opinion. How many lunches and dinners could we have bought with the money we spent at Don Alfonso???? A lot...but with the service, views, and journey of beautifully plated food..having a 2 hour meal with my wife for a special occasion = money well spent.

Don Alfonso has all the right pieces to be an excellent Michelin star restaurant--except tasty food. Upon arriving on the top floor of the Westin in Toronto, my wife and our friends were greeted with a fully circular floor plan with 360 degree views of Toronto and the marina. The layout was breathtaking and reminiscent of 71Above in Los Angeles. Our party went to the bar and waited for our seat, which I may add took a little longer than expected. Upon being seated, we enjoyed excellent service. Our waiter and the sommelier were both attentive and kind. One minor misstep occurred when the sommelier missed a pairing with one of the dishes. Kindly, however, our waiter upgraded the next wine pairing to make up for it. Drinks were excellent and dare I say better than the food. The bar offered featured cocktails that had lovely presentations with all the pomp and frill you could ask for. The wine pairings with dinner were great, and generally flowed with the meal. The rare red wine I had toward the end was my favorite. Unfortunately, things were a bit less rosy on the food side. Most of the dishes were forgettable and one was downright bad. One dish, the crostinis with sashimi, was delicious and everybody agreed it was the best. The pasta dish, for an Italian restaurant, was just okay. The pasta was al dente (which appeared to be on purpose) and the sardine was not particularly becoming. The worst dish, however was the bison. Not only was the meat gamey, but the crust (which appeared to mimic a Wellington) was limp and easily fell off the meat. However, the insult to injury was the sauce which tasted almost exactly like ketchup. The desserts were instagram worthy but forgettable. Ultimately, all the technique and beautiful plating in the world cannot make things taste better. All in, Don Alfonso was just "meh." It's views (especially those in the gorgeous bathrooms!) were amazing. It's service, drinks, and price were all really good. However, the food was the ultimate demise as it was just not tasty. Service: 4 Ambiance: 5 Food: 3 Drinks: 4.5 Value: 4 Consistency: N/A

Best meal of my life (in full transparency, I'm not an experienced 'fine diner', this is my second Michelin starred restaurant and I'm more of a steakhouse / seafood spot kinda guy for nice meals). Back to it - I thought this experience was incredible and almost perfect. Food was incredible from bread to second desert tray...wine pairing really sealed the deal for me (Jeff was incredible and elevated the experience), and the bonus restaurant / kitchen tour / meeting the chef with Franco to try some chocolate / biscotti / Sambuca type liqueur while learning about some of the art and history of the restaurant was an exceptional finish to cement this dining experience as my #1 overall. Huge thanks and keep it up to the crew, and shout Out to Jeff / Franco appreciate yall taking care of me and the falil

I feel like Don Alfonso is one of those 5-or-1-star places that you either love or hate. Because what is undeniable is that it serves exquisitely tasting dishes with topnotch service and a beautiful view, but also that these dishes are microscopic in size and eye-popping in price. So you either give in to the experience or think it's nowhere worth that much. I'm leaning towards 5 stars. There was enough magic that made me think, what the heck, let's just savour this treat. We went here for dinner and tried the signature tasting menu. Some highlights of the meal were the golden brown puff of the starter bread, the squid ink chip in one of the canapes, the shockingly strong taste of the vermicelli, the swiss chard wrap of the tenderloin, and everything about the eel gelato. But you don't see stars from food alone. And at the end of the day, Don Alfonso is an experience. The view of tinkle-lit downtown Toronto, the elegant yet comfortable interiors, the endless supply of glistening cutlery, the spa-scented washrooms, all of these added to the experience. The highest praise though goes to the service, and specifically to Ashley. These places tend to have highly polished servers who can explain away all the technical details of each dish with a very cultured tone... which sometimes gives off the air of slight snobbery. She provided this best-in-class service, but one imbued with a warmth and care that you don't typically associate with $200-plus meals. And for as much as it is ultimately about the food, the experience is shaped by the people who make and serve it. And this is what made our Don Alfonso experience a memorable one.

Worth it for the experience, great food and great views. We got the prix fixe menu and the server did a great of giving us a brief overview of each dish and his recommendations. At this point, I was already impressed with the light up menus. They first brought out the 3 types of bread and some olive oil and truffle butter. The olive oil was so fresh that it smelled like freshly cut grass. The bread was one of the favourite dishes of the night. The amuse bouche was next, a mozzarella foam with tomato jelly. Some of the favourite dishes of the night was the eel gelato, duck breast, saffron risotto and the crab ravioli. The flavours were all very good but the portions are very small. After the savory dishes, they brought out the dessert menu. The desserts were good, but they were also small and nothing spectacular. They do also bring out a complimentary tray afterwards, with an assortment of small desserts. The service was excellent. Every server had an in depth knowledge of each dish and was able to describe it in detail and how it was made. At one point in the night, one of people in our party went to the bathroom while the next dishes were being served, so they held onto hers and kept it on ice and waited until she returned to bring it out so she wouldn't miss out on the description. Overall, it was a unique experience with some flavours that I've never tried before.

Do my four stars equal a Michelin one star? Not sure, but this place was lovely. Stopped by the bar for a glass of wine and to enjoy the vibe and the view. Very expensive, but a unique experience. The staff were so friendly and invited us to take a walk around the restaurant to see the art, the decor, and the 360 views. Saw several plates being prepared - your typical gourmet fare (tiny servings of fancy-looking dishes). I guarantee you people leave this restaurant hungry lol. But totally worth a drink at the bar to check it out.

Always love coming to Don Alfonso! This is my first review after several visits. We knew that DA was worthy of a Michelin star because it was always phenomenal. Starting from the service, to ambiance, taste, presentation, and much more. The taste is always excellent, but the beverages are also delightful. We always leave the restaurant full and satisfied. I also appreciate the little details like the fogged toilet windows, the special events gifts, and attendants being personable and observant. You never disappoint!

Don Alfonso 1890 is located on the 38th floor of Westin Habour Castle Hotel (the same site that used to house another restaurant, Toula). Don Alfonso 1890 has changed locations over the years (previously at Casa Loma), and it recently moved into the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel location in summer 2022. It also recently coveted 1 Michelin star. There are 3 different menus: Signature Tasting, A La Carte, and Lounge menus. Reservation can be made at either the dining room or bar / lounge areas, each with different menus. We were seated in the dining room, and we had the choice of doing the Signature Tasting or A La Carte menu. We opted for ordering a la carte. We tried 3 items from each of the course sections (antipasti, primi, secondi): COMPLIMENTARY ITEMS - Amuse-bouche (2 small tomatoes filled with creamy cheese and herbs) - Selection of homemade bread (brioche bread, bread sticks, and organic raspberry bread) with olive oil and truffle butter ANTIPASTI - L'Anguilla (eel gelato, sturgeon caviar, wild rose-scented tagliatelle, pulverized egg yolk, wild herbs) - Le Verdure (crispy tarts topped with organic seasonal vegetables, roasted eggplant pesto, red quinoa salad) - La Ricciola (cured smoked amberjack tuna, Nocellara green olives, charcoaled peppers, sweet & sour onions) PRIMI - I Vermicelli Allo Sgombro (vermicelli di gragnano, carpione-style mackerel, Sicilian pine nuts, caramelized onions, alalunga tuna purée) - Crab Ravioli (ravioli stuffed with West coast crab in Mediterranean-style ragu, crispy crab legs, and cacio & pepe sauce) - Il Vesuvio Di Rigatoni (rigatoni di gragnano, San Marzano tomato sauce, organic peas, buffalo ricotta, 36-month Parmiagiano Reggiano) SECONDI - L'Astice (Nova Scotia lobster, mixed Ontario mushrooms, escarole involtino, trout roe) - Il Rombo (British Columbia turbot cooked in mugnaia sauce, cime di rapa, olive oil herbs, and Sicilian preserved capers) - Il Croccante Di Verdure Biologiche (assorted vegetables tempura of zucchini, white & green asparagus, cauliflower, carrots, crispy onions, seaweed, sea asparagus, with beet & garlic mayonnaise) Everything tasted delicious, albeit in small portions (expected for high-end fine dining restaurants). Service was great and exactly what you'd expect from a fine dining or Michelin star restaurant. They gave nice extra touches such as complimentary petit four dessert, birthday gift (a wine bottle opener), and birthday card for celebrating a special occasion there. At the end of the meal, our waiter told us that we could walk around the restaurant and go inside the kitchen to meet and chat with the chefs, as a way of extending Italian hospitality (a "mi casa su casa" gesture), which was nice. The washrooms have digital and heated toilet seats. There are digital screens displaying the temperature of the toilet seat and water. There is also water that sprays automatically when you sit. Needless to say, it's a very comfortable toilet (like the robot and automatic toilets that you'd find in Japan)! The view is probably one of the highlights. Located on the highest floor of the south tower of the hotel, you get a nice lookout of Toronto (making great photo opportunities).

The big question is whether it lives up to its name and reputation in its new location at Westin? And it's a YES! Great food, service and chalk in fantastic views and you have all the elements of a great experience that is worthy of its reputation! And Michelin star!! Great place for special occasions for sure! But make sure you make reservations ahead of time. Make it easy and just order the tasters menu and hold on for an exciting ride is the best suggestion! Totally loved the experience and will be booking another visit shortly!

Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto(@donalfonsoto) recently earned its Michelin One Star. Modern yet classy decor, amazing view, attentive service (our server Kelly was excellent) & tasty food! Our experienced there well worth the price tag & Michelin Star was also well earned!! Recently went with my GFs (4 of us). We've tried the $200 Signature Tasting Menu: Fresh baked Artisan Bread Service Collection of Canapés L'anguilla L'anatra I Vermicelli allo Sgombro IL Rombo IL Bisonte IL Trionfo alla Nocciola Chef Sélection of House Made Petit Four Drinks: Modena Mimosa $24 Mai Tai $26 Reservation well in advanced on Open Table! Don't forget to also check out the nice water front view from the washroom!! Would you come here for the view&/or food? 1 Harbour Square, Toronto (top of @westinhabourcastle) Follow me on Instagram & TikTok @eatntravelrepeat for more food adventures

Best Italian restaurant outside of Italy? Not sure that's true, but we had a nice meal with the Signature Menu, nonetheless. European-focused fine dining bores me to tears at this point, but Don Alfonso presented enough creativity to keep me interested--and not regret the $185pp. Standout items were the eel gelato and beet pasta. Portions were a bit small for the main meat and seafood courses, but they made up for this in the end... ...With a complimentary, stunning platter of free pastries and petit fours to help us celebrate our special occasion. I know dry ice is all style no substance, but damn if it doesn't make a great photo. Besides...free. And they were delicious too! We also received a high-quality, embossed wine stopper and card as a parting gift. The takeaway here is definitely come to Don Alfonso for special occasions.

Everyone gets a perfect seat and everyone gets a perfect meal. I've collected plenty of Michelin stars in Italy and Don Alfonso 1890 holds up compared to all of them. The restaurant is open very late and, depending on when your flight arrives, it's possible to fit in on your travel day. Truly memorable--the negative reviews are nonsensical.

So let's off by saying this place could get a 10+ stars that's how good and amazing this place is I found this place on social media and I was like wow I need to try it out they have different menu one you could order different stuff or one the chef cooks for you We picked the one the chef cooks for us wow he was amazing they asked what we like and don't like and they worked around our dish the service was amazing and the staffs were wow great place very upscale just how I like it highly recommend this place if you are in the area don't miss out

My friends and I thought since we're here, it's only right to try their signature tasting menu. It was an 8-course meal plus the house bread, and out of everything, my favorite were the bison tartare that came in one of the four little canapes and the bison tenderloin. The rose scented tagliatelle was also an interesting combination with the eel gelato. The duck course reminded me of peking duck but much more tender. Between the two desserts, the petit four were much more interesting than the Il tronfo all nocciola, which was hazelnut dessert. The overall food taste to me was just okay. Experience wise, 10/10. I have never seen a better service than this restaurant and it wasn't just the server but even the floaters.

This Michelin star restaurant definitely worth to try. Not only the food are delicious, the view is breathtaking! Service was top notch.

I personally think that the Michelin Guide is either a hit or miss. Some places I'm like YAAS so deserving, others I'm thinking... but how. This evening we opted for the tasting menu Collection of canapes: These reminded me of Chinese shrimp crackers with various types of tartare ontop. The first two bites were a little gamey and flavor wise not exciting L'anguilla: This is one of their signatures with the eel sauce, caviar and a single bite of tagliatelle. The eel was creamy with lots of flavor but the tagliattelle felt like it had been sitting out for too long, it was just a lump of cold noodle L'anatra: This duck breast was tender and juicy but there was so much going on. There was apple puree, spinach, balsamic vinager, cinnamon and a powdered herb. I thought these flavors were confusing together Vermicelli Allo Sgombro: This was a fish pasta with mackeral, caramelized onions, tuna sauce with pine nuts sprinkled ontop. This was probably my favorite dish of the lineup as the flavors complemented each other Il Rombo: This next dish was just fish with sauce, the sauce was nice but nothing special in terms of the cooking method or the flavors of the fish Il Bisonte: This was a lean cut of meat (tenderloin). I didn't think that the thin layers of mozzerella or swiss chard added much to the flavors Il Trionfo All Nicciola: This was delicious! The hazelnut was smooth and crunch inside gave it dimensions Petit Fours: We were told this was a "special dessert" for the birthday girl but realized that it was already on the menu. The macaroons were hard, the truffles were meh, the only decent thing were the pistachio pops. Even before we got the food I noticed a few red flags. The first being that the silverware were supposed to be all black but looked hella worn, dented, bent as if they've been used a looooong time or were just cheap and the color came off. I also noticed all the food was lukewarm or even cold when it came out. Even though the overall service was good, I was highly disappointed in the food experience. They didn't deserve a star and I don't plan on revisting

Everything was top notch from the service, food, ambiance, and views. Would visit again if I'm ever in Toronto. Also appreciated the tour after dinner - very cool to learn about the wine, artwork, and food prep area.

Overall a pretty good experience. opted for the signature tasting menu that cost $225 per person. Also ordered a half bottle of wine for $69. After tax and tip, the meal cost about $700 for 2 give or take. The food itself was well done with some good flavours and textures. The food itself is more on the traditional side, with fresh ingredients focused on elevated Italian flavours. My personal favourite dishes were the L'anguilla (eel gelato with wild rose scented tagliatelle) and Il Bisonte (Bison tenderloin). The view was pretty good, you either see the lake or the city. Overall service was quite good, although I did find it odd that our "main" server would come and go and we would be served by other servers periodically. Having been to many fine-dining establishments around the world, I did find this odd. Definitely come here for a good fine-dining meal, but I would say that the flavours are definitely more on the "conservative" side. Everything is delicious but for those looking for flavours that are exotic and unexpected, I can't say your mind will blown if you dine here. But you can only judge for yourself! Cheers.

This harbourfront Italian restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in the Toronto 2022 guide. They specialized in a modern mediterranean menu that can either be set or a la carte. We opted for their signature tasting menu to get a try and experience for many of the dishes. This tasting menu had 8 courses including dessert. The first dish was a cold dish, a collection of canapés, that came with 4 selections. We didn't find much difference in taste between them, but appreciated the assortment. The second dish - L'Anguilla - was a pasta dish that was visually appealing. It came with an eel gelato topped off with caviar, and tagliatelle. The flavouring was nice, but the dish was cold. The third dish - L'Anatra - was one of more favourited item. Here, seared duck breast was paired with baby spinach and an apple purée. We enjoyed the flavour combo as the apple complimented the fattiness of the duck. The fourth dish - I Vermicelli Allo Sgombro - was another pasta dish. Vermicelli pasta served with mackerel, and topped with pine nuts and onions. This dish wasn't to our personal preferences, as we found the pasta tasteless and mackerel super overpowering when paired together. The fifth fish - Il Rombo - was our least favourite dish of the night. A turbot fish paired with mugnaia sauce. The last dish - Il Bisonte - was a steak tenderloin wrapped in cheese. We found this dish cold, and pretty flavourless. As for desserts - Il Trionfo All Nocciola & Chef Selection of Petit Four - were all mediocre at best. We are big dessert fans, but none of these desserts hit for us. All in all, this restaurant was just for experience and we wouldn't go back otherwise. Most of our dishes were cold, and some of our plates were missing the smaller components such as sauces and garnishes.

Excellent dining experience! Loved the views of the city from the top floor of the Westin Harbour Castle. The service was possibly the finest I've ever had as the waiters took time to explain every dish and set every piece of cutlery and dinnerware to perfection. My fiancee and I decided to try their a la carte menu. I got the muscovy duck breast as a appetizer. I loved the cook of the breast and the apple puree it came with. My first entree was the risotto while my second entree was the bison tenderloin. I loved the saffron broth that came with the risotto. It was my first time trying bison but I was not disappointed. It was cooked rare and was very juicy and came with some vegetables cooked to perfection. For dessert, we ordered the hazelnut parfait. We loved it and also got a bonus "dessert" consisting of a plate of various sweets on a deep plate with dry ice in the centre. I should also add that we received a complimentary amuse bouche (caprese salad) and a selection of bread as part of the meal. This was a great experience and I highly recommend it if you have the budget.

A prime example of flare over flavour. Most of their dishes try to wow you with presentation but the flavour just isn't there. Anyone who tells you this place is good probably just bought into the marketing. Another shit Italian restaurant in Toronto.

Food: 4 Decor: 4 Service: 5 Came here for a work dinner with a colleague. We opted for the a la carte option, which was 140 CAD. The restaurant has 1 Michelin star. L' ANGUILLA EEL GELATO, STURGEON CAVIAR, WILD ROSE SCENTED TAGLIATELLE, PULVERIZED EGG YOLK, MINCED WILD HERBS Pretty good. Interesting flavors and texture with the eel gelato and rose tagliatelle. Creative and interesting dish overall. I RAVIOLI RAVIOLI STUFFED WITH WEST COAST CRAB IN MEDITERRANEO STYLE RAGU, CRISPY CRAB LEGS AND CACIO & PEPE SAUCE Pretty good. Tasty crab ravioli with ragu, and the legs were nice and crunchy. Great pasta dish. IL MANZO 35 DAY DRY AGED JAPANESE WAGYU RIB-EYE, CHARRED ARTICHOKE, ROMAN STYLE ARTICHOKE AND LIGHT GARLIC SAUCE Pretty good. Rib-eye was cooked perfectly, and the artichoke and sauce complemented it well. Service was solid. They even gave us a tour around the restaurant at the end with a piece of chocolate, which was a very nice touch. Overall a good meal.

Spectacular experience from the tasting menu - highly recommend vs. the A la carte menu. Great service overlooking the lake. Thank you chef! Look up the menu online and guess the dishes from the photos. You'll get one for the bison.

Amazing food, amazing view and ambience. Servers were very nice. Great special celebratory place.

Food: 9.1 Service: 9.5 Ambience: 9.3 파스타가 포함된 코스요리 3시간 식사 하였고 빵부터 파스타 까지 수준높은 요리들이였습니다. 분위기가 너무 좋다

Food: we ordered the 7-course tasting menu. Every course was great on its own and the food was actually filling and satisfying at the end of the meal. First course kicks starts the night with a bang! There are 3 types of bread and it comes with truffle butter and a specially selected olive oil which matches perfectly with the bread. I will go back again just for the truffle butter. It was that good. Second course - you are supposed to eat from right to left (from lighter flavour to a stronger flavour). Starting from the right is Bison, Fish, Tuna tartar and Uni from Japan on squid ink chip. Each chip is made with different ingredients to match with the meat on it. The crispiness is just right. Enjoy these slowly and drink some water to clear your mouth after each one. Third course - Eel ice cream with caviar and pasta injected with beet and rose flavour. A lot of different taste in this dish and enjoy it slowly. However, I am more used to eating eel that's hot so that's one of my least favourite dishes of all but it's still good. Fourth course - Seared duck breast with 3 different sauces with cauliflower purée at the bottom Fifth course - After eating more cold dishes, I am very glad that there is a hot pasta dish cuz I was getting hungry and this dish came just in time and made me very satisfied. Sixth course - Red snapper with asparagus. Love the plate! Looks like fish is still swimming in the ocean Seventh course - Bison wrapped with pastry and cheese. Much like beef Wellington. This was cooked to perfection with the right combination of meat and the wrap. Comes with two dipping sauces but I like it on its own with no sauces. Last but not least - dessert. A god variety to finish off the night with liquid nitrogen presentation. Service was great with the server explaining the ingredients used in each dish. One thing to mention is that we were seated near the entrance but we find the sofa was too tight for two people. The restaurant was very accommodating and found us another table that is more spacious. Otherwise, it would have a disastrous night. I think they should get rid of that sofa all together and get one of their other standard sofas that seats two. Price was reasonable for the food and service. I have tried many other tasting menus and this is definitely one of the best.

This is a Michelen star, high end restaurant! The food quality is pretty good. Unfortunately the service is very poor. We reserved a table for two for my birthday next to the window a week before but once we arrived the hostess said that we dont have a table there and you have to sit at the lounge area. Unfortunately, the menu is different in the lounge and there is no set menu. The manager never apologized and said it's mot our fault. Technically "it's what it is... take it or leave it!" Still, the waiter was very friendly but overall the experience was not satisfactory.

While Don Alfonso 1890 isn't a new restaurant per se, its location on the 38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle is. The restaurant is the first North American outpost of a two Michelin-starred restaurant of the same name in Italy (I've been, and it's incredible). Toronto patrons can now experience this one Michelin-starred restaurant featuring Chef Daniele Corona's tasting menu, featuring the signature eel gelato, as well as an extensive wine list. The gorgeous 90-seat space is immaculately designed, and features the best art there is: a 360-degree view of the city and Lake Ontario.

This place was so hyped up and I was super excited to give it a try but I have to say it was a super let down. The drinks were ok but the food was a super disappointment. youre bascislly paying $$$$$$ for the view. I would not go there again or recommend