Steph C.
Yelp
My husband and I visited Toronto for the first time a couple weeks ago, and we decided to get lunch in Trinity Bellwoods, as we wanted to explore the neighborhood. Pizzeria Libretto seemed like a solid choice, the original location of a local mini chain (it turned out there was another location right by our hotel) specializing in Neapolitan-style, with a lot of love on Yelp. It was a lovely spot, the kind of place I'd go to again and again if I lived in the area.
We went for a late lunch, around 3:30 on a Saturday afternoon, and we showed up with stomachs rumbling for pizza. We were seated immediately, but the place was pretty busy for that hour, and I wouldn't be surprised if it got packed during peak meal times. The space was cute and hip, with cool hanging lights and a gallery wall. I liked the atmosphere, which was casual and relaxed but more trendy Neapolitan pizza joint than New York pizza by the slice. Service was friendly and attentive, and there was a full bar. We tried a couple of the rotating guest taps--the Henderson's UPA and the Flying Monkeys Saison, both great. I also tried one of the cocktails--the Toronto, made with rye, Fernet, and bitters. This was excellent, smooth and balanced with the cool herbal flavors of Fernet. It cost $12 Canadian, must cheaper than an equivalent cocktail where I live in LA.
The food was fantastic. We shared a small antipasto platter to start, and it came with a strong selection of meats and cheeses: chorizo, soppressata, lanza, and speck; a cow's milk blue, a nutty sheep's milk, and a cheese made with ale and mustard called Red Dragon. The platter also came with marinated olives; fresh baked bread that might've been made with the pizza dough, pliant and nicely seasoned; and a housemade bomba, a spicy, tapenade-like spread that was delicious with everything.
The pizza was some of the best I've had in recent memory, fresh fired individual Neapolitan pies with bright, flavorful tomato sauce and nicely charred crusts. I got the nduja while my husband stuck with the Margherita D.O.P. and we were both quite happy with our meals. The pizza was thin and floppy, definitely on the wet, soggy side, the slices easier to eat folded up. I guess it could've used a little more structure, but it tasted wonderful. The nduja came with tomato, garlic, oregano, basil, mozzarella, stracciatella, and plenty of zesty nduja sausage. Really good stuff.
This was a tremendously satisfying meal for two hungry people craving beer and pizza. We had a great time at Pizzeria Libretto, and would recommend it to anyone looking for Neapolitan-style pizza in Toronto.