MARINELLA 
360 College Street West, Toronto (416) 348-9200 
Decided to try a new restaurant on College Street in Little Italy, it was called Marinella.  We checked the menu on the board outside and it seemed to have some dishes we wanted to try.  We began with the usual request for a bottle of wine, Chianti and it was good ($40).  The meal began with a plate of homemade bread that was still warm, and definitely homemade.  The bread was accompanied with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.  Had to ask for another plate of it, it was melt in your mouth good.  We ordered calamari fritti and an olive bowl as appetizers to share, they were a reasonable price and very good.  The calamari were large and covered in a nice panko like coating and an accompanying tomato sauce which was not acidic.  My wife ordered gnocchi in tomato sauce (she has tried many gnocchi dishes in many restaurants) and she said it was very good.  I ordered the veal parmigiana with the standard spaghetti accompaniment.  I found the veal thin and delicious.  I cut it with the butter knife. The accompanying spaghetti tasted homemade (usually it is a filler to accompany the veal parmigiana), but this was different, it was definitely homemade and scrumptious.  We completed the meal with a cappuccino and shared a tiramisu that was homemade.  

When we first arrived the waiter told us that tonight's cooks in the kitchen were the owners mother and brother and that everything was homemade.  Well I had to agree, our meal  was delicious and tasted homemade.
    
I do not take well to acidic tomato sauces, but this was not definitely not an acidic tomato sauce (try Kit Kat's sauce and you will see what I mean).

In summary, this was a great meal.  The waiter was very efficient and deserved the larger tip.  The only drawback was that the restaurant owner had turned away at least a dozen people, saying they were booked for the night, yet when we left an hour later it was still mostly empty.  He lost possible return customers - I am not a fan of reservations!!

nice Chianti

fresh house made bread, olive oil and balsamic

large calamari with nice crust and tomato sauce

olive bowl appetizer

house made gnocchi

veal parmigiana and house made spaghetti

house made tiramisu

http://www.marinellasrestaurant.com

IL FORNELLO (King St.) 3.5 out of 5

214 King Street West (416) 977-2855  Hours Open 11:30 Mon -Fri , 12:00 Sat -Sun

We have been here a number of times and have not been disappointed.  This time we came just before the peak hours. It can get very busy here, because it is next to the Princess of Wales Theatre in the Entertainment District.  Despite the fact it is quite a large restaurant, it fills up very quickly after 6 pm and it is recommended to have reservations.  Since we were early, we were served very efficiently and quickly.  We began, as we always do here, with their olive bowl of marinated black and green olives and crostini, which we shared (a delicious and inexpensive appetizer).  We ordered a nice Ripasso wine, at a reasonable price, and decided to try the salmon dinner.  It was delicious and extremely hot when it arrived (I like my fish hot).  It was a generous portion of fish and was perfectly cooked.  It was accompanied by a lemon garlic dipping sauce (served on the side).  The rest of the plate consisted of a generous portion of  French beans and fingerling potatoes.

We completed the meal with desert.  My wife had a slice of cheesecake which was soft and delicious.  I had the raspberry chocolate tartuffo with whipped cream.  We also had a cappuccino and espresso.

although it is a large restaurant it fills quickly

olive bowl with garlic, rapini, and crostini

Ripasso wine and olives, a great combination of flavours

grilled salmon, French beans,  and fingerling potatoes

raspberry, chocolate tartuffo with whipped cream

lfornello.com

STANDARD PIZZA AND PASTA BAR 

We come here regularly for the lasagna and their calamari. Both are the best we have tried in Toronto. Consistent every time we come. Reasonable prices and reasonably attentive service. One of our favourite restaurants in Toronto. Valpolicela Ripasso is reasonably priced here. They also make a great Capuccino.

The patio here is large and heated and very spacious. The inside is hip and clean. It can get very busy very quickly on the weekends.

lasagna, bread and Ripasso wine, yum

http://www.thestandardoncollege.com/

SORREL     4 out of 5                   

One of the best restaurants in Yorkville. We began with a bottle of Chateau Pey La Tour Bordeaux which is always a good selection with a rich dinner. We had the fried calamari as an appetizer - they were tender and flavourful. My wife had the linguine with pesto and asparagus - it was delicious and substantial. I had the veal scaloppini with white wine lemon and caper sauce (the sauce was wonderful). We had a coupon for a free desert and had the tiramisu which was just enough to share. We completed our meal with a glass of Prosecco. It was an enjoyable meal in a very calm cool restaurant where the server matched the ambiance. Looking forward to returning soon.

veal scaloppini,  white wine lemon caper sauce,
fingerling potatoes and french beans 

sorrelrestaurant.ca