Lorena Magallanes

Let’s face it: no matter how much you want to get into shape or stay loyal to that diet, pizza is your downfall. When that craving kicks in, there is no denying it. Sadly, our cheat days are usually limited to just once a week or less. This means it’s crucial we choose the best place to grab that slice (or two). Here’s a list of my favourite pizza spots in the city:

North of Brooklyn
North of Brooklyn is the brain-child of former Pizzeria Libretto employee and New Yorker Frank Pinello of Williamsburg’s Best Pizza. These two have joined forces to bring Toronto the best Neapolitan-style pizza found on Queen West. While they only offer four types of pizza on the menu, North of Brooklyn has perfected the method for making incredible pizza. You don’t have to worry about stale ingredients here; they use nothing but the freshest and high-quality – with all the sauce and dough used being made on site daily. They offer whole pies for around $20 dollars (they’re huge, don’t worry) as well as slices for around $4. If you’re looking for a casual you-don’t-have-to-get-dressed-up eating experience with great pizza, North of Brooklyn is a must.

Pizzeria Libretto
Found on the Ossington strip, Pizzeria Libretto has often been hailed as having Toronto’s best pizza by foodies everywhere. Owned by individuals that have a fierce passion for pizza, it’s no wonder that the restaurant has such a loyal following. The ingredients used on their pizzas are all freshly–sourced and local (with a few exceptions straight from Italy). Unlike North of Brooklyn, there’s a huge variety of choices when it comes to choosing your pizza. The restaurant itself has a great atmosphere to it and probably one of its greatest features is that the pizza oven is in plain sight which means you get to watch all the magic happen. You’re looking at around $14-$18 for a pizza here, but boy is it worth it! If you’re feeling extra-indulgent, start your dinner off with the buttermilk calamari. You won’t regret it.

Terroni
Terroni has locations scattered around the city. It’s renowned throughout Toronto for being an authentic Italian eatery with the best pizzas found outside of Italy. While it may have some stiff competition, Terroni’s real-neapolitan style pizza is a true taste sensation. They also offer incredible white pizzas with their Al Salmone being my absolute favourite. You can taste southern Italy in every bite of Terroni’s menu. Their pizzas fall in the same price range as their competitors with pizzas ranging from $15 to $20; however, can you really put a price on happiness? Because that’s what Terroni pizza is. The atmosphere they provide makes you feel right at home with a glass of wine and great food.

Queen Margherita Pizza
Last, but certainly not least, is Queen Margherita Pizza. Flash-fired in a 900 degree wood-burning oven imported from Italy, the pizzas are the main attraction at this little restaurant on Dundas West. With thin bases that boast the most gorgeous toppings, Queen Margherita offers a more traditional pizza experience – with their most exotic (and probably my personal favourite here) being the La Scala with its sweet pork belly, red onions and hot peppers. The ingredients used are of the highest quality which can be tasted in every mouthful. The pizzas themselves are a little pricey, but the experience is completely worth the dent in your pocket. The buzzing atmosphere also provides the perfect excuse to order that cheeky cocktail while you wait for your food.

If you have any other places you think I missed out on, I’d love to hear about them! Leave a comment below, or connect with me at @LorenaRomano.