Bar Vendetta distinguishes itself in a space that had previously been a fairly iconic restaurant, The Black Hoof, with a beautiful (and imposing) Douglas fir ‘glass canopy’ and a completely different, 70s colour scheme, modelled (very loosely) on Jen's teen basement bedroom in Scarborough. Nothing says 70s like brown, orange and cream! We didn’t want it to scream ‘Italian restaurant’ because frankly it’s only Italian-ish, using the philosophies of Italian cooking with locally available ingredients and a strong devotion to seasonality. Our pastas all made in house, by long-time chef, Annalisa Latavo and our front of house team is simply a dream! The sort of secret treehouse-feeling back patio is hugely popular in the summer, but we think of it as the perfect restaurant for a colder evening, cozy for tucking into a beautiful plate of pasta, with one of your favourite songs playing while you have a very nice Italian red.
Why they're an Icon
Executive chef: James Santon
MICHELIN
Plate2022
From the OpenTable editors: Head to this hip Dundas West destination for a celebration of Italian flavors with local ingredients courtesy Toronto superstar Jen Agg and her team. Once inside, grab a seat at one of the candlelit tables across from vintage posters or at the cozy marble bar and dig into plates of beef tartare with garlic aioli, fennel and celery salad with walnuts, and tuna crudo with blood orange. An order of Bar Vendetta’s luxurious cacio e pepe is non-negotiable; pair it all with a selection from the restaurant’s expansive Italian wine list.
with garlic aioli, egg yolk, horseradish, focaccia cracker
Cheesy Pull-apart Garlic BreadCA$13.00
BruschettaCA$15.00
with smoked ricotta, preserved tomatoes, herbs
BurrataCA$24.00
with apple, brussels sprouts, guanciale, pine nuts
Fennel and Celery SaladCA$21.00
with walnuts, grapes, pear, blue elizabeth
Bitter Greens SaladCA$16.00
with pumpkin seeds, lemon, anchovy, parmesan
Tuna CrudoCA$24.00
with blood orange, serrano chili, finger lime, pistachio
New PotatoesCA$17.00
with stracciatella, pistachio, caviar
MeatballsCA$13.00
with tomato sauce and basil pesto
Pasta
Spaghetti PomodoroCA$19.00
with tomato, basil, ricotta salata
Campanelle PuttanescaCA$23.00
with smoked tomato, shallots, pecorino
TagliatelleCA$26.00
with chanterelles, maitakes, miso squash, gremolata
Crown Cacio e PepeCA$25.00
with ricotta, lemon, butter, black pepper
RigatoniCA$28.00
with duck confit, zucchini, mustard, herbs, aged provolone
Sides
RapiniCA$9.00
Heirloom BeansCA$10.00
Dessert
GelatoCA$8.00
SorbetCA$8.00
Lemon Torta with almonds and white chocolateCA$13.00
** Please note that this is a sample menu, and will vary depending on availability **
What 495 people are saying
Bar Vendetta reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.
Overall ratings and reviews
Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant
4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
4.7Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.5Value
Noise • Moderate
Diners' Choice Awards
Toronto
Contemporary Canadian
Review summary
AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bar Vendetta delights with "delicious food," "cozy atmosphere," and "great service." Renowned for its "cacio e pepe," meatballs, and fresh pasta, this spot is ideal for date nights or casual dining. The "vibrant" ambiance and attentive staff enhance the experience. Some dishes may be salty, but overall, it's a must-visit.
495 Reviews
S
Sarena VIP
Toronto6 reviews
4.0
Dined 1 day ago
Overall 4
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 3
Cute spot with great food! Tuna crudo and crown cacio e pepe were my faves!
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Jon
Toronto1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
Food was amazing, bartender took great care of us
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
Delicious food, cozy atmosphere and great service. 10/10
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S
Sebastian
Toronto1 review
5.0
Dined on 13 March 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
I had a wonderful dinner date at Bar Vendetta last night. The service was excellent—the staff was incredibly kind and attentive throughout the evening. Our food arrived at the perfect pace, allowing us to enjoy each dish without feeling rushed.
Although we didn’t get to try the cocktails, the pasta and small plates were outstanding, with just the right balance of flavors and seasoning. The ambiance was fantastic—from the beautifully decorated walls to the cozy seating, every detail added to the experience.
The only thing that could be improved is the music selection, which didn’t quite enhance the atmosphere as much as it could. A more curated playlist could elevate the mood even further.
Overall, it's a great spot for a date or a night out, and I’d definitely come back!
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SB
SimoneB
New Orleans5 reviews
4.0
Dined on 9 March 2025
Overall 4
Food 4
Service 5
Ambience 5
Great service and good food. Little gem for date nights!
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P
Purva
San Francisco1 review
3.0
Dined on 7 March 2025
Overall 3
Food 2
Service 4
Ambience 4
We got the cheesy garlic bread which wasn't anything like you would expect, it was sweet and not garlicky. Not my favorite at all
Next was the bruschetta, which had zero flavor, the tomatoes were ginormous and made the dish so hard to eat. Needed salt like it was forgotten in the dish.
The tagliatelle was edible, decent flavors, nothing memorable. After 2 bad dishes, it was a relief.
We left disappointed and hungry.
Maybe we made bad choices and didn't get alcohol but it's a small menu so I expect everything to be yummy!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on 1 March 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 4
The food and service were great. It was a little too dark so it was hard to read the menu and very loud.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto9 reviews
5.0
Dined on 1 March 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 4
Everyone comes here for the cheesy pull-apart bread and crown pasta but the meatballs are soooo good! The best I’ve ever tasted in my entire life.
It’s also a cozy restaurant, perfect for date night, small group hang or even solo. For some of their dishes, they also serve half-sizes too! My server was also excellent (unfortunately I didn’t get his name but he wore glasses and had a sleeve tattoo). He also gave me a complimentary gelato dessert which I truly loved and appreciated the gesture.
If you can, you should reserve the seat that overlooks the street just by the entrance. Very great for people watching as you eat and it’s in a tiny nook in the restaurant. Also great to chat with the host/bartender/server as you eat if you’re solo.
I can’t wait to return and try the rigatoni & duck confit dish. My only slight criticism is I wish they had more in their dessert menu, I’m eager to see their spin on a tiramisu or toffee pudding.
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Laura
Toronto1 review
5.0
Dined on 21 February 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
The best pasta I’ve had in forever and beautiful service!
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C
Charlie
Toronto2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 16 February 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
Very nice place. Liked the shareable plates and the classic spaghetti.
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FAQs
Bar Vendetta is rated 4.7 stars by 495 OpenTable diners.
Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.
