Contrada

Excellent dinner at the bar with fantastic service and recommendations from staff. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a truly delicious meal.

I was highly recommended Contrada by a friend, so I decided to host my 33rd birthday dinner here. I was searching for an intimate, inviting venue with exceptional food, and Contrada delivered beyond my expectations. From the moment we arrived, our group was captivated by the warm ambiance, thoughtfully curated lighting, soulful music, and relaxed yet attentive service. The atmosphere struck the perfect balance, allowing us to fully enjoy each other’s company without interruption. Unlike other places where the lack of tact in clearing or serving dishes can disrupt the flow of conversation, Contrada handled everything with grace and precision—it was a refreshing and noticeable difference. We opted for the Sunday family-style menu, and every dish was a hit. The Dressed Olives, Burrata Toast, Wedge Salad, Swordfish Crudo, Ricotta Gnocchi, Zepploe Donuts, and Gelato were absolutely LOVED by everyone (which says a lot because we are a picky bunch) The entire experience left such an impression that I’ve already recommended Contrada to several friends since last night. I can’t wait to return—it’s a place I’ll be making an effort to visit again. Thank you very much for making my birthday evening such a memorable one.

I recently celebrated my birthday here and it was outstanding. The food was superb and the service was incredible. Some standout dishes were the Mackerel Crostini (I felt bad for the table next to us who passed on them), Lamb Ribs, Dressed Olives, Olive Oil Cake, and the 12oz steak. If you can make it for happy hour do! I don’t live in Toronto, but I think this is one of the cities best happy hour menus! Enjoy!

The place is small and intimate but buzzing with chatter. It was absolutely packed when we got there. We had a reservation at the bar which was tight but comfortable. We ordered drinks which were delicious. We ordered the majority of the starters to share and we were not disappointed. The wedge salad, lamb croquettes (2 per order), sweetbreads, and scallop crudo were my favorites. The turnips were ok. We got the ricotta tart to share for dessert which was not too sweet and just enough to end the meal. Great service, food and atmosphere. A little loud to have conversations with more than 2 people at the bar but would go back nonetheless.

A really lovely experience overall – the staff were warm and welcoming, and the food was excellent, especially the ricotta gnocchi paired with rose, the dressed olives, house bread and crostini with mackerel. We did feel a bit rushed during dinner, and the lighting at our table was quite dim, which made it hard to fully enjoy the atmosphere.

I celebrated my birthday here with friends, and it ended up being such a warm, memorable, and effortlessly special evening—way beyond what I expected. Huge thanks to the team at Contrada for making it all happenIf you’re looking for a place that feels inviting, thoughtful, and truly cares about its guests, this is it. The food was fantastic—every dish had its own charm.I lovvvvveeeee Burrata Toast, House Bread, Ricotta Gnocchi, Pappardelle, and Porchetta—and honestly, even the Potatoes were unexpectedly amazing. Each plate had a little surprise, whether in texture or flavor, making the entire meal so enjoyable For drinks, I highly recommend the Tomato Mocktail (since I don’t drink alcohol). Not exaggerating—it’s one of the best mocktails I’ve had all year. But beyond the food, what really made the night special was the thoughtfulness and kindness of the team. From the little personal touches to the way they adjusted things just for us, you could feel that they genuinely wanted us to have a great time. Nothing felt overly rehearsed or forced—just pure hospitality, the way it should be Huge thanks to the amazing team for the warmth, generosity, and attention to detail. I walked out feeling grateful, and I can’t wait to return

Genuinely one of the best dining/service experiences I’ve had in Toronto in a looooong time. Food and drinks were awesome. We loved the doppio ravioli, the Sunday porchetta and the bread!!! We couldn't even fathom the level of commitment to ensuring we enjoyed our entire experience. So, so refreshing. We loved our experience so, so much!!! 10/10 would recommend if you’re looking for a nonpretentious, high quality, and good service dining experience— which is exactly what we look for when we want a nice night out. No doubt we’ll be back.

I came here with my boyfriend for our anniversary yesterday and the experience here was nothing short of extraordinary. The food was absolutely incredible. A big shoutout to the staff who were so attentive, especially Kelly for making our night so wonderful. Thank you guys!