Old School Pizza in Toronto? We try 8 of the older pizza joints in the city and rank our top 3
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- This past week, we checked out 8 of the older pizza joints in the core. Some that are unique to the city of Toronto, and others that you might be more familiar with. Come with us as we enjoy 8 pepperoni slices, and rank our top 3 favorites along the way.
The Places We Visisted:
1. Pizzaiolo
2. Pizza Nova
3. Pizza Pizza
4. King Slice
5. Bitondo’s
6. Pizza Gigi
7. Cora Pizza
8. Mammas Pizza
As always, thanks so much for watching! Let us know if you have a favorite pizza place we should check out. If you enjoyed this content, we appreciate a like! If you want to hang out with us in Toronto Our City, give us a subscribe! Thanks again, and see you soon!
You all don't play with your slices 😅 Appreciate all the recommendations and suggestions. Let us know which old school pizza place we should cover in an upcoming video (Southern and Central Ontario slices are welcome)! We'll be heading out on another one of these soon to cover Fresca, Frank's Pizza House, Milano's, and any others you might recommend. Thanks for watching, and we appreciate the comments! Especially the supportive ones 😄
I totally miss Big Slice Pizza on Yonge. Haven’t met its equal/replacement. But then I haven’t lived near the GTA in 30ish years.
The Pizza Nova outside of the GTA is second rate to the Toronto locations. Perhaps it’s the atmosphere?
Big Slice was an all time great spot! I feel like Yonge Street's missing a lot of those kinds of places today. Everything costs so much more down that stretch. As per Pizza Nova, I totally agree. Not entirely sure why, but some of the Pizza Nova's outside of the GTA can be very hit and miss. I'm guessing it's the volume of walk in customers? But we've also had some inconsistent whole pies too. The downtown Nova's fare far better imo.
Nothing reeks old school like Fresca Pizza on College St, you missed this one. Also, Danforth Pizza on Bloor between Pape & Donlands. These dpots date back before Pizza Pizza & Pizzaiolo.
We did miss a few, appreciate the comment! We love Fresca so will probably feature it shortly.
Thanks for the comment and view ❤
Danforth Pizza House is on Danforth believe it or not, and they don't sell slices.
hey, thanks! Yes, Danforth Pizza House, Milano's, Frank's Pizza House, Il Paesono, were all on the list. But they didn't fare well for a pizza walk through the core, But definitely definitely want to get to some of these places. Love the look of Danforth Pizza House
definitely feels criminal to omit Fresca, especially since it's not all that far from Pizza Gigi's OR Cora's! could've hit all three within the same hour without having to hustle.
@@evanyeong8063 very fair! On my end, I imposed an arbitrary rule that the pizza place needed to be older than x amount of years in order to try it (which I should've also been clear about in the video). Which in retrospect, might be silly because Fresca is definitely old school with or without that age. So it feels a little disingenuous to do one of these and not include Fresca. We'll get it on our next tour for sure. Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it.
When I lived in Toronto, my favourite old school slice was from the old Massimo's on College (especially their Arrabiata slice!). Also, I quite enjoyed Mamma's for their thinner slices.
They didn’t have an arrabiata slice. You’re probably referring to their margherita slice which you could add jalaoneos to (because they kept a small bowl of jalapeños in oil on the counter).
You could add the peppers on any of their slices (pepperoni, deluxe or margherita).
No cap, I am the world authority on Massimo’s.
Best pizza I've ever had was from Italian Style Pizza on Kingston Rd. between Woodbine and Main St. at Brookside Dr. It's long gone from our city which is an complete disappointment but, thinking about it brings back the best memories.
King Slice looks really good! I gotta try it! Great job, guys! 🍕🍕🍕👍
Make no mistake it is the best in this video
Nice video. Obviously a lot of spots you have to hit. I've done over 500 Pizza reviews in the Toronto area. It's gelateria. And pizza pizza 700 locations across the country not in Ontario. They lost about 300 total during COVID. I've also tried pizza in New York, Brooklyn. We are very spoiled here in Toronto. We have good pizzas. Hope some of your guys will follow me. Keep up the good work
Thanks for the view, and comment. I knew i was messing up gelateria, i just couldnt come up with it. Plus now i have a new lotto prize to look into ❤
A few people have hyped up Pizza Nova to me. I need to give it a try. Love the video. I can totally do 8 slices in one sitting, you guys are my people!
Always good to find a community with your people❤ Thanks for the love! Let us know what you think of Pizza Nova if you do try it.
Pizza Nova is a huge chain but for franchise or chain pizza it is good
.
8 Nova slices is guaranteed heart burn. Decent pie for a chain but I think they reduce their sauce too much which raises it’s acidity
Man I've never once gotten a slice like that from pizza pizza. Fresh pizza looks like that but never a slice
great review and really appreciated that you included the big chains PP and PN so that us mortals have a frame of reference to compare the mom and pops.
There are so many great mom and pop pizza places. While they may be more expensive the taste and quality are outstanding.
I dont know about ya'll but I still enjoy a slice of Pizza Pizza from time to time, I grew up with it been eating it since highschool
So did we! We did get a fresh slice from Pizza Pizza and it turned out great. From time to time, I do enjoy a whole pie from them. I also appreciate that you can customize your cook time, and thickness of dough through the online tools. Plus, I'm a sucker for their dipping sauces. They also have surprisingly good chicken wings.
I can’t believe you included pizza pizza in your list. I really hate pizza pizza. It taste like cardboard. Only pizza, nova and years ago I used to really love Venice Pizza. It was located on O’Connor Drive in the East End. A few doors down from the restaurant, Johnny Baker.
Hey Holly,
We couldnt leave ol' Pizza Pizza off the list, we know everyone has opinions about it lol, but she is old school Toronto haunt.
Appreciate the comment and view, always good hearing from you. ❤
I'm shocked Pizza Pizza wasn't dead last. I'm likely a 1. King Slice 2. GiGi 3. Bitondo's kind of guy myself. Fresca on College is a contender, and if San Francesco's (across Clinton from Bitondo's) makes their slices like the old Queen St location did they might jump the line in front of everybody. I haven't tried a slice there in years because whenever I go in I can't help but leave with a sandwich instead.
Oh good tip! We will have to check out the San Francesco slices.
Thanks for the suggestion
The Big Slice, Amatos, Massimos: rip to the real OG’s
I've only had Big Slice from your list but man do i miss it.❤
Amato pizza when they first started out was so good too
Amazing Toronto content. Love the energy, keep it up
Loved this episode of yours! I've been looking for a video comparing fast food pizza places in toronto so thank you so much for your review! 🥰🙏
Hey Mandy! Its always a treat hearing from you! Thanks as always for the view❤
From your list, King Slice is my favourite. I will have to go back to Cora to get a freshly made pepperoni slice. The one I had was sitting there for awhile. I will have to try Gigi. Thanks!!
❤ Thanks so much for the support. Hope the next slices you enjoy are fresh. Appreciate the views
The best thing about Gigi was the cocaine and they don’t sell that there anymore.
If you ever do another pizza review, try Fresca Pizza & Pasta just west of College and Spadina. They're not old in that they've only been around for 10 years, but the owner used to be the best pizza maker at Massimo's (which they actually took over the location when Massimo's son ran the business into the ground). Back in the day, Massimo was one of the OG Toronto pizza joints, so Fresca does a great Toronto slice.
Edit: Just saw your reply to one of the comments. Looks like you're familiar with Fresca 😊
Thank you for the history! We will absolutely be featuring Fresca one of these days. Their slices are so good! Appreciate the support ❤
He wasn’t their best pizza maker. He was the delivery driver, gradually moved behind the counter. Antonio Massimo, one of the founders (the other being Vincenzo); was the man at Massimo’s
Their Pizzas are dry, not enough sauce
I have loved Bitondo's forever! Next time, get their Panzerotto with marinara sauce and some spiced olives. You will thank me!
Oh good note! We will have to check those out next time❤
If I'm gonna buy a whole pizza, I'll likely get it from Pizza Nova because for me, their sauce is the best, and I think that's what makes or breaks a pizza. I've never tried King Slice, but this review has really sparked my interest. Now I gotta go!,
I like the honest opinons and not letting external bad preconeptions affect your rating.
A fresh Pizza Pizza slice is actually pretty good! And it looks like you lucked out with a good one.
I did notice they changed their crust not long ago. It did used to be more cardboard like. lol. It's probably closer to like Dominos crust now. And those pizzas they make just for slices. Most places don't take care to make them well. It can be good if the specific place wants it to.
Love your videos guys!! Not many great food vloggers in Toronto 🥺🥺 ya’ll should upload more often
Thank you so much! Love your username❤
Appreciate tue support and kindness.
You guys need to try Frank's Pizza House. That's one of the oldest pizza makers in Toronto and they make a pepperoni slice like you won't believe. They were in the news a while back because the guy lost his vision and he's still making pizzas, they also did a thing during covid where people could come in and pay what they could and not what they owed and they would still get a slice, even if they didn't have any money. After you guys try Frank's, try Fresca Pizza and Pasta, that's probably the oldest pizza maker in the city, they also make a pepperoni slice like you wouldn't believe, the guy there been in business for almost 40 years now ever since he came here from Vietnam. Fresca and Frank's been in business the same time as Pizza Gigi, you guys gotta try both of them. Trust me, you won't regret it. I was born and raised in Toronto, I grew up eating Frank's pizza, and I literally used to survive on Fresca's slices back when I was in school, that's how good Fresca's pepperoni slices are.
Thank you for the information thats awesome! We for sure have Franks Pizza House on a future video list. As well as Fresca. Appreciate the support ❤
Fresca was Massimo’s. The guy who owns Fresca started as a delivery there.
They blew up in the 90’s and expanded to a couple of locations and a restaurant.
As the original brothers who started Massimo’s back in the 80s (Vincenzo and Antonio) got older, their kids took over but, Antonio was always at the College/Spadina shop.
The other locations eventually failed, the two brothers passed away and the original location burned down, I think in the late 90s/early 00s….
Anyhow…the delivery driver and his wife, Vien and Lieu Huyhnh opened it back up shortly after the fire and reclaimed it Fresca.
Still a good pie/slice but a mere echo of what was one of, if not the greatest slice joints in the history of pizza making
I guess for old school pizza those are solid joints to go to. My Toronto pizza favs are: North of Brooklyn and Blondies. But I always go for the white sauce over the traditional old school "red sauce".
Both spots are great new school places. You have good taste❤ thanks for the comment.
King looks the best to me but i like flavor.
Love Mama's.
Pours one out for Amato's Pizza :(
I might get hate mail for this but Costco makes a good pizza. Yes it is oily but that is because they use a good cup and char pepperoni. Also, Lamannas bakery in Pickering…excellent pizza and the one slice whole pizza is really something.
Darcie must be getting strong from carrying the bags.It's so funny that I have a few of those in my neighbourhood and knew nothing about them.
Hi Marsha,
Stronger and stronger each week! I was so surprised you noticed the bags video to video ❤
I really would have liked to see a number rating for each slice out of 10
Oh good idea, we can try to work out a rating system. I'll have to be more organized. I had trouble remembering my top three 😂❤
lots of nostalgia in this video, ate at a lot of these spots over the years. Gotta go with King slice for me, but fair play to you both. Generally speaking each is going to have their followers and I agree, Toronto has solid options and other than in Italy, I think Toronto stands toe to toe with the other pizza cities.
Hey Clark! Thanks for the comment, always appreciate hearing from you! King Slice was pretty incredible ❤
Toronto is a strong pizza city! We are so lucky to have the slice options that we have. Thanks for the support as always man!
Recently subscribed. You guys are adorable!! Raised in the west end of Toronto and Vesuvio's was the best pizza around. Closed during Covid and someone should have taken over that fabulous business. I've lived in Barrie for thirty years and what beats Vesuvio's is a place called Cocelli's at Essa Rd. and the 400. Sauce is spicy and they have a great walk-in deal for a large pep pizza for $14.00. Pick one up on the way to the cottage. You'll love it.
Thank you so much for the recommendation ❤ We will absolutely check that spot out next time we come through Barrie.
Thanks for the kind words and the sub!
Thanks for sharing, I am due for a pizza tour of the city!
Thanks for commenting Chef❤ any options you are excited to check out on your own tour? Anything recommendations?
@@TorontoOurCityDarcie Id like to get to Cowabunga in Hamilton! If you want to come out for a wood-fired sourdough pizza one time lmk!
@@matthewjamesduffywow we would love that! Maybe we can set something up soon! Thank you so much for the offer❤
Sadly my last slice (not my first) at Bitondo’s was a terrible experience in pizza and service so I have not been back. I will travel across the city though for a Regina Pizza - just around the corner on College and a full restaurant. My 2 cents worth
So today I rode to King Slice on Queen St. W., Most excellent!!!!
Oh Regina Pizza, we will have to check that one out, thanks for the tip❤
I loved King Slice, so happy you enjoyed it too!
kings pizza looked the best to me. oh man. way to go them!
Pizza Nova has been dead to me since I had king Slice 20yrs ago they used to be $5 a slice. but it feels like I'm eating food, and something processed
King slice is incredible so I get have a preference.
Appreciate the comment and view.
Good vid. Have tried all of them and it’s all subjective as you know.
Absolutely it's subjective and everyone has their own secret ingredients and cheese blends. Happy to hear you enjoyed the video ❤
Personally, I haven't been able to find really great old school pizza in Toronto since Vesuvio's in the Junction closed it's doors after more than 50 years. THEY made the best pizza! I'm shocked you feel Pizza Pizza, Pizza Nova and Pizzaoila have really good pizza. It's all okay at best.
Oh thats sad Vesivio's closed, i would have loved to try them.
Thanks for the comment and watch❤
The cooks from Vesuvios actually opened their own spot on Dundas called Juniors. It’s gotten much closer to a vesuvios pie since they opened. As a local I basically bounce back and forth between them and king slice
If you like pepperoni try their “all the pep” you won’t regret it.
@@shaneo6122 Thanks for the tip!
You missed Fresca just around the corner from Cora's! I think King Slice was a former Fresca employee -- Fresca had the garlic oil first.
I make my own pizza. But nice to know of other places. So once in a while thats has same quality as homemade. ❤❤❤
You both are so cute🎉💞🙏🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕
Hi Hope!
Thanks for the views, home made pizza is pretty awesome! Is it a family recipe you use?
Thanks for the support, appreciate the comment and view❤
What was the original name of gigi's pizza
You said Pizza Pizza started in 1967 at Parliament and Sherbourne. However, these 2 streets don’t intersect. I think you meant to say at Parliament and Wellesley
haha nice callout! Yes Parliament and Wellesley. You can still visit a Pizza Pizza there, but they haven't done much to signify its importance. Thanks for the comment, and I appreciate the view!
Pazoons pizza in london ontario has the best sauce.great pizza.
I’ll Pisano is another for this list
Absolutely, we wanted to head that way but we just stuck to the downtown core. Its on a list for the future.
Parliament and Sherbourne are both north-south streets and don't intersect. That aside, Pizza Pizza is hot garbage BESIDES the dipping sauce. Haven't had Pizzaiolo often but no idea how you have PP ahead of it.
I really like your videos, but I think the local independent shops are the ones that need exposure, not pizza pizza
A positive to living/visiting Toronto are the dining options; lots of choices, pizza is no exception.
Including Pizza Pizza and Pizza Nova was a bold decision, and places i wouldn't consider.
I lean towards trying new places, mom & pop style pizzerias. Where pies are made with fresh ingredients, in wood fired ovens.
"Best" lists are too subjective . . .
Otherwise a good video, you stayed true to apples vs apples with just pepperoni slices.
I used to go to school right by a Massimo's that, for me, did the best old school slice. I can't rank Pizza Pizza in my top 5 (or maybe even within my top 10) due to the fact I helped to run one. I took their training coarse and found a bunch of things I didn't agree with (the amount of sauce to cheese ratio, dough thaw and proof procedure, to name a couple). They still beat out 241 any day of the week, though
Sounds like you have an inside scoop. Appreciate the comment, we will have to look into Massimo's soon. Appreciate the comment ❤
@@TorontoOurCityDarcie
I don't know if Massimos is still there. This was during my elementary school days.
@@HeadlessChickenTO oh i got you. Well i appreciate the memory being shared.
If it's the same Massimo's on College that I used to visit regularly, their Arrabiata slice was the bomb!!!
Fresca is where Massimo's used to be and it's run by a former Massimo's cook. All the recipes are supposedly the same. I read that King may also be run by a former Massimo's employee.
King Pizza by far, not even close to those you tested, is the best among them by all standards except personal taste i suppose
I can't eat chili peppers. Wich of these had the old-fadhioned tomato, garlic oregano sauce? I like thin crust and strechy cheese also.
nice vid!
Thanks @doubledenim1341 ❤
Bitondos was amazing growing when little Mario was making it and now that's a different owner it sucks. The veals are gross and the panzos are half the size at a higher price. For shame.
The world changes. You can get curry on the Danfort and sushi in little Italy.
Really two take home messages here for me. The most important is that fresh pies are a clearly lot better so you should probably get that and split it if at all possible.
The other is that pizza from a pizza place is going to be pretty good. You probably should not go far out of your way because the difference is just not that pronounced.
That said with so many pizza joints around don't be eating that 7-Eleven pizza. Ain't nobody made that fresh.
Also in my experience North of Brooklyn Pizza really is a whole different (and exceptional) experience. You won't get it by the slice however and its not cheap.
Those are two great take home messages!
North of Brooklyn is incredible, for sure would feature them in a new school pizza video ❤
Thanks for the comment and view.
Pizza Pizza is the single worst, most toxic pizza in this life. Heartburn each and every time and the sauce is industrial and overly sugared. Just vile stuff and NO this is not a matter of personal taste. Just a matter of insufficient experience.
Pizza pizza has a special place with everyone, some less flattering then others lol. Appreciate the comment. Any favourites you would recommend?
@@TorontoOurCityDarcie I really enjoy your videos but I think back to my early days in Toronto and my pizza pizza experiences and I shudder. Worst of all were the cigarette butts I found myself chewing on from a Pizza GiGi pie I had ordered. This was long ago and I lived up the street from Harbord.
I’m happy you covered Bitondos, my favourite old school pizza. When I moved back I immediately went for a slice. Decades later it still tasted the same. I also like the original Terroni on Victoria. Good Neapolitan style. Thanks for your entertaining videos.
@@rajo741cigarette butts in your pizza? Oh man, luckily our slices were unaffected 😂 that must have been traumatizing!
Thanks for the views and the comment!
Looking forward to hearing more of your stories and favourite places ❤
@@TorontoOurCityDarcie That taste is very much with me to this day. I know things have changed over the decades but I still can’t recommend Pizza Gigi.
Biggest fault here is not considering the fact that you paid $6 for pep slice from Pizzaiolo when you could pay the same for a slice with 3-4 great toppings......very hard to judge a pizza place based solely on the pep slice
It’s actually the only way. 3-4 toppings on a slice is called a salad.
I have tried all these and Fresca Pizza on College St. W. is my #1 while King Slice (Arrabiata) is at #2. Even though I like Badiali pizza and North of Brooklyn pizza (slightly more), I choose Fresca and King Slice because you can walk in and out of Fresca and King Slice in less than 5 minutes with a slice while Badiali and North of Brooklyn want you to form a line around the block and wait an hour because it creates 'buzz' for their food blogger friends. Great pizza, but NOT worth the wait! What a shame. Bitondo's made very good pizza at one time but now they are worse than at least a few frozen pizzas at the grocery store while Pizza Pizza has always been VERY bland, imo. I'll take Fresca and King Slice pizza ALL DAY over anyone else in Toronto. No need to be all pretentious, just make a great pizza and show your customer appreciation by feeding them in timely fashion. Simple as that.
What happened to Amato's?
They stopped paying their staff, then closed all locations except on Yonge near College, then they went bankrupt and the last location closed.
@@n.b.3521 thanks for the info, i used to go to that one you mentiined by yonge and college, beside traxx
By the way for some reason I think the blonde lady in the video is actually pretty cute. 😉
Had overlooked 2-4-1pizza , Badiali , 7-eleven , costco , eataly
We for sure missed some awesome options. Always a good note for another pizza video! Thanks for the view❤
Hey…if you need any taste-testers let me know….just saying…lol
Pizza Nova changed their pepperoni a few years back, don't like it at all. Too bad because otherwise they have a great pizza.
Pizza Pizza 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
pizza pizza can burn in hell its never the choice, omg when i;m drunk and buy its hard to eat
just get better food, pizza pizza is atleast a b it better when you can customise the order but its usually shit
Pizza Pizza and Pizza Nova ahead of Pizzaiolo.. you've lost all credibility on this review lul
Pizzaiolo is the best chain in the city imo. But that slice wasn't great.
Nope. None of thise pizza slices looked good to me, especially the chains
Totally fair, the old school spots are classics but some of the newer places are game changers.
What are some recommendations or favourites of yours?
Butchered the name and the first slice looked like 💩