18 Best Restaurants in Queen's Park, The Annex, and Little Italy, Toronto

Inside a breathtaking room swathed in undulating waves of wood, you'll find Bar Raval, a tapas restaurant known for some marvelous food and drink. Stop by during the day and order a couple pintxos (a single-serving snack served on a skewer), feast on tins of smoked seafood and heartier tapas for a full meal, or stop in late for a nightcap.

On a quiet stretch of Harbord lies this low-lit modern trattoria, popular with couples and families alike. The menu spans from antipasti and fresh pastas (the mushroom cavatelli and giant ravioli are crowd-pleasers) to excellent blistered-crust pizzas and picturesque desserts—but whatever you order is bound to be great.

Holding court over a central Little Italy corner since 1968, Diplomatico is popular for its big sidewalk patio with umbrella-shaded tables, one of the best places in the city for people-watching. "The Dip," as it's locally known, serves reliable red-sauce Italian fare until late into the night.

It's all about elegance at this long-standing Portuguese spot, where waiters bustle past white tablecloths and polished wood armchairs. The exquisite fish, which form the menu's base, are flown in from the Azores and Madeira. But there's much for meat eaters, too—like a signature roasted rack of lamb with Douro wine sauce.

At this classic Toronto wing joint, crispy flats and drumettes are served with pristine celery sticks and creamy dill or blue-cheese dressing. The "medium" sauce is still fairly hot—but for those truly willing to tempt fate, the options go all the way up to "armageddon."

A hit with locals, this cozy, low-lit spot is Middle Eastern food at its finest. The menu is a love letter to classics like hummus, shawarma, and falafel, with a few novel creations thrown in for good measure.

This local mini-chain does a brisk business in fresh, slow-cooked rotisserie chicken, either sold as combo meals or atop customizable salads.

For generations, hungry Torontonians have ended up at this reliable round-the-clock diner for classic breakfasts and greasy-spoon dishes. Burgers and Benedicts are staples, but the menu makes room for a variety of comfort food crowd-pleasers like lasagnas, meat loaf, and steak. Save room for rice pudding.

Aside from European-style baked goods and all-day breakfasts, this spot also serves Old World recipes like cabbage rolls, schnitzel, and potato-cheese pierogi slathered with sour cream. It's beloved by the pastry-and-coffee crowd and by students wanting generous portions from early morning until late at night.

Traditional Italian food gets a modern twist at this intimate eatery offering a wide, delicious variety of updated Italian dishes. Pastas and pizzas are both excellent, but there's standout seafoods and meats—like a showstopping strip loin for two—mixed in among the numerous veg-forward options.

This low-lit, warrenlike bistro has hardly changed at all since the '90s—and the regulars like it that way. The open kitchen turns out reliable French fare like steak tartare, seared scallops, and duck confit; desserts include flourless chocolate cake and house-made ice cream. Get a quieter table in one of the inner dining rooms, or belly up to the bar and watch the action.

Crowd-pleasing, reliable Italian fare—pizzas, pastas, and a few meaty mains—is the name of the game at this spacious Italian trattoria, part of a small local family of restaurants.

Whether you're in need of an espresso, a pour-over, a hojicha tea latte, a sandwich, or a gorgeous slice of cake, this modern Japanese café has you covered.

Folks flock from all over town for this takeout counter's fried chicken sandwiches—one of the first spots to capitalize on what has become a citywide trend.

Located where the Annex's western edge blends into Koreatown, this quirky café offers spins on Vietnamese sandwiches and mains, plus coffee and baked treats.

Tucked just behind its big-brother restaurant Fat Pasha, Schmaltz is a love letter to the Jewish appetizing shops of yore, turning out fresh bagel sandwiches with traditional toppings like smoked lox and whitefish salad.

If you're craving a specific ice cream flavor or topping, chances are this long-standing ice cream parlor will have it ready to go.

Known for hefty, soft-centered cookies, from Oreo and s'more to Filipino-inspired delicacies, this bakery also ships its wares across Canada and the United States (in case you get a craving once you're back at home).