As the weather continues to grow colder, the appeal of a warm, filling meal is at an all time high. When it comes to enjoying carbohydrates in style, no one does it better than the Italians. Whether you’re looking for a gourmet meal or the simple pleasure of pizza and pasta, Toronto is sure to have a restaurant to suit your cravings. If you’re unable to hop on that private jet to Rome (we can dream, after all), we’ve compiled a few popular restaurant picks right here in the city. 

Photo: cibowinebar on Instagram

Cibo Wine Bar

With three locations across Toronto, Cibo  Wine Bar is known for its traditional Italian cuisine, $25 lobster on Tuesdays and their impressive wine collection. The hot spot was awarded with a Marchio Ospitalita Italiana by the Italian government for the authenticity of their Italian fare. Cibo claims that they go the extra mile to perfect their menu, from making the noodles in house to flying in essential ingredients from Southern Italy once a week.

Photo: terronito on Instagram

Terroni

Though their original 1992 spot is still kicking it on Queen West, these days you can also find Terroni at their Summerhill and Adelaide locations. Offering traditional Italian fare including pizzas, pastas and paninis, the various Terroni restaurants across town are constantly filled with eager diners. The popular restaurant shows no signs of slowing down, with a new location opening up at Queen and Price on New Year’s Day and another in the Financial District set to open in the spring. 

Photo: nervosato on Instagram

Trattoria Nervosa

Trattoria Nervosa is so well known that even Beyoncé and Jay Z have paid a visit to the Toronto spot. Offering northern and southern Italian inspired cuisine, Trattoria Nervosa has maintained a loyal foodie following since opening their doors 20 years ago. Their dishes are offered at relatively reasonable prices, particularly when considering their Yorkville location. The restaurant offers a fireplace on the second floor and a third floor patio with a view of Yorkville.

Photo: bucatoronto on Instagram

Buca

Those seeking higher-end Italian food tend to flock to Buca. This buzz-worthy restaurant, with three locations across the city, comes at a steep price point, with pastas ranging from the $21-80 range. While their King West location sticks to their specialty of pizza and pasta, the Yorkville location also experiments with seafood dishes.