Il Fornello Danforth is one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto. Located in Toronto’s Greektown, the popular neighbourhood eatery specializes in seafood, pasta and Neapolitan-style pizza.
Il Fornello Danforth and Beyond
Il Fornello is one of the GTA’s favourite casual, fine dining Italian restaurant brands with locations in Ajax, Bayview, Danforth, King Street, Oakville and Richmond Hill.
The family friendly Italian restaurant offers wood fired baked pizza, handmade pasta and fresh seafood. Il Fornello was one of the first Italian restaurants in Toronto to offer authentic Neapolitan-style thin crust pizza. At the time it was ranked as Toronto’s best pizza.
The restaurant is unique in offering a plant based menu including vegan pasta and vegan pizza. You’ll also find plenty of gluten-free dining options on the menu.
The Danforth’s most popular Italian restaurant offers a bright and modern interior as well as a spacious patio.
The Bar at Il Fornello Danforth
Hop up at the bar and you’ll find a comprehensive Italian-inspired drinks menu. The beverage list is broken down into martinis, cocktails (our favourites listed below), beer and wine (sparkling, red and white).
The wines at Ill Fornello Danforth are primarily sourced from Italy, but you’ll also find quality wine from Niagara, California, Australia and Argentina.
Craft beer fans can enjoy cold brews from Beau’s, Alexander Keith’s, Muskoka Brewery and Brickwork’s Ciderhouse.
- NEGRONI: Campari, gin, sweet vermouth
- SICILIANO: Sparkling blood orange juice, vodka, Triple Sec
- VENETIAN SUNSET: Prosecco, orange juice, Aperol
- LIMONCINO: Vodka, Limoncello, O.J., soda, cranberry juice
- BELLINI COCKTAIL: Sparkling wine, peach nectar
- POMPELMO FIZZ: Aperol, gin, sparkling grapefruit juice
- FIORI di SAMBUCO: Vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, pear nectar, fresh lime juice
- MONTENEGRO SPRITZ: Montenegro, Prosecco
- AMARETTO SOUR: Amaretto Disaronno, fresh lime juice
- ITALIAN BUCK: Campari, Montenegro, ginger beer
- PAPER PLANE: Bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, fresh lemon juice
- RED SANGRIA: Red wine, orange juice, peach schnapps, raspberry Sourpuss
- WHITE SANGRIA: White wine, fresh lemonade, peach schnapps
Il Fornello Danforth Menu
Il Fornello’s Chef Ryan tells Dobbernationloves about the restaurants refreshed and rebooted menu, “Rather than make whole changes to an already popular menu, my main goal was to tweak and adjust recipes of items we wanted to keep and add new items we thought would be appealing to our customers. For the items we wanted to keep, we reviewed ingredients and preparation methods to ensure that we were getting the best results possible. Additions to our appetizer menu include grilled calamari, cod cakes, bresaola and bruschetta with smoked salmon and mascarpone, items that are more reflective of Italian antipasti.”
Chef Ryan also shares his enthusiasm for Il Fornello Danforth’s popular pizza, “With the help of our Chef dell Pizza Craig Ovenstone, we made significant changes to the pizza menu. This began with a new crust recipe and a larger portion to make the pizza larger. We then developed a new sauce recipe with imported Italian tomatoes as the base and introduced more authentic Italian ingredients such as sopressata, speck, gorgonzola, ricotta di bufala, taleggio cheese. And the cheese we use now is fior di latte which is made daily exclusively for us.”
Il Fornello Danforth Brunch:
- EGGS BENEDICT: Two poached eggs, peameal bacon, toasted Italian bread, hollandaise sauce,
choice of fruit or crispy fingerling potatoes - EGGS AVOCADO: Two poached eggs, avocado, toasted Italian bread, hollandaise sauce,
choice of fruit or crispy fingerling potatoes - EGGS SALMONE: Two poached eggs, smoked salmon, toasted Italian bread, hollandaise sauce,
choice of fruit or crispy fingerling potatoes - EGGS PROSCIUTTO: Two poached eggs, prosciutto, toasted Italian bread, hollandaise sauce,
choice of fruit or crispy fingerling potatoes - OMELETTE OF THE DAY: Served with fruit or crispy fingerling potatoes
- STEAK SANDWICH: With cheddar & caramelized onions served with a horseradish aioli &
crispy fingerling potatoes - BREAKFAST PIZZA: Tomato sauce, mushrooms, two eggs, mozzarella, red pepper, bacon
- BELGIAN WAFFLE: Blueberry compote, whipped cream
- YOGHURT & GRANOLA: House made granola served with honey, yoghurt & fresh berries
Il Fornello Danforth Antipasti
- OLIVES: Warm green and black olives with garlic, chillies, bay leaves, lemon
- CALAMARI GRIGLIA ALLA PUTTANESCA: Grilled calamari, tomatoes, black olives, capers, lemon, olive oil
- GARLIC BREAD WITH CHEESE: Toasted herb & garlic buttered bread topped with mozzarella
- BRUSCHETTA POMODORO: Grilled ciabatta topped with olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, basil
- ARANCINI: Arborio rice balls filled with ricotta and spinach, lightly fried then finished with grated pecorino, served with marinara sauce
- BOCCONCINI FRITTI: Lightly fried baby mozzarella balls with a tomato red pepper jam
- CALAMARI FRITTI: Crispy, fried calamari with marinara sauce & aioli
- EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA: Breaded eggplant layered with basil, tomato sauce, fior di latte
- MUSSELS: In a spicy tomato broth
- MEATBALL APPETIZER: Four house-made, wood-oven baked beef & ricotta meatballs, pomodoro sauce, whipped ricotta, basil oil
Il Fornello Danforth Insalate
- INSALATA ROMA: Mixed greens, chèvre, toasted walnuts, sweet drop peppers, balsamic vinaigrette
- INSALATA DI BARBABIETOLE: Arugula, beets, chèvre, toasted pecans, balsamic vinaigrette
- INSALATA CESARE: Crispy romaine lettuce, creamy caesar dressing, shaved parmigiano reggiano, croutons
- AVOCADO CASHEW CAESAR WITH PARMESAN: Crispy romaine with an avocado, lemon juice based dressing topped with plant-based parmesan cheese
Il Fornello Danforth Pasta
- PENNE CAPRI: Grilled chicken, wild mushrooms, spinach, tomato, olive oil, garlic, shaved parmigiano reggiano
- PAPPARDELLE SALSICCIA: Crumbled Italian sausage, cherry tomatoes, caramelized onions, olive oil, garlic finished with pecorino and arugula
- LASAGNA: Layered with bolognese sauce, mozzarella, béchamel, pomodoro sauce
- GNOCCHI ASIAGO: House made gnocchi with asiago cream sauce, spinach, crispy shallots
- RIGATONI BOLOGNESE: With a tomato, beef bolognese sauce
- ORECCHIETTE FUNGHI: With wild mushrooms in a truffle cream sauce
- CANNELLONI FORMAGGIO: Ricotta and spinach filled cannelloni, mushrooms and cream finished with pomodoro sauce, parmesan, mozzarella
- LINGUINI DI MARE: Shrimp, bay scallops, calamari, mussels in a light olive oil, pomodoro sauce
- FETTUCCINE ALFREDO: White wine, cream and butter sauce, parmesan
- SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS: House made beef and ricotta meatballs, pomodoro sauce
- PENNE ALLA NORMA: Eggplant, cherry tomatoes, chillies, garlic, red wine, pomodoro sauce, ricotta salata
- SPAGHETTI CARBONARA: Pecorino romano, egg, prosciutto cotto, black pepper
Il Fornello Danforth Entrees
- CHICKEN ASIAGO: Chicken breast stuffed with asiago cheese, spinach and caramelized onions in a
honey mustard cream sauce with mashed potatoes and vegetables - CHICKEN PARMIGIANA: Breaded chicken scaloppine, tomato sauce, mozzarella & parmesan,
spaghetti pomodoro - LAMB SHANK: Braised New Zealand lamb shank with pan jus & garlic mash potatoes
- SALMON: Pan seared salmon with sautéed spinach, crispy fingerling potatoes, fish velouté & fine herbs in a fresh lemon vinaigrette
Il Fornello Danforth Pizza
If you’re a pizza lover in Toronto you’ll have to try one of Il Fornello’s creative Neapolitan-style pies. Enjoy $12 pizzas Monday-Thursday all day or on Friday at lunch.
- PIZZA PROSCIUTTO: Pomodoro sauce, fior di latte, prosciutto, olive oil dressed arugula, shaved parmigiana
- PIZZA SALSICCIA ITALIANA: Pomodoro sauce, fior di latte, crumbled spicy Italian sausage, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers
- PIZZA DIAVOLA: Pomodoro sauce, fior di latte, spicy salami, basil, chillies, black olives
- PIZZA MELANZANE: Pomodoro sauce, fior di latte, eggplant, olives, tomatoes, shaved parmigiana
- PIZZA MARGHERITA: Pomodoro sauce, fior di latte, basil
- PIZZA PEPPERONI: Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, cured pepperoni
- PIZZA HAWAIIANO: Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto cotto (ham), pineapple
- PIZZA TRADIZIONALE: Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, bacon, onions, mushrooms
- PIZZA VEGETARIANO: Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, green pepper, sun-dried tomatoes
- PIZZA ANCHOVY: Pomodoro sauce, fior di latte, anchovies, chillies
- VEGAN SAUSAGE PIZZA: Tomato sauce, Earth Island mozzarella, fennel sausage, roasted red peppers, basil
- PIZZA GORGONZOLA: Gorgonzola, pears, caramelized onions, walnuts, arugula
- PIZZA SALMONE: Smoked salmon, mozzarella, panna di cucina (mascarpone cream), arugula,
crispy capers, lemon - PIZZA FUNGHI: Whipped herbed and lemon ricotta, taleggio, fior di latte, mushrooms, spinach, olive oil
- FIG PIZZA: Mascarpone, prosciutto, figs, shaved parmigiana, honey, arugula
Il Fornello Danforth Dessert
- CHEESE PLATE: Two Italian cheeses with wildflower honey & crackers
- TIRAMISU: House-made with layers of coffee & liqueur soaked biscuits & mascarpone cheese
- CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE CAKE: House made warm chocolate soufflé cake
- TARTUFO: Chocolate Raspberry Tartufo
- CRÈME BRÛLÉE: The traditional creamy egg custard, crunchy caramel glaze
- ZEPPOLE: Mini Italian doughnuts dusted in cinnamon & sugar
- CARROT CAKE: Carrot cake with pineapple, coconut, walnuts, cashews & almonds
layered & iced with cream cheese & honey icing (may contain peanuts) - AFFOGATO: Hazelnut gelato, espresso, crumbled hazelnut, lady finger
Il Fornello Danforth Hours
Monday to Thursday: 11am-9:30pm
Friday and Saturday: 11am-10:30pm
Sunday: 10:30am-9pm
Il Fornello Danforth Reservations
576 Danforth Avenue, 416-466-2931
