Nodo Junction: Italian Restaurant on Dundas West

Nodo Junction is one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto. Located on Dundas West, the popular neighbourhood eatery specializes in handmade pasta and wood-fired pizza.

Step Inside Nodo Junction

Formerly an antique shop, white-walled Nodo restaurant is big and bright featuring checkerboard floors and lofty ceilings. The posh Italian eatery is located in Toronto’s west end Junction neighbourhood.

The space is decorated with an eclectic mix of salvaged finds and contemporary pieces, offering guests to this 70-seat intimate dining room a perfect place to sip and nibble.

Nodo is the brainchild of high school friends Vito Tomasicchio, Gianmarco DeZorzi and Charlie Giordano. Dining here feels as though you’ve been invited to a larger-than-life Italian dinner party. Considering the sweet smells wafting through the room one would assume Nona is cooking up a storm. Don’t let your nose fool you.

Nodo Junction offers a charming private dining room downstairs. The underground space can seat 12-15 diners. It’s one of the best private dinning rooms in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood.

Nodo Junction Menu

Sicillian chef Roberto Marotta (formerly at Parkdale’s Enoteca Maialino) cooks Italian comfort food with contemporary flourishes. Two of the restaurants most ingenious dishes are vegetarian (shocked and impressed says this carnivore).

Craft cocktail fans should make a point of arriving early to dinner to hop up at the bar. Once you’re seated be sure to sample a few glasses from the restaurants Italian-only wine list. Grappa is also served chilled or with complex infusions such as chamomile or honey.

Craft cocktails at Nodo Junction's bar. — Craft cocktails at Nodo Junction’s bar.

Nodo Junction Assaggini

Spiducci d’Agnello: ontario lamb skewers, gremolada
Olive Calde e Nodini: spicy, warm olives, toasted bread knots, garlic, oregano
Arancini Siciliani: crispy rice balls filled with mozzarella, peas, ragu di carne
Polpettine: handmade veal/pork/beef meatballs, san marzano tomato sugo, pecorino romano
Coccoli: fritters fiorentini, melted three cheese crema, proscuitto crudo

Nodo Junction Salumi e Fromaggi

Salumi: assortment of aritisan cured meats served with in-house giardiniera, pommery mustard, taralli, herb-onion cracker, parm crosini
Formaggi: selection of gourmet italian cheeses with orange marmalade, truffle honey, candied nuts, duo of house baked chips
Un Po’ e un Po’: chefs selection of salumi and formaggi with la bardatura assortito

Nodo Junction Insalate

Caesar Leo: crisp romaine, double-smoked bacon, grated grana, corn, garlic-ciabatta croutons, caesar vinaigrette
Rucola Pera e Gorgonzola: baby arugula, bosc pear, crumbled gorgonzola, poppy seed vinaigrette
Cavolo e Cavoletti: chopped black kale and brussel slaw, toasted almond, dried cranberry, pumpkin seed, popped farro, grainy mustard vinaigrette
Burrata-Pomodoro: fresh burrata, assorted vine-ripened and cherry tomatoes, seedless cucumber, basil oil, white balsamic

Nodo Junction Antipasti

Bruschettone: fresh tomato bruschetta pizza with garlic, shallots, fresh herbs, olive oil
Fritto Misto Gamberi e Calamari: crispy, dry-rub shrimp and calamari, quattro stagioni aioli
Polipo e Patate: grilled octopus, crispy potato, grilled zucchini, extra virgin olive oil, salmoriglio
Carpaccio e Rucola: canadian beef tenderloin carpaccio, toasted pine nuts, fried capers, arugula, shaved parm, lemon zest
Mussels: steamed PEI mussels pomodoro cotto, grilled garlic crostino

Nodo Junction Pasta

Fettucini Pasta Al Pomodoro Fresco: garlic cherry tomatoes, olive oil, fresh basil
Tonnarelli Carbonara: sauteed pancetta, pecorino romano, farm fresh egg, cracked black pepper
Rigatoni Trinacria: garlic cherry tomatoes and zucchini, basil, smoked mozzarella, arugula, shaved ricotta salata
Cavatelli Rucola Pesto: garlic-arugula-pine nut pesto, parmigiano, extra virgin olive oil
Rigatoni Bolognese: slow-cooked veal, pork, beef ragu, grana padano
Garganelli Cavolfiore Gratinato: grana padano-fontina breadcrumb crusted cauliflower cremoso, green peas, italian parsley
Orecchiette Rapini e Salsiccia: italian sausage, garlic rapini, chilis, mascarpone
Pappardelle Ragu D’ Anatra: slow roast seven-spice brome lake duck ragu, parmigiano, crispy sage
Pappardelle Ragu di Cinghiale: slow wild boar ragu bianco, cremini and porcini mushroom
Gnocchi Crema Tartufata Funghi e Mais: pan-seared potato gnocchi, wild mushroom, corn, truffle-garlic crema, padano, diced tri-colour peppers
Linguine Adriatico: prawn, mussel, clam, extra virgin olive oil, roasted crushed garlic, basil, pomodoro cotto, fresh chili
Risotto Girotondo: rotating seasonal selection

Nodo Junction Pizza

Sul Sarno: san marzano tomato sauce, olive oil, oregano
Regina: fior di latte, san marzano tomato sauce, basil, olive oil
Gustosa: fior di latte, roasted crushed garlic, basil, pomodoro cotto, pecorino romano
Tesis: anchovy, black olive, onion, caper, tomato sauce
L’Americana: pepperoni, wild mushroom, green pepper, tomato sauce
Ruliano: fresh mozzarella, prosciutto crudo, mushroom, tomato sauce
Poggionino: goat cheese, mozzarella, sun-dried tomato, artichoke, fresh arugula, tomato sauce
Quattro Stelle: fresh mozzarella, mushroom, artichoke, black olive, prosciutto cotto, tomato sauce
Caura: fresh mozzarella, hot sopressata, onion, black olive, peperoncino nodino, tomato sauce
Avezzano: fior di latte, smashed potato, ground italian sausage, rosemary
Allegro: arugula with olive oil and balsamic, shaved grana padano, prosciutto crudo, sun-dried tomato
Gio Gio: torn black kale, charred cauliflower, garlic, melted gorgonzola, lemon zest
Ortobon: slivered asparagus, spicy zucchini, goat cheese, basil, torn mint
Barrua: gorgonzola, pear, walnut, honey, mozzarella
Oltraggioso: mozzarella, prosciutto cotto, spiced and scorched pineapple, basil, spicy green chili oil, tomato sauce
Monterotondo: creamy gorgonzola, speck, shaved almond, roasted garlic, truffle oil
Ca’ Dominin: pancetta, corn, wild mushroom, truffle oil, roast garlic crema
Milazzo: mozzarella, mascarpone, shaved cantaloupe, prosciutto crudo, torn basil
Madunnio: pulled burrata, italian sausage, rapini, peperoncino nodino
Lele: fior di latte, spicy n’duja, crispy kale, taggiasca olives, pomodoro cotto, oregano

Panna Cotta at Nodo Junction, an Italian restaurant in Toronto.

Nodo Junction Dolci

Chocolate Torta: warm, flourless chocolate torte, artisan vanilla gelato, spiced panna fresca
Caramel Budino: sticky, caramel bread pudding, banana gelato, berries
Cannoli Siciliani: crispy, homemade sicilian cannoli filled with ricotta crema
Tiramisu: classic Italian tiramisu with fresh mascarpone
Panna Cotta: strawberry coulis, frutti di bosco alla vaniglia, orange zest
Torta Della Nonna: ricotta custard pinenut pie, panna fresca, orange marmalade
Gelato: trio of assorted Italian ice cream