
Last updated on April 23rd, 2025
There was an Italian restaurant in Toronto that I simply had to try. It kept coming up in the top restaurant lists of Toronto, the name is Nota Bene. When I arrived, the restaurant was completely full and stayed that way until 11pm. Off to a great start!
The chef prepared a tasting menu where all dishes were a complete surprise to me. The evening started off with a tray of amuse bouches. All looked divine, my favorite were the oysters.
I must mention Adley, who was the server that took care of me for the evening. He was fantastic and an excellent dinner host! Back to the meal, the next notable dish was the ceviche. This was not a typical ceviche because it had pieces of coconut in it. The coconut put a spin on a classic dish.
I was told that their ravioli is all made by hand. The producer makes it for all of the high-end restaurants in Toronto. The filling was slightly dry but the pasta itself was perfect.
The final course was venison and was superb. Not gamey at all! It was cooked to perfection, as you can see. The venison’s little friend, a crispy potato, was also delicious. The dish reminded me of a Thanksgiving meal and warmed my mind, body and soul.
Up next were the desserts. First was a citrus sorbet that served to cleanse my palate. Very refreshing. The finisher was a chocolate lava cake. This was one of the moistest chocolate cakes ever. They served with a nice port wine and it was definitely a match made heaven. The best wine of the evening!
I couldn’t resist ordering a final cocktail at the end. Pro Tip: order a “Doctor’s Orders.”
Nota Bene in downtown Toronto offers a very quality product. The staff clearly love what they do and it showed in the service and food. This is one of the major differences between good and great restaurants. I must say that I enjoyed myself and I’m sure that you will too, when you visit Nota Bene in Toronto!
The Nitty Gritty
Taste - 7.2
Value - 7.9
Feng Shui - 8.8
Convenience - 8
Service - 9.6
8.3
Wow!
Restaurant
180 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X3, Canada
Phone: +1 416 977 6400