Critics settled the Piano Piano question years ago. Toronto Life's restaurant critic named the sourdough pizza his pick for the finest in the city, built on the same starter chef Victor Barry used for the breads at Splendido, his old fine-dining room. The Globe and Mail called the transformation a great unclenching: the same serious cooking, none of the stiffness. Barry himself won't call it fine dining. He says "premium casual." Everyone else says "my favourite restaurant."
The Bloor location sits at 1006 Bloor Street West, inside the Paradise Theatre building — three levels of gemstone walls, hand-designed carpets, animal-print banquettes and chandeliers by Future Studio, plus two patios facing Bloor.
From Marlow, it's under a ten-minute walk east.
The specials, in detail
This is what separates a restaurant you visit from a restaurant you live near. Piano Piano's everyday lineup is built for regulars:
The Lunch Special. Daily through the afternoon. An appetizer, any pizza or pasta, and dessert — three courses, no occasion required.
Happy Hour. Every day from mid-afternoon. Snack-sized plates like marinated olives, calamari fritti and the shrimp cocktail, served on pebbled ice after Barry bought crushed-ice machines for every location on a whim. Beer, wine by the glass, zero-proof options and signature cocktails alongside.
Sunday Supper. Three courses: arancini, the Caesar salad, rigatoni cacio e pepe, chicken parm alla vodka, and Nutella tiramisu.
Dinner for Two. A bottle of the PIANO PIANO x Tawse red, white, or Prosecco, a snack, an appetizer, two pizzas or pastas, and two tiramisus. The Tawse connection isn't marketing — Moray Tawse owns both the winery and the Paradise building.
Family Style. For four or more. Chef's choice, sent down the middle of the table.
Pre-theatre menu. Timed to curtain at the Paradise, next door.
Order the Godmother pizza at least once: tomato, stracciatella, white anchovy, Calabrian chili, basil, Pecorino Romano. And the Caesar, which carries over from the Splendido days — baby gem, whole white anchovy fillets, crispy pork belly bacon.
Why this matters at Marlow
Fitzrovia's three towers at 15 Assembly Lane put 898 premier rental suites at Bloor and Dufferin, with direct access to Dufferin station, a new public park, the restored Kent School, and an amenity floor that includes a bowling alley, hammam spa, cold plunge, rooftop pool and a rooftop BBQ terrace with a pizza oven.
Those amenities cover the nights you stay in. Piano Piano covers the nights you don't — and between the lunch special and happy hour, that can be a Tuesday rather than an occasion.
Dinner, a film at the Paradise, and a walk home. No car, no surge pricing, no plan.
Marlow — 15 Assembly Lane, Toronto. Now leasing.
