Agio

Chef Marino is a unique story that has lead to great food and a very personal experience — something that seems to be disappearing in Toronto. My family will definitely be back.

UPDATE: I received a phone call from the chef of the restaurant. He saw my review on Unilocal and left me a heartfelt apology about my experience at his restaurant. I appreciated the gesture very much.
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Very disappointed! I was so excited to eat here with 3 of my friends especially after reading these very positive and enthusiastic reviews. The food was mediocre 2.5÷5 but what was worst was the service. The chef doubled as a server and I’m sure although he meant well was incredibly disruptive to our dining experience. He would not stop talking, be unaware of the social cues of our table and was at times offensive. At the end of our meal the group of us sat and talked and he just stood a few feet away reading a magazine hovering over us. His presence and conversation made us uncomfortable. I would not suggest going here.

It has been almost a year since I last dined with Chef Marino, and I have to say. after last night’s meal, I will never let that happen again. You know when the food is so good you just can’t stop eating, even though you were full ten minutes ago? Indeed.
Came with three other friends and we had a fantastic meal. I ordered the chestnut soup to start, the lobster risotto for my main and the crème brûlée for dessert. The soup was very interesting and flavourful with a subtle sweetness to it. I didn’t know you could make soup out of chestnuts! The lobster risotto was amazing. I am generally a very slow eater and while my dish was probably the largest portion-​wise, I managed to finish before all of my friends. THAT’S how you know it’s good! My holy grail crème brûlée up until now was the one served at Café La Gaffe, but this one that Marino makes easily took the crown. Sugar layer with the perfect thickness, cream layer with the perfect consistency and NOT TOO SWEET. The dessert has balance and it’s just wonderful.
Marino being Marino came over to talk to us and entertain us with stories in between courses. He spoiled us so much as usual with extra goodies: two plates of a great zucchini appetizer, four bowls of soup even though we only ordered two, extra mini-​portions of entrees other people at our table were having so that we could all sample everything, a bowl of legit white sweet potato for us to try just because, two extra desserts for us to sample (one of which was an amazing espresso panna cotta) and finally, a round of Grand Marnier/​orange juice shots as a farewell toast for our friend Tiffany who will be flying back to Japan on Sunday.
If you haven’t checked this place out yet, please do. Truly a hidden gem.

Chef Marino is a very interesting person and he worked in Italy for 7 years. The small Restaurante delivers authentic Italian seafood dishes. We tried the seafood soup, linguini alle Vongole and lobster spaghetti. The seafood is very fresh and proper cooked. When I tasted the bread dipped into the seafood soup, I knew we came to the right place. It is authentic. Lobster spaghetti is a must try. The lobster is fresh, delicious and not over cooked at all. The spaghetti absorbed all the flavour of the lobster. I think this dish beats all the Italian restaurants in downtown Toronto, including terroni, Buca and Mercatto. Agio is a small and welcome restaurant just like any local restaurants we went to Italy. It’s def a hidden gem in Toronto. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for some authentic Italian cuisine dining experience.

It’s a small, unsuspecting Italian place with a remarkable chef. Everything Marino cooks is excellent. The restaurant is rather small, with only about 10 tables or so, but he can accommodate large parties with a reservation.
Décor features portraits of the regular diners painted by Marino’s wife. Marino is usually waiting on tables and serving guests, but his wife, Clara, is also present on really busy nights.
The first thing you need to know is that Marino sets you up for a nice dining experience. He’ll bring both fresh bread and bruschetta. One day when I came in looking rather cold without a coat, he brought me hot tea before I even said anything!
Everything I’ve had there has been great, but the specials are usually the best way to go. They are especially fresh and vary regularly. I think my favourite thing that I’ve had so far has been the Gorgonzola and mushroom gnocchi.
For dessert, I highly recommend the crème brûlée. The best I’ve ever had. One night they were out of brûlée, so Marino brought us some mango Italian ice cream, which was tasty as well.
Definitely try this gem of a restaurant!

BLOWN away!
Why would anyone have something negative to say! Sure the chef runs the front of the house, serving you and cooking your meal but boy was I in awe of how he danced around managing to do so with such effectiveness!
One can certainly appreciate the skill that requires! So of course service could he a tad slow, but way beyond acceptable! Service was impeccable considering.
What’s more important is the food — everything was fantastic was beautifully prepared! Flavours spot on, pasta cooked perfectly. HIGHLY recommend the grilled King mushroom appetizer… So simple and yet so full of depth, meatiness (though vegetarian) and smokiness! Mushroom ravioli was the daily special, it was delish. The butternut squash ravioli was amazeballs! In a deliciously unconventional Alfredo sauce. Lobster spaghetti in tomato sauce was also great, tons of seafood brothy flavour in the sauce.
Lastly the crème brûlée was impeccable (much preferred over the tiramisu) — such a perfect velvety texture.
Only complaint, or recommendation rather, is that the washroom needs a facelift. Low ceilings with cobwebs and toilets that look 100 years old. It’s very claustrophobic in there, but wouldn’t stop me from coming back!
Highly recommended! A glowing 5 stars.

The pasta and dessert here is amazing! High quality ingredients coupled with top notch execution makes this a foodie goto for Italian cuisine. I can’t think of any Italian restaurant in Toronto that can match this place at their price point.
This is not your usual restaurant so there are some caveats. First, the owner tries to be creative. Often times, the end result is absolutely delightful but there is always a chance for a miss. Second, this is basically a one-​man show. Hence, don’t expect on-​point service, instead, expect home-​style service where there can be periods where you don’t see anyone because the owner is busy prepping your food. In my opinion, the quality of food at Agio more than overcomes these weaknesses.

The legend is true… Chef Marino really does it all himself! I’ve never met a more engaging and personable chef. He’s just as much a part of the experience as the food, which was amazing. He cuts no corners and has respect for his customers and his craft. It’s not upscale but really who cares — go for the food and hospitality!

This place is truly a hidden gem and the chef was amazing. Had a great meal here for my anniversary and we’ve been coming back ever since. My girlfriend loved the steak and I personally think the lobster ravioli is to die for. I’m a huge fan of crème brûlée and the twist that chef puts on crème brûlée is amazing.

Merino’s food is always amazing. My partner had the butternut squash ravioli and it was rich beyond belief. I had the porcini mushroom risotto and love the deep earthy rich flavours. Was served by the chef himself. Had a really great time!

I wanted to like this place. After all, the owner is a really nice guy. But it really wasn’t very good.
I know you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but the complimentary zucchini appetizer was bitter. You know how they say you should always taste a zucchini before cooking because some are bitter, well this zucchini had that distinction.
The kid’s pasta with meatball was tasty. But the sauce was on the sweet side. Another pasta dish was OK, but nothing to write home about. The shrimp dish was somewhat sad, with two skewers of tiny shrimp that were totally overcooked. They were served with some vegetables very lightly grilled, and completely uninspired.
I feel bad for the guy. He means well. But perhaps that’s the price you pay for being the only one working at the restaurant, working the front of the house and the kitchen.
The meal wasn’t cheap either. For one pasta plate, one shrimp plate, a kid’s plate, and two glasses of wine, we paid $ 65. Plus, the ambiance was not great. The place was unkempt. Sorry, I had to keep it real.

I had dinner here last night with my dad to celebrate my birthday, and there aren’t enough words to describe how amazing this dining experience was. The interior of the restaurant looks like it could use a little of a refresher, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying the food here. I had a delicious,
homemade beet gnocchi, and my dad had a steak cooked to a perfect medium rare with fresh vegetables and a small side of penne noodles in a marinara sauce. There weren’t many of us there, but the chef kept us entertained and happy all night, ensuring everything was perfect, and keeping up conversation with the dining guests. I wouldn’t hesitate to eat dinner here again and my dad already can’t wait to take the rest of my family when they visit Toronto again.

I came here for dinner after exercising looking for some pasta. Amazing food and experience one of the best places I have been highly recommend it. Not busy on weekdays great for days.

We had a wonderful meal here. The chef was personable and friendly, the food was delicious and he was very generous. The four of us got an appetizer that came with 6 portions– he gave us two extra so it would be even. Then after dinner and drinks, he came out with some fresh honeydew melon drizzled in honey as a dessert, free of charge! I didn’t even think I liked melon, but this was delicious.
My pasta was wonderful, full of flavour. We all really enjoyed the food, and will be coming back.

Whoa! You won’t believe it until you experience it. Seriously. Just go here.
One of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had.
So much has been said about the awesome food. But what I’d like to share with you is how warm and friendly the service is here. Chef Mario treats you like family. Eating here feels like you are eating at your childhood home. Chef kept surprising us with complementary appetizers, and dessert, and allowing us to change our dish in any way we wished. He was accommodating in the way a parent would be to their child. It was incredible. He was personable, and engaging. He talked to us about many interesting things, that made it feel like I was talking to an old wise uncle.
I wish more restaurants treated their customers like this.
The food is awesome (well portioned, and tons of meat). The experience is at an unprecedented level of friendliness. I am definitely coming back.

Utterly amazed at the quality and authenticity of the Italian food made by Chef Mario!
We decided to tryout Agio last night (Thursday) after reading many reviews about the excellent Italian food Agio has to offer. The restaurant is located in old little Italy near St Clair and Landsdowne — very easy to find and ample street parking. When we walked in, we were greeted by Mario (restaurant owner). Suffice to say, it was a little bit surprising at first given that he’s a Korean and the head chef of a Italian restaurant. But if you’re able to keep an open mind, the food will not disappoint and quite frankly a ton better than a lot of the ‘authentic’ Italian restaurants in the city!
Mario trained in Italy and have worked there as a chef for many years before coming to Canada. After we had our meal, there was no doubt in our minds about his abilities in Italian cuisine. In fact, he even spoke Italian colloquially with another Italian customer at the restaurant.
Now more details about the food:
Restaurant:
comfortable, mom and pop feel, quaint and full of beautiful art painted by his wife Clara.
Food:
Mario gave us complementary tea as he noticed we were cold coming from outside. He also gave us complementary appetizer of grilled zucchini with butternut squash on top!
For the entrees,
We ordered the lobster linguine with spicy tomato sauce and the spaghetti Bolognese. It was absolutely amazing. The lobster linguine came with a whole 2 lb lobster and the sauce was perfect! It reminded me of the very authentic lobster linguine I had in Boston’s famous little Italy. The spaghetti also definitely satisfied my craving — very very flavorful with the perfect balance of saltiness and sweetness of the tomatoes. Noodles were perfectly al dente.
Portions were very sizable and we were so full but still wanted to get the full experience by trying dessert: ordered crème brûlée and glad we did! The sugar topping was perfectly caramelized and filling was soft and creamy.
Agio will now be in our regular rotation and can’t wait for the next visit to try other authentic Italian dishes! Highly recommended for those with an open mind :)

W-​O-​W. A 1-​man show that really can do it all!
I am just so floored from last night’s dinner… you walk in, and this Asian man is speaking to the table of 3 already seated in Italian! Then, he breaks out in other languages — he knows 5 in total. Then, my own party of 5 gets seated, and I’m thinking to myself — this is going to be one helluva gong-​show with only 1 guy working the front. Then, we find out he not only works the front, he answers the phone, he pours the water, and drumroll please… he’s the CHEF! At this point, I’m really thinking «what have I done now?»
THANK YOU, to fellow Unilocalers who recommended this place. For without you all, we would never have found this AMAZING gem of a place. Don’t let anything fool you. This guy, Marino, runs a tight ship all on his own but that’s not the only reason why you come, you come because the food is just amazing. We all had great dishes last night.
He started us off with some on the house bruschetta, bread and oil/​balsamico. Then all our entrees were all delicious — the tagliatelle with meatballs, the spaghetti bolognese, gluten-​free penne a la vodka, and the sirloin steak with potatos and veggies. All were just fantastic. Then he gave us some beautiful tiramisu and crème brûlée at the end and it left us all wanting to come back again tonight, and we will come back… again and again! And his company — priceless. Marino is a joy and his wife did all the art in the restaurant. We all felt right at home there. Next time, we’re trying the lobster ravioli — just call it in a day in advance and he says it is the best in all of Toronto. Can’t wait!

Delicious and authentic Italian food for a very reasonable price. The chef was extremely friendly and everything served to us was incredibly fresh. The portions were more than sufficient and the pricing was affordable.
The only negative was that when my sister and I went the restaurant was completely empty, so you might have a quiet atmosphere. But the food is definitely worth a visit!

An plain restaurant from the outside but all the positive reviews from Unilocal drew us to this homey restaurant. The food was phenomenal! I am pretty sensitive to overseasoning and salty food but everything was just right and served piping hot.
Chef Marino is very personable and came by to make sure everything was taken care of.
Will definitely come back and try other dishes!
Make sure you ask about the portrait wall!

Passionate chef, delicious pasta from scratch
Date of visit: 03/​24/​2012
*Photos of the restaurant, menu, and some dishes are added*
Ambience: ²⁄₅
Quiet and cozy, the restaurant is filled with beautiful paintings by Clara, Chef Marino’s wife. There is a wall full of drawings of the restaurants’ regulars, which gives a welcoming touch. The décor seems a bit outdated since there is still a Christmas wreath hanging, a horseshoe by the door, and candleholders from Valentine’s Day. The chairs need to be replaced, as they look stained and out of place.
Food: ⁴⁄₅
Bruschetta Trio — tomato, roasted pepper, and shitake mushroom.
Warm and aromatic mushroom, my favourite out of the three. The roasted pepper is flavorful, it would be better if it was served warm as well. The tomato’s taste is overpowered by excessive presence of onions.
Linguine Chicken Alfredo
Delicious homemade alfredo sauce, linguine is cooked perfectly, generous amount.
Lobster Ravioli
Not on the menu, one of the specials of the day. Five big pieces covered in mouthwatering mixture of alfredo and pesto sauce. Although each piece is packed, the distribution of lobster is not even, resulting in some having more veggies mixture and tasting more bland.
Complimentary Garlic Bread
Toasted and seasoned to perfection, great for dipping into the pasta sauce.
Complimentary Tiramisu
Served in a wine glass, a sophisticated and well-​made dessert.
Complimentary Horchata
A shot of ground almond, cinnamon and lemon juice. Nutty, sweet and tangy, goes well with the dessert.
Service: ⁵⁄₅
Clara is soft-​spoken and attentive, refilling water and changing plates and napkins constantly. Chef Marino is friendly and funny, who would gladly share his stories and cooking tips.
Price: ⁴⁄₅
Moderately priced for such great food and service. Definitely will visit again to try other dishes.