For our last dinner in Toronto, my husband and I wanted something close to our hotel and Italian. We found Mercatto on Yelp.com and were pleasantly surprised. From the outside it looks expensive and possibly stuffy. But the hostess and wait staff were all very friendly and helpful, and prices were reasonable. I got the spaghetti alla carbonara, which I loved and could have ate another serving. My husband had the gnocchi, which was very good. And we shared the gelato, which came with a scoop of white chocolate, dark chocolate and strawberry with a biscotti on top.
I would recommend Mercatto if you're looking for a quick place downtown on a off-night with friendly service and good Italian food that is simple and delish, not overly fussy.