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| - I first came here a year ago. My partner and I at the time were absolutely starving and, based on Yelp ratings, decided to step in. It was the best food-related decision of that trip, and one that I've repeated every time I'm back in Toronto.
If you want a high class, elaborate, fancy dining experience go elsewhere. If you want food prepared for you using classic Italian recipes that've likely been handed down for generations then this is a terrific place to be.
Every meal I've gotten here has included a nice green salad. Bah - a green salad you say! Who cares? *I* care because rather than damaging the greens in some heavy-handed salad dressing you instead get a nice drizzle of very clean, very flavourful, olive oil and vinegar. I've spent (too much...) time getting to know my oils and vinegars and what they're using is nice stuff that really enhances the flavour profile of the salad components. You also get the salad as an appetizer and it's a full salad - you're not subjected to one of those nasty little salad/garnishes that some restaurants feel obliged to provide as part of their 'appetizer course that isn't the same size as a regular appetizer because it came with your meal' kinds of plates. There, I'm done waxing on about the salad.
The gnocchi is heavenly. It's pillowy soft with delightful flavours. You don't get a slimy bowl of pasta, setting Da-Maria's aside from the depressingly large number of places in Toronto that sell pasta-drivel as gnocchi. I admit to having a particular love of their lasagna, largely because it's made as it should be. You get several layers of the pasta, with a light amount of cheese, sauce, and herbs. As a result, you really get to enjoy the flavours and textures of each part of the lasagna, instead of any particular piece of the meal overwhelming the rest. My partner swears that this is exactly how she was served lasagna in her trips to Italy; it's authentic style is what draws her back, time and time again.
As befits a good Italian eatery with a real Italian nonna running the shop, portion sizes are absolutely huge. She may also come out and warn you that, "you're not eating enough!" Also, it's not uncommon to see the serve staff's child playing, running around, and watching TV in the dining room. I like this: it makes the restaurante feel more homey, more real. I can appreciate, however, that not all people want to listen to children's cartoons as they eat.
Now, is there anything that I dislike? Yes, two things.
First: I've never, even once, been able to get an order of tiramisu. My love of this dessert knows few bounds, but one easy way to hit the boundary point is for it to be unavailable for purchase. The best way to finish a nice lasagna meal (as far as I'm concerned) is with tiramisu and so I've never really 'concluded' my meal as I'd like. Yes, this is a personal gripe but I've been at Da-Maria's often enough that I should have gotten an order of this desert at least once!
Second: I have a deep, almost visceral, reaction when I'm served bread with cold/almost frozen butter to spread on the bread. Each time I've come to Da-Maria's I've run into this. I understand how this happens (it's kept in an overly cold fridge until provided to customers) but it means I can never actually enjoy the butter because it's clumpy on the bread. Restaurateurs ought to always serve butter at room temperature or simply not provide it.
So, should you come here? Of course! It's a real hidden gem, holding terrific food, a great homey atmosphere, and great prices. If you want to enjoy some real Italian cooking in an authentic and unpretentious restaurant, this is a delightful place to come.
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