Restaurant

Florette

Name: Florette
Address: 1168 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6J 1J5, CA
Price range: $$

Florette is one of the best italian restaurants in Toronto for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Queen West.

Florette is a room that has apparently figured out what most Queen West restaurants haven't: that intimacy is a design decision, not a lucky accident.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Florette is a room that has apparently figured out what most Queen West restaurants haven't: that intimacy is a design decision, not a lucky accident. Chef Mann Bijlani and owner Jerry Zhang have built around a premise that is almost dangerously specific — something like the fantasy of a cool aunt's apartment, floral arch overhead, pickled things in every corner, a glass of something good arriving at the right moment. A recent renovation, by all accounts, hasn't softened that quality but sharpened it. The floral ceiling is consistently cited as theatrical in the best way, the kind of detail that makes a room feel like it was arranged for you personally. The space is small, which means every table carries weight, and a back patio reportedly catches those rare Toronto evenings when eating outside still feels like a reprieve. This is unambiguously a date restaurant — not because it's precious, but because the room is said to hold its shape across an entire night, which is harder to pull off than it sounds. The kitchen's signature, by reputation and by screenshot, is the Rigatoni in vodka sauce — reportedly built on nduja butter that pulls heat and depth through the pasta rather than sitting on top of it. The Manila Clams are considered the sleeper of the menu: nduja appears again here, this time working alongside the brininess of the clams in a combination diners consistently flag as the thing that makes them reconsider the bread situation mid-meal. The Hamachi Crudo — beets, mushroom, clean acid against rich fish — is described as the most restrained dish on the table and, by many accounts, the one that lingers longest. Book ahead; the room is small enough that walking in on a Friday is optimism without much evidence behind it. Sit inside if the ceiling is new to you, patio once you know the place. At this price point on Queen West, the math reads as genuinely difficult to argue with.

Sophie Laurent, Food Editor

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Date Night

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 8.0/10

Rating (Google) 9.4

425 reviews

Toronto

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.0/10

Taste Score

Google 9.4 from 425 reviews

Best for

Date Night

Price and pace

Moderate spend

Neighborhood

Queen West | 1168 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J5, Canada

Price

Moderate spend

Taste Score

8.0/10

Address

Queen West | 1168 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J5, Canada

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Florette

1 photo

Watch

Florette on video

Short: Tiana Jayatunga (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Short: Toronto's Finest (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Short: Tasha Karsan (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Menu and ordering

Florette menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Florette is listed in the Moderate spend price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Rigatoni (vodka sauce)

Manila Clams

Hamachi Crudo

Check the current menu

Why go

What makes Florette worth the move

Florette is an easy yes in Queen West when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Rigatoni (vodka sauce) and Manila Clams also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 425 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.4 from 425 Google reviews

Best for

Date Night

Style

Italian in Queen West

Spend

Moderate spend

Best for

Date Night

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.4 from 425 reviews

Price point: $$

Popular dishes: Rigatoni (vodka sauce), Manila Clams, Hamachi Crudo

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Sophie Laurent for Florette

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Google snapshot

9.4 from 425 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Sophie Laurent

No diner notes for Florette yet.

Leaside runs at its own pace — wide sidewalks, school runs, Saturday errands — and Buono Ristorante on Bayview has positioned itself as the neighbourhood's quietly serious answer to the question of where to eat on a Friday.

Neighborhood dinnerdinnerbrunch

974 reviews

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Book on OpenTable Menu Directions

Address: 1168 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J5, Canada
Price: $$
TastyPals score: 8.0/10
Google rating: 9.4 (425 reviews)
Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Queen West

Read guide

Restaurants in Queen West

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Florette serve?

Florette is a Italian restaurant located in Queen West, Toronto. Florette is a room that has apparently figured out what most Queen West restaurants haven't: that intimacy is a design decision, not a lucky accident.

What is Florette best for?

Florette is best for date night. Florette is an easy yes in Queen West when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Rigatoni (vodka sauce) and Manila Clams also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 425 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Florette?

Florette is in the Moderate spend price range ($$). Google rating: 9.4 from 425 reviews

What should I order at Florette?

Start with Rigatoni (vodka sauce), Manila Clams and Hamachi Crudo. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Florette worth visiting?

Florette holds a 9.4 Google rating from 425 reviews. Florette is an easy yes in Queen West when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Rigatoni (vodka sauce) and Manila Clams also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 425 Google reviews.

Where is Florette located?

Florette is located at 1168 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J5, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Does Florette take reservations?

Yes, Florette accepts reservations. You can book a table online through their reservations page.

Is Florette good for a date night?

Yes — Florette is tagged for date night dining. Florette is an easy yes in Queen West when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Rigatoni (vodka sauce) and Manila Clams also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 425 Google reviews.