Plant-Based Italian - Pizzeria Libretto, Toronto

I began visiting Pizzeria Libretto in downtown Toronto for business meetings, being introduced to their prix fixe lunch menu by a colleague. I fell in love instantly with their fresh ingredient salads, perfect crust pizzas and delicious desserts. Fortunately for me, they have plant-based options for many of their dishes, homemade vegan cheese and one of the best chocolate sorbets in the city.

Pizzeria Libretto's Fancy Pizza Oven Source: Website Gallery

Authentic Neapolitan Pizza

Libretto opened their first location at 221 Ossington Avenue on the trendy Ossington Strip area in August 2008. They offer authentic Neapolitan pizza, apparently inspired by the style of pizza made in Naples.  (Note to self: visit Naples, Italy one day!).  

Libretto’s crust is made of a fermented 72-hour sourdough and cooked at 850° giving it a charred crust. In fact, they were one of the first places in the city to serve VPN-certified pizza, made according to the strict standards from Naples. Who knew?

The bar inside Pizzeria Libretto Ossington. Source: Instagram

Libretto's pizza adheres to strict guidelines set by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN) by using only fresh, all-natural ingredients, approved equipment, and traditional pizza-making techniques. The pizza must be cooked at specific oven temperatures and times, with the final product meeting precise size and shape standards. 

The AVPN is an international organization that is dedicated to preserving true Neapolitan pizza with only about 1,000 pizzerias worldwide that meet the strict certification guidelines.

Official Neapolitan Pizza logo from AVPN. Source: AVPN website

Various Locations

Over the years, Libretto has expanded to other locations in Toronto, and I have frequented several of them. You can find them downtown on University Avenue near King St, in the east end of the city on the Danforth, and up in North York near Mel Lastman Square on Yonge Street. The food and service are always consistent, so I leave full and happy every time.

Executive Chef Rocco Agostino focuses on keeping the food simple and flavourful, using fresh, local ingredients, many of which are plant-based.  The restaurant serves meat, seafood, and dairy options as well, for those who aren’t ready to jump into a plant-exclusive meal, but trust me, their vegan options are fantastic!

Part of the reason I enjoy eating at Libretto is because the menu has plenty of options for those of us who prefer plant-based meals, always with a focus on quality. They even accommodate people who need a gluten-free pizza crust. 

My friends who have tried the vegan alternatives enjoy the food just as much and often give me a surprised look, saying, "This is vegan??"

Happy Hour

Libretto offers Happy Hour options with a selection of appetizers and alcoholic drinks at a discounted price. Happy Hour is usually from 2 to 5 pm Monday to Friday based on the locations that are open at this time. 

I’ve tried different appetizers during Happy Hour that I may not have given a chance.  There’s always a choice of wine, draft beer and a cocktail option available, too.

Pizzeria Libretto's Aperol Spritz cocktail. Source: Instagram

Prix Fixe

Libretto has a long-running prix fixe menu over lunch until 4 pm.  The current prix fixe has a choice of a pizza or sandwiches with an arugula salad. 

The prix fixe has changed a bit over the years, sometimes offering different salads or pasta dishes.  I have also seen it offered during special events like Winterlicious and Summerlicious.

Plant Based Appetizers

Arugula Salad

I love Libretto’s Arugula salad which is made with fresh, quality ingredients. The Arugula Salad has a giant bed of rocket, and is topped with walnuts and thinly sliced pear. It typically comes with a light olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing—just ask for it without any parmesan cheese and you're good to go.

Pizzeria Libretto Arugula Salad without cheese

Kale Salad

The Kale Salad is plant-exclusive if the parmesan cheese is excluded so just ask the server to omit the cheese. The salad features finely shredded kale, massaged with olive oil and lemon to soften its texture and bring out its natural flavours. It’s usually topped with toasted almond slivers and contains crunchy jicama slices. 

The creamy lemon green goddess dressing adds a zest to the salad and is vegan, so it’s a perfect plant-based salad to try.  The fact that the salad dressing is vegan isn’t noted on the menu but always double check in case they modify an ingredient.

Pizzeria Libretto's Kale Salad with creamy vegan dressing. Source: Auburn Lane website

Sicilian Hummus

The Sicilian Hummus is a unique twist on the classic dish, combining smooth, creamy chickpea hummus with chili oil, herb oil, softened sundried tomato slivers, and crispy onions. The dish is served with warm, toasted pizza-dough triangles. It’s a hearty appetizer that is best shared.

Pizzeria Libretto's Sicilian Hummus

Focaccia Bread and Olives

Libretto's Focaccia Bread and Olives is another delicious start to any meal and great for sharing at the table. The homemade focaccia is soft, airy, and slightly crisp on the edges, served warm with a perfect balance of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. 

You can pair it with a bowl of warm, marinated, briny olives. I highly recommend this appetizer combination for a group of four or less, otherwise someone will be disappointed not having a chance to eat a piece of the delicious focaccia.

Pizzeria Libretto's Focaccia and Warm Olives

Pizza Mains

The Chef at Libretto has created an in-house vegan cheese that mimics fior di latte mozzarella which is apparently made from soy. It’s a standout option for those looking to enjoy a plant-based twist on classic pizza. The vegan cheese has the rich, creamy texture of traditional dairy cheese while offering a slightly tangy flavour. Whether you're vegan, lactose intolerant, or just curious, their vegan cheese is an excellent choice that doesn't sacrifice quality.

Margherita Pizza

Usually when we go to Libretto, we opt for the Margherita Pizza to share, especially if we’ve indulged in several appetizers. A generous layer of rich, tangy tomato sauce serves as the base, topped with fresh, vegan fior di latte mozzarella and fragrant basil leaves. The pizza is lightly drizzled with high-quality extra virgin olive oil. A bonus feature is that the regular mozzarella can be substituted with vegan cheese at no extra cost.

Pizzeria Libretto Margherita Pizza with in-house plant-based cheese

Marinaro Pizza

When we decide to get individual pizzas, I usually opt for the Marinaro.  It’s a simple pizza topped with their tomato sauce, garlic, and a generous sprinkling of oregano. What sets the Marinaro apart is its no-cheese approach, with a focus on the sauce, fresh ingredients and delicious crust. This pizza is a perfect choice for those who want to enjoy the purest flavours of Neapolitan pizza without any cheese, especially suitable for those with dairy or soy allergies.

Pizzeria Libretto's Marinaro Pizza. Source: The Cutting Veg

Impossibly Vegan Pizza

The Impossibly Vegan Pizza is a rich, flavourful, cheesy creation. It’s topped with Libretto's tomato sauce, vegan fior di latte mozzarella, shredded vegan cheese, Impossible vegan meat, mushrooms, garlic, pickled red onions, an Italian herb mix and green goddess creamy sauce. 

This pizza manages to capture all the indulgence of a traditional pizza while staying completely plant-based, making it a standout choice for those looking for a delicious and hearty vegan option. Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or simply looking to try something different, the Impossibly Vegan pizza is a must-try for anyone craving a decadent plant-based pizza. I personally find this pizza to be too rich and heavy, but it’s my son’s favourite option.

Dessert

Chocolate Sorbetto

Libretto offers a variety of desserts but currently the only plant-exclusive option is the Chocolate Sorbetto.  It’s a dairy-free dessert that is made with high-quality cocoa and has an intense dark chocolate flavour. A small bowl of the chocolate dessert is a decadent way to end a meal on a sweet note.  I think this chocolate sorbet is one of the best around, better than most ice cream shops serving up vegan options.

Take Out and In Store

I will admit that I’ve ordered Libretto for delivery, but the restaurant experience is far superior to enjoy the warm-from-the-oven appetizers and pizza. If you decide to do a take-out order of the pizza, Chef Rocco recommends putting it in the oven at 450 degrees for a few minutes to re-warm it and enhance the pizza texture before eating it.

Libretto now offers four different frozen pizzas which are available at various grocery stores throughout the city: Margherita, Funghi, Pepperoni and Vegan Margherita.  They are par-baked so only take 5-7 minutes in a 450-degree oven to be ready to serve.  I haven’t tried them, but they are a good option if you love their pizza and don’t want to order in or go out.

Pizzeria Libretto's Frozen Vegan Pizza option available in-stores. Source: Voila website

Where to find Pizzeria Libretto

There are multiple locations throughout the Toronto Area, so check their website for the location nearest you.

Restaurant Hours

Hours vary depending on the location but each location is open 7 days a week for dinner. The Ossington location is closed for weekday lunch except Fridays. Best to check their website and make a reservation, especially on weekends during peak times.

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