This restaurant brings authentic Italian flavour to Cabbagetown

Cabbagetown is one of Toronto’s most unique neighbourhoods, offering hidden gems and hole-in-the-wall food options that astound the tastebuds. And, one of the area‘s newest eateries, Dova Restaurant, is transporting Torontonians to a quaint Italian village, without the plane ticket. Complete with a sprawling, private patio that feels like it belongs in White Lotus and dishes that offer authentic Italian flavours and modern twists on traditional fare, Dova Restaurant is a must-try in the city.

About Dova Restaurant

The inception of Dova Restaurant can be traced back to a small town in Sicily. Roberto Marotta’s family spent generations living in Milazzo, a quintessential port town on the northeast coast of Sicily. Milazzo overlooks the Aeolian Islands, a stunning spread that looks like jewelled necklace in the blue Tyrrhenian Sea. It was here that Marotta’s love of food was born, and his passion eventually led him to open a restaurant in Milazzo called Mood alongside his brother Alessandro.

Dova co-owner Jacqueline Nicosia’s family is also from Sicily, and they still own an apartment in the southern Italian region. So, she wanted to return to her roots and take a break in Milazzo after spending some time teaching in Japan. In Milazzo, she met Marotta, and they fell in love. The pair decided they would build a hospitality empire in Toronto, carrying Sicilian roots and flavours to the city.

Bringing the flavours of their Sicilian homeland wowed Torontonians, and Marotta is one of the most celebrated chefs in Toronto, and the genius behind a pair of restaurants called Ardo and Dova, as well as Vivi Imports, a premier distributor of authentic Sicilian products.

About the menu

Dova’s offerings boast traditional Italian fare with chef Marotta’s unique takes, including a deconstructed house cocktail that nods to the Canadian Caesar. There’s also a ricotta-infused cacio e pepe pasta, offering a hearty dish that’s crafted with noodles imported from Sicily. More must-try options include the gamberi pasta, made with shrimp and a lemon finish that feels like summer in every bite, and the octopus appetizer called the polpo, served over a chickpea base rounds out the flavour.

So much of the ingredients used at Dova, from the pasta to the bread and the desserts, are made in-house, with ingredients imported from Italy whenever and wherever possible. The result is an explosion of flavour that transports diners to small, rustic Italian villages, satisfying any hearty craving for authentic Italian dishes.

Dova’s food and drinks can be enjoyed on a vast back patio that’s completely secluded and offers string lights, expansive umbrellas and an Italian villa vibe.