Neapolitan Pizza Right Here in Seaton Village (Follis and Bathurst)

As we are slowly returning to in-restaurant dining and hopefully getting back to a somewhat more normal existence, I thought I would let you know about one of Toronto’s gems. I began this blog post prior to Covid and am finally posting it.  Napoli Centrale is a restaurant that makes authentic Naples style pizza (Neapolitan pizza), and it is located right here in Seaton Village at 964 Bathurst St., just south of Follis Ave.

Alessandro’s Story

Alessandro Tarallo, founder of Napoli Centrale grew up in Naples, Italy.  He has an incredible understanding of food through his experience working with the family businesses. His family owned a few restaurants and stores that sold food.  Alessandro knew the smell of fresh tomatoes and basil like a cabinet maker knows the type of wood being used just by the smell. Food surrounded him as a child and young man growing up in Naples, and he gained an incredible knowledge of food, ingredients and making foods, especially pizza.

In 2005 Alessandro took a trip to Cuba that would change his life.  While there, he met Misty, a Canadian, who was also on vacation.  It seemed that it did not take very long for Misty and Alessandro to figure out that they belonged together and after the vacation they exchanged many emails and then Misty came over to live in Italy.  In 2010, they decided to get married and move to Canada, as it seemed a great place to raise a family. 

Bringing Naples to Toronto

Alessandro always knew that one day he would open a pizza shop. While in Canada and craving a good pizza, he searched for an authentic Neapolitan pizza, and although he found great pizzas with excellent quality, he couldn’t find the true authentic Naples style pizza; Alessandro knew it was time to open his own place.  He searched all over the city, but eventually settled on the location at 964 Bathurst St. just south of Follis Ave.  Alessandro liked that the location was part of a community and in a less built- up part of the city, as he didn’t like the idea of being in amongst skyscrapers.  He also liked the physical characteristics of the building itself, which had reasonable space and a charming feel to it.  The Annex / Seaton Village seemed a perfect location.

Alessandro and Misty did start their family and today they have a daughter, Sarah who is just 1 ½ years old and a son, Andrea who is 7.  I have often seen his wife and son dining at the restaurant and Alessandro's son watching his dad demonstrate mastery of his craft.  Alessandro has had many friends and family work at the restaurant and Napoli Centrale certainly has a family feel to it.

The REAL Pizza Debate

Since December 5, 2012, Napoli Centrale has been open and producing authentic Neapolitan pizza.  Debate has long raged about who makes the best pizza New York or Chicago.  But that follows the even older debate over pizza Neapolitan and pizza Romana.  Pizza Neapolitan is thinner and softer in the center with an airier crust than Pizza Romana. 

At Napoli Centrale

If you do venture over to Napoli Centrale, you will find a fully stocked bar with 8 or 9 beers on tap, and classic Italian wines.  The list of pizzas is classically Neapolitan, but there are a couple of house specials like the Napoli Centrale calzone and the Amalfi smoked salmon pizza. The building itself is beautiful.  It has a casual relaxed feeling to it, with exposed brick, wood and the large Neapolitan pizza oven in the open kitchen at the back of the restaurant.  The pizzas are made with fresh ingredients right before your eyes.  During the warmer months, the large opening windows at the front of the restaurant allow a nice breeze in and provide a wonderful atmosphere for dining.

What makes the pizza at Napoli Centrale so good?  Without giving away the whole secret recipe for Alessandro’s Neapolitan pizza, it has to do with authentic fresh toppings, a very hydrated dough and having the right oven. Alessandro’s oven gets extremely hot, and its dome shape allows for a very even heat.  The high heat is needed with Neapolitan pizzas since they use such a moist dough.  The pizza is cooked quickly and leaves the outer crust airy and a little crunchy, but the centre is a little soft.  This is the texture of the classic Neapolitan pizza, and in my opinion …. is so very good.

My Favourites

Just prior to Covid, I was a regular at the restaurant, and if you ventured in you would often see me with my kids sitting at the bar and chatting with Naelton (bartender and server), who was incredibly friendly and was treated like family.  I always order a Margherita pizza (basil on half) for my kids. I like variety and try different pizzas each time.  I have become quite fond of the Diavola which has smoked provolone, hot soppressata salami and classic tomato sauce. Delicious. While the pizza is amazing, I think the highlight for my kids was the bread that came fresh from the oven with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. So incredibly good. 

My university roommate and great friend, Craig came into town, and we went to Napoli Centrale for pizza and beer. He always raves about it, calling it the best pizza he has ever had. I think he is right. Craig is not alone.  There are people who regularly make the trek from Vaughn and Woodbridge to experience Alessandro’s pizza – it’s that good.

“He always raves about it, calling it the best pizza he has ever had.”

Napoli Centrale is proud to call Seaton Village home, and I feel proud to have Alessandro and this great restaurant in Seaton Village.

Napoli Centrale on Facebook

PIZZERIA NAPOLI CENTRALE

964 BATHURST STREET

TORONTO ON M5R3G5, CANADA
(416) 901-6791

Mr. Nonno Barber Shop at 609 Bloor St. W.  

I first wrote this piece back in early 2020, just before the pandemic, lockdowns and the days of attempted self-barbering. 

I met Fadel Alokili in 2007. Athough he had been cutting hair for some time in Iraq before coming to Canada in 2006, he was the “new” barber at Gus the Other Barber on Bloor Street. Fadel had a kind, soft-spoken way about him, and I liked him instantly. 

Shortly after arriving in Canada, Fadel needed to get his English up to speed, so he enrolled in an ESL (English as a Second Language) course and then found that he would need Canadian credentials to cut hair in as well. So, he enrolled in Marca College, and before you know it, he was working at Gus’s shop where he worked for five years. But more importantly, during that time he met his wife and began a family. He has two boys who are now four and nine years old.  

Wanting to stretch out a little bit, Fadel moved to Belo, a hair styling studio that was also on Bloor St. in the Location where Glass Monocle Eyewear is today and just down the street from where Gus’s shop was. After four years at that location, the store was closing, which was well timed, since Fidel had been thinking that he wanted to start his own business. 

He searched and found a terrific location on the South side of Bloor near Palmerston which used to be a Laundry Shop. He worked intensely for ten straight days to get the place ready for his first haircuts. His barber shop opened on September 23, 2015, under the name Mr. Nonno, which is what his children called his good friend Frank Savazzi the owner of Frank Custom Tailor – Sewing and Alterations on Dovercourt. Frank and his family took great interest in Fadel when he first came over to Canada and in a sense, Fadel was like an adopted child, and they all became very close. When Fadel met his girlfriend, who became his wife, she was instantly welcomed into Frank's family like Fadel had been previously. They both continued a relationship with Frank’s family and a the nickname for Frank - Mr. Nonno stuck.

Just over six and a bit years later the shop is going strong. Fadel has a couple of other barbers who help during busier times and his customers are always treated with great respect. Fadel somehow managed to weather the pandemic so far with its everchanging rules and is open for business. I wish Fadel all the best and just love the story of Frank’s generosity and kindness towards Fadel and his family. With fair prices and great service, Mr. Nonno is woth a look.

If you do venture down to get a cut from Fadel let him know you read this post.

Mr. Nonno Barber Shop 

609 Bloor St. W.  

647 768 8121 

Update: Grandmama’s Waffles has Closed

I just wanted to let everyone know about a cool new spot that opened up a few months ago on Clinton, just north of Bloor called Grandmama's Waffles.  It's a cool concept - take away waffles.  It's not new in the world, as Europe has been doing it for a while according to Rhu Proudfood, owner and brainchild behind the business. 

Rhu grew up in Ottawa and then moved to Montreal where he lived for ten years prior to moving to Toronto where he has lived for nine years.  In Toronto, Rhu has worked in the film industry and at bikeshare, but when he thought about what he would really like to be doing, it was owning his own business. But why waffles? Well some of Rhu's first and best memories were of making waffles as a child.  He also loved the idea of waffles as a take away item that could be eaten on the street as you walked (although there is seating at Grandmamam's).

Vegans and celiacs are in luck at Grandmama's Waffles.  They have a dedicated waffle iron for celiacs  (as in no flour ever touches this iron). Everything is lactose free as well. Rhu is also formulating a keto friendly waffle. Interestingly, one of the best stories was of the invention of the beer batter waffles.  It started at Rhu's grandparent's cottage in the Laurentians. It was the day after a rather fun party, and Rhu said he'd make waffles, but there was no milk…..  Hence beer waffles were invented and tasted great too. And he has been making them ever since.

Product offering include fresh made to order waffles, ice cream sandwiches, take home frozen waffles for your family and Grandmama's famous peach iced-tea.

The space is small, but well designed and Rhu is a super friendly and loves what he does. Check out Grandmama's Waffles on Clinton, just north of Bloor.  You will be glad you did.  Ask about the "Larry Bird".

If you do make the walk down to Grandmama's, tell Rhu that Wayne sent you.

363 Clinton St.

647 781 4828