Perla Restaurant

Reviews

• Robert G.

  star star star star star_border 12 June 2026

  Making a P-I-G of myself in Toronto (three part series over three days)
  
  P-I-G = PORTUGUESE - Italian - Greek
  
  Sequence: the third of three dinners, so out of order with the acronym
  
  From Toronto, you can fly nonstop to Lisbon on TAP Air Portugal and Air Canada, and maybe even on Air Transat.  That means there are real, as opposed to fake, Portuguese people living in the GTA and others using these carriers to connect deeper into the continent.  While the map is marked Little Italy, this area has seen a steady influx of Portuguese folks as well as smug, aloof, and "spiritual" young professionals who have driven up the prices of housing digs that are nothing special.  I am totally okay with the influx of the former.  I like ethnic flavor. It's the latter I don't like, and that goes from sea to shining sea.
  
  There are a fair number of Portuguese places to eat in the GTA and they run the gamut.  Some are the dime-a-dozen chicken piri piri places and I don't like chicken piri piri.  I don't like messing with bones in a restaurant and I don't like spicy presentations.  Then, there is haute cuisine Portuguese and even an expensive seafood buffet at one restaurant.  This sort of filters out the regular, mid-priced Portuguese restaurants for you rather easily and Perla is in this group, along with its good reviews.
  
  Perla is on College Street and the streetcar stops right in front of it.  (Hello, TTC Presto Pass.)  I am almost sure it means "pearl."  And a pearl of a home cooking Portuguese restaurant it is.  A family runs it, with the daughter tending to the customers and the parents tending to the operations and the cooking.
  
  I am often overwhelmed when I go into a Portuguese restaurant and want to consider ordering fish.  I don't want to order the wrong thing.  Sometimes, it has been a hit and sometimes it has been a miss.  So, I ordered the bife (beef) Portuguesa dish, which offered a plentiful and succulent slab of meat, potatoes, and vegetables, along with a bread basket.  I was extremely satisfied with this choice.  I splurged and got an order of passion fruit pudding, which I believe is maracuja', as opposed to fruita de paixao, in Portuguese.  It was good, too.  And, as usual, I got a soft drink.
  
  The pricing was appropriate.  The server was a delightful and helpful person.  She helped me with suggestions for other Portuguese restaurants that would fit my parameters for any future trips to the GTA.  (Can you imagine that, after a boorish Neapolitan pizzeria in Montreal tried to sell me on coming back for pasta when Montreal is a gastronomic capital and good Italian food choices are nearly endless?)   Also, note that over half the patrons on this visit to Perla were speaking Portuguese or talking about their travels to their homeland.  What does that tell you?  When the mother brought out the beautiful platter she prepared, she kidded with me and said that I need 'more Portugal' and 'more of their (meaning "across the pond") fresh fish' in my life.  She wore a smile on her face, meaning I don't think she subscribed to the fado mentality.
  
  If you're looking for the middle of the bell shaped curve in terms of a cozy Portuguese restaurant experience in the GTA, albeit way better than the middle of the bell shaped curve in terms of flavor and quality, put Perla on your list.  It's on my list.  And it's conveniently located just west of Toronto's bustling center.

• Cristina A.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 4 June 2026

  My rating dropped from 4 stars to 2 stars because the price of entrées and bottles of wine has increased significantly in 2019. Although the food is tasty, it doesn't merit the major price hike! I understand the cost of supplies and/or ingredients has increased, but the entrées more than doubled in price and the bottles of wine are priced substantially higher than at the LCBO or other restaurants in the neighborhood. Given the simplicity of the meal, $80-100 per person for lunch on a week day is steep...especially when I can prepare the same meal - similar quality, flavour and presentation - at home for a fraction of the price.

• Ceila V.

  star star star star star_border 1 June 2026

  This little restaurant in the heart of little Italy own by mother and daughter will impress you. We had a nice lunch but also  they are open for take out. In the past the order will take forever but we were impressed how quickly the service was today. The Portuguese pottery decor will transport you to Lisbon. Food was very tasty and the service was so good. In the summer there is a patio in the back.I totally recommend to check it out.

• Salpy K.

  star star star star_border star_border 29 May 2026

  The restaurant is cozy and the service is good. It is just good enough compared to the price. We were only 2 dining there. My friend had BBQ calamari , I tasted some it felt burned. Portions are generous and my steak was just ok . Nothing extraordinary or unique.
  The following day I had cramps and stomach pain for couple of days but I am not sure what the reason was, it could be I had a virus.

• Catarina V.

  star star star star star_border 28 May 2026

  Good food and quality/price are also a nice deal.
  
  Portuguese decorations and food.
  
  Very good staff!  
  
  We'll be back!