TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Once upon a late night, Raff’s Pizza Stand was the go-to spot for Toronto’s bar-hopping crowd, serving crispy, cheesy slices until the early hours. But for Owner and Head Chef Simon Vickerson, those sidewalk slices were just the start. Now, Simon is trading pizza boxes for checkered tablecloths with the grand opening of Raffaella, a heartfelt tribute to his grandmother’s Italian cooking, finding a permanent home inside the Annex Hotel (296 Brunswick Avenue).
Simon’s love for cooking began in his grandmother Raffaella’s kitchen, where he watched her pour love into every pot of sauce. Inspired by her culinary magic and the joy of family dinners, Simon launched Raff’s Pizza Stand to bring a taste of that love to Toronto’s nightlife scene. After a year of winning over late-night crowds and fielding endless requests for catering, Simon decided it was time to go all in. Enter Raffaella, a full-blown Italian restaurant where the vibe is just as inviting as the food.
Focused on bringing people together, Raffaella’s family-style dining and casual Italian atmosphere make it the perfect place to share a meal with new and old friends. Using only the freshest local ingredients from around the city, some of the standout dishes include:
- Vodka Chicken Parmesan: Crispy, saucy, and impossible to resist.
- Arancini: Golden, gooey bites of perfection.
- Pizza pies: From margherita, classic pepperoni to French fig.
- Lasagna Bolognese: Straight from Raffaella’s kitchen, this dish is made fresh daily and so popular, it’s available only until it sells out.
And yes, Simon’s grandmother’s signature tomato sauce is still the star of the show.
“I’m grateful I got to spend a lot of time with my grandmother Raffaella growing up. She used to host the whole family in her cozy and colorful kitchen. I remember sitting at the table as she would serve mountains of delicious homemade food. Her round table was always filled with people laughing, talking and sharing a meal,” said Simon Vickerson, Owner and Head Chef of Raffaella. “With Raffaella, I wanted to recreate that family table - the food, the warmth and the way it brought people together. Raffaella is my way of serving up that experience to Toronto, one plate at a time.”
The restaurant’s atmosphere is as rich as the food. With red-and-white checkered tablecloths, cozy seating for 60, custom and imported Italian artwork adorning the walls, and a lively touch of classic hip hop that adds to Raffaella’s old-school trattoria charm — it’s like stepping into your Nonna’s dining room with a modern twist.
Whether you’re a Raff’s Pizza Stand regular, a lover of Italian feasts, or just someone who believes in the power of a good tomato sauce, Raffaella is ready to welcome you to the family table. Raffaella is now open every Wednesday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and accepts reservations online via Resy.
For more information, please visit raffaellapizza.com/.
About Raffaella
Born from the vision of founder Simon Vickerson, Raffaella is a family-style Italian restaurant in the Annex Hotel. We serve nostalgic Italian dishes with parts of her legendary recipes that remind you of home. Whether dining with a group of 10+ or alone, everyone who steps foot in Raffaella is welcomed as if they’re returning for the Holidays.
