New-York-style Italian restaurant opens its doors in Toronto
Published January 7, 2026 at 11:05 am
A brand new restaurant serving New-York-style Italian food is swinging open its doors in Toronto this week.
Proper is being opened by a team of top Toronto master chefs, and promises to deliver not only on the sophisticated comfort food that New York is known for, but also on the energy of the big city.
The menu is composed of the traditional sections of antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni and dolci, otherwise known as appetizers, pasta, larger plates, sides and dessert. There are all kinds of traditional signature dishes from Italian cuisine on the menu.
Appetizers include options such as garlic bread, clams on toast, mozzarella sticks, meatballs and charred octopus. Pasta options include ravioli al ragu, fusilli alla vodka, shrimp fra diavola, and tagliatelle ai funghi.
As for the secondi options, or mains, it’s all straight up comfort food Italian favourites: chicken parmigiana, branzino, veal chop marsala, and bistecca, which is a 16-ounce ribeye served with confit garlic and salsa verde.
All these main options are intended to pair ideally with their sides, which are crispy fingerling potatoes, green beans or brussel sprouts. For dessert, you can choose between tiramisu or a seasonal panna cotta.
At Proper, there’s also a wide ranging selection of curated wines to go along with all the food.
The restaurant called Proper is taking over the space where beloved and popular Cuban restaurant La Cubana used to once take up residence on Roncesvalles for many years.
“PROPER was born from a simple idea: bring the energy of Toronto’s most iconic neighbourhoods – Dundas, King, Queen, and Ossington – into the heart of Roncesvalles. We wanted to create a place where incredible food meets the kind of hospitality that makes you want to stay a little longer. At the centre of Proper is Chef Julien Cawagas, whose craft, creativity, and relentless standards shape everything we do.
Inspired by the bold flavours and effortless cool of New York Italian cooking, Chef Julien leads a kitchen that makes everything from scratch. No shortcuts. No compromises. Just food made the proper way. Our team comes from some of Toronto’s best restaurants, united by a shared belief in exceptional food, warmth, personality, and a sense of fun. The kind of place where the music is good, the plates are generous, and the service is effortlessly attentive. PROPER is our chance to define what a neighbourhood restaurant can be: lively, welcoming, uncompromising in quality, and grounded in genuine hospitality.”
Proper is now open at 392 Roncesvalles Ave.