It’s not hard to admit that Toronto has a love affair with pizza, especially thin crust pizza. However, most pizza places offer the same old choices, and usually not vegan or gluten-intolerant friendly. This is NOT the case with Magic Oven, which boasts five locations across the 416. Visit the restaurant’s website and you will find a wide array of choices, including four different crusts in “regular,” multi-grain, spelt and gluten-free as well as both dairy (including lactose-free) and non-dairy cheeses. Toppings range from the classics like pepperoni and mushrooms to beets, roasted salmon (opposed to smoke), tofu and avocado. They also have amazing appetizers as well as pasta dishes.
Customized pizza with toppings that include tofu, beets and kale
The pizza menu is vast, and is categorized by meat, vegetarian and vegan. Each pizza comes in two sizes – 10″ personal and 16″ sharable, all with names such as Island Magic, Rainforest Magic and Pacific Magic. Clients can also create their own pizza with any of the toppings available. Typically, I order a personal pizza filled on spelt crust with either garlic tomato sauce or ginger tomato along with goat or feta, beets, tofu, steamed kale, broccoli and spinach. Often there are even more veggies. I also like adding grilled salmon. I do eat proscuitto and pepperoni, but one can get that kind of stuff on pizza anywhere. When I go to Magic Oven, I want toppings that aren’t as common.
In addition to dining in, Magic Oven also delivers. They use several third party services including OrderIt and Tasteaway. There is also an app called Maegan, which is available on iOS. Just open the app, pick the dishes you want and wait. While delivery pizza is never as good as eating in the restaurant, I have to say that it’s better than “typical” delivery pizza. The app is also available for use while dining in. They also have a catering menu/party menu. You will need to order one day in advance for that.
So are there things that Magic Oven could improve on? Sure. Since there’s an option to “create” one’s own pizza, why not do the same for pasta? Perhaps I want chicken or shrimp on with spaghetti with kale and olive oil. That’s not an option on the menu. The chicken wings are good, but they don’t come coated with sauce (if that is your preference) – they are dips instead. It’s healthier that way, and you can put as much (or little) as you wish. One thing I’d like to see on the Magic Oven menu? Dessert pizza!
Have you been to Magic Oven? What is your favourite pizza there? Which location did you go to?
