Remember lingering over a delicious Valentine’s Day dinner with the love of your life? Well, just because your table is a little more crowded these days doesn’t mean dining out is out of the question. And Lil’ Baci is the perfect place to share a meal with the kids, without having to leave the grown-up dining experience behind.

Lil’ Baci is in Toronto’s Leslieville, a neighbourhood teeming with young families. One of the restaurant’s goals when they opened in 2007 was to be “front of house”: to offer delicious food and ambience in a space created for grown-up tastes, but with a family-friendly vibe. When we dropped in for dinner a couple of weeks ago, with a sleep-deprived toddler, our expectations for a relaxing dinner were low. But because early evening is typically family dining time at Lil’ Baci, nearly every table had at least one kid making a mess or some noise. We fit right in.

The restaurant is small but cozy, complete with dimmed lights, candles, and soothing music. These things, along with a great wine list and Italian-themed menu, are what make the grown-ups happy. Luckily, Lil’ Baci has also considered its little diners. They have paper and crayons for busy hands, non-breakable cups with straws, highchairs, and an easy-going attitude.

Kids can enjoy any item on the menu – at a smaller size and smaller price. The faves are the cheese pizza, with handmade dough and sauce, and the spaghetti and meatballs. And we knew we’d be back as soon as they brought the little person food first – because as we all know, it’s impossible to enjoy your dinner when you’re cutting up someone else’s. The wait staff was quick to replace tossed napkins and spilt water, with a smile that let us know they really didn’t mind the kid chaos.

All ingredients on Lil’ Baci’s menu are locally sourced and organic wherever possible. They make absolutely everything in house, from sauces, to pasta (did we mention the to-die-for gnocchi?), to pizza (don’t miss the spicy, cheese-smothered Speziata pizza). Even their desserts are homemade right in the restaurant. And despite a packed restaurant, we were in and out in 45 minutes.

Lil’ Baci is open seven days a week, and offers takeout for those inevitable nights when dining out really is out of the question.