A post shared by Born and Raised Restaurant (@bornraisedyhm). If you're a fan of Top Chef Canada, then you may already know this joint. Just like The Good Son in Toronto, Born & Raised is owned by Top Chef finalist Vittorio Colacitti.

Top Chef Canada fans may already be familiar with this go-to Hamilton spot: Chef-Owner Vittorio Colacitti was a finalist on the Food Network Canada series, and went on to open Born & Raised as an ode to his Italian heritage. Located in the heart of Hamilton’s James North neighbourhood, it’s the perfect spot for dinner after a day of shopping and checking out nearby art galleries. The rotating menu features fresh, local ingredients from the nearby Niagara Peninsula, and the permanent menu includes wood-fired pizza, hearty pastas and even Vittorio’s nonna’s meatball recipe.

Top Chef Canada fans may already be familiar with this go-to Hamilton spot: Chef-Owner Vittorio Colacitti was a finalist on the series, and went on to open Born & Raised as an ode to his Italian heritage. Located in the heart of Hamilton’s James North neighbourhood, it’s the perfect spot for dinner after a day of shopping and checking out nearby art galleries. The rotating menu features fresh, local ingredients from the nearby Niagara Peninsula, and the permanent menu includes wood-fired pizza, hearty pastas and even Vittorio’s nonna’s meatball recipe.

Top Chef Canada’s Vittorio Colacitti went from Hamilton to Toronto (where he opened Queen West hot spot “The Good Son”) and back again (with several trips to Italy in-between working alongside some of the finest chefs of ‘il bel paese’). The result is “Born and Raised”, where Canada meets Italy in some of the city’s finest gastronomic delights. While the story may bring people to Born and Raised, Chef Vittorio’s passion for bright, bold global flavours using local ingredients and unrivalled culinary talent is what will bring them back a second time.

A Hamilton bucket list restaurant, Born and Raised showcases the talents of “Top Chef Canada” alum Vittorio Colacitt who studied pizza-making in Rome, sowed his culinary oats in Toronto and then brought back the delicious results to his hometown. Try the Monte Pollino, a pizza baked in a wood-fired oven and topped with pickled habaneros, roasted pineapple and crispy pork cheeks that are cooked in goat fat. The dough, a unique, fermented type, provides a fabulous tang and chew.

Located in Hamilton’s Art Crawl district on James Street North, Born & Raised is immersed in the vibrancy of art galleries, boutiques, and cafes. Chef Vittorio blends his Italian heritage with a passion for global flavours, resulting in a diverse and inviting menu. The restaurant offers a warm and unpretentious dining experience, thus making it a choice for those seeking a fusion of local and international cuisine.

Serving Italian and Canadian fare, Born & Raised is owned by a Top Chef Canada alum who combines the old-world cooking styles from his Italian heritage and modern global flavours. The food is served in a warm, inviting, and vibrant setting and the place also features a raw bar. The Steak Tartare appy is inspired by the chef’s time in France, and the beef is well-seasoned, tender, and melts in the mouth.

Born and Raised on James Street North is the perfect spot for a romantic date night. With a seasonal, locally sourced Italian menu, the restaurant celebrates fresh, high-quality ingredients in every dish, from a creative raw bar to woodfired oven specialties. The cozy yet spacious atmosphere sets the stage for falling in love all over again, accompanied by a thoughtfully curated wine list.

Born & Raised is a culinary gem nestled in the heart of Hamilton, Ontario. Renowned for its innovative approach to Italian cuisine, this cozy restaurant offers a unique dining experience that artfully combines traditional flavors with modern twists. With a commitment to using locally-sourced ingredients, each dish is meticulously crafted to showcase the richness of Ontario's produce.

Hamilton local Vittorio Colacitti is the driving force behind this aptly named eatery along James Street North’s restaurant row. Harking to his Italian roots, pasta and bread are crafted in-house, the olive oil comes direct from a family friend’s farm in Abruzzo, Italy, and the woodfired oven was transported from Bologna. Location: 224 James Street North, Hamilton

Nestled in Hamilton’s vibrant Art Crawl district, Born & Raised is where tradition meets bold flavors. Chef Vittorio crafts dishes that honor his Italian roots while embracing global influences, using only the finest ingredients from the Niagara Peninsula. Guests rave about the warm, inviting atmosphere and attentive service, even during busy hours.

If the latter didn’t quench your thirst for Italian delicacies, Born and Raised surely will. The main Chef, mister Vittorio Colacitti, studied pizza-making in Rome, the cradle of the cuisine we all know and simply adore. What he learned is a skill probably passed down since the time of great emperors, since Monte Pollino pizza is fit for royalty.

Led by Top Chef Canada finalist Vittorio Colacitti, Born and Raised pays homage to quality Italian ingredients from Ontario’s Niagara region. Housemade wood-fired pizzas ($$) like the fun breakfast pizza topped with eggs and bacon, join hearty pasta ($$) and Nonna’s signature meatballs ($$) on the menu. It’s a bustling James St N hotspot.

Vittorio Colacitti, the chef behind Toronto’s The Good Son restaurant and Top Chef alum, knows a thing or two about wood fired pizza. His oven from Bologna paired with olive oil from Abruzzo makes for a great tasting, authentic pie. The restaurant is also known for its raw bar (think sea bream and steak tartare).

Top Chef Canada alum Vittorio Colacitti sowed his culinary oats in Toronto and brought his skills back to Born and Raised, an homage to his hometown. The restaurant specializes in wood oven artisan pizza and Italian dishes which pair with thoughtfully selected wines.

So next up for the best restaurants in Hamilton, we have Born & Raised. This casual Italian restaurant could be familiar to you if you watch Top Chef Canada. Born & Raised is owned by Top Chef contestant Vittorio Colacitti, just like The Good Son in Toronto.

It’s the James Street North eatery that everybody’s been talking about. In this case, the hype is warranted. The menu at Born and Raised features both flavourful small plates and crowd-pleasing main dishes—like wood-fired pizzas and savoury pastas.

James St. North has a variety of excellent places to eat including local favourite Born and Raised, while Locke Street has a number of cool restaurants and coffee shops such as the very vegan-friendly Democracy and the classy Brux House.

Why you need to go: Born and Raised is a great spot to take a loved one, or even a first date. They provide a laid back dining experience, and lots of menu options that will cater to many dietary needs.