Canadian Pizza Podcast: Changing focus to an entertainment model with Rocco Agostino and Hilary Drago, Bar Libretto, Toronto

About this episode

Rocco Agostino and Hilary Drago discuss the transition of a pizzeria to an entertainment-focused bar in Toronto.

Rocco Agostino, executive chef and partner of Libretto Restaurant Group and Enoteca Sociale in Toronto, and Hilary Drago, director of operations, with Libretto Group, join Canadian Pizza editor Colleen Cross in a podcast to discuss the change in model from pizzeria to bar and entertainment spot with a new mission and a new name, Bar Libretto. This well-respected Toronto business, focused on VPN-certified Neapolitan pizza, recently switched gears to rebrand its flagship location on Ossington Avenue in Toronto as Bar Libretto. The menu includes Neapolitan pizza, small plates, and easy‑to‑share bites, cocktails and wine, and, with two distinct happy hours, the atmosphere is designed to encourage people to linger. Learn what inspired this shift in focus and how the team managed the transition with many moving parts. We hope you enjoy this pizza-focused conversation. You can connect with Rocco and Hilary at @pizzerialibretto. Thanks for listening to the Canadian Pizza Podcast. Let us know what you think and what you’d like to hear on future podcasts!

People in this episode

Host: Colleen Cross

Guests: Rocco Agostino, Hilary Drago

Topics covered

• restaurant rebranding
• Neapolitan pizza
• entertainment model
• hospitality industry
• menu changes

Keywords

• pizza
• Bar Libretto
• hospitality
• Toronto
• restaurant model
• Neapolitan
• cocktails
• happy hour

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Libretto Restaurant Group, Enoteca Sociale

Places: Toronto, Ossington Avenue

More episodes of Annex Business Media: Podcasts

• Advanced Tactical Vehicles Inc.’s William Maizlin joins to talk about the new company’s big ambitions · June 4, 2026 · 19 min
• Made with Local founder Sheena Russell sits down to talk about her food mfg. business · April 27, 2026 · 28 min
• Canadian Pizza Podcast: Dean Litster and Lisa Bottone, Professor Zaaa's in Windsor, Ont. · March 6, 2026 · 19 min
• Protocase’s Doug Milburn joins to discuss AI’s impact on the mfg. industry, tariffs and defence · February 25, 2026 · 26 min
• Canadian Pizza Podcast: A conversation with Adam Ward, Hooray For Pizza Day · February 2, 2026 · 24 min
• The CFI Podcast: Chris Duncan reviews 2025 and previews 2026 · December 19, 2025 · 24 min