Quote:
Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger
After many recommendations for Italian we tried Il Centro. Portions were good and it was decent enough. But the price to quality ratio was lacking. I’m cool to pay for quality but there’s got to be value and I thought it was lacking a bit. Fair amount more expensive than Chianti’s and only a slight improvement on quality. Definitely a couple steps below My Little Italia, Mercato or Luca.
Coming from an Italian background I do tend to be though on Italian joints though. Partner loved it though which counts for something I guess. Service was awesome. Gave me a real 90s vibe. Like I’m sure it was top notch in Calgary 25 years ago but for my money I’d pick My Little Italia every day of the week. Not a bad option if you’re in the neighborhood and want to support local. Plus it’s just steps away from Boudoir. Who doesn’t love some pasta and tiramisu followed up with lap dances for the whole family afterwards.
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I used to work right behind Il Centro. In like 1994 all they did was like counter service sandwiches (which were awesome, like capicollo or mortadella on a sub bun). Then after a few years it totally changed eventually in to what it is now. Like a proper restaurant, which bothered me at first because it had always been a good cheap and fast lunch option. When I finally went to the new version I quite liked it and became friendly with the owner Fedele. I would peek in the back and order things for later. He actually made a bunch of pizzas for the gift opening after our wedding, I met him in the parking lot of the Crowchild Twin Arenas for the handover (he wasn't open on Sundays but did it for me). I left that job in 2013 and rarely made it back down there. Last year I took my wife to Franca's for supper and our server was Fedele! We chatted and come to realize he had left/sold Il Centro soon after I had left and his sister was one of the owners of Franca's so he helped out sometimes. Looks like Franca's just was sold as well.
So I am kind of confused when I see them saying they Il Centro is a "Family run restaurant for over 35 years". Maybe it has been an array of families, not the same one for 35 years. I believe he said his son(s) ran a place sort of east of the city, maybe Fabrizio's? Which looks pretty awesome if you are near there.