Good Italian Restaurant in the SE or South Macloed Trail - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

redforever · 01-29-2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderball

La Piccola Napoli in Avenida is awesome. Ciao Baby's in Macleod Plaza is very, very good too.

San Remo at Marda Loop was junk when I went, it was like Chef Boyardee... but maybe the Oakridge one is good.

1. Not awesome, but very good, can't go wrong, and is not that pricey.

2. Chefs make a huge difference even if what is being served is the same. Marda Loop does not cut it for me either.

truth14 · 01-29-2008, 05:07 PM

Nice tips guys. I will also try a few of them out.

I have noticed the SOUTH SUCKS for good food.

FunkMasterFlame · 01-29-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

San Remo - Oakridge - 90th Ave SW - very nice.

http://www.discovercalgary.com/Calga...sBars/Italian/

San Remo Ristorante specializes in cuisine from Northern Italy. They feature such items as potato pasta in a white wine sage butter sauce, chicken breast with artichokes and garlic in white wine pesto butter, and fresh salmon and crab wrapped in phyllo. They are open Tuesday to Sunday from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Address: 2515 - 90 Ave SW

I actually just got a job working in the kitchen at this San Remo. It is one of the best kitchen jobs I've ever had! The chefs and owners are really talented and amazing and ALL the food is made from scratch, even the bread!

And if you come in on a gameday you'll most likely hear Peter Maher's voice floating out from the kitchen, and loud cheers whenever we score a goal!

underGRADFlame · 01-29-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMasterFlame

I actually just got a job working in the kitchen at this San Remo. It is one of the best kitchen jobs I've ever had! The chefs and owners are really talented and amazing and ALL the food is made from scratch, even the bread!

And if you come in on a gameday you'll most likely hear Peter Maher's voice floating out from the kitchen, and loud cheers whenever we score a goal!

Thats good news being tomorrow night is game night.

FunkMasterFlame · 01-29-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

The pasta is fresh? If they have pasta of course.

It is indeed made fresh daily. My favourite has to be the Agnolotti, which is a stuffed pasta filled with minced beef tenderloin, goat cheese and a fresh herb filling. It gets finished with a roasted shallot cream sauce and a roasted corn and asparagus salsa.

Dion · 01-29-2008, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMasterFlame

It is indeed made fresh daily. My favourite has to be the Agnolotti, which is a stuffed pasta filled with minced beef tenderloin, goat cheese and fresh herb filling. It gets finished with a roasted shallot cream sauce and roasted corn and asparagus salsa.

Picture a grown man salivating on his keyboard.

Mike Oxlong · 01-29-2008, 05:53 PM

Chianti's is absolute garbage. Terrible cheap food. Taste's like frozen dinners they just put in the microwave.

San Remo is AWESOME. I actually forgot about that place. I haven't been there in a while. They have this awesome garlic shrimp appetizer.....

Going to have to go there soon.

MacDougalbry · 01-29-2008, 06:00 PM

Another ditto on San Remo. The entire South is such a monotony of corporate restaurants, it is a treasure to find a decent independent restaurant. Also is a super place for a romantic date in the summer as you can stroll across the street and go for a walk in South Glenmore park.

As for Chianti's... I guess it looks good when your only frame of reference is Boston Pizza and Eastside Marios.

underGRADFlame · 01-29-2008, 06:08 PM

Wow I feel embarrassed to even have mentioned Chianti's, this is what i get for not every eating in the south, I'm outta my comfort zone south of 26th Ave. My favorite Italian place in the city is Sandro's Pizzeria on Edmonton Trail, its killer! But with the weather I thought it best to not drive too far.

redforever · 01-29-2008, 06:20 PM

If you ever want to do Italian and combine it with a gorgeous drive and setting in the summer, try Madrina's in Bragg Creek. Very nice if you sit inside or out and we have had very good meals there.

Slava · 01-29-2008, 08:38 PM

I just wanted to weigh in and count a vote for Capo. Fantastic food and great ambience. I would definitely recommend it!

maverickeastwood · 01-29-2008, 09:21 PM

Anyplace thats serves conchiglioni

underGRADFlame · 01-31-2008, 07:54 AM

Guys San Remo's was amazing last night thanks for the recommendation!

Thunderball · 01-31-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redforever

1. Not awesome, but very good, can't go wrong, and is not that pricey.

2. Chefs make a huge difference even if what is being served is the same. Marda Loop does not cut it for me either.

La Piccola isn't perfect for sure, but for suburban Italian, its easily top 3 or so. Ciao Baby's is probably the best suburban Italian place I've been to. I'll definitely have to give the Oakridge San Remo's a chance. Sounds like its quite good.

darockwilder · 01-31-2008, 10:43 AM

I would suggest trying Il Centro at 6036 3rd St. SW (258-2294) some time as well. It's in a strange location (2 blocks east of Chinook Centre) and looks a little sketchy from the outside, but the chef there makes outstanding food and will pretty much modify anything to the way you like it. He pretty much makes everything from scratch.

Bobblehead · 01-31-2008, 10:51 AM

I've been advised that Gnocchi's is good.

I was taken there by a friend of mine and he swore it was one of his favourite places in Calgary (from a guy who spends a month "back home" in Italy every year, that sounds pretty authentic to me)

Quote:

Gnocchi's Ristorante & Dining Lounge
Tasty gnocchi, or potato dumplings, is the specialty at this restaurant. Menu also features pasta, risotto, meat and seafood dishes. Finish off the meal with a slice of tiramisu, a classic Italian dessert.
Address: 1238 8 Street SW

Robbob · 01-31-2008, 11:57 AM

Definately going to have to try the San Remo's place since it's in my part of town.

Regarding La picola Napoli, tried it right before Christmas and it was okay. Have to admit that I had a littler higher hopes for it because it was strongly recommended. I should not have expected that much when I found out it was readers choice as best Italian in Calgary. Whoever they get to do those surveys IMO are usually out to lunch.

Thunderball · 01-31-2008, 12:03 PM

Being of Italian descent... there's three kinds of standards... there's decent/fastfood but not authentic by any means standards, good Italian standards and there's comparable to real Italian cooking standards.

La Brezza and La Dolce Vita are the only two I know of that meet the last standard. My dad says Osteria de Medici is of that quality too. My Italian friend said Lena's and Gnocchi's fit that too, but I've never been. Mercato definitely is not up to real Italian cooking standards, and I wouldn't even say decent Italian standards.

redforever · 01-31-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Being of Italian descent... there's three kinds of standards... there's decent/fastfood but not authentic by any means standards, good Italian standards and there's comparable to real Italian cooking standards.

La Brezza and La Dolce Vita are the only two I know of that meet the last standard. My dad says Osteria de Medici is of that quality too. My Italian friend said Lena's and Gnocchi's fit that too, but I've never been. Mercato definitely is not up to real Italian cooking standards, and I wouldn't even say decent Italian standards.

My family took me to La Dolce Vita for my birthday last year. We had reservations, showed up on time. We were told our table was not ready!!! And we waited 50 minutes!!! Totally unacceptable in my books. They gave us a glass of wine while we waited.

People arrived without reservations, were put on a list and told to have a seat and wait, some of them got in before us.

From that point on, I was not a happy camper. I could care less what the food was like from that point on. In fact, I can't even remember the food at this point in time, I only remember that the service was totally unacceptable.

I think that some restaurants get "full of themselves" and ride on their coattails. They figure their reputation will compensate for those who have a bad experience.

Thunderball · 01-31-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redforever

My family took me to La Dolce Vita for my birthday last year. We had reservations, showed up on time. We were told our table was not ready!!! And we waited 50 minutes!!! Totally unacceptable in my books. They gave us a glass of wine while we waited.

People arrived without reservations, were put on a list and told to have a seat and wait, some of them got in before us.

From that point on, I was not a happy camper. I could care less what the food was like from that point on. In fact, I can't even remember the food at this point in time, I only remember that the service was totally unacceptable.

I think that some restaurants get "full of themselves" and ride on their coattails. They figure their reputation will compensate for those who have a bad experience.

They are definitely a "full of themselves" restaurant. While their food is awesome, its far from a first choice. La Brezza is a lot better, and Marco is a really cool guy.