Each year, we ask our readers to weigh in on the best restaurants in Calgary with an online voting ballot. Here are the winners and runners-up for Best Italian Restaurants in Calgary.
Winner
D.O.P.
D.O.P serves classic Italian cuisine rooted in owner Tony Migliarese’s family recipes. This cozy Italian joint, squeezed into a tiny space in the Beltline, keeps it simple and delicious with recipes like pickled green tomatoes (one of the recipes handed down from Migliarese’s family), anchovies with pickled onions and “really good olive oil,” and pillowy-soft bread best enjoyed with the whipped ricotta. A must-try is the giant, egg-yolk-filled raviolo, served with a sauce that changes constantly with what’s in season.
1005A 1 St. S.W., 587-349-2656, dopyyc.com, @dopyyc
Runners-up
Mercato
This family-owned restaurant and market in Calgary’s Mission neighbourhood has been operating for more than 15 years. The restaurant’s menu is presented in the traditional format of antipasti (appetizers), primi (pastas and risottos), secondi (heavier meat dishes) and contorni (vegetables). The market sells fresh, handmade pasta, breads, sauces and other items you need for an Italian feast at home.
2224 4 St. S.W., 403-263-5535, mercatogourmet.com, @mercato_mission
Bonterra Trattoria
Located in the Beltline, this restaurant has been serving Calgary with classic yet contemporary Italian fare like tagliatelle alla Bolognese and veal Milanese for more than 20 years. Be sure to try any one of the excellent pasta dishes (made with locally sourced ingredients), or opt for something a little more modern, like the braised Alberta short rib paired with lobster mashed potato.
1016 8 St. S.W., 403-262-8480, bonterra.ca, @bonterracalgary
Vero Bistro
Vero Bistro puts a modern twist on many classic Italian dishes, all while using the best local and imported ingredients. By bringing French and Spanish influences into the mix, Vero Bistro creates a unique dining experience. Try dishes like Spanish jamon Iberico de Bellota, served with tomato bread, or the signature sweet potato gnocchi with wild boar bacon and gorgonzola dolce.
209 10 St. N.W., 403-283-8988, verobistro.ca, @verobistro
Teatro
A staple of Calgary’s fine-dining scene, Teatro is beloved for its contemporary, seasonal Italian cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. The delicious food is complemented by an extensive wine menu — the restaurant’s massive wine cellar holds more than 10,000 bottles.
200 8 Ave. S.E., 403-290-1012, teatro.ca, @teatrorestaurant