Cucina Market Bistro in Calgary

Typical downtown breakfast restaurant. Small, expensive, staff in shirt and tie and an extremely small menu. Wouldnt go back and wouldnt recommend.

Amazing atmosphere, amazing staff - great date night spot!

Booked a date night with my wife and baby and we had an excellent time. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was great with us being placed in a cozy back corner with lots of space feeling private, and our server Tommika was super friendly and accommodating.

The seats are not actually reserved, yet they use scarcity marketing to claim they re fully booked, and the service staff is terrible.

Very cozy atmosphere with excellent food and wine.

Nice

Went for breakfast every day while in Clagery as the hotel breakfast was not in our package ! What a godsend that was we walked down the street found a cafe where they would not take a verbal order just put it in the I pad well as we are both over 65 we do not do that, so we walked and found this place and the staff were excellent the choice was great and the food very good however the staff made this place very good

The staff is wonderful as is the food. It felt like we were in Europe! Excellent

I m sad to say that Cucina, once one of our favorite spots, has gone significantly downhill. Our recent experience was very disappointing. We had a reservation for 9 people during lunch, made well in advance. We arrived at 11:40 AM, but our food didn t come out until 1:20 PM. Watching other tables, including those who arrived long after us, receive and finish their meals while we were still waiting was frustrating and awkward. By the time our food arrived, lunch service was practically over, and the delay had us all concerned about being late for our afternoon commitments. When we politely asked about our food, the manager s dismissive and rude response that our group was large felt like they were blaming us rather than taking responsibility. If they can t handle large groups, they really shouldn t accept such reservations. The most baffling part was the treatment of one of our orders a salad. It was made right away and left sitting on the counter, visible from our table, for about an hour until the rest of the meals were ready. Yes, an entire hour! When our dishes finally arrived, they still served this sad, stale salad. Of course, we had it sent back and asked for it to be redone. As for the food itself, it was a mixed bag, but mostly disappointing. While the dishes were served hot and the chicken was well-prepared, everything else fell flat. The salmon was fresh, but the accompanying sauce, mashed potatoes, and green beans were bland and lacked seasoning. On the flip side, the pasta dishes were overly salty. The conchiglie with braised beef and pancetta had poorly balanced flavors, while the bucatini with sausage was nearly inedible due to excessive salt, overpowering the delicate prawns in the dish. The manager eventually applied a 10% discount for the delays, but it felt like too little, too late. Worse, the lack of an apology or any genuine acknowledgment of the inconvenience left a bitter taste. Sadly, this experience has convinced us not to return. Cucina is simply not what it used to be, and that s a real shame.

2024: The burger here is delicious - hefty, juicy, and not well-done. Fries are generous and also thick and crispy! Was in and out of here during lunch hour in under 45 min. so its doable for a work lunch if you dont have a large party! 2023: Hosted an office holiday party for 50 people here in December. The events coordinator was patient and very responsive to our changing attendance numbers, dietary restrictions (gluten, dairy, shellfish), and budget. The staff on the evening of the event were excellent - always refreshing drinks and offering canapes while keeping the venue spotless. We had a mix of hot and cold appetizers with larger shareable plates. The mushroom risotto served on a cheese wheel and the oysters were the winners of the night but everything was delicious. The venue fit everyone comfortably, and we had the place to ourselves. Light background music kept it lively but wasnt too loud - hard to find if youre sharing a space with other parties.

Had a good time here. Food was tasty, it seems they use fresh ingredients (think it is egg pasta, and their sourdough is from Alforno nearby), fair prices, very good serving sizes. I recommend the Tomato Bruschetta and Mafaldine. Atmosphere is relaxed, low lighting and open kitchen. Would come again for sure, I recommend a weekday since we had super fast service on a Monday evening.

Had a group corporate breakfast meeting there. All ten people at the meeting raved about their breakfast choices. Service and presentation were on point.

Came in last night and had an amazing time. Our server(Sydney, hopefully spelt correctly) was just the perfect host. Great knowledge of food and wine, with plenty of humour. Could not have asked for a better night from a service and food point of view. The meatballs(all 5 of them) and the burger were flavourful and good sizes. Would highly recommend Cucina. Look forward to the next visit.

Didn t take a picture was a business mtg

Convenient location for many workers. Service is good, food is fine but not for the price. Daily risotto special was slightly under done with an off-tasting flavour I couldnt pinpoint. The real issue is pricing, over $40 for a lunch of the risotto, sparkling water and a tip.

Phenomenal food and amazing service every time.

*Updated* I was embarrassed to bring my date here claiming Cucina was my favorite restaurant. We started off with beef tartare, it was too salty and the flavoring was not on point, feels like something is missing. The octopus was overcooked and rubbery. The CONCHIGLIE was dry and hard to chew. its too raw to be classified as al dente. The paper baked salmon was so sad, bland, greasy, and overbaked, a college student can do better than this from their dorm room (what happened to the fresh pan seared fish with crispy skin that you used to offer?). None of the dishes we ordered was closed to the good food they used to make. The best carbonara in town is no longer on the menu. I raised the concern with the waitress and later on Instagram private message, but no response was given. Too bad, this used to be my favorite spot dt to take friends and clients to. This will be my last time visiting cucina. *Old Review* Cucina makes my favorite carbonara in town. The smoked bacon in the carbonara mmmmmm makes me hungry just thinking of it. Its a bit greasy but definitely worth the guilt. The pan seared trout was very nicely done too with crispy skin and tender juicy fish meat. It is rare to get delicious fish in calgary, so i would def return!

I had my birthday dinner here last night. The food was nothing short of amazing. The truffle lasagna, bruschetta, crispy shrimp and lemon posset were outstanding. Their wine menu is impressive and the service was impeccable. We will definitely be back soon.

We visited Cucina for New Years Eve 4-course dinner and it was a wonderful experience! The atmosphere was the perfect balance of cozy and lively, the menu was absolutely delicious (and honestly well priced for that type of fine dining), and the service excellent and so friendly. We cant wait to come back again to try more of their food and enjoy in their quaint atmosphere. Thanks so much for helping make our night and our NYE so special!

Ordered a Carbonara pasta to go. Nothing like advertised. Bland spaghetti with cheap quality bacon strips. Pretty sure the sauce was just milk. Definitely not worth 17$.

Very approachable italian menu. Good options, without being overwhelming. Friendly staff

Would return furthermore.

Terrific experience. Everything we ordered was top notch (special shout out to the spaghetti and the papperdelle). My one (very minor) critique is the less than impressive cocktail list -- but they still have a well stocked bar and offer the classics.

Great and prompt service, food portions were perfect

WARNING!!! The food made us very sick! They also charge for water which is kinda silly.

The food was very delicious, the service was excellent and the place is very cozy.

I do not write reviews, but tonight I feel like I need to. My boyfriend and I went to Cucina for our 3 year anniversary and honestly it was such an amazing experience. Drinks and food were so tasty, and the staff were very nice. I am so pleased. My boyfriend and I can not wait to go back and try more dishes!

Love the salad and food. They dont look very presentable but they taste really good. Should have some greens or other colors on the plate. But who cares as long as they taste good, right?

Great pasta and tiramisu:) !

First time checking it out for a business lunch. Had to ask server numerous times for things (cutlery, more water) and it seemed to annoy them. Place was a mess, staff looked angry. Food was great - not worth it with truck stop level of service.

Quality Italian food, an amazing wine list, and the best service team around. We ve always enjoyed our Cucina lunches and find their Italian food on par with the best in the city. Diana, Peter, and the rest of the team are amazing. And did I mention that wine list

OMG!!! My husband and I (and our 5 month old) went on a date here tonight. We tried the prix fixe menu they have for the food and drink exp. Everything was amazing, from food to staff to just simple the whole night. Both my and my husband s meals were so so soooo tasty, from appetizers, mains to desserts. Also their cappuccino was amazing ( we are kind of picky). They seated us in their cozy baby corner, which was a romantic little nook with easy escape in case baby went crazy . All their staff were wonderful and the restaurant had such a beautiful vibe. We will try to make it back again! Thank you for a lovely night:)

Great place and good food with awesome service

Excelent italian cousine.

Very nice restaurant, good food and outstanding service.

Very nice place to sit, visit, and eat. Our table had apps and they were very good. Service was great and pleasant. Will go again if I come back that way in the future!

Cozy place, delicious Italian cuisine, fast service

Porchetta was amazing. If you get a chance to try it out DO IT!!

Average experience, if you ask me quite pricey for the food,m and very limited selection on everything. Was not impressed

Perfect

Heart and soul food found in the heart of downtown Calgary! This Italian bistro quite the little treasure. I tried the gnocchi and it was delectable! Make sure you make reservations as this place was packed!

Delicious Italian food..authentic.

Best pasta we ve ever had! Great options for vegetarians. Our new go to spot for date nights.

Great lunch spot right in the centre of Calgary! Highly recommend! Sorry forgot to take pics.

Great little place with an excellent wine list, attentive but uninteusive service, and great food. The menu is not large and there are a lot of seafood items, so plan accordingly.

Delicious food, good service, and great coffee (Fratello Roasted). However, lunch service was on the slow side and it took 20 minutes for a dish to come once ordered.

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and honestly I hate to say we were both not impressed with the food. When we got in we were so impressed with the whole ambiance of this restaurant but the food was very disappointing to say the least. I ordered the grilled octopus and it felt like I was chewing on a rubber toy I couldn t even pretend to enjoy it. My boyfriend got the spaghetti and not the be rude but for an Italian restaurant it wasn t good at all. Lacked flavour and was kind of watered down. The Cesar salad was less than appetizing you need a knife to cut the lettuce leaf and the sauce was slapped on. The appetizer crispy shrimp was the great though. The server once I told him I didn t like the octopus just disappeared and we had another lady dealing with our table so that was kind of awkward. All in all.. maybe they had a off day

Solid option downtown for semi casual Italian fare. Our appetizer, main, and dessert were great, as was the wine. Would definitely repeat.

Nice atmosphere, good service, small portions, no homemade pasta, little taste, too salty. Do not recommend if looking for a real Italian dish.

The front of house staff will have you feeling like a VIP the moment you walk up to the door and it doesnt stop there. Once youre seated, the attentive service continues as you try to figure out what delectable item(s) to select as your flavor sensations but you cant go wrong. Head chef is second to none when it comes to the details and everything you imagine will come out damn near perfect. This is a wonderful place to enjoy an unique fine dining experience without the heavy price tags youd expect from an establishment like this.

When a burger is $20+ I really want it to be amazing - this was was good, but not amazing. I d recommend it but not sure I d go running back. I ve had dinner and the expanded menu here and it s worth trying for sure. This meal though wasn t the greatest and the fries were pretty low in volume. They taste exactly how they look - decent.

While there were a few things they could have gone better, they could work on how to manage things when things do go wrong.

Had a bus lunch, and after 15 years downtown, first time here. Had the pea and prosciutto soup of the day and it was wonderful. Followed by the chicken Parmesan sandwich and everything about the sandwich and fries was sub par. It was not bad but for a premium kitchen I expected better and it was certainly not better than Joeys. Wish I had a pic. It says a lot when a big guy like me does not finish a plate. There are other options on the menu so have to give it a try before final verdict.

Big group tonight for a private event and they handled the crowd with ease. Professional service, great food, exceptional drinks. Thank you.

We ordered a salad and two pasta dishes to share. Everything about dinner was good except for the Cavatappi. The pasta noodles were sitting in a pool of water which totally drowned out the flavour. And I could be mistaken, but I ve purchased enough roasted chickens from Costco to say that s exactly what looked like they simply shredded onto the dish. Including the large bone my wife ended up chewing on and having to spit out. Gotta revamp that dish for $27, otherwise solid place.

Always busy! Its a must try. The chefs are excellent here.

This is the second time ordering Cucina on DoorDash. Im a chef and I have some understanding around food preparation. One time I ordered the chicken and it was as if it was cold chicken that maybe had been reheated and the taste texture etc. was not good. Today I ordered The rigatoni it was as if the noodles hadnt even been put into the sauce or the cheese or whatever the dish is. The pasta deep inside the dish was cold as if the prepped noodles had just been tossed together quickly. I feel like there just wasnt care with the order and maybe DoorDash is a completely separate category where they lower the quality because I thought this is abnormal for Cucina twice in a row. Usually the standards of this group are really high.

This place made us feel comfortable and delicious. Cosy and tender, sophisticated and relaxed. We enjoyed all the meals: burrata with tomatos, salmon, spaghetti, panna cotta and creme brulee. But there we several things I need to notice and hope that this place will take it into account: water per 1$. I m strongly sure that place of such level simply cannot take payment for water. It discredits itself in this way burata&tomatos salad was served without basil. For this meal it is rather valued ingredient (yes, waiter kindly apologised after my question, but could offer some compliment I think) first waiter that served us was attentive and kind, while the waiter after her didn t even ask us our impressions when billed us. It was just thanks, have a good evening . I want to say that Cucina is a very pleasant place, for special atmosphere and reasons to come. I m sure their customers come back again and again. But I want to ask the personnel to value customers and provide more friendly, attentive and customised service.

Very nice place for Coffee, but the food is next level good.

Dinner with four couples. Food was good but my Caesar salad was over dressed even though I ordered light dressing. The salmon however was perfection. Everyone cleaned their plates so all was well received. Our waitperson was excellent. It was too loud though - lots of kitchen noise as it s open to the restaurant and table placement felt slightly crowded. But that s nitpicking and overall we had a good experience. Dietary restrictions: They did their best to accommodate lower fat alterations.

Absolutely terrible

Amazing Vibe and staff. The food was great as well .

Great service and breakfast!

Would not recommend this restaurant, went last night our table was in the corner where the hostess keep coming to grab water , plates etc. i don t even think this is a normal seating area ? The tables where 1.5 feet in between each other, we know exactly what each table ordered and constant interruption from the waitress when she kept coming to greet serve each table . Was not personal at all . Food didn t have prices on the feature menu . If you want a coffee maybe a place to go but for a sit down meal you have zero privacy .

Went for Valentines day food was good. Seating sucked tho not sure if the tried sticking a few extra tables in just for Valentines day.

We had an amazing late afternoon meal. This is a great time to go if you want a less crowded restaurant. They can only hold 60 so I imagine dinner is busy! My husband and I had appetizers and mains. We shared the beef cheek, white bean and spinach soup special, and steak tartare. They were both excellent, though they could add some more crackers as they give you a generous portion of steak tartare. For our mains I had the Arctic Char (also the special) and my husband had the gnocchi. We both cleaned our plates. Every morsel of food was perfectly made. The skin of the fish was crispy, the gnocchi were soft and fluffy. Too full for dessert so we will just have to come back!! Highly recommend.

Coffee is just amazing!

Really good cauliflower and food Garreth was amazing server

Great coffee and service!

The food and service are both excellent!!

Cannot comment on the food but will comment on the experience. We were walking in calgary and were looking for a nice place to have a coffee. This place had a nice terrace so we enter and ask a lady if we can get a cup of coffee and sit on the terrace. She said it was fine so we purchase our coffee and head outside. Another lady working there told us that we cannot sit as they are waiting for customers to have lunch. We told her that the colleague a minute ago told us it is fine and she agrees to let us sit for 15min. We left 5min later because we did not feel welcome. It was not nice for us and they seem to care only about maximizing the profit at the expense of good customer experience..

Fantastic service and delightful atmosphere.

We enjoyed a great dinner on the patio. The staff were very friendly and the service was amazing. We started with the arancini and octopus then had the mussels and cannelloni as mains. All of the food was excellent. I am really looking forward to my next visit!!!

Nothing special

Great happy hour. Good patio to people watch

Just came for a latte and a sweat treat - both were very good, will be back to try the breakfast!

Good Italian food, small space so make a reservation. Good take out as well. Small wine list but always something worthwhile on it.

Excellent service although I only had a capuccino!

Very enjoyable dining experience! Prosecco, mushroom bruschetta, fresh tomato salad, salmon with roasted baby potatoes, Brussel sprouts, and for dessert chocolate peanut butter ice cream bar - all delicious, excellent quality, good value.

Great Experience! Waiter was really attentive and professional. Cuisine amazing and place really cozy.

A lovely little place just in the center of the city. Good food, sweet wine, and nice people. Lets not forget; location, location, location. You can jump onto the train right after a nice meal to get wherever you need to go. You cant hope for anything better. A pink-colored sign greets you on the street like a welcome mat for all of those who are in the mood for a romantic Italian nosh. However when you walk inside, you are walking into a modern, clean space where you think you might be in an old Hollywood movie. My friendly server had a smile ready for me and knew their stuff when it came to the menu. As a vegetarian, I appreciated that they answered my questions about the menu. By their kindly advice, I had the mushroom parsley soup and the gorgonzola pear risotto. Each bite of both of these savory, creamy dishes melted me from the inside out. This might be my new comfort food. Sadly, I cant have it all the time because its just way out of my pay grade to make a habit of it. That is the only problem with this place. Thanks Cucina! I hope to come back soon.

Went there for lunch. Food was delicious but the portions were pretty small, especially for the cost of the meal. I definitely didnt leave feeling full and ended up snacking when i got home.

Service was excellent, both from the server and the front staff.. Relatively fast for lunchtime. Portion was a little small and my fish was a touch overdone, but was pretty good. Im sure there are plenty of other tasty things on the menu we didnt get to. The only thing I really didnt like w as s the seating. This is one of those setups where small 2 tops are half common bench and one chair on the opposite side. Your basically closer to your stranger neighbor than your meal companion...

Terrific!!

Food was good and portions are good, just wasnt my favorite italian restaurant in the city.

You cant go wrong with anything at Cucina. Its always excellent and fresh. The servers are always exceptional and spot on with their recommendations for food and wine.

Good food, good service. I would recommend it for sure

Always great food and personable service.

Amazing food, top notch service, friendly staff, food came fast!

The Greens are just that... Greens, with a few Cherry tomatoes thrown in. I just wanted a light snack, the menu needs more options in that light. That said, everyone else had tasty looking meals.

The food is excellent!

Consistent quality and good coffee. Good breakfast spot for a morning meeting.

I order from this place all the time on skip!!! It s sooooo GOOD!!!! Unfortunately, I ve yet to go in person. Everything I ve gotten from here has been so amazing. I will be going soon, can t imagine how much better it will be in person. Half the time I eat my orders hours after I ve ordered- and it s still amazing lol Their latte is wayyyy better than the usual coffee chains and cheaper then them too!!! I legit order just coffee from here too, their turquoise takeaway cup is so cute. You must must come here/order from here you won t be disappointed, if you are you have no taste buds Stay beautiful -Smile lots- Eat Italian

Always amazing food and even better service

Always delicious.

Great experience, wonderful service. Highly recommend the charcuterie board. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.

I used to love coming to Cucina for lunch but lately I have been disappointed with this place. The service is not what it used to be (I have had some waitresses/waiters not ask us how the food was or if we needed water refills). The pasta dish I ordered was undercooked and the sauce was lacking in flavour.

Fancy venue for company party.

Visited after hearing from someone living in Calgary Ordered beef tartare and salmon. Its a lot lol but the taste is good Thank you for the delicious meal!

As the very sophisticated and well decorated interior of this place may suggest, food here is expensive. For a small bowl of soup and a coffee, it wound up costing more than a full banh mi and two bubble teas. Servers were polite, but not very attentive. Soup was alright, but the coffee was amazing! Would I recommend coming here for a meal? If you re looking to show off on a date, by all means go for it. Would I recommend treating yourself to a nice coffee here every once in a while? Definitely.

Hidden gem while walking through the +15. Can be accessed from outside too, 5th Street. Breakfast menu on point, easy to make a choice and try a new item each time. Strongly recommend the Chorizo sandwich or wrap.

Bit crowded, foods incredible. Staff is great

First time dining at Cucina and I must say the experience was simply amazing! Thank you!

Good place for business lunch.

The fish special and the pasta is always very good. The entree size is on the smaller side. If you are a bigger eater, grab an appetizer or definitely get the full size pasta.

Everything we tried was very good.

Excellent dinner! Great environment with excellent service.

Beautiful little bistro in downtown. Suitable for both date and family gathering.

Great ambience, food and service.

Excellent breakfast sandwiches and fine coffee. Pleasant service through the masks. Tasty and reliable.

Food quality isnt quite there, service was fine, well ran restaurant. Maintaining okay physical distance standards.

Cucina, where have you been all my life? This place is great. Can t wait to try their amazing looking breakfast.

Always a delight. Looking forward to their #half price #bottles weekly available. Great service and food is always consistently good. Great place to meet a friend for lunch for take a client for a coffee or dinner. Authentic flavours in an amazing atmosphere.

Mediocre espresso martinis especially when compared to Earls... Definitely prefer earls. Dont get them here.

Really good food. Would definitely go again. Not a cheap place though, but worth the food. Service is nice.

Awesome food and overall great experience. So happy to be here tonight!

The Grab-n-Go Burger is the best tasting thing Ive eaten in at least 6 months and it was only 12 bucks. Theres a good chance Im here every day at either breakfast or lunch for the foreseeable future, cant wait to try the rest of the menu.

Great place for a business lunch! Portion is decent and price is fair considering they are on Stephen Ave. Minus one star for using baked chips to pair with the beef tartare, tasted like Kettle chips, cheap hard and salty which overwhelmed the beef.

Ive reviewed this place before but I have to review it again here. Every time my husband and I have gone has been an amazing experience. There hasnt been a dish we didnt fully enjoy and that includes our toddler devouring everything we put infront of him. Very accommodating to dietary restrictions. The restaurant always is clean and the atmosphere both relaxing and energizing at the same time. The prices are very good and I love how theres options for portion sizes. The food there is very filling and would recommend it to anyone who needs a consistently excellent restaurant with a menu that matches the seasons perfectly! If you are in a rush Id suggest at least grabbing a to go cup of the tiramisu and a coffee! 10/10

Best Tiramisu in the city! Would definitely come back!

Good food. Decent price

Went here for brunch and it was awesome. The service was great, food was even better and nice atmosphere. The location is good too they also have a nice little patio. From the granola with yogurt with honey to french toast to eggs Benedict it was all good food. They use Fratello coffee which is a bonus. Will definitely be back soon.

This is a great little place with delicious food and great service. Their menu has some great options and what I tried was good. The service was excellent and it didnt take very long for us to get our food. The place is modern and has very cool decor. I would recommend it for someone looking for a nice restaurant that isnt exactly super expensive or fancy.

AHHHHMAZING!!! The food was incredibly delicious! The service was impeccable!! I can t wait to go back! Make sure you try the Arancini - so flavourful and decadent!!

Great food!

I booked a table for myself the next morning. I arrived 20 minutes early but the server ignored me when I walked in. I was patiently sitting at the front chair waiting for the server to check me in. However, the server was continuing busy with other tasks then ignoring me till my booking time. At the end, I walked out the restaurant going to other places for my brunch at the core after waiting for the whole 20 minutes.

Great food, friendly service.

Fantastic service and delicious food. Sarah and Peter were awesome. Steelhead special was very tasty. Wine bottle half price at happy hour.

Great breakfast menu, small cozy spot

Wonderful place. Thoroughly enjoyed my chicken dish with brilliant Argentinian Chardonnay. Great staff and service

Food is good, service not so much

Wow that was good!!! Server was attentive to my needs. Food was delicious! Ambiance was pleasant. I shall return!

Good food and wine with a great atmosphere

Breakfast nom noms! Bout 1000 calories in charizo breakfast sammitch but sooo good!

Good food + very helpful staff

Delicious!!

Half priced wine from 4-6!

Good food and nice environment

Food was good, atmosphere relaxed and quiet. It would be nice if they offered a bit of guidance on the entrance for the free parking - all the one-ways made it such a nuisance to get to!

I wasnt impressed not by the food or the service. Doesnt worth the money.

Best Americano in the city!

A great place with amazing food and vibes. Perfect for dates and special occasion. Staff are very friendly. The place offers an experience and that s what I liked most about it. It reminded of London s food experience. We tried the grilled octopus and the steak. Both were perfectly made. Top notch ingredients. I d definitely recommend it as an exceptional place.

Epic! Best burger!!

The chorizo breakfast sandwich has to be the best valued breakfast item in downtown. Its a must-have treat for me once a week..