Cardinale in Calgary

Great food. Attentive service. Easy and relaxing environment

Looked like a great menu and wine list. Maybe I was just unlucky, but it was one of the most miserable Lasagne experiences I ever had, considering the price. Seems it got overcooked when reheated. I would have thought someone would check before serving. I dont blame the server; the lights were so dim. I had to use my phone light to confirm the dissapointment.

Friendly atmosphere & staff, delicious (homemade) Italian dishes. Our evening was memorable. We enjoyed the Cavola; baby kale, roasted grapes, fennel, Gorgonzola & pistachio salad for an Antipasti & authentic lasagna as the main (secondi)

Great experience and a spectacular waiter. Wish I could remember his name but he had a great beard

I was going to leave 2 stars but after seeing other photos with other reviews on Google of the gnocchi here I decided on 1 Star . First off my husband & I came as a walk in on Saturday night shortly after 6:30 and with apps, mains and drinks we were out the door in less than an hour. We ordered focaccia to start which landed on our table within 120 seconds of our server taking our order, and before our wine came out. Then our pastas landed before we finished the bread - a lasagna for my husband and gnocchi for me. The whole experience was super rushed - but let s talk about this GNOCCHI. When I ordered the gnocchi and asked for it without mushrooms the server advised that I pick another sauce for my gnocchi as the sauce also contained mushrooms - she suggested the pomodoro sauce so I went with that. So this GNOCCHI, first off the portion was tiny. I could count on my fingers and toes how many pieces I got. The gnocchi itself was GREEN, obviously flavored with something? I don t know the menu wasn t clear, but the pomodoro sauce wasn t a good pairing with this green gnocchi. It was a strange flavor, but I did not complain as it was my choice to alter the original menu item. Now that I see gnocchi on Google piled high and most certainly not green I wonder wtf I just ate here tonight?? Very disappointed as we came pre COVID prior to a Flames game and everything was outstanding. From the fast food type service to the green gnocchi to the very strange selection of music playing the place is sadly a miss and we won t return. ETA: that the gnocchi didn t even LOOK like gnocchi. In addition to being green the pieces were like chunky cubes, not pillows that were imprinted with a fork.

Sad to report our experience was pretty underwhelming. We went for date night and even though the place is very cool, why do you dim the lights so much??? Aside from one room, everything was incredibly dark. The burrata at $26 is a complete letdown. The burrata itself is ok but the tomatoes were incredibly bland. The supermarket ones! You don t taste your tomatoes at all? And you don t get bread. Only 3 or 4 (mini) croutons. As for the pasta, they were ok but so not worth the high ticket price. Service was very nice on the other hand but def not worth the price. Many much better options in town. They should also clean their washroom and empty the trash. It was smelly and honestly sounded like no one had been checking in hours. Parking: Parking was at $18 (flat)

Food was good as usual but the table set up not good at all. Where we were seated was right beside our neighbours on top of one another so effectively having dinner together. Not the ambience I was seeking or used to at this restaurant.

I was in Calgary for business and had the chance to see a family member. He wanted to take us out to Cardinale to show us the city s best. We didn t realize, but the restaurant was supposed to be closed, and Graham came in just for us! He was so friendly, funny, and kind. The food was delicious, the wine was fantastic, and the atmosphere was calm and pleasant! 5 starts, completely recommend!!

Very delicious hidden gem.

best carpaccio i ve ever had!

First time visiting here tonight after a recommendation. Absolutely loved it, food was so good and the patio was nice and chilled. Our server Jenn K, was also the perfect balance of attentive and relaxed. We ll definitely be back! Also definitely recommend the lasagna and focaccia bread, so good!

We had the calamari to start, shared a couple of the pasta dishes and ended with the tiramisu and cappuccino. All of it was extraordinary!

portions are way too small, too expensive. i ll take my business elsewhere.

One of the most professional servers we ve had in a long time. Even though everything came out quite quickly, she still made sure to update us on the progress of each item. Cute and cozy atmosphere. Food and drinks were tasty. Dined on Friday night, and it was lively but not packed.

Just ate there this Sunday. Friend and I had gnocchi. Both of us had stomach issues/diarrhea for the first half of the next day. Owner was also very rude to my friends concerning their children. Who were being a bit annoying as not givin a screen yet but the manner and tone which the owner spoke to my friend was unacceptable. Our server was great

Service was amazing. Our server Blake was fun and gave amazing service. The food was amazing as well

I ate at Cardinale in November 2023, overall an excellent dining experience. The space is beautiful and has a great, classy yet cozy ambiance. The service was attentive and pleasant. I tried the Focaccia, Burrata, Gnocchi, Casarecce Nero, Bucatini, and Spaghetti. Out of the pasta dishes, I enjoyed the spaghetti the most - the pangrattata made it! - then the casarecce, then the bucatini, then the gnocchi. They were all beautiful dishes, the bucatini a little watery because of the shape of the pasta. The burrata dish was especially good and well-balanced. It would have enhanced the beautiful meal all the more if the focaccia could have been complimentary, as the serving was rather small for the price, but perfect to soak up the flavorful dregs of pasta sauce. Thank you to Cardinale for the wonderful evening, Id like to return!

A little hidden gem of Calgary. I had the lasagna and it was the best I ve ever had. Cool chic and intimate atmosphere. Definitely coming back.

First time dining alone. Absolutely unreal customer service was amazing! Electric atmosphere. Amazing dinner order the bread as a starter. Veal was gorgeous presented wonderfully. Would go again I never give 10s. This was a 10.

We were looking forward to trying this place because of the great reviews but were very disappointed. Went on a quiet Tuesday evening and the service was incredibly slow, this would be forgivable but our server s (Jenn) overall attitude was off. First she forgot one of the starters we ordered, when we asked if it would be ready soon she was completely unapologetic and implied that we hadn t said it despite everyone at the table remembering ordering it. Then a fly was in my wife s wine, the server walked past, noticed her trying to fish it out, commented and laughed and left! Isn t it normal to at least offer to replace the freshly poured glass of wine? Calamari was tasty but a small portion and all of the other food was mediocre. There are plenty of better Italian restaurants in the city with much better service.

Exceptional little Italian joint in Calgary. Our server was attentive, funny and welcoming. This is probably one of my favourite Italian restaurants in all of Calgary. The Calamari is to die for. The Lasagna is unforgettable. I ve never had lasagna like this before. Their use of braised beef shank instead of standard ground beef DOES in fact make a difference. Worth all the money in the world. Such a cute little spot in the heart of Victoria Park that is worth the drive every single time.

Nice atmosphere and the service was very friendly, but a bit slow. Took a little bit for the server to grab our order and about 25 minutes for our mains to come out. Found the portions a bit small but the food was delicious.

Great experience, delicious food, and great ambiance.

They say its Italian but they should say Italian style. Food was good and prices where reasonable. I would go back knowing that it is not Italian Italian but still good food for a good price with pretty decent service

You don t go to Calgary for pasta unless you are going to Cardinal ! Best pasta I ve ever had, service was great and patio was perfect! Dietary restrictions: Gluten Free pasta was amazing as well!

Great place with tones of personality and awesome food! Grab a bar seat if you can the bar staff make it a great time!

Very nice restaurant. Make a reservation. Its not a big spot. You must try the burrata. I could just eat that for dinner, its amazing. Drinks are not cheap however, very nice spot and a great night out. We had the best waiter. He was so funny. Im sorry I cant remember his name but he really made the night a treat. Parking is not the easiest. We had to park about 2 blocks away so be prepared. The building is on a busy street front.

Great service!

We had an amazing meal at Cardinale last night. It was absolutely packed and the staff were RUNNING but we still felt very well taken care of. The food, drinks and dessert were absolutely delicious. What a perfect pre concert experience!

Very delicious food. We went during stampede so was really busy. A little wait for food, but not bad. We sat on deck, which if you can, request it. Super chill vibe. The pasta and veal was amazing.

Fantastic evening out. Came here on a Monday for a birthday dinner and cardinale did not disappoint. Couldn t decide on a cocktail and was stuck between 2 options, so the bartender made us a 1/2 cocktail of both so we could try - never have we received this kind of service elsewhere! Dinner was fantastic as well.

Awesome place with amazing food. I am on a business trip in Calgary and found this place by searching on google maps. It turned out to be great. The waitress was so good in the way she served us and informed us of the daily specials - so knowledgeable with attention to details. The dish I ordered was so delicious. The ambiance of the place is really nice. So niche and boutique and warm. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of my plate.

We just had the most amazing meal tonight at Cardinale. Everything was just so good, tasty and well balanced. Fantastic food! Tyler offered us perfect service and it really made the entire meal one to remember. Ottimo! Buonissimo! Mille Grazie!

Good gracious pasta bodacious. A fine establishment indeed, and you can tell a lot of thought goes into their food and drink. Good place to take that spicy señorita for a date. If you prefer the company of men, you can take him (them?) out for a sumptuous evening. Recently had a few cocktails (fantastic recommendations by the server), meatballs, gnocchi, lasagna, and some vino. The meatballs were particularly large and juicy.

Such a lovely experience. Epic service. The food is exceptional. Try the amaro. Perfection.

Great pasta, very friendly and professional service. The spaghetti with olives and anchovy was our fav.

Great spot if you are looking for people who really appreciate food and how to pair a nice drink with your meal.

Superb food at reasonable prices in a very atmospheric location! Loved it! The service was top-notch!

This is one of my favourite places in Calgary, their pasta and calamari are UNREAL! My boyfriend loves cocktails and Blake took the time to pretty much give him a personal cocktail 101. Thank you for taking the time out of your night Blake, your martini was the best we have ever had!

Amazing food, with fabulous atmosphere. It s a perfect date night, the foods not over priced but has amazing food, most of there pastas had gluten free options

I cannot say enough good about this restaurant. Graham and Blake are both awesome. The food is incredible- dont hesitate checking this place out

Its rare that I give a restaurant a full five star review, but Cardinale has certainly earned it. The food was incredible! Sumptuous flavours, wonderful presentation, and warm atmosphere all come together to create a fantastic dining experience! The serving staff are excellent, and they know their dishes well. The recommended wine pairings were the perfect compliment to our meal, and the lovely interior of the rustic building in which the restaurant is located, sets a romantic, and cozy tone. Ive now eaten here twice, and both times the food, and service were above reproach. Which is a compliment I do not give lightly as a chef myself. I will definitely be returning to Cardinale in the future to sample the remaining delights to be discovered on their menu!

Had a great meal here with a nice ambience! My only (minor) complaint would be, ...the young girl working at the bar was grumpy and unfriendly, ... possibly had a bad day? Otherwise, a great, little restaurant!

They really do have the best calamari. It was fantastic. Great atmosphere. Music not too loud so you can actually hear your party. Loved it.

Cannot say enough good things about this place... the food was delicious and the service was superb- especially Blake! The calamari was the best Ive ever had. Cocktails are also amazing. 10/10 will be back and recommending this to anyone looking to try one of the best restaurants in Calgary. Thanks again! Dietary restrictions: Very able to accommodate an allergy.

I was visiting Calgary and found Cardinale online as I read the reviews I was intrigued about the The Pasta Casarecce Nero and Radiatori pasta which were absolutely wonderful and confirmed why all the reviews recommend the squid ink pasta as it was delicious. The carpaccio was also a great appetizer with the tonno alioli. The staff and the cozy ambience make your dinning experience even better. They were all very attentive and made extra efforts to ensure we had a great time. For dessert we had the Chocolate Almond Torta which just made the evening. I will definitely return on my next trip and a must go for anyone interested in Italian cuisine and having a tasteful dining experience!

Graham was so accommodating. The textbook of hospitality. The food, the service, the ambience. We ll be back. Thank you for accommodating us last minute on a busy game night!

Cardinale restaurant in Calgary is one of my absolute favourites! I ve gone a number of times with different friends and everyone has always raved about the food and service.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Calgary. I love bringing my out-of-town friends here. Its family style dining. The cocktails are amazing. I basically recommend everything on the menu. But favorites are the carpaccio and the salad with roasted grapes (so good). The bucatini is a carbonara and amazing. Also get the seafood stew with an order of focaccia for sopping up every drop. You and your friends will be full and happy!

The menu is a little small for food (and huge on drinks). The food is pricy but very good. The walls are brick that shows plaster and bits of wallpaper that havent been removed... kinda odd and run-down for such a high-class place. It also feels a bit small, so reservations are recommended. There were olives in my spaghetti. They worked well with the dish, but its not what I would typically expect from spaghetti. I think this might be more of an authentic from Italy Italian restaurant rather than what most North Americans think of as Italian. Wheelchair accessibility: The entrance has narrow stairs. I dont think a wheelchair could get inside.

Excellent, a little loud,

Good attention to details at this local Italian resto. We ordered the lasagna dish with veal meat-turns out it wasn t the best dish for this night of dining. The customer service to remedy the issue was EXCELLENT-two thumbs up on this attention. We ordered meatballs as replacement and were thoroughly impressed.

One of the best Italian restaurants Ive been to in the city - nothing can top their braised beef shank lasagna, such a unique and delicious dish. Their calamari is also to die for and the other pastas have yet to disappoint. Service is always impeccable and the ambience is great for a lunch or fancy date. The somewhat higher prices dissuade me from visiting too often but accurately reflect the quality of food.

Sharing Good Times at Cardinal Restaurant: My partner, another couple, and I recently had a wonderful time at Cardinal restaurant. From the first bite of Carpaccio and Focaccia to the last spoonful of Tiramisu and Chocolate Almond Torta, every moment was filled with laughter and delicious food. The Pasta Casarecce Nero and Radiatori pasta were absolute hits, and we couldnt get enough of their flavors. And lets not forget the cozy atmosphere and the attentive yet laid-back service that made us feel right at home. I cant recommend Cardinal enough for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience. Well definitely be back for more good times and great food!

extremely good food for a great price

We are not big pasta lovers but have been wanting to check this place out. The carpaccio was decently good, the burrata was lovely. The bucatini was delicious and the casarecce nero was very tasty. Lovely big servings - bigger than we expected. The tiramisu was DELIGHTFUL. Best we ve had in the city. Cocktails were very, very good. To die for as my date said. Service was Top Notch! Best service we ve had in the city. Our server was totally on it. Checked in on us often, was friendly, gave good advice on the menu when we had questions. Kept our waters refilled, and was just generally a pleasure. Ambiance was okay, a little bit loud. Price point for what you get is fair. Even though we are not big Italian food lovers, we will definitely be back!

10/10!! Great food, great service.

Weve been going to Cardinale for a few years now, and it has unquestionably become our favourite spot in the Calgary. Graham, Blake and their awesome team do a truly terrific job. The food is excellent, the cocktails are fantastic, the wine list is superb and the vibe is prefect. What more can you ask for? No matter the occasion, they always make sure we have an awesome evening. Its like we are visiting friends AND going out for a wonderful dinner and drinks each time. Love the place!

Ate way more than I should have. Food was amazing. Server was one of the best Ive ever had.

Very nice, cozy place with great food options. The focaccia with the butter is a great starter. Parking: The place doesnt have dedicated parking, so you need to park on one of the public, paid ones. We parked behind the building, next to Scotiabank Arena, and walked 5 minutes.

I love this place! Calamari is the best I have ever had. Always consistent and food is delicious! My favorite Italian in the city.

Went here for Valentine and had a decent night. I wouldn t rate this restaurant fine dining experience in the spirit of Valentine but overall was alright. Food was quite good but service and atmosphere was just so so.

Had a cute little date night here. The restaurant is quite small so it is quite noisy. Service was a bit all over the place. Food took almost an 1 hour to come out. The food itself I enjoyed. We got the Casarecce Nero and Radiatori. Portions are big and flavours were good. The Calamari Fritti I didn t enjoy as much. I wish it had a bit more crunch to it. I also got the Meloncholy and Infinite Dadness to drink. Really enjoyed this one!

The last time my wife and I came to Calgary, we stumbled upon Cardinale and we were blown away by the quality of food and service we received. Five years later, we were overnight here again and we made sure to come back to Cardinale. Sometimes, its hard to relive memories that were so great in fear of disappointment. Cardinale did not disappoint. Highly recommend visiting this restaurant if youre in Calgary.

Overall a good dining experience. Intimate dining room. Unique drinks menu (though we are non drinkers). Disappointments were: the charge for bread (which we decided on two orders for our party of 4, at 6$ per order) having this as a complementary item would greatly improve guest experience, and also the portion of the burrata appetizer; at $24 I had assumed it would be a whole burrata, but it was only half. The menu gives no indication of the size/portion. (It tasted good but shared among 4 was not sufficient and spending $50 on two small orders of cheese seems insane). Pastas tasted good (but getting really picky the bucatini had some cooking water left in the pasta center which one member of our party disliked).

One of the best places for pasta in Calgary . Always fresh , the cocktails are delish and the service is impeccable . Love all the staff and will continue to stuff my face here !

good pasta menu

Service was good, menu was different than the last time we visited for dinner, so we tried a few new items. The vegetarian pasta was great, the pasta ragu was okay , nothing too crazy, and the desert selection seemed varied but wasn t anything to write home about. Found that the tiramisu dust caused more than one of us to cough while trying to eat it. The appetizers were all really good!

Wonderful establishment just a hit loud in the front area. I think the back area may be a bit quieter. But excellent food and amazing service

Phenomenal, 10/10 Gram is A GEM!

10/10! Cannot recommend this place enough!

Great selection of wines, very tasty pastas. Lasagna was exceptional! Huge tiramisu piece-yummy! Chilly in the space though but they had just opened.

I dont often write reviews. We just finished a meal and this was the best Italian food Ive had in Calgary and the finest gluten-free pasta Ive ever had. Service from Antonio and the wine waiter was world class. Cheers to Cardinale. Go eat here.

Had the pappardele. Great food. Great service.

Amazing fresh pasta with tons of flavour, great service and cozy atmosphere

All I can say is OMG! This pasta was amazing. I had the gnocchi, it was so fresh and like little fluffy pillows of wonderful in my mouth. The flavour was so good. The worst part of the meal was when I had no pasta left! I was sad to be finished. It was so good I wanted to go back the next evening.

I love this place. They have GF pasta for those of us who cannot have Gluten. The atmosphere the staff the prices are a 10 out of 10. Blake is also so extremely accommodating and he made the evening more memorable

Our dinner here on January 21st, was excellent. Great service, great food. We all enjoyed our pasta and the wine that our server suggested. The Pappardelle was very good, and I think its great that the restaurant makes its own pasta. Dont forget to try the burrata for an appy and the panna cotta for dessert. Or go more traditional and have the tiramisu, but be sure and leave room for it, its a healthy portion.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in calgary. the menu is always changing but the classics are always there. I love their lasagna sounds crazy but it s the best I ve ever had the bechamel and veal make it extra tasty. Love their wine menu it s top notch wine and not at gouging prices. Staff are awesome ! Always make sure to book a reservation this place can get packed

They provided friendly and good service, but the food was really the worst. The pasta and steak were VERY SALTY. It was like pouring salt into a whole bowl. It was a dish that made the chef mistake whether he had lost his sense of taste. After eating this dinner, I was thirsty until morning. If possible, I would like to give them 0 points and write a review.

Everything about this place was great! The ambience, food and the service.

Friendly services, cozy place to hang out with family and friends. Great food and beer. New lovely place to have a dinner or couple of drinks. Highly recommend for age 8 above .

Only reason atmosphere, not a 5 was the crazed Flames fans making the space far too loud, but everything else was fantastic.

Wow - incredible gnocchi and tremendous service. Great location and ambience too.

Great food, cocktails and awesome service. Would love to see a menu with more deviations from Pasta. No many options besides pasta.

Nice place,a little bit dark for my taste but food was great,service amazing,pricy but worthy

Tried Cardinale for the first time last month. We put a ridiculous request in when booking our reservation to receieve recommendations for an upcoming trip we were planning. Multiple service staff gave us recommendations which really enhanced the night. Service was 10/10. We were splitting dishes, I like more pepper - The server noticed and got a side of peopper ready for my next dish. She also wrote down heating instructions for the carbonara on the take out box. Gnocchi/ Carpaccio were both amazing. Cant wait to come back!

Came in last night with 4 of my girlfriends and had an amazing experience. Rachelle was a great server and let us know right away about the deals they had going on. The food totally hit it out if the park for us and everyone loved it. Quality of the food was exquisite, came out hot and fresh. Only downside is we were a younger group of girls and some of the death stares we were getting from tables was not appropriate or appreciated. Despite that, we still really enjoyed our time there and will definitely be returning. Thank you so much Rachelle for being the kind soul you were last night.

Amazing Italian food.

Amazing and authentic.

We visited as a group of 7 and tried a large variety of the menu and every single item we ordered was absolutely delicious and fresh. It was on St.Patrick s day and although it was pretty busy, the service was amazing. Would definitely recommend.

Almost perfect with cozy environment, good food, attentive friendly service and pretty good value with their prices. The only shortcoming is the place is small so tables are a little crowded and tightly placed. But it s a happy experience to dine in this historic building in a very lively, cozy environment.

Ned, the bartender, was amazing during our visit and really cheerful with the customers. Didn t get the chance to try their food (we arrived 10pm) but their cocktail is great! Update: April 2023 Finally tried their pasta! Radiatori and Spaghetti were both outrageously good! The service were still top notch!

Awesome experience! Great food, cocktails and exceptional service!

The lasagna is very meaty and very delicious

Delicious food with great portion sizes, and the service is fantastic and attentive! Wish there was a little more variety on the menu, but for a small upscale restaurant it makes sense to have a limited menu.

Outstanding service, delicious food, and great portion size, combined with an excellent liquor and wine selection. Must try the calamari!

The food here is amazing, as is the wine and the cocktails. Our server Jen was fabulous! I have never had better calamari anywhere, including Italy.. not sure how they do it but its ridiculously good! Food

Great food at a centrally located restaurant. Raina was very attentive. Loved the focaccia bread and the calamari especially. Brocolli Di Ciccio and Casarecce Nero delicious !

Great food, location and service!

Food was delicious! Service was excellent! And the interior is beautiful! I tried this place for the first time today and it is a new favourite already. The atmosphere is absolutely lovely. Will 100% dine here again and I highly recommend this place

Huge portions, very tasty. The tiramisu is yummy and giant! 5/5 Parking: Several parking options around the restaurant Food : 5/5 |

was in with a party of 11 and hannah was absolutely awesome and gave us incredible service !

Awesome calamari, so fresh. Nice selection of Italian beers. Can t believe I m not in Italy. Bene!

The pasta was extremely salty to the point of being off-putting

The food was spectacular, definitely recommend the bucatini. We also had the focaccia, the polpette (which my kids raved were the best meatballs in the entire world, they used their focaccia to mop up all the sauce), the casarecce Nero, the radiator, and of course we ended with the panna cotta. The gentleman helping us was wonderful, especially with my two young boys, as we talked about the quality of food vs quantity, and table etiquette.

Wow. It s been a long time since I ve been blown away by a restaurant -the gnocchi was crazy good! Incredibly good service, and the food was perfectly cooked, flavoured and presented. 11/10 - I don t ever usually leave reviews as well lol

The crudo is the best Ive ever had. My husband didnt like his carbonara at all because the pasta was still hard. The bolognese is good but it is spicy so if you dont like spice you definitely should avoid this. I didnt love that it was spicy because there was no indication that it would be and that isnt traditional. Would I go again? For the crudo yes. But not for anything else. Service was great!

Annual tradition now to go before the Stampede evening show. Excellent experience every time! Calamari and Lasagna was top notch

Amazing place with great cocktails, wine list, food, service & ambience! Phenomenal dinner for a group of 12 last night. Everyone loved it. The calamari is easily the best in the city!

Amazing place and great atmosphere overall. The staff was very nice too. On a negative note, each food must have been well prepared because the wait time after order was long. The price is also a little overboard for the average budget.. as a plate of pasta can cost 28$. So not recommended for budgeting tourists. I enjoyed the food. However, my siblings didnt.. I guess it just varies to people.

No kids allowed. Were not let in at an early evening

The food was amazing. We did not walk away hungry. Good cocktails and extensive wine list. A little loud and cramped, not quiet or intimate. Food

Very nice restaurant. The vibe is very good and the food is delicious. Server was knowledgeable and kind. I would recommend the spaghetti and the bucatini

Pasta was absolutely delicious! Our server made sure our drinks were never empty even when the place got busy, our food came fast and the drinks were amazing! If you want good pasta that feels like you are in Italy this is the place!

The food was really good however some of the dishes could have used a bit more salt but overall a really unique menu!! Squid ink pasta is definitely the one to try. One thing that would be improved is to reduce the crowdedness of the restaurant since I did feel like I was sitting quite close to others but overall a really good restaurant!

Authentic and delicious.

This restaurant is an amazing find! It has a very cool vibe, great service, and a great chef! I had one of the very best Cioppinos, ever! I will certainly be coming back and I encourage any Italian Cuisine lover to try it out, immediately!

The food and the service were very good, but the place is not very nice, outdated and not very well lit.

Loved the melancholy and infinite sadness cocktail and the calamari! Burrata was also delicious. Very cute little restaurant!

My boyfriend and I always go here when he visits as it is his favourite. Every dish is amazing and delicious. Service is very good, servers are kind and professional. We highly recommend to go outside of the regular and try something different!

This place made me wish I lived in Calgary. The food was some of the best I ve had, the staff were lovely. Just come you won t regret it

Good food and service!

Absolutely amazing service and great food! Came here for our anniversary and we just got appetizers but our experience was so good all around that we haven t stopped talking about going back asap. The service was so quick that we were in and out within legitimately 30 minutes and yet it didn t feel rushed at all. Everyone we interacted with was so pleasant and made our evening better, it was great. We got the calamari and the carpaccio. The calamari was by far the best I ve ever had! Great seasoning and texture and the dip/sauce had a lot of flavour without taking away from the taste of the calamari. I cannot recommend Cardinale enough, such a great experience!

Great food and atmosphere. Limited menu.

The lasagna was the best Ive ever had!

An upscale Italian style restaurant, reservations are advised. Great everything!!!! food and beverages were unique, ideal for the setting and as required dependant on the food item, the cooks and staff know what they are doing here. This coming from an Italian...Low lighting I thought in the back area, which was ok when the sun was out. I cannot overstate the excellent-ness of the (appies) and calamari. Daily made bread, yum...Service was on point and was always around the corner when needed Mains like the Cioppino and Casarecce Nero are great visual dishes. Menu is limited so you may want to peruse prior to booking. Disappointed there is no Italian ice cream on the menu which would have made our family outing/birthday diner perfect. I will be back. Parking: Limited parking on the street or in their lot. Stampede area parking was not available. Wheelchair accessibility: Not accessible as there are 5-6 steps to the restaurant level.

Great food and service.

Never fails to be amazing! Love the vibe and the pastas. They re ask fantastic, every single time!

Was looking to book a special occasion reservation here for large group dinner. The male staff we spoke to over the phone was uninviting, rude and just poor communication etiquette. Didn t get a chance to try food here and have no interest in trying again.

Just delicious!

Great little place. We stumbled on it while trying to find a place to go before a concert at the Dome, and were pleasantly surprised. Great service, and the food was excellent. Ill definitely be coming back.

Stopped in for dinner last night . Food was excellent and the staff were amazing as per usual . I recommend this place for anyone that loves great food and drink .

Never disappoints

Love the pasta section.

The food , people, and the environment are all worth ! Great place for dates with your

Returned here after years. Definitely has changed. Food quality wasnt anything to match up to the price of the menu. Service was slow and portions to share were quite small.

Really disappointed with the Servers additude. It totally ruined our night. My boyfriend was so upset at how rude the waiter was that he went on and on and on about how mad he was for hours after we got home. Food is excellent but service was disappointing. We were out celebrating my birthday so was hoping to have a good experience like we have had in the past. My boyfriend is also telling everyone at his Engineering firm tomorrow to never go there.

Nice place , best service we ever had , good food, cocktails can improve though.

Went there with a friend for dinner before a hockey game. As of right now, The ability to park near the restaurant is painful with all the construction going on there. Overall, the service was very good. Friend ordered carpaccio and the daily made bread. The carpaccio had great flavor and he couldnt stop raving about the butter that was served with the bread oddly enough. I had the calamari, and it was good, just not very different than any other place I have had it in. Friend said, tastes like the Chinese place I go to He had the radiatori and I had the cioppino. They were both fairly good sized. So much so, my friend couldnt finish his dish. I completed mine, though, barely. Both of them was very flavorful and both of us enjoyed our dishes. My only complaint was we were placed by the window and they had this large and bright neon sign hanging there. Just a little too bright. Otherwise, as reviewed the other things were very good. Parking: Very difficult to find parking, I had to drive around a bit before I noticed the apartment building across from them had public parking available since there was very limited street parking. It was expensive, $5 per hour with limited options. There was no 2 hour option, so I had to go back there to pay for another hour. And you would need to be let in by security (if they are sitting at the front) to get back into the building. Someone said there is a side door. Kid-friendliness: No children dishes, I wouldnt recommend unless they can finish an adult dish or share with someone else. Wheelchair accessibility: Far as I can tell, they only had steps to get into the restaurant from the front. And even if there was a ramp, it would be very tight for a wheelchair to get in as there 90 degree turn as soon as you get inside the door. And the door way and area is small.

I went to your restaurant tonight wow amazing the best place I have ever been graham and Blake are the best people in the world love ya

Great meal for before a flames game, highly recommend the Bucatini

We have always enjoyed Cardinale through the years, name and staff changes. Their food is consistently excellent, they have space between their tables and the sound level is much lower than most restaurants these days, so we can actually enjoy the evening and hear other people at our table.

Excellent food service ambiance

Everything was great, and especially the service! One of the best we ve visited in Calgary.

Enjoyable dining in a cheerful, cozy setting. The food quality is excellent, wine list is impressive and there are creative cocktails too. Very good service. Busy place so reservations would be a good idea.

Great atmosphere, great cocktails, food and wine. Service is always top notch.

On a recommendation from a friend, I tried this restaurant out after walking by many time. Boy! Was it great!. The appies and pasta were quite terrific - and the deserts and drinks were also excellent. The service was very prompt and at the end of the meal the server comped our drinks- because they said the service had been slow......that was a huge surprise, because I actually thought the service has been quite fantastic, nonetheless the gesture added to the 5 star experience.

My husband and I wanted pasta and a cozy/romantic evening without all the stuffiness of fine dinning. Cardinale was the perfect setting but more importantly, had some of THE BEST PASTA weve EVER had! Our awesome server suggested the BUCATINI over spaghetti and it did not disappoint! Our server was excellent, the drinks were awesome (great Aperol Spritz) and the ambiance was perfect. We have added this restaurant to our list and will be back for more amazing pasta! Also the foccacia bread was made out of heavenly pillows.. delicious! We took the taramisu to go, it was so ooooo good!! Overall, our meal was *chefs kiss*

Was my first time at Cardinale. It was a quaint and welcoming. The menu was not extensive but the food was fantastic. They allowed me to pick a different pasta for my meal, wasnt sure I like the inked Squid pasta so they substituted that for me. I would recommend going here for a quiet intimate meal. Great service.

Really wanted to love this place, especially based on other reviews. The host was very friendly and gave us the option of sitting on the patio, which of course we accepted. The server was obviously trying her best, and did a great job refilling our waters. However, all the service seemed extremely rushed, even though the restaurant was hardly half full. The carbonara was underdone and too cheesy, it tasted more like Mac & Cheese. My friend noted that her squid ink linguine was overdone and mushy. We really expected higher quality for the price ($25/ plate and higher). The waitress, though polite, interrupted our conversation to give us the receipt before the bill even though we had made no indication of wanting it, which felt like they were trying to rush us out to turn the table. I had a similar experience at Earls, which is why we really expected more for an upscale restaurant. I hope there are some improvements, but in the meantime, I would head elsewhere.

Outstanding food! Had Mafaldine and it was perfectly cooked to Al Dente and delicious. Highly recommend

Great meal. Wonderful service by Taylor. Sat outside at a nice table. Wine was wonderful. Prices very reasonable. Would have given it 5 stars, except the music was awful! Horrible band we had listen to the entire meal. Cant comprehend how an Italian restaurant wouldnt play lovely Italian music? Would go back if they changed the music and turned it down. What a shame!

Late dinner after all day driving

A mixed bag honestly. Very expensive cocktails. Reasonably priced and delicious appetizers, entrees and dessert. Appeared understaffed so service was very slow, but when staff were at your table they were pleasant. ( Im not sure if the issue was on the floor or in the kitchen. ) Small facility so very noisy. My ears were ringing by the end of the night. Or maybe you enjoy yelling at the person across from you? All in all, I would not rush back.

Delicious food, good ambience and cozy patio. Servers were personable and attentive

Just had a chat with the host (Graham I think) of the restaurant and he said We dont want kids in our restaurant. They didnt want to ruin the vibe of the restaurant by having kids there and cancelled our reservation because of that reason.

I had the linguini w/ squid-ink pasta. It was marvelous. The staff is great and the interior is cozy.

I discovered this gem by accident. I was on the way to see the Flames game and my phone died right before as I had a busy day at work. I felt I could just go for a drink and get a quick charge for my phone so I could access my season tickets but the food selection and the customer service enticed me to forgo the fist period of the game. I was glade I stopped by as I will now make this a goto option as the food and the customer service were on point and exceeded my expectations. I ended up ordering every item on the Anti Pasti Section of the menu and I was happy with everything served to my wife and I. In closure, I look forward to my next visit and I felt that staff went above and beyond to make our dining experience both and enjoyable and memorable one. Thank you to the management, the kitchen and the service staff...... Daniel MacDougall

We got into town last Friday and made a stop in here. After sitting at the bar, ordered some drinks we were fortunate enough to me Graham. He was one of the nicest guys and his knowledge of wine is incredible. We looked over the menu and though we had already ate, my friend and I split the tiramisu. That was one of the best ive had. Wishing we had eaten there, we returned last night for a dinner. This small but very focused menu was awesome. We started with the crudo, burrito, and foccacia. They were all so good, the foccacia was delicious and made in house. For our main we had the rigatoni and the Ragu. I didnt try the Ragu but the rigatoni was so good and being it was double smoked bacon, it was not over powering. The way they had coursed out our dinner and the drinks recommended was also great. We got dessert to go, pannacotta- probably the best Ive had, and the tiramisu again. This place is awesome, wish I lived closer to Calgary. The house amora was also great. If youre in town or live here and havent gone, check this place out

Great place. Style is amazing and the pasta is the best I have had. I recommend the rigatoni big time!

AMAZING!!!

We got sat at the bar at 430 pm. We were the only people in the entire resturaunt!!!! I made a comment about the open tables and the manager said give it 30 minutes. well buddy... We were there for an hour and a half and when we left there was still at least 6 open 2 person tables that we could have sat at the entire time. There was No bread... at an expensive Italian resturaunt was surprising... I ordered the lasagna and it was a 3 out of 10. It was 30$ and There wasnt any flare or garnish with my dish. No one offered fresh pepper or parmesean cheese for the pasta. the bar wasnt too bad other than we had to listen to the bar staff and servers talk about thier Friday night while they stood next to us during our dinner. I wouldnt recomend this place or go back.

Exceptional food experience - had focaccia, meatballs, carbonara and gnocchi, all were absolutely amazing. Our server was welcoming, friendly and attentive; only knock is the main courses took a while. Highly recommended for any pre-saddledome occasion.

Amazing Italian cuisine! The calamari is the best we ve ever had. Nice thick pieces seasoned perfectly. The pastas were so rich and filling in the best way. We managed to somehow save room for desert and the tiramisu was light and creamy. That s just the food! Service was excellent and very attentive!

We really enjoyed the food, and the atmosphere. I wish the the drink menu was a bit more deep not at a $16 price point lol, but I guess that is the current trend. Also would like to see them serve drinks like the Old Fashion with a large ice so the drink doesnt get watered down felt like a race to drink my $16 drink.

One of the better experiences in Calgary so far. Great service and dinner. Highly recommend

Best Italian in town!

It was very tasty food but didnt have a wow factor that I was hoping for. Definitely high quality fresh made Italian though. Extensive cocktail menu, but many only 1/4 that we tried were enjoyed. One we didnt enjoy they offered a replacement drink for free which was very nice! Nice atmosphere.

An overall great experience

We had a fantastic dinner at Cardinale on December 11. Weve never had better calamari than we did this night. So crispy and delicious. The pasta was incredible. 10/10 will go back.