If you live in Edmonton (and you don't live under a rock) you are undoubtedly aware of the Chef…read moreDaniel Costa monopoly on fine Italian cuisine by now. Six restaurants strong, this restaurant group features a different vibe and experience at each one, from the more casual to the truly elevated. The consistent aspect between each of them is that you will be hard pressed to find a finer Italian meal in the city. Bar Bricco (the second in the family) opened in 2014 and has since completely absorbed the next-door space that used to belong to Corso 32 (now making it the most senior in the group). The identity of this restaurant is purely "Italian wine bar;" offering small plates, handmade pastas, and an exclusively Italian wine list. Perhaps the most rambunctious of the six, the quality and care toward the food does not suffer just because the atmosphere is louder and younger. (The younger crowd likes nice things too, as they should.) Ranking at #51 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2016, #80 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2017, and #45 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2018, the accolades don't stop there. Avenue Magazine also named them Best Late Night Restaurant 2019, Best Restaurant for Sharing 2019, and Best Late-Night Restaurant 2020. I visited on a Tuesday evening, excited to add to my Corso 32 Group collection. Located in a sleek row Downtown, Bar Bricco can be found next door to its fairly new sister Rita. The exterior isn't flashy - nothing more than a black awning with the restaurant's name printed in white cursive lettering. Inside the space is moody, capturing a decidedly subterranean vibe. Black hexagonal tiles interlock around the bar and white marble table tops contrast against the midnight hues. The space was buzzing with many occupied tables filled with a hip clientele, laughing and enjoying each other's company. It can get pretty loud but that's the intended atmosphere at Bar Bricco. The idea of mixing and mingling is the entire point. Seated at a table for two, our server was upbeat and friendly, matching the feeling of the room. Blasphemy as it may be, I'm not much of a wine drinker so the curated list of Italian wines got overlooked in favour of the cocktail menu. I love a Sbagliato (Prosecco, Campari, Cocchi vermouth - $20.00) and was happy to find it listed - stunning! Similar to a negroni, the difference is that instead of gin the beverage is made with a sparkling wine (like prosecco) instead. This version was adult and delicious but a bit more fun and trendy compared to a regular negroni because you get the effervescence from the prosecco. A perfect palate cleanser, the bittersweet citrus notes help to cut through the rich food dishes like a dream. The menu at Bar Bricco is inspired by the diverse regional cuisines of Italy. Instead of pigeon holing into one specific province, you'll find plates that feature the best that the country has to offer while keeping the dishes simple and playful. A tasting menu is offered where the restaurant can select the plates for your group (never a bad idea!) but on my visit I had already made up my mind about what I was excited to try. Starting with the Lardo & Anchovy Crostino ($11.00). These are served individually so each person will need to order their own. Each piece of toasted bread was adorned with a singular anchovy and then draped in sheets of lardo, a type of salume made by curing strips of fatback. The decadent and salty flavour was right up my alley however I could have used even more anchovy! I know that anchovies can be an overwhelming flavour and it makes sense not to be heavy-handed but I could have eaten at least a second fish. A really nice bite to whet the appetite! One of the piatti that I had heard the most about was easily the Soft Scrambled Eggs 'Cacio e Pepe' (Black truffle, crostini - $23.00) and I couldn't wait to try it for myself! Every egg should taste exactly like this!! Velvet folds of creamy, indulgent scrambled eggs are seasoned with black pepper and pecorino (just like cacio e pepe pasta) and the addition of truffle brings a luxurious element. Scooping these eggs onto slices of chewy crostini felt like the best breakfast ever, although perfectly acceptable for any time of day. I am ruined for eggs because I need them to be like this forever. I had also heard that the Leeks (Whipped ricotta, 'salumi bomba' & mint - $23.00) were magical. Leeks are having a total moment right now and I see them on more and more menus. A good preparation leaves them tender and ready to absorb whatever ingredients they're paired with. This dish was executed perfectly in the sense that it was beautiful to look at and provided an unexpected heat that woke up my taste buds! The spicy salumi bomba was served on top like a meat sauce while the creamy whipped ricotta waited underneath to cool everything down. The leeks were cut into cylinders, allowing the bold flavours to seep down between the sheaths. An inspired dish! Moving on to pasta,

Does Bar Bricco ever fail to deliver? No way! This staple of YEGs food scene consistently offers…read moregreat dining. We just returned from Italy and due to some underwhelming food (due to lack of due diligence - food has changed in moderate priced Italian places to cater to North American tastes) we rushed to Bar Bricco to satisfy our focaccia craving. The Wagyu beef tartar was silky and excellent, huge egg yolk ravioli perfectly executed - when I cut into the ravioli, a beautiful golden yolk flowed out richening(is that a word?) the sauce. Yum. A feast for the eyes and the soul. Two anchovy crustinis on the menu- one w the classic truffle French butter and a new one w a spicy sauce. Floating for days on a cloud of happiness.

Well that was an experience I don't need to repeat…read more We thought we had stopped at Allegro. A popular Italian restaurant. This place is not that. It does have an Allegro menu but it also has an Eritrean menu. This made my husband very excited. The place could use a good clean. Dingy but well spaced out. We ordered red wine and a caesar to drink. The wine was old... not sure how old but it had that "I've been on the counter for a few days" after-taste. Fortunately the very intoxicated man at the bar reminded the staff making the Caesar to shake the bottle of clamato before pouring it. (Thank you to him!!) My husband ordered Tibs FirFir (like a beef stew with injera). It was actually pretty good. It's what got the one star My salad was okay. But was wayyyyyy over dressed (see picture). All in all it was going okay until a man off the street was invited in for dinner by a group of people in the restaurant... which was an incredible gesture aside from his cart that he unpacked and left in the doorway. He also wasn't checked for his vaccination card. Again.. lovely gesture but should have been a bit more controlled by the restaurant staff. We were asked for our vaccination cards but no one else was that arrived after us. Will not return. Good luck to the next waitress - you did great!

Fantastic food. Especially the seafood pasta in white wine sauce. I also love their cannelloni dishread more

Whatever it once was (amazing) it is NO LONGER! they don't even make what they advertise yet charge…read moreyou the former fine dining prices from Jack's Grill glory days. Paid near $40 bucks got a piece of tough grilled chicken, and penne in tomato sauce. They call it Chicken Piccata (it's not that at all). Won't be surprised when restaurant will close its doors. Once the word is out? It's out! Oh and no effort made to make any amends when I called to explain the dish was not a true Chicken Piccata but some type of cafeteria knock off.

Met some friends here for a Christmas get together, 5 out of 6 meals were disappointing. Only the…read moremushroom pizza was good The meals are quite pricey and the quality and flavour is just not there They really need to do better. They have a great location and a restaurant that had a solid clientele, please focus on improving or it will fail

Vicky's has been around for a long time the food is always amazing the service top notch…read more The staff are always friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and have great suggestions. And Vicky is a delight she Always is around interacting with the customers she really is a hands-on owner The restaurant has a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere and the noise level is minimal so it's easy to carry on a conversation and not have to yell

Place was 50% full on a Sunday. But 80% by 7:30pm. Parking…read moreavailable infront of H&M as it closes at 6pm. Staff were super sweet and attentive. They have staff walking around refilling water every 15 minutes, which was nice but almost too often as it constantly felt they were in our space. Wine flight was sooooo much fun. We split one and that was lots and a great couples idea. And made for great conversation. Baked scallops was not a big meal but very tasty. Caramisu was so unique but not as good as just picking one or the other in my opinion. They were super kind and split our slice in 2 so we could share equally. They were also kind enough to split the bill exactly in half (share the wine flight and dessert costs) . Overall awesome place I highly recommend.

This is my second trip to Sorrentino's Little Italy…read more Last time I was there, I had the pasta Stephenson which was full flavored and nicely cooked. This time I had the gnocchi Gorgonzola which is one of my favorite things of all time. Sadly, this gnocchi Gorgonzola was gummy and didn't have enough Gorgonzola for my taste. Still I do believe this is a matter of taste because it wasn't poor quality. Having said that... The service here is outstanding. Atmosphere is wonderful. And it might have just been an off night... Everything else we had as a table was well prepared. We had arancini, calamari, and some salads, all which received few complaints from our large group. I find the wine to also be reasonably priced which is another reason to go back. If I could do it again: Calamari (arancini was less outstanding) Pasta Stephenson Amari for dessert (the Amari was delicious.)

If you try to think of the longest standing Italian restaurant in Edmonton, you will likely come up…read morewith Sorrentino's. Now an empire with six restaurants in the Edmonton area, three pizzerias, a cafe, cooking classes, catering, annual festivals, and tons of philanthropic work... Sorrentino's is a force. It all started with Carmelo Rago, who came to Canada from Italy as a child and opened Sorrentino's in 1979. It's now 44 years later and the restaurant group is certainly the largest and most recognizable Italian restaurant brand in the city. Edmonton Journal has named them the Best Italian Restaurant 2020 and Favourite Italian Restaurant 2022. No matter what corner of the city you happen to be in, Sorrentino's is likely there. I decided to pay them a visit on a Saturday evening and I specifically set my sights on the Little Italy location in the McCauley area. Of the six restaurants currently operating, this one is the oldest. All of the other restaurants boast massive, gleaming, modern dining rooms... But Little Italy remains humble. You can feel the roots of the business in the space. There are no more than ten tables in the dining room and as such, a reservation is necessary. The best part is that they have tried to keep the same atmosphere and food as the first year that they opened. It's genius, really, to operate a restaurant that fully captures and maintains the nostalgia of the brand. The building feels a bit like an Italian villetta in the countryside, with dark wooden beams and a fireplace in the center of the space as a focal point. It's warm, cozy, and feels special. Seated by the window, I could take in the room and feel the vibe of the history reverberating in the walls. I gazed over the wine list but in the end I asked if the bartender could make a Negroni ($9.95). There was no cocktail menu in sight, but I was fairly certain that they would be able to make me this classic Italian cocktail. Our server confirmed that they could indeed. Made with gin, vermouth, Campari, and garnished with a slice of orange peel (I'm pretty sure this one was served with a slice of lemon instead), this cocktail has become my go-to when I dine at Italian restaurants. I find that the slightly bitter flavour balances well and cuts through the heaviness of Italian foods, similar to how I love to drink a can of Brio when I eat a pizza. It wasn't the best negroni that I've ever had, but this no-fuss version delivered the flavour notes that I was hoping for. A basket of warm bread and butter was also delivered to the table and I settled in happily for a delicious carb-filled journey. An antipasti was a must and all of the classics are on the menu; from bruchetta to arancini. However, I was in the mood for the Calamari Fritti (Flour-coated squid, deep-fried with canola oil, served with spicy tomato sauce - $16.00). Something easy to share and fun to eat. First of all, I loved the plate that this dish was served on because it was refreshingly adorable! We squeezed the lemon over top and began to dunk the crispy rings of squid into the sauce. Delizioso! The calamari was cooked to absolute perfection, which can be tricky sometimes. The meat was tender and not at all rubbery. The fried batter coating was light and crispy without being too heavy. I loved the zesty tomato sauce but I wouldn't exactly call it "spicy." It's so interesting that in Greece this same dish is served with tzaziki. In Spain it's allioli. In Italy; sugo. All of these Mediterranean countries have their own similar versions and each are wonderful. I wanted to bring some freshness to the meal and looked to the insalate section for the answer. While I was very close to ordering the caesar (made with anchovy dressing as per tradition) I had to go with the Bocconcino (Fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, oregano, EVOO, balsamic vinaigrette - $14.00 for full size) because it's one of my favourites. In retrospect, I probably should have ordered the sorrentino salad because it's named after the restaurant itself. Beautifully plated and wonderfully fresh, I loved the bright slices of roma tomatoes. This salad is like eating in an Italian garden and the mild slices of bocconcini complimented the dish well. The olive oil and balsamic really punched this simple dish up in a delightful way. My only complaint is that I felt that the dried oregano was a bit heavy-handed and instead I could have used a bit more coarse salt. When it came to my main dish it had to be pasta. It just had to be. There are hearty dishes on the menu that include several preparations of veal, chicken, and even braised beef short ribs, but I had to choose one of the delicious pasta preparations. There are nine different options to select from and for me, it had to be the Gnocchi Gorgonzola ($24.00 for full size). All of the pasta dishes (and the salads as well) are available in full or half sizes, which I think adds a great way to customize your meal and also helps to accommodate your level of ap

Wonderful experience all around! We chose this for a birthday celebration after reading the…read moreexcellent reviews and it did not disappoint! We chose the feed me option with 1/2 glass winds pairings and ended up having 8 or 9 dishes plus 2 desserts! Every dish was excellent and we could hardly pick a favourite and the wine pairings were spot on for everything! Service was attentive and genuine we had lots of fun the whole night with both our waitresses! Expect an intimate vibe with only a few tables and half exposed kitchen it feels like you're out dinning in Europe not downtown Edmonton ! We will be back and have a new favourite fine dining spot!

This has been our special place for years and we usually celebrate our special occasions there…read more The place is small, but beautifully designed and very cozy. They always have awesome music and great play lists. The owner and the staff are all very nice, friendly and helpful. We love the level of customer service we receive here. The food is amazing and very unique. We usually go with "feed me" option and they bring the best of the menu for us. Overall, this is my most favourite spot in Edmonton and I highly recommend it! :)

We absolutely love Bodega in St. Albert! We ordered take-out for a dinner in and it was delicious…read moreas always. Food is bursting with flavor and we're always craving their Portuguese flavors again and again.

I had dinner at Bodega in St. Albert recently. The restaurant seemed quite busy so reservations are…read morerecommended. In terms of food, I tried their calamari, beef pinchos, patatas bravas, and ricotta stuffed pepper: - Calamari: 8/10: Nicely fried,, lightly coated/battered calamari - Beef Pinchos: 7.8/10: Didn't expect it to come in skewers like this nor cut up like this...Good flavour cookedness, mostly tenderness, but some pieces were really tough - Patatas Bravas: 7/10: Quite different/overwhelmingly saucy compared to ones I had in Spain - Pepper: 7.5/10: Quite interesting...good ricotta

What a wonderful experience! We had this place on our list…read morefor a while and had to cancel last time because one person I. The group got sick! The place is beautifully designed and decorated. Customer service is fantastic and I enjoyed interacting with the staff. The food and drinks were all very delicious and high quality. I enjoyed my experience and I'll definitely go back there soon! Highly recommended!

Food was amazing and the service was great the servers were really nice. Such a cute place! The…read moreatmosphere alone is worth visiting, and the food made it even better. 10/10.