We booked a reservation early in the day when we approached the front door there was a mop in the window with cleaning supplies and was a very unkept and messy look. We were showed to our table the only 2 seater in the middle of the restaurant with waiters going by us on both sides. I asked if we could sit elsewhere and a cocky waiter with no manners said that's what happens when you book a late reservation which he repeated 3 times other people booked earlier so those other tables taken. He was not friendly or conciliatory at all. The waitress was cool did not know how to smile and had no warmth. The food was mediocre and if you wanted bread they charged for it. A terrible experience I wish we had just walked out and let them give that terrible placed table to someone else! Will not recommend this place to anyone it was an awful experience!!!! read more

The BEST Italian food in St.Albert Hands Down ! EVERYTHING is good !! Try the cesar salad read more

Owner is odd and puts his hands on people. I'm not looking for a back rub. Food was pretty good though.

Very pleasant staff, welcoming. Food outstanding. Cauliflower appie exceptional,! The veal eatball special was very tasty. read more

This place has been on my wishlist since I moved to St. Albert. Easy to find if you use Google Maps. Some hidden parking if you go down side streets but the street parking was full when I went Tuesday at 6PM. Restaurant was 90% full at this time, but apparently that was because a lot of people come here for dinner before a show at the Arden theatre. Place was only 40% full at 7:30PM when we left. Waiter was very friendly, never let our waters go empty and made us feel welcome and not rushed. Wasn't too loud even with everyone in there so was a great space to talk. Decor was pretty simple and nothing really stood out. Nice classy, up-scale feeling place. I got the gnocchi. The pork sausage was excellent - not too spicy but nice to have a protein in the dish. The gnocchi were plentiful, perfectly cooked. The sauce was very delicious and I wish there was 20% more. Overall really tasty! My friend got the Al Tartufo pizza. Was enough for 2 people with smaller appetites. Crust was cooked perfectly. Very tasty and creamy with all the cheese. read more

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Excellent service, delicious food. Always The ambiance is charming and friendly. I always look forward to a celebration that we can use for an excuse to go! read more

Wanted to celebrate our Anniversary with a dinner out, but Covid changed our plans slightly, but it turned out to be one of the best dinners ever! Ordered from Luisa's for the first time ever dining there and it was a wonderful experience. When I first called to place my order, they asked what time I would be picking up as they only allow one person in at a time. And they completely disinfect everything after each guest leaves (door handles, debit machine, counters, etc). After placing my order, he described the process of entering the restaurant, where to park at the back and the cleaning process, which I appreciated greatly. For our evening out, I ordered a side cesar salad, bread basket, lasagne and the chicken parmesan that they had for the special that evening. We took our meals to Lion's Park and had a lovely picnic instead of bringing the meals home. Our salad was a perfect sharing size and tasted great. The bread for the bread basket was a bit dry, but would have been perfect for bruschetta. So we'll make french toast with it at home. :) My spouse's lasagne must have weighed 5 pounds! The portion was huge and really delicious! The perfect combination of meat, pasta, sauce and cheese! I had the chicken parmesan special, which was a huge chicken breast marinaded over night, topped with italian meats (I don't remember exactly which ones...sorry...), sauce and cheese. It came with a large serving of pasta that had been tossed in butter, garlic and parmesan. I could only eat half of the chicken and pasta because it was so large. But that means leftovers for supper tonight! The owner, Ed, and I had a lovely conversation while I was picking up our meal and he was very nice to deal with. Overall, our dinner was amazing and we can't wait to go back. Either for another pick up, or to dine in! Thank you Luisa's Ristorante staff and owners for a great anniversary supper, Covid style! read more

Luisa Risto - Chicken Parmesan meal with pasta and veggies - Italian Near Me - St Albert, Alberta

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Some of the most amazing Italian food around. All made in house with locally sourced ingredients. The owner is always on top of making sure your happy and enjoyed your experience, and remembers you even if you have only been there a time or two. Makes it very comfortable. Also did I mention it's extremely affordable. Far less then we expected the bills to be, both times we went. A must try for St.Albert places to eat out. read more

Food was great. Owner never stopped moving. Friendly staff. It was cold inside considering it was mid-June. Would go again. Would recommend.

We had a wonderful meal here for a birthday celebration. We were greeted warmly with bday cards on the table (which was so sweet!). Everyone introduced themselves, the menu was thoroughly explained, very attentive and friendly throughout our entire night without being annoying- 10/10 service! The food was excellent, we started with fried mozzarella, warm olives and sausage (made in house), bruschetta, and fried cauliflower. Everything was perfect. The lasagna- excellent, the short rib cannelloni - excellent, veal parmigiana - excellent. No skimping on the meat, quality ingredient, you can tell they take care with their food and it isn't just slapped together. Desserts were great but not exceptional - would skip the tiramisu but the cheesecake trio was very good. Espresso martinis were fantastic. Ambiance is nice - it's a small space, and they have done what they can with it. Seriously, their washrooms are so spotless which is something I rarely see in any restaurant. Please go support this lovely local business! read more

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Just tried this amazing restaurant. New owners and it still is a family run business. Food is fresh and locally sourced. They will try to accommodate you if they can especially if you have food sensitivities. I mentioned I cannot have wheat, rice or corn pasta and Ed the owner went and got me quinoa... wow!! My photos are not that great as we were digging in before realizing we need to take some pictures. read more

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Great service, delicious food, charming host. Central location that is easy to find, parking is available.

July 2, 2022 update. Food is still excellent with great service. Glad to see them survive and doing well. Support your great locally owned restaurants, there aren't near enough of them. read more

Our first time there, blown away. I had the lasagna, it was the best I have ever had and the portion was enormous!!! Very impressed, well be back!! read more

My wife and I had a delicious dinner the other night. Great pasta so excellent service. We will be back!

Luisa was absolutely FANTASTIC! We were in Edmonton for a few days, and really relied on yelp for direction. We were not steered wrong when we followed the directions to this lovely little place. The service was fantastic (even though we showed up 30 minutes before closing and without a reservation), and the food was over the top, delicious! read more

My wife and I went here for the first time on a Friday night before a concert at the Arden Theater. From the minute we walked in the door until we left after our meal, it was obvious all of the staff were dedicated to making our experience amazing. We were looked after by Cindy who is one of the (new) owners and she provided some of the best service we have ever had, anywhere. Everything is done with class, and pride. The food was excellent (we shared a beet salad, both had the Carbonara and shared a Tiramisu). Everything was delicious with large portions at very reasonable prices. They have a great wine list and again, the prices are very fair. The ambience is cozy and welcoming. Overall, it was a fantastic dinner and we will be back soon. I really hope people support this wonderful, locally owned, non-chain restaurant run by people that are incredibly passionate about what they are doing. Outstanding! read more

My husband and I and two friends ordered take-out tonight and it was absolutely fabulous. The portions were generous and the taste was excellent. We will definitely be ordering again. Our guests were Edmonton residents and they too agreed, they will be ordering from Luisa Risto. Thank you. read more

Luisa Ristorante in St. Alberta is a gem! Went there for the first time last night and it certainly did not disappoint. Ed and Cindy the owners were outgoing and true hospitality people! You can tell the wine and drink menus are well thought through and there is a nice selection for almost everyone. The food menu has great variety and some standard staples of Italy. The price is very reasonable and the service was unmatched. The space is small and intimate but appeals to both families and date night. Cannot wait to go back. read more

This past weekend, I headed up to St. Albert for a wonderful dinner at Luisa Ristorante. It's a good thing we made reservations because the place was hopping, even when we arrived at about 6:45. We were seated at what must be the best table in the house, right in the front window. Our server was excellent, very knowledgeable about the menu and the specials. Speaking of the menu, there were so many vegetarian options, and I don't mean that our server said, "Yeah, I guess we can make it without the chicken" like almost every Italian place in Edmonton. They had several veg options printed in the actual menu. We ended up going for the bruschetta (very good), the pasta al forno (excellent), gnocchi (quite tasty), and the tortellini (outstanding). Their prices are much more reasonable than any place in Edmonton. We don't get up to St. Albert too often, but when we do, we will undoubtedly head to Luisa Ristorante again. Thanks, Yelpers, for recommending this place. Once again, you didn't let me down. read more

In my experience, there are not many quality restaurants to choose from in St. Albert. Luisaâs is located right in the heart of downtown, and itâs a tiny space with romantic lighting, paintings, Italian music and plenty of smaller tables for intimate meals. The food here is wonderful. You just know by the smells emanating from the restaurant. I start with red wine and their bruschetta, which is overflowing with fresh garden tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan and fresh olive oil. Sometimes I come here just for this appetizer and a coffee. If youâre having a main dish, anything with their signature tomato sauce is a safe bet. You wonât be disappointed. Prices are reasonable, and service is friendly. It has the feel of a small neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of Italy. read more

Luisa Risto - Home-cooked Italian. Photo courtesy of www.vueweekly.com. - Italian Near Me - St Albert, Alberta

Who would-a-thunk St. Albert actually has some good places to eat?? Well, I found out when we went for a dinner on Saturday evening for my friend's birthday. Luisa's was packed with several large groups (seemed like everyone was celebrating a birthday that night). Luisa has a down to earth, family run, genuine home style of cooking. It was my first time going and I would definitely go back to try more things! Anyways, for food, there were 7 of us but I'm only going to talk about the food I tried: - Bruschetta ($9) - you get 6 nicely sized pieces of bruschetta. So tasty, I couldn't pick out exactly what herbs/spice they were using but it was well balanced. Definitely a great way to start our meal. - Complimentary bread and oil/balsamic vinegar - our waitress was nice and brought out two plates for each part of the table. - Agnello ($23) - lamb shank was fall off the bone tenderness. Cooked perfectly with onions and rosemary. My friend ordered this with vegetables (you can also choose pasta instead) and came with a very nice variety (eggplant, cauliflower, potatoes, etc.). Such a good deal especially for lamb! - Fettuccini piccante ($18) - this was my dish and it came with 6-7 prawns over a spicy rose sauce. The sauce had a perfect hint of spiciness to it and the pasta was cooked perfectly. I couldn't stop eating it. - Tiramisu ($9) - this was a legit tiramisu, so good. Devoured is probably a nice way of saying how fast it went. - Birthday dessert (free) - I'm not sure exactly what it was but it came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and was a sponge almond type cake. Overall, great place if your hungry for Italian! And in St. Albert! Reservations are a must unless you like waiting. Family run, love how the owners come by to chat and see how your meal went. Only minus we had was our waitress who was a bit odd. Other than that, great food! read more

Excellent service and great food. Great family platter and good value. Chef visited table. Complementary bruschetta

This is a belated review, but a month ago (or so), my husband took me out for dinner and we tried Luisa Ristorante, based on other positive reviews. It was small, loud and busy the night we went, and it seems like a good idea here forth to make a reservation, but it was a wonderful experience. The decor in this place is not modern and the atmosphere makes me think of a cozy little unheard-of place, but wow! The food is great! All I can say is BRUSCHETTA--order some. It's the best! We were totally fighting over it. My husband had a herbed chicken pasta dish, which he said was great and I had some cannelloni. Mine was very good! The food was definitely better than your average Italian place, but it was a bit more costly. I do think it is worth it, though. We scoped out other people's meals and they looked awesome too. This is the sort of place that I would prefer to try on a weeknight, when it would probably be less busy. Go for the bruschetta! I promise you won't be disappointed! read more

Here's why this restaurant gets 1 star only & why I will not be back & will not recommend it to anyone. 1. It took approx 1.75 hrs for my table of 2 to get our dinner order. We did however, have an order of bruschetta, that arrived in a timely manner early on. Turns out our dinner order fell off of the clip onto the floor, so the kitchen staff did not see it. Our very young & seemingly inexperienced waitress told us that she kept "wondering what was going on", but seemingly, made no inquiries in the kitchen as to why her clients weren't receiving their food, while all the other tables were. The nervous, shy waitress mumbled an apology, but nothing from the kitchen or manager & no offer for even some sort of compensation. Very unimpressed with this. It was really unacceptable. 2. My pasta (chicken penne in vodka sauce) was OK, in an ordinary way. The kind of thing I easily & routinely make at home though. My main complaint was that there was no salt or pepper at the table & our waitress did not come around with a pepper grinder (or grated Parmesan). That made for a very bland pasta. So, I packed my supper home, added salt & pepper, reheated it, and then I enjoyed it. 3. The 1 star is for the bruschetta, which was very, very delicious. I will never go back here again. There are so many more much better restaurants out there that I would rather visit. read more

Just like the retro comedy show Cheers, it's nice to have a place where: "they're always glad you came". With that in mind, ten of us went for my wife's birthday, through the front door and into this bustling, colourful, St. Albert restaurant - where Rocco, Rosa and their staff proudly welcomed us all into their homey setting. This place is cozy; with vivid Italian music, soft lighting and attractive artwork (for sale at a reasonable price). We started our meals with such fundamental appetizers as prawns, salads and soups - and accompanied them with glorious glasses of fine Italian wine. Our exceptional main dishes included veal parmigiana, garlic shrimp linguine, and chicken in spinach pepper sauce with penne. The group consensus gave Luisa the nod as one of St. Alberta's best value restaurants we've been to, for its combination of great Italian food and nice comfy surrounds. But when you come here, just remember to save room for the tiramisu, or eat dessert first ;) I think we could best sum up Luisa Ristorante with our parting three words to Rosa: "See you soon!" read more

I had the pleasure of dining here by accident on a Saturday night. My friend and I originally had walked past, looking for a quick bite closer to our destination. However, something called us back in. It was pretty quiet, but the restaurant is small and cozy so we didn't take that as a bad sign. The ambience is unassuming and homey and had Italian music playing lightly in the background, which was super relaxing! Our server was very down-to-earth, friendly, and very attentive without coming across as overbearing. We ordered the arancini as an appetizer, and although a little on the salty side, was still delicious. We had the 1/2 litre chianti to drink and it was PERFECT. In fact, so perfect that we regretted not getting a bottle to ourselves and ordered another half litre. One of their daily specials was a pork cutlet with mustard sauce and a choice of vegetables or pasta on the side. Naturally, we both chose pasta, as is contractually obligated at an Italian ristorante. In fact, we both got the exact same dish. We quickly discovered that the portions are extremely generous for the price, which ended in me throwing the napkin on my unfinished plate in defeat. What was supposed to be a quick dinner ended in an awesome, 2-hour dining experience that made our impromptu night out one to remember! read more

This restaurant offers great service and delicious food. I went for my birthday back in November and really enjoyed the experience. Great selection of Italian-inspired food and friendly servers. My only complaints is that the restaurant is quite small and because of the close quarters, it can quickly become quite noisy on a busy night. read more

We had a wonderful time at Luisa's. It's very pleasant inside, and the staff could not be more welcoming and attentive. For starters, we had Arancini and the Mushroom soup. The Arancini were super-crisp and hot, and they were very tasty, The Mushroom Soup was stellar: deep mushroom flavor (and color) and lots of umami. For our main course, we both had the special, Lamb Osso Buco, served with pasta alfredo, instead of the traditional rice. The lamb was very tender and flavorful, and the accompanying veggies were perfectly cooked with a touch of caramelization. Alas, we were too full for dessert at that point. Oh yes, and cocktails were very good. You'll have a good time here. read more

Being new to town, I feel that we just discovered a gem. The service was superb, the food was great. I left so full I couldn't even eat dessert. I loved the smaller cozy feel of the restaurant. Fantastic place, fantastic food, excellent staff! read more

Luisa Risto - 2 person Caesar salad - Italian Near Me - St Albert, Alberta

Outstanding food, ambience, and service. Well done Luisa Ristorante and a special shout out to Ed!

A group of four of us ate here on Saturday night - after reading the reviews here, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised! Everyone we interacted with was warm, friendly, gracious, and genuine. Two of our party had the Fettuccine Pescatore special, with the white wine sauce. This dish was nothing spectacular, but a good respectable pasta dish. The scallops were much larger than some places! The other two members of our party had the Seafood Stuffed Shells (another special) and the Mediterraneo pizza. Both were more than satisfied. The best part of our dinner was a surprise. The owner (I assume) brought us out a plate of Gamberi Alla Sambuca, which is sautéed prawns with white wine & tabasco sauce, flambéed in sambuca. It. Was. Amazing. Since we hadn't ordered it, we didn't know what it was until we asked him about it afterward. We were all expecting it to be a simple scampi. But the sauce is divine - and the shrimp was large and plump, perfectly cooked. The member of our party who ordered the pizza scrapped the plate of leftover sauce onto their pizza to continue enjoying it. Definitely check out this restaurant. It's a local independent place and the foods and people show that. Far better quality and service than you get at a typical chain restaurant. read more

Went here last night under the new ownership. I had never eaten here under the old, so I can't compare. I can, however, go on and on about the DELICIOUS meal I had!! Started with the classic caesar salad, I could not shove it in my mouth fast enough, omg so good. For my main I had the gnocchi with housemade sausage and peas. The sausage had a nice hit of spice which was balanced with the sweetness of the peas. Nice big portion, I should've taken some home for lunch today but it was so amazing that I ate myself into a delightful food coma. The only thing I regret is that I had no room for gelato. The service was top notch, friendly and attentive. My water glass was always full (which is honestly what I base my tip on - don't judge, you have your own system too). My friend had a peach grappa over ice after dinner. I was driving so I only had a sip but I'll walk home to the west end from St. Albert next time so I can have one (or three). No doubt that I'll be back to try the carbonara, it looked to die for. Not one of us took a photo of the food ...we were too excited to eat!! read more

This is an Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown St. Albert. Absolutely amazing food. Actually the best Italian food I've tried. Everything is fresh and tastes homemade. They are very accommodating with the menu. This visit I tried the mushroom soup, which tasted heavenly (I'll admit I am a mushroom snob and this exceeded my expectations). I also had the pizza which had the perfect crust and the perfect flavour. Service was so attentive and friendly. Seriously there is nothing to criticize in this place. Prices are very reasonable and quality is exceptional. The website is also accurate and has the menu posted on line. Definitely worth making a trip to this place. You will not be disappointed. read more

We have been to this restaurant a few times and the food and service is always excellent. One of the reasons I always eat out in St. Albert read more

Luisa Risto - This of the bar area at Luisa Ristorante - Italian Near Me - St Albert, Alberta

Luisas is the BEST. They are very friendly wonderful people with a great clean restaurant and FANTASTIC Italian food. We have been there many times and will be back. Last night they were especially kind accomadating our 7 yr old granddaughter. One of the BEST read more

Wow, what a find! We dine out a lot...several times a week...and always say "What could they do better?" and in this instance we were stumped. We could not find any flaws with this establishment. The food was genuine Italian cooking. "E" is well versed in Italian cuisine....and througout the whole meal "E" was saying "I swear my Nonna is in the kitchen cooking!" I had the best lasagna of my life here. It was perfect. We had a salad as well, again perfect. Nothing complicated...just fresh and the dressing was spot on. The value for money is probably the best we have ever seen. Or close to it. The portions are HUGE. Typical Italian...love em! There are A LOT of good Italian restaurants in Edmonton and area. But this is probably one of the best we have been to. We will be back as there are a lot of other menu options we can't wait to try. read more

Luisa's Ristorante is our favorite Friday night go-to restaurant for dining. This gem of a dining spot is proof positive that high quality food will always trump an expansive menu. The atmosphere here is very welcoming and the food is reminiscent of the Tuscan tastes that we recently enjoyed in Italy. Our favorite item on the menu is the bruschetta. We have yet to find any other restaurant that can top this. Reservations a must on weekends. read more

Excellent! Rocco and Rosa make you feel like you are eating at their home in Sunday! Highly recommend! Don't forget the homemade desserts from Rosa! read more

Wow! Wow! Wow! That's all I have to say! Came by for some bruschetta and left completely full and VERY satisfied. Small bistro with a big personality. Will be my go to spot for Italian cravings from now on! read more