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    Ristorante Pulcinella

    3.2 (170 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Pizza
    Open 11:30 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Order Ristorante Pulcinella Takeout or Delivery

    Ristorante Pulcinella Photos

    RISTORANTE PULCINELLA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Amabel D.

    I'm surprised I haven't written a review of this place yet. It's been around forever and it's amazing and always has been. I have dreams about this place its so good. My favourite dish is the caprese salad actually! It's a star! They also have wood fired authentic pizza. Wine menu is amazing. Food comes out quickly. And waters are ALWAYS full which is a big thing for me. I love when severs never leave your water empty. That is a sign of good service for sure. If you want they have a tiny store at the front where you can purchase some of their ingredients. They have amazing pesto sauce that is a must try! Definitely recommend if you're in cowtown.

    Bruschetta
    Sandra I.

    An Italian joint specializing in Neapolitan pizzas and other Italian fare. Wasn't overly busy on a Saturday night and we managed to get a party of 9 in. We had a young server who did his best to keep up with us and did a good job, although he forgot to take my order until I reminded him, but we were a fairly large party so I don't blame him. My entire party agreed that the appetizers were phenomenal! I highly recommend getting the caprese salad, they source the burrata from Italy itself and it was wonderful! Other favourites of mine was the arancini made with this flavourful saffron rice. Heads up the size of the arancini are huge and comes in 3 per order. I also got the mussels which were also very delicious! Other favourites from the rest of my group was the meatballs, the mushrooms and the calamari. The only one I wasn't a fan of was the bruschetta, felt like it was an overly salty mix of tomatoes and olives on a piece of flatbread. I didn't end up getting any pizza because I pretty much filled up on all the appetizers. The rest of my party did and they all said they enjoyed it and had plenty left for leftovers which is always a bonus. One aspect of the place I really did like is that they had a mini market at the front selling some of produce, pasta as well as some of the items from their menu (including their arancini!). I picked up their homemade pesto so I can recreate the caprese salad at home.

    Cocktails
    Lucy S.

    Pulcinella is a Kensington classic--my family has been a million times and it never disappoints. I don't know if it was the heated patio or the fact it was my last supper before lockdown, but it really hit the spot. RATING: 9.5/10 -Pulcinellas One of my favourite cocktails is an amaretto sour and they shake one up that's especially delicious--extra citrusy and sweet--the amaretto shines. It really is hard to stop at a couple. For my mom and me, the arancini is the star of the show. I don't think we've ever been without starting with this appetizer. We've made it our mission to try and find somewhere that tops this arancini, but have yet to find one. It consists of rich risotto, wrapped around melted mozzarella, breaded, fried and smothered in marinara sauce. It will blow you away! TIP: These are large and filling! The order contains three--one per person is ideal, leaving room for your pizza or pasta. We order extra pizza for leftovers the next day. Pizza is our go-to. That's not to say that the pastas and other menu items aren't good, but we are creatures of habit. We love the Diavola. It's a tomato based pizza with salamino (spicy pepperoni) that provides a nice bite! We also ordered the Tartufo which is a white pizza with plenty of cheese, shaved black truffles and an egg yolk that you break on top. If you're a truffle fan, you must try this. All in all, Pulcinella's is always a good choice for any occasion. Patios are closed but plan to hit this one up when things reopen. It's heated, has a nice view and is tucked away from all the bustle of Kensington.

    POLPETTE pork and beef meatballs, tomato sauce and basil
    Mohammad K.

    Who doesn't like a nice sit down Italian place! Situated in the heart of beautiful Kensington, you will find lots to do before or after your meal all within a short walking distance. We went in without reservations on a mid week & for a table luckily. I do recommend calling in advance if possible. The ambiance is a fusion of 50s diner retro mixed with classy Italian elegance. Our server was very attentive and accommodated our needs for non-dairy with the kitchen staff for our pizza...you'll see in the pics. The best part of the food was the starter meatballs. Perhaps the best ones I've ever had anywhere!!! Full of flavour, right amount of tenderness & texture. We couldn't finish our pizza so we had it to go. Unfortunately we forgot the box at the table as we were heading out. Wish someone had pointed it out to us :( I'd like to go back for a chance to make this a 5 star review- Server/ Host knowledge: 4 Server/host attitude: 4 Fast service: 4 Food Menu: 4.5 Drinks Menu: 4 Food quality: 4 Food Portion: 4 Ambience: 4 Distance to other tables: 4 Cleanliness: 5 Comfort: 4 Waiting time to get seated: 5 Price: 3

    Pizzaiolo "killing" the delicate fermented and airy Neapolitan pizza dough on every pie  darn, so close to perfection!
    Matt F.

    Though review to write as I'm torn... bottom line, this place rocks and it's amazing, but I think it could be one notch better... The atmosphere, hang, and environment is awesome! The service, staff and way the restaurant was run was too notch. The drinks, quality of ingredients, and everything we ate was amazing! But, my one big complaint... being I LOVE (and seek out) a proper Neapolitan pizza... the pizzaiolo (pizza maker) "killed" the delicate, delicious, dough... the dough looked fermented nicely, was in nice round airy balls, but then he killed all the delicate air bubbles and took the life out of a proper Neapolitan crust by slamming it on the counter over and over and over and over (see photo)... slow down and treat it MUCH more delicate and light handed please!!! Other than that, this place rocks! Just please treat the dough with a MUCH softer touch and this place will really stand out!!!

    Jerry K.

    Stopped here for lunch with a friend, I was looking for somewhere else so glad I found this place instead. I had the parmigiano, it was fantastic. It's kind of a rustic neapolitan pizza place their wine selection looks amazing though because it was a lunch I didn't get to try it. The service was super friendly and the food came out really quickly ideal for a lunch. We shared the calamari appetizer which was also amazing. Cooked perfectly nice and tender with a ever-so-slightly spicy tomato sauce The decor is really nice clean and well looked after. But nice old floors really give a nice atmosphere to the overall Ambiance of the restaurant. I will definitely have to come back and try this place for dinner at some point.

    Upstairs dining area
    Kate B.

    We really love Pulicinella! It's really a treat to have this restaurant in kensi, it's likely the best pizza in the neighbourhood. As Rebbeca C. mentioned, it can be loud here, but we've been lucky with coming at less busy times and by sitting upstairs, which seems a bit less noisy. If you are looking for thin crust, artisanal pizza in Kensington, look no further than Pulcinella. They offer both red and white sauce pizza, and you will likely be pleased no matter which you order. We have had a few pizzas off the menu and the crust is always outstanding. They update their menu regularly and the severs are great for guiding you in what to choose. For appetizers we've tried both the calamari and arancini, both were so good! I'd recommend this place in the summer, for wine and pizza on the second floor patio.

    After mixing in the dressing and garnishes

    Extremely disappointed with the $17 Kale Caesar Salad I ordered for pick up today to have for lunch. It was a I think $6 would be a more appropriate price range, and it should be listed as a side dish.

    Just a picture of the leftovers but still.... Pretty pathetic pizza
    Jan Kristie S.

    So I decided to try out yet another pizza place. I had my fingers crossed that this place would turn out to have the best pizza in Calgary, but unfortunately I was left disappointed. Upon entering the restaurant I was surprised to see how busy it was on a Thursday evening and this got me excited that maybe I had found the next best pizza and had maybe been missing out on something big by never having been here before. We waited about 10 mins for a table for 2 and were then seated in the main dining area. The decor was interesting and had an upscale feel. Maybe a little too upscale for what I prefer but thats a personal opinion. The music was also a little too loud which made it difficult to carry on a conversation. No complaints with the service. A menu was brought over right away and we were faced with a huge selection of pizzas to choose from. There were some other tasting sounding appies and pasta dishes but we went primarily to try the pizza. We decided to start with the bruschetta as an appetizer and were pleasantly surprised with this start to our meal. Very tasty!! We finally decided on 2 pizzas to order; the pulcinella and the capricciosa were delivered to our table promptly. However I am sad to say that I did not discover the next best pizza in Calgary. The centre of the crust was soggy, the ingredients seemed somewhat cheap, the toppings were also a little too scarce and was just an overall disappointment. I am such a pizza lover that I will normally keep eating pizza way past the point that my stomach tells me to stop, however this pizza didn't keep my appetite past a couple slices. We boxed up the rest and I haven't even been intrigued enough to bother with the leftovers. Also felt this pizza was way over priced for what it was. Id maybe come back here for appies and wine and possibly to give the pasta a shot but if I'm in the mood for pizza there are many better Neapolitan pizza options in town. I 'll have to give this one a pass.

    Diavola
    L R.

    Authentic Italian pizza, so good it reminded me of the wandering the streets of Amalfi. The vegetarianism our group has always found something she liked too, so if you're about that life this is a solid choice.

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    Buon Giorno Ristorante Italiano

    Buon Giorno Ristorante Italiano

    3.8
    (101 reviews)
    1.6 km
    $$

    Mediocre food and service on a Friday night. We waiting at least an hour between appetizers and…read moremains. During that time no one checked in on us, or offered us any extra bread despite knowing food was delayed. Finally we asked our waiter at the 1 hour mark when food was coming and he said there were still 3 tables ahead so maybe another 15-20 minutes. After we finally received our food, the manager came and checked in. When we told him we waiting an hour he simply replied "It's a Friday night and we're fully seated. Thanks for waiting." Overall, the lack of empathy from the staff, the under seasoned pasta, and the overcooked risotto made this a very underwhelming experience. We will not be coming back. PS. No pictures because we inhaled our food.

    Yesterday, we had a wonderful dinner at the new Buon Giorno, downtown on 17th. We hadn't been there…read morefor many years, and we wanted to try the brand new one. Its reputation is glowing, and many of the old staff have stayed on. Also, we were celebrating one year out of hospital for Linda - a long road of recovery that has led to her feeling better than ever. The remake of this restaurant, just down the street from the original location, was as good as it can possibly get. It was an icon, and it most certainly is even more so today. The décor, the design, the layout inside - were exceptional. What a great place! And the vibe! It buzzed with life and enjoyment, at the perfect level so you could still hear and have a comfortable conversation. This is a happy place. The service, from a professional and happy server who had been with Buon Giorno for 25 years, cheerful and attentive, was excellent. We started off with a Calamari Napolitana as a shared antipasto. Fried and breaded calamari, in a spicy tomato sauce, exactly to our liking. Delicious! We agreed that this was the best fried calamari we had ever tasted - and we have tasted quite a few. For my main, I chose the Gamberetti e Capesante Livornese - or, if you like, the shrimp and scallops in a light white wine tomato sauce with fresh basil. This was wonderfully delectable. It made me very happy. The serving size was perfect. Linda chose the Cannelloni Fiorentina, stuffed with veal, prosciutto and spinach in a bechamel tomato sauce. Oh, she loved it! All the flavours were perfectly integrated. The serving size was a bit larger than necessary (a personal observation), so some was left on the plate, but it was as delightful as it could get. We finished off with perfect deserts. I have to say something about Italian restaurants in Calgary. There are scores of them. The new Buon Giorno is one of the very best we've been to anywhere in Canada. Buon Giorno is right up there with the absolute best. No, I don't know anyone who works there, or any of the ownership, nor do I have a financial interest in this gem. But I am interested in supporting exceptional local restaurants. This is one of them. Presentation: 5/5. Flavours: 6/5. Portion Size: 5/5 Ambience: 5/5. Service: 5/5. Parking: 4/5. Value: 5/5

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    Penne with red snapper
    Penne with red snapper
    Cannelloni
    Cannelloni
    Split Ceasers salads

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    Mercato Italian Gourmet

    Mercato Italian Gourmet

    4.0
    (159 reviews)
    2.5 km
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    Mercato was, without question, the best dining experience we had in Calgary…read more I went with my sister, and everything was exceptional. The food was outstanding, the service was warm and attentive, and the manager even came over to greet us personally. Our waiter took wonderful care of us throughout the evening.The food speaks for itself--simply the best Italian cuisine we found in Calgary. As someone with Italian roots, I recognize authentic, high-quality Italian cooking, and Mercato absolutely delivers.And the focaccia? It was on another planet. Truly unforgettable.We can't wait to come back!

    As soon as we arrived , 10 min early the place was packed and filled with people however, they had…read moreour table already ready! We didn't wait 1 second and got seated right away. This resto screamed authentic from the wood burning over in an open concept kitchen where you can even sit by the bar and observe the chefs cool up pizza's and food in front of you, it's quite an experience ! We sat down ordered 2 bottles of Prosecco for our table of 4. Unfortunately, they didn't have orange juice .. in order to make a mimosa's quite a bummer. Service: Quick and easy, waitress was very nice to us .. perhaps I wished she took more time explaining their menu.. Food: Charging money because you have a gluten allergy is absolutely BONKERS !!!! The bread itself came automatically for our table already ready.. however one of my friends has celiac and they charged an extra 15$? For Gluten free crackers that didn't taste that good!! The Bistecca was the highlight of the night A huge 25 oz tripple A (small size) bone in ribsteak was big enough to feed all 4 of us , cale with delicious shiitake mushrooms (funghi) Absolutely delicious loved it!! The burrata was alright, I've had better.. wish it was dressed in a different dressing. The salad was ok.. nothing really special. The eggplant was a lil undercooked... very cold and harder on the bite.. shouldn't be this hard to eat an eggplant lol Overall, the service could be better, the food was ok could be way better .. however steak was absolutely fantastic definitely the game changer.. maybe I'll be back again when it is less busy and that day was just a one off .. Cheers

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    Ambiance was reminiscent of a modern Napa restaurant.
    Ambiance was reminiscent of a modern Napa restaurant.
    Focaccia and warm olives
    Focaccia and warm olives
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    Pasquales on Macleod

    Pasquales on Macleod

    3.2
    (45 reviews)
    6.7 km
    $$

    Good parking, quick seating on a busy Saturday night- and friendly and helpful service too... my…read moremartini was on point- sorry no pictures because I inhaled it - lol- let's let what the food brings! So we were in a pasta mood and ordered the lasagna and the cannelloni. Sad news for the cannelloni: we felt they were flavorful, but too dry inside. Cannot recommend. The lasagna was very tasty, but for my liking it had very little cheese. We did eat all the portion though ;) it was flavorful. Italian cuisine varies from region to region, we were expecting a plate covered in bechamel for the cannelloni and there was none. So it did not meet expectations... but the pasta was good, home made, thin, and the sauces were flavorful... so a solid 3 stars for good quality. I do have to say that our waiter approached us to ask if all was to our liking, and only at the end did I disclose our disappointment... I didn't know what they could do to make it better...and we were so hungry we had already eaten half anyways... well in this they excelled as they comped our cannelloni and gave us a very good tiramisu to top it off! Definitely 5 star customer service! This is a local family owned restaurant that prides itself in having happy customers, and we are just passing by... nonetheless they really tried, and succeeded, in having us leave with a happy face. And that gives them a solid 4 star overall! Enjoy.

    This was my second time going to Pasquales. Went for lunch and ordered:…read moreFrench Onion Soup Caesar Salad Bruschetta The bruschetta was great. Big chunks of bread covered in bruschetta. Really satisfying. French onion soup was the reason we returned (we don't live in Calgary). As good as I remember - broth is perfect, good amount of bread in the bowl, toasted cheese on top. Highly recommend. Caesar salad was meh. Lettuce/dressing tasted really watery. Skip it if you have high caesar salad expectations. **Edit to add pictures.

    Photos
    Inside look
    Inside look
    Pasquales on Macleod
    Bar side where you will meet the cashier

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    Bar side where you will meet the cashier

    Ristorante Pulcinella - italian - Updated August 2026

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