Cardinale — Restaurant in Calgary

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...

It’s been about two years since I discovered this gem and was blown away by the experience. Located in the heart of the city, the restaurant had a warm and inviting ambiance that made me feel right at home.

The service is exceptional, with the staff being friendly and attentive throughout my meal, every single time. Graham is next level awesome and makes you feel like family. They are knowledgeable about the menu and made great recommendations for dishes and wine pairings. Also, the cocktails are out of this world and so unique.

Now, let's talk about the food. The menu has a great selection of classic Italian dishes, and everything I tried was delicious (I’ve ordered the entire menu) The pasta is cooked to perfection, and the sauces are rich and flavorful. The puttanesca is outstanding, and this classic Italian dish is so hard to find done well in Canada. The calamari is literally the best I’ve had in my life. I could go on and on.

I highly recommend Cardinale to anyone looking for authentic Italian cuisine in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The food, service, and ambiance were all top-notch, and I am forever bringing people to try this...

Update

Had another great experience as this is a really convenient lovation for those that go to Flames games. Graham was attentive and great to have as our server.

Thanks again to all the staff and I look forward to my next visit.....

Last experience was below

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...