Pacini Calgary Northeast — Restaurant in Calgary

I have been to this restaurant several times and I've always enjoyed the food and experience. On Family Day 2025 I suggested to my family that we go for lunch as it's close to my work. It started bad from the second we walked in the door and got worse. There was no host. We waited 15 minutes in the lobby and I had to walk in to the restaurant to get someone's attention. Once I did they assisted the group before us and was waiting longer. I thought for sure the server would come back for us. They did not. Another 10 minutes and I had to walk back in to the seating area again to get someone's attention. The original server who sat the group ahead of us was there but apparently simply forgot about us. Finally we were sat to a dirty table. At this point I was ready to leave but my wife insisted we stay as the kids were hungry and we didn't want to take time to go somewhere else. We should have left. Our server came by and gave us menus. After a few minutes she took our drink order. It was then a good 10 minutes before she brought those drinks and to take our food order. We simply ordered pizza duo's with salad to make it easy and quick. Now it was lunch and it was slightly busy, but by no means was the restaurant full. The bar had one table occupied and remaining guests were at the back of house. They were not using the front of house tables. Really not 'slammed' but it was certainly lunch. We waited almost 30-40 minutes for our lunch to arrive. While waiting not once did the server stop in to say she had checked on it or ask us to refresh our drinks. At one point she dropped off a stand, presumably because she was about to bring out a large tray of food. At that time she said nothing to us, didn't ask if we wanted more drinks or to tell us our food was coming. Just dropped the stand and walked away. Well it was easily another 15 minutes before our food arrived. When it arrived my pizza was cold and you could easily tell it had sat for sometime. My wifes order was wrong and to the servers credit she offered to fix the mistake and said we could keep the error item. It was easily another 15 minutes for my wifes pizza to arrive and when it did the rest of us had already completed our meal. Also, by this point, still no asking how things were or if we needed more water or drinks. My wife ate her pizza and then we waited about 10 more minutes and we had to flag down our server. We asked for a box for the errored item to take home and also the bill. We waited another 10 minutes for the box and I had to remind the server that we wanted our bill so that we could leave. She returned promptly with the bill and a machine. We payed full price for this horrible service and food and there was no offer of apology from our server for the ordeal we had just endured. As we left every table that didn't have someone sitting at it was full of dirty dishes and half completed meals. It appeared that no one was clearing tables. In closing and as I stated at the beginning, I have been to this restaurant many many times as it's near my work. I have always had great service and great food and recommended it. I don't know what's happened to this restaurant but I would NOT recommend it to anyone and I would in fact suggest people avoid it. I certainly have no plans...

This place is way over priced for what you are getting. We ordered an Fettuccini Alfredo ($18.75) and Spaghetti meatball and sausage ($24.25) and a Caesar salad ($10) to start. I was originally going to have the steak sandwich but it isn't actually a steak...

The Caesar Salad was pretty much the same as what you could get at the salad counter at Superstore. Even the Croutons are something you would find in a grocery store... I have no idea why a restaurant with a gimmicky bread bar needs to buy croutons rather than making them from the left over bread... But this place does. Another word on the bread bar, the spreads are all vegetable based spreads, so obviously also not made in house and if you've ever gotten the garlic spread from superstore, this is the same stuff. In the end, the gimmick is that you get to make and toast your own bread, after walking across the restaurant and don't really have a COVID safe option here. Everyone touches the same utensils...

As for my Fettuccini Alfredo: This was the most bland Alfredo I have ever had. It tasted and looked like the Classico Alfredo you buy at the grocery store... It had that translucent look to it that is characteristic of Store bought alfredo. And seriously, this didn't actually taste like anything. Cream had more flavour than this alfredo. It needs garlic or nutmeg, or salt. I had to add a lot of salt.... Also, the sauce had the consistency of soup. I hesitate to even call it a thick soup... I suggest whoever does the menu to go down the street to Via Cibo and taste a decent alfredo (which is cheaper than yours and tastes like food).

My partner ordered the Spaghetti, Meatballs and Sausage. It looks brown (see picture) and not at all appetizing. Flavour wise, he said the meatballs were very mushy and had the flavour you find in frozen meatballs rather than something made fresh. The Sausages were good but they are Spolumbo sausages so that is a given. The sauce itself was brown, and lifeless and didn't have any hint of fresh (and the cubes of carrot were absolute mush and we think that they were likely bought cubed like that rather than a fresh carrot).

This might be a bit picky but I ended up washing the crayon off of our table before we left too. Takes a bit to scrub it off but its not impossible...

If you couldn't tell, we were very dissatisfied with the meal. The best part was honestly the water. These guys have good tasting water.

Edit:

It is good to see you are using the exact same response (copy paste) to me as you have used with others. Makes me doubt the sincerity of the reply. We won't be returning unless there is an overhaul in the menu. Via Cibo has better food for a fraction of the...

Went here for lunch , brunch . Having been here serval times. Normally a great dinner we have normally go before I fly on vacation

Today was extremely bad experience we will not be back I don’t not recommend ever to anyone anymore

The service was worst ever had ever . The service was much disgraceful. Left extremely disappointed.

We went to meet families before wedding left very bad taste in our months . Very disappointed we couldn’t meet our families in a better way .

First there was no lunch menu , only Monday -Friday

We reserved tables party for 12 a long time in advance and nothing prepared . When we got there two tables much apart

The server was very bad , extremely bad service . Not friendly , never greet us or welcome us .

The sever never went around asking for drinks. We had to ask , pull her ask request our drinks . When the drinks , or coffee was low or out she never came back tell we were ready to leave so she figured we would say we good

When brother ordered she asked do you went from lunch or dinner he asked what the difference she said nothing just dinner more …

When we requested to move tables to new table she said I will go ask manger then she did nothing we had to ask 3 or 4 times before the manager came over by then it was to late our food was coming

When the food came it was very under whelming. As you can she my bagel nothing to it . Not worth it at all . Looked to be canned pineapple on the side which was gross. No side or nothing . The server could have told me it was small I would have ordered more . She never asked anyone how was the food . How’s everything.

No one liked there food , very disappointing .

My coffee had hair in it .

I asked for orange juice she didn’t bring she just bring the bill at the end I was like where my juice she like it coming .

She never removed any plates when we done eating , food plates everywhere . She no where around … stay away from this place

They expect big tip but looking to provide no service just want your money .

If you a big party they expect at least 18 percent tip …

My Dad knows of the owner so I hope you read understand the disappointment you provided , the worst service we ever had know we will not be coming back but making others aware of known to avoid here

Pls look to improve for future guests

Very disappointing

Bad service

Pls...