Bold Italian Eatery — Restaurant in Kamloops

Bold italian eatery won my heart this weekend! After what could be chalked up to as a "memorable adventure," my friend and I found ourselves panicking for a hotel and a bite to eat. Food is always a pick me up for us and a sure-fire way to turn our frowns upside down, so there was some real importance to picking the right place in this scenario, lol. After a solid 45 minutes of reading thru reviews, we settled on giving Bold a go - we were NOT disappointed.

It was quite busy, which was expected based on how hard it was to find a hotel, but they got us seated at the bar right away, and we're offered bits and bites as a bar snack. We opted to order dinner at the bar as opposed to waiting for a table - so we got started with some well-deserved Ceasers. The bartender was ON IT. He was so friendly, funny and on the ball. The pickled carrot was, without a doubt, one of the best pickled anything I've had in my life. (I'm pregnant, so I know a good pickle when I try one. 🫡) The ceasers themselves were also delicious. Solid 10/10. (I had a virgin ceaser, and my gf tried both the vodka ceaser and the gin ceaser) she did mention that the vodka was undetectable, whereas the gin one, you could taste the gin. not a complaint in any way

To eat! I opted to give the stuffed pepperoncini a try and a half ceaser salad - the half ceaser was $10 and bigger than any other full sized ceaser I've gotten. Definitely tasted like a homemade dressing and adored the idea of a crushed type crouton cause everyone knows that's the hardest part to eat anyway. The stuffed pepperoncini were also top tier and unlike any other "popper" I've tried. The balsamic reduction really pulled it all together! For $12, I received 5 of them and would definitely order these again! The prosciutto was crispy but somehow not dry 🧐, and the cream cheese definitely toned down the "spice."

My gf gave the carbonara Tessa a try and was utterly impressed with both flavor and creamy-ness! She said that the poached egg really added to the silkyness of the sauce! They were generous with the amount of crispy pancetta within the pasta and the packed a lot of flavor - more garlick-y then herby! It was definitely very rich, so she was unable to finish the whole portion - but the leftovers made for a great midnight snack back at the hotel 🤤 and, for $25, was a solid choice.

The overall ambience and decor of the resteraunt was lovely - the floral wall papers, the gold frames, the flowers hanging from suspended pallets in the ceiling, the most amazing crystal like chandelier hung by the bar - the open style pizza kitchen - it was a very enjoyable setting. The patio was closed due to the rain, but that also looked quite cozy.

The staff was also great - especially our bartender/server. He didn't stop moving the whole time we were in there. If he wasn't mixing cocktails, he was cleaning and restocking - always had something on the go. The only mix up was with our hostess, who did not mention to the bartender that we had opted to dine at the bar, so he assumed we were just enjoying a drink while waiting for a table. After about 20 minutes, we asked how we ordered food, and he apologized for the mix-up.

All in all, before tip, our bill was right around 80-85$ including tax. For 2 alcoholic beverages, a mocktail, two appies, and a main!

Thanks for turning our weekend around Bold Italian Eatery! We...

Disclaimer I have been fortunate enough to have known the owner (Karly) for several decades, as we met in high school, so my review of Bold is going to be gregariously and glowingly biased.

She used to care for my now 17 year old as a teensy toddler in her home while I worked, and would send them home with delicious homemade bacon macaroni and cheese that made my Kraft dinner instantly obsolete. My 15 year old son came home from RIH nestled in one of her Kustom Kribs car seat blankets to his custom nursery linens handsewn with so much love. She’s no stranger to hard work, so when she met Deej and they purchased Bold, it truly seemed like the perfect decision. We have eaten there for the entire duration that they’ve owned it, despite moving to northern Alberta for 15 years and now back. Bold has always been THE place that my kids begged to go when we’ve been home several times a year. And for great reason.

Every single menu I have been elated to experience has been filled with an astonishing amount of perfect bites.

As a former sous chef from another mainstay upscale restaurant in town, I have been absolutely blown away by the creativity in the pairings of ingredients that Deej brings to such a mundane, everyday food product that something such as “pizza” can be. He elevates it, spins it on its head, and brings such an incredible flavour experience to his patrons, it’s been wonderful to watch him grow as a chef and curator over the years.

The Pele’s Curse has been my current favourite, but my heart will forever be with the Peach and Prosciutto. My kids are heartbroken that there is no longer a pickle pizza, but they console themselves with the unbelievable cheesecake selection, so I think they’ll be alright. That Nanaimo bar cheesecake was the best I’ve ever had, and it has possibly ruined me for life for other cheesecakes… but… I guess I’ll just have to keep trying every single new one that Deej puts out for research purposes. Oh darn. I’d rave about the custom cocktail menu, but I just don’t have enough space in this review.

The atmosphere that Karly and Deej has curated is built on community, and it shows. Their team’s energy is infectious, and the vibe is always amazing. This recent renovation is my absolute favourite look so far, and I just love experiencing Karly’s visions come to life each time. Her eye for design and colour has always been beautiful, and I think the public agrees that we’re all here for it with the rebrand and reno.

Bravo, Bold crew. Keep slinging dough + we will keep coming...

I recently had a highly disappointing experience at Bold Italian Eatery, a rebranded version of the much-loved Bold Pizza that we frequented and thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, our recent visit turned out to be an unpleasant affair, leaving a sour taste that overshadowed what was supposed to be a festive occasion.

We decided to dine at Bold Italian Eatery for my mother-in-law's birthday. My wife brought along a cake to celebrate, something we've done at numerous restaurants without issue. Imagine our surprise when she was rudely informed that while we could bring the cake in, it couldn't be consumed because "we have desserts here." This refusal to allow us to enjoy a simple birthday custom felt downright inhospitable.

Not only did the staff demonstrate a lack of tact, but their reasoning was troubling. As paying customers, we chose their establishment to celebrate a birthday with expectations of a welcoming atmosphere. Birthdays are typically moments where restaurants can shine with customer service and create loyal patrons. I would expect a broader policy on ensuring guests are accommodated, but evidently, Bold Italian Eatery doesn’t align with this sentiment.

After this interaction, we ultimately opted to take our business elsewhere, to a place that appreciates its customers and understands the importance of personal celebrations. The entire ordeal was a disappointing reminder of what the venue used to be and how it seems to be veering away from exceptional customer service and accommodating spirit.

Overall, Bold Italian Eatery was expected to be the highlight of our celebration, but instead it turned a joyous occasion into a search for a more thoughtful and flexible dining experience. Sadly, this won’t be a place we consider for gatherings or regular dining in the future unless changes are made to foster a more inviting and customer-focused approach.

If you’re looking to celebrate a special event with thoughtful service, you might want to consider other options that value customer satisfaction and understand the significance of a birthday cake for a...