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Bonterra Restaurant
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sat 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 am
Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for Bonterra Restaurant
Review Highlights
"We finished up with a earl grey panna cotta to share."
(in 3 reviews)
"The Polpette di Vitello was delicious."
(in 2 reviews)
"Both the linguine carbonara and the tagliatelle vongole..."
(in 2 reviews)
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Mark S.
Calgary, AB
8/19/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I have a dined at Bonterra several times and have never had a bad experience. The service is always top notch and the management team will go above and beyond to ensure you enjoy the experience. As for the food, not to sound repetitive, I often will try something different there as I have enjoyed all my meals. At most restaurants, I have a couple of favourites I stay with, not here. I typically try something new. However, I always order the Calamari. That is a must.
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Review from Andrew G.
9/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable
My wife and I enjoyed dinner at Bonterra while visiting Calgary from San Francisco. The bright and spacious atmosphere, interesting menu, attentive service, and first-rate wine list combined to make for a tasty night out that I would recommend to anyone looking for a relatively upscale Italian dinner in Calgary.
We enjoyed a caprese sald with mozzarella di buffala, which hit the right notes using seasonal fresh tomatoes and the buffala mozzarella to savor. I had the carbonara, which was rich and eggy as it should be; the pasta was housemade and appropriately al dente. My wife had a risotto, which didn't quite meet expectations, but was enjoyable nonetheless. We finished with panna cotta and vin santo that were truly wonderful together -- maybe the highlight of the meal.
As for the wine, there is a huge selection -- including plentiful wines by the glass. The iPad guide to their wine list was fun to explore and is a great tool for navigating their wine cellar, though we relied upon our server for recommendations (we were happy with her suggestions).
Lastly, it bears mentioning that in response to our inquiry about taxi availability, our server called a taxi and had it waiting for us outside when we finished our meal. It was a nice touch.
I have enjoyed first-rate Italian food in San Francisco, Chicago, and throughout Italy. Given the price point and the atmosphere, and based on only one visit, I would recommend Bonterra to anyone looking for a well-executed Italian dinner that hits some high notes and demonstrates commitment to authentic Italian cuisine. -
Review from Trace F.
Calgary, AB
8/21/2011
Be prepared to read a completely bipolar review of this restaurant.
Recently heard great reviews of this italian gem so decides to check it out for dinner. The restaurant is esthetically very beautiful and has probably the nicest patio I have seen in Calgary. You must make a reservation to sit outside because it's definitely more desirable than an inside table. There are two entrances into the building. One entrance from 8th street, and one from the parking lot. This is important because if you come in from 8th street there is no hostess or anyone who will greet you to let you know this isn't the entrance where the hostess is available to seat you. After waiting 5 minutes I flagged down a waiter. Why I had to flag him down is confusing to me as he obviously saw us waiting at the front entrance. He was courteous enough to find the hostess and we then were seated inside. There are two places you can be seated at Bonterra, the patio and the twilight zone. Our seat placement was the latter. Where is the waiter? Looking around the place people are sitting with water, crossed arms, and a confused look on their face. Once our waiter approached our table, he never greeted us but instead stood there and stared at us. We ordered an appetizer and a glass of wine (after my dinner companion took on the servers role and asked what I wanted to order! ). Filling water glasses across the restaurant was an obvious priority for our server. Also, the unhygienic method of wiping sweat from his brow with his hand then serve tables really stirred up our appetite. When someone finally returned 25 minutes later to take our entree order we asked for the bill. Without question he left and brought the bill... this should probably indicate something is wrong? Quickly paying and leaving wasn't an option as there was no one available to help us with this! So, having to once again find someone for assistance, we went up to the bar and paid as if this is some hot dog stand on stephen ave.
This is not an isolated event, no one around us even had meals by the time we left.
This could easily been just a terrible sequence of events...but considering "benefit of the doubt" wasn't on the menu, I couldn't order it. -
Review from Angelo T.
7/19/2011
Bonterra has a unique and interesting italian menu. I tried their Prosciutto con Pera and Polpetti Di Vitello to start. The pears were sweet and paired well with the salted pork, so well that it felt like a tango inside my mouth. The venison meatballs were packed with voracious flavour, so much that I had to eat it with the Bonterra's exquisite in house bread. For the main course I had too half orders of pasta: the Carbonarra and the Amatriciana. The Carbonarra was...ok enough with the fancy writing. I blacked out, I remember my maw whirring away like a motorboat, plates were flying, utensils were being thrown like darts into the wall, babies were crying.
Also I was a bit concerned with the service this night as our server seemed a little disorganized and slow. It seemed like she had to serve a room full of raucous suits har-harring away in the other room. And who do I see strolling out? Mayor Nenshi, along with his secret league of Mayors, riding off to god knows where Mayors go to on a thursday night.
Someday...someday... -
Review from Alex L.
Calgary, AB
4/6/2011
A perfect evening at Bonterra.
The waitress was wonderful, friendly and informative while allowing our table to enjoy the amazing food.
Started with a cinzano rosso. This is a very refreshing mix of fortified red wine and soda. Recommended by the waitress and both delicious and different.
We ordered the two person three course meal and changed up the pastas. The kitchen was busy and was still willing to cater this request. Thanks!
The salad had a good mix of flavor and crunch from the dressing and almonds, very good.
Both the linguine carbonara and the tagliatelle vongole were perfectly cooked and very flavorful.
The rack of pork entree was a very generous portion with a ton of side dishes. The spice rub on the outside was delicious and the meat was tender and moist.
Sat at the table for hours just enjoying the ambiance, sight and sounds of the restaurant. The waitress even brought an on-the house dessert wine. It was called Electra and was a perfect ending to a perfect meal.
Bravo Bonterra, I will be back for sure. -
Review from Christi M.
Calgary, AB
4/7/2011
Love this place because I know when I go that there'll be gluten free options (pasta, at that) to choose from.
Food is sometimes a little too salty for my liking - and service isn't always as good if you're not ordering wine BUT still a favorite of mine.
Patio is a hidden gem in the summer. -
Review from Starkie S.
Calgary, AB
Updated - 11/14/2011
Dinner tonight with friends to catch up and Bonterra was a pretty good place to do so. Seemingly busy for a Sunday evening. We were seated promptly and our server was by quickly to offer drinks and update us on menu items added and ones that were unavailable.
The drinks menu at Bonterra is on an IPad which makes scrolling around simple and adds features such as a history on the winery as well as possible food pairings - unique.
Mains ordered include: ravioli, beef cheeks, carbonara and pasta. All arrived promptly and seemed as described on the menu. I had the calamari that was very good due to Bonterra's interpretation - not breaded nor deep fried but mixed with baby arugula, almonds and whole chillies - yum! Dessert was a blood orange sorbet that had a real punch to the flavour and was refreshing after various flavours in the apps and mains.
Overall, a good place to eat with a nice atmosphere to chat and have a few laughs. The server was attentive as was required and he made some good wine recommendations.
Parking behind Bonterra is free and well lit!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/26/2011
Lunch last Friday on the patio was enjoyable. Great surroundings with an energetic vibe from the… Read more »
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Review from Agnes C.
DOUBLE THUMBS UP! From services to decoration, there is nothing for me to complain about.
First off - Service is excellent @ Bonterra. Everyone is so friendly and attentive. It gives you this "welcoming" feeling when you are in the restaurant.
I went there for lunch the other day with a couple of my coworkers, and let me tell ya....at the end of our feast, we were more than satisfied.
We ordered two appetizers - Calamari and Polpette di Vitello (veal meatballs, tomato, basil, grana padano, extra virgin olive oil).
Mmmmm the Calamari was one of the best I have ever had. It was tender and flavorful. It was perfect. The Polpette di Vitello was delicious. I know it sounds really odd but I actually love the basil tomato sauce more than the meatballs.
For entree, I ordered the Linguine Carbonara. I like how you can order half size for the entree. It was superb.....but what I am more fond of is their dessert. If you dine at an Italian restaurant, it does NOT matter how full you are, you HAVE to have their dessert - tiramisu. I am not even gonna try to use words to describe how delicious their tiramisu is. You just have to go to Bonterra and try it yourself. It is THAT good!!!!
Honestly, I think Bonterra is on the more expensive side but you do get what you paid for - good food, good service, good atmosphere. What else do you ask for when you dine in a restaurant? -
Review from Carina Z.
4/3/2011
Bonterra Trattoria is amazing Italian cuisine in a relaxed funky atmosphere.
The interior is cozy in the best sense of the word and the staff make you feel right at home. Then the food arrived and nothing else mattered - succulent lamb, heavenly carbonara, soft, fresh mozzarella, and (by far) the best meal on the table was the gnocchi. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious - just beyond superb and I will be back just for that dish.
If you are visiting Calgary this should be on your must try list of restaurants. -
Review from Lisa L.
Delta, BC
2/6/2011
Bonterra is a charming Italian restaurant that I would definitely visit again. Make sure you make a reservation; it's busy!
We sat in the upper section which had great ambiance. The beet salad was phenomenal, and the potato soup was good, with a spicy twist to it. We ordered the pumpkin ravioli, which tasted like dinner and dessert all in one, and the lasagna which was chock full of meat and a really good size. Needless to say we were both stuffed after eating! -
Review from Aymie R.
Calgary, AB
7/24/2011
Love, love, love Bonterra! I have been for both lunch and dinner, and have never been disappointed. My last visit was for dinner, and was fortunate to sit on the patio on a lovely summer evening. Great service, great menu, great wine and great company - we had a blast and I can't wait to come back!
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Review from Katie C.
Calgary, AB
12/12/2009 2 photos
NOM NOM NOM.
I love, love, love Bonaterra. I've been hearing wonderful things for years, but have not yet had the chance to pay a visit, so I was very happy when we paid a visit for dinner for a small holiday celebration. I was glad we made a reservation, because the place was packed!
Even though it looks tiny on the outside, the space opens up on the inside. It is beautifully designed, and even though the tables are quite close together it feels like there is so much space. It felt like being in an Italian Piazza, which was just thrilling.
The service was excellent - we were constantly being checked on. We ordered a bottle of wine to start, and then a couple appies, the standout of which was the chickpea fries which came with a mayo.
My entree was the Pizza con frutti di mare, with scallops and shrimps and peccorino cheese. It was deluxe: very delicious, the flavours complimented each other so well. The other standout was the fettucine a la vongole, which was rich and delicious. The ricotta ravioli was tasty but a bit lacking in flavour. You could taste the care and preparation of the dishes. I felt like I was going to explode. Like the fat man in the meaning of life, because I was so, so full. But then the dessert menu came.
We finished up with a earl grey panna cotta to share. It was like eating delicious, creamy heaven clouds. It was so good. I was not a fan of the accompanying polenta shortbread, but that panna cotta is seriously in my dreams. As I said before, I was ready to burst, but I still shoveled down more of my share of that panna cotta. We had some lovely conversation, but my first paragraph basically summarizes my thoughts on Bonterra.Listed in: DEELISH!
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Review from Steve H.
8/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
Ate there on a whim while walking by. Without a doubt one of the best meals I've ever had.
The Fagiolo was superb... The risotto among the best I've tasted.
When in Calgary.... VISIT! -
Review from RONDA R.
Calgary, AB
2/14/2010
Absolutely amazing! From the street you would never know the gem contained inside. They really take the time to make sure you enjoy the experience from the moment you step in the door. Typically I would go into more details about the food, but it would almost ruin it to not allow you to experience it for yourself. The kitchen works so harmoniously, it is like watching a chef Ramsey show. The food has so many flavors, specialty items are put into dishes directly from Italy, and the veggies are all fresh and I dare say organic.
You will enjoy yourself immensely. -
Review from Patrick P.
Calgary, AB
7/5/2010
This is the best restaurant I've come across in calgary, pure and simple.
The first time we went was right after the 2010 Olympic hockey finals (Yeah canada!) and we didn't want to make any decisions...so we asked our waiter to take care of picking things for us.
Best decision ever. He took personal pride in making sure that every aspect of our meal was phenomenal, including convincing the chefs to make something that wasn't even on the menu for us...and then gave us a break on the bill.
We've been back several times and it's always the same, great food, great service and without that air of pomposity too that often comes with fine dining.
Excellent! -
Review from C T.
Calgary, AB
12/8/2009
Pretty good food and good service @ Bonterra.
We had our office Christmas lunch here and there was lots of food!! We had 4 platters of appetizers - cheese and olives, anitpasto, shrimp and pancetta and bruscetta. Focacia bread was handed out as well. Try it with that oil and garlic. It was tasty!
Then our meal was a prixe fixe meal - one appy, one entree and one dessert. I ordered the Spinach salad with the honeydew; it came with portabello mushroom. For my entree, I had the special beef entree with gorgonzola. For my dessert, the mocha chocolate cake with poached pear. Scrumptious! Ended my meal with a decaf cappucinno.
I tried some of my colleagues' food - calamari is really, really good!! -
Review from Victor P.
8/25/2009 1 Check-in Here
Bonterra has one of the best patios in Calgary, so summer dining here is a treat if you can manage to get an outdoor table. On a Monday evening in late August, it was busy, always a good sign. We started with the Formaggi 5-cheese platter, an assortment of hard and soft cheeses including a not too pungent gorgonzola, paired with a half litre of Chiarlo Gavi, a very pleasant white that also nicely rounded out the crab risotto and a truly luscious fettucine gamberi (the pasta was perfectly al dente and the prawns were cooked just right). Desserts: a panna cotta and a tiramisu, both executed very well. Service was attentive and prompt without being intrusive. We love this place, and will keep coming back.
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Review from Mame G.
Calgary, AB
4/24/2010
Went here last night, I ordered the Arctic char thinking it would be like the one on the picture in their website but it wasn't. I found my dish on the salty side, the proportion was just right. I tried my husbands linguine and it was OK, was not super thrilled. I did not like the open kitchen concept, I felt nauseated the whole time from the smells of the kitchen and when we came home, we smelled like pasta. Nothing too special for me about this restaurant.
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Review from Kyle B.
6/30/2010
Pretty good Italian, with a fabulous outdoor dining area. The gnocchi was well made and served with a fresh zingy sauce. There is some hidden parking around the back.
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Review from C I.
Calgary, AB
12/5/2010
Whaaat? I had no idea this place existed, or that this was inside the building that faces the street. My BF and I decided to try it after we saw it's glowing reviews on Yelp and were looking for a good Italian restaurant. It's very warm and inviting inside and the food was incredible. Once again - more vegetarian options would be nice and it was a bit too pricey to go often but we'll definitely come here on another special occasion.
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Review from Michael T.
Calgary, AB
11/12/2009 5 photos
Bonterra has provided my (now) finance and I the most memorable restaurant experiences bar none. Every time we go, we end of having a blast, eating several courses through to dessert and coffee. Great ambiance, the patio is fantastic in the summer, and in 5 years, I've never seen it slow. Check it out!
