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Borgo Trattoria
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 8:30 am - 12 am
Sat-Sun 11 am - 3 pm
Sat 5 pm - 12 am
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
22 reviews for Borgo Trattoria
Review Highlights
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"...our courtship with the risotto balls, which were nothing..." In 3 reviews -
"Ciabatta with olive oil; Amazing." In 2 reviews -
"All was amazing, I being the gnocchi fiend I am, loved it..." In 4 reviews
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22 reviews in English
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Review from Vishal M.
Calgary, AB
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
My date and I were originally going to go to Teatro but decided to head here. The decor was relaxed and the wait staff was very friendly. We were surprised that the place was packed on a Monday night at 8 pm.
I would recommend their $45 tasting menu. From a price/value perspective, it can't be beat!
I will be returning here in a few months, once I get another craving for good quality Italian. -
Review from Wendy P.
3/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Borgo... finally we meet for a meal! You've been on my list forever and ever, okay, well forever since you opened anyway. A Friday lunch turned out to be the magical moment of our first meeting.
I loved that my fave server from days gone by at District was our server yesterday. I doubt very highly he'd remember this girl, but you'll recognize him by his most amazingly white teeth and lovely smile with an equally lovely mannerism to match. He was super attentive, knowledgeably... Borgo, you're lucky to have him on your side :).
We popped in for a late lunch (the lunch menu isn't available after 2pm), and snuck in our order crostini (Vine-ripened tomatoes, whipped buffalo mozzarella, balsamic reduction) to start followed by an order of gnocchi (Ricotta dumplings, basil, tomato passata, fior di latte) and chicken (Roasted 6oz breast, sage, lemon, speck prosciutto, sautéed broccoli). Oh, and what's a Friday afternoon with cocktails and wine?
They also had this cool little lunch box special thing on that you could try three things on the menu for a fixed price (I want to say it was $18? But don't quote me on that... there's been much wine and beer since yesterday at lunch at today, my memory's a little fuzzy on that one).
I love the interior at Borgo. It's nice and open and modern with super tall ceilings, great seating in the front and down the sides of the room, it felt clean and lovely, it wasn't too noisy, and I bet when the weather is warm enough sitting at the front with those windows wide open is going to be a choice spot.
Borgo's also open at 830 Tuesday-Friday for morning coffee (served until 1130... right before they kick off their lunch menu). It makes me want to get all prettied up one morning, grab a book and go sip some delicious Italian coffee something and take a mini-vacation for an hour or two! -
Review from Katie F.
Calgary, AB
2/28/2012
Very very good!
Arrive early- can be a wait for a table, but it's worth it.
Food and service were great. Food portions are NOT huge by any measure- so you might like to share.
My only reason for four stars not five is I think the common tables are weird- like being at a ski chalet where you can share with many people.
Also I enjoyed everyone else's food at my table-except mine. Had something with prawns, clams etc. Very very salty. -
Review from Tristan B.
Calgary, AB
1/9/2012
A trendy location with a new take on an old idea... That is the first thought that hit me as I walked through the door. Truthfully, I was cautiously optimist about the new establishment, and that was entirely needless! The short version is: the staff is great, the food is excellent, and the ambiance is reasonable. Go there, at least once.
As for the long version? Read on!
The restaurant has a lovely open feel as soon as you walk through the doors, it feels massive without being overbearing. Seated right at the front near the cafe style doors/windows is the place to be, you can watch the people walking on the street if you enjoy people watching or if you want a little less ambiance. Our server greeted us very promptly, introduced himself and was extremely friendly; be sure to see if Gaston is working when you go in, you will not be disappointed!
The food? Well, the food was delicious... mostly, I would almost order more appetizers than entrees next time though, I found the portions to be a little more NY and little less Calgary, and for some reason, that appealed to me (perhaps because I do not like when I get served enough to feed two of me). Gaston was quick to suggest alternatives that might be more suited, or expanded explanations when I was unsure exactly what I wanted to order. As for what was not perfect? The lamb chops, there was just, something about them that was not exactly right, perhaps it was that they were not as moist as I had hoped? I am not sure what it was, they were close, but not perfect,
Other than that? It is certainly worth a visit, and it is guaranteed to be a great experience. -
Review from Kent V.
1/31/2012 1 photo
I dig this place because it reminds me of the hustle n bustle & chaos of a jewish deli in NYC. You can go by yourself and sit at the centre bar with a coffee reading the news, but its even better with a group ordering a lot of sharing plates and lounging around. It is laid back, modern and unpretentious (in my opinion). The risotto balls are incredible. Portions don't look that big, but sharing 4-5 appys & a few pastas between 4 people, you actually leave pretty satisfied.
A few of the dishes came out really salty, which was unfortunate. But there is a wide selection on the menu, that I will want to return in the future and try other things. -
Review from Krista R.
Calgary, AB
1/18/2012
A friend and I went to Borgo on a Thursday evening seeking out some tapas and wine and good conversation. Since Borgo doesn't take reservations, we had to wait a bit for a table but the woman manning the front was really great and accommodated us within about 10 minutes. Unfortunately, the waitstaff were not quite as helpful. We had to ask for a wine menu (they only brought a food menu), and it took quite a while for our server to come back and take our order. The food we ordered was quite delicious, although I would certainly pass on the scallops next time (cold, thin slices. Yuck!).
The most uncomfortable part of the evening came after we indicated that we didn't need a dessert menu -- the server promptly took my friends unfinished wine glass away and brought us our bill, and we got the definite impression that he wanted us out of there. It was only 9pm! When we put our credit cards on the table, he then took them and assumed we were going to split the bill in half (he should've asked). I'm definitely not in a rush to go back. -
Review from Ted M.
Calgary, AB
10/5/2011 ROTD 10/22/2011
Monday afternoon in autumn... the leaves are falling and clinging to my shoes as I walked through that park at the corner of 17th and 8th...
Borgo Trattoria sits like a forgotten birthday present tucked behind the trees of fall.
Lovely and bright, the tile and open interior is so very inviting.
We chose a booth; which are so soft in comfort and nice table spacing... elbows allowed.
The place mat seemed to be the selections at hand, throwing me off a bit...and so, as my lunch partner and I perused the "menu" I realized that it's quite different than what I am used to... to me, immediately, it seemed that it was meant to be ordered in tandem.
So... wow... away we went...
Fennel and radish with a beautifully flavoured olive oil jar.
Ciabatta bread and balsalmic with oil
Two giant prawns with a grilled hunk of lemon and a sprig of rosemarry
Two Risotto balls,
sauted calamari in olive and tomato,
A cheese platter
A cold cut platter
Every item, was fresh and tidy. Presented in such artistry, and really besides being beautiful to eat, really was a wonderful thing to experience. Everything was served on olive wood cutting boards and rustic ceramics... with a tinge of glass and oil.
between the two of us, we difted bits of meat and cheese (5 of each...hmmm, I wonder if I remember...) on to our plates...
Fontina
Asiago
Gorgonzola
Soft Brie like cheese... made me think of Port Salut
completely forgot the other... excellent
Mortadella
Prosciutto
Speck
Calabrese w/pepper corns
and a soft salami... can't remember...
Anyway... the point here is that the place is marvelous... it's perfect for a date, for friends hangin out... very hands on... and well; EXCELLENT. $69.00 for the two of us.
Never having been to Europe, I can only imagine that some northern Italian border town has a place just like this, and really, really... so worth the trip. -
Review from Allison S.
Calgary, AB
3/21/2012
Loved it. Went there for lunch, and was glad to have arrived early -- it filled up rapidly. The wait staff were incredibly professional, the food was amazing, and the atmosphere can be best described as "upscale family-style". Calgary's come such a long way from the chain restaurants and half-hearted attempts at trying to compete with other, tonier cities' restaurants. We've arrived! And with more restaurants like Borgo -- who do everything right -- the bar is raised.
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Review from Arc P.
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Borgo is a dining place on 17th that has a surprising casual atmosphere. Enter the restaurant and you find a more traditional dining room vibe at the front. Walk just a bit further and you are greeted by the white brick/tile decor. It kind of reminds me of a kitchen.
For drinks we had the spritz and Pinot Nero. Spritz ($8) was sweet and refreshing. Pinot Nero ($9) was very balanced.
For starters we had the Beef Carpaccio ($8) and Breschetta ($2/piece). The Carpaccio was interesting. It had Grana cheese and the crystalline texture of the cheese made the carp crunchy, nice surprise. The app had a sweetness to it, possibly from the bread crumbs sprinkled on it. It was different from any carp mix I have had before. The Breschetta was excellent. My date commented on the fact that the tomatoes and a little dollop of mozzarella pack so much flavour. Best part of the meal!
For the main course we shared a Fettucine Porcini mushroom cream ($18) and the Lambchops ($15). Both dishes were very good. Not the best lambchops I've ever had, but it was good. It finished with Lemon Sorbet and though I ordered one scoop ($2) the waiter gave me 3 ($5). I was a little miffed by this, but decided not to make a big deal of it. However, it was kind of annoying.
19/30 Yelp 30 Day Challenge -
Review from laura r.
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I noticed Borgo a week ago when I was shopping on 17th ave and checked out the website when I got home. The dinner menu had me at fried risotto ball, and I knew I had to get myself to this restaurant asap.
Had plans this weekend to go for dinner with two girl friends, so I suggested Borgo and they were game. Normally I am not a fan of restaurants that do not take reservations, but we showed up at 6:30 pm and were seated right away. The restaurant was busy, but not packed. LOVE the design of the restaurant. I wanted to smuggle all of the lights home in my purse.
The food is served family style, with the proteins, pastas and sides all ordered individually. Price range is between moderate and spendy, $11 to $60 per person, depending on how much food and drink you order. We ordered the risotto balls (arancino), eggplant fritta, gnocchi, trout, and focaccia. Everything was delicious. Very rich, but I guess that's to be expected considering what we ordered... The service was also very good. It felt like the restaurant had been open for years.
(PS Yelp, I love that a price range is named spendy) -
Review from Devon S.
Calgary, AB
New fav resto! Had lunch with a friend today and couldn't stop marvelling over everything from the food, the atmosphere, and the service. This place is all about attention to detail. I was even wowed by the plates the food came on, and the complimentary water from beautiful glass bottles.
Our food was spectacular and very reasonably priced. We each got a risotto ball ($2 each) to start. Phenomenal! My friend got the brushetta, grilled focaccia and the gnocchi, I got the the speck prosciutto and broccolini sandwich. 4 thumbs up on all fronts. I literally can't wait to go back! I loved it so much I've spent the last few hours texting friends, and posting photos and comments on Yelp, Urban Spoon and Food Spotting! -
Review from gilles P.
Calgary, AB
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Borgo Trattoria is a great addition to the Calgary food scene. Great job..
The wild sautee mushrooms are a must.. -
Review from Joe L.
Calgary, AB
10/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Going to keep this initial review short and sweet but Borgo (by Giuseppe di Gennaro) is a keeper. When it seems like every other new restaurant is some sort of microbrewery/craft beer joint, Borgo brings a refreshing style where friends and family can indulge in quality food with an authentic Italian flavour.
My first "date" with Borgo was on a lazy Saturday afternoon consisting of a glass of wine, a couple of cicheti (appetizers), and topped off with a Illy espresso macchiato. The first "date" went so well, I had to go back for more.
Second "date" was dinner with a close friend and we were quite satisfied with the meal. There was a little bit of a wait as they don't take reservations but that's really the point of a trattoria where one just walk in. Service was prompt, efficient, and relaxed.
Overall, I highly recommend Borgo and the staff there can bet that they'll be seeing much more of me in the future!
Joe -
Review from Carol K.
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Another huge success for Chef Giuseppe di Gennaro, and another 5 star review from me!
I absolutely love this place. It's authentically Italian, and you can choose to order as little or as much as you want. We even had a server who was Italian. Either that, or she was able to pronounce everything with an excellent accent. I think my Italian date approved. :)
The nice thing about Borgo is that the food quality is on par with Capo, but cheaper and more casual. Thank goodness! We ordered two servings of bruschetta, a charcuterie board, two orders of ciabatta and lamb. And the best part? It only came to $50 with tax and tip! Win! -
Review from Fred K.
Calgary, AB
2/26/2012
Well we finally got in........and it was worth the wait! Who's kidding who? Borgo is the best new eatery in town and likely the best Italian hot spot west of TO.
Great decor, great service......see you soon -
Review from Ryan M.
Calgary, AB
3/4/2012
I attempted to go with friends last night, and will not be going back. Waited over an hour for a table (after being told by an employee at 4:30 that day we'd wait a maximum of 15-20 minutes), and still didn't get seated, as they chose to seat some big shot Calgarians including city councellors and tv personalities ahead of us common folk. NOT impressed with that. I won't be giving them a 2nd try.
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Review from Kelsey P.
Calgary, AB
12/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
When I found out Capo had closed it doors, a little piece of my heart broke... Naturally the only thing that could mend my broken heart was some equally amazing Italian fare.
Everything about this restaurant impressed me. From the moment I walked in the front doors, this would be the beginning of a great relationship. The space is nice and open, big windows in the front make for a nice romantic setting, and further back its a little more cozy and lively.
Our server greeted us promptly and informed us of how the menu was designed to be served in true Italian style, to be shared.
After ordering the pinot nero, which was the perfect complement to our meal, we started our courtship with the risotto balls, which were nothing short of amazing. We shared the spinach salad, the gnocchi, the veal and the pork... there were three of us... two VERY hungry men. All was amazing, I being the gnocchi fiend I am, loved it the most.
Every perfect meal in my mind should be topped off with a perfect dessert, and when our server told us they had stracciatella gelato, I was sold.
All in all the evening was wonderful, the food, the service, the atmosphere. See you soon, Borgo Trattoria. -
Review from Mia T.
Updated - 12/7/2011
went back to Borgo for a friend's bday. It was a Friday evening, and I guess there is an option to choose a set meal. It started with a selection of apps, then 2 pasta dishes, then the mains and finally dessert. I cant even remember all the dishes, they were showing up all over the place. I will say the hilights were the Italian servers..just added to the all over ambiance of the place, and so professional. The pasta with the porcini mushroom and truffle oil was so rich, and delicious, I had to have seconds. The risotto balls, which everyone talks about, lived up to their reputation..I'd be happy with that and a salad as a meal. They were crispy and flavourful, with a touch of sauce, so they didnt get all gummy while eating them. Mmmmmm...risotto balls.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/4/2011
MMMMMMMM...Borgo. Last night (a thurs was my first visit to this restaurant. I hadnt heard anything… Read more »
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Review from Sarah T.
11/15/2011
Three of us decided to try Borgo last Thursday, and I must say, the fact that they don't take reservations is pretty awesome. We showed up early at 5:30pm and the place was half full, by 7pm, it was in full swing, with no vacant tables.
The decor of the restaurant is great; high vaulted ceiling at the front, and lower ceiling at the back. This gives it a hustle bustle feel in one area if you feel more social, or more intimate if you have a group you want to talk to, towards the back. They have a large bar you can sit at and eat as well. The demographic here was cool. Young people in large groups, older couples, ladies in their late thirties and forties for a 'girls night'. It really is a place for everyone.
Now onto the food. I saw the menu, and at first I thought it looked a bit small, but it wasn't. The three of us ordered about 7 plates, and we were stuffed. The idea is that this is like Italian tapas, where you have plates with smaller portions, but get many to share. Our waitress was very helpful in helping us decide on food combos. Here is what we had;
-Eggplan frittata with fennel yogurt dip; crunchy, and the dip made it tart, a great light starter
-The cheese and meat plate; we randomly chose cheeses and meats we weren't familiar with, and all were amazing, though the cheese portions were pretty tiny.
-Ciabatta with olive oil; Amazing! The olive oil has a sweeter flavor and aftertaste I had not tried before
-Flank steak; perfect, and not too heavy, came with small potatoes that we devoured instantly
-Pork canneloni with cheese fondue sauce; creamy texture to the pork inside, and the cheese sauce was not heavy, nor did it smother the pasta
-We had the dessert plate, which was 4 of their most popular types. My favorite was the lemon aquares. At $16 the portions were really tiny, but everything was amazing. I guess it's quality over quantity ( I need to constantly remind myself of this)!
Their espressos were only $2!! My friend got a version of an 'Italian martini' that had bourbon for $8, which is a standard price for the drink. He enjoyed it, and though I hate bourbon, it had a light fresh taste to it.
All in all, the bill came to $95 for all three of us included tax, and 2 alcoholic, and coffee type beverages. i think this is very fair.
This place is great because you can try as much, or as little as you like, so it can be as cheap or as expensive as you like. In true Italian fashion, they encourage you to stay and don;t give you the evil eye for chatting after dinner. We were there for 2 hours between all our meals.
Service was amazing, the staff checked in on a few times, including the manager twice, which was nice. And I will definitely be going back again soon. -
Review from Leah L.
12/19/2011
Great food, atmosphere and service
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Review from Patrick C.
Vancouver, BC
11/26/2011
With the closing of Capo, I am glad to see Giuseppe opened another restaurant with the same quality of food. The family style is a great way to try several dishes and a pick a favourite. A few stands outs were the pasta with porcini mushrooms, the Gnocchi, saltimbocca and the braised pork shoulder. The braised pork shoulder is ridiculously tender and flavourful. For those who have eaten at Capo, the gnocchi is the same recipe, minus the rich lobster sauce (too bad). We had the share board of cold cuts and cheeses to start, you can mix 3 and 3, but he had the full 5 and 5. The meats were great, but unless you are a big fan of Italian cheeses, a few would suffice. The service was very attentive and pleasant and the portions are of good size to match the lower prices. A true Trattoria in YYC. You will not be disappointed.
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Review from Tommasino B.
Calgary, AB
11/19/2011
I've been there only for breakfast so far and I really like it. Really love the atmosphere and what they did with this place. I can't wait to try lunch or dinner. Breakfast was good although I must say someone please teach the barista how to move a little faster at the espresso machine!
