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Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
48 reviews for Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Review Highlights
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"...I really enjoyed the fresh basil flavor with the thin crust." In 4 reviews -
"...pizza is a thinner crust, Italian style pizza - right up my..." In 3 reviews -
"hot and fresh out of the oven." In 7 reviews
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48 reviews in English
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Review from Thomas M.
Updated - 3/28/2012
yes their pizzas are soggy. it's not because they are any fresher than pizza from any other place, it's because they need to reduce the water in their sauce and veggies. We went again last night, and when the pies were brought to our table, one of them literally had a pool of water standing in the center. This should not be! they could also bake them a bit longer since there is absolutely zero charring or browning on the bottom of the pizzas, and they could serve them on pizza screens instead of directly on ceramic plates which trap moisture.
don't get me wrong, they do use very high quality ingredients and this results in tasty pies, but the sogginess is a major flaw and they should really be working to improve that. you should not be delivered a pizza with 1/4 cup of water in the middle of it.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/25/2012
This is an OK attempt at Neapolitan pizza, although they make the skins a bit too thin and serve… Read more »
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Review from Terrence L.
Calgary, AB
5/13/2012
Ok, everyone likes to rave about the Neapolitan style of pizza. Thin crust, robust ingrediants, trendy and modern atmosphere... but... well... the pizza just wasn't all that great. Compared with actual Neapolitan I tried in Venice, a slice of pepperoni in NYC, good deep dish from Chicago, and a wicked slice from Nikos here in Calgary, it just wasnt the party in my mouth as they made it out to be.
I would say that if you really want to try what is supposed to be the authentic thing to munch on, it's worth a try. But it just wasn't the be all and end all to pizza for me. -
Review from Linda C.
The high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows make for a great space and atmosphere. However, it also echoes like crazy and when there are A LOT of ppl, it gets loud!
Pizza's were just OK... one of the pizzas we ordered was soggy in the middle....
They seat you, you look at the menu, you get up and order at the till, and they bring you your food.
*Tiramisu* - ORDER the TIRAMISU! We weren't even gonna order it but then read 'Imported from Milan' & it was the best dessert of the 3 (+Flan+Banana dessert). Looks dense but it's light and smooth.... though rich so prob a good idea to share. -
Review from Claire G.
Calgary, AB
5/16/2012
I am not sure why people rave...maybe we caught them on a bad night. The crusts on my family's pizzas were either soggy or black, or both. I understand how Neapolitan pizza is supposed to be cooked, but spots burned to a crisp and bitter are not palatable.
My sandwich, the only meat-free option, should have tasted good, had the vegetables been actually grilled or roasted...they tasted like they had been steamed or boiled instead. I would have rated this restaurant worse, were it not for the tomato bisque, which was absolutely exceptional. -
Review from Dan D.
1/15/2012
It's Famoso! ... and for good reason!
Famoso is my favourite (so far!) of the (now) many Napoletana pizza joints in town.
For quality vs. price, I just find it to hit the nail right on the head.
Jessica and I went on a tomato/meatball FRENZY last time we ate here ... and boy did it pay off! Both the Meatball appetizer and the Meatball pizza (I guess we REALLY like meatballs?) were so good!
I know a lot of people might take issue with the ordering system/setup, but I personally like it. It makes me feel like I am actually in some Euro eatery in Italy. Just go with it! Bust yourself outside your comfort zone, son!
A word of recommendation ... get there early!
We came at 5:00 on the nose on a Friday and were able to find a spot fairly easily. On the way out, there were hordes of people waiting outside to get a seat! -
Review from Clarissa L.
Calgary, AB
4/21/2012
If you love a traditional Naepolise Pizza, give Famoso a try! delicious and reliable every time for a great meal!
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Review from Todd O.
Calgary, AB
2/22/2012
There is pizza. And then there is pizza. Some comes over-baked. Some comes under-baked. Some drips grease. Some drips nothing. As a lover of pizza, I dig a thin crust that snaps in my mouth and comes with a good glass of wine at a good cost.
Famoso is that. Have tried many spots here but keep coming back to Famoso. Will even drive in just to order, wait for it to be prepared fresh, and then drive away with loot in hand.
Never been? Get here. Get some. Get in on a well-kept secret in Calgary. Turns out I am finding more and more of the secret world in Calgary. Every. Single. Day.
Buon appetito.Listed in: Secret world of Calgary
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Review from Cate B.
Calgary, AB
3/28/2012
Excellent pizza every time. I noticed a few other reviewers mentioning the soggyness. Yes true it comes out that way sometimes but only because it is so fresh. The sauce might not be thick enough. The restaurant should work on the consistancy of that. What I don't like is the noise and ordering at the front (usually lined up) plus I have never really had great service the 4 times I've been.
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Review from Vishal M.
Calgary, AB
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I like the decor, open feeling and music. Unfortunately I did not care for the salty pizza....
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Review from James B.
Calgary, AB
11/7/2011
One of my favourite spots in Calgary. The innovative menu, combined with authentic ingredients, makes this a must for YYC.
Wiseguy and soup by day, Palermo, a few Peroni's, and a Dolce Banana with Fiasco gelato by night.
Can't miss! -
Review from Aisa C.
Calgary, AB
12/11/2011
I like Famoso.
I heard of amazing things about Famoso from my Vegan friend. So my fiance and i decided to try it out!
First impression like another reviewer below was that we weren't sure what to do. There should be some kind of sign to give customer instructions on what to do; which i think would be a lot more efficient than the servers repeating themselves all the time and customers just wobbling around like me not sure what to do. I heard of long lineups but i guess we were lucky because we got a table rather quickly.
Anyways we ordered and first experience is kind of cool watching the people behind the glass panels make our pizzas.
We ordered the San Andreas pizza and another pizza that i didn't care much for which is probably why i forgot the name. But the San Andreas pizza was sooo good! I loved the avocados and tomatoes and the olive oil. Yum! It's too bad they only had it for summer season.
We went back again just for that pizza only to find out they had a different pizza for Winter which is the Pear Gorgonzola. So we tried the Pear Gorgonzola and i didn't like it one bit. It tasted quite bitter IMO with the Pine nuts and the spinach leaves.
We've only been to Famoso twice and ordered two pizzas for both of us because we wanted to try the different varieties. Two pizzas was too much for us and we always end up having extras to take home.
They have Italian sodas there too. I'm going to try that next time! -
Review from Ken S.
Calgary, AB
11/28/2011
I have friends who rave about Famosa (to the point they're looking at their own franchise) so thought it was long overdue to give them a try.
Location is good, ambiance is funky but a bit too loud (in particular if you're looking for somewhere romantic), service is friendly. The pizza is.....well, its interesting. I know they take pride in their dough and it is different. Less what you'd expect in a pizza and more along the lines of naan. Very chewy. Not necessarily a bad thing just different. The various pre-designed pizzas looked interesting and of the three we tried the pear gorgonzola. Great mix of flavors but could have done without the excessive amount of arugula scattered on top. Our other three pizzas were OK but a little on the bland side.
They probably deserve better than a 2 star rating but given the hype I was expecting more.
That said, will likely go back and give them another shot. -
Review from Tara M.
12/19/2011
Famoso is fast, fresh and friendly with fabulously good, authentically Italian fair that sometimes makes me say "holy eff!"
I have to give Famoso props for unique selection. They are, first and foremost, a pizza place; and the menu reflects this boasting a wide selection of pizzas and do-it-yourself combinations; however, they also serve a variety of delicious appetizers, salads and yummy gelato.
To be fair, I am not a giant fan of their pizza crust - it's a touch on the soft side for me and doesn't hold up well in the flavor department if the pizza isn't warm - so I tend to lean toward the salads and appetizer combinations. Namely the warm olives, flatbread, caprese salad and gelatos. But don't take my word for it, try the pizzas, the wine and anything else that tickles your fancy and we'll see if you feel as Italian as me when you're done eating.
Bellissimo!
T. -
Review from Whoop K.
Calgary, AB
9/25/2011
I visited Famoso today with my mom after wandering into Mission and wanting to try something different. I've heard a few good stories from friends who have visited and said they loved the pizza. I am always a fan of thin crust Italian style Neapolitan pizza, so I wanted to give this a shot to see how it fares in comparison to other Italian pizza places in Calgary.
My first impression of the restaurant was that it was very open, airy and modern. I enjoy the open style kitchen. However, the service was strange and slightly confusing at first. When I walked in the first thing I noticed was a menu board in front of the cash desk, so I figured that they want you to order and pay first. As I stood there looking at the menu the server said that we could sit down and that there were menus on the table. Okay then, I prefer that. Well, after sitting down the server came by our table to explain the process to us and said that once we have decided what we want to go back up to the counter to order. I don't understand the practicality of this at all, and it was pretty irritating to be honest.
My mom and I ordered a small margherita pizza to share and as a side we chose two salads. I had the caprese salad to start. It came with large slices of mozzarella and tomato over top of a mixed salad and drizzled with balsamic dressing. It was decent enough, but what turned me off immediately was the pieces of black wilted salad which I had to pick out and set aside and it was the same issue in my mom's salad. The chef really should pay more attention to details like that because it's quite gross.
Once the pizza came I was happy with the small size. It was the perfect sharing size for a light lunch. However, I was not happy with the taste or the texture. The middle of the pizza was VERY soggy and quite drippy. I have never had Neapolitan pizza that was soggy before so this was definitely not cool. I did like the crust though.
Overall, I would say Famoso is an average pizza joint. They really are not one of the best because I have had better thin crust pizzas in Calgary. Their service is lacking in a couple areas, and so I don't think I would make the effort to go back here again. -
Review from Matt B.
12/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I quite enjoy this place, though I doubt it ever gets slow here. Waiting for a table at times can take quite a while, but it's something I've never done when eating here, opting instead to do take-out.
Both time I've been here for food, the pizza has been fabulous. The first time we got their Sweet BBQ Chicken pizza and ate it outside on a park bench - it was incredibly good.
The second time, we got the Sweet BBQ Chicken pizza and a Pear Gorgonzola pizza. Now, I don't know if they typically cut it and then put it in the box, but it seems they failed to cut all the way through the pizza. Fortunately we had taken it home, so we had knives to cut it with.
I would like to eat in here at some point - it feels very open as a result of numerous windows. It's an open-style kitchen, so if you are waiting for food to go you can watch them prep your food. It does seem fairly loud, so it's not somewhere I'd take someone whom I wanted to have a quiet conversation with. -
Review from Sabahat N.
Calgary, AB
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Famoso is a great pizza place in a great location. The restaurant itself is very cool, I *love* the circular shaped area with the gigantic glass walls/windows. Its a very well-designed place.
The pizzas are Napolitean, which means they are on a thin crust and quite dainty. The menus have a LOT of variety, so whatever your mood, you will have a pizza to match that mood. They also have great espressos/cappuccinos/coffee.
Its a perfectly great place, and the service was pretty good too. No issues anywhere at all. So why the 3 stars? Well, the pizza just wasnt that tasty for me. But thats a personal opinion. My dining partner loved it and is raring to go back, but for me it just did not... deliver. (No pun intended there!)
I probably will go back to try their nutella pizza and their tiramisu which I've heard is heaven on a plate. And I will try a different pizza this time, and perhaps I will change my mind and fall in love :) -
Review from Elle C.
2/26/2011 ROTD 3/10/2011
Delish delish delish!
Ok, right off the bat I wasn't impressed by the fact that it's a "order at the counter" type of joint, it really takes out of the dining experience. On a -30C night, having to park really far down the street because they do not have their own lot really irked me. However, once the food came, I knew it was going to be totally insignificant to my future visits.
All the ingredients are just SOOOO fresh. All the textures, tastes, colors, presentation were bang on, there was nothing that could have been better. Best part - Wednesday night wine sampler night, free sample wines! The pizza was evenly baked, no soggy bits or burnt patches like some other places. We (I guess that means more like "I") finished off with the Tiramisu, which was a bit heavier than I had expected, but it was just ok. I have heard great things abou the nutella pizza dessert though, which I will have to try.
The decor and dining area is elegant, simple and easy on the eyes. Dim lighting, jazzy neofunk dining music buzzing in the background, easily makes this a great date spot. -
Review from Cynthia F.
Vancouver, BC
7/20/2011
Love the pizzas!
Love the service!
Love the ambiance!
Love the location because everyone at the table wins either by watching the street view out of the gigantic windows, or, enjoying the view of the kitchen brigade performing their pizza pizzaz.
Love the tiramisu!
Even love the chairs and couches - so comfy!
(Music was just a tad too loud but that's because we're in our 50's, but by the end of such a wonderful dining experience we were in the groove and didn't mind the music one iota!)
Cheers, and thanks for a great dinner. We look forward to your Vancouver franchise opening soon! -
Review from Meghan M.
Cold Lake, AB
1/31/2011 ROTD 7/7/2011
I tried Famoso for the first time a couple of months ago - I had never heard of it but I am happy I did!
My first impression was good - I like the semi-diner, semi-trendy feel to the place; I liked the tall table we sat at near the back; I liked the artwork.
We were a little bit confused about ordering, but I think that is because nobody listened when she said that we were to order at the counter (shame on us). Once we got settled in and the pizza came, we were happy campers. The pizza is a thinner crust, Italian style pizza - right up my alley! The sauce is tangy and fresh tasting, the toppings are fresh, and you get a healthy pizza for a good price.
I would totally recommend Famoso to people who, like myself, are not huge fans of greasy, heavy take-out kind of pizza. It's so nice having this option for a decent price!Listed in: Pizza!
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Review from Mike M.
1/27/2011
I ate at Famoso last night as it is in my contract with yelp to eat out every night.
I was impressed.
Yes, the ordering style is a little wacky, having to order at the counter and then be served waiter style, but not exactly an inconvinience. We were seated right away, ordered a bottle of merlot and some garlic prawns. The Prawns were great and since we bought the wine we also got a free olive tapanade.
The Pizza was a delicious, neopolitan style work of art. I wanted to plunge my face directly into it banana cream pie styles but my dermatologist recommended that I stop doin that.
Speaking of art though, check out the dope ass painting of pompeii and mount vesuvius over the kitchen area, 3 colors and its beautiful.
oh, did I mention that all of that came to $50, AFTER TIP! hoodie-hooooo
I give Famoso 5 severed horse heads out of 5 -
Review from Ken I.
Calgary, AB
1/15/2011
I am, by no means, a connoisseur in "'za's", but I really appreciated the thin crust neopolitan pizza's that I've had there in my two visits. I always feel that you get a good sense of the kitchen by trying out the simplist things on the menu. And so, I tried the margherita my first time there and I really enjoyed the fresh basil flavor with the thin crust. The second time, I tried the Thai chicen which was quite unusual with bean sprouts, carrots a peanut satay sauce and cilantro. Unusual for a pizza, but it works. It was actually quite good.
Their salad's are also very well done. I had the gorgonzola walnut salad and we tried it as a salad pizza(the salad sits atop a pizza crust). The salad was delicious. The concept of putting it on a pizza crust was unique and interestng. Does it work? No. Not really. The crust comes cold and hard and really the whole thing becomes a mess on your plate. It's hard to know whether to eat the salad first or take the salad off the crust and eat the crust seperately or use your hands to bring the crust to your mouth while balancing the leaves of romaine on the crust. It was a bit of a mess.
Nonetheless, Famoso has a great casual atmosphere and great pizza! I would recommend it. Go to Famoso's. Do it. -
Review from Natasha K.
Calgary, AB
12/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
Yum!!!!
I'm not sure how this place slipped under my radar for so long. I really never noticed it on my many trips down 4th st. But boy, am I glad I went!
Pizza was delicious, thin but chewy dough, perfect sauce, and melted mozza. Mine was a little bit too thick in terms of the cheese, and could have used a bit more basil, I think only 2 of my slices had basil on them. But nonetheless, delicious!
Along with my pizzetta, I got a caprese salad which was yummy (this is my favourite salad ever) but lacked a bit of olive oil/balsamic.
For both the pizzetta and caprese, I paid $14, which isn't too bad and I was STUFFED! but.. I still had to order the tiramisu, mmmm, nothing better than creamy tiramisu.
Btw, a pizzetta is half the size of their regular pizza, perfect for lunch.
I'm looking forward to trying their sandwiches.
Service was friendly and quick, and they didn't even judge me when I scarfed my food and some sauce slipped down my chin.
Would be perfect to get a bunch of people together, order several pizzas, some bottles of wine, and relax!
I decided to change my review to 5 stars, I'm already planning to go back this weekend. -
Review from Allyson S.
Calgary, AB
5/20/2011
I had the Famoso Salad which was incredibly divine!
It was a unique twist on a salad with tasty pita on the side.
Great atmosphere at this place! I loved the self seating with great windows all around you to people watch on trendy 4th Street.
Definitely a recommend! -
Review from Wendy P.
9/18/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Famoso is not your typical Canadian pizza joint. Seriously. As the name suggests, it's a Neapolitan pizzeria. Be prepared for pizza unlike what you're used to (unless you usually eat Italian style pizza).
What's different? Well, the crust first off. Pizza at Famoso follows the traditional thin crusted Italian pizzas and is cooked in a fire oven at 900 degrees Fahrenheit (or about 480 degrees Celsius - the same temperature at which a faint red glow persists as lava from a volcano is cooling off). The dough is hand stretched and cooked in about 90 seconds on a circulating platform inside the fire oven. How do I know? It's an open kitchen, and you can see the kitchen staff tossing the dough up in the air as they prepare it and the pizzas going round and round inside the oven at the back of the kitchen.
Next difference is in toppings. Typical Italian style pizza isn't your greasy pepperoni and mushroom, or BBQ chicken pizza. Common (and yummy) flavours include: Margherita (fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil), Cappricciosa (fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, olives, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and Italian ham), and Siciliana (fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, Italian sausage, Italian ham and baked prosciutto). Famoso does offer a variety of "new world" pizzas if your taste buds fancy those more.
If you're visiting soon, be prepared for a wait. We arrived at 6:30 and waited about an hour before we got in. But once you're seated, things roll fairly quickly. There are menus at every table and once you've decided what you want, it's up to you to make your way upto the front counter and place your order for food and drink. Even with it as busy as it was, our appetizers and our pizzas arrived in a very timely manner... hot and fresh out of the oven.
One last tip: The pizzas are meant to be folded like a book in order to be eaten (due to the thin crust). But if you've got a pizza loaded with toppings (like I did with the Conforto - fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, roasted red peppers, mushrooms and Italian sausage), opt for eating with a knife and fork. -
Review from Mitch P.
Calgary, AB
6/13/2011
I had high expectations of Famosa. But was very disappointed. We were seated in the basement - which was like sitting in a high school cafeteria. There goes any hope of atmosphere!
The pizza's arrived in no time. Which would explain the soft, doughy, limp 'crust'. There may have been flavor but it was lost in the dough.
Overall a huge disappointment and I guarantee we won't be back. -
Review from Matthew D.
12/3/2010
Went to Famoso, spent $11.75 and got a salad and small vegetarian pizza, which was just the right size to fill me up. One of the best pizzas I've ever had, and affordable too. Gelato was only so-so, but that doesn't take away from the quality of this resturaunt. Atsmosphere and waitstaff were also very good. This includes the music selection, which I was tapping my feet to.
Will go again, and again.
Btw, the person who labeled this as $$$ (aka, spendy) is wrong. -
Review from Sergey S.
1/17/2011
I apologize to all the guys who gave Famoso lots of stars and called it something like a best pizzeria in Calgary. If that's really the best - well, maybe there is an opportunity for improvement. :-)
In my opinion that model when you are sort of "booking" the pizza, partially helped by a server, partially "do it yourself" style is not at all comfortable, or even fast. Rather weird, especially when the waiters are distracted by other people around.
But overcoming that, quality of the pizzas we've tried in a couple of occasions was decent, portions were big and price was ok. Not something to dream about, but not bad at all. Again, tastes may vary and I totally respect the opinions of the other people - it is just that for me those pizzas were right at 3 stars, maximum 3,5.
Another point in favour of Famoso is that there really wasn't anything comparable in 6-7 blocks around, so when we were going for the evening walk - it was an obvious choice. Except for that I would not recommend Famoso as something worth travelling to discover. -
Review from Mike M.
Calgary, AB
Easily one of my favourite new eating experiences in Calgary.
A year ago this location was an awful cafe that was struggling to attract a single customer. Twelve months later, it has been transformed into one of the hottest and most reasonably-priced restaurants in the entire city.
Once you get a seat, the server doesn't start doing your job until you go up to the counter and order. It is great because it means you are waiting for the server to get their act together. You're ready to order, go do it yourself. Ends up being a lot faster!
Every piece of food was delicious, warm, fresh and authentic.
They also have a big community table, so if you don't mind bumping elbows with the stranger beside you, then you can usually get a seat faster. But a great big table like this only adds to the atmosphere. Eating food should be fun. It should be loud and it should be about sharing and that is exactly what Famoso is all about.
(Take note, if you get there after 5:30pm, you'll be waiting. And sadly, they don't take reservations.) -
Review from Roz M.
Calgary, AB
You need to go! Fantastic pizza, great decor, friendly staff but busy as hell on a Friday or Saturday night. You'll wait 45+ minutes but it's worth it if you ask me.
If you want something unusual, I highly recommend the Szechuan pizza with a side of Gorgonzola salad and end it off with the tiramisu. So good your boyfriend won't even share.... won't he?
I will forewarn so that people don't get all weepy: It is half waiter-service and half fast-food-ordering. You order at the front when you're ready and you pre-pay but the servers will take care of the rest for you. It works.
Great wine selection too! It's an amazing pizza gem! -
Review from Erin S.
I have a not so secret love affair with Famoso. Fortunately my boyfriend feels the same! It has become a regular haunt for us & I look forward to each visit.
Perhaps we have been lucky, but we have never had to wait more than 15 minutes to be seated here. We have even been given wine samples when we have waited (a great way to win this girl's heart!)
Some are confused by their ordering system, as indicated in other reviews. On your first visit, if you listen carefully they'll explain it fully & from there it is a breeze and you'll know what to do on return visits. I actually like this method as it ensures we eat when we are ready - our food is always served soon after we have placed our order. Your server will take care of the rest. Promise.
Staff are always friendly & happy to answer questions. Always a nice little feature.
The pizza is amazing - flavors are not over powering, enjoying you to taste each ingredient as it is meant to be presented. The red sauces tastes like tomatoes! This is huge for a city where we tend to overload our sauce with seasoning. If you prefer something with a little more zip, ask for their salsa base instead.
I was going to offer my thoughts on a pizza by pizza basis, but when I looked at the menu I realized I have tried most of them. (Oops!) They were all most delicious. Special nods to the Cavoletti (Fresh mozzarella, pecorino romano, oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, prosciutto crisps, gorgonzola cheese, drizzle of honey, sprinkle of dates and walnuts) & Vittoria (Vittoria has a fiery salsa base, topped with fresh mozzarella, oven-roasted spicy chorizo sausage, roasted chicken, pineapple, and basil.) Sounds odd to some, but they are fantastic.
DO. NOT. MISS. the Nutella pizza! You will want to kiss the closest person to you once you sink your teeth into it.
Go hungry. Leave full. This is what life should be about! -
Review from Robyn B.
Calgary, AB
12/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
Best Neapolitan pizza in Calgary. Famoso has been imported from Edmonton and I was so glad to see it appear in Mission.
This place is all about the pizza - flat crust, interesting topping combos, and fresh ingredients.
It can be overrun and understaffed at lunch time, but you can still get a table, eat, and be out in less than 1 hour, usually with extra pizza to go.
Bottom line- Famoso makes great pizza. Enjoy! -
Review from Erin D.
9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hello big empty space with weird service and soggy pizza. I'm going to Una! Bye!
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Review from Jeff L.
Calgary, AB
8/16/2010
The most authentic pizza outside of Italy. What a rustic, stylish treat with sweet tomatoes, gooey cheese and all sorts of goodness.
The service was remarkable - at the start. Our son doesn't eat pizza, he's 3, and prefers pasta. Knowing there was none here we prepacked a bowl of noodles and asked the waitress to just bring it to him on a plate with the rest of our meals. They were more than amicable to make the ruse work and he was thrilled.
This is a VERY family friendly resto. It feels more like an upscale cafe that serves warm meals instead of coffee. Casual cafeteria chairs are used and you order from the counter with your table number instead of with a waitress.
The only sad point was the americano at the end of our meals. We ordered two that, bluntly, tasted of dishwater. My wife asked to have hers replaced - which it was. We were still charged for both. Not a big deal - it was only $4 - but considering the service was so positive and courteous the rest of the meal, I would have expected this to have been taken care of.
$80 (including tip) for 1 pizza, 1 appie, 1 salad, 1 wine, 1 beer, 2 desserts also felt a little steep considering we split everything.
Nonetheless it was a great "date night" where mom and dad feel like they're getting something gourmet while the enviornment is casual enough to tolerate toddlers. -
Review from Matthias S.
Calgary, AB
5/29/2010
My girlfriends family took me there a weekend ago. Now I am sure that everyone has seen Neopolitan pizza on the Food Network. The super thin pizza, where you either have to fold the slice in half or risk having everything drop onto your plate.
I have never had neoplitan pizza before, but Famoso convinced that that is the kind of pizza that everyone should be eating. Not only was it super fresh but their hard-working staff ensure that each pizza that comes out of their oven is close to perfection.
I tried 3 different kinds of pizza's. And each one of them had its own little twist to it. One cool thing was that the cheese pizza came with a slice of lemon...which added the extra kick. At least for me.
To be honest if you are feeling like pizza and want to try something that is hand made, original and TOTALLY not your average slice of pizza. Then go to FAMOSO. -
Review from Joe W.
Calgary, AB
8/1/2011
Got gift certificate from a friend for here. Tried it and have to say wasn't that impressed. Should have some sort of sign to say order @ the counter before having a seat.
As for the pizza, I really like the pizza crust but that was about it. Sauce tasted like tomato juice. No spice what so ever and really watery. Had the ham & crushed pineapple. The ham was large thin slices, about 4-6 of them and globs of crushed pineapples. There wasn't enough cheese either. Wouldn't come back until they have a better sauce for the pizza.
Music was so loud I could have a conversation without yelling. Kinda gave me a headache being in there for 30 mins or so. -
Review from Angelo T.
1/24/2011
I have wanted to try a Neapolitan pizza for some time now, and while Famoso provided me a good insight as to what Neapolitan pizza is about, I have to admit I wasn't too impressed.
There was a review below that commented on the odd serving style of Famoso. Placing an order at the counter and having the food brought to you waiter-style was an odd experience for me and I can see how this might agitate people. Nonetheless, I didn't mind placing an order even though me and my friend were situated downstairs. We had a server check up on us from time to time and when I wanted to order a few more items such as dessert, I was afraid that I would have to haul my lazy rear end upstairs again, but our server was nice enough to put through our order for us. But when it came to the payment, we had to settle the score at the counter again. So overall it made for a very weird experience and for the rest of the night I obsessed how this economical this serving method was for Famoso.
What really brought this down to a 3 star is that I wasn't too impressed with their food. I would say the items were fairly priced compared to what you would normally pay at most pizza joints. I ordered the tapenade/bruschetta appetizer, the margherita w/ anchovies (Italian baguong as I call it), and this gelato /espresso dessert. The appetizer was OK, we only enjoyed the artichoke and cheese concoction but the bruschetta and tapenade was eaten with little reflection on how good it tasted. My pizza was somewhat disappointing. I did enjoy the thin oven-baked crust, but I found the sauce bland and the topping lacking as there were only a few leaves of basil which I'm sure wasn't an expensive ingredient. I did like the little salty bites of anchovies but overall the pizza lacked depth. The Affogato dessert was good and I predict it could be the next coffee drink to catch and Starbucks will soon offer some version of this dessert drink. Oh yeah there was this amazing italian beer I tried but forgot the name of :S
It think my rating reflects how I feel about Famoso. It really was OK. I can't refute it's novelty and denounce Neapolitan style pizza. I wouldn't scoff and argue if I went with a group that voted to eat at Famoso .But on the other hand, its hard for me to say I am a fan of this place and wouldn't go out of my away to visit this place, or randomly suggest it to anyone. -
Review from Tommasino B.
Calgary, AB
7/25/2011
Being from Italy I have to admit I love to dissect the menu and the kitchen whenever I read the words "real authentic italian". I did not find any misspelled italian words which is a promising sign. However, a couple of things did strike me. The first is the type of flour used to make pizza which in Italy is usually "0" and not "00" as stated. Then came the kitchen: a stone wheel turns inside a gas fired oven: in my mind that already disqualifies the place from being called authentic, let alone Neapolitan. Finally, there are hundreds or pizza associations in Italy, being associated with one is pretty meaningless. But no big deal there.
Let's get to the pizza. It is a gummy one, it isn't crisp but it is somewhat thin, thus it is a Neapolitan style. Don;t expect to find this type of pizza too much in Italy, the Neapolitan one is something you usually find only, well.. in Naples. The taste was good, the ingredients were definitely fresh (I consider canned tomatoes fresh), the mozzarella was sliced and perfectly melted. Being cooked in a gas fire oven means no burn marks and uniformly cooked. I like having some burnt sections on my pizzas.
Prices were not outrageous but neither cheap: $11 for a margherita pizza. The place is interesting with the big windows and surprsingly confy chairs. Atmosphere is very easy going. Service was good. So I would definitely come back here. This is (finally!) the second place in Calgary that serves pizza that is close to Italian pizza. The other one is Pulcinella. -
Review from Matt T.
Calgary, AB
11/30/2010
I visited the South Edmonton Common Famoso location this past weekend with friends and wasn't sure what to expect. It was a warm, friendly and wonderful smelling first impression once inside. The restaurant is classy but in no way stuffy, the decor is modern but practical and the fresh smells complete the experience. I'm not a fan of having to leave the table to order but it was a minor inconvenience and I'm told that some locations no longer use this method and do provide table ordering service. The menu is vast yet simple with great descriptions. I had the cajun shrimp for an appetizer and they were amazing. Cooked perfectly and the accompanying bread was... well I ate every bite and didn't offer to share :) When the pizza's arrived they instantly made my mouth water and after one bite I realized that I've never really tried pizza before. The freshness of the ingredients was overwhelming. Imagine biting into a big franchise chain delivered pizza and tasting fresh tomatoes rather than a mouthful of cheese. It was surprising and I commented on the quality of ingredients numerous times. I had the siccillian pizza and as much as I want to try a different one when we go tonight I also want that one again very much so we'll see! Tough problem to have. I would encourage anyone who is looking for a healthy meal to try your nearest Famoso, I would try anyone looking for a new culinary experience to try Famoso, I would encourage pizza lovers to try Famoso but at your own risk. You will find out how pizza is supposed to taste and there's no going back, your standards will be raised from here on out. It's a great value as well so don't be affraid of taking the kids. They offer simple pizzas that even the most particular child will enjoy.
I ate at the Calgary location a few nights ago and we had a great time. The food was aromatic and flavorful and the service was terrific. I would encourage people to try it out. -
Review from Yunn A.
7/4/2010
The Edmonton downtown location has much better ambiance. Even though this location is newer and 'fancier,' I felt that the style of the restaurant was lost a bit: I liked the concept of just seating yourself, going to order at the counter, having your order served, then being left alone to hang out as long as you like and getting more food/drink from the counter if you like.
However, here, there was someone who made us sit at a certain table even though there were lots of tables, people kept coming by, and took our plates before we were really done, and took our beer glasses before we were quite done. I'm guessing they were trying to be helpful, but it ended up just feeling really rushed and we didn't feel welcome to just relax even though we were there for a total of 20 minutes.
I won't be coming to this location again. -
Review from John S.
Calgary, AB
3/6/2011
Al-rightie...
Let's see.
The thing about Pizza, lately, is it's heading towards the real, authentic, non-traditional10 pounder variety they make in most of the usual haunts in town.
The best of those, is still Spiro's on 17th Ave. S.W., in my books.
It's been there since I were a tadpole, and I'm a Big Ole' Bullfrog now, Baby.
Noticing how there was a lot of buzz and tingle about this place on here, myself and a lady chum hit it on a Friday night about 10 to 5.
Service, as mentioned was a bit quirky, you actually have to go up to the counter to order, but after that you're granted your very own 'server'.
The service then was prompt and friendly and the place had a really friendly vibe.
People bring their kids, but I never heard a single squawk... the place is bustlin' so much in such a short time, the little rodents were mesmerized.
They had beer and a good variety, and for desert we both screamed "OINK!" and had 3 scoops of Gelato each.
But I can tell, yer' just holding on by your fingernails waiting to hear about the pizza. Right?
OK.
I LOVED the whole experience at Famoso, it was pleasant as could be and about the only thing that didn't knock me over the back yard fence was...
You guessed it.
The PIZZA.
They were good...quite good,(*we ordered two different ones to split), but I found it really strange that they had them to the table in about 3 minutes.
Cooking thin crusts is an art, and here?
It wasn't QUITE happening.
I'd give the food a 7 and the experience a 9.5.
The place was so crazy by 6 that the washrooms are downstairs and there's even tables in the dungeon...those were packed too.
I've tried Una, and it's fantastic and a nice Italian market on 1st Street called Guiseppe's makes fantastic little pizzas that are thin as can be and oven baked. Thankfully it takes more than 3 minutes.
They're bursting with flavour but don't TELL anyone...
It's a well kept secret.
