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La Brezza Restaurant & Cafe
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 11 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
7 reviews for La Brezza Restaurant & Cafe
7 reviews in English
-
Review from Justin S.
Calgary, AB
3/9/2012
From the minute we walked in, we were greeted warmly and seated quickly. The food was fantastic. The calamari was unique and flavourful, the caprese was fresh and tasty, the homemade sausage was incredible and the cannelloni was delicious.
Service was great as the servers were attentive with prompt refills on drinks and just the right amount of checking in. Of course I would be remiss without mentioning the wonderful and charismatic owner Marco wandering the restaurant ensuring all patrons are extremely satisfied. Thank you for the limoncello!
We will be back. Highly recommended. -
Review from Tristan B.
Calgary, AB
A great stop for lunch, a restaurant I had never really considered for anything other than supper before; and since my friend and I have been going for lunch I figured we might as well give it a try!
While I know from experience a reservation is often necessary to get a table with no wait at supper time, I was shocked to find only a handful of tables at lunch. I ordered their Pollo Parmigiana, as I have never had it before and loved every bite of it. It was as rich as it should be, with a fine layer of breading; something often overdone at most restaurants! The chicken was delightfully moist, as were the vegetables that it came with.
As usual Marco was found wandering around checking in to ensure that the service was fantastic; he made an extended stop at our table, discussing what had brought me by for lunch when he has only ever seen me at dinner (I found it astounding that he would even recognize that I had been there before, given I am certainly no regular). He also offered us chilled limoncello, which they made from scratch, positively magnificent - frozen shot glasses to keep it ice cold, it did not hit the palate as strong as you might expect, the cold subdued the alcohol and allowed you to taste the exquisite sweet lemon taste that is often masked by the alcohol.
All in all, a magnificent experience, as usual! -
Review from Elle C.
6/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great spot to catch dinner without reservations and also have the intimate romantic dinner feeling. The space is small, it's formally a house and hard to miss. It comes with a small lot for parking off to the side, but street parking is easily found.
On the few occasions I've been here the service has been great. Marco the owner is usually found cycling through the tables, checking in on the food and chatting up the regulars.
The menu is not too big and everything I've tried so far has been mouth watering flavorful. Special notes to the warm house bread, brushetta, lasagna bolgonese, and anything with their rose sauce. They carry only a handful of wines to select from which isn't so bad either. My only offputting experience was a one time experience when the food was over salted, but that was quickly resolved. Overall great experience and becoming a regular place to dine after work. -
Review from Paula M.
Banff, AB
1/30/2012
BEST CALAMARI EVER!!! see for yourself.
-
Review from Janna L.
9/17/2011
Was expecting big things from this little place in our new neighbourhood...
We made a late reservation for 2 people, same date and that may have been why they fit us stuffed into a little corner beside a party for 7 people.
The service was as good as could be for a packed house.
Glad we went but I give it maybe a 7 out of 10.
We had the escargot to start. Very tomato-ey and a bit sweet but good, cheese was sparse on top but fine. Focaccia bread fresh, but not my fave.
For mains, my fiance had the chicken and jumbo shrimp with scallops. He liked it a lot. The chicken was tender, pasta (penne) was cooked to perfection as were the scallops. The shrimp was large, meaty and juicy. I liked the sauce accompanying the pasta as it was a bit spicier.
The sauce in my seafood lover's pasta was back to the sweet again. I am so happy I carry my own cayenne pepper! Saved the day! Some of the clams in my dish were not open all the way and a bit gritty but overall the seafood overloaded the pasta and that is always a good thing! I like my food served hot and it was!
We were sorry we had to skip dessert (maybe next time as I think we would go back) but the cappuccino was great but $4.50 for a very small cup.
Oh and the wine - the house wine, both red and white are nice, $9 a glass. A glass of Pinot to switch it up a bit was $13.75! What?
Oh well, we paid our somewhat overpriced bill and at about $130, voila you have 2 people fed from La Brezza with leftovers.
A nice enough evening although it would have been more enjoyable in the dining area out front - we will make reservations more in advance next time. Thanks to Marco who came to our table and made us feel welcome and was very complimentary. Also thanks to the waitress that saw me dying of heatstroke in there and turned the A/C on!
Cheers! -
Review from Eugene H.
Calgary, AB
4/21/2010
La Brezza is the closest restaurant to where I live in Bridgeland. In fact, it is so close, I could sleep walk to the place, thinking that the bungalow is still part of the old Red Light District of the past.
The restaurant is in an old converted bungalow whose windows are prominently lit with LED's. Personally I find the space small, cramped and tight. I guess if you're in a romantic mood, with the candles lit and smoking, you could describe it as intimate and inviting. If this was Nice or Cannes, I would agree. But it's not. So let's get a grip on reality here.
This restaurant is in the heart of Little Italy and the Italian competition up and down 1st Avenue is stiff. The only thing missing on the Avenue are the touts loudly encouraging you to enter their versions of Roman culinery splendour.
But I digress. The ambience at night (I have not had the plesure of sampling their daily atmosphere) is acceptable and pleasant. After many years in Calgary, they have weathered the storms and energy peaks, and continue to attract a hardcore group of ardent and loyal customers who relentlessly return for more pasta. Season after Season. Obviously they are addicted to the large, heavy, generous and to be fair, zesty servings, offered by the Owner, who like his neighbour on the next block, personally and regally, (somewhat authoritarian?) intervenes in the affairs of the restaurant.
Food generally well prepared, very tasty, attentive and pleasant service, and a so-so wine list. My difficulty therefore, as I have the choices that I have, is whether I walk to the nearest restaurant, the lazy option,or whether I walk a block or two, past La Brezza and go to an equal or better choice. Tough decision, but usually I walk past this restaurant! of course, In the interest of my health.
If you havent eaten there however, and you like variety, and an out of africa italian colonial experience, try it, you will not be disappointed. -
Review from Jason G.
Calgary, AB
10/6/2011
Following a fantastic cigar event that was put on behind the restaurant by the Tobacco Outlet, I joined several of my fellow cigar lovers for dinner at La Brezza. The owner, Marco, provided a number of aperitifs at the cigar event, and after trying the meatballs being served by his lovely serving staff, I knew I had to go to La Brezza for dinner afterward. I love Italian food & wine, but had never been to La Brezza before. I'm embarrassed to say that I don't recall the name of the wine or the dishes I had, as I put my palate in our servers (Greg, if memory serves) hands. I shared the escargot and calamari with everyone at the table - they were the most unique renditions of both starters I have ever had. For dinner, I had the most amazing pasta with smoked salmon. La Brezza is a wonderfully cozy little Italian restaurant, and Marco was the the most gracious host. It's easy to tell why La Brezza has been in business for 25 years - I will definitely be going back...a lot!
