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Rea's Italian Cucina
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
431 41 Ave NECalgary, AB T2E 2N4
(403) 230-7754
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
9 reviews for Rea's Italian Cucina
9 reviews in English
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Review from John F.
2/26/2012
I love this place. Kind of weird location but great value. I think it's family owned, you know, when Mom cooks and the kids wait the tables..excellent pasta and especially the pizza! Very lively best to make reservations. Get the sasuage starter and the Big Guy pizza!
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Review from Sergey S.
5/15/2012
Miserable, horrible, ugly service! How could I forget about Rea's and not dedicate a nasty review to it...
During a lunch time this place is packed. Simply because there's nothing "Italian" in the surrounding area. Public is mostly visiting office folks that moved outside for a long lunch, without too many nearby options in the industrial zone.
Food is ok. Nothing amazing, nothing to dream about - but not bad. Portions were reasonably filling for a price, but I can't recommend anything.
Service is a real Rea's killer - hopelessly failing to sit you, get the order, bring it to you, get you a bill... everything is wrong with those guys! And when you pay at the counter, they show attitude and throw nasty looks - for that they squeeze a moment, but not for anything they're supposed to be in there.
I solemnly discourage you from visiting Rea's. Not that you'd find it easily in that crumpled corner next to the tires store and such anyway, but even if you will - just keep on driving, there is plenty of Italian places in Calgary, and most of them are better than Rea's. -
Review from Merry K.
Rea's is an institution amongst the guys I work with. They would eat there daily if they could. I love when I get a chance to go with them because it's like visiting family. Everyone who works there is family so you always see familiar faces (which I love). We also like to take our entire family (including kids) occasionally for special occasions.
Make sure when you go to get the "bullets" to eat with your rolls. Roasted garlic and jalepenos make up the bullets and though you will stink to high heaven the next day...they're worth it. My husband's favorite dish at Rea's is the pizza. I lean more towards the carbonerra or the seafood pasta (can't remember the name). We always get tiramisu for dessert.
Rea's is not super high end, cutting edge Italian. It is, however, great service and great food. BTW...make sure & make reservations when dining for lunch or dinner because they are often booked solid. -
Review from Thomas M.
1/25/2012
The food is quite good here, but the service is terrible. The servers focus on the larger groups, and pretty much ignore the smaller tables. hard/impossible to get refills, they don't check in about how the food is tasting, had our bread come out halfway throught the meals before, etc.
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Review from Kristy H.
Calgary, AB
Sandro's is now named Rea's Italian Cucina. After the fire, they rebuilt and they are back with a vengeance!
I went there for my birthday a few days ago and I must say that I'm sad I never knew about this place before!!
We had made reservations and I'm glad we did, the place was full of happy dining people. The atmosphere is cozy and warm and full of life. Our waiter was very attentive and funny throughout the evening and he was very efficient and quick which I always appreciate.
I ordered the bruchetta to start. It was so delicious! It wasn't too garlicky,but was full of flavour and crunch. Next up we ordered some calamari. WOW. It was the stewed kind, not the deep fried kind. It showed up piping hot in a tangy tomato sauce that was herbaceous and made me say mmmmmm with every bite! I had never had calamari this way before, I might not be able to go back to the fried variety!
Our main meal was two medium pizzas. The first was the Michelangelo pizza which is smoked salmon, capers, onions and olive oil. I was in pizza heaven! First off, I have issues with smoked salmon most of the time because its too 'smoked' and you don't actually taste any salmon, NOT on this pizza! It was cooked perfectly and the salty treasures of the capers were just perfect. I am currently dreaming about this pizza day and night.
The second pizza we ordered was the Rea's Special. It was Pepperoni, capicolla, mushrooms, olives, green peppers. It was full of flavours, a bit spicy but perfectly cooked. I can honestly say that I won't be able to eat pizza again and not compare it to Rea's pizza.
With a couple bottles of wine and a free shot courtesy of our kind waiter for my birthday, it was a wonderful night. I would recommend this place to anybody. Go out for a romantic night with your honey or take all your friends and get into the Italian mood of good food and drink.
http://www.reasrestaur...
Check out their website for their menu! -
Review from Tommasino B.
Calgary, AB
11/21/2011
Rea has a very warm family atmosphere and the folks there make you feel welcomed.
The place is simple and unpretentious, not very big, but tasteful. They have numerous veal dishes, pasta dishes and pizza. The veal is quite good and cooked well with a nice creamy sauce. The pasta, I must admit has an excellent tomato sauce (the veal normally comes with pasta with tomato sauce on the side). I was impressed by the quality of the tomato sauce. Unfortunately, the pasta was ruined by being overcooked (a mortal sin in Italy). This happened all three times I have been there. Rea, if you are reading this: please, please, please, make it al dente per favore!!! The only other comment is the quality of the mozzarella cheese used on pizza and some veals which is mediocre in my view. The bread is quite good, warm and abundant: perfect for "scarpetta".
Overall, I found myself going back there twice more after trying it the first time, even though is far from where I live and work. Is not that I consider this place "authentic" Italian; rather, when you taste something and the flavour brings back memories you thought you forgot, then I think something must be really good about it. That, and the fact that I have pretty high standard for Italian food, means I'm giving Rea's a fairly high score :-) -
Review from Brent E.
Calgary, AB
2/6/2012
Outstanding food and service. Was there last Friday and had the lasagna. Casual upbeat atmosphere. Good prices. Excellent Italian food. Everything is home made, Including the suasage. Family owned an operated.
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Review from Cornelius V.
Calgary, AB
Updated - 3/27/2009
A few days after I wrote this, the place burned down in what the FD determined was arson. I feel great having just called the place a "Sopranos hang out".
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/18/2009
This is a Sopranos hang out. I would pass by this place after work at 3 in the morning on a… Read more »
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Review from Trish L.
Calgary, AB
9/11/2008
Just went there for dinner tonight. The service was very good. The server was very attentive. However, the food was hit and miss. My friend and I shared the calamari appetizer and it tender with a tangy tomato sauce. Was it the most memorable calamari I've ever had? No... but it wasn't bad either. It was decent/acceptable. The entrees were a little strange. Both my friend and I ordered veal. He had the vitello marsala which was basically veal with a marsala sauce. The marsala sauce turned out to be a lot sweeter than we were expecting. I had the vitello francesco which was veal with mushrooms in a brandy cream sauce. It was decent. The veal was very tender and the sauce was flavorful. However, both entrees were paired with their pasta of the day which happened to be penne in a tangy tomato sauce topped with parmesan. The pasta itself was decent.. nothing spectacular.. something you could have ordered at one of the pasta places in the food court. However, pairing that tangy tomato with either a sweet marsala-sauced entree or a brandy cream-sauced entree was a very odd combination. I wish they could have served something else for the side pasta to make our dining experience more pleasant.. I could have enjoyed the simple pasta on its own or the veal in brandy sauce on its own, but definitely not both on the same plate. And I don't think I could have enjoyed the sweet marsala sauce as an entree no matter how it was presented.
For dessert, we had their tiramisu. That was very tasty! Almost enough for me to give this place 3 stars. The tiramisu was very creamy with the right amount of alcohol. I'd definitely order the tiramisu again.
I had high hopes for this place. I read rave reviews and I've had friends who been there and raved about this place. Perhaps we ordered the wrong dishes?!? This place is supposed to be famous for their pizza too. I think I'd be willing to go back to give their pizza a try... although I didn't see a wood oven there like at Pulcinellas... so I wonder what Sandro's pizza would be like. This isn't a bad place if you're looking for something closer to a home-cooked meal. The dishes are good value. However, it is a place to "write home about" either.
