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Ristorante Pulcinella
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
1147 Kensington Crescent NWCalgary, AB T2N 1X7
(403) 283-1166
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 12 am
Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for Ristorante Pulcinella
Review Highlights
-
"wood burning oven." In 4 reviews -
"Authentic thin crust forno oven pizza." In 6 reviews -
"The decor is modern and cheery, which complements the food." In 5 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Mike B.
Calgary, AB
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best. Pizza. Ever!
I've travelled to Italy a few times, once to Naples. I've had pizza in the land where it was created. I'm not ashamed to admit that I believe the pizza here is some of the best I've ever had.
I've gone a few times now and know what I like: start with an order of arancini. If life gets any better than deep-fried, cheese-stuffed risotto I don't want to know about it.
The for the main course a diavola pizza, with an extra order of oven-roasted garlic. It arrives hot and everything is delicious.
The attention to authenticity and fresh ingredients put all other pizzas in town to shame. I am literally unable to eat pizza from anywhere else without comparing it to here. in a way, they've ruined pizza for me because this is now "the bar".
I make my reservations with OpenTable, which makes it ridiculously easy. I go alone sometimes, when I'm just craving good pizza, and the folks behind the bar are always good for some conversation.
The atmosphere is classy and contemporary, with heavy white/black decor. The bathrooms are clean and very modern, and just tucked away enough to make it fun. The kitchen is mostly visible, with emphasis on the wood-fired over from which the pizza deliciousness comes. -
Review from Lee E.
2/23/2012
The pizza here is fantastic! Walking around in Kensington with some friends, we stumbled across Pulcinella. The place was extremely busy, so we ended up sitting at the bar. It was well worth it, however. The wine selection and fresh-made pizzas were perfect!
Pulcinella has a very classy and modern vibe to it. The staff were friendly and prompt with getting drinks. The service was average, which is pretty good considering that the place was packed.
I definitely recommend Pulcinella if you are in the Kensington area. It's a great place to catch up with friends, go on a date, or have a night out with the fam. -
Review from Emilie C.
2/9/2012
I think I just ordered the wrong dish, seeing as their specialty is actually their traditional Italian pizzas and pastas and I chose the mussels. They tasted really fishy and salty, the sauce wasn't great, and therefore I wasn't a fan. That said, the staff were super friendly, the wine was divine, and the space is aesthetically pleasing.
It's got more of a modern look than an authentic old-school Italian trattoria or osteria, however you still maintain a sense of that tradition with the aromas of the food, and the black and white photographs on the walls of Italian markets, parked vespas on cobblestone, portraits and such.
Sure I would try it again, the small taste of the pizza I had was fantastic, so I'd stick to ordering one of their specialties. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Calgary, AB
5/7/2012 ROTD 5/24/2012
Stopped in at Pulcinella last Friday after Beerfest. I've been here a few times already but the boyfriend hasn't, and after a failed attempt at Wine Bar (no tables), we walked over here. My boyfriend was worried he would stick out because he was wearing a hat, but there were a few casually dressed people in the bar so we went in anyway. It was really busy but we sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. I love the decor here, it's really classy and trendy. I happily sipped my Prosecco and we decided to order a pizza - when in Rome, right? We chose the Funghi. To be completely honest, I wasn't hugely impressed. I know that 'authentic' Italian pizza is very thin, and that's fine, but the pizza seemed almost...soggy. It definitely hit the spot for us since we had been drinking all evening, but I actually prefer Una to Pulcinella. However, the arancini is absolutely delicious and again, the decor is outstanding. Service was great, we actually moved over to a table once it opened up and the waitress was super sweet and accommodating. Love the vibe here but I'd skip the pizza.
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Review from Jason B.
Calgary, AB
4/22/2012
Pulcinella can be summed up in a word, disappointing.
The best thing about the restaurant is the interior design and ambiance. Bright and white like a high end restaurant in Italy.
The service was good but the pizza wasn't anything special. The server gave us a spiel about the imported wood burning oven: 1000 degrees hot, the dough cooks in 90 seconds and the black spots are not burnt crust but intentionally cooked that way to provide flavor.
Burnt crust is burnt crust. There's a big difference between carmellized and carbonized. One adds depth of flavor the other tastes awful.
You know what I say? Turn down your oven, then the pizza won't burn. I can live with waiting longer than 90s for my 'za.
Besides the charred crust, there was no real flavor. Everything was salty.
I understand that this style of pizza is easy on the toppings but they should at least be equally spread over the entire pizza. If you order the tartufo, truffled pizza, everyone wants to get some truffles.
I don't recommended Pulcinella and won't be back. -
Review from Sarah B.
1/6/2012
Wow, everyone on Yelp either loves Pulcinella or will NEVER go back there! I guess that's a strategy to keep new customers coming? To try their luck?
This restaurant has a special place in my heart, as I went there on my husband and I's first date, and we went there the night he proposed. He didn't propose in the restaurant, but the servers helped him with a small portion of it. That's a story for another time, and probably another medium unless I can review his marriage proposal on here.
BUT, I will say that I don't really love the food there. We went twice (the two occasions listed above) and I made sure to tell him that I wasn't really interested in going there on every special occasion because I didn't really love the food.
I see what everyone means about the crust and the sogginess. I can't speak to how it's served in Italy, so I'm not sure if it's authentic. We probably won't go back there for a long time, it is indeed pretty spendy and it doesn't really blow you away. -
Review from Vishal M.
Calgary, AB
I went for a Calzone. It was $20. Meat was salty. It had a different taste. I think I prefer the Pizza Hut Calzone....this place has a nice atmosphere but they should drop their prices by 30%
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Review from Kari S.
Calgary, AB
8/15/2011
This is a great restaurant for lunch. It has a fantastic atmosphere and decor.
I went for lunch with a friend and the service was fantastic! The server was attentive and helpful.
I totally recommend sharing the capriccosa (sp?) pizza with a friend along with a starter salad. Absolutely delicious!
I have seen children in the restaurant before, but today there was a group of 3 little kids and two moms. The kids were watching them make pizza's and then the chef gave each of them a little piece of dough to play with while they waited for their meals. The kids had a great time and the mom's could have a good visit!
Great to see everyone enjoying lunch so much. The manager came to our table to make sure we had everything we needed.
The latte's also come with a little biscotti - perfect way to end the meal! -
Review from Emma G.
7/11/2011
Based on the other reviews, it sounds like I got here on a good day!
One of my close friends invited me to go see Wicked with her and her family, and her mom organized a pre-show lunch at Ristorante Pulcinella. I'd never heard of it, and had no clue where we were going until we were walking in the door. Everything had been preordered for us, so I was really walking in blind!
The decor is really nice - I love that you can see where they make the pizzas and the set up was just classy and cute.
Our server was very professional and nice. The only downside was that my friend's mother had called ahead to prearrange a set meal, because we were on a time constraint. Somehow that message got lost and our food wasn't being prepared.
But! I truly believe that the way a company handles a mistake can leave you with a better customer service experience than if things just went smoothly the first time. This is exactly what happened - when she spoke to the staff, they apologized and managed to get our food out SUPER quickly. We ended up being finished earlier than we needed to be, which shows how speedy they were.
I personally LOVED the pizza. The crust was soft and chewy, with some spots a little charred which gave it great flavour, to me. I couldn't stop eating! I tried several pizzas and all were delicious.
Lastly we finished our meal with a Nutella pizza - fabulous! All of us ladies were eyeing the last two pieces.
It's disappointing to see that it's hit and miss, but I had a great experience and will definitely take my friends there and hope for the best. -
Review from A. L.
Calgary, AB
3/25/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great pizzeria, great wine and great decor. Service was good but the children we went with didn't think that it was "real" pizza.
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Review from Lauren H.
7/22/2011
I am a fan of the food here..it is unique with simple flavours and ingredients. The décor and ambiance is nice and seems to adapt with the company you are with (ie it would work for a date or a group of co-workers just as well). The servers are good too. I've been a few times now with larger groups (8-10 people) and everything has been well received.
I was there today again (3rd time) and my only complaint was the manger. He stormed around the dining room, clearly unhappy with several elements of his employees performances (which weren't terrible from what I could see and no one was complaining). He was repeatedly barking orders to the guy behind the bar, the hostess and the servers well within earshot of customers. It was a little embarrassing to watch. I have enough restaurant experience to be able to say "dude...take it outside or in the back or better yet leave it till later in the shift" because all he seemed to be doing is making the staff anxious and the guest who could hear unsettled. When we left he was outside on his phone and he barked an unfriendly "thank you" to us. Lighten up.
I wont let that influence my decision to go back again but if I do and I see the same thing...it might eventually make me feel comfortable elsewhere. -
Review from Sabahat N.
Calgary, AB
3/1/2011
I was expecting great things. I really wanted to like Pulcinella because I like thin-crust pizzas, and it looks like a nice joint too from the outside. Not to mention its great location.
To start off, I had a slightly difficult time picking the pizza I wanted to order. It seemed I could either have a veggie pizza, or one with ham/salami/bacon/prosciutto. I don't eat pig by-products. So I settled for a Margherita (tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil).
It was just okay. The crust was alright, and agreeing with some of the other reviewers, the center was really soggy. Who likes tomato sauce on soggy dough? Not me. I like my crust to at least hold up when I cut it with my fork and knife. This was a bit of a mess. My friend said that today was not even that bad, and sometimes the center was WAY soggier. But she said she loves this place regardless. Anyway, the tomato sauce on the pizza was quite flavourful.
Overall, I was expecting more. A lot more I guess. The pizza was nothing to write home about. It was just okay, and just okay is not enough. I would probably not go again, and would try the other Napoletana Pizza place in this city. -
Review from Meghan M.
Cold Lake, AB
1/31/2011
Ristorante Pulcinella was at the top of my "to try" pizza list. I had heard that they used ovens from Italy and are one of the only Associazione Pizzaioli Napolitani pizzarias in the world. Impressed by this knowledge, I was expecting to be totally wowed. I wasn't.
The decor is really nice - I liked everything about the set-up. That was a plus. The pizza itself though, well....it's expensive, as expected. And I just didn't enjoy it very much. I found the crust totally soggy, to the point of tasting undercooked. It was burnt around the edges. There was not a lot of flavour. The 2 people I was with said they liked it, but I did too. I think we were all embellishing because we were supposed to like such an authentic pizza.
I'd recommend it to try out for sure because pizza is totally a "to each his own" kind of thing. For me, this one doesn't belong on "my own" list.Listed in: Pizza!
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Review from Mia T.
7/11/2011
The first time I went to this restaurant, it took the person at the front 10 minutes to seat us (she was talking to customers and the place was dead) When she finally seated us, it took another almost 10 minutes before we got our coffees, to which she forgot all the cream/sugar, and we couldnt find anyone else to help us, so we walked out!
Second time I visited, the service was better, but the food, which is touted as real Naples style pizza, didnt live up to its reputation. Our pizza was almost undercooked and although I know they arent supposed to be over whelmed by ingredients on the pizza, it would have been nice to at least have more than a couple slices of this and that thrown about, for the expensive price. -
Review from Devon B.
11/6/2010 ROTD 2/5/2011
It's important to know that Pulcinella isn't a normal pizza joint, at least not for Canada. You won't find super deluxe triple bacon pizzas or random ingredients that don't make a lot of sense for a traditional pizza.
Nope, the food served with the pizza being the focus, is traditional Italian food. This is Napoletana style Pizza. The ingredients used are of the highest quality and truly make the pizza the delicious creation that it is.
The atmosphere is fun, but elegant. It's great for a date or a small group of friends. There is a great wine selection and as a whole, it's simply a great experience for everyone.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Mitch S.
Toronto, ON
1/8/2011
Food: The pizza is the best around and they use real buffalo mozzarella. Stick to the basics with the pizza options, some of their creations take away from the greatness of true Italian pizza.
Ambiance: Busy and live with a cool modern decor.
Price: Too much for simple Italian far.
Would I go again? Yes but I still think I'm over paying. This is why they lose a star. -
Review from Queenie M.
Calgary, AB
9/12/2010
Food: 2.5/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Overall experience: 3/5
(1- Terrible; 3- decent; 5- Fantastic)
Came here with a group of friends for a birthday awhile ago and it was on a really busy night. The waiter told us that the kitchen was backed up with pizza orders which is something I don't really like to hear when I enter a restaurant. Other things I don't really like is that parking can be a pain in the butt and limited if it's busy and you want a close parking spot, and it can get a little cramped and loud when it's busy.
Other than that the restaurant is really nice, with an excellent contemporary decor. They have an open kitchen which I absolutely love because you get to see the dynamics of the kitchen. Another neat thing is that you can even get seats right next to the kitchen so you can peek in and see them make and bake your pizzas in a giant wood burning stove.
The service was exceptional and our waiter was quite friendly; no complaints here.
People have said Pulcinella is the best pizza in the city which is complete BS. Let me start off by saying their pizzas are too expensive for the quality you are getting. As a group we ordered a couple different pizzas like the Cotto E Fungi ($16.95 with mozzarella, prosciutto, mushrooms, Parmesan, and basil) and Pulcinella ($21.95 with cherry tomatoes, Parmesan, buffalo mozzarella and basil). Pretty steep prices for just a 10'' or so pizza.
When they came out I was really disappointed, I was expecting this awesome thin crust Italian pizza (similar to what I got when I visited Rome, Italy) but it wasn't. There was so little toppings to crust ratio. There was a thick layer of chewy crust and the rest had a thin layer of tomato sauce (which is what you expect on an Italian pizza) and if you were lucky you managed to get a bit of cheese or meat all on one slice. Sometimes I just ended up eating tomato bread. The crust was extremely soggy which made it hard to eat (i was really hoping for a nice crispy crust) and it was burnt (you could sometimes even taste it).
We also shared the Bruschetta misto ($8.95) and it was like any other brushetta I get at any ol' restaurant.
Overall, the atmosphere and waiters are excellent but the food was just not up to par. I suggest you skip this restaurant if you want your money's worth, because I'm definitely not going to spend another $15-$24 on pizza here. -
Review from Sapna G.
Calgary, AB
12/1/2009
In terms of service, ambiance and location, Pulcinella would get 5 stars hands down.
In terms of the quality of pizza however, Pulcinella gets two stars in my books.
I"ve had A LOT of pizza in my day and age and when I was told that Pulcinella served the BEST pizza in town, I was ready to be blown away. I was blown away all right, but for all the wrong reasons.
My pizza was soggy, totally flat, and burnt in certain places. It was AWFUL. I'd much rather have the $6 Ristorante pizzas that I can pick up at the supermarket. What's worse is that I had taken a couple of friends from Chi-Town and they were both completely disappointed in Pulcinella.
My visit to Pulcinella was completely humiliating and disappointing. There is NO chance I'll ever be back. -
Review from Elle C.
5/10/2010
I've been here on several occasion, and finally I can write a review. It's been quite finnicky in terms of food quality, and I didn't want to give it a stellar review and change my mind shortly after.
On some of the good days, or not so busy hours, the pizza is fabulous, crust is thin and cooked just right, cheese is melted just right, the prosciutto is just perfectly crunchy to the bite, and the basil is fragrant. Service is pleasant and keeps your water bottle replenished.
On bad days or busy hours, the bottoms of the pizza are completely soggy, the prosciutto is chewy and the other toppings are just everywhere. Service drops significantly, or plain MIA.
The only things that are consistent on their menu are the apetitizers and dessert. The SALTI NBOCCA is TO DIE FOR. Well, anything spread with nutella is always good. Overall, I really enjoy my meals here, I just learn to come at less busy hours. -
Review from Julianna C.
Calgary, AB
7/31/2009
To me, if the chefs at Pulcinella are using canned mushrooms... whatever! They still make one of the best pizzas available in Calgary.
Pulcinella takes the bastardized North American "pizza" and tears it to pieces. Extremely palatable and simple in presentation. No pools of grease bubbling up (and eventually solidifying) on these pizzas.
I love the decor at Pulcinella... it's very polished, yet comfortable. The staff is usually friendly and helpful. Most of the appetizers I would just skip, and just go right in for the pizza. It's pricey here, but worth it for an indulgence of the traditional. -
Review from spaniel l.
Calgary, AB
5/18/2009
I seem to be 'swimming against the current' here, but here's my two cents.
- I do not fancy soggy pizza. Maybe it was the EXTRA liquids from the canned mushrooms and artichokes the chef did not account for. YUK
- I expected to find a little more than a single basil leaf chopped and diligently distributed over the an entire pizza - especially for a pizza where 'fresh basil' is one of its main ingredients.
- To end in a somewhat positive note, the pizza crust was good (I do make my own pizza dough at home so good means good, it would have been great if it wasn't soggy and burnt)
Overall, I was NOT impressed. The pizza we had reminded me nothing of the authentic- simple- fresh - thin- crusted pizza we had in Italy. -
Review from josh j.
Calgary, AB
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
My Princess Bride loves this bastion of Kensington dining. It is true Italian design with its modern lines and urban elegance. The wood burning oven is the centerpiece of the whole operation. Cranking out Napolitano style pizza that is moist and fresh with its ingredients, it soothes your palate. You have to be cognisant of the style of pizza that Neapolitans serve, it is not the accustomed and usual pizza fare of the masses. Their other non pizza dishes are nice as well, Princess B just loves the Arancini. Prices are quite high, considering portion size, but what do you expect? Like the famous prancing horse automaker of Maranello, you're paying for Italian design sensibilities.
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Review from Bogdan C.
Calgary, AB
I would give 4.5. Nice place with great food.
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Review from Danger D.
Calgary, AB
10/16/2009
One star because you had 'canned mushrooms'?? Jr T, get over yourself...
Pulcinella's one of the handful of places in Calgary that you can get something other than 'standard' North American pizza (read: not swimming in greese, glorified Pizza Hut).
'Soggy in the middle'?? Sorry... maybe this was an 'off' day but I've never seen that at Pulcinella... of course, being what it is, it's certainly not meant to be picked up in slices...
What do you get? Well besides the tasty crust and the great sauce... wood burning oven... you get real Italian cheese and meats...in a (perhaps a bit overly done) cosmopolitan setting with decent service... try the Prosciutto and fresh arugula or their spicy Diavola. (apparently you should stay way from the mushroom and artichoke... but then, who wouldn't)
Pulcinella is simply 'Best in Class' - even if I think the Napoletana certification is a bit hokey. -
Review from T D.
7/8/2010
Great location, great ambiance, good food and fair prices.
Definitely worth a try, located in the heart of Kensington, with a modern hip vibe and definitely unique cuisine. I would rate it higher if the food quality and quantity reflected the prices a bit closer. There is only so much you can charge for pizzi before you have to say "its only pizza". -
Review from Tina S.
Calgary, AB
2/15/2011
THAT IS NOT AUTHENTIC ITALIAN PIZZA!!!
I had been to this restaurant 5 times before and always enjoyed it...except for last night valentines day. My company was the best thing about the meal! Since when did they sell out and opt for passing off sliced ham as procuitto and using canned mushrooms and artichokes. Terrible. favour lacked and toppings.....The pope would roll over in his grave. They opted to do a set menu which was ridiculously overpriced for what you ate. The desert was an over sweetened mess because they ran our of the tiramisu which was on the fixed menu... how that works - no idea! the meal with wine ( which was also set) was $145.00 - this was such a rip off. definately OFF my must return to list. To bad this restaurant started off well and sold out to lesser ingredients and lack of taste. -
Review from Alix Laura W.
Calgary, AB
7/20/2010
Great, hip restaurant especially if you're looking for something new and different. I went there for a nice dinner with my mother and my mother-in-law.
On the upside, all three of us agreed the calamari was the best we'd ever tasted.
However, my mum had an Americano. It came in a little tea cup - which maybe is traditional Italian? It spilt everywhere. In it's tea cup.
On the way back in the house, my mum had asked me if she had done something to insult the waitress. I said not at all and asked her why? She explained to me that her pizza came with absolutely no toppings - and that it was burnt. She assumed she gave the waitress the dirty eye ball by accident and hence forth got a topping less pizza.
Yes, traditional Italian pizza has a nice crispy crust and sparse toppings but looking at the boxed up leftovers, there was nothing but sauce on that Margarita pizza - and that sauce was tinned, stewed tomato's. Then my mum counted three pieces of basil. And then she said "My pizzas are usually raw and burnt but it's because I put too many toppings on them." -
Review from Eric F.
Calgary, AB
6/1/2009
I came here with a group of four on a Sunday evening looking for a quick meal before a film at the Plaza Theatre - business was looking strong, ranging from couples to families. We were seated quickly and received excellent, attentive service. They didn't even balk at accommodating my lactose-intolerant companions.
The decor is modern and cheery, which complements the food. You can choose to sit by the bright windows for people-watching or further inside, closer to the wood-burning pizza oven. We started with the bruschetta, which were tasty with flavourful tomatoes and red bell peppers with dried ricotta on small cuts of thin bread. I shared the cotto (ham) pizza while my companions had the vegetali grigliati (grilled vegetable) pizza.
I agree with previous reviews that the pizzas are a bit soft in the middle, but not unreasonably so, and for the ingredients and the tasty crust, I would take this a million times over other conventional North American pizza. Like my friend said, "You don't feel gross after eating it."
$65 for four people with drinks, no dessert. I'd say that prices are on par with other casual dining in the Kensington area. Great service. I will be back. -
Review from Trish L.
Calgary, AB
9/14/2008
One of the best places in Calgary for traditional Italian thin-crust pizza. Apparently the owner/chef got training in Naples prior to opening this pizza place and is a member of the Associazione Pizzaioli Napolitani.
The decor is very contemporary and chic. The pizzas are thin and crisp. I would suggest picking pizzas without soggy ingredients such as artichokes as that will cause the pizza to be a bit soggy when no drained properly. I learned that the hard way.... I prefer sticking to the basics such as prosciutto and mushrooms.
The tiramisu that I had for dessert very good, one of the better ones that I've had. It was very creamy and you can actually taste the liqueur. -
Review from Tommasino B.
Calgary, AB
10/13/2010
I have been there twice. I have been living in north america for about 10 years, and this is indeed the closest to Italian pizza I have experienced on this continent (I am from Italy). The pizza is supposed to have a few burning marks, be fairly thin, a thin layer of tomato sauce and hand shredded mozzarella. Toppings are supposed to be sparse compared to American counterparts. They got their bases covered.
Having said that, I don't think the pizzaioli there are experienced enough and some of the ingredients are so so. The mozzarella is fresh, but should melt a little more. The quattro stagioni had a ham that wasn't that fresh (and yes, in Italy it is usually served with the topping devided into quarters). The mushrooms were ok (yes they are supposed to be pickled). The dough was good but I expected a little more flavors given the Canada has much better flours than Italy; perhaps it should have risen slower.
Back to the pizza in Italy, there really are about 4 maintypes: pizzette and pizza al trancio are those you usually eat on the fly; pizza napoletana is what Pulcinella is serving: the dough is gummier and somewhat thicker. Finally, the pizza you are likely to eat elsewhere in Italy is a variation of the pizza napoletana: thinner and crispier.
I would caution people from ordering pizza ai quattro formaggi, since it is next to impossible to find the right type of cheeses needed (sone are very fresh and hardly exported and there are no equivalents in Canada, forcing them to use cheeses that are not suitable to melt on a pizza).
As an appetizer I tried the mixed bruschetta which I did not go crazy for. The bruschetta was cold and overloaded with tomatoes and other spices. A shame given they have a wood burning oven and would take no time to prepare on the fly. Nothing Italian in it...
The atmosphere is nice, fresh and modern, but hardly Italian.
Overall I would definitely go back. The pizza is pretty good. Nonetheless,not everyone may like it especially folks accustomed to pizza here and expecting to be served that. -
Review from Moez T.
Calgary, AB
10/15/2009
I have 2 experiences at Pulcinella that I'm going to write about today. One was part of a large group. The other, as a couple.
Group
My fiance & I had a great idea a few years ago to start organizing big group dinners. It would vary between 10 and 20 people and we would choose the location. We only managed to have a few of them, before it stopped for a reason I can't recall at this moment. Pulcinella was one of our stops.
The service during the group visit was great. It wasn't excellent, but it was pretty solid. It doesn't affect my rating as large groups are generally a nightmare for servers. I don't think I've ever had excellent service as a group. Our group was somewhere between 10 and 15 people.
The food was fantastic. Everyone got what they wanted and everything tasted delicious. After dinner, we weren't rushed out or pressured into leaving. That was nice, as there wasn't a lot of alcohol being consumed.
Couple
Considering it's the same restaurant, I was surprised that the group experience and couple experience were so different. The service was excellent. But Pulcinella seems to pay attention to placement. I've been to restaurants where couples are placed next to large, loud groups with total ignorance to any romantic evening you may have planned. In my experience, Pulcinella is not one of those restaurants. Due to the open space, it can get loud no matter where you are sitting. It's worse though, if you're seated next to a group of partiers.
The decor and atmosphere is great. Despite it's open concept, it still has a very cozy feel to it. And it's in the heart of Kensington, which means your options are limitless after dinner is done. -
Review from Christine B.
Calgary, AB
4/2/2009
Whether it's lunch or dinner, Ristorante Pulcinella is a great place to go for something different. It's bright and clean inside, and the staff is very friendly and helpful.
Although the pizzas may seem somewhat expensive, it's really a good bargain given the quality of ingredients and uniqueness of the stretchy, thin crust pizza. The pizza oven holds four pizzas, so it might not be the fastest food in the world, but it's definitely worth the wait when spending time with friends.
The desserts are heavenly - definitely splurge on the tiramisu! -
Review from Ella B.
Toronto, ON
11/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
The best Napolitana Pizza in calgary. i'm not a big fan of meat on my pizza, and this place definitely has great vegetarian selections. Their Margarethia and veggies Pizzas are delicious. Parking is scarce sometimes around Kensington but the location is great. Everything but the Pizzas is average at best so do come here for the Pizza, pare it with some good wine and make sure sure you have reservations for busy times. The atmopshere is nice and the service is good.
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Review from Wayne R.
Cochrane, AB
4/16/2011
Excellent Caprese salad, when they have the Buffalo cheese. Very good Pizza although I do miss the Stromboli style pizza they did before the name change. Had the Tiramisu for dessert and I think they made an error to 'update' the classic.
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Review from C I.
Calgary, AB
11/6/2010
Pulcinella pizza is so good! My favourite pizza in Calgary by far.
The atmosphere is alright: bright with neat photos. But it's a little too loud for my taste and a bit too expensive to come to all the time. It's a lovely treat to order take out and have fancy pizza at home like regular pizza. -
Review from Andre D.
Edmonton, AB
8/8/2010
So after having Brazilian the night before, we wanted to just chill and have something simple. My gf and I scoped out Kensington earlier in the day and found this was the spot to head to.
So it wasn't that packed. The ambiance of this place reminded me of a place you would find on College Street. We were greeted by our cheery hostess and seated right away. The waitress then proceeded to explain to us the experience and what the pizzas are prepped. I didn't want to cut her off and say "WE KNOW." I let her finish and then I said, my gf is Italian. She's like, ok I'll shut up now. LOL.
So I ordered the quattro stagione pizza. Of course I'm not too much of a fan of doughy pizza to start. even though the experience of a wood burning over pizza can't be beat. Second of all the design of the quattro stagione made me laugh. All the toppings were separated in each quarter. I thought that to be kind of corny. Dunno if I'd order that again.
I still like the place, I'd go back though just for the atmosphere. -
Review from Adam G.
Calgary, AB
3/7/2009
Best italian style pizza in town. Authentic thin crust forno oven pizza.
Listed in: Great Dining
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Review from DD M.
Calgary, AB
8/28/2011
This place is over priced, loud, and the menu seemed kind of limited. The pizzas were just okay. There were seven of us at a table and the service was really slow. No one at our table seemed really wowed by their food. Stick with famoso if you want a thin crust pizza.
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Review from Jennifer D.
Calgary, AB
3/22/2010
When I first walked into Pulcinella, I was excited this place has a great vibe and atmosphere. It is a great space and was full or people. I thought - wow, I am in for a treat.
The service was good - especially considering that I was part of a large group(10) but the server was attentive.
Woodfired pizza! So excited! It arrives at the table and I am already disappointed just looking at this pizza. It looks soggy (there is actually pools or liquid on top of the pizza) and it looks as though all the ingredients are from a can.
Now for $18, I expect a pretty nice pizza. I certainly do not expect canned mushrooms. The pizza was flavorless.
Atmosphere, service and location - total win. Otherwise, there are many other places to have a better meal -
Review from marco d.
Calgary, AB
5/30/2009
I went in January. AWFUL.
They brought the Italian decor but forgot how to make/cook the pizza.
The pizza was burnt the a crisp (all 3 of them), the dough was soggy, and the ingredients were soupy.. you couldn't pick up a slice without dumping the ingredients off the side.
Look it up, there are atleast 10 reviews on the internet about this. If you do decide to go call them out if the pizza is burnt or soggy, you deserve better.
In short
good advertising, good service, horrible pizza, and expensive.
