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Vero Italian Bistro
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
13 reviews for Vero Italian Bistro
13 reviews in English
-
Review from Alex L.
Calgary, AB
11/19/2011
Vero is impressive in its menu, service and atmosphere.
Firstly the food. Each dish stood out on its own. Consistent quality made for an impressive menu.
Lamb shank special: Vero has daily specials and I was lucky enough to get this glorious version of meaty goodness. A full lamb shank still on the bone with veggies and a very good mash made for a solid entree.
Lobster Mac and cheese: This dish is built to impress. Unlike other lobster mac & cheese, Vero serves this dish with a whole lobster tail in the shell so that you know you are getting your money's worth. A mix of rich cheese with well prepared lobster means this dish is well done.
Chocolate mouse: yum yum yum, chocolately goodness.
Mango cheesecake: The only minor let down of the meal. It was still good but not anything special.
Service & Atmosphere
Service was warm, knowledgable and the perfect balance of involved but not intrusive. Was the last table in the restauraunt but did not feel any pressure to finish up and was able to relax and enjoy the meal rather than feel rushed.
Well done Vero, you have won me over.
13/30 -
Review from Linda C.
Started out very bumpy and slow.... but still had a good time w friends.
When restaurants make mistakes, as long as they own up to it I have patience.... and Vero definitely made up for their mistakes.
Service was not very good. They said it was a busy night but the place is pretty small. we waited 20-30 mins for our drink orders to be taken.... and then another 30-40 mins for our appetizers to come out. Our water glasses were empty most of the night and we had to flag down the waitress to get her attention. But they made up for it... They apologized, and comped us 2 apps, and when the dessert was almost inedible due to it's extreme tartness, our prosecco was on the house.
Now the food.... we had:
Amuse Bouche - Uni risotto ball w/ chilli plum sauce
Mushroom Bruschetta (comped)
Sweet potato Gnocchi
Clams & Mussels
Taro chips
Olives (comped)
Lamb entree
Lobster mac 'n cheese - smoked gouda, white truffle - to me lacked flavour
Food was ok. I enjoyed the lamb, the rest of it was just ok.
Chardonnay & prosecco were delicious though! -
Review from Lauren H.
8/24/2011
Went here for lunch with a coworker-I've been meaning to try it for awhile.
We didn't have reservations but they were able to get us a table-I would recommend making a reservation though if going at a peak time as it isn't a huge place.
Their lunch menu was great-basically a 2 course meal starting at $15 going up to about $22 with most being under 20. Lots of choice so there is something for everyone for sure. They were out of one item (Bistro burger) but were able to recommend another great option (Mac and Cheese). The food was fresh, filling in a way where you felt like you got your money's worth but could still work the rest of the day.
Both of our meals were a little salty but I think that was the nature of what we ordered-at least it was fresh cooked food made by a real chef rather than microwaved plastic food from a chain. The service was professional, quick and attentive.
The decor was nice too-simple but edgy. I was already planning when I could introduce someone else to this spot halfway through my appie. I'll be back for sure! -
Review from Shannon M.
Calgary, AB
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I passed by Vero Italian Bistro by chance one afternoon in Kensington and a photo of their classic Bouillabaisse - filled with mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, seasonal fish and tomato broth - made me stop and take a closer look.
A few days later, I had a leisurely lunch to catch up with a good friend. The menu at Vero is constantly changing, making room for local and seasonal produce. And the menu offers something to thrill most any palate, and budget, with both a set lunch - starting at just $15 for an appetizer and main - and a la carte options.
The restaurant is small and intimate, with a quaint patio that extends out onto 10th street, but is surrounded by a privacy wall so conversation is comfortable. Our server was polite, attentive and helpful. My risotto was divine and the grilled scallops - a notoriously difficult dish to prepare - were cooked perfectly.
One visit was all it took to put Vero on my list of personal favourites - I'll certainly return.Listed in: My Favorite YYC Dining Out…
-
Review from Kari S.
Calgary, AB
7/28/2011
Booked reservations for Friday night at 8:30. The table was ready when we arrived.
Great atmosphere - mood lighting, funky decor and great energy. They even offer you pillows if you find your chair not that comfortable - which I did not use but was very curious about.
The service was fanastic. Our server was passionate about the menu and very helpful with questions. She was appropriately attentive throughout the night.
The meals were amazingly delicious. Would definitely go there again.
Next time want to try it out at lunch! -
Review from Queenie M.
Calgary, AB
3/12/2011
Food: 4/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Overall experience: 4/5
(1- Terrible; 3- decent; 5- Fantastic)
My first time here was for lunch with a friend. It's a small bistro with seating for maybe about 25, and has a nice, modern, jazzy upscale atmosphere. There was a red and black colour scheme; Red cushioned side wall, black ceilings, booths and tables. It's quite cozy but one complaint I have is the chairs. Either it's because I'm short, or the chairs are actually lounge-like where I had to lean pretty far back to properly sit in my seat. The service was average. Nothing to brag about. He seemed kind of nervous but still managed to give us a detailed explanation of the lunch special which was informative.
The menu is simple and refined. It had the usual fair of appetizers like calamari and brushetta done 3 different ways, soups, salads, pastas and mains. I came here specifically to try their 2 course lunch special for $15; however it was essentially just paying for the main. The appetizer was really disappointing- a piece of crusty bread with a small leaf of lettuce and a thin slice of smoked salmon with a balsamic reduction. The main pasta dish however, completely made up for it. It was a shell pasta with organic turkey, capers and a uniquely blended sauce of crushed and roasted tomatoes, salty capers, with a touch of dill and creaminess of shaved Parmesan. Beautiful depth and balance of flavours; every bite was addicting. It's one of the best pasts dishes I have had going out and worth every penny.
Although I only came here for lunch, I can sense that their dinner items are just as well thought out and delicious. I highly recommend a visit for a quick lunch and I will definitely come back for dinner! I fantastic Italian "nook" in the heart of Kensington =) -
Review from Jag S.
Calgary, AB
12/10/2010
It's so cozy! I love it! It's a mix between trendy yet very comfortable! I love the bold red.
I planned a birthday lunch here for one of my best friends. I'm dying to go back just for the service! I think the owner/manager was the one serving us - she was great - she had such a positive and helpful attitude (unfortunately this is very uncommon in Calgary). She was the epitome of what a great server needs to be!
Since we were there over lunch we got to take advantage of the lunch menu! It was (I think) a 3 course meal for $15 -- what a STEAL of a deal! The chef even comes around to speak to all the different tables.
The food is excellent, cheap, flavourful and well prepared. I'll definitely need to come back for dinner soon. -
Review from Jane B.
Calgary, AB
10/5/2010 ROTD 6/16/2011
I love love love this place! The guys at Kensington Fitness told me about it and I so happy they did. (They were eating dinner and it smelt sooo good I couldn't resist asking where it was from).
Anyways the restaurant is so cute, and the staff are nice and helpful.
But it's the food that is amazing, so yummy. They've got lots of classics with a unique twist. My fav is still their steak but their cranberry bread that they serve before the meal is really good.
If you are looking for a great place for a date this is the place! -
Review from Matthias S.
Calgary, AB
4/1/2010
I loved this place. Probably one of my all time favourite places that I have been to here in Calgary. It looks like nothing special from the outside, but inside it has the atmosphere and vibrance of a typical European bistro. Vero reminded me of some of the bistros that I went to in Germany and Austria, and its as if they bottled the atmosphere and brought it here to this location.
The food...yes the food...sooo DELICIOUS. Our meal started with a snack of balsamic vinegar and olive oil dip for the bread. I decided to skip the appetizer and go straight for the jugular...the entree. Since everything on the menu looked as delectable as the last item I read. I went with the waiters recommendation of the Feature (the meal of the day).
When my plate arrived, I was a bit puzzled at first. Because I thought I would get veggies, mashed potatoes and meat. Turns out the mashed potatoes where hidden below the veggies. The meat was so tender you could have cut it with a spoon. The best part of it was that it reminded me of my mother's and my aunt's cooking from yesteryear.
All in all an amazing experience. -
Review from Sabahat N.
Calgary, AB
2/28/2011 1 photo
I went here for my birthday recently, which happened to fall on a Wednesday. We decided to have a nice dinner before heading to see a show at Jubilee.
Apparently on Wednesdays, if you order a bottle of wine (any wine, cheap or pricey), you get a dozen oysters free. We decided to not bother with the wine and just get dinner, as we wanted to be out of there in a reasonable amount of time. The decor of the place is really nice. It reminds me of those chic places in Montreal (oh how I miss thee..).
I ordered the lamb, and it was quite delicious. Soft, tasty and falling off the bone. Really quite good. I liked the atmosphere too, and at the end of the meal, the waiter gave us some little chocolates.
Speaking of waiter, that is my only caveat. It looked like he was the only one serving the area where I was sitting - and quite frankly, I was not very impressed. He was overly formal, too abrupt, very cold, and a tad bit distracted. I like my waiter to talk to me for a second, smile when taking my order, and atleast give me the time of day, especially when I'm spending almost a fair amount on my meal. But no luck here at Vero. maybe he was overwhelmed by the number of customers he had, or he thinks doing tricks with the napkin is going to be enough to win me over.. but not so, unfortunately.
I will go here for lunch, because it is $15, but perhaps not for dinner, unless I want the oysters for free. The food was great, but the experience was lacking due to the service. -
Review from Adam G.
Calgary, AB
11/1/2009
Great location in Kensington. A modern boutique restaurant that has a varied menu (think 'the Keg' options). Both the steak and the lamb were absolutely amazing, cooked perfectly with just the right amount of seasoning. Although I was far less impressed with the plating presentation and the sides. I just don't ever expect to get rather plain (but good) fries with a steak in a place like this. The risotto that came with the lamb was quite good too, but nothing unique.
They also have a late night tapas menu and a $15 3 course lunch that I may go back to try. -
Review from Brendon R.
Calgary, AB
5/23/2011
Expectations were high and our whole party was dissapointed. Table wasn't ready for our reservation and the server was nice enough but missed a few little things. Food was hit and miss as one appetizer was amazing while others just fell flat. None of the meals blew us away and considering the price there is no way I would return or recommend.
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Review from Jimmi S.
Calgary, AB
4/2/2011
I have been twice, and each time had great service, great food, and a great time. They are very accommodating of food allergies and everything is high quality and good tasting.
