I have been to Bonterra numerous time and it is on the expensive side but it was worth it. unfortunately I was there yesterday with my friends, we were told to order order quickly because it was a busy evening, after our meal we were asked to immediately pay because they wanted the table for another group and we could seat at the bar if we wanted to stay (the bar was already fully occupied with people staying up chatting, mix with people waiting for their réservation, it was very crowded). between the 4 of us the total bill was $500 ( mine was $90 for a green sala, linguine and a 6oz. Glass of wine) and we were there for barely 2 hour. If they are limiting how long you can stay they should inform you at the time of reservation. read more

Visited fam in Calgary and they brought us here. The gnocchi and tiramisu were top notch! Waiter was knowledgeable and made great suggestions as well. read more

Bonterra Trattoria - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Very good, 8 people for lunch on a Thursday. Seats maybe 75? Portions were double what one person could eat. Go to share. $70 for 1 no wine. Yikes. read more

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We came here to celebrate our anniversary and hubby wanted to try Bonterra's. It's been years since I've been here to be honest and the last time I was here it was for lunch. The service was good, timing of everything was appropriate. I had a margarita with pineapple and it was okay to be honest. The focaccia was delicious with a crispy crust and pillowy soft center with fresh herbs. I ate three pieces myself . The calamari salad was delicious, a perfect balance of flavours and textures. Here you have a symphony of lemon, golden raisins, olives, sun dried tomatoes, almonds, fennel, spinach, and soft calamari. We both had duck and it was a bit of a disappointment. The breast was rendered and you got some crispy skin and a somewhat tender bite. What it did not pair well with was the red lentils and beets. The lentils and beets together tasted odd and did no compliment the duck. We had a side order of the fingerling potatoes and was delighted. It had a nice slightly crispy outside and soft inside. The sauce had a nice kick to it (mild I would say) and the olives added a bit of salt. read more

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Our server was awesome. Food was awesome. Atmosphere was nice. Only issue was noise levels but that's to be expected on a Saturday night. read more

Bonterra Trattoria - Anatra - Italian Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

We went here a few months back and catching up on review. We booked this one 2 weeks before coming and when we got there we still had to wait 20 min for a table. I can't say service was as impeccable as reviews have stated. . What we had: 1) Burrata $$$$- $24 - fresh and local, but underwhelming. Small for the price, but I will say the lemon evil and focaccia were divine. . 2) Carpaccio-$19 - this was delish with the capers and I will say the combo of burrata and carpaccio together was elevated. That duo was good and that bread did it for me. . 3) panzanella salad -$17 - Delish and would get again. Needed some salt and pepper, which was an easy fix. I probably would've loved a balsamic reduction or glaze on this. . 4)Braised Boar Shank -$34-This was the most disappointing of the saga. The flavors were off and I wouldn't recommend. . Overall: I wasn't impressed with the service, but the patio is gorgeous and so is the atmosphere. I hope this doesn't qualify as the best Italian in the city, because it didn't do that for me. I felt that they had quality products, but something was missing from each dish. Yes, I am critical, but I was expecting to be blown away. Also didn't make me feel special for celebrating and that's a big no no in hospitality world for me. Would I go back again? Yes, but I won't be running back, quite frankly. read more

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I came here with my coworkers for celebratory lunch. We came in through the back entrance and got a glimpse of their beautiful patio. Bonterra Trattoria has one of the nicest patio in Calgary! You definitely have to see it for yourself! My group was seated in the middle near the front of the restaurant and the decors instantly brings you back to Italy. The restaurant is connected with Posto (a more casual restaurant which I've saved for another review). I really wanted to love this place but I can only settle that Bonterra Trattoria was only better than average. As with any restaurants, it can be a hit or miss. I had the Merluzzo: Ling cod, sweet pea arancini, lemon yogurt, olive, celery heart, and artichoke. In my opinion, the beautiful Ling cod which was suppose to be the highlight, was left to dry on the arancini bed. The poor cod didn't have any seasoning and yogurt sauce did not complement the fish as it should have. Despite the fishiness, the Ling cod was cooked perfectly. It had just the right tender flakiness to it. Now, the sweet pea arancini; star of the dish. It has a perfect crust and the sweet pea risotto inside was outstanding. The arancini, yogurt sauce, mushrooms, tomatoes and celery was a delightful symphony in my mouth. It was perfecto! So remember, this is Calgary, seafood is probably not the best here. To finish, I had the Torta di pistachio: orange blossom and pistachio cake, strawberry, roasted rhubarb compote, whipped ricotta that was nicely done. It had the perfect combination of sweetness, acidic, creme and airiness. I highly recommend this cake. My coworkers and I had an amazing experience and a lot of them recommended the Manzo. read more

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Excellent meal and menu selection. The service is second to none. The ambiance is intimate and cozy. Definitely give this place a try if you're in downtown Calgary. read more

Must order the bruschetta. It's served on toasted homemade focaccia that was absolutely amazing. The linguine alla vongole was great, as well as the bolognese. The patio warmly green, in contrast to the downtown location. Our server, Allie, was excellent and was a treat to speak with. If we live in the area, we'd be regulars of this establishment. read more

Bonterra Trattoria - Bruschetta on toasted homemade focaccia. - Italian Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Wow! Amazing pasta. Was looking for a place in town to get a good carbonara, and this came up on yelp. The carbonara was sooo good - authentic, just the right creaminess and the linguine was al dente. We also got the truffle gnudi which was to die for!! We also had a special menu tempura squash blossoms stuffed with goat cheese for an appetizer. Service was great. The interior had very dim lighting and felt pretty upscale/classy. Definitely want to come back for some more carbonara and for a seat on their patio. read more

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One of the best Italian restaurants. Very nice interior and outside seating in the summer is gorgeous. Great menu with fresh ingredients. Food never disappoint. read more

There is parking in the back that is complimentary if you register your plate inside. Reservation only. The decor, ambience, and service is good. Server forgot one of the dessert orders and it was later comped. The food was fresh, but also quite bland and entirely forgettable. One of the pastas was drowning in oil. The beef was served with a forest on top, as opposed to the side; which is questionable presentation. Wouldn't you want to show off the beef instead of hiding it? Some of the appetizers would have been served better with bread instead of crackers. The desserts were mostly good. They were out of panna cotta, and we were the first table to order dessert, so that meant they never had any to begin with for the night. By the end of the meal I was definitely still hungry, and had to eat something else when I got home. Overall, the food was overpriced and not worth it. I definitely expected more based on reviews. read more

Came in after lunch and before the dinner rush and I was the only one in the restaurant. Upon walking in, despite the restaurant being empty, the servers and kitchen staff were still working hard. It wasn't long until I was greeted by Curtis. His greeting was warm, professional and with a smile. I immediately felt like I belonged. I ordered the crispy pork belly. One of the most delicious pork belly dishes I've ever eaten! It's not too rich and has plenty of flavour. Perfect crisp on the skin and a good amount of sauce. Emily checked in on me an appropriate amount of times to ensure I was doing well. Shared a few laughs but she remained professional and didn't keep the conversation too long. She knows what she is doing. Interior was clean and tidy. The lighting wasn't too bright but it fits the design of the restaurant. Met one of the supervisors Joell (I think she is Asst. GM now). Her experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry shows and it reflects off her servers and kitchen staff. Always a smile, has an outgoing personality (but not overbearing) and had a comforting aura to her. I was suggested to try the spare ribs but I might get the pork belly again and try the ribs on another visit. I'll have to try everything on the menu! I'll 100% be back again! read more

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We had our first date at Bonterra last July, and it was a fantastic experience. We raved about the arancini balls to others and looked forward to the next time we would have them again. Since then, Bonterra acquired a new chef. As soon as the arancini balls arrived, the disappointment began. They may as well have been store-bought and deep-fried. Maybe they were. Very average and no wonderful lemon sauce to go with them like before. Apparently ... that's not "traditional" and the new chef's philosophy is all about basics and tradition. Italy's a country with many regions and I'm pretty sure "traditional" is a matter of perspective. And frankly, I don't care what the new chef's "philosophy" is; I care about what comes out of the kitchen and into my mouth. My bad for ordering a chicken breast that was "pounded and crumbed"; I wouldn't advise it. The breast was moist and tender but, crumbing it did it a huge disservice. Broccolini is beautiful just like it is, no need to chop it to bits. As much as I like arugula and figured its addition would satisfy my salad craving, it really did nothing for my "chicken-fried-steak." My partner had the prawn agnolotti, which was pretty good. Apparently, all pasta is now made fresh on the premises. I guess that's the good news. Dessert was ... meh. Should have done without. The wine was fantastic. The waiter was pretty much inattentive. He did spend some time toward the end of our meal defending the chef; at least that's what it sounded like to me. Then he seemed to disappear after whisking away our dessert dish without asking if we wanted anything else or the bill. We had to get up to leave before he noticed. We thought Bonterra would be "our special place" but it seems we'll have to look for another. read more

We are here for a celebration dinner. The service was amazing and the atmosphere was very nice. We enjoyed the overall experience. My partner enjoyed his food a lot but I did not. I ordered the gnocchi and it was the worst gnocchi I've ever had in my life. The texture was way off and felt like it had been over worked into a goopy gluten ball. I have never disliked food at a restaurant before but this was almost inedible. It may have just been an off day as I've read other reviews saying it was great. I order gnocchi at restaurants all the time but I will never order it from here again. read more

I'm gonna say Bonterra is up there for best Italian in the city! A girlfriend and I decided to grab a bite to eat before heading to an event and we got seated in their beautiful garden patio. Sitting there, it didn't even feel like we were in the middle of downtown anymore! Not wanting to be too full, we shared the linguine carbonara with a side of chicken and since we took a quick glance at the dessert menu (panna cotta!) we decided to skip on appetizers even though they almost lured me in! The service on the patio is great, our server made it such a pleasant experience. Honestly, had we not had other arrangements we probably would have sat there all evening sipping wine and enjoying the tranquil ambiance. Do yourself a favor and head to Bonterra sometime and hang out on their patio, it'll be the best thing you ever did! read more

Bonterra Trattoria - Linguine carbonara - Italian Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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NOM NOM NOM. I love, love, love Bonaterra. I've been hearing wonderful things for years, but have not yet had the chance to pay a visit, so I was very happy when we paid a visit for dinner for a small holiday celebration. I was glad we made a reservation, because the place was packed! Even though it looks tiny on the outside, the space opens up on the inside. It is beautifully designed, and even though the tables are quite close together it feels like there is so much space. It felt like being in an Italian Piazza, which was just thrilling. The service was excellent - we were constantly being checked on. We ordered a bottle of wine to start, and then a couple appies, the standout of which was the chickpea fries which came with a mayo. My entree was the Pizza con frutti di mare, with scallops and shrimps and peccorino cheese. It was deluxe: very delicious, the flavours complimented each other so well. The other standout was the fettucine a la vongole, which was rich and delicious. The ricotta ravioli was tasty but a bit lacking in flavour. You could taste the care and preparation of the dishes. I felt like I was going to explode. Like the fat man in the meaning of life, because I was so, so full. But then the dessert menu came. We finished up with a earl grey panna cotta to share. It was like eating delicious, creamy heaven clouds. It was so good. I was not a fan of the accompanying polenta shortbread, but that panna cotta is seriously in my dreams. As I said before, I was ready to burst, but I still shoveled down more of my share of that panna cotta. We had some lovely conversation, but my first paragraph basically summarizes my thoughts on Bonterra. read more

Bonterra Trattoria - Photo credit: flickr: ugonnaeatthat - Italian Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Welcoming, elegant and rustic are the three words that sum up my first impressions of this restaurant. In summary, I would definitely recommend this restaurant. The food is delicious and the servers are attentive, helpful and friendly. I've been to this restaurant two times and I've been more than pleased on both visits. My first visit was about a year ago with my boyfriend and the second today, with my awesome ladies. Being that my visit a year ago was so wonderful, I wanted to try Bonterra's Big Taste Menu (2015). Although the portion sizes were small, I was definitely pleased with the delicious menu. On the menu for $25: Course 1 Tortelloni - Shortrib tortelloni, brodo, white truffle oil Course 2 Veal - Veal striploin, eggplant caponata Course 3 Pavlova - Almond pavlova, vanilla bean meringue, almond cake, mascarpone mousse, chocolate Impressions: The tortelloni was very delicate, savoury and melt in your mouth amazing. The truffle oil was a nice touch. It was enough to enhance the flavour of the brodo and complement the short rib tortelloni. The veal was tender and cooked perfectly. It was pink on the inside and toasty brown on the outside. The flavours were light allowing you to taste the sweetness of the veal. The eggplant caponata was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. A rather unique texture contrast. The pavlova was presented in a very fun and different manner. The almond cake was moist, the vanilla bean meringue had a nice crunch and the mascarpone added a nice creamy touch. I will definitely go back to this place! read more

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Went to Bonterra based on all the favourable Yelp reviews. I have to say that I'm impressed with the garden patio and the pastas. Depending on which side you face, you can see the city skyline, with some of Calgary's taller buildings peeking out. The patio is heated and covered - much appreciated given our recent weather. I tried both the boar carbonara and a chicken arugula pasta. The carbonara was buttery and rich tasting from the bacon. Not overly saucy, which I appreciated. The chicken pasta was light and flavourful, again, without a heavy cream sauce. Service was great - and not just from our server. Water was replenished often. Another service put on the heater when he saw that I was getting cold. Other staff checked on us while we waited for our seat and near the end of the meal. Husband was happy with the food, which means we will be back for date night. Prices are reasonable. We got in and out for about $100 for one big appy platter, two large pastas and one glass of wine. read more

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Bonterra is one of those places I always forget I love until I eat there again. Earlier this week, we had a goodbye dinner at Bonterra. We had a huge (loud) group but we had an amazing dinner. We started by telling our waiter to bring us a selection of appetizers. They were all great but the risotto balls were the stand out. I want to go back and eat ONLY risotto balls for dinner. Since I ate so many starters, I couldn't eat a big meal. So I ate the fantabulous caprese salad. YUM! All in all, the service and the food were wonderful. The space is pretty echoey so it can get very loud if there's a big group. read more

Bonterra Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

2 Stars at best for the food and 4 stars for the service... We came into Bonterra sans resos and it was quite busy... we were just in time to snag a table for 2 that was being vacated. They have a nice bar and we would have been totally fine being seated there as well. Our server was great, he was knowledgeable about the menu and was open to discussing his fave dishes. We started out with drinks and appies which included the meatballs (wow, you get a load of them so keep this in mind) and also the tomato and shrimp bisque which was on the Specials menu for $8. Both were very good and we should have stopped there. Ordered for mains were the sausage pizza on Special ($17 - yikers!) and the gnocchi which was the waiters' fave dish. The pizza was OK. Nowhere near mind-blowing. The gnocchi was horrrible and while I almost never send a dish back, it was inedible,- so I did return it. The texture of it for me I guess was what it was. The dumplings were huge and just kind of sogged in the mouth with a nothing ricotta-supposed-to-be there-ness. Yuck. This was of course taken off the bill and almost the entire pizza was packed up to go. I was offered another dish and I just could not choose anything. The menu itself was minimalistic which at times is great but in this case I found the pasta options to be few. EX no fettuccine, no alfredo, very little seafood. The atmosphere was very classy and authentic Italian. It was worth the trip just to experience the restaurant, the great red wine and the service but the food was not up to par. Would only return if invited. read more

In one word...BAD! Made a dinner reservation for my birthday and the family. It was great that they accommodated 10 of us but wow was the food terrible. And it took over an hour to come out! And when it did came out it was cold and SALTY!!! Holy!! I got the eggplant Parmesan and it had literally no tomato sauce on it so I asked for a side of tomato sauce. They literally brought me freezing cold ketchup! So I reiterated "can I have a warm tomato pasta sauce?". So they brought me the cold ketchup heated up. Ummmm??? So needless to say I didn't finish my dinner. Our waiter worked really hard and I could tell he knew we weren't stoked on the food so he got us a little ounce of dessert wine at the end. But for over $300 it was just bad. We won't be back. read more

It's so rare to find a great Italian restaurant that is just that - Italian. They do it well here. A simple menu of tasty treats from Italy. I recommend the Risotto Pesto with cherry tomato and feta. Not over powering and very satisfying. You will leave full! If you do appetizers, you may want the half portion. My lunch partner had the linguine and really enjoyed his meal. The service was amazing and not pushy. The ambience is charming. I think this place at night would be a romantic hideaway, but this was a business lunch and while being on the other side of the tracks, it's worth the 5 minute walk from 8 ave. read more

Sadly the food was very disappointing. The service was non existent. The Wine was the only thing that made the night worth the effort and travel from out of town. The food was over salted and mushy. The service from the start can be described in one word - neglectful. The inconsistency of food quality and service has made me strike this restaurant off my list of places to take Head office VP's. I will not return with my family again. The entire evening was very disappointing. read more

Had a lovely time at Bonterra. My experience may be slightly different than others, as we sat at the bar and got quite a bit of conversation in with the bartender and some of the staff. I've mentioned this in other reviews; when the staff is super into the food they create, it gets the patrons into it. I was very lucky to have one of their signature one-off charcuterie boards explained to me by the head chef, who made the selections. I had never had swordfish gravlax but let me tell you.. spectacular. The bison carpaccio was a surprisingly large portion and exploding with flavour--it came with sunchoke chips which is something I've never had before but was absolutely killer (where can I buy a bag)? Service was very good, though that could be because we were at the bar. I didn't go five seconds without bread being restocked on my plate. The food came out quickly despite the rush. Drinks were served with care, showcasing an excellent wine and gin selection. Highly recommended! read more

I had booked half a private room for my birthday dinner on Oct 26th at 6:30pm. I had been dealing with their special events coordinator. Through dealing with him through email and phone, he was very vague in his responses; such as why the pricing for the items on our menu was more expensive than the pricing off the regular menu. So there was a mis-communication that basically said, because I had 23 people for supper, I had to pick limited items for our function menu. I understood it as the set price was $48. And if someone chose one of the items that had a +$4, etc, then they would be charged accordingly. I did not realize that because I put the Beef Tenderloin as one of the options on the menu; that EVERYONE would be charged this no matter what. This was clearly not stated when discussing with the coordinator. So every bill was charged $58 per person regardless of what they ordered. I understand about them having to make sure the dishes that have the extra charge is available if it happens where all 23 people did order it, but it's not like we were that big of a group, and we had supper at 6:30..so there was plenty of time and customers after us to order these dishes. After we realized the price discrepancy as the final bill came out, we asked to speak to the coordinator. We were advised he was not in all evening. Then we asked to speak to a manager, and that took over 15 minutes..and still no manager. So my friend and I went looking for the manager. We had to explain the whole situation to him. It was frustrating as we didn't understand why no one came by at any point in the evening to make sure everything was okay. There was no one asking how we were. And for our group to drop over $1k, I find that poor service. Another big frustration was we were charged an extra 3 meals for no shows. We asked that since we were being charged, we wanted the meals to take home. The waitress said the kitchen is closed. Again, this was not mentioned to myself when we had discussed the dinner plan. I was disappointed as this was my birthday supper with my closest friends. It was embarrassing and frustrating; as I did speak so highly of the restaurant to everyone. This was clearly one of the worst experiences I've ever had. read more

I find this restaurant to be quite deceiving when it comes to size. Just based on the exterior of the restaurant you wouldn't think it would be a big restaurant. You will be pleasantly surprised! Its ambiance is beautiful and you do feel a sense of culture upon entering. Not to mention the patio area, which is beautifully decorated and absolutely perfect for a private function. We attended a wedding there during the summer and it was beautiful. The food was very tasty and overall very filling! The wine selection, along with the service was great! I will definitely be back and recommend this restaurant for family dinners along with dates. read more

DOUBLE THUMBS UP! From services to decoration, there is nothing for me to complain about. First off - Service is excellent @ Bonterra. Everyone is so friendly and attentive. It gives you this "welcoming" feeling when you are in the restaurant. I went there for lunch the other day with a couple of my coworkers, and let me tell ya....at the end of our feast, we were more than satisfied. We ordered two appetizers - Calamari and Polpette di Vitello (veal meatballs, tomato, basil, grana padano, extra virgin olive oil). Mmmmm the Calamari was one of the best I have ever had. It was tender and flavorful. It was perfect. The Polpette di Vitello was delicious. I know it sounds really odd but I actually love the basil tomato sauce more than the meatballs. For entree, I ordered the Linguine Carbonara. I like how you can order half size for the entree. It was superb.....but what I am more fond of is their dessert. If you dine at an Italian restaurant, it does NOT matter how full you are, you HAVE to have their dessert - tiramisu. I am not even gonna try to use words to describe how delicious their tiramisu is. You just have to go to Bonterra and try it yourself. It is THAT good!!!! Honestly, I think Bonterra is on the more expensive side but you do get what you paid for - good food, good service, good atmosphere. What else do you ask for when you dine in a restaurant? read more

HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS LITTLE GEM?! My girlfriend and I were planning to head down to Beerfest on Saturday evening, but one too many glasses of wine later we opted to grab a bite instead. She suggested Bonterra, as it's right around the corner from her place. She called and got us a table, impressive seeing as how it was 8PM on Saturday night! Fast forward 5 minutes, and we're at the door. This is one of those places that does not look like much on the outside, but inside is a whole other story! The place was bumpin. I love the decor and the high ceilings. It was perfect. We were lucky enough to snag a table on the GORGEOUS patio. My gawd, again - how did I not know about this place? It's absolutely beautiful. Hanging heat lamps ensure you're comfortable, even on a slightly chilly night. High walls, rustic wood fireplaces, and subtle lighting make you feel like you're in a whole other world. I truly felt like I was back in Italy and I loved it. Super romantic, it would make a great date night spot. I wont comment on the prices, because we were 2 bottles of wine deep so I knew it wouldn't be a cheap night. I do know that the wine was on the expensive side, but that's typical for any nice restaurant in Calgary. I honestly don't even know if I looked at the bill so I couldn't tell you but everything we had was fabulous. The oysters = amazing. I loved the 3 different types of mignonette and the fresh horseradish. We also ordered the caprese salad and the risotto. Both were excellent, and with the fresh bread at the table, more than enough to fill us up. Our waiter was so attentive, never allowing our glasses to be empty, and it was lovely to sit and chat, drink wine, and never feel rushed. In fact, we were one of the last tables in the place at the end of the night. I absolutely loved my experience here and I cannot wait to bring my boyfriend back! read more

Stepping into Bonterra for the first time, I was initially struck by how different it was from my expectations. I had walked past it many times, and from the outside, I was imagining a smaller, more confined space. Maybe a "mom and pop" with a few tables. Perhaps this is because of the dimensions of the storefront, or just its general location. However, inside Bonterra is spacious yet warm; and inviting in general. First impressions? I like this place. I like the look and feel, and I immediately wanted to spend time here . . . Our group was larger, a collection of a dozen or so colleagues meeting for lunch. Most in our group opted for the pasta dishes, or soups / salads. In my case, I tried the braised lamb & proscuitto gnocchi. But under the "Secondi" lunch menu items, there were a number of seafood, veal, and chicken items, that all looked very intriguing to me. The lighter fare were chosen by us, as we didn't have a lot of time for lunch. As it turns out, though, it took a little longer than expected for our food to arrive. This may be because of our larger group, or maybe because we jumped the lunch prep a bit with our 11:30 reservation. That being said, a slower pace wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The ambience is worth enjoying, and in the right context--socializing with friends, or conducting business over a meal--it would be just fine. Time would have been an issue for the more regimented, "you get an hour for lunch" types. For us, not so much. The meals were all enjoyed - no complaints by anyone in the group. Only praise. I did make a note of returning for dinner some time, though, to enjoy more courses than time allowed on this visit. From appetizers, through mains, through desert, there was a lot to be explored. And next summer is a must: the photos of the patio I have seen online look amazing. Yelp's 30 Day Challenge 2012 - 19/30 read more

Decided to check out Bonterra Trattoria for myself, and found out that, despite the plain front hunkered down on the 8th Street sidewalk, it's actually a fine dining venue, which is fine with me, as I've enjoyed some such in the past. And for those out-of-the-know, there's plenty of parking in the rear that Bonterra will gladly cover for you. Fine dining. The nicely-appointed indoor front section welcomes with a strong earth-toned decor, and the kitchen action in the dusky interior is somewhat visible. Not as open or breathy as Mercado, but welcome on a cold winter evening. In the back is a large patio with aged slightly-rusting metal tables, lotsa dirt on an unswept brick floor, and many shrubs and hanging plants. Pleasant enough. While waiting, I noticed a sparrow quietly fly in to drink from a metal ornament hanging on the back wall. Very natural; quite lovely. Upstairs is more dining area and private rooms best suited to large groups or select parties. The meal. As my partner was working evenings, I was alone, and so ordered the Uovo Pollo comprised of a wee stack of linguine pasta crowned by the soft-poached egg, somewhat-charred but tasteless broccolini shoots, and milky drippings over a tender breast & thigh of chicken. Mildly delicious, the chicken was shrouded in partially-grilled somewhat fatty skin, and adorned by a small portion of under-grilled red meat near the bone. But... Why no bread service?! The foccacia or ciabatta on other tables looked great, but without some to accompany my entree, it was like eating sans pantaloon. Really! Overall quite nice, nonetheless, but without a wow in flavours or in its stock presentation, was it worth the visit? Not really, even as I searched for some superlatives by which to praise this chef's 'creation.' Alas, my mind instead wandered to "I wonder if Portofino in Cochrane will be better...?" Or just go up to 10th in Kensington and get re-acquainted with a former Calgarian chef's work at Cotto? Service. It wasn't busy yet, but overall the service was sporadic at best. Instead of a steady flow of finessed attention, I sat and watched many staff clear away a large section put together for a party that decided instead to dine upstairs. Meanwhile, I wondered when they'd take my order and get to serving it... Portions. I don't get it. Since when are fine-dining portions meant to be so small when the price is mostly big? Well, it's one way to keep the peasants out, cos they tend to be really hungry! And how is it that this has became standard practice? Dunno... But I get it that we are to mincingy sip our wine, daintily attend to etiquette as we masticate through the pickings, and not peer around too much at other patrons as they politely attend to somewhat-sheepish servers quietly explaining the complexity of the offerings as if to make up for what's obviously missing: this bit of nourishment that could easily fit on a small saucer is not be mistaken for a filling meal. Ludicrous! Not at all great food, the whole affair was decidedly boring. Call me a low-life bourgeois if you want, but guests aren't to be teased into spending $75+ a head to leave satisfied, are we? Looking around, it's glaringly evident one is not among champions of haute-couture at all, but just average cow-town folk out for a special dining experience. What a charade...! Would I return? Ah, but I can get a better meal with more clout in a less ostentatious upper-middle class setting elsewhere. What is supposed to be impressive? Mostly the FOOD where there's no need to dine on airs and appearances! I want a meal when I go out to eat, especially at 'high-end' venues! I want it to delightfully 'assault my palate' and not gently stroke it as if the overture to a marginal romantic comedy. And, after all, I can see sparrows drinking still water anywhere in the world. Likely steer clear of this place, because there are better, far better. read more

A perfect evening at Bonterra. The waitress was wonderful, friendly and informative while allowing our table to enjoy the amazing food. Started with a cinzano rosso. This is a very refreshing mix of fortified red wine and soda. Recommended by the waitress and both delicious and different. We ordered the two person three course meal and changed up the pastas. The kitchen was busy and was still willing to cater this request. Thanks! The salad had a good mix of flavor and crunch from the dressing and almonds, very good. Both the linguine carbonara and the tagliatelle vongole were perfectly cooked and very flavorful. The rack of pork entree was a very generous portion with a ton of side dishes. The spice rub on the outside was delicious and the meat was tender and moist. Sat at the table for hours just enjoying the ambiance, sight and sounds of the restaurant. The waitress even brought an on-the house dessert wine. It was called Electra and was a perfect ending to a perfect meal. Bravo Bonterra, I will be back for sure. read more

I went to this restaurant twice and was happy with the food quality and service. In our second visit, they went the extra mile to grab the beer we wanted from their pizza place next door, which was nice. Their pizza place is just alright, so if you are after pizza there are other options in town to look into as well. The service in their pizza place is good, but it took then 20 minutes for a beer I ordered and I had to cancel it. read more

Absolutely amazing! From the street you would never know the gem contained inside. They really take the time to make sure you enjoy the experience from the moment you step in the door. Typically I would go into more details about the food, but it would almost ruin it to not allow you to experience it for yourself. The kitchen works so harmoniously, it is like watching a chef Ramsey show. The food has so many flavors, specialty items are put into dishes directly from Italy, and the veggies are all fresh and I dare say organic. You will enjoy yourself immensely. read more

Love this place because I know when I go that there'll be gluten free options (pasta, at that) to choose from. Food is sometimes a little too salty for my liking - and service isn't always as good if you're not ordering wine BUT still a favorite of mine. Patio is a hidden gem in the summer. read more

My wife and I enjoyed dinner at Bonterra while visiting Calgary from San Francisco. The bright and spacious atmosphere, interesting menu, attentive service, and first-rate wine list combined to make for a tasty night out that I would recommend to anyone looking for a relatively upscale Italian dinner in Calgary. We enjoyed a caprese sald with mozzarella di buffala, which hit the right notes using seasonal fresh tomatoes and the buffala mozzarella to savor. I had the carbonara, which was rich and eggy as it should be; the pasta was housemade and appropriately al dente. My wife had a risotto, which didn't quite meet expectations, but was enjoyable nonetheless. We finished with panna cotta and vin santo that were truly wonderful together -- maybe the highlight of the meal. As for the wine, there is a huge selection -- including plentiful wines by the glass. The iPad guide to their wine list was fun to explore and is a great tool for navigating their wine cellar, though we relied upon our server for recommendations (we were happy with her suggestions). Lastly, it bears mentioning that in response to our inquiry about taxi availability, our server called a taxi and had it waiting for us outside when we finished our meal. It was a nice touch. I have enjoyed first-rate Italian food in San Francisco, Chicago, and throughout Italy. Given the price point and the atmosphere, and based on only one visit, I would recommend Bonterra to anyone looking for a well-executed Italian dinner that hits some high notes and demonstrates commitment to authentic Italian cuisine. read more

I took my mother and aunt out for lunch (we were shopping at Chintz that day) for a girls' day out. When I told them that we were going to a place with the most ingenious, outstanding, authentic Carbonara the 'New-World' has ever seen, they figured it would be an upscale, hoity-toity environment (knowing my tastes). My family was so pleased when they were greeted at the door by the manager, Curtis. He extended such a warm, friendly welcome and gave us our choice of table in the house. When my mom asked for cheese on her Gamberi (shrimp) pasta, our server tried to explain that this may change the flavor of the chef's intentions. When my mother didn't care, our server acquiesced to my mom's wishes without a thought; Mom still enjoyed it thoroughly. We were treated with incredibly awesome food at Bonterra, as well as amazing service from all of the staff! I would recommend this place to anyone. I should mention that in the summertime, this establishment hosts an awesome patio that clones the Italian summer with a flair that is unlike anything else in this city. Thank you for such an enjoyable afternoon, Bonterra. We will be back soon! read more

Bonterra features delicious Italian food at the upper end of the culinary spectrum. I had a quick Twitter exchange that led me to believe that their Taste of Calgary 2014 menu would be available gluten free but when I arrived, I was informed that that information was incorrect. While I don't think that it is fair to include that in my evaluation of the experience, I hope they become a little more synced between social media and their actual menu. I started off the night with the olive plate and enjoyed the many different varieties of olives, many of which I had never had the pleasure of trying before. I was expecting the olives to have very strong tastes, but they were softer than I expected and actually varied vastly in taste. Next I had a soup that was a leek base with smoked salmon and other delicious ingredients (it appears their menu has changed since I last visited, so I can't look it up). I remember being very impressed by the soup overall. The pasta I chose had lamb and was served on gluten free pasta. The whole dish was quite impressive and the gluten free pasta held up well without taking over the taste of the dish. For dessert I had the gluten free almond cake. It was coated with chocolate and served with a red wine soaked pear. I found the cake to be very good and a huge portion (great for sharing). I would definitely order it again when I revisit. If you love Italian and want to splurge on some delicious food, Bonterra's for you. read more

I love Bonterra it is one of my favourite Italian restaurants in town. And that is where my review stops! I take offence to an establishment PRE-setting the tip options on the card machine to 18%+ ( not that one can not change it ... but it basically says what you think of your clients ... push overs !) Once that is rectified ...I may reconsider revisiting and re-reviewing read more

Okay Bonterra. You redeemed yourself. After the "dancing worm incident" of 2012, I vowed never to return. But then I met a new friend who absolutely loves it there. So one night I came back. I was hesitant about giving you a second chance. But the food was great and the service was too. But I still wasn't totally sold. Then you opened Posto...I do really like it there and haven't had any problems. On a few more occasions I came back to Bonterra (usually when Posto was full) and continued to get wonderful food and attentive, much more genuine service than what I had a couple of years ago. A couple of weeks ago, while eating some delicious risotto at your bar, my friend (the one who loves you) asked if I have finally forgiven you. Good question. I thought about my earlier experience and Yelp review. And I've decided that I have. So here is the updated one. Bonterra is a great spot for lunch or dinner. The servers are all friendly and knowledgeable and can make great suggestions. Whether you sit at the bar or at a table, the experience is good (they can be a bit different though). I would offer a tip though that you maybe reno your washrooms. They don't reflect the calibre of restaurant I think you'd like to be and are often not as tidy/clean as they could be. Just a suggestion. I'm glad we are friends again. read more