Considering this has been one of our favorite places for date night, it saddens me that I have to write a review about the horribly poor service we experienced on a Saturday night. Walked in at 6pm and the restaurant was full, one of the gals let us know that she'll put our name on a list and give us a call in about 30-45 minutes when a table opens up. No problem at all, we went around the corner and had a beverage while waiting. Unfortunately, after an hour we still had yet to receive a call so we walked back to check in. 3 tables that we were in line for had new people seated at them (which means they forgot to call us and we got skipped to people who had just walked in). We again, had to wait for a table. Once we got seated, it was 15 minutes before our server even acknowledged us. 20 minutes in we placed our drink order, appetizer, and meal due to ensure we'd at least get something in a timely manner. Our drinks and seafood appetizer came out, and then we waited ONE HOUR for two entrees to arrive. Neither of the servers acknowledged us the entire time we were waiting or offered to refill our obviously empty drink glasses or water. Complete disappointment. We ordered the fried seafood as an appetizer, which the only thing that wasn't over cooked was the shrimp and it was delicious. Our entrees were bacon wrapped filet which my partner highly enjoyed, and rigatoni with marinara. Decided to give two stars because most of the food was delicious, the service was just significantly poor. We will give the place one more shot on another night considering we always recommend friends and family and buy gift cards for the holidays. read more

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Service: dined in on a Thursday night. Not too busy (I don't think people know they have opened up the restaurant to walk ins thurs -Saturdays !!). Waitress was very attentive . We met one of the owners and he showed us the back patio area that they worked so hard on during Covid! ITS SO BEAUTIFUL. Perfect little cute spot to have dinner parties or receptions! Food: the menu was small (which I like-- it means their dedicated to quality over quantity). The pasta for the night was rigatoni- we chose a sausage tomato sauce. It was delicious. We also got a little seafood sampler and broccolini side dish. What I loved most was the salad- we chose the Caesar dressing and it was perfect. I'm a Caesar salad snob. The lettuce was nice and crisp. Not overly dressed. The dressing was packed with flavors and homemade. Right amount of crutons and cheese. MHHM!! Such a pretty and romantic place. We will be back forsure! read more

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Calafuria is such a gem! We recently went for date night and it did not disappoint. It was a hot night but we sat outside by the fountain and really enjoyed the ambiance! We each started with a Negroni, which was absolutely delicious! We shared three small plates; the cheese platter, fried seafood, and meatballs. They were all amazing and really large portions. I must say the fried seafood was really the star of the show, specifically the shrimp! We shared the tagliatelle pasta with spicy sausage and broccolini, which I also would recommend. We had planned on getting an entree to split, but were so full there was no way! We ended the night with the almond tart. This was just okay, a little on the dry side. Overall a great experience at Calafuria with excellent service. We're excited to go back as the menu is constantly changing! read more

Calafuria - Meatballs, cheese plate, fried seafood. - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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I've been here several times. The first time I went by myself, excited by the prospect of fresh handmade pasta in town. The subsequent times, I had to be dragged against my will by friends. The amount of arrogance and pretension going on in this building is off the charts. Like others, I have been served dishes at Califuria that were absolutely disgusting - so salty it burns the mouth, pasta so undercooked it crunches in the teeth - only to be told to go pound sand when we sent it back. This feels like a 20-something chef watched a YouTube tutorial on how to make pasta and then grew an enormous ego, despite the fact that he never actually learned how to make it correctly. Anything beyond the pasta, which I have found to be consistently poorly made, is Sysco and US Foods slop with prices hiked up into the stratosphere to convince undiscerning boomers that they're not eating trash. They are, though. Califuria is trash. read more

Want to try the best Northern Italian food outside of Northern Italy? Well then, you'll have to get your pasta lovin' butt over to Calafuria on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday - the only days they're open - and that's exactly what you'll find. We've dined here twice, and I can't wait to go back. (Take all my money, Calafuria!) It's a casual affair, no reservations taken and you pay at the counter, but there's nothing casual about the magic that happens in that kitchen. They turn out dishes that would make my family in Tuscany proud: marinated chi-chi beans, rapini with garlic and anchovy, bruschetta with plump cherry tomatoes...all these small dishes are $6. The fried calamari, shrimp and oyster dish ($16) is a must-order for me, as is their beautifully fried fish with tomatoes and olives (Lots of olives!). Pastas are perfect, toothsome and deftly dressed. My only quibble might be that the sirloin I ordered rare came out more of a medium (I traded with my buddy who ordered his well-done, but was served medium-rare), and even with this quick fix, I still found the meat to be too tough to fully enjoy. Might be the fault of the cut, however, a kitchen this good should get their steak perfect every time. Either way, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the meal, nor the 5 stars I feel they deserve. I'm going back tomorrow for one of their cooking classes, Friday for my birthday and next Wednesday for a wine-pairing meal. Like I said, take all my money, Calafuria...you're worth every penny! read more

I had the pleasure of attending Wednesday wine pairing night. Wow just amazing. The food is so fresh and delicious the wine pairing is perfect. The owners Christina and Tim are the sweetest so is Mary Liz. Tim and Christina owned a restaurant in Tuscany before moving back to Reno and opened Calafuria. The food is fresh and authentic. Such a beautiful ambience. They offer wine pairing every other Wed and cooking classes every other Wed. We will be back. read more

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One of my new favorite restaurants in Reno! Great cute atmosphere, lovely staff, everyone working there is very welcoming and friendly and seems to really care about making sure your experience is great. The food and drinks overall were very good especially their house specialty salmon dish with veggies, the green salad and house made warm sourdough bread. The ribeye steak was decent but not as flavorful as some of the other items. The only reasons why i didn't give this restaurant five stars is because the bathroom in the new bar area out back of the restaurant definitely needs to be remodeled and is very small. Having a sign on the bathroom door would be helpful. It would be more convenient for the customers if they brought the check to you versus having to pay at the counter when you leave. But I can also see how some people might like this when you just pay on your way out or when you are ready to leave versus having to wait for the check. I still prefer the first way! Also, the Mexican chocolate gelato was a little surprising in that it was super spicy which wasn't listed on the menu. Wasn't a big fan but the actual chocolate flavor tasted good. When I mentioned this to our waitress she was very appreciative of the feedback and gave us a credit for the ice cream which was very sweet even though my fiancée had eaten it. Overall I really enjoyed this place, was very appreciative for all the great service and quality food. I will definitely be back to try other dishes or order the salmon again! read more

Went there for the wife's birthday. Waited 10 minutes to be told there was a 45 minute wait and gave them a phone number. 2 hrs later and no call. So yea 1 star. When we got there the place was half empty. Don't know if the if the food is good but the service was terrible. Guess we didn't fit their clientele. read more

Read about Calafuria and was excited to try. Checked website which said no reservations, just come on in, opening at 4:30. We eat early so planned to arrive before 5PM. Parking was nonexistent and difficult, aggravating with either crowded street parking and long walk OR an AirPark next door requiring giving a credit card number before even seeing the rate (off-putting). Finally got to the entrance only to be greeted by a sign saying "Private Event, come back later." There was no hint of this on the website 1-2 hours earlier. Hmmph! It'll be a while (or never) that we try this again. If you do, be advised to call ahead to confirm that they'll seat you, reservation or no. read more

My bff took me there for my bday. It was my fist time so I was very excited to try something new. As soon as we stepped in, the waitress welcomed us and took us to the table. Food was amazing. I would definitely visit again, but the drink was really miss. I ordered mine w: cranberry and vodka and some mint leaves, but it was really awful drink I've ever had. Other than that, it was absolutely good place to celebrate and catch up with friends. Very cozy and quiet. Our table was outside and it was bit wonky, but I had really good time with my girl :) read more

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Open with online ordering and curbside takeout during COVID with extra precautions in place in the restaurant as well. This meal had been calling to me. I spotted the photo of the take home bbq kit of the week earlier in the week and had to have it. So I sprung it as a surprise on my wife and picked it up. Theyve been offering this for a few weeks now, changing the cut of beef. This week it was 1lb pair of beautiful picanha (Brazilian cut of beef), four house made sausages, fresh salad and bread and house made butter for $30. The beef had a beautifully white cap of fat over fairly lean red meat. The sausages were incredibly well cured. Dry to the touch with incredibly chunks of fat that just melted on the grill. Even the butter had a special flavor I can only describe as cultured or fermented like a blue cheese, and the salad had some delicious pickles. I got some cooking tips for the beef from chef Tim, and I went home and really took my time cooking everything. I've gotta say, it was a lot of fun and the results were pretty darn good. Tender beef with a delicate sweet marinade and a sausage with full depth of flavor and crispy exterior. We ate all the beef and one sausage that night, and made the other sausages into three other meals. The photo they used on social media was so old school and primal, it stuck with me all week, and I couldn't wait to cook it. I'm so glad I picked it up, and I'm looking forward to the next Edition. read more

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Time to update- there's been some changes. Thanks Covid. Prior to Covid, there were brunches, lunches and dinners here. During the last two years Califuria switched its game plan. They are now a small event center and wedding venue. And if you follow then on Facebook, you can get in on the occasional pop up dinner. So you don't have to beg a stranger to invite you to their wedding. So recently five of us attended a Friday night pre fixe pop up for $60 each. This cozy old brick house has converted three large rooms into dining areas. The side and back yards are fabulous spaces in our summer weather. Not sure of the wine situation, we each brought a bottle or two. They had a nice wine list, but our first couple of choices were out. So we opted the $15 corkage fee and had our own. There is also a full cocktail bar available. We started with fresh baked bread out of the oven and truffle cheese. Then large sage and artichoke leaves battered dipped and fried. Served with a thick garlicky bagna cauda sauce. Second appetizer plate was smoked duck breast tartare with garlic crisps. Micro greens and pepper aioli accented the plate. The main course, a bowl of fresh house made tagliatelle cooked to perfection, topped with a sausage ragù. Plenty for leftovers. The dessert was a generous scoop of decadent chocolate gelato with a caramel drizzle. I enjoy the pop ups and hope we get a few more through the summer. The portion sizes are plenty and variety of dishes have been wonderful. For the price, a great deal. Parking is a trick. You are in the Midtown area- narrow streets, popular businesses, and very limited parking. I accept the fact I usually have to walk 2-3 blocks from my car. That's fine, it's a beautiful neighborhood and I probably ate too much. read more

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Really enjoyed our visit, love the cozy atmosphere and the food was delicious. We will definitely be returning

Went for a retirement party. Great food! Great outdoor venue. They offer a cooking classes I definitely will take the class! read more

food and drinks are delicious. roast chicken and mac slaps. all the staff are hotties. 10/10

Unfortunately no pictures, but went here for a holiday event with coworkers. We had a great time! The space is intimate and beautiful with plants everywhere and an open kitchen. Looks like there was a nice outdoor space but it was too cold to explore. The cocktails were well made by very friendly and attentive staff. We loved the cheese plate appetizer and the different vegetables - ratatouille and pickled. The main ravioli was amazing, some of the best I've had. Our group got the porcini mushroom ravioli with sage and butter! Highly recommend. The cannoli was good, a little different with some added citrus zest. Definitely a good space for an event or a nice date night! read more

Great food, great service! Meatballs and special was so dang good. Drinks on point, great place.

Amazing service, the waitress was attentive and kind! We ordered bread with salted butter, meatballs and 2 rigatonis one with the beef ragu and one with the pesto. Every single dish was AMAZING. Best pasta in Reno by far!!! The ambiance is so cozy and warm. Perfect place for a beautiful meal! read more

Calafuria - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Over the last three weeks, I've had three business dinners here. The vibe of the restaurant is excellent: fancy without being stuffy. Because it's an Italian restaurant, vegetarians and meat-eaters have many options from which to choose. The building's previous life as a historic home gives it a cosy atmosphere. Calafuria's location on Center Street showcases what I think are the best aspects of Midtown Reno. The restaurant was bustling on two of the three weeknight dinners, but it was not too loud for my hard-of-hearing elder colleague. UNR's rules for business dinner expenses put a cap on dinner at $50 a person for food and $20 a person for alcohol, and it is surprising that Calafuria is one of only a handful of classy, non-casino-based Midtown offerings where one can reliably stay under those restrictions. (Fin + Filet and Centro: alas!) It is easy to call to make a reservation, and on each occasion, the host was able to seat us at our preferred table by the front window and fireplace. Service was excellent: unobtrusive but present. There is an attractive bottle of water at each table, so one can easily refill one's own water glass. The bread and their salted, slightly warmed butter are absolutely delicious, and our servers were happy to bring us a second basket. Our food was served piping hot, and on all three occasions, everyone enjoyed their meals. The tiramisu dessert is exceptional: the best I have ever had. Suggestion for improvement: make sure the under $40 bottles of wine are in stock. read more

Calafuria - Beautiful table setting and menu. I was thinking about suggesting Montaciello, but they have plastic menus and I can't deal! - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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Oh, Calafuria. You spoiled me a few weeks back. Michael T. knows I can eat Italian food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Why not take me to one of the finest spots in all of Reno. Course after course, drink after drink, and smile after smile. Everything about the dining experience was divine. I began with a delightful Sweet Vermouth aperitif, since wine ain't my speed. Dining on the outdoor patio felt as if we were dining in Italy. A truly magical atmosphere! Now let's talk main course. Introducing one of the better pasta dishes I've had lately, Chicken Ravioli with Sage and Prosciutto Broth. WOW. The saltiness from broth gelled exquisitely with the fresh pasta and tender chicken. The sage brought a gentle herbaceous note to the dish. Just spectacular! Ceviche, Fried Flowers, and a Melon Starter kicked off the meal, with each dish being executed flawlessly. Pro tip: do not skimp on dessert! Chantilly Creme Granita was the most refreshing end to our luxurious meal. House made cream mixed with flavored shaved ice, you cannot miss this for the life of you. Totally recommend making a reservation, but on this particular Wednesday night the dining room was empty. If you go when they first open you "should" be able to snag a table. Reno, count your blessings. Calafuria is fantastic from beginning to end! read more

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My wife has been wanting to try this place and what better reason than to celebrate her birthday. We made a reservation for 5pm on a Saturday. They are open from 4:30pm to 9:30pm Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is housed in an older bungalow style home. The interior is simple but very comfy and cozy. My wife especially liked the river rock fireplace. We arrived just a bit before 5pm and were seated right away. We just about had our pick of the place as it had just opened. They have a very nice outdoor area however, due to the heat and the smoke we decided to sit inside. Our server brought us waters and menus and told us about the daily specials. My wife decided to get a glass of Moscato and I chose an Icky IPA. She brought us our drinks and we placed our orders. She also explained to us that the bread was just coming out of the oven and she would bring it to us momentarily. My wife decided on the cheese ravioli with mushroom truffle sauce and I chose the rigatoni with homemade Tuscan sausage. Our server brought the bread out to us while it was still warm and our entrees were delivered shortly after. Everything looked and tasted amazing! Our server was very attentive and anticipated our needs. We debated trying something off the dessert menu but there are so many places in this area we decided to go explore for dessert. Overall this was a great experience. For us, it felt a little on the higher end for price but great for a special occasion! read more

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Without meaning offend any other Reno establishments, I have to say that this is the best dinner that I've had in Reno. Why, you ask? Well the atmosphere is fabulous - sit outside for a lovely alfresco dining experience, the service is top notch and the food is right. Like, it's just what you want in a menu and in an execution of a dish. Fresh interesting ingredients, a diverse and changing menu, interesting items that you wouldn't cook at home, extremely fresh and locally sourced veggies and proteins, and perfectly cooked and presented! We came for dinner with a few friends, shared a couple of apps, each ordered a different entree, and shared some desserts. Every dish, I mean EVERY dish, was fantastic and beautifully plated and perfectly delicious! My main course was the grilled scallop, shrimp and squid in a lemon butter sauce with veggies of the day. Let's start with the seafood - shrimp can be done right or they can be done wrong. These were very large, plump, perfectly fresh, slight char on the outside but not over cooked. No mushy over cooked shrimp here - these babies were perfection! And the squid - yummm - full bodies, nicely cooked, very fresh and crisp yummy tentacles. Oh yes! The scallops were a little small but also perfectly cooked! And the side of veggies, well I was pleasantly surprised when my dish arrived on a grilled piece of Romain, with a big beautiful roasted carrot on the side, parsnip purée and some sliced grilled squash. All topped in a light and flavorful lemon sauce. Seriously.. what a dish! I would order this again and again. Calafuria, I can't believe I just discovered you! This is my new date night spot! read more

Calafuria - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

I'm from California and I been to many amazing restaurants. This place in Reno, Nevada is now part of that amazing restaurant list. Wonderful and attentive service. Each dish was delicious!!! The food was so fresh and flavorful. The decor is charming and welcoming. This place is definitely a hidden gem. Treat yourself to a spectacular and beautiful meal by trying this place out. It's a wonderful and memorable experience. Enjoy!!! read more

Another hit in midtown! Calafuria is located very close to the Stix shopping center but don't be fooled, you can't park there. Look for street parking nearby instead. When you walk up to the restaurant you'll pass by the patio first which they do seat in summer. It was a colder night so it was closed but there were a few tables available even though it was a Saturday night. The inside is warm and inviting with colorful pieces of art on the wall and flower centerpieces at every table. We had some remnants of Valentine's Day since ours also had a pretty puffy pink sequined heart in the vase. The menu sounded a little too good so wound up with three entrees instead of a deuce since we were only a pair. My boyfriend was starved so his main was the grilled salmon. His first words after sinking his teeth into the fish sang the praises of the best bite of salmon he'd ever had which was very high praise. We split the gnocchi pesto which was okay but it was way overshadowed by main which was the cheese ravioli. I know you're thinking like what's so good about a cheese ravioli? Its pasta wrapper was amazingly executed. The cheese inside of it had a slight pull to it when you bit open the ravioli...it was the first time I've had it like that and it was superb. The flavor of the truffles and mushrooms was just right. Not too intense, just enough to remind you that you've been depriving your taste buds of real goodness. The staff were all super nice. At one point I asked what the lump in our water was and our waitress let us know that it was activated charcoal! Pretty cool. Really glad we found this little gem on a busy night! read more

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It's been a while. Great pasta place. Locally owned and run. Secret tip is ask for the prosciutto. Now that I'm GF that's my go to.

The food was amazing and I love the ambiance. We sat outside in the garden and it was just perfect.

I walked pass this place many times and I've always wanted to come here. Today we planned our night and finally made it in! It was a very cute place. Nice interior design, lovely outdoor seating area, and very tasty snacks. The servers were friendly, but the wait time for our drinks and food was very very long.. if you have plenty of time and don't mind waiting, this is really a cool place to hang out and get some really delicious snacks! It's vegetarian friendly too! read more

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We came in for dinner on a Wednesday evening at 5:30pm. Asked for a table for five although only four of us would be staying to eat (called to make a reservation and told our hostess as we were being seated to make sure we didn't take up room at a larger table). Our experience was quite unpleasant and unlike any other time I have been to Calafuria. The food and cocktails were up to par to what I have gotten from here before, but they did not stand out as something I would come back for after the overall service we were given. Our server did not introduce himself to us nor did he give us any recommendations on the menu (aside from which white wine to choose). He was being shadowed by another woman during the first part of our evening but they did not tell us why. Over the course of the night we ordered cocktails for each of us, two bottles of wine, two appetizers, two pastas, and an entree for each of us. The round of cocktails did not come out all at once and the latter half of the table did not get their drinks until the first half was almost done with theirs. We had ordered our appetizers before the restaurant started to fill up. We ordered the fried artichoke hearts special of the day and the calamari, but saw every other table get their food before us (many of whom also got the artichoke hearts). We also had to ask for bread a couple of times after seeing the other tables get theirs. We got a Cava wine with our appetizers and it spilled on the table when our waiter opened the bottle. He did not wipe up the table or the glasses it spilled on. The pastas came out in a timely manner and the entire table enjoyed both pastas-- the pesto gnocchi and the truffle raviolis. The raviolis stood out to me most. The truffle slices were substantial and the cream sauce held a lot of flavor. It was a long wait between the pasta course and the main entrees. We got our second bottle of wine at this time, and we each had to sip very slowly so as not to finish our glasses before the main courses arrived. Our water glasses ran out and we were never checked up on. We had to ask for a water refill and some of our glasses were missed. I don't have any qualms with the food. It was all very good. I was especially impressed with the seafood platter. The shrimp was very large and juicy. It was reminiscent of a grilled lobster tail. The squid and scallops were fresh and cooked very well as well. I ordered the duck breast. It was delicate, tender, and not at all gamey. It went very well with the foie gras reduction. The grilled salmon had a nice smokey flavor. I cannot comment on the ribeye since my friend made the poor decision to order it medium well. We were asked to order desserts while we were still eating dinner. It felt rushed, especially after the long wait for dinner. Every other time I have eaten here, I was offered a shot of limoncello at the end of my meal. We were not offered it and our server explained that it could only be purchased at about $8 a shot. When we got our bill, we were charged an automatic gratuity. I had to point this out to our server, and he apologized because he thought that we were a table of six. This could be a simple mistake, but it was our server himself who asked for our sixth table setting to be removed as soon as we sat down. We were at most a party of five (for the first round of drinks) but only four of us stayed for dinner. We came to Calafuria with the intentions of ordering and eating very well and to have a fun girls night. We did not feel like we got the experience that we paid for. We were often times looking around for service to get our food, refill our drinks and simply check up on us. I will be going elsewhere in Reno for future fine dining experiences. read more

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Summary: wonderful food and service. Nice romantic ambiance for dates and seems flexible for large groups...did not know they had a cute and spacious outdoor area. Just call in advance to make sure they are not booked for a private party. We ordered the Pinot Grigio - delicious. We shared the pickled veggies, salad, beef ragu with fresh pasta, moist chicken with mac and cheese. Mac and cheese awas a bit dry but chicken was made to perfection. I still recommend the entrees. In all, everything was nicely seasoned and I did not feel thirsty and swollen the next day from the salt. Yay. I get worried with creamy and saucey stuff. Haha. Just make sure to give a little bit of time to find parking. Nice dinner and will be back to try the specials with our kids when they are back from break. I can see this place being a regular dinner place. read more

Small, intimate spot with a great menu. My coworker and I were recommended this spot by a local and I cannot thank her enough for the recommendation. I got the gnocci but after trying the braised duck, I wish I had gotten that. I'd skip whatever cauliflower soup they had. It was awful but everything else was top of the line! read more

Calafuria - Braised duck & gnocci - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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My wife and I went here for Valentines Day. Overall great service, servers were very attentive and our food came out quick. We really enjoyed the fried artichoke hearts, the cheese ravioli with mushrooms and truffle sauce (even my wife really liked this, and she hates mushrooms), and the cotoletta Milanese. Our only complaint would be that the bruschetta came out with obviously burnt bread, and overall lacked any substantial flavor. read more

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I'm a little conflicted on this one, but am looking at the big picture and an average of multiple eating experiences here. The first time we came with some very dear friends and the experience was great. Company, food, service, all were great. The second time was for a large group. The food was good, but the service was not quite up to expectations. The last time, I came for brunch with group of friends and the experience was mixed. We sat on the outdoor deck with was lovely on a warm summer morning. We were all offered water and drinks when given our menus. I ordered the eggs Benedict. It took awhile for our orders to come out - the restaurant was very busy. It was fine, but there were no offers to refill water or other drinks during the wait. The food came out in shifts, and when I got my plate of eggs Benedict, the eggs were very underdone - the white was very runny. And the dish was barely warm. We were able to flag down our waitress and I let her know. She right away said she would put in the order again and have the eggs more to my preference. They came back out and appeared more fried than poached, but were done the way I like them. It was served on brioche toast which to me is a tad sweet, but it worked and was very tasty. The Hollandaise was a bit bland; I like a larger lemon presence. The potatoes were fabulous. I look forward to coming back and giving them another try. read more

Calafuria - Water feature on the patio. - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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Amazing food. Beautiful atmosphere. Service was the best. A good time was had by all.

Sometimes I wonder if there are "spirits" that are embodied within a building. And those spirits draw certain people to them to open a business. We wanted a date night. A fantastic date night is what we definitely received. We scooted in as early as possible and started with a fine house wine suggested by one of the staff. We decided on the Chef's Tasting Menu because what better way to try a restaurant for the first time. We enjoyed the charcuterie, cheese, veggies, italian sausage, salad and tuna as the appertivo course. The first course followed with a light pasta dish for each. I chose the cheese ravioli with mushroom and Ly chose the spaghetti with shrimp and they tasted as good as they looked. For my main I chose the beef shoulder which was delightful and tender. The dessert course was a small and satisfying bowl of Zuppa Inglese to share. Our service was attentive and our view from the bar stools felt like the best seats in the house as the kitchen bustled with activity. Bringing out dish after dish the wait staff were silently selling us to make plans for a return visit very soon. I sure hope they have something like the nog we were able to sample at the end of the meal. read more

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A beautiful meal is sure to be had at Calafuria. With their simple, clean dining room and romantic feeling with the dimmed lights and fresh flowers, a certain elegance and class is added to the room. The open kitchen in the distance makes it energetic and transparent into the world of the food you're about to receive. Reservations were at 8:15, however we showed up early and were seated at 8 instead. Nice that they sat us quickly, rather than making us wait. The specials were Elk Tartare and a Rabbit and sausage cassoulet. I wanted to try the Elk tartare for sure. Also ordered was the Mushroom and Truffle cheese ravioli, Tagliatelle with Bolognese, and fried calamari. First out came the tartare. It wasn't gamey at all. It was soft in texture and tasted like a beautiful rare meat but subtle and delicate in flavor. We ate it with the bread. Then came the pastas and calamari. The calamari was fried perfectly with fried sage leaves! Not too chewy at all, it was very tender. Crunched perfectly, not too oily and the sauce was a sage, caper and lemon aioli which went perfectly. It was so good! The Tagliatelle with bolognese was rich, with good quality meat and perfectly balanced with acid and sugars. It was noticeable that the pasta was handmade, for homemade pasta is always lighter and decadent in texture with a perfect bite. The Ravioli was middle ground for me. Not too high, but not too low either. First, I love the pasta. The mushrooms were good and the sauce was light. The only problem for me was I didn't pick up on the truffle. Like, at all. It was mushroomy-creamy goodness. But I've had so many other truffle dishes that just, capture it so much better. I expected it to be stronger and it just fell flat on that note. Other than that however, everything was absolutely beautiful.. and I can't wait for another opportunity to get to eat here again. read more

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This is a small comfortable spot that was surprisingly busy for a Wednesday afternoon. Luckily we had a reservation since this is definitely the type of spot where people stay and have a conversation while they finish their meal and wine by the bottle. We greeted, sat right away, and immediately brought water. Once we were informed of the daily specials, we decided to try 3 of them out. The deep fried artichokes, the cured pork loin, and the seafood stew. And I must say, none of them disappointed. Every special had well balanced flavors and textures and was displayed attractively. I opted for the duck great as my entree, and while it was very flavorful and the skin was perfectly crispy, the meat was slightly underdone, causing it to be slightly tough. The foie gras reduction was to die for, though. I would put it on anything! The atmosphere is very warm, but slightly loud. Which may have come from the busy nature of the restaurant. But overall I would definitely come back. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The prices are fair, for an upscale restaurant. And the food was outstanding! Plus the house-made melonchello with your check is a traditional, original, and beautiful end to the meal. read more

Went here for a drink in the back bar. The drinks were refreshing and the presentation was impecable. Virginia was our bartender and she was personable and incredibly attentive. She even offered us snacks. Such a great experience here, I definitely will be returning! read more

Let me begin that I don't mind paying a lot for a meal if when you leave you are really really satisfied! I have been following Calafuria on Instagram and this week the "Retro Wednesday" choices were two of my favorite dishes; Linguine with Clams and Pasta Carbonara. Pasta Carbonara won the poll. Needless to say I ordered the Carbonara. I was forewarned that this Carbonara was prepared with Rigatoni, but that's fine even though I am used to having it prepared with spaghetti. When it arrived was disappointed because it was basically Rigatoni swimming in raw egg with pepper. O.K. maybe this is the chef's interpretation so I dug in. The first bite immediately told me that the Rigatoni was undercooked. It was way less than al dente. It needed at least another minute. In my experience the Carbonara sauce needs to coat the pasta and is not runny at all. In my experience it is also mixed with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese wich was totally absent in this dish. That being said the dish was served with about a tablespoon and a half of Pancetta most of which was fat. Needless to say I was disappointed with my entree. Now for the rest of the meal. The bruschetta appetizer was tasty and on a tasty crusty French bread. I also had a Caesar Salad to start out which was tasty, but i should have been offered fresh ground pepper. Both of my dining companions ordered the cauliflower soup as a starter. It seemed like it was 3/4 of a cup of steamed cauliflower run through a food processor and put in the bowl without seasoning leaving the palate with a strange aftertaste. For their entrees they both also chose the braised beef short ribs. They were really a large beef rib. When you braise something you can use the Pan juices to make a sauce, but instead they chose to put a bbq sauce on them. The ribs also were served with a small pot that contained about 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes. It was a neat presentation, but the pot could have been filled up. They also seemed to be made with potatoes they were undercooked. Let me say that we were promptly greeted and seated as we had a reservation and our table was ready. The waitress was nice. If the wait time between the appetizers and entrees hadn't been as long as it was I might have sent the Carbonara back, but a replacement would probably have taken too long and I did not want to leave hungry. At the beginning of this review I said that I don't mind paying a lot for a meal if I leave really really satisfied. My party and I were not really really satisfied. $39 for a beef rib is what I would be willing to pay for a Filet Mignon. Even if my dining companions and I would have paid half what we did I think we would still not have been satisfied. read more

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I always used to pass this place, and always wondered what this cute house looking place was, whether it was a bar or a restaurant. It recently came to my attention that its an authentic italian restaurant. I am a HUGE pasta connoisseur. I was super excited and eager to try it out, so my friend and I decided to meet up for dinner and she suggested, we try it out! Based on the yelp reviews, I was SOOO looking forward to dinner The location of this restaurant is kinda hidden in the main midtown Reno area, so if you are unfimilar with the area it can be slightly frustrating to find because its between the small homes and small businesses, however they do have the name of the restaurant. In terms of parking, its all street parking, mostly parallel parking (not my favorite). I was pleasantly surprised by the inside of the restaurant is trendy with minimalist approach for decor, however there is limited space/seating so booking for a reservation would definitely be a good idea! The hostess, seated my friend and I and she was welcoming and friendly! The menu has a good amount of food to offer with many different options! I ended up getting the tagliatelle with beef ragù and my friend got cheese ravioli with mushroom and truffle sauce. When my food, I was happy with the quantity, for me, it was more than enough since pasta can be so filling. No doubt, that the pasta was fresh and cooked right, however I was not crazy about the beef ragu. I dont want to seem like a snob, but based on the reviews I was expecting amazing food and I hate to say this, but food was very mediocre. The beef ragu was not flavorful, and the sauce was almost too watery. I do give them points for having freshly made pasta which made the experience a bit better. Lets talk, desserts.. So i got the chocolate mousse with almond crumble and my friend got the chantilly crème with fruits. And let me tell you, the dessert made up for the food. I loved my chocolate mouse, which was rich in taste and texture with the perfect amount of sweetness. I throughly enjoyed my dessert. I also took a few bites of my friends and her chantilly was airy, fluffy and yummy. The dessert being so good, makes me want to go back and give the pasta another try as well. Overall, not the best pasta Ive had, but I do recommend it because their ingredients were fresh and also got great service! read more

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Had a nice dinner out with the Mrs. and decided to try out Calafuria after recently hearing it is one of the newer restaurants in town. We opted to sit at the bar which is really just a view into the kitchen. The servers were all nice and helpful but they also seemed a little green. That's not a bad thing, just meant things took a little bit longer and were less organized. We opted to try the tasting menu so we could get a good sense of the restaurant. The charcuterie seemed a little skimpy, not sure if they forgot to bring everything or if it was meant to be light. We ordered the Butternut squash ravioli for our 2nd course. The ravioli was good but the sauce was very watery and had a foamy base without much taste. Not sure if I would recommend that and seeing other diners pasta dishes made me want what they had! For our 3rd course, we ordered the Braised Short Ribs. Not something I would typically order at an Italian restaurant but was the best of the 3 choices for our table. It was good, nothing I would write home about but also not a bad entree. The dessert was a nice finish with a interesting Bread pudding that was just enough to satisfy our appetite. We also supplemented the tasting menu with an order of calamari which was good, standard calamari with a good sauce to compliment. Overall I thought the ambience of the restaurant was nice, being in a house with a cozy atmosphere. The food was fresh and interesting and worth a try, just make sure to order something you know you will like rather than being adventurous. I may try again soon, the pasta dishes looked great and I also am a little disappointed that I missed out on the Duck! read more

Calafuria - Watch them cook everything from the bar - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada