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

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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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

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

I'll be back but mostly for the cute bartender in the back of 731. Great ambiance and drinks!

We've been frequenting Calafuria since 2016. It's not "comfort Italian", which is Reno's go-to, and requires an effort to seek something a little different. A little adventure and trust in the chef. That said, you will not have Lasagna this good in the 775. Nor will you have such access to Picanha Steaks, Roman Pizza, etc. Some super unique dishes that aren't on your chain Italian-American restaurants - really truly Italian. Finally, through COVID, this establishment always exceeds expectations. Tonight is my wife's Birthday, and while not extravagant, there's a special cookie in our to-go, along with usually some extra add-in to show you that the business owner cares for your patronage. I guess that's the overarching theme of Calafuria. These guys and gals give a s*!t in every aspect of their business. Lifetime customer here. read more

This was our first night trying calafuria and we were very excited. I hate writing bad reviews but this was on a whole different level. We got seated promptly which was great. We placed a round of three appetizers and 2 cocktails in an order. It took 30min to receive our cocktails and 40min to receive our appetizers. In the meantime while we were waiting for the appetizers the table next to us orders another round of drinks. About 8-10min later the same waitress advises the couple that the cocktails are taking extra time and inquires if they would like a glass of wine on the house (their choice) as they awaited for their next round. This was quiet insulting to my wife and myself. When our appetizers arrived at the 40min mark this was the first time we had interacted with our waitress since our initial drink order. She asked if we would like to order entrees but at this time we decided getting the check and moving on would be the best option for us. The appetizers were all subpar beside the salad which was a simple garden salad with vinaigrette. The meatballs were burnt and charred and we requested them being taken off the bill as we did not eat them. We've made better frozen meatballs at home. We then had some attitude from the waitress about this request. I would not recommend the fried bread either. Essentially we opted to leave and are currently driving to in&out. Zero stars as there is literally no service nor food that entices the appetite. I suppose the waitress knew how lacking our experience was as when we checked out she stated she did not expect a tip. read more

Calafuria is a delicious little Midtown Reno bungalow which has been converted into a trendy eatery. You have a choice of indoor or outdoor seating. Tonight was a mild spring evening, so we chose outdoors, though I wished they had an outdoor heater, as my jacket was a little thin for the breeze. We started off with 2 types of delicious bread - focaccia and regular Italian bread, with some Parmesan butter. We skipped the appetizers, though they sounded enticing, and went straight for the main course. We tried 2 of their nightly specials - octopus pappardelle, and a duck and Italian sausage combo (there was a fancy name in there somewhere, but I can't remember it!), and one regular menu item - spaghetti alla chitarra. The pasta is house made and is so light and fresh! The sauces were excellent, though a tad on the salty side. The duck and sausage was quite hearty but heavy - probably a better winter dish than spring. The sausage was spicier than I was expecting, but still delicious. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate mousse and the panna cotta. They were both very light and airy, which was nice after a hearty entree. The mousse was especially nice because it was not overly sweet, and allowed the bitterness of the dark chocolate to come through slightly to contrast the sweet crunchy toppings. Upon paying, we were offered complimentary limoncello, which we gladly accepted! I wished it was a little colder, but it definitely tasted lemony, possibly with some fresh zest added to it. They even add f a nice little touch of labeling our leftovers box! Overall a delicious experience. read more

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Love the food. But we arrived at 7:30 and were told we would be seated before they closed. Came back at 8:00 and they said they would not seat us. Very disappointed considering we could've spent that hour eating somewhere else read more

With all the raving friends have done about this place I just expected so much more. pretty light on flavor and slow on the service pick up. I'd like to think I just ordered wrong but grilled seafood shouldn't have been the hardest thing to get a flavor on a plate with. As for the special that we also ordred.. I guess salt is a flavor. Meh. Bay Area prices, Reno delivery. read more

We have been so excited to finally try this place out. It a beautiful renovated house and there are only a couple tables of people. We are sat in the back and promptly greeted by our server. I literally want one of everything on the menu. Once the server delivers the list of specials to us, we are sold on the butternut squash soup, fried artichokes. Off the regular menu, we ordered cheese ravioli's in mushroom and truffle sauce, and finally the broccoli rapini. The soup comes out and it's beautiful but tiny. For the price I would have expected more than a few spoonfuls of soup. It was absolutely delightful with its creamy sweetness and hint of spice from the chili oil, wish I had more than the tiny portion. The flavor of the artichokes were a little on the salty side but good. The breading was light and airy but it was barely warm as if it sat while everything else was being prepared. Finally we received our cheese ravioli with mushroom and truffle sauce and Broccoli Rapini. The broccoli rapini was explained as comparable to a bitter Brussel sprouts flavor. We love broccoli and Brussels sprouts so we say yes. It was good but not what we expected. The Broccoli Rapini was more of a spinach texture and flavor. It was sautéed in garlic. Definitely not bad just not what we were expecting based off the description from the server. Now the cheese ravioli in mushroom and truffle sauce was absolutely phenomenal. Each bite was decadent- Buttery and rich with a hint of truffle oil. Oddly this pasta dish was light and refreshing. I would definitely choose this again. The pasta is where it is at! This place is great as long as you do not need to rush. They really take there time here. The food is good but really pricey for the portion size. Sadly, we did leave a little hungry still. Although it was a very expensive meal for the small portions, the quality of ingredients was clear and we plan to return to try more of the fresh pasta. read more

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I haven't eaten here in a few years. But when I ate there a few times I was able to make a reservation. I tried to reserve for a Friday night and was informed they do not take reservations. That is a disappointing policy for what I remember to be a nice restaurant. I'm not going to hope that I can get a table, especially on a Friday night. The hostess said this was their policy because they can't count on people coming to the reservation. So charge a cancellation fee! Needless to say I won't be dining there now. read more

The food it amazing, but the service is some of the worst I've experienced in recent memory. If you want some of the highest-quality, authentic Tuscan food, you might want to try Calafuria. This is with little doubt the best restaurant in Reno for pasta. They house-make it all, and it shows. Just beware that you will be enduring hell with regards to the service. I'm not sure if this kind of service is common here, but if so, it definitely needs to be addressed. For starters, our waitress rarely checked in on us. It took about twenty minutes for her to show up and take our orders, we had to remind her twice to fill our water glasses, and she also promised bread early-on, but we didn't end up receiving it until the end of our meal. When we ordered a glass of wine, she forgot, and after fifteen minutes we had to go up to the bar and ask her personally. She made the excuse that she was "looking for the bottle," then just ignored us. Another guy, who was very kind and professional, apologized for the service and poured the wine himself. Now that my rant is over, I can talk about the incredible tastes that are coming out of this fabulous kitchen. The chef, a Reno native, was trained for years in Tuscany, and it shows. Having been to Tuscany myself, I can vouch that this is true, "authentic" Tuscan food. Everything from their flawless pastas to their addictive sauces is house-made, and every bite proves it. My two friends and I decided to order the BRUSCHETTA as well as the HOMEMADE GNOCCHI for appetizers. Both plates were very large. The bruschetta had some of the most delicious tomatoes I've had in a while; I usually don't like tomatoes, but these were incredibly flavorful and addictive. The gnocchi was also amazing. The little cloud-like potato pillows were accompanied by a satisfyingly rich almond pesto that was bursting with flavor. Being somewhat lactose intolerant and craving pasta, I asked if the kitchen could make me some plain and simple SPAGHETTI MARINARA, and they graciously obliged. Spaghetti Marinara is one of my favorite foods, and it's a good test of a chef's talent. Everything has to be perfect for such a simple dish to shine, and this dish did just that. The spaghetti was some of the best I've had to date; the pasta cooked perfectly al dente, and it was clearly house-made. The marinara sauce was perfectly flavored, lending a light, calm and utterly comforting tone to the pasta. I'll be dreaming about this Spaghetti Marinara for a while. One of my friends ordered the DRY-AGED, GRASS-FED RIBYE STEAK. The thing was comically massive (see pic), almost too big. The steak was pretty good, but nothing rave-worthy. The dish was also lacking in variety; it was just a huge plate of meat with a few pieces of veggies. But overall, this dish won't disappoint a carnivore. My other friend ordered the FRIED BACCALA LIVORNESE STYLE, which was essentially fried salted cod on the bed of tomato sauce and veggies. The fish was some of the most delicious fried fish we'd ever had; it was breaded, seasoned and cooked to utter perfection, and wasn't too greasy. The sauce accompanying the dish was a very robust and delicious chunky sauce reminiscent of ratatouille with a pungent olive flavor. I'm really torn on if I should return to this place, but I have a feeling that my cravings for their Spaghetti Marinara will get the best of me. Hopefully their service improves before my next visit. read more

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I feel like this is more American than Italian. Both my husband and I didn't care for the food or the service. We ordered appetizers, entrees and desserts and nothing was worth the price. It's just a "cool" place and that's it. We can make better food at home. read more

Disappointed for sure. My husband made a reservation three weeks in advance and was told the specific date we wanted was not available due to a wedding. We decided to go the day after but certainly regret it. At the time the reservation was made, my husband confirmed the gluten free pasta options. Today when we went we were seated outside and the couple next to us ordered at the same time but received everything including their desert before our food even came... long after we placed our order we were told they ran out of the gluten free pasta because of the wedding the day before. Instead of pasta the only other option was risotto. The food for my birthday dinner took over an hour to get to our table which made it difficult to enjoy. Sad to say it was our first and will be our last time visiting. If I had to recommend an item on the menu, it would have to be the French fries which is sad because the "smashed potatoes" had no flavor and I never tasted the gluten free pasta. read more

An observation: First I must say that the success of this fine restaurant is gratifying to see. It's a great place to get a meal. Having said that I now say this. My wife had made reservations for an early dinner. We arrived on time after having to park 4 blocks away. As we walked in we were assailed by the noise of the dining room. I'm afraid the sound was overwhelming. We were seated at a very small table right in the middle of a high traffic lane. Requests, requested when the reservations were made,were not acknowledged because the host didn't know that we had even asked. They were not noted on the reservation sheet. We left. I'm sorry to see dining out which was a thing I love to do is getting harder and harder to do simply because of the noise generated by inconsiderate loud talkers in restaurants and unfulfilled reservation requests. Why should I pay $$$ Cash, and hate the experience. This is a great restaurant and if you can take the noise. You'll have a great meal. read more

We absolutely love date nights and group dinners at Calafuria! It might seem minute but the house made butter is absolutely delicious! The house specials never disappoint and if you want a good wine to pair just ask, the staff is very knowledgeable. Hats off to the chef for bringing some quality Italian to the Reno area. The handmade noodles, pesto, and truffle ravioli top our charts. I recommend reservations as this hidden Reno gem won't stay hidden for much longer!!! read more

Calafuria - Meat and cheese plate, cold veggie soup (special), house made focaccia and butter. - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

BEST FOOD WE HAVE HAD IN RENO (every time) The chef has a sophisticated but still simple palette. My duck and sausage dish was daring but delicious. I would eat that over most if not all of the Michelin Star dinners I have had. And it was ONLY $18.00. I felt guilty getting a fabulous dinner for the same price as my last hamburger. The staff is very friendly. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable. We cant wait to go back, and my wife has already planned a girls night out (me excluded) in a few days. read more

Okay so before I write my review, a couple of disclaimers: 1. I am a little more critical of Italian fare as I have a strong belief that I can make most Italian food in my own kitchen 2. For a place who makes their own pasta and goat cheese and bread, I had skyscraper-high expectations. That being said, here we go: THE SERVICE: Great service for the most part. Attentive, friendly and most of the food came out in a speedy fashion(except for the entree which took a bit longer, but maybe that's because we were anxious about the fact that we left our show tix at home and had to leave in a rush- I know-smooth move!) THE WINE: Loved the wine! Had a glass of the house Prosecco-dry, crisp and delicious! Followed by a Syrah rosé that was also lip-smacking good! THE FOOD: Okay loved the fried calamari appetizer. The batter was super tasty(though might be a bit salty for some, not for this salty lady!). Plus, it came with a house made aoli that was nice and tangy. From there, it kinda went downhill. I ordered the beet salad. I LOVE beet salad and they get all their produce from the Great Basin Coop AND they make their own goat cheese! So my expectations were soaring. When I took my first bite, they came crashing down. The flavors were just weird. It was missing the candied walnuts to balance the salty goat cheese. Finally, the entree. I ordered the gnocchi with pesto sauce. It was good, not great. It lacked flavor. I did enjoy the fresh grape tomatoes mixed in with it and would have liked a bit more of those. I don't know if the pesto soup it was drenched in was necessary, but the pasta was definitely fresh and melted in your mouth. We would have liked to have stayed for dessert, but our dopey ticket situation prevented us from doing so. Next time! Yes, there will be a next time. I will give it one more shot! Plus, my sweet tooth will force the rest of my body to go back just to satisfy its curiosity about their dessert menu. I also plan on trying their Sunday brunch. They have shaded outside seating so great for a summer Sunday morning. I'll write a review for that later. Until then, ta ta for now! read more

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Great place with excellent food and good service . We will definitely be back to try some more of the unique options from the menu. read more

Calafuria - Nice selection... - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

My husband is Italian, so finding a place he will go out for Italian is hard. He always says, "why pay to eat food I can make better at home." But this place has it! Homemade fresh pasta, homemade sauce, fish dishes, braised short ribs, bread plates, etc! Cute little old house in midtown that was converted into a quite and intimate dining room. Had a fire going...candles on tables. It felt like a romantic dinner. Love the Decor, only complaint would be I don't love the benches at some of the tables. I had the baccala, which is a fried cod dish with a thick tomato marinara sauce and olives. It was almost like an Italian fish and chips dish. My husband got the tagatelli and bolognese and it was AWESOME. The pasta was super well cooked and the sauce was perfectly balanced and seasoned. Can't wait to go back. read more

Calafuria - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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This was my second time at Calafuria. My first was a pleasant experience and so we returned. Calafuria has the potential to be one of the best restaurants in Reno but the devil is in the details when it comes to fine dining. I'm writing this review in sincere hopes that the owners will really take these recommendations to heart. Every minute a customer is in your establishment is potential for you to make money and to create a return customer i.e. more money. I got the impression that there was no owner or manager on staff that night as the wait staff had no hustle and did not give it their best effort. The food was tasty be rich. We had the fried artichoke special which came with a cream sauce but seriously lacked an acid component. The same reason you serve calamari with a lemon - to balance the fat of the deep fry. I ordered a salad to balance it out. The bruschetta was tasty but again could have used a bit of green and acid. My friend got the ribeye steak which was cooked properly but for $35 you can get a filet mignon and was nothing to write home about. My pasta was nice. We ordered a bottle of wine and beside the first glass, poured the rest of it out ourselves. Same with the water. The end of our meal was greeted with a diner style "can I get you anything else." This is a restaurant's last opportunity to complete the customer experience. In a fine dining restaurant the server should present you with the dessert menu and tempt you with an after dinner drink or coffee (again more $). My first visit ended with the lovely gratis limoncello which other reviewers have also delighted in. This was not presented the second time - consistency is important. The most off-putting part of the evening was that the staff started to shut down the restaurant at 8:30!!! I couldn't believe it. The front of the house was still full of customers!!!!! The tables at the back were empty so the waitress flipped the chairs and put them on top the tables - like you were at a diner at midnight. Nothing says get out like chairs on top of a table. The stench of hot water and soap hitting grease wafted into the dining area as they cleaned the kitchen (because its an open kitchen). We were out of there. read more

The food is great here! If you are in town this is a must! We have come here for date nights, celebrations and for a quick bite. The food is different and very flavorful. This little restaurant is very cute and has an intimate dining experience. Their bread and homemade butter is what we keep coming back for (it's little things, right?). The desserts are great. We have too many favorites from their menu. read more

Great restaurant in Midtown! Menu has a nice selection and food was excellent. Really busy when we arrived but the service was wonderful, attentive, and friendly. We were told that the chef and family were ones to try and we were not disappointed. This is a must do date night, casual friends get together or family catch up spot. We will be back!! read more

Calafuria - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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A multi-course, fixed price meal is one of my favorite options when trying a new place, and recently-opened Calafuria provides just such a dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings. Named for a region of the Tuscan coast of Italy with a focus on Livornese cuisine, the dishes range from rustic to refined ($39 per person). We chose to dine al fresco and ordered a bottle of house red wine ($20), making for a very pleasant way to spend a warm, Indian summer evening. Service throughout the meal was friendly and professional. The antipasto course included a green salad and flaked tuna salad with chickpea, onion, and tomato; both salads were tossed in a light vinaigrette. A selection of thin-sliced bread, pizza, and cecina--sort of a chickpea crepe-- was provided along with housemade sausage, coppa, and artfully-prepared giardiniera. This collection of goodies would have made for a pretty nice lunch on its own. I'm glad a taste of pizza was included; the thick, flavorful crust was brushed with a light amount of fresh-tasting tomato sauce and a dollop of melted cheese. The sausage was served in marinara, possessing firm texture and robust flavor without a bit of greasiness. The dry-cured pork was nicely seasoned, combining well with the pickled veggies, olives, and slivers of hard cheese. For the primo course my wife selected butternut ravioli with pancetta; I went with rigatoni. The ravioli filling of roasted squash and parmesan was very smooth and mild in flavor, allowing the sauce of scallion-infused vegetable broth, sage-butter foam, and rosemary-infused olive oil to stand out. The dish looked very pretty, tasted great, which made it sad that there was so little of it to enjoy. The six diminutive morsels looked even smaller compared with the pile of pasta tubes on my plate, served atop a pool of pecorino cream and topped with toasted pine nuts, oven roasted tomato, and basil-infused oil. My wife's dish was good, but the rigatoni was incredibly good and much more substantive. Beef "tacos", or pork belly were our secondo choices. My wife's plate demonstrated a high degree of creativity, with shells of very thin, roasted celery root filled with locally-sourced braised beef, pickled turnip, and spicy pepper aioli, served on roasted beets and finished with a bit of the braising liquid. Again, a very attractive, delicious plate but not without issues. Trying to get a bit of taco by hand was a messy mistake, and attempting to cut it with a fork led to tearing it apart. It occurred to me--too late--that they only look like tacos; my wife was smart enough to just use a fork. Continuing the theme of our preceding course, my plate featured two sizeable slices of pork belly, slow-roasted and then seared. The meat was laid on a bed of broccoli rapini and creamy broccoli purée. I could have actually done with more of the rapini and less of the pig, but that's mostly because I love the veg and--for my taste--a little pork belly goes a long way. Dolce was small and simple, a bit of vanilla cream topped with a couple spoonfuls of fresh, diced peach. After a meal like that, I appreciate a dessert that isn't heavy or overly sweet. As we finished the wine and enjoyed the ambience and conversation, I knew it wouldn't be long before I'd want to return for a sample of their enticing lunch menu, particularly that yummy, crusty pizza. read more

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August 19, 2016 Friday - 7 PM for dinner 2 adults Atmosphere - 4 stars Food - 5 stars Service - 4 stars Wow I made it to review number 750! Background - Got to try some of their food last night at Yelpstronomy. They have been on my radar, and this just push them up to try even more. It is time to see how their prefix dinner menu will be. Atmosphere - The location has changed businesses a few time, I missed it all together when it was Villa Donato. Still has that great vibe. We walked through the doors and felt the wall of heat hitting us. We decided to sit outside and it was still hot out there but not as hot as inside. As the sun went down the breeze picked up. Which made it more comfortable. Also as the sun went down the mood lighting kicked, which was ruined by the motion sensor flood lights over the door ways being kicked on by the wait staff. A minute later the timer would turn them off. Food Drink - The Italian beer which was Birra Moretti L'Autentica. All right beer. They do not have many choices for beer. They have a bigger wine list. Appetizer - Charcuterie, chees, veggies and a salad and bread. The sausage was really good Dinner - Chicken ravioli with butter and sage and the braised beef cheeks. I would have been happy just eating the ravioli all night long. Desert - Cantaloupe served on fresh cream, the cream was almost like a custard. Service - A group of ladies took care of us. You are the only customer for the night at that table, so there is no rush. Periods between courses were almost to the point it was too slow. Future - Maybe when it is not so hot inside and outside. read more

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Warm beet salad is a must to try.. Wild shrimp, scallops and while squids along with spaghetti followed by the best Tiramisu and Porto wine. I had the best time sitting outside and feeling the breeze, sipping my wine and enjoying Authentic Italian cuisine. read more

Came here for an early Mother's Day and it did not disappoint. I had the Ciappino and while they were out of one of the fish, it was still a great combination. My mom had the gnocchi which was also a fantastic choice. Good sized portions, we both had leftovers! You can bring your own wine for a corkage fee of $15 but they did have a good range of wines there. The desserts were a little small for sharing but still delicious nonetheless. My only recommendation is in summer, get a table outside. There's no air conditioning, and it is way too hot and stuffy inside if it's even remotely warm out. read more

Calafuria is ideal in every way. Whether sitting indoors or out, it's such a pretty and peaceful atmosphere. The staff is professional, knowledgeable and friendly. The person behind the counter must've been an owner or manager because she was so passionate about the restaurant, and rightfully proud of their menu. I've ordered the set menu as well as individual items, and everything was perfect on both occasions (the homemade pasta is shockingly good). The quality and portions match the prices. Calafuria is a restaurant that takes pride in every aspect of dining. read more

My new favorite Italian restaurant in Reno to date, especially their dinners. I have traveled (and eaten my way) around northern Italy the last couple of years and the culinary style of Calafuria takes me back to those lengthy Italian dinners, with fresh food inspired by seasonal ingredients! They are open for lunch serving Roman-style pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. But I really love their dinners. At $35 per person for a multi-course prix fixe (wine extra), it is a great value, especially since it evokes warm memories of Italy. Tim Magee used to run a restaurant in Italy and also worked for a short while in Noma in Copenhagen. Such a unique profile in the local Reno dining scene will certainly cause a stir! He told me that 15-course Scandinavian dinners via a monthly pop-up might be coming soon. I can't wait! The patio is in progress for al fresco dining, and raised beds are in the works in the back for fresh veggies and herbs to use in the kitchen. read more

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I was expecting more, because I visited their beautiful website before we dined here, and it made the restaurant seem very upscale. It's not. It's just an average neighborhood joint. The place is small, but cozy, with a homey atmosphere. We were given our choice of table, which was nice. The food was pretty good, nothing to write home about, but I think it's the service that's really lacking. Our waitress didn't introduce herself. She wasn't sure about the specials. Also she got flustered when taking our order, so much so that she had to turn to a new page to start over again. We were only a party of four, so I was surprised she had so much trouble. She said she'd only been working there two weeks, but it seemed like her first night. Our water and wine glasses were never refilled by the server, and they didn't come to clear the plates of appetizers before bringing the entrees, so the table was very crowded. We had to ask for the empty plates to be removed. That should never happen. The presentation of the food is nice, and the portions are good without being too huge or too small. They have a problem with timing of the food, with our main entrees coming out before we'd finished our first courses. I had the shrimp spaghetti, which was pretty good, but not something I'd order again. The lasagne, however, was GREAT. Very fresh, tasty, and full of flavor. Highly recommend that. I'll also give them big points for the cocktail and wine list, which is extensive, creative, and very fairly priced. One thing I thought was strange was that a new server or assistant came to take away our plates at the end of the meal, and got hostile when she saw I hadn't finished my food. She glared at me and asked what was wrong with it, and I said nothing, it was just filling. I'd like to take the leftovers home. But she acted like she was personally insulted I hadn't finished my meal. It was so random. Ultimately, this place is cute but forgettable. They need to step up their staffing game, because it's sub-mediocre. I'd come back again, maybe in the summer to sit on the patio, but I wouldn't give it a high recommendation. It's not great or bad, just meh. read more

I had a great meal with friends recently. Ordered the schnitzel special with truffle Mac & Cheese, and it was some of the best food I've had in the area! The building's inside has a cool vibe but I can't wait for the outdoor patio and porch to open. I will be contacting the owner to ask about wedding accommodations as I hear they service small to large groups, too. read more

Five stars on the delicious food. They make their pasta so of course I wanted to taste it. I was pleasantly pleased to discover how really really wonderful pasta can be. I ordered the pici with wild shrimp and lemon. Yum! I will be back. Soon. read more

Real neat place, located in Mid-Town. We love the home town feel to the restaurant, the servers we nice and very present. I had the Bacacola was cooker perfect and the French Onion soup was very flavorful! The pesto sauce was kinda pasty, the over all experience was very enjoyable and we look forward to going back. Parking in Mid-Town is tough at times, so plan ahead and know you will have to look for a place to park! read more

Calafuria has a fantastic menu and the wine list is perfection. Reno is changing so drastically and on the food scene bar continues to be raised. Super nice staff and very sweet court-side dining. The ribeye was epic and the chicken and sage raviolis were amazing. read more

Calafuria - This is the most AMAZING ribeye I've had in a very long time. - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Fantastic curbside menu and friendly service. Penne and meatballs were excellent as well as the Caesar Salad!!! Tiramisu was excellent!!!!

I ordered delivery through Door Dash, the "Armageddon Kit" was perfect. The quality of the food was surprising in a great way. I recommend the meat lasagna. read more