This place makes the best pizza in Calgary. I just had the Alfredo special. If you are a pizza snob and nothing beats an American style Napolitano pizza, this is the place for you.
This is really authentic and delicious Italian food! The place is cozy but a little too dark. Food is top notch and service is ok. Pastas and pizza are very good!
Been here many times. The food is consistently quite good and served hot. Service also consistently good. For Italian, it's probably the best in the city, but the portions are huge, so best to come hungry. Pizza is also great here. Deserts are nice and generous. Best to make a reservation unless you are eating late.
I was here for lunch mid December & enjoyed a great meal I ordered the antipasto italiano which is olives, cheese & Italian meats every thing that I love & as my main I got the fettuccini alla gigi. The fettuccini had olives, capicolla ham, peppers, mushrooms & lightly dresses in a delicious Rose sauce. I would definitely come back here just to try the fettuccini again.
I been here several times since it open , Not to hot on the decor its okay but nothing special, the food however makes up for it and is of course the main reason we go, the Calamari was good, the Salads were tasty and crisp, I had the Carbonara and it was very good, lots of flavor, noodles cooked as they should be, lots of pancetta ,overall very good as it always has been
My husband and I went here for our anniversary after a couple of friends said it was the best. To be honest, it was good but I wouldn't say the best. What an obscure location! We had the bruschetta and caeser salad to start. Both were fairly average but a good value. We each had a pasta and enjoyed them both, the fusili and the ravioli. Portion sizes were large and prices were pretty average. I have a sweet tooth and was disapointed in the dessert selection. They had four options, but two of them were basically the same (ice cream balls, either chocolate or white chocolate). Our server was very friendly and efficient. We never had to wait for anything. Atmosphere was your typical old school italian joint but the bathrooms could use some attention. Overall, good but didn't live up to my high expectations.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Rea's is SO GOOD. I have driven by a few times over many years and never thought to stop in to try it, but when a friend suggested I pick a restaurant for us to go to, I have no idea why or how I thought of Rea's, but there we were.We ordered the bruschetta to start, if you are here to eat, just get it. The photo I posted it 2 orders, each order comes with a heaping amount of bruschetta on garlic toast. You also get a big bread basket to start, the rolls are warm and soft. I ordered the carbonara, and yes...there was a bit of grease at the bottom of the plate, but I attribute it back to how much pancetta they give you in the dish! These guys do not skimp on the portions. Just don't think about it! It's not like you eat this every day anyway, although I wish I could.My husband ordered the Pescatore which is in a vodka cream sauce and he loved it. He is not a big pasta fan but he cleared his plate and complained all night about how full he was. #firstworldproblems. Our friend ordered the Ravioli Panna and she enjoyed her dish as well. I liked how it was an abundant amount of mini ravioli. Sometimes in a 'fancy' restaurant, you order ravioli and it comes out with 5 raviolis on a dish. What the hell is that?! Yes, I want my food to be good, but I also don't want to have to go to McDonalds' afterwards because I'm still hungry! If you still have room, order the tiramisu. You won't regret it! I found the pasta's to be on the higher end of the spectrum (starting at $20-$25 depending), but if you're looking for a good Italian restaurant, I would give this place a try.
Had the carbonara, Alfredo and also the seafood linguine. The carbonara and alfredo flavour was good but way too rich and heavy. Also I took some leftover homes and when I reheated it, there was a pool of oil at the bottom. The oil definitely didn't contribute that much to the taste so not sure why they put so much....The seafood linguine was better than some restaurants but not amazing and had lots of seafood. Good portion size and they did not skimp out on the amount of seafood. The inside is quite nice as well, felt Italian and authentic. On the expensive side for the quality though.
I came with a colleague for lunch and they managed to fit us in at the bar even though it was busy and we had no reservations. Service was quick, friendly and polite. The food was good as well. We got warm complementary buns with butter, but they weren't anything special. I ordered a carbonara and my colleague the calamari and caprese salad. It was my first time a Rea's so when my carbonara came out I thought it looked like a small serving, but it was quite a deep bowl with loads of pasta. It was a lot oilier then I had expected, but full of flavour with a nice helping panchetta. I had some of the caprese salad and I really enjoyed the fresh bouncy bocconcini cheese. Overall a decent meal for the pricing. If I come back I'd definitely try something with more of a sauce to see if there's less oil.
I'm not just a mouth, I'm a man. And man, was this the best god damn Italian cuisine I've ever had! As an 25 year old independent and professional adult, I highly recommend this place for your pasta needs.
We used to go here all the time. The food is amazing, especially their pastas. Very good portion sizes. The service is not great, verging on rude by the owners. If you are lucky enough not to get one of the brothers, then the service can be great. Lately, every time we try to go, we are told they are full or have a private function. It's like they don't want our business.
My favourite Italian place in the city! Everything is so fresh and you can tell its homemade! The calamari is amazing as well as anything else on the menu.
I want to start this by saying i grew up in Chicago so i know Italian food as it is one of my great loves. Today was my father-in-laws 80th birthday and the man loves pasta. the original plan was to just go to the spaghetti factory or the olive garden, I decided to look at some reviews for some places i haven't been to yet( there aren't many left) and i came across Rea's. The google reviews weren't stellar but here they were pretty good. The family agreed to try it out so we went. I'm here to tell you folks that this was by far(and it's not really even close) the best Italian food i have ever had. Now i wont put the pizza up against geno's east in Chicago(my wife had pizza) but the pasta dishes the rest of us had were incredible.Even the salad was about as good as it gets. I will now go back again and again(with looser pants next time)
Finally got a reservation the same afternoon we called in!!!! I can't tell you how many times we've tried to eat this restaurant and we were so excited to try the food after hearing so many great things.
We ordered the bruschetta and meat and cheese antipasto. Definitely get the bruschetta! It's fully loaded and so good. $4 for two.
I ordered the spaghetti carbonara and added sausage. Very delicious and come with fresh ground pepper.
Finished with the tiramisu, and it tasted authentic. I've had better.
This place is somewhat of a hidden gem, located in the industrial area in the NE. The outside doesn't look inviting, but the ppl that run the place seem like true Italians and enjoy what they do!
Next time I go, I'll definitely need to try their pizzas
From the outside Rea's don't look much more than a small blue building but honestly the best Italian food in Calgary. I live off Edmonton trail so pretty close and come here regularly because the food and service are amazing. Favourite dish is the Fettuccine Alfredo, the sauce is so creamy and rich I can never finish the whole meal! Truly authentic Italian food! The pizza here is great too but the pasta is really something else. This place used to be called Sandro's before it was burnt down but is still run by the original Italian family and they work really hard to always have amazing service that really adds to the experience here! The murals on the walls add to the great dining experience too, definitely recommend coming here if you want amazing amazing Italian food! Although definitely make a reservation before coming because the chances of getting a table as a walk in are very minimal!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
50 SHADES OF REA'S
Mrs. Rea will see you now... but no way in hell without a reservation... because this place is more popular than selfies on Instagram. Walking in all you could hear was the sound of clashing chains, I mean forks, and laughter, true to the Italian spirit. Most of which chowing down and partaking in the sublime bruschetta!
After reading the reviews online, I knew I wanted to try the pizza... but honestly, it was nothing special. It was deliciously-standard, but I think next time I go (and there will be a next time) I will go with the pasta, which seems more artistic, flavourful, and traditional. At moments I felt like I was in "The Italian Job" with servers whizzing by and chatter at all the tables, and at other moments I felt like I was in "The Godfather" asking for a little bit more flavour on my pizza on this, the day of his daughters wedding. The real appeal to this place is the contrast between the inside and the outside, which is like stepping from Mr. Lube to little Italy in three steps.
I would say it is a great place for family gatherings and if you are looking for some good Italian, but I would not recommend it for first dates, intimate encounters, our breaking the news to your wife about your Ashley Madison account before your name is leaked.
Read our blog (click the link below - out Friday, August 21st), A Couple of Couples, for the full review! It is a blog where we enjoy a variety of food around Calgary with many other couples to gain more perspective in our reviews!
We wanted to try everything here since many of my friends raved about this Italian restaurant. I think they may have hyped it up too much. The pizzas are loaded and traditional. The pastas are good and they give a lot! Service was okay. There was only 1 lady serving on the weeknight we went and she had several tables of 4+. Good thing is there's parking out front.
first time here, the waitress was really nice and really helpful, nice atmosphere and no hurry to eat we were there over 2hours and loved it. I had the veal with cream cognac sauce and a substitute of fettucine alfredo both with mushrooms, both excellent .Huge portions and very well done . Our appetizers were the lemon shrimp which was good, the calamari was also good, the bruschetta was really good and the homemade sausage and sauce was excellent. Desert for me was a white choc icecream and was really nice with a coffee. Less pretentious and priced reasonably compared to other Italian places weve been to in Calgary.
Came here for lunch. Good food and service and busy at lunch time. Will be back for dinner some time. Would recommend their Rea's pizza. Very good.
Fresh, tasty & authentic italian food. I only found out about this restaurant through my co-workers and we come here at least once a month for lunch.You have to make reservations before showing up as they get very busy and fill up fast. I've only had their pasta:Fussile Ferraro (Sautéed spicy crumbled sausage and onions in a rosé
sauce)Linguini Pittore (Prosciutto and diced shrimps in an oil and garlic
sauce)Those are my two favourite pastas and i always order between those 2. You get delicious bread to start your meal and the service is always excellent.If you love italian you must try here.
Emily's 20th BD. We have made reservations for 5 people tonight 8pm,we will let you know how it is.
Terrific food. I had veal,my wife had seafood pasta ,Megan had Fettuccine alla gigi, Valerica
had Salmon and Birthday girl had Salmon as well.
I recommend this restaurant for anyone who loves Italian,
and for those who want to experience great authentic food.
Great service and atmosphere.
We really found a gem here in Calgary.
Revaderchi !!!!!!
Amazing Italian food!. Very Authentic! best pasta I have ever has in my lifetime! and I have had a lot of Italian food. Service is always on point,been here several times dining in and for take out and the food is always consistently good,not one complaint.Love this place!
Best Italian in the city. Love this spot! I have been going for years to this hidden gem and it never disappoints. Must try in Calgary.
Best pasta in the city!. My husband and I have tried at least half the Pasta's on the menu and have never been dissapointed. The quality and flavours are amazing. The service is great, it's nice and romantic... way nicer decor than the former Sandro's. Totally reasonable prices too and the portions aren't outrageous, just right.
Woo!. I LOVE Rea's. I have never been disappointed. I have tried to venture out and try other places in Calgary, but they simply don't compare. Food and pricing is always on point. Would definitely recommend this restaurant.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Great experience!. My co-workers and I came here for lunch one day, but because it was not very close to our office we decided to pre-order. When I called to reserve a table and pre-order, the gentlemen on the phone was friendly and attentive. When we arrived at the restaurant, I was feeling very suspicious because it is located amongst an industrial area and the exterior was not appealing at all. The moment we walked through the doors, I immediately felt in a different world and that I was underdressed. The décor was beautiful, walls were decorated in painted bricks and family pictures to show the restaurant's history. Every table was filled and with little space between them, but this only enhanced the feeling of being in the warm and welcoming home of an Italian.
We were greeted by their friendly staff and lead through the restaurant to our table, after our coats were taken and hung on the coat ruck by the door. Once seated, the server offered us the drinks menu as well as verifying the orders. He returned shortly with our meals, the foods were nicely displayed on their plates and it was flavorful. Many "uummmm" came after the first bites. Despite being busy, the server returned to us a few times to check on our needs.
The final bill was higher then our usual lunch outings, but I felt it was well worth it.
I will visit again, next time without the time restriction when I can fully enjoy the experience with a family, friends, or a date.
Excellent service. Fantastic waiter. Strong drinks. Delicious appetizers. Really enjoyed the pizza. Some at the table order veal and were not as interested in the sauce (too sweet) and house pasta. Pizza was amazing though. Boccaccini cheese, tomatoes. Yum
Wonderful Experience!. My family recently took me out to Rea's for my birthday and I must say it was amazing. The food was to die for! I got the Ravioli Panna and it was soo succulent. I have never had a better pasta in my life. The complimentary buns were so fresh and a great way to start off the meal. The Fussili Ferraro is delicious as well, the sauce is incredible. We had Tiramisu for dessert and it was also phenomenal. The staff was so friendly and truly made it a wonderful experience. We highly recommend Rea's to everyone and we will definitely be back for more!
Fabulous Service and Tasty Foods. We visited the restaurant a week ago for the first time. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience - tasty appetizers, delicious main pasta courses and unforgettable desserts. Most importantly, the service from the female staff was out of this world - prompt and very attentive service without being overbearing. Many thumbs up! Great job, Rea's.
Nice....very nice. Started the meal with warm dinner buns and butter.and a serving of calamari....very tender in a tangy tomato sauce.....and bruschetta...nice but garlicky.....then Pizza.....nice sauce with a tang....Italian food is all about the sauce...and Rea does it well. No room for dessert, but will be back!!! Thank you and lets keep this a secret....as want a table for my next visit.
Old name was Sandro's, but the food was great and the staff was hilarious and professional. Rodney's in Toronto and Rea's in Calgary are my go to spots. Best little Italian spot in Canada
Cute little restaurant - it get's super busy quickly, best to make a reservation. We tried two of their pizzas, both were well worth ordering! I can only imagine that anything you'd order would be very tasty! We will definitely be returning here!!!
We have had the pleasure of dining here at least 30-40 times in the last year alone.
Excellent service quality food and an atmpsphere like grandma's kitchen ( nona).
Favorites are everything from their pizza,
Calamari, seafood pasta , lasagna and even the salads taste garden fresh.
Not pretentious , simple dishes that make you crave for more.
It' s not intiment quiet or serene its a place that reminds one more of family gatherings.
We have had birthday parties, anniversary dinners and simply I feel like a good home cooked meal .
Dom and Alfredo make you feel like family .
It is by far our favorite but not only our only Italian restaurant as no reso sometimes you can't get in.
SO REALLY SUGGEST RESERVE.
Delicious. Service was good
Food was Excellent
Lunch hour seems a bit loud but expected the place was busy.
Will be back!!!
Delicious pizza. I stopped bay Reas tonite to try their pizza. So good! Crispy dough, not thick nor too thin, a crust that stands on its own. The sauce and combination of fresh ingredients atop that crust is delicious. Reas has my vote for best take out pizza! Delicious. Btw, the ambiance of sitting at the bar with a glass of red and watching the patrons while waiting for your order......fantastic
The food was good but not amazing!
Solid and friendly. This is a nice restaurant for group dining. A place to get together with friends. Reasonable food at reasonable prices, nice wine selection, friendly if sometimes slow service. Pastas and veal are better than the pizzas which can be a bit chewy. Do not expect authentic Italian as in Italy but better than most.
Good Food ,slow service. Food was good but service is slow, Been there for lunch the
food is always consistent my favourite is Fussile Ferraro. My co-workers had pizza and it was also good.
Quite possibly the best Italian food I've had, most certainly the best in Calgary now. Everything I've tried, including things I've never had before, has been stellar! The first time I ever tried gnocchi was here and wow!! They really are little delicate pillows of yummy!! Going there tomorrow night, already not sure what to choose ~ puttanesca , veal pescatore, mussels in tomato broth....so much to choose from...5 stars!!
Gnocchi. Ack... I posted it but gave it the wrong name. This was actually Fettuccine Pescatore.
Very creamy and I love the scallops. Very nice seafood taste.
Met Alfredo, he said come to our Trattorio. We did and were very happy with our experience. Minestrone and Osso Buco for me, Stracci and insalate for my wife. All was excellent. Great service, great food, nice ambiance. Two thumbs up.
Love. I love Rea's my family goes here every year for special occasions. Home cooked, very authentic!!!! Such amazing food and amazing people. I know for a fact everything EVERYTHING is homemade!!
SO delicious.... I've been here many times over the years and they always deliver for me. My wife and I enjoyed everything from the starting bruschetta , through the caprese and minestrone and then finished it all with a pizza and a pasta.
For 50 bones each, with all the wine we could handle, it is still the best Italian place for me in the city.
Yes, Rea's can be busy, but that's part of the whole experience. This has been a family run restaurant formally Sandro's for many years and still delivers a fantastic meal and experience. Highly recommend this place!!!
Way too busy but for a reason. We finally made our way to a table at Rea's. Once on a Friday evening we ventured in to be turned away. Well we went on a Wednesday, no reservation, around 5:30ish pm figured we were beating the dinner rush and its a weeknight. When the server found out we didn't have a reservation, they made us a wait a few minutes while they figured out how to fit us in (the restaurant wasn't full... yet) I had a pasta and my parnter had a Pizza... both were delicious, nothing to complain about, suepr fresh, can't wait to eat here again (maybe w/ a reservation or takeout!)
Rea's like most family. And all friends and customers are family known was perfection. It was bar none the best restaurant in the city. Then the fire happened and we all feared what would result. But rea's did the unthinkable. The were able to surpass the original sandro's experience and became the new Rea's. It us beautiful. It is delicious. It is like coming home.
Rea's is a great restaurant for an Italian experience. The service is excellent and friendly. I always have a good meal here.
Gnocchi. This dish is the reason why I keep coming back. It is truly the best gnocchi I have ever had in my life. It's like eating puffy little clouds of creamy goodness. I love the atmosphere and the staff. I also love the cook that came out to sing a birthday song to my mother in Opera. It's a truly fantastic experience when you eat at Rea's.
Amazing!!!. I've been to Rea's twice, once dine in and the other take out. I order their tortellini with mushrooms, capicolla ham and rose sauce. I've had the brushetta and caprese salad as well. The food is so tasty, fresh flavours.
The wine menu isn't that extensive - unless i missed something. The choice was white or red, it wasn't that bad.
Make sure to call in and make a reservation on the weekend it's very busy. I got take out on a Thursday night and the place was booming that night too, i guess the word is out:)
I took my friend there for her birthday and the table beside us was having a birthday meal as well. The staff knew about this and one of the severs came out and sang Happy Birthday in Italian, what a beautiful voice!
I will be going back and have recommended this place several times already!
Love the family & the pizza! A place run with passion!!
Awesome food!!. Love the hot peppers!! Pizza was awesome although I did not get what I ordered. I decided not to complain and really enjoyed what the server brought me.
Loved it. Loved the decor, music, server... and the FOOD~!!! Had th best fish EVER~!
Lunch or dinner - nothing bests Reas for good food, atmosphere or service.
Great Lunch...Nice atmosphere. My first trip to this restaurant. What a gem in an otherwise warehouse like setting.
Went for lunch. Loved the food, the service was great. Definitely will return with my family for dinner.
YEAH!. The food is of good quality. The staff is great.Very fast one serving the food ...But I can say if I had a chance to go out with my friends again I will make sure I will make reservations there again. I have nothing to complain about.Maria in the kitchen makes awesome food. There was also a young gentlemen that sang happy birthday in italian....What an amazing voice..And the owner Mike served us and I can say he is a very up beat young man.Also the style of the restaurant was gorgeous.Love also how they play some more up beat italian music not all the boring make me snore slow songs in italian..Out of ten I will for sure give it a 9 1/2 ..Other wise best food for price and they are all very good workers and they all make sure you are happy....Well done Reas...You have a good staff and awesome food.
I will be back soon with my friends and my boyfriend.
Great pizza. I really like their sauce place has really changed from when it was Sandros. They have taken over the whole main floor. The Margheritta pizza was weak good crust good sauce but we have had better. The Don and the Rea specials were a different matter first class all the way.
Still Great. First time back since the fire and under the old name of Sondros. The atmosphere and a fresh start an excellent beginning. Had the veil wow still fantastic, portions and price tough for any body to beat. The next visit I'm sure it will be for the pizza.
A Memorable Restaurant. A co-worker recently recommended Rae's, and I'm sure glad he did. The fresh buns were delicious, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. The stracciatella soup was wonderful, the broth was slightly sweet and there was a generous amount of eggs. I also tried the margherita pizza, which had a delicious tomato sauce, fresh cheese and a great crust. The crust wasn't too thin or too thick, it held the sauce and cheese well and it wasn't soggy or too crispy. I also tried the tortellini Zia Theresa, also good. I'm not sure if the tortellini is made in house or not, but nonetheless, it was tasty. The rose sauce was creamy and flavorful and not heavy at all. The capicolla was nice with the veal tortellini, and the mushrooms were good but they didn't do much to enhance the dish. All dishes are reasonably priced, as is the wine list.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Rea's. I will absolutely be back!
Rea's miraculously good, as always.. This impressive Italian restaurant as been our family favorite for 20 years. A family outing elsewhere is a rarity, for the staff-rapport at Rea's has always been as magnificent as the menu. Our daughter turned 16 and we took her and her gang there Friday night. It was a pizza night and the girls were exhilarated by what was served. Our waiter was from Rome. His singing of Happy Birthday was so startlingly operatic and so richly astonishing he might soon be entertaining ticket-buyers.
Walking into Rea's made me feel like I was back in Boston's North End. The tiny room. The hustle and bustle of the staff. And the smells....oh mama Mia...the smells! This is "Mom and Pop" Italian at it's best. After a 30 minute wait (even WITH reservations!) we were seated by a friendly and efficient staff. We started with the scampi and a pomodoro salad. The scampi was perfectly cooked and delicious. The salad was a bit disappointing but mainly due to the lack off flavour in the tomatoes. But this is Calgary in march....who has tomatoes with flavour anyways? For dinner she had the gnochi in tomato sauce, and I had the tortellini Theresa in a rose sauce. Delicious!! Both dishes were perfectly cooked (a little al dente) and had excellent flavour. The nice thing about Reas food it that they don't assault you with garlic. It's there, but it's not the dominant flavour. An excellent meal for a REALLY reasonable price! We'll be back soon and often!
Definitely will go again!. Based on reviews from urbanspoon, and from John Gilchrist's review from the Calgary Herald, we decided to give Rea's a try. From the outside, the restaurant doesn't look like much, but the inside - it was beautiful and clean. You can definitely tell it's been renovated.
The service was fantastic, the food was impeccable and FRESH, overall - we had a fantastic time and the price was extremely reasonable. We were amazed at how quickly the food came out, and how delicious everything was. I think a few restaurants in Calgary could learn a lesson or two from Rea's, in terms of how to cook food, and how to use fresh ingredients.
The seafood linguini was a big hit at our table, and the tiramisu to end the evening meal was incredible. You could tell it was homemade, and not 'store' bought like some other restaurants.
It was an evening of amazing food, spent with wonderful friends. We will definitely be going back to Rea's soon!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Best pizza in Calgary. My husband & I had been going to Sandro's for more than 10 years. We were there the night before the fire & were trying to get reservations the next day when we heard about the fire. It has been our favourite Italian restaurant for many years. Having been born in New Jersey, good pizza has always been very important. Rea's (formerly Sandro's) makes the very best - made from fresh dough. My husband usually has the vongolo & loves it. The calamari is a must - best marinara sauce in town. Fresh warm buns are always served. The service has always been wonderful, friendly & prompt. We were there one night when they had to turn away 6 couples that arrived without reservations in the span of an hour. House wine is great & we often finish our meals with sambucca & expresso. The new decor is delightful & tastefully done. The new menu has many veal, pastas & chicken dishes at very reasonable prices as well as their awesome pizza. It still has the same wonderful family-friendly (children always behave) atmosphere that we have always loved without the snootiness that one often finds in some other restaurants. My best advice to one & all make a reservation early & often. Great venue for a party.
It's ok....3/5. Since Rea's is close to my workplace I usually have lunch with my colleges there. I like their renovation,the restaurant gives a really warm feeling. And I like how its always quite busy when we sit down but our server come rights there whenever we re ready order.
The food, you cant really expect it to be as good as Mercato or Osteria but it is still better than Chianti, I mean overall, the food quality and the amount you get are pretty decent with the price .
In my opinion, there's not really anything special or stands out about this place but its a good place if you want to have just kind of a simple,chilled lunch or dinner with some friends.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Like a pheonix reborn from it's ashes, Rea's (formerly sandro's) rises to the top of calgary's Italian food circle. Italian comfort food at it's finest. Those familiar with sandros will be pleased to see that the menu has remained relatively unchanged, although prices seem to be slightly higher on some dishes. The restaurant is now spaced out over two floors offering a much needed speration for the casual dinner from the group dinners that frequent the restaurant. Service remains friendly and very capable. Our waitress was attentive and very friendly in explaining all items and catoring any request we made. As previously mentioned the food remians the staple of fine Italian cuisine. Dishes are simple and portions are generous without being too much. If you've ever had an Italian meal prepared for you at home reas succeeds in emulating that feeling. Renouned for one of the best pizzas in Calgary, reas thin crust wood oven baked taste will win over the harshest of critics. Our group started with the bruschetta, the servings of generous amounts of tomatoe and herbs came on 2 nicely sized slices of baguette. Next was an apetizer of 3 pizzas, the dom (shrimp) the margueritta (cheese and tomatoe sauce) and the reas special (everything you could want in a pizza) all 3 were fantastic although the margueritta was the first to be eaten! Entrees consisted of virtually every plate on the menu (did I mention we were 15) highlights included the linguini seafood, the veal parmigianna and the pollo al vino. Dessert was tiramissue, the traditional dessert was perfectly balanced with it's coffe flavoring and rich cream taste. Reas is still my opinion the quintessential Calgary must have when it comes to itialian food. And if you were wondering yes the "bullets" are still on then menu and as spicy as ever !
I have to say I normally don’t eat Italian food b/c I never crave for it, but the reviews at Rea’s looked pretty good and their menu is quite vast, so I picked here to eat last Saturday. The restaurant has two levels and we were seated in the upper level where it wasn’t as noisy, so if you prefer a quieter dining experience, request to sit there.
There is way more Italian authenticity to Rea's Italian Cucina than the wall murals. The home style food, the natural ingredients, the accents of the servers and the family running the business. The experience begins with warm bread and those munchies. Roasted garlic that tasted like garlic flavoured chestnuts and those addictive roasted hot green peppers (I really loved them). The antipasti platter looks like it was put together by a mom for a her family. Delicious meats, olives that looked like a small fruit, and home made pickles. It went extremely well with the bread. I chose a plate called Stracci - crepes stuffed with veal and vegetables. The stuffing was excellent - like a freshly made veal paté. The sauce screamed "I'm made from fresh ingredients". Their pizza was as home made as they come and so were the home made gnocci. No wonder Rea's was voted one of the top 3 restaurants in North East Calgary. But wait, the advice was not to leave without trying their Tiramisu. I am not g
Rea’s is amazing, with the best pasta, pizza and Italian in the city and set out of down town this is a must try for every Calgarian.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes