
If you love modern Italian cuisine, you’re in for a treat when you dine at Cardinale. One of Calgary’s Top 25 restaurants in Avenue Magazine, Cardinale is located in East Village in a beautifully restored historical building.
The Historical Space
The historical space is quite remarkable with exposed red brick walls both on the exterior and interior. As you enter the restaurant, you are immediately greeted with a fabulous bar where a lineup of cocktails have been created by General Manager Graham Teare, consisting of Italian spirits and ingredients from the kitchen and perfectly paired with pasta dishes.
Just beyond the bar are 3 dining rooms spacious enough to host several small groups or offer large groups the option of privacy. The cozy patio adjacent to the bar is where we enjoyed our delicious meal.
Made From Scratch Pasta
Mezze Maniche – egg yolk “carbonara”, bone marrow, Hayden Block smoked bacon
With perfectly al dente large round noodles the carbonara offers rich and creamy goodness with wonderful bacon flavours straight out of the smoker from its sister restaurant Hayden Block, another one of our favourite dining spots in town.
Spaghetti – capers, olives, anchovy, pangrattato
The Spaghetti Puttanesca is perfectly balanced with each intentional robust flavour complimenting one another. The noodles have seemingly imperceptible slight ridges from the fresh pasta making process, grabbing the tomato based sauce enhancing the al dente noodles.
Surf & Turf
Gamberi – salt baked prawns, jalapeño, pickled fennel, basil, garlic aioli
The antipasti prawns are large and cooked just right with light flavours of mint, lemon and is subtlety salted.
Vitello – veal ribeye, Italian bbq sauce, grilled lemons
The large plate veal ribeye is tender and juicy served with a tangy yet sweet Italian version bbq sauce.
Room for Dessert
There’s a another room at Cardinale and it’s the one you need to save for dessert.
Panna Cotta – yogurt cream, honey grappa, blueberries
The divine Panna Cotta is creamy and soft with a depth of slight sourness that allows the sweet berries to shine through and balance the tasty dessert.
Ricotta Al Caffe – espresso, sweet ricotta, amaretti cookies, lucano caffe, whipped cream
Beautifully presented, the tiramisu like dessert alternates layers of light ricotta cream and biscotti like crumbled cookies gently dipped in rich espresso.
Dining at Cardinale left our taste buds longing for more so we will definitely go back to experience more must-try dishes soon. Highly recommended for those who crave Italian cuisine and want a truly delightful and satiating experience.
Cardinale is located at 401 12th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta.
Julianne Robinson
I love the rustic vibes of their decor! That homemade pasta sounds and looks to DIE for. I was drooling scrolling reading this post haha
Sandy
I love how the decor retains its historical style. The spaghetti puttanesca was our fav!
Kelly-Lynne
Oh my goodness yum! It’s time for lunch here in the states on the east coast and boy, oh boy am I ready now! I’ll have to visit if I ever find myself in Canada!
Sandy
I really hope you do come visit! Canada is so beautiful – be sure to stop in Calgary!
Tiffany
This looks like an amazing little gem you found! I love the unique places 🙂
Sandy
It sure is a gem! The pasta is perfectly prepared
Christine
I love me some good Italian food and wine! Right up my alley! Thanks for sharing! Looks absolutely delish!!!
Sandy
Can never go wrong with italian food – so comforting!
rebekah
WOW! I’ve gotta visit Cardinale. Looks so yummy!
Sandy
Cardinale is definitely a must try!
Vidya Tiru
Calgary is on my list of places to visit for a while now.. and Italian is a family favorite, and I always have room for dessert .. so will add this gem to our list for when we visit Calgary
Sandy
Yay – I really hope you can visit one day. You won’t be disappointed!
Taylor
Please don’t tempt me! 🤤 This looks absolutely delicious and not nutritious (ha!) which is perfect!
Sandy
haha you are so right Taylor! Everything in moderation, right?!
Marina
It’s a lovely place and well the tiramsù looks delicious! I’m Italian 🙂
Sandy
Oh yay – I bet you know your Italian cuisine then!
Amanda
Fabulous, cozy feel to the restaurant. The food looks so delicious. I’m sure there is something for everyone. Myself, I would have to have gluten free, which is usually a big problem at Italian places. I can be quite happy with surf and turf, and of course those lovely desserts.
Sandy
Yes, you there are plenty of delicious options here. Plus I find most restaurants these days are more than willing to accommodate those with dietary preferences and or restrictions.
Emily
Oh my goodness this looks amazing. Pasta is without a doubt one of my favorite dishes.
Sandy
Same here Emily! Pasta is so comforting!
Becca Wilson
I love historic places like this. The old time feel definitely puts you in a different mood.
Sandy
I agree ! Love the contrast of being in a historical building while dining on modern eats
Candy
The decor and atmosphere looks awesome in this place. The food well bring it on.
Lane Patten
Spaghetti Puttanesca is one of my absolute favorites! What a fun place!
Caity Hubert
OH MY GOSH this place looks amazing!! The brick building is so cute. I’m dying to eat here!
Christine
Yum, looks great ! Sometimes you find the right food in the right place,
Patricia G.
Sounds like a very beautiful and elegant restaurant. The dishes sound pretty good as well! 🙂
Cecil
This restaurant sounds amazing! I’m not really a dessert person, but the Ricotta Al Caffe looks too good to pass up. I think I will be thinking about the Gamberi all day today.
Joscelyn
Ooh, that food looks amazing, especially the Carbonara! Love the vibe and style of that restaurant too. Italian food is my fave!
Elizabeth Seal
This looks like such a classic place and the food looks incredible, I loved experiencing it through your lens 😀 xx
elizabeth ♡ ”Ice Cream” whispers Clara
(I would love to follow each other on bloglovin if you like :D)
Jazz
This all looks wonderful but the pasta looks especially scrumptious!
Shoppers Gossip
It all looks yummy! I really love the place..It looks tidy and clean. Lucky you had the chance to eat there 😉
Cathy
Oh my goodness — this place looks amazing!! I am in love with Italian cuisine! Can pasta be a love language? because it’s definitely mine – LOL!
maria
I’m actually planning on going to Italy on my next holidays! I can’t even believe that I just found this post! It’s like the universe is trying to take to me or something, hahahaha
Luci
Cardinale looks like a really quaint little restaurant . The plates that you took pictures of makes me so hungry.