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View Full Version : Review: La Brezza



taemo
06-16-2010, 08:33 AM
La Brezza
http://labrezza.ca
Little Italy in Bridgeland 990 1st Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2E 4J9
Restaurant:403.262.6230
Reservation Line:403.269.6000
Email:[email protected]

Located in Bridgeland and looking like a house from a distance, this restaurant apparently has been serving Calgary since 1987.
It was recommend by my boss after mentioning to him how my gf and I liked La Dolce Vita enforcing how great and fresh the food at La Brezza was, so last night we decided to check it out.

Ambience and Service - 5/5
We arrived at the restaurant at 6:30PM and were warmly greeted and escorted to our table.
The restaurant is small, can accomodate probably no more than 30 guests and despite how close the tables can be close from each others it will not ruin the occasion.
It's nothing like the Metropolitan Grill in Downtown or other chic restaurants nor a candle-light dinner (although there's a candle on every table) but the ambience they were going was more a at-home feel, with big windows overlooking 1st ave and simple paintings hang on the wall.
The only 2 waitresses of the restaurant were very friendly and attentive to our table filling up our drinks quickly.
Marco, the owner of the restaurant was there serving as well when he had the time otherwise he was mingling with his customers, like us.

Food rating - 5/5
Brezza means breeze in Italy and indeed everything that came out of the restaurant was a breeze of freshness.

For starter we had bruschetta served on focaccia bread and cozze alla marinara (mussels).
My gf was telling me how she could just eat the bruschetta every day.
Mussels were really fresh and hot coming right of the pan served on abundant amount of bruschetta sauce.

For main, I ordered Linguini alle vongole and my gf had the Linguini scoglia. Everything was served on a generous amount and hot off the kitchen.
The linguini scoglia is now my gf favourite seafood dish in both Calgary and Edmonton, it had plenty of calamari, mussels, clams and shrimp and her pasta packed alot of flavour. A 5/5 from her.
After tasting her dish, my linguine alle vongole just became a 4/5 for me and regretted not getting the steak (which I will next time) or the same dish as hers. I had no complaint with my dish, just that mine was basically only clams therefor didn't pack as much seafood taste as hers.

For dessert, we shared a Tiramisu, it was really tasty..my only complaint is that it wasn't like an authentic italian tiramisu (using savoiardi ladyfinger bread) but rather they used mocha bread.

Mamma Angela is like the italian mother you wish you had , she occasionally walks outside of the kitchen dressed casually with her apron on.



Overall, it is now my #1 italian restaurant in Calgary and will try to go once a month.

msommers
06-16-2010, 08:40 AM
Great review, thank you. I've been meaning to try this place for quite some time now. How does it compare to La Dolce Vita? The last time we went there, it was not nearly as good as I remembered from the numerous times previously we had gone, and consequently haven't been back since.

G
06-16-2010, 08:47 AM
I went there with the wife for a celebratory dinner and Marco actually sat himself down at our table a few times and talked about his investments. Found that odd but besides that great place.

taemo
06-16-2010, 08:52 AM
To be honest with you, I wasn't really impressed with La Dolce Vita, the veal I had wasn't anything special, my gf liked their seafood dish and their bruschetta.
My gf and I were actually planning to go there again last night but all of a sudden I pulled a 180 and went to La Brezza instead and no regrets at all.

The ambience of La Dolce Vita feels more fine dining and sophisticated than La Brezza, but the food at la brezza is so fresh that it feels like you are eating at some italian house.

After last night, my gf wants to eat at La Brezza everytime we go out instead of any other restaurants.


Originally posted by G
I went there with the wife for a celebratory dinner and Marco actually sat himself down at our table a few times and talked about his investments. Found that odd but besides that great place.

yeah, he's a business man afterall with business in UAE as well, heavily on the O&G side so probably expanding his network whenever he can.
no business from me for sure :rofl:

Swank
06-16-2010, 08:59 AM
La Brezza is paramount in my books too. One of my ex's used to waitress there and introduced me to it, it's so damn good. I really like their house wine, and Marco's great, nothing but smiles and stories from him.

There's also additional seating in the basement which has nice ambience too, probably fits another ~16 people. Reservations aren't often needed but to be sure just call the day of your planned visit and you should have it made.

Damn, now I wanna go!

Modelexis
06-16-2010, 12:12 PM
7 mentions of gf in two posts, yet no pictures of said specimen?

Hopefully you're not like that when you talk to people you know, my gf this, my gf that... haha:D

msommers
06-29-2010, 07:56 AM
I took my Ma to La Brezza last night and I'll be going back, albeit my Ma wasn't entirely convinced the price justified the food.

Had bruschetta and calamari to start. The bruschetta was fresh and not overly oily like some end up. I found the touch of spice from the jalapenos quite nice. The calamari was cooked well, maybe just a touch too long if I was being a perfectionist. The spicey tomato sauce on it was delicious, one of the best I've had.

Ma said her veal was ok, the side of pasta reminded her of dishes in Italy. I had the linguini scoglia and my god I could barely finish it. No skimping on the seafood and overall very well done. Our waitress saw that I was getting pretty full and she came over jokingly saying, "That's the Mama-size. No one goes away hungry!" No kidding.

Service was fantastic. It really did feet like being served at someone's house. We had gotten there shortly after opening and Mama's daughter (I have to assume) and husband were just finishing up. Mama was out with her apron on, giving advice in Italian to the daughter, who was constantly saying "no, no, no. Mama please!" :rofl: It completely reminded me of my Italian neighbors conversing when we've gone over for dinner.

I'll be going back for sure. I had a hard time pinning down one entree to try!

Edit: Went to Prego's for lunch today. Their calamari was terrible in comparison (ie: average) but the salmon/halibut penne dish was quite good. Still think I prefer La Brezza.

thetransporter
02-16-2015, 10:46 PM
owner passed away yesterday RIP

dirtsniffer
02-16-2015, 11:22 PM
Dang RIP. I will always remember him for being a nice guy. when I was a lot guy at calgary BMW he would stop by for a wash and would chat for a while. Hopefully someone takes care of the place for him.

Isaiah
02-16-2015, 11:55 PM
Originally posted by thetransporter
owner passed away yesterday RIP
Can you post a link? I couldn't find anything about the passing of Marco Abdi online.

msommers
02-17-2015, 12:05 AM
Wow I hope that's not the case. Marco was so incredibly friendly and a wonderful person. This is terrible news

01RedDX
02-17-2015, 12:07 AM
.

thetransporter
02-17-2015, 12:20 AM
Originally posted by Isaiah

Can you post a link? I couldn't find anything about the passing of Marco Abdi online.


my best friend - Mr Traya told me this gentleman who owned the Bridgeland gem

- http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/Batesville/guestbook.aspx?n=mahdi-abdi&pid=174166608
- http://www.hffs.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1520924


Last time I seen him visiting Village Pita, always said hello...

Isaiah
02-17-2015, 12:32 AM
This seems more fitting as a split tribute thread to Marco. I'm sure anyone who knew him would agree. Mods?

thetransporter
02-17-2015, 01:08 AM
Originally posted by Isaiah
This seems more fitting as a split tribute thread to Marco. I'm sure anyone who knew him would agree. Mods?


for sure -

Weapon_R
02-17-2015, 01:34 AM
Originally posted by Isaiah

Can you post a link? I couldn't find anything about the passing of Marco Abdi online.

his funeral was earlier today.

BananaFob
02-17-2015, 10:52 AM
That sucks! That guy was awesome :( Had incredible stories.

msommers
02-17-2015, 12:06 PM
So sad, jeez. I had no idea he had lung cancer

http://calgaryherald.com/business/local-business/popular-calgary-restaurant-owner-marco-abdi-has-died

Swank
02-17-2015, 04:20 PM
RIP :(
I would have never guessed he was 59, he was always so happy and energetic, Calgary lost a real gem.