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A790
11-01-2010, 01:02 PM
Teatro
200 8th Ave SE
(403) 290-1012
http://www.teatro.ca/

Ambiance: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Food: 4.5/5
Value: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5

Summary: High expectations were gloriously satisfied when this restaurant went above and beyond to provide exceptional service and decadent food. The story of Teatro dates back to the early 90’s, and it’s a tale I know you’ll enjoy exploring.

Introduction:

It’s no secret that Stephen Ave is one of my favourite spots in downtown Calgary. The mix of upscale eateries, lounges, and pubs makes it my ideal spot for a night on the town. Teatro, located directly across from the Jack Singer Concert Hall, is a destination that I’ve been intending to frequent for a while.

I knew the moment I walked up the candle-lit path to the front door that Teatro was something special, and as luck would have it, I was right.

Service:

Given that we were dining on my birthday (Halloween) it was no surprise that I was greeted by Dracula at the front door. Dracula passed us off to a scantily-clad French maid (complete with feather duster) who escorted us to one of four oversized corner booths.

The maid then departs (much to my dismay, might I add) and is replaced by a school-girl. So far, Teatro has all of the things required for an exceptional evening. Nary could a complaint be heard from any man in the restaurant. Fantastic.

The schoolgirl provided superb service throughout the evening, ensuring at all times that our refreshments were full and the food was delivered promptly. At no point did I feel rushed to finish a particular course, even when we hung on to our salads a little longer than usual. It was a delightful experience.

The pièce de résistance, however, was the guided tour of Teatro’s wine cellar. The building, a former Dominion Bank of Canada, still retained an intact vault. In this vault is Teatro’s wine reserve, with inventory in excess of $800,000. The individual who guided us (a fellow named Danny who was dressed up as Robin) explained the history of the building, the types of wine stored down stairs, and he did so with zeal and pride.

If you are a wine lover, or even someone who is just a little geeky at heart, the tour is something that is sure to make your evening. I highly recommend you give it a shot.

Atmosphere:

Contemporary décor with old-world touches is what makes Teatro truly unique. Massive wrought-iron gates just inside the restaurant lend the image of entering into something that is private and reserved, and massive roman-style pillars provide an illusion of height and depth. Low-lighting creates romance, and the open kitchen provides something to gaze at.

The restaurant is very well composed, and my girlfriend (who was somewhat turned off by Rush) found plenty to talk about as she scoped out the space. Truthfully, I was very appreciative of what had been done here. It’s rare that modern design and classical décor go so well together.

Every detail, be it the candle-lit pathway to the front door (a beautiful touch, may I add) to the original vault doors down below come together to create an engaging, exciting, and intimate environment. Throughout the evening I felt comfortable, and should I glance anywhere other than my table, there was always something interesting to behold.

Food:

Teatro’s menu plays out like a typical high-end restaurant in some ways, but differs greatly in others. There are plenty of ingredients that your average person can’t pronounce, yet the price point is only somewhat higher than the Cactus Club or Earls. Allow me to digress.

My girlfriend had the Goat Cheese and Spinach salad ($16), which came with slices of mandarin orange in a berry vinaigrette. The dressing was quite light and mated with the goat cheese well. She had never had goat cheese before and I must confess that this insalata was a great introduction for her.

I had a Caesar Salad with Oysters and Applewood Smoked Bacon ($16) and highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of oysters. Lightly breaded, the oysters retained their signature texture and flavour without overpowering the caesar dressing. The romaine was crisp and was the perfect match for the heavily garlic-infused dressing (mmm).

Following our insalata we ordered the Rib Eye for Two ($90). This massive 32oz cut was prepared to medium-rare (or however you’d like it, I suppose) and served with scalloped potatoes and a small insalata on the plate. We also ordered a site of broccolini and asparagus at $12 each.

The rib eye was decadent, proving to be an admirable entry into my repertoire of establishments that serve exceptional beef. It was well marbled and very flavorful, and it was filleted and presented well on the plate. I applaud Teatro for allowing the beef to speak for itself instead of drowning it in sauces or covering it in obnoxious amounts of spice.

The potatoes reminded of how my grandmother used to make them- a very, very good thing. They were crispy on the outside while remaining soft and moist inside. The vegetables were crisp and had just a hint of seasoning. Both side dishes were very good.

For dessert we had the Trio of Crème Brulee ($12), and both my girlfriend and myself were enamored with it. Three flavours – chocolate, orange, and vanilla – were delicately prepared, with just the right amount of sugar on top. Aside from my own restaurant, which had been known to make a good chocolate crème brulee from time to time, I have never had a chocolate crème brulee that was as good.

Conclusion:

From the start of the evening, where a candle-lit path guided us to the establishment within, to the conclusion of our evening exploring the basement wine vault, Teatro provided a warm, welcoming establishment that did not disappoint in any regard. The service, libations, and meals were always exceptional.

The total bill (excluding tip) was $226 for two glasses of champagne ($19/each), a cocktail ($7.25), two salads ($16/each), a savory rib eye ($90), broccolini and asparagus ($12/each), crème brulee ($12), and a latte ($4.75). Unlike some high-end restaurants, where you leave wondering if it was worth the price you paid, Teatro provided plenty of value into the $113/person price tag.

We’ll be back, and if you haven’t been, I highly recommend that you go.

ericchoweg
11-01-2010, 01:40 PM
always wanted to try this place but thought it would be like crazy baller lol

t-im
11-01-2010, 01:48 PM
Great to read a good review..I've had such uneven service from Teatro the last few times I've gone for lunch/dinner (sometimes service is exceptional, sometimes the complete opposite), that I stopped going. It may be time to drop by again.

msommers
11-01-2010, 01:51 PM
A well thought out and fun-to-read review, as to be expected from you.

Thanks.

atgilchrist
11-01-2010, 02:54 PM
My sister-in-law got married there last month, and the organization and management of the wedding was top notch. The wedding was a blast, I just don't want to know what it cost (Dom toasts, 5 course dinner, etc). I've eaten there a few times before and it was always excellent.

Well written review!

Xtrema
11-01-2010, 03:13 PM
IMO, I only has been there once and I have to say the food is more like 3.5 to 4/5 and I think I got a noob for waiter that night, so service is more like 2/5. Guy can't even pronounce the wine he recommends.

know1edge
11-01-2010, 10:34 PM
Originally posted by ericchoweg
always wanted to try this place but thought it would be like crazy baller lol

$40 for 7 pieces of lobster ravioli

Guillermo
11-01-2010, 10:57 PM
i've been there several times and also for a private party. the food and service are both very good. however, it really seems like you're paying for the "pomp." i prefer more casual establishments, and haven't been to teatro in probably about 4 or maybe 5 years.

Graham_A_M
11-01-2010, 11:17 PM
Originally posted by A790
Aside from my own restaurant, which had been known to make a good chocolate crème brulee from time to time

Excellent review, I'll have to try this, but can you explain this part? you own a restaurant? :confused:

Guillermo
11-01-2010, 11:54 PM
^^i think he's referring to jacqelyn suzanne's, which is his mom's/family's. (i think.)

ApexDrift
11-02-2010, 09:15 AM
i have never had a bad experiance at teatro's. I'm always tempted to get the tasting menu when i go...

max_boost
03-22-2011, 10:51 AM
I went here last night for the very first time. Thanks to dealfind hahaha What's wrong with using coupons on dates?

Apps: Beef Carpaccio/Calamari. Nothing special about the calamari. I've never had beef like that before but what the heck, it was good. More protein for my wannabe weight lifter lol

Main course. Cannelloni and Duck. I tried some of the cannelloni and again I've never had anything like it before but it was fantastic. So good but the food is quite rich so my date was only able to finish half but I gladly ate the rest. I can't speak enough about the presentation in the food. Well I guess you get what you pay for haha The duck was very delicious as well.

Dessert: Roasted Hazelnut Tart and Dark Chocolate Marquise. The tart was the better of the two and because the veteran server made an error we had a complimentary tasting of creme brulee given to us on the house.

Oh I also had a glass of chardonnay lol I don't even drink wine but why not tonight.

Total of the bill came to $165 + $40 tip so $205 less $80 (dealfind).

Great place. Great food. Great service.

EK 2.0
03-22-2011, 11:49 AM
My favourite place in town. The aforementioned lobster ravioli is my favourite food of life...:drool: :love:

CaptainReboot
03-22-2011, 12:42 PM
Originally posted by EK 2.0
My favourite place in town. The aforementioned lobster ravioli is my favourite food of life...:drool: :love:

I agree. The lobster ravlioli is probably one of my favorite dishes anywhere.

sk8r3124
03-22-2011, 01:18 PM
I went here a couple years ago for the Peters & Co. Christmas party. It was amazing, even better when I didn't have to pick up the tab.

If you go, you have to try the risotto, its amazing.

you&me
03-22-2011, 08:34 PM
Everyone should know that Teatro's has awesome pricing during lunch. Same quality food as the dinner menu but at (or under) Earl's pricing.

It's a great place overall... Food, wine list, the room, the service... all great!

phreezee
04-19-2014, 04:49 PM
Awesome! Watch them catching a scammer in the act:

https://www.facebook.com/TeatroRestaurant?hc_location=timeline