Food was excellent and the server was kind and responsive. Coming from out of the area we were surprised at the value of the meal.
Kelly Hill
“The Softness of Bread” By K.A. Hill’McPherson
Alone, tired, hungry, and—just for good measure—lonely. The old man sat at a table in an Italian restaurant called The Garden of Italy, which sounded vaguely like a travel brochure and exactly like the kind of place that served fettuccine with confidence.
He’d worked hard that day. Not the noble, salt-of-the-earth kind of hard, either—just the slow, dragging kind that makes ten hours feel like sixty years, or maybe the other way around. Either way, the math didn’t matter. The work was done, and he was still standing. Barely.
The staff moved with military precision—waiters and waitresses floating by like they’d trained with ballerinas and espresso machines. Not one of them dropped a fork or gave the wrong smile. He’d never seen such commitment in restaurant folk. They treated the whole operation like a mission from God, or at least Mario Batali.
The hostess, all grace and hustle, seated him in a booth like he was royalty. Tired royalty, maybe a duke of sore joints and thinning patience.
The wine list came first, as it always does in these places, as if to say, Let’s fix your heart before we feed it. One thing caught his eye—a Giusti Merlot from Veneto. Nine ounces. Of course. Just one. He lied to himself so fast it nearly counted as optimism. Just one would be enough. It never was, but the lie helped him feel like he was still in control of something. Health, maybe. Or narrative.
The wine arrived. It was fantastic. Perfect, actually. And he hated that word, but there it was.
The menu followed, along with a little postcard advertising the evening special. Ossobuco. Came with a Caesar salad to start and a beef shank that had apparently been slow-cooked since Mussolini. The description said “hearty tomato and white wine sauce,” and he could practically hear Sinatra warming up in the kitchen.
There was also some drink special—vodka pink lemonade fizz. Ridiculous. Intriguing, but ridiculous. He wasn’t about to start drinking like a cheerleader on a field trip. But maybe.
As he debated, a waitress floated by carrying the Ossobuco special to another table. The plate was massive. It looked like she was hauling an entire cow, bones and all. He figured she must’ve been secretly bench-pressing in the back. Strong girl. Good posture.
Still, he stuck to the plan: spaghetti Bolognese. Comfort is comfort, and that’s comfort.
They brought out a complimentary bun before the meal. Warm. Fresh. Baked to an almost criminal softness. It reminded him of the first time he touched a girl’s skin—her name was Diane, and she smelled like spearmint and trouble. That bun had no business being that tender.
The meal arrived. The old man loved it. Every bite. He ordered another glass of wine and let the hours slip by. The music was just right—some soft, unhurried jazz that made time seem optional—and he watched the staff move, admired their hustle, their grit, the way they didn’t miss a damn thing.
He also peeked at other people’s orders. How could he not? It’s human nature, like rubbernecking at a car crash or checking someone else’s shopping cart in line at the grocery store.
Eventually, it was time. Time to leave The Garden of Italy. Time to get horizontal and pretend sleep came easy. Work would come early, and early, well… early always took its sweet time arriving.
Filomena
Been at this restaurant many times... Yet to have a bad experience. 👍 Great survive and great food.
D Man
This is pretty good pasta. Had three different pasta and alle dente. Three different sauces and all well done. Pretty happy.
Brandi Rice
Very cozy little spot. We've been here multiple times and have always had amazing food. Servers were prompt and place has always been busy when we've visited, usually later in the evenings as well. Food is superb, large portions and fairly priced. We will continue to keep returning.
Ali Sheikh
Amazing food one of the best halal italian restaurant in calgary
Randy Pompetti
What a fantastic Italian restaurant! So glad I stopped here for supper. Absolutely love the atmosphere. Soft music playing in the background so diners can actually carry on conversations (coming back tomorrow with group of 6). Food and service were most definitely 5 star. This is now my go to Italian restaurant when I’m in Calgary.
Crystal
Everything was just okay. I ordered pasta with chicken but the chicken taste nothing which was disappointing.
Aliya Asad
It was great experience going there amazing place and food as well the service was very good and quick as well. Love the food 🥘
Denise
Great food, lovely staff. The ambience is lacking just due to the strip mall set-up but the food made up for it.
Wow! Our preference is to visit mom and pop / family run restaurants - this is one not to miss. The food was incredible, you can taste the authenticity. The service was excellent…friendly and fast. Skip the franchise food and visit this place!
Mohan Raj
Overall Recommended (Yes / 50-50 / No): No Cuisine: Italian Options: Veg and Non-Veg Taste: 2, not great Artificial colors used: No Cleanliness: 2 (Washrooms were not clean) Cost: $$$ Ambience: 3 Music: No Waiting / Reservation: Generally Not Required Seating: 3 - Indoor, Comfortable, Decent Seating Capacity: approx 60-75 Air Conditioned: Yes Staff: 4 - Friendly Service: Yes Washrooms: Yes Dine: Dine-In and Takeaway Parking: Street parking within the shopping center Valet Parking: No Alcohol: Yes Pet friendly: -Not Sure- Physically challenged friendly: Yes
Ludmila Manweiler
Delicious 😋
TajMailBox
Very bad service. Non courteous. For 200$ /over 6 people including children bill they charge 18% compulsory tip , but for a plastic bag to take leftover food they want money . Waitress are rude and do not give space. Will never come back.
Food was excellent and the server was kind and responsive. Coming from out of the area we were surprised at the value of the meal.
“The Softness of Bread”
By K.A. Hill’McPherson
Alone, tired, hungry, and—just for good measure—lonely. The old man sat at a table in an Italian restaurant called The Garden of Italy, which sounded vaguely like a travel brochure and exactly like the kind of place that served fettuccine with confidence.
He’d worked hard that day. Not the noble, salt-of-the-earth kind of hard, either—just the slow, dragging kind that makes ten hours feel like sixty years, or maybe the other way around. Either way, the math didn’t matter. The work was done, and he was still standing. Barely.
The staff moved with military precision—waiters and waitresses floating by like they’d trained with ballerinas and espresso machines. Not one of them dropped a fork or gave the wrong smile. He’d never seen such commitment in restaurant folk. They treated the whole operation like a mission from God, or at least Mario Batali.
The hostess, all grace and hustle, seated him in a booth like he was royalty. Tired royalty, maybe a duke of sore joints and thinning patience.
The wine list came first, as it always does in these places, as if to say, Let’s fix your heart before we feed it. One thing caught his eye—a Giusti Merlot from Veneto. Nine ounces. Of course. Just one. He lied to himself so fast it nearly counted as optimism. Just one would be enough. It never was, but the lie helped him feel like he was still in control of something. Health, maybe. Or narrative.
The wine arrived. It was fantastic. Perfect, actually. And he hated that word, but there it was.
The menu followed, along with a little postcard advertising the evening special. Ossobuco. Came with a Caesar salad to start and a beef shank that had apparently been slow-cooked since Mussolini. The description said “hearty tomato and white wine sauce,” and he could practically hear Sinatra warming up in the kitchen.
There was also some drink special—vodka pink lemonade fizz. Ridiculous. Intriguing, but ridiculous. He wasn’t about to start drinking like a cheerleader on a field trip. But maybe.
As he debated, a waitress floated by carrying the Ossobuco special to another table. The plate was massive. It looked like she was hauling an entire cow, bones and all. He figured she must’ve been secretly bench-pressing in the back. Strong girl. Good posture.
Still, he stuck to the plan: spaghetti Bolognese. Comfort is comfort, and that’s comfort.
They brought out a complimentary bun before the meal. Warm. Fresh. Baked to an almost criminal softness. It reminded him of the first time he touched a girl’s skin—her name was Diane, and she smelled like spearmint and trouble. That bun had no business being that tender.
The meal arrived. The old man loved it. Every bite. He ordered another glass of wine and let the hours slip by. The music was just right—some soft, unhurried jazz that made time seem optional—and he watched the staff move, admired their hustle, their grit, the way they didn’t miss a damn thing.
He also peeked at other people’s orders. How could he not? It’s human nature, like rubbernecking at a car crash or checking someone else’s shopping cart in line at the grocery store.
Eventually, it was time. Time to leave The Garden of Italy. Time to get horizontal and pretend sleep came easy. Work would come early, and early, well… early always took its sweet time arriving.
Been at this restaurant many times... Yet to have a bad experience. 👍 Great survive and great food.
This is pretty good pasta. Had three different pasta and alle dente. Three different sauces and all well done. Pretty happy.
Very cozy little spot. We've been here multiple times and have always had amazing food. Servers were prompt and place has always been busy when we've visited, usually later in the evenings as well. Food is superb, large portions and fairly priced. We will continue to keep returning.
Amazing food one of the best halal italian restaurant in calgary
What a fantastic Italian restaurant! So glad I stopped here for supper. Absolutely love the atmosphere. Soft music playing in the background so diners can actually carry on conversations (coming back tomorrow with group of 6). Food and service were most definitely 5 star. This is now my go to Italian restaurant when I’m in Calgary.
Everything was just okay. I ordered pasta with chicken but the chicken taste nothing which was disappointing.
It was great experience going there amazing place and food as well the service was very good and quick as well. Love the food 🥘
Great food, lovely staff. The ambience is lacking just due to the strip mall set-up but the food made up for it.
Restaurantji Recommends
Wow! Our preference is to visit mom and pop / family run restaurants - this is one not to miss. The food was incredible, you can taste the authenticity. The service was excellent…friendly and fast.
Skip the franchise food and visit this place!
Overall
Recommended (Yes / 50-50 / No): No
Cuisine: Italian
Options: Veg and Non-Veg
Taste: 2, not great
Artificial colors used: No
Cleanliness: 2 (Washrooms were not clean)
Cost: $$$
Ambience: 3
Music: No
Waiting / Reservation: Generally Not Required
Seating: 3 - Indoor, Comfortable, Decent
Seating Capacity: approx 60-75
Air Conditioned: Yes
Staff: 4 - Friendly
Service: Yes
Washrooms: Yes
Dine: Dine-In and Takeaway
Parking: Street parking within the shopping center
Valet Parking: No
Alcohol: Yes
Pet friendly: -Not Sure-
Physically challenged friendly: Yes
Delicious 😋
Very bad service. Non courteous. For 200$ /over 6 people including children bill they charge 18% compulsory tip , but for a plastic bag to take leftover food they want money .
Waitress are rude and do not give space.
Will never come back.
Great food and amazing service
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