Carlino Restaurant

1115 Alberni St, Vancouver
(604) 695-1115

Recent Reviews

Jeevan Darred

One of the worst service encounters I have ever received at an upscale restaurant - will not ever visit again. Also, if you're gluten-free or vegan, skip this place altogether. In mid March, my family and I made a reservation to go here for my Father's special 60th birthday. We were all happy and looking forward to eating here - however we were not greeted with the same level of joy. Some members of our family have gluten free dietary restrictions, and our server did not accommodate to our questions about the menu and dietary restrictions at all - he just read out the menu like we were stupid. The server and kitchen did nothing to accomodate any gluten free requests.We were overall in a happy mood and tried to have nice light talk with our server and he was just plain obnoxious and had no intent to treat us with any happiness. He had an attitude with us right from the get go and completely ruined our mood for the evening. Throughout the night, our servers changed and there was a lapse in service as a result and they did not even let us know. The restaurant made no effort to cater to our special evening (even after we mentioned and notified the restaurant it was our fathers 60th). They offered us a "birthday platter" at the end which ended up being 4 very hard crackers that were not gluten-free. I advised the server of our dissatisfaction and they told me the manager would follow up with me after I provided my number. I have yet to receive that follow up.The food was nothing to rave about - there are definitely much better Italian restaurants with much better service, taste, and menu accommodation for similar prices around. Not worth the time and price.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 1

Ricky Drake

From the moment my colleagues and I decided to host our company off-site gathering at Carlino in Vancouver, I had high expectations, and I'm delighted to say they were not just met, but surpassed. The ambiance of Carlino offers a warm embrace, with its elegantly arranged seating and the comforting glow of the fireplace where I had the pleasure of dining. This cozy spot by the fire became the stage for an unforgettable evening filled with culinary delights, laughter, and exceptional service.The food was nothing short of wonderful, each dish artfully presented and bursting with flavors that speak of the chef's skill and the kitchen's commitment to quality ingredients. The wine selection complemented our meal perfectly, enhancing the overall dining experience with each perfectly paired sip.What truly set this experience apart were our servers, Georgio and Sara. Their professionalism, warmth, and genuine interest in ensuring we had the best time made our gathering feel personal and special. Georgio's recommendations were spot-on, leading us through a culinary journey that excited the palate, while Sara's attentive service ensured our glasses were never empty and our spirits high.In summary, Carlino not only served as a fantastic venue for our company off-site but also provided an experience that will be cherished and talked about for a long time. The combination of exquisite food, an inviting atmosphere, and stellar service from Georgio and Sara made our night memorable. I highly recommend Carlino to anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience in Vancouver. Whether for a corporate event, a special occasion, or a casual night out, Carlino is a choice that will not disappoint.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Cassandra Paterson

Really great food. The service was amazing. Loved everything we ordered! So flavorful. The decor and ambiance are fabulous. Someone in my group has celiac, and our waitress was very accommodating and helpful. I will be back again!Dietary restrictions: Very accomodating for celiac. Had lots of GF options.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Casarecce Al Pesto

Gary Hendricks

A very nice meal in a neutral atmosphere. My entre was on the side. Our waiter had fantastic wine pairing suggestions.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Mushroom Risotto, Risotto

Elizabeth Liu

We have been loyal fans of the Shangri-La Hotel for over 10 years. We love the distinctive decor style and delicious food. The newly renovated Carlino restaurant is even more cozy and comfortable. What we particularly love about this place is not only the delicious food but also the exceptional service from waitress Vana. Every time we come here, we see her busy figure and smile. As citizens of Vancouver and long-time customers of the restaurant, we are especially grateful for the efforts of the entire team. We will continue to support Shangri-La as always.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bigoli Al Nero, Risotto, Pane Della Casa & Marinated Olives

Harshitha Jampani

Limited vegetarian optionsDrinks we ordered with passion fruit and vodka is really goodBut the portion and and taste of the appetizer and entree are not worthy of the priceDecided not to order dessertVery nice service thoughAmbience is decentVegetarian options: Limited

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Mushroom Risotto

金澤誉(HOMARE)

When I arrived at 11 o'clock, there was no space left, so I was seated right away, and my order was immediately delivered to me! I had Vongole Pasta! The cookedness of the clams and pasta was really good ? I would like to stop by again when I come to Canada! Thank you for the meal.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Grace

Excellent! Loved the tasting menu. Great service. Lobster pasta is a must eat.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

julia S

Me and my friend haven’t seen each other in awhile we were looking for a fun elegant restaurant and unfortunately the staff didn’t make this happen. First of all for the price range, the food was under cooked and when we told the manager he gave off a very rude and unsettling nature that made us uncomfortable. We mentioned that the pasta was hard and he was arguing saying no that’s the way we cook it and I am the manager and I asked you how food was and you didn’t mention this… after he said that my friend quickly responded with saying “we took pictures we haven’t even tried the food when you asked that” I’m Italian and I can tell you that this was not traditional pastaThat’s probably why nobody was in here.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Valerio.Furuta Family

When staying overnight in Vancouver, we usually have lunch at Carlino's before travelling back home. Although the quality of the food and service had previously ranged from good to very good, this time there was a noticeable decline in both.To accompany our antipasto, we ordered olives and bread. The olives were described on the menu as marinated in lemon and herbs, but were completely tasteless, as if the marinade had just been applied. In addition, the bread was stale.Our main antipasto was Frico, which although good in the past, this time it was far too thick and the distribution of potatoes was not even, with them being placed only in the centre of the Frico.The next two courses included gnocchi and then sablefish, both of which were so salty that it was difficult to appreciate the other ingredients in the dishes.For dessert, we chose a combination of gelato and sorbetto. When it arrived, we discovered that the one of the chosen flavours, yuzu, was inexplicably replaced with coffee, and so it had to be returned to the kitchen for replacement.The service problems included having dishes served to us without any serving cutlery, and new courses delivered to us while the dirty dishes from the previous course were left behind until we called someone back to remove them.Considering that this is the only restaurant in an otherwise outstanding five-star hotel, it would appear that some additional diligence is badly needed in the kitchen and on the floor to sustain an acceptable standard.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 3

Junelia May Ambos

We came in to celebrate my cousins birthday and it was one of the best dining experience that we had! From the warm greeting right when you arrive to the restaurant to the full service experience the entire time!Our servers are amazing and made sure our needs are met.We all ordered Fai Tu! I highly recommend it as you get to taste different dishes instead of ordering one big portion

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Linh Nguyen

This is the perfect place for an upscale, yet cozy and intimate dinner. I absolutely loved this place when I visited last year for the first time and have been back a total of four times since… I figured it’s time to leave a review as my experience has always been 10/10.The food and drinks are all insanely good. There’s a great variety of meats, seafood, and vegetarian options, and they are great portions. I do suggest sharing so you can try more dishes! Must try’s are the squid ink pasta, as well as the pesto pasta if you are a pesto fan. The sablefish is amazingly balanced in flavour and perfectly cooked. If you can fit in dessert, the tiramisu is melt in your mouth.As for service, the team is like a well oiled machine. Although the restaurant is usually full, the entire team on the floor is attentive to each and every table. Every server is knowledgeable of the menu and very friendly and easygoing. Lisa Lisa Lisa, special s/o to her as I happened to have her as a server each time I visited! She’s the cherry on top to making my dinners a memorable experience here. Today, we had Ryan as a server, and he was on par with the service I now look forward to, beyond the amazing food at Carlino. This is by far my favourite pasta place in Vancouver.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Maxwell MacLean

Fai Tu -

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Eleni Anthony

The cocktails were amazing. The wine was amazing. The food, also amazing. Not to mention it's absolutely beautiful inside.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Barbara Reichart

The food was amazing (the lemon ricotta cheesecake was next level), but the service was the real star - they paced the meal to perfection and worked as a team to take care of our table. Will absolutely be back next time I am in Vancouver!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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