Dolce Sapori
1147 Kensington Cr. N.W., upstairs, Calgary
(403) 283-7793
Rating: ****
Signature dish: Veal chop
Signature drink: Grappa
Dinner & drinks for 2: $85
Eating out in a large group is a precarious undertaking. Will a restaurant have enough variety for everyone’s tastes? Get the orders right? Serve everything at the same time?
Dolce Sapori solves all those snags with family-style Italian platters, attentive service and a workable welcoming room.
A long plate of Caprese salad ($18.95) is a beautiful starter with creamy buffalo mozzarella and ripe tomatoes with basil.
Crunchy slices of Bosc pear play against salty blossoms of prosciutto ($18.95) full of whipped gorgonzola cheese blended with roasted garlic.
By the time we passed around the heaping bowl of spaghetti alla pomodoro ($16.95), conversation and good vibes were in full swing.
Gigantic ravioli ($24.95), stuffed with sweet butternut squash, mascarpone and pistachios, are cleaned off our plates along with the burnt butter sauce. No one passes up butter sauce.
A substantial veal chop ($37.95) busts onto the table like that gregarious favourite uncle.
Chicken breast wrapped in pancetta, stuffed with prunes and dried figs, and baked in a tomato espresso sauce ($22.95) leads to me start believing that poultry isn’t boring.
It’s full circle for chef Domenic Tudda who used to live here with his family, above what’s was Stromboli’s and is now Pulcinella. With Dolce Sapori upstairs, he returns to simple, hearty dishes that bring people together.
Dining out
Opa!
Be fed and entertained at Calypso Taverna (2101 Centre St. NW) this Sunday. A $25 ticket brings you a Greek celebration of roast pork, lamb, moussaka – and live dancers. Call (403) 250-5533 for reservations.
Farm brunch
Farm (1006-17th Ave. SW) now serves brunch on weekends 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Menu varies daily with emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients.
Eat East Indian
A Calgary-based company has launched eateastindian.com, a directory of Indian restaurants in Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
