Come taste a savory creation at Bonterra Restaurant Ltd. They are open late all week. You can get there not only by public transit but also by bicycle. They are in a vibrant area recognized for its nightlife.
Established at the start of this century, Bonterra Trattoria ushered in a new era for Italian dining in Calgary. Inspired by the food and culture of the Italian province of Tuscany, the restaurant embraces the Tuscan zest for life in its menu, ambiance and atmosphere.
“The smells are amazing,” says Curtis Gallinger, general manager since 2008. “Working here is pretty awesome. Everyday, there is the garlic, braising meats and breads.” Irresistible scents waft from house-made focaccia, lamb shank and veal stew. The restaurant's delectable dishes are made with meats raised by local ranchers and herbs and spices grown by urban gardeners. Bonterra chefs operate in its open kitchen, transforming the ingredients into the equivalent of home-cooked Tuscan meals. The high ceilings with hanging lamps, wood trim, omnipresent bottles of wine and natural light complete this Beltline portal to Italy.
Curtis made his own pilgrimage to Tuscany in 2014 and, apart from being blown away by Italian food, history and generosity, it made him reflect on how the staff at Bonterra does such a great job of paying homage to Tuscany. “The food there is super honest and very rustic. It’s very representational of that region. They eat what they grow," he says.
Bonterra Trattoria is a lovely Italian-style dining room, and, in the warm months, the restaurant’s heart is in its back patio, which has the feel of a Tuscan oasis. With overhead vegetation hanging from the pergola, an outdoor fireplace and heaters that lengthen the eatery’s outdoor-dining season, there is no better place to enjoy a plate of pasta and a fine glass of wine, indoors or out.
Deceptively spacious and casually elegant, Bonterra Trattoria serves beautifully crafted contemporary Italian cuisine at the intersection of Eighth Street and Tenth Avenue Southwest. Its seasonal menu now features mains such as duck breast with date puree and charred broccolini and pork chop with romanesco broccoli, guanciale (crazy-good ham) potatoes and chanterelles. Also new is the mouthwatering steelhead trout in lobster-saffron broth.
Located on the west side of Calgary’s Beltline district, Bonterra Trattoria offers a uniquely contemporary spin on Italian cuisine including a prosciutto-wrapped bison striploin entree. Also recommended is bison carpaccio served with fingerling potatoes. Enjoy your bisonte (who knew there was an Italian word for bison?) in the casual but elegantly styled dining room or out on the Tuscan terrace – weather permitting.