Edmonton Eats Blog

For those of you who feel like hitting up an Italian restaurant in Edmonton but are bewildered and baffled by all the fine Italian choices, this post is for you. Simply figure out what sort of mood you are in and I’ll choose for you.

I would rather have great food than hear the person across from me

PiccoLino Bistro – The only thing louder than the boisterous Italian customers at PiccoLino’s are the staff. This is not a bad thing. The energy and passion at this family owned restaurant is readily apparent and this comes across in its food. Simple, affordable and incredibly delicious - there is a reason why this place is consistently packed every day of the week. Get your dinner conversation out of the way before you head to PiccoLino’s (and if you need, tell your date to turn her hearing aid down, I won’t judge) because you’ll likely be too busy eating and listening to the sounds of lively Italians.

I feel like the best pasta in the city with a possible side order of attitude

Nello’s – You have to be on your dining game when going to Nello’s. The food is undeniably delicious and the pasta portions are enormous. I cannot think of another place that nails food quantity and quality as much as Nello’s. However, there are no reservations for parties under 6 people and getting a table can be tough. On weekends you’ll be stuck waiting at the bar for 20 minutes after 6pm. Cluttering up the inside double door of the restaurant are shabbily drawn signs warning patrons of their “policies.” No split bills, not hats in the dining room…be certain it is Nello’s way or the highway. Nevertheless, if you are in the mood for pasta there is nothing better.

I am already in a relationship, have nobody to impress, and don’t care what my breath smells like at the end of the night

That’s Aroma – Self proclaimed “The Garlic Restaurant”, That’s Aroma worships the stinking rose (the first time I heard this phrase I thought it meant something COMPLETELY different, boy was I embarrassed). Almost every item on the menu features garlic and suffice to say, this is not the place to go when hoping to hit the late night oyster bar, if you know what I mean… and you probably don’t. As the only garlic restaurant in Edmonton (well there are actually two locations now, Hy’s Centre and the south side) you don’t have a lot of options for a straight garlic fix, but That’s Aroma usually delivers.

I don’t like to go out at night and don’t have a lot of money

Marcello’s – Whenever I am wandering around downtown at lunchtime cursing the lack of quality fast food options, more often than not I turn to my old friend, Marcello’s. If restaurants were dogs and I was a shepherd, Marcello’s would be my Old English Sheepdog. Take THAT Shakespeare. Marcello’s boasts an unusually diverse lunchtime buffet and its pay by the weight of your food system allows both anorexics and gluttons to go away happy. Keeping in mind that this is a fast food buffet, the quality of the food is surprisingly high and I rarely find myself thoroughly disgusted by my choices.

Agree or disagree with my choices? FINE! Visit Edmonton Eats and write your own review then!

Tags: Edmonton, Italian, Restaurants

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