Recently I attended a comedy show where the opening bit was about Calgary’s downtown and how it was quite quiet in comparison to other cities, but that’s because they didn’t know where to look. There are pockets of activity in our city and if you’re not in the know then you’ll be missing out. People who live here know that 17th Ave is one of those places and with all the new restaurants and shops that are constantly opening on the street, it’s no wonder that Calgarians flock here to get their fill of the scenery. Recently opened in this area includes Bread and Circus Trattoria, right next to Una Pizza and in the front of Frenchie Wine Bar. An awesome location so I couldn’t wait to go check it out!
Atmosphere: A warm and intimate dining room showcasing delicious plates that are perfect for sharing.
Price Range: Mid $10s - $20+
Food & Wine: There were so many different dishes that I wanted to try it was hard to decide what to order and we ended up with mostly antipasti plates since they were perfect for sharing so we could try a number of different dishes. To start we had the Egg Yolk Ravioli made with roasted pumpkin, pecorino romano and topped with pine nuts and a brown butter sauce. I highly recommend ordering one per person or maybe even two because you definitely want a whole ravioli to yourself. The pasta has a perfect chew and is complimented well with the creaminess of the pumpkin filling.
The Puttanesca On Toast with blistered cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, white anchovy, poached egg on sourdough toast presented a wonderful combination of savory flavours. The tartness and sweetness of the tomatoes elevates the dish along with the saltiness of the anchovy. Everything just comes together nicely one bite after another.
We were also treated to the Taleggio Stuffed Gnocchi with mushroom and pickled mustard seed puree, crispy prosciutto and lemon zest. It was originally a specialty dish that made it on the menu! I hope they bring this one back, the taleggio along with the mustard seed puree made for a delicious flavour contrast. Not often do you see stuffed gnocchi on the menu so this was a treat. I would suggest ordering it if you ever see it back on their menu.
To lighten things up a bit we ordered the Caesar Salad served with a head of romaine lettuce, dill, Caesar dressing, toasted croutons and parmigiano Reggiano. The dill was a nice addition, not something I would have thought went in to a Caesar salad, but it provided an additional flavour kick along with the croutons and prosciutto it made for a nice break from our other dishes.
For dessert we ordered the Zeppole stuffed with chocolate coffee custard. If you’ve never had a zeppole before you don’t know what you’re missing. They’re amazing fluffy little Italian donuts served with different sauces, in this case a chocolate coffee custard. I could literally eat these all night they were amazing and the coffee custard inside was perfection!
Bread and Circus offers a wonderful selection of wine and cocktails to pair with your meal. If you’re not sure what to order, don’t be afraid to ask your server as they’ve always got some great suggestions!
Overall: The food here was delightful and is a perfect extension of Una. The dishes here are a perfect addition to the 17th Ave scene. I thoroughly enjoyed the ones that I had the opportunity to taste and am looking forward to going back to try more (eyeing the Chicken Liver already which I’ve heard is divine). So for those that know where to look, Calgary is not the quiet town but instead a bustling city with an amazing food scene and culture.
Bread and Circus Trattoria
616 17 Ave SW
Calgary, AB
(403) 476-3615
Website: breadandcircusyyc.com
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