Divino Wine Cheese Bistro -  Calgary,

Divino Wine Cheese Bistro, a part of Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts (CRMR) family of companies, first opened its doors in 1984 as a cozy 30-seat restaurant located in downtown Calgary's Grain Exchange building. Since then, Divino has moved to the historic Calgary Wine and Spirits building on Stephen Avenue. I had been wanting to visit ever since I stayed at CRMR's Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff back in 1994. I finally had the opportunity a few weeks ago during a business trip that brought me to Calgary and north of Fort McMurray. As expected, the fine dining experience at Divino was a bit pricey, even with my expense account. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the lively atmosphere, comfortable seating in the back, attentive service, and delicious, beautifully presented food. The restaurant also boasts one of the best wine lists I have seen in Calgary. I was in charge of selecting wines for our group, as they assumed that living in Northern California made me knowledgeable about wine. However, I was surprised by the high cost of decent bottles and the limited selection of good Canadian wines on the list. Hopefully, I will have the chance to return soon, perhaps at the Emerald Lake Lodge with Gayle.

I have visited this restaurant for both lunch and dinner several times. I particularly enjoy the gnocchi and have tried all of the pasta dishes on the menu - they are delicious!!! The portion sizes are just right. One evening, I shared the black pepper linguini and a hangar steak with a friend, along with an appetizer. It was enough food for both of us. The service is excellent and the staff is knowledgeable about the ingredients in the dishes. The restaurant has a quiet atmosphere, making it ideal for having conversations at a comfortable volume without feeling like you are in a loud club. The overall ambiance is dark wood, relaxed, and classy, with an adult feel that is not pretentious. I appreciate this a lot. This is a perfect spot for a date night, anniversary celebration, or after-work gatherings. Enjoy!!!

We were unsure where to go for dinner and drinks on Friday night, so our hotel recommended this place. I am so glad they did! It was around 6:30pm and we were able to easily find a cozy table at the back of the restaurant. The ambiance was intimate with dim lighting and small tables, making it perfect for a romantic date night. The wine list was extensive, and our server was fantastic in helping us choose both reds and whites to taste. We also enjoyed creating our own cheese board from their selection, with our server providing great recommendations on pairings. The cheese came with freshly baked bread that had a hint of cinnamon, although it didn't quite match one of the cheeses we selected. You can even purchase the cheese to take home. For my entree, I had the hazelnut crusted halibut with pea and mushroom risotto, and it was absolutely delicious. The halibut was cooked perfectly, and the risotto was full of amazing flavors. If I ever find myself in Calgary again, I would definitely return to this restaurant for dinner or just to enjoy their wine and cheese selection.

I learned about the interesting history of Divino during a Calgary Ghost Tour, so when a gf suggested having a group dinner there I figured Why not? The four of us arrived during peak dining time on a weeknight, and it was pretty packed so I took that as a good sign. We were seated near the open concept kitchen and got to see (and smell! all the delicious creations whiz past us as we pondered on the menu. In the mood for wine (what a perfect place to be! , our waiter brought over their house sommelier who was not only knowledgeable but super helpful and friendly! He helped us settle on the Kruger Rumpf Riesling (FYI a must try! We got the Tempura Haricot vert to share (seriously, could have just ordered a few of these for my meal , my entrée was the rougie duck breast (served with gingered spaghetti squash, potato confit and raspberry jus while the other girls got the lamb sirloin, seafood spaghettini and lobster ravioli. At first glance, you think the portions are small but once you start devouring your food, the richness takes over and you realize the portions are just right. My duck was succulent and the ginger and raspberry were perfect accents. All of you know my reservations about lamb, but I snuck a bite and was glad I did! The mint and red current jus did wonders on the lamb! Too full for dessert, I did ask to look at the cheese menu (what a huge variety! so I know what to look forward to the next time I 'm here and trust me, I will be back!

Delicious! I went to Divino and I was very impressed. The food, the decor and the service were all top notch. I had the Lobster Cannelloni, and omigod it was so good. The pasta was fresh and light and fluffy, the lobster fresh and flavourful and the rest of the filling cheesy and delicious. The bisque it was served in was really delicious. Very yummy. My companions had a salad, chestnut stuffed ravioli and more lobster canneloni respectively, and they all raved too. The service was great, from arrival to leaving. Our server was prompt and aware, always refilling glasses and asking if we needed anything without being intrusive. The cuisine is all italian (obviously), with a ton of different pastas and some good looking meat dishes. The lunch prices were a little up there in price, but it was pure deliciousness. I had a decent little cappucino after dinner. I'll definitely be back.