The many crostini dishes or bread-and-dip tapas pair well with the relaxed atmosphere, especially the wild mushroom ragout ($12), which mixes a blend of wild mushrooms in a creamy brandy sauce with bread chunks for dipping. It’s thick and heavy, so share it with friends among lighter foods, such as the seafood, sausage and vegetables mix ($14). Served in a bath of white balsamic, this dish mixes calamari, scallops and shrimp with slices of chorizo, onions and bell peppers.
On the way out, buy one of its fresh-baked goods, such as a gourmet scone ($3.50) or an icing-slathered coconut cookie ($3). (21 Perron St., St. Albert, 780-569-5218) – Omar Mouallem
Family Recipes
Rocco and Rosa Pellettieri, originally from southern Italy, opened Luisa Ristorante in St. Albert in 2003. The archetypal family restaurant is named after their daughter and even sees their son, Joey, serving and Rocco’s brother, Raffaele, as a chef.
Luisa has become a city favourite with its homemade recipes, such as Rosa’s special ricotta ravioli ($14.95), a dish that hails from the family’s native region, Basilicata. The dish is topped with homemade tomato sauce, and the creamy cheese is a mellow counterpart to a side of fiercely spicy Italian sausage ($3.50 extra), made by Ital Canadian Meats. A perennial pasta favourite, the spaghetti Bolognese ($14.95) is served al dente with rich, savoury tomato sauce. With any of the pasta dishes, you can add a side of sausage or handmade meatballs for a few extra dollars, though the oregano-spiced meatballs are so large, they’re practically a meal by themselves.
Another dish with heat is the fettucini piccante ($15.95), that mixes prawns and spicy ros sauce, which is undisruptive at first. But after you have a few bites and sips of white wine, perhaps a Chardonnay, it perks up and does a little soft-shoe on your taste buds.
Before leaving, I recommend trying one more of Rosa’s specials, the tiramisu ($8.95). You can’t help falling for the silky mix of coffee, chocolate sauce, strawberries and mint. It tastes so light, it’s got to be deceptive. (8 Perron St., 780-458-6749)
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