Villa Firenze

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Family Story Three Generations in the Making

The Tudda family arrived in Calgary in the summer of 1954, and their passion for traditional Italian cooking quickly became an open secret among family and friends. That enthusiasm eventually grew into a small pizzeria, then into Stromboli Inn in 1972 — a Kensington institution known for its home cooking and warm welcome. In 1991, Joe and Teresa Tudda, along with their children Pina, Peter, Marianne, and Domenic, opened Villa Firenze. Today, Joe's grandson Tony Nicastro runs the restaurant, carrying forward recipes that have been lovingly guarded and handed down across decades.

When the family says "when you are under our roof, around our table, we think of you as family," it isn't a tagline — it's the operating principle that has kept guests returning to this Bridgeland address for over thirty years.

Rustic Italian Cuisine, Made from Scratch

Everything on the menu is made in house. The pastas, sausages, sauces, dressings, and desserts are prepared on site daily, using fresh, local ingredients. The dinner menu spans the full range of Italian cuisine: soups like a hearty Minestrone or Tortellini in Brodo, antipasti including house-made spicy Calabrese sausage and Gamberetti al Cognac, and a broad selection of baked pastas, hand-made gnocchi, and risotto.

Signature dishes worth noting include the seven-layer Lasagna al Forno — built with mortadella, capicollo ham, and ground veal in a rosé sauce — and the Radiatori con Costine, a slow-braised short rib ragù that speaks to the kitchen's patience. For the table, the Bistecca Fiorentina alla Vigna, a 70oz Porterhouse requiring 45–60 minutes of preparation, is offered for groups of four or more. The signature Portobello Mushroom dish has been a draw since the restaurant opened.

A Wine List That Earned Its Recognition

Italian food and wine are inseparable at Villa Firenze, and the cellar reflects that conviction. With more than 180 wines on the list — a selection that earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — the depth here goes well beyond what most Italian restaurants in Calgary offer. Servers are trained to suggest pairings, and bottles are available for takeout and delivery alongside the full menu.

The Room and the Experience

The dining room strikes a balance between elegance and ease — formal enough for a special occasion, relaxed enough that lunch on a Tuesday feels equally considered. The kitchen serves both lunch and dinner, with the full menu available for takeout and delivery for those who want Villa Firenze's Italian cuisine at home. Catering is also available for events.

For anyone looking for authentic Italian fine dining in Calgary, Villa Firenze is one of the few places where the story behind the food is as substantial as the food itself.