Giorgio's Trattoria, Banff

This place has a lovely atmosphere...it's cozy and warm with lots of round tables and lively chatter. HOWEVER, the food was a huge disappointment. My colleague's penne was tasteless and starchy...I've made better from the box. My spaghetti wasn't too bad, but the clam and white wine sauce was tasteless as well. Usually I'm used to sopping up the sauce with bread, but the sauce wasn't savory at all. Also, tables around us had bread, and when we inquired about it half an hour while we're waiting for our meal, he told us it's 75 cents a person. we were hungry and would have appreciated if he asked if we wanted bread sooner. Lastly, 15 percent gratuity was added automatically, even though service was below average and hardly spectacular at all. Again, it's a nice place, but the food is nothing to write home about.

Have been to Giorgio's about 4 times now and keep on returning. Great food, atmosphere and service. Good kids' menu too. We always enjoy it and have been with large and small groups and always enjoyed an excellent meal. My friend's spaghetti bolognese was the best she's ever tasted and they used to do a fabulous vegetarian roast pumpkin pasta which unfortunately is no longer on the menu. On our last dinner they'd changed the type of bread they serve - used to be superb and was still good but not quite as good. Only down side is that when I last booked they wanted my credit card no. in case of not showing up. I am happy to give phone no. but not credit card no.

Tacky touch - having a greeter out on the street for a restaurant that tries to pass itself off as upscale. The hostess wouldn't seat us at a table that we asked for even though most of the restaurant was empty - there were only two of us and the table we wanted had seating for four. The options we were offered was a table by the stairs, close the washrooms and one upstairs. After a moment's reflection we decided to go elsewhere, and miraculously the hostess was able to seat us at a table for four. The deep fried calamari was soggy and cold and the swordfish was cold too. Pricey, and poor value. Definitely not recommended.

Ambiance and service more than satisfactory. Goat cheese appetizer yummy. The pasta dish "Roselinne" was a vertical lasagne that was average at best. The veal in the Veal Marsala was hastily disguised shoe leather and not worth the $29 fare. These people don't know what veal is. Would not recommend.