For me, every restaurant starts out with an unspoken score of 100 per cent. My approach to dining is hopeful — I pray for good food, decent service and a little something special.
Our trip to Calgary’s Famoso Pizza (there are four locations in Edmonton) starts off well. There is a reasonable five-to-10 minute wait and then we’re seated at a communal table — not my first choice, but it isn’t entirely bad. I’m just not all that communal.
The space is welcoming, featuring tall ceilings with lovely wooden light fixtures and a mix of brick and wood throughout. The colour scheme focuses on chocolate, orange and white. It’s cheerful without being garish.
During our wait, the manager lets us know that Famoso offers “fast, casual service” (insert me laughing to myself here). I ask what it’s all about. Apparently it’s not a new type of lame business apparel, but rather a serving style that has diners making the first move. First, you are seated at a numbered table. When ready to order, you approach the counter and afterwards you receive regular table service.
Sounds fine, right? Wrong.
He also tells us that Famoso pizzas only take 90 seconds to cook in the 480 C fire oven imported from Italy. Impressive, but it left me wondering what I should be ordering on my trip to the counter? Everything? Or just drinks and appetizers? His advice is to go with our starters and order pizza after. Sounds straightforward, but what if we hadn’t asked?
Getting ready for the foray to the counter, we decide on our drinks and appetizers. One thing I like is the wine list. If you want to bring your own, the corkage fee is $15 on any given night. If you want a bottle from the Famoso list, the price is retail plus $15. None of this double-plus pricing. Finally, someone in Calgary gets it.
As I head up to the counter there is a lineup, and I think to myself: “I’m standing in line to order a $13 glass of wine, a $12 salad and a $10 starter. WTF?” Not only that, but the man ahead of me is ordering before he’s even been seated. C’mon man! You still have your jacket on.
Fast casual aside, the walnut and gorgonzola salad (large, $12) is awesome. Romaine leaves topped with creamy chunks of gorgonzola, dried cranberries and crushed walnuts offer contrasting flavours and tasty bites.
We also order the prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella balls (three for $10). I like this dish, which combines my favourite things (meat and cheese) into one tasty sphere. Served with a zingy Campania sauce and fresh pizza crust, the appetizer is a savoury delight. Bring on the pizza!
Inspired by the fire-roasted pizzas of Naples, the Famoso menu boasts authentic-style Neapolitan standards plus new-school selections. With top-notch ingredients such as low-gluten Italian flour and whole milk mozzarella, these pies aim to please.
We go with the Vesuvio ($14.50) — a hot and spicy number featuring basil, cracked red pepper and sopresseta (spicy salami). It’s great, a little on the spicy side for my boyfriend, but I love the heat. The sauce isn’t too acidic or sweet, and the crust is awesome — a great blend of crispy and soft.
And from there it goes downhill. We want to order one of Famoso’s 10 gelatos for dessert, but after waiting over 30 minutes, we decide to get our bill and leave. And therein lies the problem. With no dedicated server, there is no dedicated service. As the manager does shots with the people beside us, we stand up and head out. Another great meal lost to shitty service. Famoso ends up with a 60 per cent on my unspoken scoreboard.
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