The dining scene in Calgary’s Lake Bonavista neighbourhood has just received a flavourful new fine-dining experience inspired by the rich, bountiful flavours of Northern Italian kitchens.
La Torino Trattoria is the passion project of Chef Binu, whose culinary journey began in Dubai and evolved further after immigrating to Canada, where he quickly became enveloped by Calgary’s flourishing culinary industry.
After years of dedicated labour and a particular penchant for the “rich heritage of Italian cooking”, Chef Binu has collected his experience – and expansive catalogue of family recipes – to open Calgary’s newest fine-dining Italian restaurant. And for those living in the city’s southwest quadrant, it’s only a short drive away.
La Torino, named for a capital city in Northern Italy, embraces the classic trattoria style of dining. Chef Binu creates an environment that is welcoming, casual, and focused on showcasing the freshness and modest simplicity of Italian cuisine – just as it’s done by nonnas in the northern countryside.
Guided by heritage, Chef Binu’s family recipes are executed with traditional Italian techniques and the freshest farm-to-table produce. And with his evident passion for the craft, if something can be made from scratch at La Torino Trattoria, you can bet that it is.
La Torino Trattoria Hosts a Media Dinner for Calgary’s Community
Ahead of their grand opening on November 22nd, La Torino Trattoria invited members of Calgary’s media and food community to experience a three-course dinner guided by Chef Binu.
In addition to showcasing the rich and authentic flavours of Chef Binu’s menu, the evening also highlighted a comforting sense of hospitality, making us all feel like family long before the first plates arrived.
The night began with a warm, in-person welcome from the dedicated people behind La Torino’s grand opening. Guests were then invited to mingle in the dining space, where comfort and rusticity blend with the simple elegance of fine dining.
With soft lighting, wooden accents, and photos of rural Italy adorning the walls, the space felt like being welcomed into the chef’s home for dinner. From there, conversation flowed just as effortlessly as our complementary mocktails, and before long, everyone was eagerly anticipating the first bites.
For the first course, we were served Veal Meatballs with Grana Padano and a Caprese Salad with Buffalo Mozzarella (made in-house) and Almond Pesto.
Swimming in a rich, savoury tomato sauce, the Veal Meatballs were juicy and perfectly seasoned. The Buffalo Mozzarella on the Caprese Salad had the delicate, fluffy texture of burrata and was also well-seasoned. Fresh tomato slices were sweet and crisp, pairing beautifully with the Almond Pesto’s buttery flavour.
For the main course, we were served both a Striploin with Roasted Seasonal Vegetables and a Chilean Seabass with Pea Risotto.
Both dishes were charmingly simple, yet every element on the plate had clearly been executed with care and passion. We ordered the Striploin mid-rare, and cutting into the caramelized, char-grilled crust revealed a perfectly warm-pink centre that had everyone swooning.
The highlight, in my opinion, was the Chilean Seabass. Its lightly crisped exterior gave way like butter to reveal decadently flaky, opaque layers. Because the fish was cooked with such precision, no marinade or heavy sauce was necessary (and if there was one, it certainly didn’t overpower). Subtle sweetness and umami were the most detectable flavours, and when paired with the earthy, savoury Pea Risotto, everything came together seamlessly.
For dessert, we enjoyed a Tiramisu with Mascarpone Masala Mousse and a Baked Lemon Cheesecake.
I must preface by saying that, for me, dessert is generally an afterthought. But these two selections, hand-made by La Torino Trattoria’s talented pastry chef, had me rethinking my savoury biases.
Although the lemon cheesecake was one of the best I’ve had in Calgary, my favourite was still the Tiramisu. Served in a cocktail glass and dusted with a generous layer of dark chocolate, the Mascarpone layer was tangy, modestly sweet, and luxuriously textured without being too heavy.
Throughout the evening, we were fortunate to experience Chef Binu’s hospitality, commitment to authenticity, and beloved family recipes. And as we concluded, one thing became clear: La Torino stands poised to become a crowd-favourite dining destination in South Calgary for traditional, high-end Italian cuisine.
La Torino Trattoria is now open for reservations and walk-ins at their location on Lake Fraser Drive.
