What people say about Alforno Bakery & Cafe

Many describe it as reliably good, saying it is 'always good food and good service'¹ and that staff are 'consistently impressed' by², while others report declining or inconsistent results.

Complaints about quality. Some customers found specific dishes off, such as a sandwich 'loaded with too much sauce'³ or a pasta that 'was very bland and tasted mostly like plain tomato paste'⁴. Others noticed a decline over time, saying 'the quality seems to have gone significantly downhill'⁵ or calling the food simply 'eh'⁶. One reviewer called the pizza offensive because the toppings were wrong, noting 'zero arugula'⁷.

Positive consistency. Many reviewers praised the food as dependable, describing it as 'fresh, and full of flavor'⁸ and saying 'the quality and flavor of the food are excellent'⁹. Another simply stated the food was 'delicious with a fun ambiance'¹⁰.

Most customers describe a warm, enjoyable overall experience, with many calling it one of their favourite spots in the city¹ and saying it "never disappoints ever"². The food and coffee are frequently praised, with visitors noting everything was "fresh and delicious"³ and the coffee being excellent⁴. Several reviewers highlight the atmosphere as "warm and welcoming"⁵ and a great place to relax and enjoy a meal⁶.

When things go wrong. One customer said the place made them "wait for about 2 hours for your food and won’t even give us a refund"⁷, while another regular customer reported being served by staff whose "attitude was rude and unfriendly"⁸. Another long-time neighbor complained the cafe is "always out of food and baked goods mid day"⁹, and one reviewer who had stopped by for years said that after "a couple of disappointing experiences" they no longer come here¹⁰.

Most reviewers describe the coffee as good, though one reviewer felt it was "just okay too"¹. Many simply call it "nice place, coffees good"² or say they "loved the coffee as well"³.

Several reviewers highlight specific drinks, with one praising "the pecan brown butter latte, which was excellent"⁴ and another calling it "probably the best iced hazelnut latte I have ever had"⁵. Others simply state "amazing coffee!"⁶ or mention "excellent coffee & delicious food"⁷, while one notes it is "a very nice, high-quality coffee shop"⁸.

Most reviewers describe the atmosphere at Alforno as pleasant¹. Many call it cozy and welcoming²,³, with a clean, bright setting⁴. Others highlight the natural light and seating⁵, the fireplace and windows⁶, and a warm, inviting feel .

Vibe and décor. Several reviewers focus specifically on the look and feel of the space, describing it as aesthetic with good vibes⁷ and as having a nice interior .

Most reviewers describe the service positively, with many calling it great or excellent¹²³, while a smaller number describe negative experiences⁴⁵.

Mixed experiences at counter. Some customers report problems such as waiting in line only to have cashiers walk away⁴, or calling it the worst service in the city for a coffee cafe⁵. Others mention slow service, having waited for 30 mins before even being greeted⁶, or that service can be hit or miss, especially at the coffee bar⁷.

Praise for staff. Many reviewers describe being greeted with a smile and top notch service¹, or say the service was excellent with a special thank you to a staff member who was incredibly friendly, professional, and attentive². Others simply note good food and good service³, or that the staff is super friendly and very speedy⁸, with one noting they even put a delicious piece of toast in my takeaway bag⁸.

Many say the staff were "very accommodating and friendly"¹ and simply "Kind staff!"² Others mention being "greeted with a smile"³ and call the team "so kind and friendly"⁴. One reviewer, however, said the server "looked and sounded like she didn't want to be there at all" and gave no greeting or thank you⁵.

Consistent service. Several reviews emphasize that the friendliness is paired with quick, attentive service, noting staff who are "super friendly and very speedy"⁶ and others who were "very friendly and attentive"⁷. One customer described a barista who "personally whipped me up a custom salted caramel cold foam"⁸, while another simply said the staff made their order perfectly and they were "very satisfied"⁹.

Most reviews describe the baked goods and bread as fresh and high quality¹. One reviewer called the bread fresh every time², while another said their bread is ridiculous³. Freshly baked food was also noted alongside the cabinet selections⁴, and tarts and coffee were praised together⁵.

Mixed experience. Not every review was fully positive, as one noted the cake was denser than imagined and not all macaron flavours came through⁶.

Several reviewers felt the prices were high relative to what they received, calling the price range "a little bit on the higher side"¹ and noting "high prices for what you get"². Others were more blunt, describing it as "expensive, but decent quality"³ or simply a "pricey restaurant"⁴, while one reviewer found "the pricing difficult to justify"⁵.

Small extra charges. One reviewer objected to a specific added cost, saying "a $1.00 charge just for some whipping cream is ridiculous"⁶. Another felt the portion didn't match the cost, saying it "could've been more food for what I was paying"⁷.

Positive views on value. One reviewer called the afternoon tea "one of the best priced afternoon teas in Calgary"⁸, another described the breakfast as "reasonably priced"⁹, and a third called the place "very affordable and cute"¹⁰.

One reviewer said the coffee is so good¹, while another called it fantastic coffee². The iced mocha was also well liked³, and excellent coffee was mentioned alongside the baked goods⁴.

Specialty drinks. One reviewer highlighted the best chai latte with soy milk they had in a long time⁵. Another found the hot chocolate tasty, though they objected to an extra charge for whipping cream⁶.

Most reviewers find seating available, with options both indoors and outside¹,², though one review notes it can be difficult to get a table in the mornings³.

When it gets busy. Some describe the café as plenty seated⁴, while others note that during busy times seating can fill up⁵, and a visitor arriving mid-afternoon during a bustling period was still given a really nice table by the window⁶.