Spinelli's Bar Italia - Edmonton

When this Italian grocery branch of the well-known store in the city first opened, they had just a small section of it designated for a light lunch or coffee. They have expanded that area a bit, and it is now easier to find an empty chair. You eat on one of a parallel row of long counters and sit on rather high stools---not the most comfortable of settings (but that's how the Italians do it much of the time in Italy!).But what comes out of their kitchen makes up for the cramped space. There are 8 types of thin-crust, Roman-style pizzas made fresh daily in their big oven (which looms in the background!). One type is always vegetarian. There's a daily featured pizza that changes monthly. I had this: a really flavourful one garnished with candied pecans and green onions (rather unusual, but excellently cooked).My friend chose a thinly shaved ham sandwich and a bowl of minestrone. The sandwich she found good, but the minestrone didn't have a lot of the traditional vegetables in it, like green beans, but was instead filled with lots of potato chunks---which she's allergic to. The soup was too thick and starchy, and not really how a true minestrone should be made. The waitress (extremely busy and rushing around, as all the staff were) was very understanding and agreed that the soup was much too potato-heavy. She kindly substituted an Italian Wedding soup.The place is a pretty good replication of a crowded, noisy, chaotic cafe in an Italian city centre. You always see and hear middle-age and elderly folks speaking Italian here, which is a good sign. The place is so popular that, on a previous visit, I saw the singer k.d. lang here enjoying a (vegetarian!) pizza and coffee with friends.This is the place to go for delicious coffee, as only Italians can make it---12 different types, to be exact!It's called "Spinelli Bar Italia" because the Spinelli family opened the first of their three groceries in the city in 1959.

The renovations have eliminated the risk of not getting a seat in the morning. They have many different paninis and croissants. I do not like the lack of reduced prices for refills of coffee. Gets a little noisy closer to noon hour. Bigger selection of pastries than Duchess and the prices are lower, too. I had the premade cold sandwich thinking it was lower priced but it was as much as the freshly made ones (confusing labeling). I will frequent this place now.

Just re-opened after a lengthy shut down due to renovations. Same great food, plus Pizza and a deli/food section. Not too impressed with the high stool seating, but guess it makes more seating room. Nice atmosphere and great service.

The sandwiches are excellent with a good variety of choices The service is friendly and fast and in Edmonton there are 3 locations West End of the city, Downtown in Little Italy and on the South side of Edmonton. Also you can a perfect cup of coffee as you like it or grab any other drink you fancy

So i brought the family here as i wanted my wife to have some pizza. Well this location currently does not do pizza only the west end store currently does pizza. So disappointment. We did have some Italian deli sandwiches which were good. It only cost $22 for 3 deli sandwiches. They do make specialty coffees here as well but i did not order one on this visit. This location is also attached to the Italian Centre supermarket for your shopping convenience.