New Italian Restaurant Opens in One of Canmore’s Most Familiar Spaces

A trio of longtime Canmore locals and hospitality operators has rebranded and relaunched one of downtown’s well-established Main Street restaurant spaces as an Italian eatery, looking to address a gap in the local Italian dining market.

Ralf Wollmann, Rob Filby, and Joe Croke, the same owners behind The Canmore Rose & Crown Pub, opened Luigi’s Italian Kitchen at the end of January in the former Santa Lucia Trattoria and Das Schnitzel Haus location.

The group purchased Santa Lucia Trattoria, which had operated in the space since 1993, approximately three years ago. After acquiring the restaurant, they transformed it into Das Schnitzel Haus, introducing classic German cuisine to the region. They operated the German concept until December 2025, when they announced the space would return to its Italian roots.

“We felt this town is definitely missing a good Italian restaurant and Italian cuisine is an easier sell than German,” said Robert Filby, managing partner of Luigi’s Italian Kitchen.

The decision was driven by market demand and the broad appeal of cozy Italian cuisine, particularly in a mountain town with long cold winters.

“Since we transformed Santa Lucia into Das Schnitzel Haus, Canmore has really been lacking a good Italian place. Our winters are long and Italian food really is the ultimate comfort food,” said Filby. “People crave Italian food. All families enjoy it. There was a market for it and we needed to be the first to jump on it.”

The menu reflects that commitment to Italian comfort food, focusing on traditional fare, including a range of pasta and pizza dishes. With one of their dishes quickly becoming the restaurant’s standout feature: the Tableside Carbonara.

“Linguini hand-spun at your table in a gourmet cheese wheel that has been set a light. With Crispy Pancetta tossed in a creamy egg parmesan sauce topped with fresh pesto. It tastes amazing and the show that goes with it sure gets people's attention,” said Filby.

The owners bring extensive hospitality experience to the venture. Wollmann is a former Michelin-star chef in Germany and earned the Five Diamond Award, Michelin’s highest designation for hotels and restaurants, while serving as executive chef at Eden Restaurant at the Rimrock in Banff. Filby has worked in hospitality for 23 years and currently serves as general manager and co-owner of The Rose & Crown in Canmore. Croke previously owned Big Mountain HVAC, where he worked extensively with restaurant equipment throughout the region before fully transitioning into hospitality ownership.

All three are longtime Bow Valley residents who have raised their families in the area, and that longstanding connection to the community informs their approach to hospitality and service. When developing the concept, the partners drew on their experience at The Canmore Rose & Crown to create a welcoming and accessible atmosphere.

“We wanted Luigi’s to be fun,” said Filby. “We wanted it to be a spot where anyone can come, family dinners, dinner with friends, date nights, birthdays, takeout. We want people to come into our cozy restaurant, enjoy a delicious meal, get great service and leave full but happy that it didn’t cost them a fortune.”

The trio said cultivating this type of environment helps them attract both local residents and visitors, a balance they say is essential to finding success in the Bow Valley hospitality industry.

“For a restaurant to survive you need both locals and tourists and you need them to keep coming back,” said Filby. “Providing good food, good service at an affordable price point. We have this at The Canmore Rose & Crown and our locals are amazing, so bringing the same mentality over to Luigi’s makes complete sense.”

Early response has been strong, particularly from local diners.

“We have had a huge amount of locals come through and support us as well as write great reviews on their experiences,” said Filby. “Seeing customers already on their second and third time dining with us in the first month means we are doing something right.”

The strong demand has also brought some growing pains, as staffing remains a challenge.

“We have some great staff but the demand has been high, which means we have had to hire more people for both the front and back of house,” said Filby.

The increase in new hires has required a significant investment in training time to ensure staff deliver service that meets the restaurant’s standards of excellence. To maintain quality during that process, the restaurant initially limited takeout and delivery orders. However, those services have since resumed as staff have come up to speed.

The restaurant’s early success reinforces the team’s belief that Canmore was ready for a new Italian spot, and they look forward to watching the space continue to evolve.

“The start has been great,” said Filby. “And it will only get better.”