 | CHLA/ABSC 2011 | Calgary, ABMay 26-30, 2011 |
Restaurant Guide
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Dollar signs refer to average price of a dinner entree:
$ - under $15 $$ - $15-25 $$$- $25-$35 $$$$ - over $35 per entree
Downtown Calgary | 17th St & 4th Ave | Kensington
Sign Up Dinner Options (Reserve your seat now)
Thursday, May 26
Murrieta's Cuisine can be best summed up as a fresh, vibrant combination of Seafood, Meat dishes and pastas with uncompromising flair. An excellent option for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. 808 1 St SW
A great place to wind down with your fellow delegates at the end of a busy conference day. The Unicorn has a nice selection of local beer and pub food. And, it's the only place on Stephen Avenue to play darts! Located at 304 8 Ave SW
Saturday, May 28
Mango Shiva $$
Indian dishes with a modern twist. Try the lamb popsicles! Some good vegetarian options too. Located at 218 8 Ave SW
Saltlik $$-$$$
The Saltlik represents a reinvention of the steakhouse for the casual dining crowd. Here classic North America cuisine is infused with Southwestern United States and French flavours. Billed as a “rare steakhouse,” the Saltlik’s signature steaks are adorned with unique sauces and glazes such as rosemary citrus butter, chipotle barbeque and Ermite blue cheese. There is also a diverse selection of seafood, chicken and rib dishes on the menu. Located at 101 - 8 Ave SW
Delicious kabobs and other Persian treats, at great prices! They have the standard array of kabobs and wraps, all deliciously prepared, but the real treats are the khoreshts (stews). Some nice vegetarian options here. Located at 1000 - 9th Ave. SW.
Located on the main floor of Art Central, with an entrance on 7th Ave., The Bistro at Art Central is the perfect place to enjoy lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch before exploriing the surrounding artist studios, galleries and shops. Located in Art Central at 100 - 7 Ave. SW.
Belgo Brasserie $$$
Belgo offers the best quality and variety of French and International dishes, served all day long in an incomparable brasserie atmosphere. With a beer list of over 50 international brews and a lovely wine cellar, Belgo is a fun place to relax after work, or before a night out. Located at 501 - 8 Ave. SW.
Booker’s BBQ and Crab Shack $$ (steak and crab dishes are $$$)
Bookers has been part of the downtown restaurant scene since 1998. Booker’s was the first restaurant lounge to celebrate southern cooking, bbq and seafood. Over the years, Calgarians have embraced Bookers as the place for all-you-can-eat crab and live music. Located at #10, 316 - 3 St. SE.
In a time of fast food and take-out, few things are remarkable anymore. Café deVille is trying to change this. They are self-proclaimed fanatics about coffee, food, design and architecture. Stop in during happy hour 4-7 for wine or beer with a cheese and charcuterie plate, a perfect way to relax after a day of sessions, before the evening events start up. Located in Art Central at #200, 100 - 7 Ave. SW.
Catch Oyster Bar: $$-$$$ | Restaurant: $$$$
Calgary’s best seafood restaurant is located right in the Hyatt. Catch offers a Jet fresh seafood commitment, flying the morning’s catch from both coasts to serve you the same day. There are 2 parts to Catch with different menus and price ranges: the oyster bar and the restaurant. Located in the Hyatt at 100 - 8 Ave. SE.
Centini $$$-$$$$
A warm restaurant featuring extraordinary gourmet Italian and continental European cuisine. Centini offers a distinctive award-winning wine selection and attentive, professional service. Located at 160 - 8 Ave. SE.
EnRoute Magazine rated Charcut one of Canada’s Top 10 best new restaurants. This is carnivore heaven, a restaurant dedicated to rustic charcuterie at surprisingly reasonable prices. The “lunch all at once” comes with a 45-minute in-and-out guarantee, and includes an appetizer, main, and a bag of warm homemade cookies and a coffee to go. Located at #101, 899 Centre St. SW.
Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro $$$
Inspired by traditional bistros that have thrived for decades in New York City, Divino has merged modern décor with pure cuisine and a comforting yet energetic bistro atmosphere. Featuring the same wood-burning grill found at Gramercy Tavern in New York City along with an extensive international wine and cheese program, Divino has successfully integrated the distinctive American bistro style into Western Canada. Stop by for lunch, dinner or to sample wine and cheese, heaven! Located at 113 - 8 Ave. SW.
Escoba Bistro and Wine Bar $$$
A romantic and charmingly rustic wood, stucco, stone and wrought iron décor. The menu is focused on Mediterranean comfort food, which includes lamb, prime grade beef, ahi tuna, pastas, and homemade flatbreads. Every dish comes with a suggested wine pairing from Escoba's extensive cellar. With 22 wines by the glass and over 2400 bottle cellar to choose from, chances are we have your flavour. Located at 624 - 8 Ave. SW.
Golden Inn $-$$
Located in Calgary’s Chinatown, the Golden Inn serves up delicious Cantonese dishes, and is open into the wee hours. Located at 107 2 Ave SE.
This is a reasonably priced Italian joint, especially if you take advantage of ½ Price Wine Weekends (Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9 PM). Shares a kitchen with the adjoining Spur Gastropub. Located at 351 4 Ave. SW.
Enjoy the intimacy of the dining experience in the comfort of warm lighting and a cozy booth, or the buzz in the bar, watching the game on a big screen. Located at 107 - 8 Ave. SE.
Original Joe’s $-$$
Pub fare with a local flavour! OJ’s has its own draft beers and brews from Calgary’s Wild Rose brewery on tap, as well as menu items from pizza to jambalaya featuring Calgary’s famous Spolumbo’s sausage. Good, homemade pub food and great brews. Located at 109 - 8 Ave. SW.
The Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club $$
Drinkin’, singin’, lovin’ & fightin’ and that’s just the lunch hour! Nestled among the pawn shops and boarded-up storefronts just down from the public library is this cowboy-thentic show bar and BBQ joint. Hear some tunes and try a taste of the old South in Calgary’s only true honkytonk. Located at 109 - 7 Ave. SW.
Delicious Thai cuisine, reasonable prices and great service! The décor is fabulous and even the BackSt. Boys give this place the thumbs-up - with an endorsement like that, you just have to check it out! Located at 112 - 8 Ave. SW.
A pub with upscale yet reasonably priced fare. Shares space with the Italian Kitchen. Specialized in comfort food such as chipotle mac’n’cheese, chicken noodle soup, and Alberta bison chili. Located at 351 4 Ave. SW.
Sky 360 (at the top of the Calgary Tower) $$$$
Sit and rotate! And eat! Located at the top of the Calgary Tower, this new revolving restaurant offers magnificent views of Calgary & the Rocky Mountains. All Sky 360 guests enjoy complimentary elevation to the restaurant with the purchase of an entrée. Simply check in with the hostess at the base of the tower when you arrive. Located at 101 - 9 Ave. SW.
Sushi Hiro $$
Authentic Japanese cuisine in the heart of Calgary’s downtown. Located at 727 – 5 Ave. SW.
Teatro $$$$
In the mood for a serious splurge? Teatro is housed in the historic Dominion Bank building in Calgary’s Olympic Plaza Cultural District and the cuisine is contemporary Italian with a French-inspired flair. Teatro features an impressive 800-bottle award-winning wine cellar. Located at 200 - 8 Ave. SE.
Thomsons Restaurant and the Sandstone Lounge (at the Hyatt) $$$
In 1893, Melville Patrick Thomson and James Arthur Thomson built one of Calgary's earliest sandstone buildings. Relax in a setting that is elegant yet comfortably familiar. Indulge in a meal that is fresh yet classically appealing. Located in the Hyatt at 700 Centre St.
A new addition to the downtown eateries, WEST Restaurant and Bar is everything you’d expect in terms of a fresh take on casual dining, a lively place to sit and be social. Located one block from the Hyatt on the +15 level of Scotia Centre, the menu includes options from snacks to steaks. Located at 225 - 7 Ave. SW.
Downtown Calgary | 17th St & 4th Ave | Kensington
The stretch of 17th Ave. from 4th through 14th Streets is one of Calgary’s premier shopping districts. 4th St. itself is known as “restaurant row,” boasting a variety of restaurants.
17th Ave.
Big Cheese Poutinerie $
We haven’t gotten around to trying this new hot spot, but we’ve been hearing good things about Calgary’s first poutinerie. The menu is a dazzling array of takes on Quebec’s most famous dish, from the traditional bare-bones fries, cheese curds and gravy, to vegetarian options, exotic versions such as donair poutine, and a Cowtown variation featuring barbecued beef. Located at 738 - 17 Ave. SW.
Buttercream Bake Shoppe $
Cupcakes as delicious individual works of art! Made from scratch . . . mixing the batters, hand scooping them, making the icings from scratch and then icing each one by hand; no mass production here! All-natural ingredients and real butter! These nice folks also have a kiosk in the Calgary Farmer's Market. Located at #121, 1013 - 17 Ave. SW.
Cilantro $$-$$$
Cilantro is an upscale casual restaurant with an unconventional Californian-Southwestern flare. Enclosed patio and veranda surrounded by white lights above in the trees and luscious Virginia Creepers. Cilantro remains the casual, cozy and quaint atmosphere that we have been known for twenty years. Located at 338 - 17 Ave. SW.
The Coup $$
A hip vegetarian restaurant and lounge, where you can enjoy dynamite beats, fab finger food, cocktails and homegrown choice treats. A place to come together dedicated to providing a vibrant atmosphere and creative vegetarian fare while promoting local, whole and organic foods. Located at 924 - 17 Ave. SW.
Crave Cupcakes $
Delightful indulgences - Crave only uses real butter and still cracks every egg that goes into their recipes. Located about a block from Buttercream (see above) on 17th Ave., why not visit both of these competing cupcake shops then sit in the park and have a tasting competition? I'm not saying it hasn't been done before... Located at #120 – 815, 17 Ave. SW.
Farm $$
Farm is a restaurant attached to Calgary’s best cheese shop! Savour fine cheeses and fine meats, served elegantly on wooden boards and matched beautifully with flavourful, house-made condiments and accompaniments. Delicious warm meals inspired by our province and all the great local suppliers who bring their product right to Farm's door. If you’re feeling hungry, have the fabulous macaroni & cheese. If you’re stopping by around lunch time, try the grilled cheese sandwich bar in the adjoining cheese shop. Located at 1006 - 17 Ave. SW.
Ming $
A Communist theme bar! Edgy lounge space with great cocktails, tasty nibbles and tongue-in-cheek humour about political ideologies. Kick back, sip a Lenin or a Zapatista Margarita and enjoy. Located at 520 - 17 Ave. SW.
Moti Mahal $-$$
At the far west end on 17th Ave., enjoy the rich, creamy and mild flavours of Kashmiri Indian cuisine. For 22 years, this family-owned restaurant has been offering Calgarians a great selection of delicious Kashmiri dishes. Located at 1805 - 14 St. SW.
Tubby Dog $
Open day and night, Tubby Dog serves an impressive array of hotdogs, beers, twinkies and T-rings. Filled with eye candy, arcade games, projected cartoons, live music and customers from all walks of life, a fun place for some delicious comfort food. Located at #103, 1022 - 17 Ave. SW.
4th St. SW
Aida's Mediterranean Bistro $-$$
Incredible food in a comfy environment is on order at this Mediterranean hot spot. Aida's boasts wonderful appetizers, savoury mains and honey-drizzled desserts. Located at 2208 - 4 St. SW.
Enjoy a traditional Neapolitan pizza and a glass of wine at this casual upscale pizza joint. Usually packed, but worth the wait! Located at 2303 4th St. SW.
Fleur de Sel $$$-$$$$
French cuisine combining nouveau with traditional, in a cozy, relaxed brasserie atmosphere. Located at #2, 2015 - 4 St. SW.
Mercato Italian Gourmet Cultura $$$
Mercato has been providing fresh Italian fare to the community for well over 20 years. Loud and vibrant, this market and restaurant is a fun place to be whether you're at the Italian style counter, or your own personal table. Everything you order here is made fresh, using ingredients from the market. Located at 2224 - 4 St. SW.
Original Joe’s $-$$
Pub fare with a local flavour! This local chain has its own draft beers and brews from Calgary’s Wild Rose brewery on tap, as well as menu items from pizza to jambalaya featuring Calgary’s famous Spolumbo’s sausage. Good, homemade pub food and great brews. Located at 2118 4 St. SW.
Purple Perk Coffee Market $
A great little coffee shop that also offers a variety of home-cooked meals. Great soups and sandwiches. A good lunch spot. Also offers free wifi. Located at 2212 - 4th St. SW.
Downtown Calgary | 17th St & 4th Ave | Kensington
Take the C-Train to Sunnyside Station to spend an enjoyable day shopping, eating and drinking on 10 St. and Kensington Rd.
This new gastro-pub is dedicated to quality brews and delicious pub food. The meat comes from local farmers, and the beer list is impressive. Lots of fancy poutines to choose from here, including duck gravy, pork hock, or, for the vegetarians, mushroom gravy. Located upstairs from Winebar (see listing below), and owned by the same folks. Located at 1131 Kensington Rd. NW.
Broken Plate $$-$$$
High-quality cuisine is mainly comprised of time-honoured Greek recipes, with some modern-style dishes, prepared and adorned by five-star chefs, yet reasonably priced. On Friday and Saturday evenings plates are broken, while staff dance “Zorba the Greek” and “Zebekika”, to assist patrons in the spirit of kefi (Greek for good humor and fun). Located at 302 - 10 St. NW.
Crave Cupcakes $
Delightful indulgences - Crave only uses real butter and still cracks every egg that goes into their recipes. Located at 1107 Kensington Rd. NW.
Globefish Sushi $$
A trendy, beautiful Izakaya-style Japanese Restaurant. Menu includes beautifully presented sushi, sashimi and other traditional Japanese cuisine like teriyaki dishes. Impressive selection of sake and imported beers. Located at 332 - 14 St. NW.
Higher Ground Café $
Higher Ground, established in 1982, is a successful independent cafe with delicious organic drinks, and an array of meal options no matter what time you're stopping by. Located at 1126 Kensington Rd. NW.
Kol3 $
Not your everyday Vietnamese noodle house. This restaurant specializes in banh xeo, savoury filled crepes made with rice flour. Gluten-free and delicious. Located at 24 12 St. NW.
Marathon Ethiopian $$
Marathon offers spicy and exotic concoctions of Ethiopian cuisine served in the traditional Ethiopian manner, the food consists of dozens of exotic dishes served on flat round bread, which does double-duty as both a plate and utensil. Exciting concoctions of lamb, beef, chicken, lima beans and vegetable mixes with vegetarian combinations available as well. Located at 130 - 10 St. NW.
Oolong Tea House $
This cozy tea shop on 10 St. serves up over 150 varieties of loose-leaf tea, along with baked goods and breakfast and lunch items. Located at 110 - 10 Street NW.
Vero Bistro Moderne $$$-$$$$
Declared one of the best new restaurants of 2008. Vero offers Italian fusion served in a stylish, intimate space, complete with granite tables and a red leather banquettes. Head chef Jenny Chan creates artistic dishes such as lemon-poached prawns, pesto-crusted chicken breast, and seared filet mignon served with vanilla and citrus-scented sea scallops. Extensive tapas menu, open late. Located at 209 - 10 St. NW.
Winebar $$
This intimate establishment specializes in small plates and an extensive wine list. A great place to stop for a snack, lunch or small dinner. The pork belly club sandwich is delicious. Downstairs from Brasserie Kensington (see listing above) and owned by the same folks. Located at 1131 Kensington Rd. NW.
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