NW   NE
SW   SE
Kensington
36 Street NE
Downtwon
Chinatown
Inglewood
Marda Loop
Macleod Trail S
Near and Around Calgary

17 Avenue/ 4 Street SW

Restaurant	Rating	Type of Food	Style	Description	Information
A & W		Hamburgers	Fast Food	This was Grant's first experience of fast food back in the time when servers on roller skates put trays on your car windowsill. We still like to go back for the sake of nostalgia, but unfortunately the fries and onion rings are bland and the burgers are OK, but only in a 1950's sort of way.	1320 - 14 St. SW 244-2761	www
Alda's Mediterranean Lebanese Specialties		Middle Eastern	Informal	For good Middle Eastern food and excellent service on the Fourth Street strip, this is the place. Good vegetarian selection.	2208 - 4 St SW 541-1189
Antonio's Garlic Clove	Rating for Vampires: 0	Gourmet	Informal	Don't make that face! Garlic can be cooked and eaten in many ways, and Tony has mastered them all, including fried bananas with garlic topping and chocolate covered roasted garlic buds for dessert. The setting is comfy bistro. The service is friendly, and the servings are large. What more could one want? Breath mints! And if you are worried about what others may say, just order a half portion or ask for less garlic. Reservations recommended.	2206 - 4 St. SW 228-0866	Open daily at 5:00 p.m.
Booster Juice: Juice and Smoothier Bar		Juice	Fast Food	Juice is the new panacea for those who want healthy food in a hurry. Here you find it. From yogurt to mango, from soy to açaí, they will whip the ingredients to your taste's desire. And with every drink you get a free booster. From protein to echinacea and from calcium to ginseng, they will do their best to keep your body alive and well. Good vegetarian selection. www	634 - 17th Ave. SW 802-0889
Brava Bistro		Gourmet	Informal	With a motto of "Dine like you mean it." this restaurant really means it. They begin with a Mediterranean base and run with creativity from there. The sauces are subtle, but made to bring out the true nature of whatever is underneath, unlike so many restaurants with the barbeque mentality which seeks to mask the meat flavour altogether. The setting is modern bistro, but without the cramped confusion that often surrounds that word. The service is knowledgeable and friendly. The servings are plenteous. Reservations are recommended. According to the menu: Fresh vegetarian dishes can be created on request.	723 - 17 Ave. SW 228-1854 www	Su 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. M to Sa 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. M to W 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Th to Sa 5:00 p.m. - midnight
Burger Inn		Hamburger	Fast Food	This local chain of hamburger outlets wins for the most unusual kinds of burgers made from such interesting ingredients as pork, lamb, turkey, buffalo, venison and ostrich. They also offer cholesterol–free fries, real fruit–flavoured milkshakes, and the convenience of being able to order your burger ahead of time so it will be ready when you arrive. Now that's really fast food. Good vegetarian selection.	9669 MacLeod Tr. S. Brick Plaza 252-4840	2020 - 4 Street SW 244-9293 3829 Bow Tr. SW 685-0825
Caffe Beano		Coffee	Informal	For those looking for independent coffee houses, this is a long-time standard in the 17 Avenue area. And for Grant they have milkshakes too. But beware all you card carters; this is cash only. Good vegetarian selection. Dorothy goes here for the hot chocolate.	1613 - 9 St. SW just north of 17 Ave.	M to Fr 6:00 a.m. - midnight Sa, Su 7:00 a.m. - midnight
La Chaumière		French	Formal	Wonderful gourmet food and friendly service. Reservations recommended.	139 - 17 Ave SW 228-5690 www
Chianti Café and Restaurant		Italian	Informal	Remember that we judge restaurants by what they are supposed to be. So with that in mind, we went to Chianti expecting a "reasonably priced" basic meal. And that is just what we got. The service was friendly. The bread was warm and tasty, and the food was good no–frills Italian fare. Watch for their specials, and you can make the experience even more reasonable. Good vegetarian selection.	1438 - 17 Ave. SW 229-1600
Le Chien Chaud		Hot Dogs	Informal	It's bright and cheery with a fine selection of hot dogs from beef to vegetarian and numerous house specials with everything from guacamole to gruyere, and then condiments you can add from pineapple chutney to cranberry sauce. Coleslaw or potato salad and a drink top of a perfect hot dog meal. Good vegetarian selection.	#3 2015 - 4 St. SW 229-DOG1 (CUTE) www
cilantro		Gourmet	Informal	Like Dr. Who's TARDIS, this original store building on 17 Avenue is larger inside than out, but retains a friendly hominess as it surrounds you with warm wood on all sides. The staff are FEK—friendly, efficient, knowledgeable. The food, however, while quite creative in its combinations and certainly tasty in general was lukewarm, and no one dish that anyone ordered cried out to be tried again. Reservations are recommended, at noon especially.	338 - 17 Ave. SW 229-1177
The Coup		Gourmet	Informal	The food in this comfy little bistro is not ethnic vegetarian or let's–pretend–this–is–meat vegetarian, but actual original dishes made to be delicious and well worth trying whether you are vegetarian or not.	924B - 17 Ave. SW 541-1041 www	Lunch and Dinner Tu to Su
Crete Souvlaki		Greek	Fast Food	This rates among the most unusual locations for a restaurant, situated as it is in a gas station, convenience store complex. This is simple Greek food in a Styrofoam box, but on a return for cost basis what you get is a good value. There are a couple of tables, but we found the confusion and gas fumes make this an ideal take out place. Good vegetarian selection.	2623 - 17 Ave. SW 246-4777	Take Out Hours Sa, Su , Holidays 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. M to F 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Da Paolo Ristorante		Italian	Formal	The food here is excellent, but the service has never left us fully satisfied. Reservations are recommended.	121 17 Ave SE 228-5556	M to F 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. M to Sa 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Closed Su
El Sombrero Restaurante Mexicano		Latin American	Informal	The helpings of Mexican food are freshly-cooked and generous and the occasional serenade of Latin music gives this small second floor eatery a pleasant cosy ambiance. But there was a certain sameness in the dishes, and the mañana service was a little too laid-back. Reservations recommended. 228-0332	Su 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. M 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Tu to F 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sa 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Falafel King		Middle Eastern	Informal	Good falafels served with a why-are-you-bothering-us attitude. Good vegetarian selection.	1610 - 10 St. SW 403 802-5464 www
Fiasco Gelato		Ice Cream	Informal	For good flavour and wholesomeness, try gelato with about 75% less fat than regular ice cream or sorbetto which is fat free. Fiasco is one bright and friendly place to get both of these—as well as sandwiches, soups, drinks and even gelato cakes. Good vegetarian selection, of course.	736 - 17 Ave. SW www
Fleur de Sel		French	Informal	Delightfully unusual, hot and filling French dishes, served by a friendly and knowledgeable staff. Yes, the tables are close but in an appropriately bistro setting. Yes, it is wheelchair accessible, but it will be crowded.	#2 - 2015 4 St. SW 228-9764 www
Hana Sushi		Japanese	Informal	This popular Fourth Street eatery serves a wide variety of Japanese food. However, we found that none of the selections really stood out from the crowd, and the batter on the tempura was a little heavy and soggy.	1803 - 4 St. SW 229-1499	Lunch M to F Dinner daily
Il Giardino		Italian	Informal	The setting is pleasantly country Italian with a relaxed staff to make you feel right at home. The selection is broad with choices for every taste and palette. Overall we enjoyed out meal, but found that as with many other restaurants the vegetables are the weak point, as if all the time and effort has been spent on the meat and pasta dishes.. but note that the advantages of wheelchair accessibility are somewhat offset by the fact that some of the restaurant is up a few steps.	344 - 17 Ave. SW (sw corner of 4 St. & 17 Ave.; parking off 15 Ave.) 541-0088	Su 4:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. M to Th 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. F, Sa 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Jugo Juice		Juice	Informal	The staff is friendly and have a good knowledge of what they are making—especially those strange extra ingredients. If you just want a quick, wholesome drink, or even a complete meal with one of their wraps or sandwiches do drop by. Good vegetarian selection—of course. www	2015 - 4 St. SW 209-2445 634 - 17 Ave., SW 209-5846
KFC		Chicken	Fast Food	Some foods are difficult to rate because their taste is unique and can't be compared to anything but other brands that have imitated them. Yes, we know we can't call it "Kentucky Fired Chicken" anymore, because someone might think about the fat content, even though now it is vegetable oil. The gravy and coleslaw have changed from the good old days when the Colonel was alive, but still the taste is addictive, and you get what you expect.	1240 - 17 Ave. SW	Home delivery: 296-0000. www
The Living Room		Gourmet	Informal	Officially the food here is "Contemporary Interactive Cuisine". For those who need a translation, that means: appealing platters, perfectly prepared and pleasantly presented with delightful "interactive" extras like fondues for two (if you happen to be piggy Dawsons) or more (if you are mere mortals). The vegetarian selection is not large but is sufficient to give a tempting choice while avoiding the usual Caesar salad or a plate of stir fried bland vegetables and pasta.	514 - 17 Ave. SW 228-9830 www	Lunch Tu to F 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Dinner Daily 5:00 p.m. - midnight
Manies Pizzeria and Greek Cuisine		Pizza / Greek	Informal	You can get pizza and Greek food here or look for some place better. Good vegetarian selection.	811 - 17 Ave. SW 228-9207
Mercato		Italian	Informal	Most people are eager to take advantage of the deli part of Mercato with its wide variety of Italian food from pasta to olives, from sandwiches to cheese. But don't forget the restaurant. The bread is made on site. The soups are hearty and tasty. The sauces are light but rich. In short, for not much more than you would pay for a heavy pasta special elsewhere in the area, you can come here and enjoy what you get thoroughly. Grant, however, is a little disturbed by the fact that there are no free coffee refills. The excuse is that this is slow drip coffee. "So?" Grant asks. Good vegetarian selection.	2224 - 4 St. SW 263-5535
The Metropolitan Grill		General	Informal	The "General" category is becoming crowded, especially in the downtown area, with "business" restaurants—places with an upscale feel catering to the oilpatch crowd with everything from gourmet burgers to AAA steak. The Metropolitan Grill leads these with a crisp business–like décore and high–quality dishes. One thing to note is that the lunch menu has a lot of quite reasonably–priced choices in the main section—things like hamburgers and sandwiches. However for some reason the chef forgets how to prepare these after 4 o'clock and that part of the menu is replaced by more expensive dishes, though the salad and pasta sections continue to give you delicious but more economical items for dinner.	880 - 16 Ave. SW (Mount Royal Village) 802-2393
Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant		Ethiopian	Informal	The food here is quite tasty, reminiscent of Indian cuisine but with its own particular blend of spices. The meal is usually eaten with one's hands from a large common serving dish using barley bread that looks, but thank goodness doesn't taste, like thin foam rubber. The staff were freindly, but seemed to disappear once the meal began. And the washrooms could use a little more attention. Good vegetarian selection. but note that males in the group will have to use the women's bathroom on the main floor.	130 - 10 St. NW 283-6796 924- 17 Ave. SW 802-1580	Tu to Su 11:00 a.m. - midnight M noon - midnight
Moti Mahal Restaurant		East Indian	Informal	This bright, spacious restaurant offers a wide selection of well-prepared Kashmiri food, avoiding the bland spicing of hot dished that some other eateries use to pamper the western pallet. As with many East Indian restaurants, however, we do have some concern with the dish size vs. price ratio, and free fill ups on the coffee might be a good idea. Reservations Recommended. Good vegetarian selection.	#201 1805 - 14 Street SW 228-9990 www
Moxie's		General	Informal	With everything from burgers and sandwiches to pasta and pizza on the menu, restaurants like Moxie's are difficult to grade. Often one or two superb items are dragged down by numerous bland ones, or "home style" can mean you should just have stayed at home and made the sandwich yourself. However, we believe the Moxie's does do things well, and deserves a try if you want a wide variety of items from which to choose at reasonable prices. Good vegetarian selection. www	1331 - 17 Ave. SW 228-1447
Mt. Everest's Kitchen		Nepalese	Buffet	The food of Nepal takes the herbs and spices of India minus some of the heat and the noodles and cooking methods of China minus the chopsticks and gives us a most pleasant taste experience. The staff is definitely knowledgeable and friendly The buffet is small and unfortunately can be a bit cool if one does not arrive early. Good vegetarian selection.	1448A - 17 St. SW 806-2337	Noon buffet Closed Mondays
My Marvin's Deli		Deli	Informal	My Marvin's was one of our favourite haunts when we first came to Calgary. Thus it was with great expectation that we visited its new incarnation on Fourth Street SW. There's a different Marvin, but the same recipes. The space is new and inviting. (Though all the glass makes window seats a little cool in winter.) And the menu has all the old deli favourites from matzo ball soup to cheese cake. Plus, there are now burgers and other sandwiches as well as the corned beef and smoked meat basics. And speaking of the meat, the owners of Carnegie's in New York—the gold standard for such establishments—have always lamented that the fat content has had to be altered with new eating habits. But they are also adamant that some fat has to be kept or the meat becomes dry. We are afraid that My Marvin's has crossed that line. And the cheese cake is not as good as what Riva Perlmutter's mother used to make. The food is fine and service friendly, but it's not quite up to deli–heaven standards.	2303 4 Street SW 441-2012	Daily 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. with an all day breakfast
Nellie's		General	Informal	With or without the apostrophe in it's name, this local chain offers good–sized portions of average food.	Nellie's on Fourth 2308 - 4 Street SW 209-2708 Nellie's Kitchen 738B - 17 Avenue SW 244-4616
Original Joe's Restaurant and Bar		Bar	Informal	The usual neighbourhood drinkery type of dishes with some hits, like the hamburgers, and some misses, like the Caesar salad. Also, as with many such establishments, the background mood music made conversation diffiuclt.	2118 4 St. SW 802-3800	www
Ouzo Greek Taverna		Greek	Informal	A well–lit blue and white interior give this eatery a refreshing feel with an almost Mediterranean sense of light. Tablecloths add a sense of informal formality. The food is good with large portions, especially with the mousaka, so don't overdo the appetizers.	2005B - 14 St. SW 229-1400	Daily Lunch and Dinner
Papa John's		Pizza	Take Out	Good pizza, a little over-priced for what you get.	#230 177 Country Hills Blvd. NW 567-2000	3172 Sunridge Blvd. NE 219-8400	Westmarket Square 1851 Sirroco Dr. SW 217-7373 601 - 17 Ave. SW 693-7272	Bonavista Square 12101 Lake Fraser Dr. SE 2715757
Quizno's Subs		Sandwiches	Informal	They're toasty hot with just enough bread. For a fast sub, they are hard to beat. But don't feel you have to pick the large size unless you want two meals worth or have a Dawson–sized appetite. Good vegetarian selection. The name does vary slightly from one store to another, but let the business people worry about that. Dorothy and Grant prefer the Angus beef, while Scott, the vegetarian in the family gives his approval to the Cheese Melt. www	1013 - 17 Ave. SW 228-3418
Rajdoot Restaurant		East Indian	Informal	A relaxing atmosphere with friendly service and good food have established the Rajdoot a long–time Calgary favourite. And a number of combination specials make trying a variety of new dishes easy. Good vegetarian selection.	2424 - 4 St. SW 245-0181	Lunch Su to F 11:30 a..m. - 2:00 p.m. Dinner Su to F 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sa 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Ric's Grill		Steak	Informal	The menu is extensive; the setting, pleasantly subdued and refreshingly modern. The steak is excellent. Some of the side dishes, however, are rather ordinary, and the service is not quite as polished as at some higher–rated steakhouses. But all in all this is a good choice for a bit less money.	1436 - 8 St. SW 269-2477	Su - Th 11:00 a.m. - midnight F - Sa 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Starbucks Coffee Comapny Ltd		Coffee	Informal	For a good cardboard cup of standardized coffee from a limited menu, this is the place to go. Good vegetarian selection.	321 - 6 Ave. SW 234-9035 404 - 6 Ave. SW 234-9478 723 - 17 Ave. SW 209-2888 411 - 8 Ave. SW 234-8040 #131d 1600 - 90 Ave. SW 252-6512 Westhills Shopping Centre 246-4100 2219 - 4 St. SW 229-3008 9631 Macleod Tr. S. 252-5414 15800 Macleod Tr. S. 254-9824 812a - 49 Ave. SW 214-14440
Steeps		Tea	Informal	A mixture of mismatched wooden tables and chairs gives this teahouse a rustic at home atmosphere. The knowledgeable staff help you explore the world of tea, encouraging you to test the aroma of various kinds before making your selection The snacks are top quality as well. Of course, there is a good vegetarian selection.	880 - 16 Ave. SW (in Mount Royal Village) 209-0076
Sushi Kawa		Japanese	Informal	The décore is simple ecclectic with a touch of Japanese, but the food is Japanese all the way. And you may even get to watch sumo wrestling on TV as you eat. This help you keep the calories in mind. We visited Sushi Kawa when it first opened, then again recently, and unfortunately the service has slipped a little, but we hope will be back on track soon. Good vegetarian selection.	2204 - 4 St. SW 802-0058	Dinner Su 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. M to Th 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. F, Sa 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Lunch M to Sa 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Towa Sushi		Japanese	Informal	If you want to know what it feels like to be in a Tokyo restaurant, then the ambiance of this Fourth Street establishment is the place to be. The surroundings are sparse, but pleasing. The batter is light,. The sushi is good-sized. The service is friendly. Sit back, and enjoy the food. Good vegetarian selection.	2116 - 4 St. SW 245-8585 www	Dinner Daily Closed Mondays
Trawlers Seafood Kitchen		Seafood	Informal	Great fish and chips and chowder.	1515 - 14 St. SW 245-6311 www
Tubby Dog		Hot Dog	Informal	Most in our group were well–acquainted with the many hot dog vendors that populate Calgary streets. At any of these one can choose from a variety of grilled dogs on toasted buns with an assortment of condiments at a reasonable price. With this knowledge, we entered Tubby Dog. Now to be honest there were a few unusual toppings like Japanese mayo and Vietnamese hot sauce, but these did nothing to disguise over–priced, fatty, warm dogs on unheated buns. The onion rings were horrendously over battered. No one was able to finish a single helping. And then for what one would pay for a refillable pop at an ordinary restaurant, we were given antique 237 ml bottles of coke. The ketchup was quite good.	1022 - 17 Ave. SW 244-0694	Open Late www
Wildwood Pub & Grill		Gourmet	Formal	The most difficult restaurants to rate are those that should score better, but don't quite make it. This is one of them. The setting is urban rustic, and the staff are helpful. But the food just didn't quite make the grade with us. However, we shall keep an eye on the Wildwood and will expect something great in the future. Reservations recommended.	2417 - 4 Street SW 228-0100 www