| Restaurant | Rating | Type of Food | Style | Description | Information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | 128 Edmonton Tr. Airdrie, AB 403 912-0369 | ||||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants www |  | Seafood | Informal | From their original emphasis on seafood, they have now branched out into Tennessee Jack's Rotisserie Chicken & Ribs at many locations. This attempt to be all things to all people seems to have lowered the general quality over the years. Even the original fish and chips are becoming more and more like a packaged frozen entrée you might heat up at home. | 311, 800 Veterans Blvd NW (Airdrie Road) Airdrie, AB 403 945-3008 | ||||||
| Pizza Hut www | | Pizza | Informal/ Take out | The crust is actually quite good, though as with most party pizzas on the market the toppings are less than spectacular and leave a wide margin of naked crustiness around perimeter. There are also other pasta dishes and extras all with the same eat–me–as–you–watch–the–hocky–game quality. You can create your own pizza, so you can be as vegetarian as you wish. | 403 310-1010 | Dine in - Take out - Delivery 108 Edmonton, Tr. Airdrie, AB | |||||
| Quizno's Subs www |  | 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. | Yankee Valley Shopping Centre (east of Highway 2)) Airdrie, AB 403 945-0438 | ||||||
| Ricky's All Day Grill | | Grill | Informal | The setting is homey; the service is fine; the food is good. All in all, though, this is a pale imitation of other better rib places, and the difference in price would make us shun the pale and take the real. | Rickybob Raceland Balzac, AB 403 203-3443 | ||||||
| Bow Valley Grill | | General | Buffet | Eating in Banff amidst the multitude of fast food and often over–priced restaurants is a problem. But especially if you have guests with you and want to show them the best of the town, the Banff Springs Hotel holds both history and good food. The Bow Valley Grill provides a fine menu, but we would recommend the buffet. It is reasonably priced for the selection and should give everyone an excellent meal. And the tour of the hotel leaves regularly from just outside the door.Good vegetarian selection. | Banff Srings Hotel 405 Spray Ave. Banff, AB 403 762-2211 | Daily 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. But watch for seasonal variations. | |||||
| Earl's www |  | General | Informal | Earl's serves good food at reasonable prices, but among the good dishes are some very ordinary ones, and some of the small details, like homemade fries are missing, and the hamburger buns don't seem strong enough to support the hamburgers. Good vegetarian selection. | 201 Wolfe St. Banff 403 762-4414 | ||||||
| Grizzly House Restaurant www | | Swiss | Informal | Yes, there is fondue and hot rocks cooking, which is their own version of the traditional Swiss raclette. Then these more traditional elements are mixed with buffalo and caribou and alligator and Alberta beef to provide a wide variety of food experiences. This all takes place in a setting that is somewhere between an idealized Swiss chalet and a hand-hewn mountain cabin. Smoking is encouraged, but the ventilation system seems to carry away the stench quite well. Reservations appreciated. | 207 Banff Avenue (on the main strip on the right hand side as you enter the townsite) Banff, AB 403-762-4055 | 11:30 a.m. - midnight | |||||
| The Keg Steakhouse & Bar www | | Steak | Informal | A good medium-priced steak house though we have found a definite wabble in quality with the Stadium location coming out above most of the others. Except at their downtown locations and for reasons we do not understand, they do not take reservations, so expect long waits at key times. | 521 Banff Avenue Banff, AB 403 762-4442 117 Banff Avenue Banff, AB 403 760-3030 | ||||||
| Silver Dragon Restaurant | | Chinese | Informal | Who remembers Calgary without the Silver Dragon? Indeed it has been rumoured that when Laozi fled China in the Third Century BCE, he may have been heading here to establish this eatery. Nevertheless, the food remains delicious with generous portions and the setting old–style but not worn. Reservations suggested. Good vegetarian selection. | 3 Floor, 211 Banff Ave.
Banff, AB 403 762-3939 | ||||||
| Ticino www | | Swiss | Informal | Banff has become home to a number of Swiss natives who have made this the fondue capital of Canada. This is an up–scale restaurant with a Swiss Italian emphasis. This adds pastas to fondue, and then complements this whole mix with local meats and flavours to make it more Banffish. Reservations recommended. | 415 Banff Avenue (on the main strip, just before you reach the "tourist district" in the High Country Inn.) Banff, AB 403-762-3838, | Swiss Breakfast 7:30 a.m. - 10: 30 a.m. Dinner 5:30 p.m. - last reservation10:30 | |||||
| Tony Roma's www | | Ribs | Informal | Great ribs and other grilled things. What more can one say? | 138 Banff Ave. (in the Mt. Royal Hotel) Banff, AB 403 760-8540 | ||||||
| The Bavarian Inn Restaurant www | | German | Informal | Good German cuisine is difficult to find in the Calgary area, so the short trip to Bragg Creek is a pleasant price to pay for fine, traditional German dishes. And the stress on organic, local ingredients is a pleasant bonus. Good vegetarian selection on the dinner menu   Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 75 White Avenue Bragg Creek, AB 403 949-3611  | Tu to Su 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants www | | Seafood | Informal | From their original emphasis on seafood, they have now branched out into Tennessee Jack's Rotisserie Chicken & Ribs at many locations. This attempt to be all things to all people seems to have lowered the general quality over the years. Even the original fish and chips are becoming more and more like a packaged frozen entrée you might heat up at home. | 22 Balsam Ave. (just west of Highway 22) Bragg Creek, AB 403 949-3336 | ||||||
| Infusion Contemporary Cuisine www |  | Gourmet | Informal | Bragg Creek is more than waterfalls and trees and pottery emporiums. It also houses exquisite food. Infusion gives you the prefect excuse to get away from the city (about half an hour from downtown) and relax with a fusion of food experiences from Thai to Japanese to good old Alberta beef. The staff is friendly with a truly personal touch. Unlike many places, the superb lunch menu is not a tiny-portion version of dinner, but full and filling. Reservations recommended on weekends. Good vegetarian selection on the lunch menu. There are even some soups that come with a vegan base. | 23 Balsam Ave. Bragg Creek, AB 403-949-3898 | ||||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants www | | Seafood | Informal | From their original emphasis on seafood, they have now branched out into Tennessee Jack's Rotisserie Chicken & Ribs at many locations. This attempt to be all things to all people seems to have lowered the general quality over the years. Even the original fish and chips are becoming more and more like a packaged frozen entrée you might heat up at home. | 3-300 5 Ave W Cochrane, AB 403 851-4995 | ||||||
| French Quarter Café www |  | Cajun | Informal | A general rule we follow is not to look for restaurants with "Industrial Park" in their address. However, last time in Canmore we chose a more traditional setting and had a bad meal. (That restaurant has since closed.) So this time we decided to live dangerously. French Quarter has chairs and tables right from the Alps set against a jazz inspired décor. Very eclectic, just like New Orleans. The Cajun and Creole dishes are quite good, but are pulled down by uninspired trimmings such as plain salads and basic soups. This is a place to watch. Reservations Recommended. The Louisiana Bread pudding with whiskey sauce was superb, even for Dorothy who doesn't like whiskey. | #4 - 102 Boulder Cr. (Elk Run Industrial Park). Canmore, AB | ||||||
| Murrieta's West Coast Bar & Grill | | Grill | Informal | The old stone walls of the former Alberta Hotel site mixed with dark wood and a spectacular skylight give their Calgary location a feel of the old west. The food, however, is a bit more difficult to define. "West Coast" says sea food, and it is plentiful. The name has a ring of the old American southwest, and the appropriate spices are present. Although everything was well prepared, there was nothing we tried that really grabbed us. Reservations Recommended | 2nd Floor, 737 Main St. Canmore, AB | ||||||
| Quizno's Subs www | | 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. | 1120 Railway Avenue (betwen IGA and Safeway)) Canmore, AB 403 609-3318 | ||||||
| Pasu Farm www | | General | Informal | First, we have to say that we have been friends of PaSu Sheep Farm for years and highly recommend it as a place to take out-of-town visitors to give them a taste of the country. Pat and Sue remain enthusiastic hosts. The shop has unusual items, and the sheep and llamas and other animals make the day a pleasure for all ages. The food is good, featuring, of course, fresh lamb, though vegetables and other trimmings are a bit on the plain side. It is the service that has disappointed us. Coffee cups seldom refilled; the hot buffet staring half an hour after the cold food is out; serving dishes empty while new people are still arriving. These really don't take away from the pleasure of the overall experience too greatly, but there is an extra layer of attention that needs to go into a four glass restaurant. | Highway 2 North Take the Acme, Carstairs turn off, and follow the signs. (about 50 minutes from downtown Calgary) | Su Lunch noon - 1:00 p.m Tea 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tu to Sa Lunch noon - 2:00 p.m. Tea 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sa Fine dining from 6:30 p.m. | |||||
| Tim Hortons www | | Coffee | Informal | Our first problem was classifying Timmy's. It started out, of course, as a doughnut shop, but now serves everything from breakfast sandwiches to soup and chili. But most people think of it as their supplier of coffee. So, although it doesn't have the many speciality preparations of the others in this category, we decided that we would go with the coffee designation. Mind you, Grant found the coffee a bit bitter for his taste, but Dorothy balanced this out with an opinion that their hot chocolate was among the best around. And as we both thought the food items, including the doughnuts, were great tastse and value for the price, we finally did manage to come up with a rating. Good vegetarian selection. | Use the store locator to find the location nearest to you. Or step out the door, and you will probably see one. in Chestermere | ||||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants www | | Seafood | Informal | From their original emphasis on seafood, they have now branched out into Tennessee Jack's Rotisserie Chicken & Ribs at many locations. This attempt to be all things to all people seems to have lowered the general quality over the years. Even the original fish and chips are becoming more and more like a packaged frozen entrée you might heat up at home. | #
3 300 5 Ave. W Cochrane, AB 403 949-3336 | ||||||
| Quizno's Subs www | | 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. | 120 - 5 Ave. West Cochrane, AB 403 932-9801 | ||||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants www | | Seafood | Informal | From their original emphasis on seafood, they have now branched out into Tennessee Jack's Rotisserie Chicken & Ribs at many locations. This attempt to be all things to all people seems to have lowered the general quality over the years. Even the original fish and chips are becoming more and more like a packaged frozen entrée you might heat up at home. | High River, AB | ||||||
| Country Cousins Restaurant | | General | Informal | Now you are in Mennonite country, so this is what you expect—simple, wholesome, inexpensive food in generous portions. At Country Cousins Restaurant, this is exactly what you get. Step back in time to home cooking as it once was. You can even buy some of the delicious sausage or a homemade pie on your way out. A "4" designation usually means a "destination" restaurant. Well, if you are in Linden this certainly is a place to seek out, and if you are from Calgary out drving, this is a good place to stop. We recommend the menu, though there is a buffet—all you can eat or single plate, large or small—at noon and night daily. | 1 St. NW (just off Centre Ave.) Linden, AB 403 546-4444 | M to Sa 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. | |||||
| Angel and Crown |  | Bar | Informal | Simply put, the food was horrible. For example, we had fish and chips with the skin and bones included at no extra charge. That would have made it a 1 glass restaurant. However, the culinary insult was compounded by a rude manager who actually walked away from us in the middle of a discussion. Support us by not eating here. |
58 St Martins Lane Covent Garden London, England | ||||||
| Cora www | | Diner | Informal | This is "Chez Cora" if you are from Quebec, and is a part of the popular chain of breakfast diners from that province. Breakfasts are always a difficult call for reviewers as, after all, they are breakfasts with bacon and eggs and waffles and all the other things most of us cook quite well at home. So in the end of the day, we end up looking closely at the quality of the product and the originality hidden among the fried eggs. Here Cora does well with a French touch in its crêpes and the healthy amount of fruit included with most dishes. Grant missed the hash browns, but it was decided that he just has to get over this and enjoy the potatoes they do serve. And do remember that as with all breakfast diners in Calgary, EXPECT LINEUPS. | 28 Southridge Dr. Okotoks, AB (403) 938-1522 | ||||||
| Quizno's Subs www | | 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. | #309 201 Southridge Dr. (across from Canadian Tire)) Okotoks, AB 403 995-1893 | ||||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants www | | Seafood | Informal | From their original emphasis on seafood, they have now branched out into Tennessee Jack's Rotisserie Chicken & Ribs at many locations. This attempt to be all things to all people seems to have lowered the general quality over the years. Even the original fish and chips are becoming more and more like a packaged frozen entrée you might heat up at home. | 110G 800 Pine Rd. (just south of Highway 1 Strathmore, AB 403 949-3336 | ||||||
| Quizno's Subs www | | 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. | #1101 800 Pine Rd. (just south of Highway 1)) Strathmore, AB 403 901-0032 | ||||||
| Carman’s www |  | Steak | Formal | You're right; this isn't even near Calgary, but it is our favourite formal steak restaurant and sets a standard against which all eateries of any kind are judged. Reservations required. | 26 Alexander St. Toronto, Ontario (2 north of College, just east of Yonge) 416 924-8697 | ||||||
| Route 40 Soup Company www | | Gourmet | Informal | Don't be fooled. This restaurant is about more than soup, though their soups are superb. There are salads and wraps and pastas, and excellent desserts as well, all at reasonable prices. And now there is a dinner service with a small but tasty menu of dinner favourites from shepherd's pie to duck. The setting is a classic piece of Albertan architecture, having been almost everything from a Chinese laundry to a doctor's office. Now it is a bright and friendly stop to be included on any trip southwest of Calgary. Reservations are taken for the evenings and recommended for weekends especially. Good vegetarian selection. Try the road chips. | Main Street (Highway 22) 403-933-7676 Turner Valley, AB | Su
closed M to Tu 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. W to Sa 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Times are seasonal, so watch the website. |
