| 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 912-0369 | ||||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants |  | 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. www | 121 Main St. Airdrie, AB 248-3003 | ||||||
| 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 | Yankee Valley Shopping Centre (east of Highway 2)) Airdrie, AB 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 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 |  | 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 | | 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 www | 11:30 a.m. - midnight | |||||
| Joe Btfsplk's Diner | | General | Informal | Here is a long-time Banff restaurant that harkens back to the days of chrome and jukeboxes. The name will be familiar only to those who were brought up with the "L'il Abner" comic strip, but that's good because they remember real diners too. The meal began with great promise with a friendly staff and an old fashioned milk shake that took Grant back to his childhood. Unfortunately what came next were bland burgers in buns that were too small and too weak for the patties inside and fries that were frozen. What diner in the good old says would have served frozen fries? Good atmosphere, but ordinary food. | 221 Banff Ave. on the west side of the main street Banff (403) 762-5529 www | ||||||
| The Keg Steakhouse & Bar www | | Steak | Informal | A good medium-priced steak house. Note: They do not take reservations—for reasons we do not understand—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 | | 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, www | 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 | ||||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants | | 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. www | 22 Balsam Ave. (just west of Highway 22) Bragg Creek, AB 949-3336 | ||||||
| Infusion Contemporary Cuisine |  | 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  www | ||||||
| French Quarter Café |  | 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 www | ||||||
| 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 | | 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 | 1120 Railway Avenue (betwen IGA and Safeway)) Canmore, AB 609-3318 | ||||||
| Pasu Farm | | 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. www | |||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants | | 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. www | #
3 300 5 Ave. W Cochrane, AB 949-3336 | ||||||
| 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 | 120 - 5 Ave. West Cochrane, AB 932-9801 | ||||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants | | 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. www | 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. | |||||
| La P'tite Table | | French | Informal | The service is friendly and the setting a delightful old building with a country–French flavour, but the food was not as hot as it could have been and rather average in a gourmet sort of way. Reservations required | 52 North Railway Street Okotoks, AB (15 minutes south of Calgary) 938-2224 | Tu to Sa 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. www | |||||
| 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 | #309 201 Southridge Dr. (across from Canadian Tire)) Okotoks, AB 995-1893 | ||||||
| Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants | | 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. www | 110G 800 Pine Rd. (just south of Highway 1 Strathmore, AB 949-3336 | ||||||
| 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 | #1101 800 Pine Rd. (just south of Highway 1)) Strathmore, AB 901-0032 | ||||||
| Carman’s |  | Steak in Calgary | 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 www | ||||||
| Route 40 Soup Company | | 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. 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. We suggest ordering a combination platter with a half wrap, some soup and a salad or, Grant's favourite, the road chips. Reservations are taken for the evenings and recommended for weekends especially. Good vegetarian selection. | Main Street (Highway 22) 403-933-7676 Turner Valley, AB www | Su
closed M to Tu 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. W to Th 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. F to Sa 11:00 .m. - 3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. to last seating at 8:00 p.m. |
