| Restaurant | Rating | Type of Food | Style | Description | Information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Touch of Ginger Delight www |  | Vietnamese | Informal | This has been a popular lunch stop for many who work in the Sunridge Mall area for years. Dorothy likes it for the low prices, and Grant says the food is tasty, so both sides of the equation are met. They specialize in both Vietnamese and Thai food, though the majority of dishes are Vietnamese. Good vegetarian selection. | 227 - 7 St. SW 403 693-8778 | ||||||
| A & W www |  | 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. | 240 Bow Valley Square One 403 269-6548 Bankers Hall 403 265-6964 Eaton's Centre 403 237-7408 | Scotia Fashion Centre 403 269-3438 136 - 8 Ave. SE 403 263-3808 | |||||
| Avenue Diner www |  | Diner | Informal | Here we have upscale dinering on the downtown restaurant strip. The prices. however, remain in the diner bracket, and the portions are as they should be—truck-driver breakfast size. Though the food quality seems to have dropped a little recently. Good vegetarian selection. | 105A - 8 Ave. SW 403 263-2673 | M to F 7:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Sa, Su 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | |||||
| Bar B. Q. Hot Dogs and Sausages |  | Hot Dogs | Take Out | You get exactly what you would expect with an excellent price and product: hot, large hot dogs of various kinds, a few basic condiments, even including sauerkraut and a cold drink if you wish. Good vegetarian selection. | usually at the southeast corner of 3 St. & 7 Ave. SW OK, stop for a moment and remember this is a hot dog stand, and then ask whether they have a phone or not. | Good weather only | |||||
| The Barley Mill Eatery & Pub | | Bar | Informal | The Barley Mill has slipped steadily since our first visit in 1997. The food has become more and more bland. At the same time, the potatoes seem to have grown in size, while the chickens must have suffered from breast reductions. There is still a pleasant pub-like atmosphere here, but there are better places to eat in this category. | 201 Barclay Parade SW, Eau Claire Market 403 290-1500 | Su to Th 11:00 a.m. - 1 a.m. F, Sa 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | |||||
| Belgo Brasserie www | | French | Upscale casual | The cuisine is French (and Belgian) based, and thus is able to do delightful things with some of the classic dishes. And there is even poutine for those with more French Canadian taste. All in all the food is excellent, but the service is consistently underwhelming. Note: The lounge at the front tends to be quite loud, so if you looking for a quieter atmosphere, ask to be seated toward the back. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 501- 8 Ave. SW 403 265-6555 | ||||||
| The Belvedere www | | Gourmet | Informal | The setting is a blend of the beams and bricks of an old Stephen Avenue establishment covered tastefully with the tiles and trappings of a first class restaurant. The food is also a pleasing blend of the traditional and the trendy. If you wish, you can have a meal in the bar or eat there choosing from a separate menu of smaller items. Reservations recommended. | 107 8 Ave. SW 403 265-9595 | M to F 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. M to Sa 5:00 p.m. - somewhere around10:30 p.m. | |||||
| Bonterra Trattoria www |  | Italian | Informal | Good reviews are so easy to write. For Bonterra: The atmosphere is old-world comfortable. The service is friendly and knowledgeable. The menu is varied. The food is plentious and delicious. There really isn't much more one looks for in a restaurant. Good vegetarian selection.  Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 1016 - 8 St., SW 403 262-8480 | ||||||
| Booker's BBQ Grill & Crab Shack www | | Grill/ Seafood | Informal | Some restaurants spend thousands trying to get an authentic dockside atmosphere. Booker's just chose Calgary's well–worn east end and benefits from a real sense of old and gritty. And it works wonderfully, especially if you are there when a blues band is playing. Now here's our suggestion as to how to get the most out of Booker's. Order a variety of ors d'oeuvres, being sure to get both grill and seafood items. Then perhaps a salad or something else light. Then you will have room left for dessert. Otherwise you may suffer from over–stuffed–icity.  Crab cakes.Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 316 - 3 St. SE 403 264-6419 | Su 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. M to Th 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. F 11:30 a.m. - midnight Sa 4:0 p.m. - midnight | |||||
| Buchanan's | | Steak | Informal | This is a good steak place for the west end of downtown crowd. Their burgers have been rated by others as the best in town. We would say they are very good ground steak sandwiches, but for real burgers we would go elsewhere. | 738 - 3 Ave. SW 403 261-4646 | Su Closed M to F 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sa 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |||||
| Caesar's Steak House |  | Steak | Formal | A great formal setting, well-loved for business lunches, but nothing too unusual about the steak. | 512 - 4 Ave. SW 403 264-1222 | M to F 11 a.m. - midnight Sa 4:30 - midnight | |||||
| Caffe Atrigiano www | | Coffee | Informal | The coffee is exquisite, and the sandwiches are quite good, But with that acknowledgement, our group began squabbling over whether the prices were in line and if some of the dessert offerings were not as tasty as they might be. Thus the rating, a little below some other establishments, but making Artigiano still well–worth a visit. Good vegetarian selection. | 332 - 6 Ave SW (though actually it faces 3 St.) | Suite 103 - 400 4 St. SW 403 262-2343 | |||||
| Catch Oyster Bar www | | Seafood (Downstaris) | Informal | This oyster bar constitutes the lower floor of the Catch restaurant establishment right on the Stephen Avenue Mall. It is a favourite of business lunchers and its traditional wood surroundings make it a comfortable extension of the office boardroom. The oysters are excellent and the rest of the menu has some hits, but too many misses for our taste. For example, the basic fish and chips can be obtained for less and with at least euqal quality at a place like Trawlers. Note that what we have decided to call "Catch Restaurant", i.e. the upstaris dining area has a separate review. The seafood here is approved by the Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise program.Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 100 Stephen Ave. SE 403 206-0000 | ||||||
| Catch Restaurant www |  | Gourmet (Upstairs) | Informal | This portion of the Catch building has moved from its original seafood format to an eclectic gourmet menu. The food is elegantly tasty and plated with originality and style. The servers are knowledgeable and friendly. The atmosphere is current with delightful hints of the old Imperial Bank decor peaking through. Note that the Catch Oyster Bar, i.e. the downstairs portion of this establishment has a separate review. The seafood here is approved by the Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise program. Try the chef's tasting menu.Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 100 Stephen Ave. SE 403 206-0000 | ||||||
| Cedars Deli & Restaurant | | Middle Eastern | Deli | "A Taste of Lebanon" sums up what this deli-style restaurant offers, and at the counter you can pick up goodies to take home and make your own Mediterranean meals. And if you are getting tired of the same old sandwiches or pizza at meetings, The Cedars can provide some exciting falafel and shwarma sandwich trays with great sweets for dessert. Good vegetarian selection. | Eau Claire Market (Lower Level) 403 263-5232 | 225 - 8 Ave. SW 403 263-0285 | |||||
| Chili Club Thai Restaurant | | Thai | Informal | This is the elegant side of Thai dining with subdued lighting and friendly, informed staff. The non-smoking atmosphere added to the pleasure for us. But the restaurant is quite small, so reservations are a good idea. Good vegetarian selection. | #125 555 - 11 Ave. SW 403 237-8828 | Su 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. M 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Tu to Th 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. F 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. Sa 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. | |||||
| The Coffee Emporium www | | General | Informal | The usual hotel fare. | 209 4 Ave. SE (Delta Bow Valley Hotel) 403 205-5433 | ||||||
| Dae Jang Geum | | Korean | Informal | The food here is authentic, served in a very relaxed atmosphere. But there was no dish that was memorable enough to draw us back to explore the menu further. | 1324 10 Ave SW (403) 228-1120 | ||||||
| Drum & Monkey Public House | | Bar | Informal | Bars fall into three categories. Some are just the extension of restaurants with more smoke and noise. Others—usually in hotels—are quiet meeting places for business people. Then there are real pubs—local gathering places for people who just like getting together for drinks, with food usually thrown in as an extra. The Drum & Monkey, introduced to us by our son, Scott, belongs to the last category. This kind of eatery, however, is hard to judge. The factors that draw people to places like this are mysterious. They centre more on atmosphere and community than food or drink. The D & M has a traditional front room with the obligatory brick walls and beer posters. Then there is a louder and darker back room with everything from plastic Tiki gods to a velvet Elvis. So what about the food? The variety is surprisingly wide from the all day English breakfast to Lasagna, and from fish and chips to meatloaf. And it was quite good. Don't go here alone. Take a group of rowdy friends and prepare for some smoke and noise, and if the ambiance fits, as Scott and his friends discovered, you'll be there on a regular basis. Good vegetarian selection. | 1201 - 1 St. SW 403 261-6674 | ||||||
| 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. | 315 - 8 Ave. SW (Banker's Hall) 403 265-3275 | ||||||
| Eddy's Nest Pizza, Pasta & Steak | | Pizza | Take Out/ Delivery | We are judging this one only on the "pizza" part. Take out steak seems a little sacrilegious. But the pizza is full–bodied though a little on the un-spicy side. There is free delivery for those within a 5 km. radius. Good vegetarian selection. | 735 - 12 Ave. SW 403 244-3838 | ||||||
| 1886 Café | | General | Informal | This small café is set in one of the last original wooden buildings in the Prince's Island area, right in the middle of the Eau Claire Market complex. They specialize in breakfast, and the food is good, but the service rather unfriendly. | 187 Barclay Parade SW (Eau Claire Market) 403 269-9255 | Open 7 days a week at 7 a.m. | |||||
| Fairmont Palliser Hotel www | | Brunch (Buffet) | Smart Casual | Set in the traditional Rimrock Room and with a selection ranging from waffles to roast beef and omelettes to eggs Benedict, there isn't much this buffet lacks. Reservations Recommended. Good vegetarian selection. | 133 - 9 Ave. SW If you don't know where the Palliser is, you should probably lose your Calgary walking licence. 403 260-1219 | Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | |||||
| Falafel King www | | Middle Eastern | Informal | Good falafels served with a why-are-you-bothering-us attitude. Good vegetarian selection. | 225 - 8 Ave. SW | ||||||
| Fiasco Gelato www | | 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. | 807 - 1 St. SW | ||||||
| Galaxie Diner www | | Diner | Informal | Here was a restaurant that saw a split in the vote between Grant and Dorothy. Dorothy thought the hashbrowns were a bit salty and found the coffee strong. Grant downed the coffee and had helping after helping of the hashbrown refills. Then there was a debate as to whether it was on the 17 Ave. strip--It is just south of 17th.-- or whether it should be under the downtown listings. So here is the final decision: This downtown, breakfast-all-day type diner provides just what it promises-- good old-fashioned breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches and home made milkshakes. Some will like it more than others, but that is always the case. Give it a try and decide for yourself, but take cash as they do not accept credit cards. | 1414 - 11 St. SW 403 228-0001 | Sa, Su, Hol
7:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. M to F 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | |||||
| Glory of India www | | East Indian | Informal | The service is friendly. We though it was OK. Good vegetarian selection. Reservations recommended, especially at noon Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 515 - 4 Avenue SW 403 263-8804 | Su & Hol Closed Buffet M to F 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Dinner M to Sa 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Take out M to Sa 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. | |||||
| Joey Tomato's Mediterranean Grill www | | Italian | Informal | The food is filling, trendy "Mediterranean", but the service can be slow. | 208 Barclay Parade SW (Eau Claire Market) 403 263-6336 | ||||||
| Juan's Mexican Restaurante www | | Mexican | Informal | There are no maracas or sombreros nailed to the wall or burros painted on the door, but with friendly right-from-Mexico staff and good food, the atmosphere is far more authentic here than in many places that put more emphasis on the decor than the dishes. Good vegetarian selection. | In the basement of Scotia Centre Entrance off Stephen Avenue 403 266-0051 | Su closed M to F 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sa 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |||||
| Jugo Juice www | | 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. | Bow Valley Square 403 264-0453 Bankers Hall 403 234-0036 Eau Claire 403 205-3500 Western Canadian Place 801 - 6 St. SW 403 261-9706 | 605 - 5 Ave. SW 403 262-9436 Fifth Avenue Place 403 262-0398 Art Gallery of Calgary 119 - 8 Ave. SW 403 410-9358 | Eaton Centre 403 294-1680 | Calgary Place M260 345 - 4 Ave. SW 403 261-6652 | |||
| Jonas' Restaurant www | | Hungarian | Informal | The speciality here is Hungarian homestyle cuisine. That means hearty dishes with rich sauces and plenty of home–made dumplings or potatoes at a reasonable prices. The dessert crepes are also delicious, but you may have to come back another day to try them as the main courses are quite filling. Good vegetarian selection. Reservations recommended, especially at noon. | 937 - 6 Ave. SW 403 262-3302 | ||||||
| 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. | 1101 - 5 St. SW 403 266-1036 320-4th Avenue SW (Westin Hotel) 403 699-9843 | ||||||
| KFC www | | 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. | Calgary Eaton Centre | Home delivery: 403 296-0000. | |||||
| Khublai Mongolian and Szechuan Cuisine | | Mongolian | Buffet | As well as the usual buffet, this restaurant now offers a regular Chinese menu for those unsure of their ability to mix the items properly. The setting was spacious and pleasant with quick service. The menu selections were found to be average The variety at the buffet was wide, but small servings of hoisin sauce and charges for extra wraps mixed with the lack of flavour in some items put this restaurant a small step behind in this category. Good vegetarian selection. | 349 - 10 Ave. SW 403 232-8800 | Su & Holidays 5:00 p.m. - close M to F 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 5 p.m. - close Sa 5:00 p.m. - close | |||||
| The King and I Thai Cuisine www | | Thai | Informal | The setting is strikingly modern, in a Thai-ish sort of way, but the food meets the highest standards of traditional Thai cuisine with a few fusion twists like banana-filled spring rolls with coconut ice cream. Yes, the prices are higher than at some other places, but the servings are proportionately larger and the quality is excellent. Reservations recommended. Good vegetarian selection. If you are celebrating or just unsure of what to order and have a group of four or more, let us suggest the King's Feast for a broad selection of well-matched dishes. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 820 - 11 Ave. SW 403 264-7241 | Su 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. M - Th 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. F 11:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Sa 4:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. Su 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. | |||||
| La Tavola | | Italian | Informal | The décor is smart and inviting. The food is good, but overpriced. The service is passable. Reservations recommended during the noonhour. | #210 513 - 8 Ave SW (2 floor Penny Lane) 403 237-5787 | M to F 11:30 a.m. - close Weekends 11:30 a.m. a.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |||||
| Manuel Latruwe Belgian Patisserie & Bread Shop | | Bakery | Informal | This was a difficult review, as Manuel Latruwe produces excellent pastries, and an assortment of quiches and sandwiches as well. So far, so good. But we went especially for the belgium waffle breakfast, and this is what lost them points. The waffles were not particularly bad. But they were not big, pudgy Belgium ones, but rather very thin, somewhat anemic ones, with good toppings, but not horrifically superior to any number of other breakfast places in Calgary. Thus they ended up with a somewhat lower score than we would like to have given them, but with a high recommendation for the pasteries and other treats. Good vegetarian selection. | 1333-1313 1 St. SE (southbound Macleod Tr.) 403-261-1092 | Tu to Sa 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | |||||
| The Metropolitan Grill www | | 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 fits well into this category with a crisp business–like décore and high–quality dishes. On our visits the service has been a bit slow. And let's find a bit stronger buns to hold the burgers. Downtown: Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 318 - 8 Ave. SW 403 263-5432 | Open daily at 11:00 a.m. | |||||
| Milestone's Grill & Bar www | | General | Informal | What we have here is an upscale Earl's with everything from hamburgers to pasta and steak to nachos—all with a certain sense of style and friendly service. Again though in this mix there are some hits and some misses. Reservations are recommended at peak times. Good vegetarian selection. | 107 - 8 Ave. SE 403 410-9521 | ||||||
| Mongolie Grill | | Mongolian | Buffet | A choose–what–you–like–and–they–cook–it–for–you restaurant with a good selection of meats, vegetables, noodles, sauces/condiments and friendly service. Soup, rice and wraps are included as a part of the meal; the cost is based on the weight of what you pick up. There is a 20% discount if you choose vegetarian. They do tend to be a little understaffed. Good vegetarian selection. | 1108 - 4 St. SW (SE corner of 11 Ave.) 403 262-7773 | ||||||
| Moxie's www | | 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. | 888- 7 Ave. SW 403 234-7507 | ||||||
| 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 | #200 808 - 1 St. SW 403 269-7707 | ||||||
| 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 Breaks the Fast 516 - 9 Ave. SW 403 265-5017 | ||||||
| Orchid Room | | Vietnamese Fusion | Informal | The basics are Vietnamese but these are elegantly combined with Thai, East Indian and any other cuisine that has subtle spicing and delicate nuances of flavour. The setting is upscale as befits Bankers' Hall. The portions are generous as befits the Dawsons. Good vegetarian selection. | #244 315 - 8 Ave. SW 403 263-4457 | M to Sa 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. | |||||
| Oriental Phoenix Vietnamese Restaurant | | Vietnamese | Informal | For excellent Vietnamese food in a pleasing, friendly setting, this is the place. It is always a happy day when you can find an economical meal that leaves you truly satisfied. Good vegetarian selection. | Gulf Canada Square 9 Avenue SW 403 262-3633 Reservations at noon are advisable. | ||||||
| Palace of Eats www | | Deli | Informal | There are three cardinal rules of good restauranting: Keep it small; have a speciality. and do it well. Here the centre of attention is Montreal smoked meat either in a traditional sandwich or a Reuben, with bagels and lox included for a bit of variety. The meat is neither too cheap which makes it rubbery, too lean which makes it dry or too fatty which makes it greasy. It is just right. | Palace of Eats 1411 - 11th St. SW 403 244-6602 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | ||||||
| Parkerhouse Grill & Wine Bar www | | Bar | Lunch | We stopped by for lunch at this popular downtown haunt and found a staff eager to talk about the food and quite attentive in spite of the size of the crowd. And it was also pleasant to discover that we didn't feel crowded or that we had to shout to be heard. There is a good variety of food on the menu from mac and cheese to steak and clam chowder to pizza. Following the current trend in Calgary eating some of the old favourites have been spiffed up for the more discerning palate. There are some real treats in the process, but unfortunately some misses as well. All in all, it's worth a visit, if only for the rolls—parkerhouse, of course. Reservations recommended. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 131 6 Ave. SW 403 237-9585 | ||||||
| Pegasus Restaurant Ltd. | | Greek | Informal | Great Greek food, but with small portions. | 1101 14 St. SW 403 229-1231 | M to Th 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. F, Sa 5 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. | |||||
| Petite www | | Gourmet | Dinner | The menu is small, beginning with the less expensive items which may be used either as appetizers or as a selection of small dishes making up a shared dinner experience. The food is fresh and well-prepared, but no one dish really stood out for us. And unfortunately the service was far too slow. The night we were there, three servers were working with five tables, but in the end it took us so long to get the dessert menu that we just gave up on the idea altogether. Sadly it did seem as though those enjoying wine with their meal were paid far more attention that we coffee drinkers. Reservations recommended. They get quite a bit of their food from Community Natural Foods right across the street. | 1301 - 10 Ave. SW 403 452-5350 | Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Dinner 5:00 p.m. onwards | |||||
| Prego Cucina Italiana | | Italian | Lunch | Good Italian food. | Second Level Eau Claire Market SW 403 233-7885 | M to F 11:30 am - 2 p.m. M to Sa 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. | |||||
| 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. | #125 400 - 5 Ave. SW 403 313-2391 403 234 - 7 Ave. SW (Scotia Centre) 403 265-4030 | ||||||
| Redwater Rustic Grille www | | Grill | Informal | The restaurant's style isn't really "rustic" but rather clean, warm and modern. And the food isn't "rustic" either, rather a combination of traditional cooking and some truly original sauces instead of the usual BBQ trimmings. And there's pasta too if you're not in the mood for a big chunk of meat. In a city where grilled meat is a way of life, the menu here offers some pleasant surprises. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | #181 250 6 Ave. SW (Bow Valley Square) 403 265-3837 | ||||||
| River Café www | | Gourmet | Informal | Go here to see Calgary at its best: a pleasant island setting in the middle of the downtown. Go here to marvel at what can be done with an old hotdog outlet. Go here for good service. The food? Some excellent dishes, but many ordinary ones dressed up in expensive trappings. Yes, it is worth a visit, but the taste bud titillation for dollar ration is better elsewhere. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. |
Prince's Island Park 403 261-7670 | Lunch Dinner Weekend Brunch | |||||
| Rose Garden Restaurant | | Thai | Informal | The rating must be viewed in the light that the food here was excellent served in the finest Thai style. The problem was the unapologetically slow service. Yes, we will return, and maybe the rating will rise as well. They do have a lunch buffet. | 112 - 8 Ave. SW 403 264-1988 | ||||||
| Ruan Thai Restaurant | | Thai | Buffet |
The lunch buffet doesn't reflect the best of the regular menu, and the usually quite extensive vegetarian selection is sadly missing. | 1324 11 Ave. SW 403 262-7066 | M to F 11:30 a.m. Holidays Closed | |||||
| Ruan Thai Restaurant | | Thai | Informal | With a large menu of excellent dishes, the Ruan Thai has been one of our traditional choices for Thai food in the west end of the Beltline. Dorothy particularly appreciated the menu which showed which dished were ordered most often by customers. However, although the food is still well-prepared, the rating has dropped recently as the service has become slow and far less friendly.Good vegetarian selection. | 1324 11 Ave. SW 403 262-7066 | M to F 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sa, Su Summer 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Winter 4:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Su, Holidays Closed | |||||
| Rush www | | Gourmet | Business Casual | As a 5 rating indicates, the food, service and setting here are all in the excellent category. We find that what sets Rush apart is its attention to details. For example, sparkling water can be provided free with you meal, rather than gouging you $7 for something you can buy at Costco for $1.99. They point out the location of the washroom as they take you to you table, and no glass, cup or plate are every left unattended. These niceties and others like them are small details, but they help set the dining experience here apart from many other aspiring fine dining sites. Rush Dining: Click here to make reservations through Open Table. Rush Lounge: Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | #100 207 9 Ave. SW 403 2717874 | Sunday closed M to F 11:30 a.m. Lunch 5:00 p.m. Dinner Saturday 5:00 p.m. Dinner Su, Holidays Closed | |||||
| Sahara Restaurant & Lounge www | | Midle Eastern: Lebanese | Buffet | We would suggest trying the menu as the food does seem to be good, and the restaurant is certainly supported by the Lebanese community. However, at noon hour much of the buffet suffered from the warming tray blues, which took what might have been excellent and made it rather ordinary. Pastries were dry, the falafels were over–cooked, and the salad wilty. The soup and desserts, however, that were away from the heat lamps were quite good. Good vegetarian selection. | 739 - 2 Ave. SW 403 262-7222 | M to Th 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. F 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | |||||
| Saint Germain www | | French | Informal | A quiet haven of French cuisine in the heart of downtown Calgary. Good vegetarian selection. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 115 12th Avenue SW (in the Hotel Arts) 403 290-1322 | Su Closed Lunch M to F 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Dinner M to Th 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. F, Sa 5:00 p.m. - 11: 00 p.m. | |||||
| The Second Cup | | Coffee | Informal | The coffee was a bit strong, and we don't know where the spoons were, but this is an adequate place to pick up coffee for the office or grab a cup while shopping. Good vegetarian selection. | 255 - 5 Ave. SW 403 263-3446 Ernst & Young 440 - 2 Ave. SW 403 294-1164 Petro Canada #110 111 5 Ave. SW 403 264-8449 Eaton Centre 403 266-4364 1517 - 10 Ave. SW 403 265-1810 #240 140 - 4 Ave. SW 403 220-01810 | 5 Ave. Place Main Level 403 233-7458 | |||||
| Singapore Sam's www | | Chinese | Buffet | This favourite with the noonhour crowd has a large buffet, including some items not found in many spreads like sticky rice and french fries. The Mongolian grill selection is small, but provides a pleasant addition to the mix. However, in spite of our first pleasurable impressions, we found many dishes cool and were not offered anything to drink until we had been there for about 20 minutes even though the evening crowd was not large. A good vegetarian selection. | 555 - 11 Ave. SW 403 234-8088 | ||||||
| Sunterra www | | General | Informal | Most Calgarians have shopped at the high–end produce market, Sunterra. Many have tried their take–out dishes. But some have certainly mused, "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have them make an omelette right here for me or a burger or a sandwich or a salad or even a main course,, especially if that could be done for a reasonable price." Well, dreams have come true with the larger eat–in area in the West Market Square store. The dishes are simple but tasty and wholesome and economical. Give it a try. Good vegetarian selection. | Bankers Hall +15 level, 855-2 St. SW 403 269-3610 TransCanada Tower +15 level, 450- 1 St. SW 403 262-8240 Gulf Canada Square +15 level, 401-9 Ave. SW 403 263-9756 | ||||||
| Teatro www | | Italian | Informal | This restaurant remains a popular choice for pre-theatre dining. The setting is an old bank building decorated in simple but effective modern decor. Perhaps it is this backdrop that inspires the food which has a traditional Italian base embellished with the subtle touches of the best of current cuisine. Good vegetarian selection. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 208 - 8 Ave. SE 403 290-1012 | Su 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. M to Th 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. F 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Sa 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m.. Valet Parking Nightly | |||||
| Thai Sai-On | | Thai | Informal | This one of Calgary's oldest Thai restaurants, established even before Thai food became trendy. Its continuing popularity is well-deserved with good-sized, well-spiced portions; however, the service has slowed down a bit the last couple of times we have dropped in. Remember too that with Thai food you can use a fork and throw away those chop sticks. Good vegetarian selection. | 351 - 10 Ave. SW 403 264-3526 | Su Closed M to F Lunch 11:30 a.m.; Dinner 5:00 p.m. Sa Dinner 5:00 p.m. | |||||
| Tiki Ming | | Chinese | Fast Food | Amy Quon and company moved from Shan Tung to this new location in a downtown fast food court. At first, I must admit we were rather sceptical because the quality at such places is usually limited to steam table mediocre. But to our surprise many of our favourites from times past appeared before us freshly prepared and still delicious. At fast food prices, you can't beat this kind of meal. They will also cater to any size of party, so keep that in mind. Good vegetarian selection. | 270D 5 Ave. SW 403 263-8778 Note: There are other Tiki Mings but this rating is for this location only. | M to F 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 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. | ||||||
| Vicious Circle www | | Bar | Informal | Martinis is the key word here with a vast variety available. Some may push the definition of the drink, but who cares? They have some wonderful flavours. The menu includes lounge usuals like nachos and some less current items like perogies. The entrées fall into three categories: flat bread pizzas, melts and pastas. Generally we found the main dishes quite good, but some of munchies like the nachos quite ordinary. While there, watch for the artist of the month. You may find a new local favourite. Also if the sun is not shining, there may be a low light warning for those with poorer eyesight. | 1011 - 1 St. SW 403 269-3951 | Su 5:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. M to Th 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. F 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. Sa noon 2:00 a.m. | |||||
| Vietnam Restaurant | | Vietnamese | Informal | Wonderful food served in a casual atmosphere. | 2 Floor 227 - 12 Ave. SE 403 263-0995 | Daily 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |||||
| Vintage Chophouse and Tavern www | | Steak | Informal | The setting is comfortably modern. By that we mean that wisely placed spot lighting and plenty of warm wood manage to add a definite contemporary flair without leaving you feeling as if you are sitting in a minimalist museum. The tavern end of things does send some smoke and commotion into the dining area, but neither of these spoiled the meal, even for Dorothy who is allergic to smoke. The steak is excellent, but a variety of other dishes should please every member of the group including vegetarians. But beware. The portions are large, and served in the middle of the table, family style, so share and don't order too much. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 322 - 11 Ave. SW 403 262-7262 | Su 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. M to W 11:00 a.m. - Midnight Th & Fr 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. Sa 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a,m. | |||||
| Visionary Café & Bistro | | Sandwiches | Informal | The fare is simple: fresh made sandwiches and raps, drinks, soup and daily specials. But they do this well. What more can we say? This is a truly hidden downtown gem, but worth the search to fnd it. | 604 - 4 St. SW (on the ground floor behind the large cloud mural) 403 264-7447 | Lunch on weekdays and catering |
