| Restaurant | Rating | Type of Food | Style | Description | Information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Touch of Ginger Delight |  | 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. www | 227 - 7 St. SW 693-8778 | ||||||
| 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. www | 240 Bow Valley Square One 269-6548 Bankers Hall 265-6964 Eaton's Centre 237-7408 | Scotia Fashion Centre 269-3438 136 - 8 Ave. SE 263-3808 | |||||
| Avenue Diner |  | 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 263-2673 | M to W 7:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Th to F 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sa, Su 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | |||||
| 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 290-1500 | Su to Th 11:00 a.m. - 1 a.m. F, Sa 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | |||||
| The Belvedere | | 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 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. | www | ||||
| 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 261-4646 | Su Closed M to F 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sa 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |||||
| 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) 263-5232 | 225 - 8 Ave. SW 263-0285 | |||||
| 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 264-1222 | M to F 11 a.m. - midnight Sa 4:30 - midnight | |||||
| Catch Oyster Bar | | Seafood | Informal | This oyster bar constitutes the lower floor of the Catch Seafood establishment right on the Stephen Avenue Mall. It is a favourite of business lunchers and, its wood surroundings make it a comfortable extension of the 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 better coleslaw at a place like Trawlers. | 100 Stephen Ave. SE 206-0000 | ||||||
| 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 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 | | General | Informal | The usual hotel fare. | 209 4 Ave. SE (Delta Bow Valley Hotel) 205-5433 www | ||||||
| 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 261-6674 | ||||||
| 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. | 315 - 8 Ave. SW (Banker's Hall) 265-3275 www | ||||||
| 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) 269-9255 | Open 7 days a week at 7 a.m. | |||||
| Fairmont Palliser Hotel | | 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. 260-1219 | Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. www | |||||
| 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 | | 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 www | ||||||
| Galaxie Diner | | 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 228-0001 www | 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 | | East Indian | Informal | The service is friendly. We though it was OK. Good vegetarian selection. Reservations recommended, especially at noon | 515 - 4 Avenue SW 263-8804 www | Su & Hol Closed Buffet M to F 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Dinner M to Sa 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |||||
| The hot dog stand at the southeast corner of 3 St. & 7 Ave. SW | | 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. | Ok, stop for a moment and guess where this place is and whether they have a phone or not. | Good weather only | |||||
| Joey Tomato's Mediterranean Grill | | Italian | Informal | The food is filling, trendy "Mediterranean", but the service can be slow. www | 208 Barclay Parade SW (Eau Claire Market) 263-6336 | ||||||
| Juan's Mexican Restaurante | | 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 266-0051 www | Su closed M to F 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sa 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.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 | Bow Valley Square 264-0453 Bankers Hall 234-0036 Eau Claire 205-3500 Western Canadian Place 801 - 6 St. SW 261-9706 | 605 - 5 Ave. SW 262-9436 Fifth Avenue Place 262-0398 Art Gallery of Calgary 119 - 8 Ave. SW 410-9358 | Eaton Centre 294-1680 | Calgary Place M260 345 - 4 Ave. SW 261-6652 | |||
| Jonas' Restaurant | | 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 262-3302 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. | 1101 - 5 St. SW 403 266-1036 320-4th Avenue SW (Westin Hotel) 403 699-9843 | ||||||
| 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. | Calgary Eaton Centre | Home delivery: 296-0000. www | |||||
| 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 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 | | 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. | 820 - 11 Ave. SW 264-7241 www | 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) 237-5787 | M to F 11:30 a.m. - close Weekends 11:30 a.m. a.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |||||
| Mmmarvelous Mmmuffins | Coffee | | Informal | Good, fresh muffins and coffee at reasonable prices served with great friendliness. This is really a place that remembers your name and preferences. Good vegetarian selection. Note: This is a site–specific review. The friendliness that surrounds this establishment is largely due to proprietor, Mike. | 751 - 3 St SW 403 233-7003 | ||||||
| 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. | 318 - 8 Ave. SW 263-5432 | ||||||
| Milestone's Grill & Bar | | 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 410-9521 www | ||||||
| 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.) 262-7773 | Su and Holidays 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. M to Th 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Fr, Sa 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. | |||||
| 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 | 888- 7 Ave. SW 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 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 265-5017 | ||||||
| O.N. Bar & Grill | | Gourmet | Informal | When Grant came here for a job interview in 1977, this is where he was taken for lunch, so he still has a soft spot for the place. This is a long-time Calgary site recently got a new name, changing from the "Owl's Nest" to the more ambiguous "O.N." (pronounced "on"). The menu is limited, but the selections are well prepared, served and presented. Reservations are suggested. | The Westin Hotel 4 Ave. & 3 St. SW 266-1611 www | M to F 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. Sa 5:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. | |||||
| 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 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 262-3633 Reservations at noon are advisable. | ||||||
| Palace of Eats/ Avenue Deli | | Deli | Informal | We have included two restaurants in this listing as they have the same management and almost the same menu. And they both follow 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. | Avenue Deli 33 Ave. & 19 St. SW Su 1:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. M - Sa 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Palace of Eats 1411 - 11th St. SW 244-6602 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. www | |||||
| Pegasus Restaurant Ltd. | | Greek | Informal | Great Greek food, but with small portions. | 1101 14 St. SW 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. | |||||
| Prego Cucina Italiana | | Italian | Lunch | Good Italian food. | Second Level Eau Claire Market SW 233-7885 | M to F 11:30 am - 2 p.m. M to Sa 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. | |||||
| 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 | #125 400 - 5 Ave. SW 313-2391 234 - 7 Ave. SW (Scotia Centre) 265-4030 | ||||||
| River Café | | 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. Reservations recommended. |
Prince's Island Park 261-7670 | Lunch Dinner Weekend Brunch | www | ||||
| 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 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 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 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 | |||||
| Sahara Restaurant & Lounge | | 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 262-7222 www | M to Th 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. F 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | |||||
| Saigon | | Vietnamese | Informal | More Formal than “Vietnam Restaurant" and with less clutter, but the food is not quite as good. So you have to make a choice between atmosphere and taste. | 1221 - 12 Ave. SW 228-4200 | Su noon - 9 p.m. M to Th 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., 5 - 10 p.m. F 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.; Sa 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.; | |||||
| Saint Germain | | French | Informal | A quiet haven of French cuisine in the heart of downtown Calgary. Reservations suggested as this is a popular spot for group functions, and it is best to check ahead for availability. Good vegetarian selection. | 115 12th Avenue SW (in the Hotel Arts) 290-1322 www | 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 263-3446 Ernst & Young 440 - 2 Ave. SW 294-1164 Petro Canada #110 111 5 Ave. SW 264-8449 Eaton Centre 266-4364 1517 - 10 Ave. SW 265-1810 #240 140 - 4 Ave. SW 220-01810 | 5 Ave. Place Main Level 233-7458 | |||||
| The Siding Café | | General | Informal | The only problem we faced with this restaurant was determining its category. With its decor and the large breakfast and burger menu, it might be a diner. The sandwich take–out counter made it a deli. Then noticing the ribs and pastas, we thought it could very well be a gourmet bistro. But no, it is just itself, and does that well, becoming a delightful diner, a deluxe deli and a superb bistro all in one. Give it a try. Good vegetarian selection. www | #111 100 - 7 Ave. SW 262-0282 | Su 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. M to Th 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. F to Sa 11:00 a.m. - midnight | |||||
| Singapore Sam's | | 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 234-8088 www | ||||||
| Skazka Restaurant & Bar | | Russian | Informal | Sad reviews are usually about restaurants that start well and then don't quite live up to expectations. This is such a review. We started with a borsch that had the homemade elegance of the original recipe and Russian rye bread that was warm and delicious. The flavour and presentation of our main meat entrées was excellent, but the cut of meat was not filet quality. Then there were no coffee refills and the service just seemed to disappear by the end of the meal. Unfortunately the overall impression at the end of the meal was one of "almost" rather than "right on". Reservations recommended at noon and on Fridays and Saturdays. www | 515 - 1 St SE 265-0012 | Closed Sundays | |||||
| 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 | | 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. Reservations recommended. | 208 - 8 Ave. SE 290-1012 www | 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 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 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. | |||||
| Vicious Circle | | 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 269-3951 www | Sa, Su 6:00 p.m. 2:00 a.m. M to Th 11:30 a.m. 1:00 a.m. F 11:30 a.m. 2:00 a.m. | |||||
| Vietnam Restaurant | | Vietnamese | Informal | Wonderful food served in a casual atmosphere. | 2 Floor 227 - 12 Ave. SE 263-0995 | Su to Th 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. F, Sa 11 a.m. - midnight | |||||
| Vintage Chophouse and Tavern | | 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. The stuffed potato almost defeated Grant. | 322 - 11 Ave. SW 262-7262 www | 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. |
