Gourmet

Restaurant	Rating	Type of Food	Style	Description	Information
Alloy www		Gourmet	Informal	One of our favourite parts of going to Alloy is driving our friends into the light industrial area of southeast Calgary (just off McLeod Trail) to find a first class restaurant. But suddenly there it is. The setting is fresh. And if you aren't sure what we mean by that, go there to find out. The food is excellent, with sauces that don't overwhelm what they are complimenting. And the servers don't start putting pepper and salt on the food before you have even tried it. We do suspect that this habit in so many restaurants means the chefs don't really know how to season food properly in the first place. Click here to make reservations through Open Table.	220 - 42 Ave. SE 403 287-9255
Antonio's Garlic Clove www	Rating for Vampires: 0	Gourmet	Informal	Don't make that face! Garlic can be cooked and eaten in many ways, and Tony has mastered them all, including fried bananas with garlic topping and chocolate covered roasted garlic buds for dessert. The setting is comfy bistro. The service is friendly, and the servings are large. What more could one want? Breath mints! And if you are worried about what others may say, just order a half portion or ask for less garlic. Reservations recommended.	2206 - 4 St. SW 403 228-0866	Su to M 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Tu to Th 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. F to Sa 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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.
Brava Bistro www		Gourmet	Informal	With a motto of "Dine like you mean it." this restaurant really means it. They begin with a Mediterranean base and run with creativity from there. The sauces are subtle, but made to bring out the true nature of whatever is underneath, unlike so many restaurants with the barbeque mentality which seeks to mask the meat flavour altogether. The setting is modern bistro, but without the cramped confusion that often surrounds that word. The service is knowledgeable and friendly. The servings are plenteous. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. According to the menu: Fresh vegetarian dishes can be created on request.	723 - 17 Ave. SW 403 228-1854	Su 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. M to Sa 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. M to W 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Th to Sa 5:00 p.m. - midnight
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
cilantro		Gourmet	Informal	Like Dr. Who's TARDIS, this original store building on 17 Avenue is larger inside than out, but retains a friendly hominess as it surrounds you with warm wood on all sides. The staff are FEK—friendly, efficient, knowledgeable. The food, however, while quite creative in its combinations and certainly tasty in general was lukewarm, and no one dish that anyone ordered cried out to be tried again. Reservations are recommended, at noon especially.	338 - 17 Ave. SW 403 229-1177
The Coup www		Gourmet	Informal	The food in this comfy little bistro is not ethnic vegetarian or let's–pretend–this–is–meat vegetarian, but actual original dishes made to be delicious and well worth trying whether you are vegetarian or not.	924B - 17 Ave. SW 403 541-1041	Lunch and Dinner Tu to Su
Highwood		Gourmet	Buffet	SAIT houses one of the world's great schools for chefs as shown by the number of Olympic medals our cooking teams have won. The Highwood gives these students a change to show their strength. The buffet is one of the largest we have seen. Some of the dishes do try to hard to be new and different, but the overall impression is one of elegance and good taste. Good vegetarian selection. Click here to make reservations through Open Table.	at SAIT 1302 - 16 Ave. NW Enter off 16 Avenue; use the short-term parking lot. The Highwood is in the John Ware Building to the south of the lot. 403 284-8615 Ext. 2 www	M to F 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Buffet Th 11:00 a.m. Dinner M to Th from 6:00 p.m. F, Sa Catering 210-4492
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 www
Kensington Riverside Inn www		Gourmet	Informal	Food as art might not be the motto of the Riverside Inn, but it could be. The open kitchen in the intimate setting gives one an ample opportunity to watch the patience, skill and care with which each dish is created. Chef Ramsay fans might be disappointed that this is no "Hell's Kitchen" with food and insults flying around to cries of, "Yes, chef." Here there is just a sense of tasty art being quietly and thoughtfully prepared. And the presentation arising from all of this work is excellent. And, of course, so is the flavour, the service and the setting. We highly approve. Whether you try the chef's tasting menu or choose your favourites from the regular listing, you can't go wrong. Click here to make reservations through Open Table.	1126 Memorial Drive NW, 403 228-4442 Toll Free: 877 313-3733
The Living Room		Gourmet	Informal	Officially the food here is "Contemporary Interactive Cuisine". For those who need a translation, that means: appealing platters, perfectly prepared and pleasantly presented with delightful "interactive" extras like fondues for two (if you happen to be piggy Dawsons) or more (if you are mere mortals). The vegetarian selection is not large but is sufficient to give a tempting choice while avoiding the usual Caesar salad or a plate of stir fried bland vegetables and pasta.	514 - 17 Ave. SW 403 228-9830 www	Lunch Tu to F 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Dinner Daily 5:00 p.m. - midnight
muse restaurant & lounge www		Gourmet	Business Casual (though depending on your business, that could vary quite a bit)	There are two kinds of gourmet chefs. One pushed the envelope of flavour and ends up with a hit and miss menu; the other has the knack of finding unique, pleasing flavour almost every time. The muse staff fall into the successful part of that equation. From Oven Toasted Brussel Sprouts to Yukon Potato Lobster Lasagna there are pleasant surprises here for everyone. And the multi–level eye–pleasing setting adds visual flavour to the food savour. Just ask for even more vegetarian selections. Click here to make reservations through Open Table.	107 - 10A Street NW 403 670-6873
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
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 261-7670	Lunch Dinner Weekend Brunch
Rouge www		Gourmet	Informal	We had always known Rouge as a delightful banquet/reception venue, so decided to test how it did as a from–the–menu restaurant. It excelled. A simple historic setting, a knowledgeable, friendly staff and innovative, delicious dishes. What more could one want? The menu is, as they describe it, "Contemporary French". But we have placed it in the "Gourmet" category so people don't arrive there expecting the usual French onion soup and escargot. The cuisine does dip into French sauces and French cooking methods, but the goes far beyond the original.    Click here to make reservations through Open Table.	1240 - 8 Ave. SE 403 531-2767	Lunch (June to August and December) M to F 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Dinner M to Sa 5:00 p.m. to close Closed holidays
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.
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
The Verve		Gourmet	Informal	The menu begins with a strong Italian base and then moves all over the culinary map from Thai to hamburgers. The food is enjoyable. There are some excellent dishes, like the soups, and some other ordinary ones. We shall probably give it another try just to see if perhaps this was an off day. Good vegetarian selection.	512 - 23 Ave. SW 403 229-9366	S 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. M to F 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. M to Sa 5:00 p.m. - close