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Alberta’s favourite Chinese-Canadian dish, ginger beef is believed to have been invented decades ago in one of the city’s Chinese restaurant kitchens. Battered, deep-fried beef strips smothered in sweet-and-tangy orange chili sauce (sans ginger!), it’s a guilty pleasure for foodies and just plain old delicious comfort food for everyone else. These restaurants serve some of the best ginger beef you’ll find anywhere.
The Beltline – that neighbourhood directly south of downtown that is essentially the “middle” of Calgary – is rife with eateries, shops and, of course, places to drink. If you’re looking for a spot to park yourself and enjoy a pint, these joints are great for having a drink in the heart of the city.
Ever face the dilemma of having to please the differing tastes of a bunch of friends while dining out? The eateries listed here solve this culinary complication by serving small-plate snacks or tapas dishes that are perfect for sampling and sharing.
“We’re lucky here,” says wine and food writer, educator and commentator Linda Garson, referring to the exciting wine menus on Calgary’s fine-dining scene. Several of the city’s high-end restaurants maintain wine lists that are as big a draw as their food. “I call them the big guns, because they go in blazing,” says Linda, who shares her insights on these vino giants here.
A pedestrian-friendly stretch of Eighth Avenue Southwest, Stephen Avenue Walk is a popular downtown destination for shoppers and restaurant goers. The area’s mix of upscale dining rooms, casual fine dining restaurants and quick-service eateries also makes it a favourite haunt of downtown office workers. Naturally, a lot of business is conducted over lunch at area restaurants such as the ones listed here.
When you just need to escape the city for a few hours, take a drive to one of many small-town restaurants within easy road-trip reach of Calgary. From Cochrane to Canmore, Okotoks to Strathmore and Bragg Creek, the variety of eateries and cuisine styles is surprising.
“You’ve got to be open minded with chef’s tasting menus,” says Culinaire magazine publisher and Vine and Dine host Linda Garson. These curated meals about discovering tastes and techniques. Also be aware that they’re fine-dining affairs and may have minimum party sizes. Some require reservations, and substitutions are often not possible. Below, Linda recommends some of the city’s most exciting multi-course meals.
As a musician, actor, writer and Calgary’s inaugural poet laureate, Kris Demeanor requires plenty of creative time. He can often be found at inner-city cafés, coffee houses and restaurants working away on his notepad or laptop or simply reading a book. Kris favours thinking spots that have a pleasant atmosphere, with distracting TV screens being a minus and patios a plus. Here he shares his favourite inspirational hangouts.
There aren’t enough Thai restaurants in this town, but the handful Calgary does have are real winners and often quite busy. Fragrant with basil, galangal, satay and lemongrass, their cuisine styles and dish selections are typically extensive and deliciously diverse from place to place.
It’s all Greek to me, and deliciously so. Calgary’s Greek restaurants feature a mix of classic and updated Mediterranean cuisine. Here are a few of the city’s best.
Calgary Opera’s Opera in the Village takes place in an open-air tent on the East Village RiverWalk on August 13, 14, 20, 21, 2016. Performances of Hansel and Gretel and Archiebaldo! begin at 1 pm and 7 pm, respectively. Purchase tickets early, and pair the evening affair with reservations at one of the following nearby eateries. Photo by Trudie Lee: Lynne McMurtry and Tracy Dahl in Candide.
With Calgary’s food scene punching well above its weight, your out-of-town visitors may well arrive hungrily brandishing a list of acclaimed city eateries. Whether your guests have done their homework or not, impress them with your own list of must-visit restaurants.