[RWin]

When does Artigiano open? I've got to try a new coffee shop.

[Rusty van Reddick]

When does Artigiano open? I've got to try a new coffee shop.

R- the original estimate was October, but of course Centrium itself (the bldg where Artigiano will be) wasn't completed on time. I googled "artigiano calgary" and found a blog that referenced a JANUARY opening. This is not good news but, ya know, it's almost November, so if it does open in Jan that's only a 2.5 month delay. Seems par for the course- restaurants (and good cafes like this one) seem especially prone to opening delays.

[Deepstar]

I like the idea of this thread, I can talk about restaurants all I want without feeling any guilt :)


So, folks, where's the best Indian buffet in town? I've been to a few of them, and they seem to be hit and miss. Tandoori hut is probably my favorite, it's reasonably priced and the food is good.

[Arriviste]

I don't know about buffet, the The Kashmir is ridiculous as far as Indian goes.

[freeweed]

I like Glory of India, because it's close and they have butter chicken by the boatload.

Something tells me it's a bit pedestrian for the folks around here though. :P

[Rusty van Reddick]

I like the idea of this thread, I can talk about restaurants all I want without feeling any guilt :)


So, folks, where's the best Indian buffet in town? I've been to a few of them, and they seem to be hit and miss. Tandoori hut is probably my favorite, it's reasonably priced and the food is good.

Please try the buffet at Surya- it's on 11 St and 11 Ave SW in the Connaught Centre building. They have a huge selection and are a couple of bucks cheaper than, say, Moti Mahal. Also unlike MM, Surya has butter chicken on the buffet every day, but I prefer their beef curry (it's so odd how "beef curry" isn't a misnomer in Calgary since so many Indian places here are Sikh or Muslim owned!). They also have completely superb naan, I mean world-beating naan.

Kashmir ended lunch service, never mind buffet, but I agree that it's a great resto.

Freeweed, GoI is one of the most respected Indian places in town!

[dubiousmike]

The new restaurant opening in the old Elephant & Castle space is going to be called "Tangerine Supper Club".

What's with the recent trend of horribly contrived restaurant names in this town?

And come visit my new restaurant, it's called New Century Marquee Restolounge & Grill.

[RWin]

Please try the buffet at Surya- it's on 11 St and 11 Ave SW in the Connaught Centre building.


I'll have to go there. Always on the lookout for a new Indian place.

[Rusty van Reddick]

I don't care if the name is contrived, but I am getting damn tired of only high end places opening downtown. If "Tangerine" is a clone of Blink (also a "supper club") that makes yet another expense-account joint on Stephen Ave. I haven't seen the menu at Seven (speaking of contrived names!), but it sounds expensive.

I'm happy to eat shawarma and cheap sushi (which Calgary is becoming increasingly good for- the only ridiculously ovepriced food I had in Germany was sushi, something we're more blessed with here than most people realise since they use Vancouver as a reference point instead of so many other cities that have shitty and expensive sushi). But I wish Calgary had places like, to use a random example, Clyde Common in Portland, which has delicious, creative food in a gorgeous room with mains never exceeding about $18.

We're having dinner at River Cafe tonight- with a gift cert- and though I love River, it's going to be a larf to see how expensive it's become since my last meal there last December. I'm expecting to see no main less than, say, $28.

[dubiousmike]

^^^

Couldn't agree more. At the end of the day, I like a cheap slice of pepperoni pizza or a hot dog cooked on the street.

I've worked as a professional cook, and I like to think I can taste the difference between a dish prepared by someone who knows and loves food and a dish prepared by someone who thinks they can just half-ass it, gloss it over with decor and hot waitresses and then charge 40 bucks for it.

I don't mind forking out at an upscale restaurant as long as the food is actually good. But I'm not gonna be instantly impressed by your dish just because you served it with aioli or blue cheese.

The rest of these yuppies might be fooled, but I know Bovril when I taste it.

[jeffwhit]

The lunch buffet at Royal India must be tried by all. More expensive than most ($16) but quite worth it imo. It's on 4th and Centre, in Sun Life.

[jeffwhit]

. But I wish Calgary had places like, to use a random example, Clyde Common in Portland, which has delicious, creative food in a gorgeous room with mains never exceeding about $18.



Speaking of Portland, another thing I saw there that I was envious of was a surface lot downtown that was lined on two sides with food vendors facing the sidewalks. Think of the Imperial lot with the Montreal Smoked Meat place being just one of dozens of similar options, that would be sweet.

[RWin]

Where in town can you go that has a decent kids menu?

It seems most places (and even some of the high end ones) have crap for the kids - chicken strips, frozen pizza, Krap Dinner, etc.

Where would you go if you wanted kid portions of real food? It seems we have to order a dinner from the regular menu and ask for another plate. They're happy to do that but I feel stupid asking.

[NumberFive]

I'm having lunch at "Seven Restogrille" or whatever it's called next week... I'll post back as to how it was. I get the feeling it's going to be a lot like Met Grill (same ownership I think).

Best Indian Buffet IMO is Glory of India. However, I just tried Royal Indian lately and it was pretty darn good... had a pretty huge selection, and not nearly as hard to get into as Glory of India.

[Calgarian]

The new restaurant opening in the old Elephant & Castle space is going to be called "Tangerine Supper Club".

What's with the recent trend of horribly contrived restaurant names in this town?

And come visit my new restaurant, it's called New Century Marquee Restolounge & Grill.

I miss that bar, I quite liked it. So what kind of place is this "Tangerine Supper Club" going to be?

lol, I read it as the Tangerine Stripper Club at first. lol

[Calgarian]

^^^

Couldn't agree more. At the end of the day, I like a cheap slice of pepperoni pizza or a hot dog cooked on the street.



No kidding, I'm going to that little Bratwurst stand on Stephen Ave for lunch today, and i cant wait (The Yodeling Sausage for those who don't know).

[Boris2k7]

Glory of India is the best I've been to, but then again I haven't been to many Indian places in town. I do know that Taj Mahal was NOT up to me expectations.

My biggest bit of grief with city is the lack of good, cheap Mexican. To the point that I just don't bother anymore. Better to just save it for trips to the U.S. South. Maybe if I get down to see my Aunt in Texas I can get some more (and yes, they have tons of both Tex Mex and the real thing). Here in Calgary, I've had El Sombrero, Julios Barrio, Los Marriachis. Haven't tried Salt n' Pepper yet. I'll admit, I found Julios Barrio acceptable, when a plate of enchiladas only cost $9. Los Marriachis and El Sombrero are better food, but still cost more. Not in steak-house expensive territory, but still up there.

As for Sushi, I've really been to Sushi Tokyo and Sushi Ichiban. Same place really, just different names. Sushi still costs more than Mexican though, so it's a rare treat for me.

Speaking of Japanese, I tried Soba Ten over the summer. Portions were... small, though I thought it was interesting experience.

Also tried Mongolie Grill over the summer. Good, but expensive just like everything else around there.

On the Mediterranean side of things, Jimmy's A&A is king in my books.

I'm sure many also acknowledge the relative superiority of Kim Anh when it comes to Vietnamese subs. They make things better simply by having good hours.

In terms of Vietnamese sit-down, I'm pretty much a part of the family at Oriental Phoenix. I go to the one down at Chinook, but I think the value of the food is great. I'm a weekly customer, get the same thing most days, but it is nonetheless very good. I'm pretty sure I'm going there for dinner tonight. :)

EDIT: On the topic of street vendors... man, I saw so many of those while on Vacation, but never had the guts to buy something from them (maybe I'm just too timid... or maybe it's because I rarely carry cash on me). There were a whole bunch on Chester Street in Ottawa and in front of Toronto City Hall. I think that Japa Dog must be the most visible one in Vancouver.

[freeweed]

The lunch buffet at Royal India must be tried by all. More expensive than most ($16) but quite worth it imo. It's on 4th and Centre, in Sun Life.

Seconded. And, as someone else mentioned. they're usually easier to get into during lunch.

Then again, if you really wanna sneak into GoI without a reservation, just go around 11:30. They always manage to have a couple of small tables open.

It's the one part of Calgary life that I still find funny - half the CBD is at work well before 8am, which is ridiculously early compared to many cities - but people STILL take lunch promptly at noon, for the most part. You'd think if the working day is shifted earlier, lunch might come earlier, but not for most people. Those of us that can adjust get to take full advantage and always get into popular eateries. :tup:

[freeweed]

My biggest bit of grief with city is the lack of good, cheap Mexican. To the point that I just don't bother anymore. Better to just save it for trips to the U.S. South.

I wouldn't call it cheap, but Juan's (which hides under an office building on Stephen Ave) is fantastic Mexican. Complete with bullfighting music and servers who hardly speak English. :tup:

EDIT: On the topic of street vendors... man, I saw so many of those while on Vacation, but never had the guts to buy something from them (maybe I'm just too timid... or maybe it's because I rarely carry cash on me). There were a whole bunch on Chester Street in Ottawa and in front of Toronto City Hall.

The complete lack of street vendors is one of my only complaints about Calgary. I don't know why, but there are hardly any here at all. It's not a climate thing, either - Winnipeg has seemingly hundreds in the downtown core during the summer. I wish Calgarians would get into this method of eating; with our "nice" outdoor weather lasting often from March through October, there's no excuse not to sit outside and enjoy some interesting food. The other great thing is the sheer variety you get - and every year it changes up, so it's not the same old "yeah, here's the dozen places within walking distance" year after year.

And now that my beloved Japanese Village has moved really far away, there just isn't anywhere good enough that I want to go over and over again. Except GoI, of course.

Food-related, but offtopic: that mall in Chinatown where Regency Palace (I think?) is - wow! I didn't even realize this place existed. Many neat little import shops. I bet Boris buys much Anime-related items there. ;)

[Boris2k7]

Food-related, but offtopic: that mall in Chinatown where Regency Palace (I think?) is - wow! I didn't even realize this place existed. Many neat little import shops. I bet Boris buys much Anime-related items there. ;)

Nah, I get my anime-stuff at the UofC. I get a 10% discount. :D

I've been meaning to try out Cafe Koi, but don't know exactly what to expect. Any opinions? I believe I've seen it in Furry's blog.

[dubiousmike]

No kidding, I'm going to that little Bratwurst stand on Stephen Ave for lunch today, and i cant wait (The Yodeling Sausage for those who don't know).

"Our 'wurst is the best".

My second favorite slogan ever.

Number one would be Bubba's, a burger chain in Hawaii, which was "We relish your buns."

[jeffwhit]

As for Sushi, I've really been to Sushi Tokyo and Sushi Ichiban. Same place really, just different names. Sushi still costs more than Mexican though, so it's a rare treat for me.



Do yourself a favour, next time you're out and about taking pics go to somewhere better, like Uptown Sushi on 11th and 11th, (another Furry favourite.) I find Shushi Tokyo to be dreadful.

[Boris2k7]

Do yourself a favour, next time you're out and about taking pics go to somewhere better, like Uptown Sushi on 11th and 11th, (another Furry favourite.) I find Shushi Tokyo to be dreadful.

I've passed by US a few times but never gone in. Thanks for the tip. Again my point of reference isn't very large... Sushi Tokyo or Co-op's sushi pretty much (had Sushi-Q last night...)

One thing about Sushi Tokyo though: they have a killer location!

[tarapoto]

The new restaurant opening in the old Elephant & Castle space is going to be called "Tangerine Supper Club".

What's with the recent trend of horribly contrived restaurant names in this town?

And come visit my new restaurant, it's called New Century Marquee Restolounge & Grill.

I didn't know there was an Elephant & Castle pub in Calgary. The only one I've been to is in Guangzhou in China. I'm not sure the company knows their name and logo is being used over there in Asia because it's not on their website, lol. And I'm pretty sure there's one in Dongguan too
:cheers:

[bigcanuck]

Also Globefish for Sushi - I've tried the Marda Loop location - nice.

[Surrealplaces]

I like the idea of this thread, I can talk about restaurants all I want without feeling any guilt :)


So, folks, where's the best Indian buffet in town? I've been to a few of them, and they seem to be hit and miss. Tandoori hut is probably my favorite, it's reasonably priced and the food is good.

Glory of India and Tandoori Hut are both good for that area of town. My favorite place is 'Apna Sweethouse' way up in the northeast, so it's not well known, but it is good and cheap.

If you want authentic south Indian cuisine...something you don't see very often anywhere, try Mysore Palce in the northeast. Mysore Palace downtown is the same ownership, but different menu. The one in the northeast has Rasum, and Sambar, true South Indian Dossas, etc... I should mention that it is a veggie place.


Personally I'm not impressed with Moti's, I've heard Kashmiri bites. Has anyone tried Ivory?

[Arriviste]

Shawarma: -Sammy's (17th Ave and 13th approx.)
-Jimmy's A&A (20th Ave and 13th NW)

Mexican: Salt and Peppers in Bowness

Mongol: Mongolie Grill

Thai: The King and I

Viet: Pho Hung Viet (Bow and 33rd)

Fondu: Grizzly House in Banff

Those are a few of my fav's. My schedule doesn't allow much time for cooking lately, so I rely on these guys to much.

[h0twired]

Shawarma: Falafel King (Fouzi is REALLY nice)
Donair: Jimmy's A&A
Mexican: Juan's on 8th
TexMex: Magpie and Stump in Banff
Thai: Thai Sa On
Viet: Sunny's in Chinatown
Indian: Karma (130th Ave SE and Deerfoot)
Greek: Broken Plate (South Macleod)
Sushi: Towa

[NumberFive]

If you're OK with fairly generic Mexican (Quesedillas, burritos, etc), I'm a big fan of Avacado in Deerfoot Meadows. Really nice little place.

[NumberFive]

Shawarma: Falafel King (Fouzi is REALLY nice)
Indian: Karma (130th Ave SE and Deerfoot)
Greek: Broken Plate (South Macleod)


Oh ya, I forgot about Karma... they do GREAT Indian food... also have a lunch buffet.

When it comes to Greek, I love Broken Plate, but there's a little place on the corner of Heritage and Fairmont called Parthenon... little family run place, but has really good food.

[Boris2k7]

And idea what the price range is like at Parthenon? What are the dishes like? It's another of those places that I've passed by quite a bit but never gone into. I've been meaning to find more stuff so that my family doesn't get too monotonous.

I would not that what we think of commonly as "Mexican," Burritos for example, are to real Mexican as Ginger Beef is to authentic Chinese.

[RWin]

And idea what the price range is like at Parthenon? What are the dishes like? It's another of those places that I've passed by quite a bit but never gone into. I've been meaning to find more stuff so that my family doesn't get too monotonous.

I would not that what we think of commonly as "Mexican," Burritos for example, are to real Mexican as Ginger Beef is to authentic Chinese.

Parthenon is excellent! Don't remember the exact prices but it is reasonable in my opinion. <$20 for a main.

[Surrealplaces]

Parthenon is excellent! Don't remember the exact prices but it is reasonable in my opinion. <$20 for a main.

I've heard that Parthenon was good. I've never tried it before.

Greek: Broken Plate, or Santorini Taverna. Santorini taverna is expensive, and perhaps not the best value, but it is good food. Mykonos on Centre street used to be really good. Haven't eaten there in a long time though.


Mexican: Juan's

Vietnamese:
for Pho, Tranh's, in Huntington village is IMO the best
Quyhn;s up in Sunridge area is excellent, or Y2K by McMahon


Indian: There are plenty of good Indian restuarants around town, so it's difficult but here's my list

Apna Sweethouse, Clay Oven, or Tandoori Hut, Glory of India Puspa is really good.


Thai: Thai Rose Garden, Bangkoknoi
King and I is good, but a bit overpriced. The atmosphere and decor is the best.

[NumberFive]

And idea what the price range is like at Parthenon? What are the dishes like? It's another of those places that I've passed by quite a bit but never gone into. I've been meaning to find more stuff so that my family doesn't get too monotonous.


Prices at Parthenon are VERY reasonable... definitely more affordable than Broken Plate. I fully recommend Parthenon to anybody who likes Greek. It feels really authentic with the grouchy old Greek owner serving your food, and his wife as the hostess upon your arrival. And ya, the food is really good. If you're going with a gf/wife/date, I recommend the "Dinner for Two"... on top of getting Calamari and Greek Salad to start, you get a big dinner platter with all kinds of stuff on it... think it runs something like $48 for the whole thing (which is really reasonable, considering you each get meal, salad, and appetizer).

[frinkprof]

The complete lack of street vendors is one of my only complaints about Calgary. I don't know why, but there are hardly any here at all. It's not a climate thing, either - Winnipeg has seemingly hundreds in the downtown core during the summer. I wish Calgarians would get into this method of eating; with our "nice" outdoor weather lasting often from March through October, there's no excuse not to sit outside and enjoy some interesting food.
It's the +15 system.

[RWin]

Prices at Parthenon are VERY reasonable... definitely more affordable than Broken Plate. I fully recommend Parthenon to anybody who likes Greek. It feels really authentic with the grouchy old Greek owner serving your food, and his wife as the hostess upon your arrival. And ya, the food is really good. If you're going with a gf/wife/date, I recommend the "Dinner for Two"... on top of getting Calamari and Greek Salad to start, you get a big dinner platter with all kinds of stuff on it... think it runs something like $48 for the whole thing (which is really reasonable, considering you each get meal, salad, and appetizer).

My 10 year old told him, "This is the best food I've ever had."

I think he almost cried :haha:

[Western Spaghetti]

Saigon Y2K in the northwest is my favorite for Vietnamese food. Vietnamese Village down in Deerfoot industrial park is surprisingly good.

As far as Thai food, Spicey Hut used to be far and away the best, but they have gone downhill a bit.

St. Germain is the best for French food. Red Door Bistro is pretty decent as well, but it really isn't true French food.

[srperrycgy]

For the last month or so, there has been a Hot Dog vendor at the NE corner of 7th Avenue & 1st St SW. Every time, I get off the CTrain at 1st St, the smell of onions and hot dogs is quite pleasant. :) Haven't had one yet, as I'm usually running across 7th to my bus stop.

Agree completely about Oriental Phoenix in the South. But, haven't been there in ages. Loved the blended pineapple drink. :awesome:

[Innersoul1]

Yeah, for Indian GoI is pretty stellar and the service is always good. The Apna Sweethouse is the cat's ass! A bit ghetto but the food is authentic and they have the best Masala Dossas in town.' Anapurna is also a great choice for all Vegetarian Indian Cuisine. I have always been a sucker for Rajdoot

For those of you in the NW be sure to try Masala Express for takout (Ranchlands). I have been going there for years and it is fantastic food froma mom and pop set up. Cheap too. Green Chili across from McMahon is pretty good but more expensive than Masala Express.

Going to India in December so I can't wait to munch! my biggest complaint is that Indian food still isn't cheap in this city. It is nice that there is more selection than there used to be (Taj and Rajdoot) and this city
s south asian community is certainly growing. But I want Vancouver prices. I'm talking CHEAP Quality indian food.


As for Mile One. I will give it a second chance at some point. But I really wasn't impressed. I went out for a business dinner with the sales team from Highbury last night. I liked the space but I was less than impressed with the service. 6 Servers and the place was empty, yet they were slow to serve you. Simply put, at your table when you didn't need them and not there when you did. Out appies took over 3o minutes to come and dinner was a bit longer. My biggest complaint was the $12+ martinis. Great Martinis but COME ON!!! $12? I don't mind paying that when I am at Melrose and I get a shaker full but $12 for just a tiny two sip martini.....

did I mention that they are $12!? God I love martinis but $12. Oh who am I kidding!? Maverick was paying so it's all good!

[Policy Wonk]

When I am not working from home I live at this chinese/japanese place on the Plus 15 level of the Petrofina building.

$6 gets you a heaping plate of chinese food or stirfry, great super spicy ginger beef.

[Western Spaghetti]

What do you guys think of Drinkwater Grill, Vintage or Bookers? The owners of that group are putting a restaurant called 'Rush' into the base of Harris Homburg Phase I. Thoughts?

[Surrealplaces]

Yeah, for Indian GoI is pretty stellar and the service is always good. The Apna Sweethouse is the cat's ass! A bit ghetto but the food is authentic and they have the best Masala Dossas in town.' Anapurna is also a great choice for all Vegetarian Indian Cuisine. I have always been a sucker for Rajdoot



Yeah, Apna Sweethouse is probably one of the best hidden gems anywhere. I went there not too long ago, and it was as good as usual but the prices have gone up.

It used to be $6.99 for the lunch buffet which is very good, and now it's $8.99 and on Fridays and $10.99

Skylark out in Forest Lawn is another good Indian buffet. $9.99, and decent selection.


For those interested in Central American cuisine try Casa Latino out in Forest Lawn. It's Nicaraguan/El Salvadorian cuisine. It's very good, I'd recommend trying it.

[freeweed]

It's the +15 system.

I'll keep flogging the "compared to Winnipeg" here. Winnipeg has nearly as extensive a +15 as Calgary - and in many ways it's far easier to navigate as it's straight through most buildings.

It isn't the +15. Downtown sidewalks are positively thronged with people during lunch hour. Does the city have some ridiculous permit laws or something?

[freeweed]

Burritos for example, are to real Mexican as Ginger Beef is to authentic Chinese.

From Wikipedia, always the most trustworthy source:

Mexican popular tradition tells the story of a man named Juan Mendez who used to sell tacos in a street stand, using a donkey as a transport for himself and the food, during the Mexican Revolution period (1910-1921) in the Bella Vista neighborhood in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. To keep the food warm, Juan had the idea of wrapping the food placed in a large flour tortilla inside individual napkins. He had a lot of success, and consumers came from other places around the Mexican border looking for the "food of the Burrito", the word they eventually adopted as the name for these large tacos.

Burritos are a traditional food of Ciudad Juárez, a city in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, where people buy them at restaurants and thousands of corner stands. In this border town there are eateries that have established their reputation after decades serving burritos. They are eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Usual ingredients include barbacoa, mole, chopped hot dogs cooked in a tomato and chile sauce, refried beans and cheese, deshebrada (shredded slow-cooked flank steak) and chile relleno (stuffed pepper). The deshebrada burrito also has a variation in chile colorado (mild to moderately hot) and salsa verde (very hot).

If they come from Mexico, they're Mexican in my book. :D

[entheosfog]

My biggest bit of grief with city is the lack of good, cheap Mexican. To the point that I just don't bother anymore. Better to just save it for trips to the U.S. South. Maybe if I get down to see my Aunt in Texas I can get some more (and yes, they have tons of both Tex Mex and the real thing). Here in Calgary, I've had El Sombrero, Julios Barrio, Los Marriachis. Haven't tried Salt n' Pepper yet. I'll admit, I found Julios Barrio acceptable, when a plate of enchiladas only cost $9. Los Marriachis and El Sombrero are better food, but still cost more. Not in steak-house expensive territory, but still up there.

While some may disagree with weather or not burritos are authentically Mexican, I've discovered Red Burrito in Van - you get lotsa beef (or chicken) for 5 bucks. And tasty, too!


Speaking of Japanese, I tried Soba Ten over the summer. Portions were... small, though I thought it was interesting experience.

My fave Japanese places in Calgary, although they were severely short-staffed the last time I was there.


I'm sure many also acknowledge the relative superiority of Kim Anh when it comes to Vietnamese subs. They make things better simply by having good hours.

One of the places I really miss. I love their subs! I haven't had a viet sub since moving. I want a Kim Anh sub right now dammit!

[Tobyoby]

^Subs at Kim Anh are the best, no arguing that. There's a Vietnamese sub place up in Marlborough that's really good also. I can't remember the name of it, but it's kind of hilarious because if you order a sub combo (with salad rols or spring rolls), the waiter goes to another Vietnamese restaurant two doors down and comes back your spring rolls.

[Boris2k7]

Freeweed: As entheosfog noted, it is quite contested. That link to Juarez is not proven, but one of several theories. You'll note if you've had a Mexican burrito how much different it is from one you'd get at a Tex-Mex place. Generally better ingredients, and looks more like a Shawarma than the ball of grease that comes from Taco Bell. Even in the rest of North America there are many variations of the Burrito: Mission style, San Francisco style, Montreal style.

Same thing, but also very different.

Here is a particularly interesting little account of the Burrito:
http://mexicocooks.typepad.com/mexico_cooks/2007/09/for-those-of-yo.html

[entheosfog]

Freeweed: As entheosfog noted, it is quite contested.

Yeah, when I lived in Calgary, my girlfriend would go to the place across the street for her sub and was defiant that her place was better...almost ended up in a few big arguments! :haha:

[Rusty van Reddick]

Dinner at River Cafe last night was one of the finest dining experiences of my life... and it's amazing with all the reputable high-end places that have opened recently, the RC still manages to pack the house. They have these new "one bite" appies that are bigger than amuses bouches but smaller than average appies and they're only 2 or 3 bucks each- these were outrageously delicious, one was a poached shrimp on a dollop of carrot mousse, and the other was a sort of mushroom-potato cannoli but with more carrot as the "dough." Both were spectacular. We had salads (they have separate "one bite," "appetizer," "salad" and "share" offerings, so there are many ways to configure a meal); mine was a green salad with radish, soft-boiled egg, house-cured bacon and barley; partner had local beets- now I know neither of these sounds that interesting, but both were mouth-filling and gorgeous. Mains: I had the tenderloin with a slew of sides- pureed sweet potato, kale (which I cannot stand but they did an okay job with), roasted blue potatoes, and a yorkie stuffed with bison shortrib (!); partner had one of the specials, a risotto topped with brined, pan roasted pheasant. Both were out of this world, but I wish I'd gone with my first choice which was the risotto. It had wild pine mushrooms, and the flavours were just explosive. Dessert: strawberry pavlova (meh, not that much you can do with meringue, not bad but not special) and an amazing pumpkin spice cake with house-made... ice cream, but not sure what kind, it had bits of toffee brittle in it. Oh, and the cake came with two largeish chunks of poached quince, which I'd never had before. Finally they gave us a couple of truffles gratis.

This was a feast to remember. Four "one bites," two salads, two mains, two desserts and four glasses lf wine were $202 not including tip, and it was well worth it. One complaint I've had about River in the past was how tiny they portion sizes were. No complaints here AT ALL.

[Danma]

Glory of India is the best I've been to, but then again I haven't been to many Indian places in town. I do know that Taj Mahal was NOT up to me expectations.


I often frequest Taj Mahal -- its lunch can be pretty good but there are other better places these days.

My biggest bit of grief with city is the lack of good, cheap Mexican.

Hear, hear. There's cheap mexican, There's good (read: passable) mexican, but nothing really in between. Julios is a better place to get hosed on margeritas before a movie in July than necessarily good mexican food.

As for Sushi, I've really been to Sushi Tokyo and Sushi Ichiban. Same place really, just different names. Sushi still costs more than Mexican though, so it's a rare treat for me.

Sushi can be pretty expensive... these days I seem to eat a lot at Sushi Zipang in bridgeland and go for rotating sushi at Kinjo Sushi by Shinook mall. I generally try to stick to Japanese-owned sushi joints, which alas, neither Tokyo or Ichiban are.

Speaking of Japanese, I tried Soba Ten over the summer. Portions were... small, though I thought it was interesting experience.

I find the service too slow for lunch and I never get around to going there for dinner.

On the Mediterranean side of things, Jimmy's A&A is king in my books.

Their large donair is the size of a small child, gotta love it for cheap + awesome!

I'm sure many also acknowledge the relative superiority of Kim Anh when it comes to Vietnamese subs. They make things better simply by having good hours.

Which one is Kim Anh? My favorite subs come from the place in Chinatown next to Pho Pasteur facing the Harry Hays Building, but I'm always interested in other placed. Is it on 17th? I wish there were more vietnamese sub places in the burbs -- there's not even a Thai Tai in the north end :(

[Danma]

As far as greek food goes, this Parthenon sounds good. Whenever I eat Greek somewhere other than Pegasus I feel like I'm cheating :haha:

Here's a question, has anyone here been to Bolero, the Brazilian Barbeque all-you-can-eat above Smuggler's Inn? It looks pretty awesome but for $35 each I'm a little wary to jump right in there... Any thoughts?

[Zilla]

I'm always looking for new places to have coffee. Particularly outside of the typical Beltline/Downtown spots. Suggestions appreciated.

[poopysheep]

i will chime in on the mexican food .... i lived in mexico for 5 years and my sister has been there for 16 years ... i've traveled all over the country... north, south, yucatan, central... the DF... and this shit that they peddle in this country as mexican food isn't even passable on any level AT ALL... mexicans do not eat sour cream ( the only place you can buy it there is in friggin walmart )... they do not put lettuce and tomatoes on tacos... EVER... guacamole does not have tomatoes in it ( its usually just puree avocado ) and they don't eat vegetables ...

most mexicans eat alot of caldo or sopas ( rich broth style soups of chicken or beef or unmentionables like pig skin and tripe ) tons of fast fry style steak and pork... milanesa ( breaded cutlet in chicken beef or pork).. guisados ( meat or veggie in a sauce much like an indian curry only with different spices) with spanish rice and tortillas and tacos are chopped up beef, or pork... or tongue or brain or all number of nastiness ( barbacoa btw does NOT mean bbq ) and they are served with fresh chopped cilantro and onion ( that would be "con verdura" veggies) and fresh key lime... on the table you'll see a red and a green salsa... the red is hot the green is made from tomatillos... no lettuce... no sour cream.... no tomatos or cheddar cheese ( which also up until about 8 years ago it was near to impossible to even find cheddar cheese in a store )...

ok rant off... can you tell i get pissed about "mexican food" in canada...

[poopysheep]

i've heard good things about that sushi zipang in bridgelands...

also... what the hell is a restolounge.... thats the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard...

Blink was terrible.. the food was just ok and it was quite expensive...

Bistro 2210 has really good food but is a bit pricey

Murrietta's is great and reasonable in price - i had the bison with shortrib gravy and it was incredible

Cilantros - been around forever and consistently has great food

Brava - completely overrated

eight/Mercury - the last time i was there i ordered the bison tenderloin and scallop... it came with literally a 3oz bison tenderloin and 1 ONE scallop... it was $42... needless to say i won't be going back there

anybody have any suggestions for good italian....

River Cafe sounds amazing... i have stil yet to dine there...

[CleverHans]

I've made a website with my favourite places in Calgary. It has ratings and stuff, if you're intersted:

http://giantavocado.com/

You can add and rate restaurants.

My favourites:

Indian: Surya 1207 11 Ave
Korean: Seoul
Chinese: Bobby Chao's

[freeweed]

I always find it cute when people get all pissed off about how a culture varies imported cuisine to make it suit their tastes.

Somehow I picture some snotty Indian sitting down to eat in Mumbai one day, to curried poutine.

"What is this horseshit?? I've BEEN to Canada, and Poutine there DOES NOT HAVE CURRY IN IT! This is an atrocity on the level of Hitler!!!"

I find it even cuter than 9 times out of 10, the acutal people who have moved here from a foreign country don't bitch and moan about what we've "done to their food". They accept that another country will modify it somewhat. Which is why you see Chinese people here actually eating fortune cookies (gasp! the horror!). Hell, I've even seen some of them, maybe 2 years off the boat at most, eating ginger beef AND LIKING IT. Burn the unpure!

Of course, if Taco Bell is the standard of comparison, there's no hope. That's like calling McDonald's a "real hamburger". :haha:

Edit: except some true Ukranians. They do in fact get offended when we change their food. "Our ancestors were too poor to afford meat, so for the rest of time no one should ever put meat in a Ukranian dish - that's not REAL Ukranian food!!". Not that I've seen this debate every Xmas for the past 30 years or anything... :P

[Innersoul1]

I have been to Globefish for sushi once a week for the past 4 weeks!


I am in love!

[Rusty van Reddick]

poopysheep- I've never had anything less than a beautiful experience at Brava- what was your problem with it? Their lobster poutine is what I want to be buried with!

Italian recs:

High (REALLY high) end: Capo
Low end and incredibly delicious: the tavola calda at Lina's Italian Market

[Innersoul1]

I figured that this might interest a good lot of you!


From Maclean's Oct 22nd 2007

Is one cup of coffee woth $15?

A Panamanian brew called Esmeralda has brought the coffee-drinking world to its knees

Toronto residents have long been accustomed to emptying their wallets for a gourmet meal or fine glass of wine. But is Canada's most expensive city ready for the $15 cup of coffee? Matthew Lee thinks so. Lee, 29 recently opened Manic Coffee, a cafe on the bustling outskirts of Toronto's Little Italy. To celebrate, on October 19 he'll begin offering up a limited amound of Esmeralda Special-a heady Panamanian brew that's brouight the coffee drinking world to its knees

Can one cup of coffee really be worth $15? "All I can say is yes," Lee says ernestly. "It is the most remarkable coffee I've ever had in my life." Fragrant, floral, and tea-like, with notes of jasmine and bergamot-these are some of the qualities connoisseurs ascribe to Esmeralda. Others seem to get tongrue ties at the very thought of it. "It's amazing. That's all I can say," gushes Aaron Webb, a raoster at Discover Coffee in Victoria, B.C. And Lee won't just be offering standard esmeralda in his cafe. He's bringing in the legendary Esmeralda action lot (a careful selection of the farm's very best beans)-in other words, the creme de la creme of coffee.

Lee and Webb aren't alone in their enthusiasm; the hype has been deafening. Esemeralda fist caught the attention of coffee lovers in 2004- the year a coffee tree known as the geisha was discovered on Hacienda la Esmeralda in lush western Panama. As it produced less than a typical coffee plant, the geisha is rarely cultivated on Central American farms. But adter owners sampled beans from the geisha tree-originally from ethiopia, it flourishes in Panama's high altitues-they knew they had a winner. "It's a flavour that's never been found in the America's before," says marketing director rachel Peterson.

That yearm the auction lot sold for a record US$21 a pound at a time when a pound of commercia-grade coffee was going for about 73 cents. It quickly becam " a marketing thing," says mark Prince, senior editor of coffee appreciation site coffeegeek.com. One buyer (Kansas city's The Roasterie) even hired an armoured truck to deliver it, presumably for protection against over caffeinated fanatics.

The award winning beans went on to smash record auction prices for two of the next three years. But this year's crop-rcognized as the best yet- blew the others away. At online auction in May, bidding got so frantic the site temporarily crashed. After eight gruelling hours, the lot sold for a stunning US$130 a pound-over 100 times the price of commercial grade coffee (and roughly 10 times highger than the non-auction Esmeralda Special geisha beans). 49th Parallell Coffee Roasters was one of seven winning bidders, and the only Canadian company, to claim a share od the 500 lb. lot; it roadst the coffee exclusively for Caffe Artigiano in Vancouver.

Since then, Esmeralda hype has reached fever pitch. A Caffe Artigiano press release dubbed it "the world's best cofee, EVER!" Journalists who attended a tasting even touting $15 cup coffee were gifted a half pound bag, which sells in stores for $135. Owner Willie Mounzer has focussed on making Esmeralda "an experience" for customers who order it: a manager personally delivers it on a silver platter. So who's buying? "Anybody with a distinct palate; [people] in the industry; show-offs," says manager Jaoquin Quian.

Within the coffee community, Esmeralda backlash has begun. "It is out of control, in my opinion," Prince says. He suspects some retailers have been "less than crystal" about whether their coffee is auction lot or not-especially confusing since both bear the same name, Esmeralda Special. Prince himslef bought three half pound bags be believed to be acution lot esmeralda, only to find he's been duped. (Non-Auction lot esmeralda sells in cafes for about $5 a cup. Timothy's will be offering half pound bags of non-auction for $17.99 as of mid-November.)

Price's advice to consumers seeking auction-lot beans is to make sure retailers ger specific about what they're selling before forking over the cashe. But, he admits, the average taste buds probably couldn't tell the difference anyway: "they're both fnatastic."

Back at Manic, the auction-lot Esmeralda Special is definitely for real. Lee's bringing in three pinds from Chicago based Inteligentisa Coffee Rosters. It's probably only be enough for 50 cups, he acknowledges, and even witht he $15 price tafe he doesn't expect to make much profit. But it's worth it,he insists. Just don't ask for a paper cup-Lee draws the line at serving esmeralda to go.

[Rusty van Reddick]

I can't tell the difference between estates but I'm an espresso person. I just bought a pound of Intelligentsia Black Cat (espresso blend) roasted on Oct 22, so now is the sweet spot (4-7 days post roast- the stuff you buy at the supermarket might be a YEAR post roast). $17.95 a pound and as much as I want to pay for beans- I do pay about $18 a pound for Hines espresso roast from Phil and Sebastian at the Calgary Farmers' Market. I bought the Intelly at Communitea in Canmore, which is a great coffeehouse.

[poopysheep]

i don't know with Brava... i can't put my finger on it and say one specific thing i didn't like.. but i also couldn't say one thing i actually DID like... we have friends who just love the place and always want to eat there and i don't know if i'm just not ordering the right thing but my meal is also mediocre at best....

maybe next time i'll try the lobster poutine

[Surrealplaces]

poopysheep- I've never had anything less than a beautiful experience at Brava- what was your problem with it? Their lobster poutine is what I want to be buried with!

Italian recs:

High (REALLY high) end: Capo
Low end and incredibly delicious: the tavola calda at Lina's Italian Market

No kidding about the Lobster Poutine. Seriously, it's probably one of the 10 best things I've ever tasted.

[Surrealplaces]

i will chime in on the mexican food .... i lived in mexico for 5 years and my sister has been there for 16 years ... i've traveled all over the country... north, south, yucatan, central... the DF... and this shit that they peddle in this country as mexican food isn't even passable on any level AT ALL... mexicans do not eat sour cream ( the only place you can buy it there is in friggin walmart )... they do not put lettuce and tomatoes on tacos... EVER... guacamole does not have tomatoes in it ( its usually just puree avocado ) and they don't eat vegetables ...

most mexicans eat alot of caldo or sopas ( rich broth style soups of chicken or beef or unmentionables like pig skin and tripe ) tons of fast fry style steak and pork... milanesa ( breaded cutlet in chicken beef or pork).. guisados ( meat or veggie in a sauce much like an indian curry only with different spices) with spanish rice and tortillas and tacos are chopped up beef, or pork... or tongue or brain or all number of nastiness ( barbacoa btw does NOT mean bbq ) and they are served with fresh chopped cilantro and onion ( that would be "con verdura" veggies) and fresh key lime... on the table you'll see a red and a green salsa... the red is hot the green is made from tomatillos... no lettuce... no sour cream.... no tomatos or cheddar cheese ( which also up until about 8 years ago it was near to impossible to even find cheddar cheese in a store )...

ok rant off... can you tell i get pissed about "mexican food" in canada...

You're absolutely right, except that in tourist resorts in Mexico it's common to have our style of Mexican food,. Of course that doesn't really count.

Thing to remember about ethnic foods is that here in Canada they rarely are they way the are in the country of origin. I've been all around the world India, China/Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Mexico....out of all the places I've been only Greek food is served here the way it is in the country of origin.

It's not just Canada, it seems to be that way in other countries. I've tried Indian food everywhere I've been, and the closest to India would be the Middle east, but even then it's still different. I just accept it as a local spin on someone else's dish.

[Surrealplaces]

I figured that this might interest a good lot of you!


From Maclean's Oct 22nd 2007

Is one cup of coffee woth $15?

A Panamanian brew called Esmeralda has brought the coffee-drinking world to its knees

Toronto residents have long been accustomed to emptying their wallets for a gourmet meal or fine glass of wine. But is Canada's most expensive city ready for the $15 cup of coffee? Matthew Lee thinks so. Lee, 29 recently opened Manic Coffee, a cafe on the bustling outskirts of Toronto's Little Italy. To celebrate, on October 19 he'll begin offering up a limited amound of Esmeralda Special-a heady Panamanian brew that's brouight the coffee drinking world to its knees

Can one cup of coffee really be worth $15? "All I can say is yes," Lee says ernestly. "It is the most remarkable coffee I've ever had in my life." Fragrant, floral, and tea-like, with notes of jasmine and bergamot-these are some of the qualities connoisseurs ascribe to Esmeralda. Others seem to get tongrue ties at the very thought of it. "It's amazing. That's all I can say," gushes Aaron Webb, a raoster at Discover Coffee in Victoria, B.C. And Lee won't just be offering standard esmeralda in his cafe. He's bringing in the legendary Esmeralda action lot (a careful selection of the farm's very best beans)-in other words, the creme de la creme of coffee.

Lee and Webb aren't alone in their enthusiasm; the hype has been deafening. Esemeralda fist caught the attention of coffee lovers in 2004- the year a coffee tree known as the geisha was discovered on Hacienda la Esmeralda in lush western Panama. As it produced less than a typical coffee plant, the geisha is rarely cultivated on Central American farms. But adter owners sampled beans from the geisha tree-originally from ethiopia, it flourishes in Panama's high altitues-they knew they had a winner. "It's a flavour that's never been found in the America's before," says marketing director rachel Peterson.

That yearm the auction lot sold for a record US$21 a pound at a time when a pound of commercia-grade coffee was going for about 73 cents. It quickly becam " a marketing thing," says mark Prince, senior editor of coffee appreciation site coffeegeek.com. One buyer (Kansas city's The Roasterie) even hired an armoured truck to deliver it, presumably for protection against over caffeinated fanatics.

The award winning beans went on to smash record auction prices for two of the next three years. But this year's crop-rcognized as the best yet- blew the others away. At online auction in May, bidding got so frantic the site temporarily crashed. After eight gruelling hours, the lot sold for a stunning US$130 a pound-over 100 times the price of commercial grade coffee (and roughly 10 times highger than the non-auction Esmeralda Special geisha beans). 49th Parallell Coffee Roasters was one of seven winning bidders, and the only Canadian company, to claim a share od the 500 lb. lot; it roadst the coffee exclusively for Caffe Artigiano in Vancouver.

Since then, Esmeralda hype has reached fever pitch. A Caffe Artigiano press release dubbed it "the world's best cofee, EVER!" Journalists who attended a tasting even touting $15 cup coffee were gifted a half pound bag, which sells in stores for $135. Owner Willie Mounzer has focussed on making Esmeralda "an experience" for customers who order it: a manager personally delivers it on a silver platter. So who's buying? "Anybody with a distinct palate; [people] in the industry; show-offs," says manager Jaoquin Quian.

Within the coffee community, Esmeralda backlash has begun. "It is out of control, in my opinion," Prince says. He suspects some retailers have been "less than crystal" about whether their coffee is auction lot or not-especially confusing since both bear the same name, Esmeralda Special. Prince himslef bought three half pound bags be believed to be acution lot esmeralda, only to find he's been duped. (Non-Auction lot esmeralda sells in cafes for about $5 a cup. Timothy's will be offering half pound bags of non-auction for $17.99 as of mid-November.)

Price's advice to consumers seeking auction-lot beans is to make sure retailers ger specific about what they're selling before forking over the cashe. But, he admits, the average taste buds probably couldn't tell the difference anyway: "they're both fnatastic."

Back at Manic, the auction-lot Esmeralda Special is definitely for real. Lee's bringing in three pinds from Chicago based Inteligentisa Coffee Rosters. It's probably only be enough for 50 cups, he acknowledges, and even witht he $15 price tafe he doesn't expect to make much profit. But it's worth it,he insists. Just don't ask for a paper cup-Lee draws the line at serving esmeralda to go.

Wow, and that's going to be here in Calgary soon. I'll have to try it out.

[Jimby]

Hey buddie, can you spare a twenty for a cup of coffee, tax, and tip? :haha:

[Boris2k7]

Sounds interesting, but I wonder how well it will do once the novelty wears thin.

[ScottFromCalgary]

poopysheep- I've never had anything less than a beautiful experience at Brava- what was your problem with it? Their lobster poutine is what I want to be buried with!

Italian recs:

High (REALLY high) end: Capo
Low end and incredibly delicious: the tavola calda at Lina's Italian Market

I'm with you on Capo. One of the best meals I've ever had, just incredible. Very expensive though. It's been a couple years since I've been to Brava, maybe I should head down there for some poutine.

[entheosfog]

Hey buddie, can you spare a twenty for a cup of coffee, tax, and tip? :haha:

Ha! Good one :haha:

I get asked for change now and they demand a toonie! Inflation, I guess...

[Rusty van Reddick]

Um... just to clarify, not EVERY cup at Artigiano is $15. This was just the price for the La Esmeralda, brewed with the Clover brewer. A regular cup of drip is maybe $2. Espresso-based drinks are basically the same as you would pay for the underextracted swill (with overstretched, burnt milk) at Starbucks.

[NumberFive]

Karma East Indian Cuisine (at 130th Ave) was named in the Herald best Indian food in the city. Was just there on the weekend again for their lunch buffet and was great as usual. However, I recommend their (dinner for two), which for $60, gives you a crazy amount of food, apps, desert and tea. Plus, you get a meal the next night because there's no way any two people can finish it.

[RWin]

Um... just to clarify, not EVERY cup at Artigiano is $15. This was just the price for the La Esmeralda, brewed with the Clover brewer. A regular cup of drip is maybe $2. Espresso-based drinks are basically the same as you would pay for the underextracted swill (with overstretched, burnt milk) at Starbucks.

How about a Calgary get together there on opening day?

[Surrealplaces]

^That's a good idea. Maybe a day or two after opening day :)

[Rusty van Reddick]

^exactly- if you think Bumpy's is crowded and can't stand the 15-deep lineups at Phil and Sebastian, I cannot imagine what a zoo this is going to be when it first opens.

[Innersoul1]

How about a Calgary get together there on opening day?

Sounds great! I suppose furry is buying the first round of Esmeralda!? :D

[Rusty van Reddick]

Sounds great! I suppose furry is buying the first round of Esmeralda!? :D

Esmeralda is all used up, sold out.

I'm happy to buy rounds of straight espressos though.

[Bad Grizzly]

Esmeralda is all used up, sold out.

I'm happy to buy rounds of straight espressos though.

How do you mean, it's all sold out? The store hasn't opened yet. Is this to do with the auction lot?

[Rusty van Reddick]

How do you mean, it's all sold out? The store hasn't opened yet. Is this to do with the auction lot?

Exactly. They'll have all sort of interesting single origins, some will be MORE than $15 a cup, but not this particular one is all.

[RWin]

What exactly does $15 worth of coffee taste like? Is it worth $15? Would I be able to tell the difference between that and the $2 cup?

[Innersoul1]

What exactly does $15 worth of coffee taste like? Is it worth $15? Would I be able to tell the difference between that and the $2 cup?

Quite simply, sex! :tup:

[RWin]

I suppose the $2 cup is the hand then?

[Innersoul1]

I suppose the $2 cup is the hand then?

Exactly! :P

[Jimby]

:jester: too funny!

or maybe they will have kopi luwak instead of esmeralda?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak

[Danma]

I don't care HOW good that coffee is, I ain't touching it with a hundred foot pole!

I've had pretty good meals every time I've been at Brava, but I've heard differing opinions on it.

If you're looking for a good eating experience in Banff, I recommend the Bison bistro, it's fantastic. Anyone else been there?

[Surrealplaces]

Has anyone been to the recently opened 'My Marvin's' in mission? It used to be a Calgary institution, but I've heard the re-incarnated version isn't that good.

[poopysheep]

YES the Bison in Banff is excellent.. i had a chicken sandwich there that was friggin amazing....

[Innersoul1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigtime
So for future 'condo warming' reference what kind of wine do you like to bring to these functions? I need to know what to expect man!

I am hooked on a unique wine from Italy (Tuscany). Tolaini Wines by Pierluigi Tolaini, in particular, Duesanti, on of three wines made by Tolaini (Duesanti, Al Passo and Picconero-the latter is still in the cellar). Tolaini only produces about 140,000 bottles per year.

Duesanti, an elegant, full bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc raised in French oak.

This wine is BRILLIANT and is sold at two locations in Canada. Willowpark Liquor store in Calgary and a boutique store in Winnepeg owned by Tolaini's daughter. It costs $34.00 an exclusive price to Willowpark but would set you back $70/bottle. Brilliant wine. If you know your wine you will appreciate it.



http://www.tolaini.it/man.htm

[Western Spaghetti]

Went to the Red Door Bistro on 11th recently and wasn't that happy with it. I've been there 3 or 4 times before and it was good, but this time...not so good.

[Boris2k7]

I had yet another good coffee at Heartland in the Bridges today. Great place for working on a project, or starting a revolution. Coffee, as always, simple and good. Second time I've had the Roasted Red Pepper panini, and damn is that thing good... if for $6.75. My only complaint: as usual, they run out of sandwiches and such rather quickly, leaving a rather small selection of food. Really, I should have just waited until dinner for the real food and instead gotten one of their awesome brownies.

[Rusty van Reddick]

I am wondering what folks think of the newly renovated Caffe Beano? They did a superb job of upgrading their coffee program (new La Marzocco espresso machine, new Fetco brewers, re-training of all staff), but they also took over the barber space next door. Any reactions?

[entheosfog]

I am wondering what folks think of the newly renovated Caffe Beano? They did a superb job of upgrading their coffee program (new La Marzocco espresso machine, new Fetco brewers, re-training of all staff), but they also took over the barber space next door. Any reactions?

Wow, they expanded! That place was always crowded and hard to even look for a seat that probably wouldn't be there. Can't wait to see what they've done with the renos when I return to Calgary

[Paper Boy]

Just got home from the "Bears Den" NW of Calgary off Bearspaw Road and Crowchild. 2 Words...WOW and Wow. $200.00 for two people but if money is not an object, one of the best. (includes a bottle of 2003 Enrique Foster Reserva Malbec at 65.00 and a 30.00 tip) Great live Jazz, decor, service and incredible food. A short drive in the country to feel like New York dining. Incredible. Uniquely Calgary :)

[Paper Boy]

PS
This should be a Sticky

[ScottFromCalgary]

Just got home from the "Bears Den" NW of Calgary off Bearspaw Road and Crowchild. 2 Words...WOW and Wow. $200.00 for two people but if money is not an object, one of the best. (includes a bottle of 2003 Enrique Foster Reserva Malbec at 65.00 and a 30.00 tip) Great live Jazz, decor, service and incredible food. A short drive in the country to feel like New York dining. Incredible. Uniquely Calgary :)

I've been to the Bears Den several times and always enjoyed myself. The decor is certainly not for everyone, but if you are the in the mood for dark, warm (den-like I suppose) dining then Bears Den is pretty solid. Doesn't seem to get mentioned very much by the critics though. Too far away from downtown?:shrug:

[Canterra]

Has anyone tried the Coffee Porter from Mill Street Brewery? Made with Balzac's dark roasted coffee.
I picked up a six pack last week from WP and really liked it.

http://www.millstreetbrewery.com/beers_coffeeporter.htm

FYI - Checkout Beer Bash on November 15 at WP where the world of beer unites under one roof for one night of festive tasting and fantastic pub food.

[poopysheep]

Beano looks great... they didn't really change much they basically just took out the walls but it makes it feel so much bigger... hopefully they will expand the "patio" seating to include in front of the old barber shop...

what they really need to do is fix the front end... the line up there gets almost overwhelming...

[Tobyoby]

Recent victories:
River Cafe
The ambiance of the River Cafe is worth the trip alone. The seared halibut is great. It's expensive, but definitely a place to go checkout.

Cactus Club
Cajun creole Steak was excellent. one of the best steaks I've ever had.

Saltlik:
Saltlik had a fantastic appetizer that sounded like it would be awful but was outstanding. It's cream cheese and some other cheeses mixed in with curry spices and almonds, covered in mango chutney. I'm serious it was awesome.


Recent losses
My Marvins in Mission. It had just opened, so maybe they were working out kinks, but the roast beef sandwich had meat slices that were too thick, anf the bread was too thick (and not fresh). They forgot a couple of things, and then gave us the wrong bill!

[Tobyoby]

Has anyone tried the Coffee Porter from Mill Street Brewery? Made with Balzac's dark roasted coffee.
I picked up a six pack last week from WP and really liked it.

http://www.millstreetbrewery.com/beers_coffeeporter.htm

FYI - Checkout Beer Bash on November 15 at WP where the world of beer unites under one roof for one night of festive tasting and fantastic pub food.

That sounds like it would be pretty good. Is it open to the public?

[Canterra]

^ I believe tickets are still available for $25

[Just Build It]

I went to a fund raiser at WP last week and had a great tasting wine. It was a Cabernet Sauvignon from a winery in Oliver that was really good. I thought the winery was called Wild Horse or Kicking horse or something like that, but can't remember the name. I can't find any info about it on the net. Maybe someone here has heard of it?

[Stephen Ave]

How are things with Flames central these days? I wanted to check it out when it first opened but couldn't get in there. I've been tasked with picking a place for a group of us at work to go out and have a team building night of food and drink. I was considering Flames Central, any thoughts?