| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | find yourself in this situation here in Calgary, you |
| One of the most defining elements of a boutique | | | | actually have two excellent choices. The first is |
| hotel designed for extended stays is the kitchen. | | | | the Kensington Pub, located in Kensington of |
| If a hotel in this market doesn't have rooms | | | | course, and the second is Brewsters which is |
| equipped with full kitchens, it can't really make the | | | | located in the downtown core of the city. While |
| claim that it is a comfortable place to live for an | | | | both places are fairly typical, if well executed, |
| extended period of time. But, the flip side of the | | | | sports pubs there are some differences between |
| coin is that when staying in a new city it's | | | | the two. The Kensington Pub has better food that |
| important to get out of the apartment and get a | | | | Brewsters, but Brewsters is also a microbrewery |
| taste of the local gastro-culture. So, to answer | | | | and therefore has much better beer than the |
| the perennial question that every hotel employee | | | | K-Pub. You can find some great beer and decent |
| is faced with on a near-constant basis (Where's a | | | | food at 834 11 Ave SW, and you can see their |
| good place to eat?), I've composed the following | | | | menu at The Kensington Pub is located at 207 |
| guide to help visitors to Calgary get out and | | | | 10A ST NW and their menu is available online at |
| sample the best this city has to offer. | | | | East Indian |
| The first thing to determine when looking for a | | | | If you're looking for some good Indian food, |
| place to eat is what KIND of food you are in the | | | | there's really only one place worth checking out. |
| mood for. What sort of restaurant do you want | | | | The place is a little restaurant called Mirchi, down |
| to go to? To streamline this process I've | | | | on 12th Ave and 8th street. The food is incredible, |
| organised this guide by restaurant and food type, | | | | portions are large, and prices are more than |
| with the best example of each. | | | | reasonable. The place is actually very, very small |
| Fancy | | | | so it might be worth calling ahead at |
| First up is fancy restaurants. For a chic, trendy | | | | 403-245-3663. Try the Chicken Tikka, it's the |
| and above all discerning palate the best choice in | | | | best thing to happen to a chicken since the |
| the city of Calgary is Muse in Kensington. Muse is | | | | invention of gravy. |
| located at 107 10A St NW, in the heart of the | | | | Thai |
| trendy Kensington district. The restaurant serves | | | | While we're talking about international foods, it |
| a somewhat eclectic mix of French and Canadian | | | | might be time to discuss the state of Thai food in |
| cuisine, for a look at their menu head to where | | | | Calgary. Basically it boils down to this; there are |
| you can also make reservations. Reservations can | | | | many good places to get good Thai food in |
| also be made the old fashioned way by giving | | | | Calgary, but The Rose Garden (112 8th Ave SW) |
| them a call at 403-670-6873. | | | | is by far the best of them. It's an extraordinarily |
| Fancy-But-Maybe-Not-Too-Fancy | | | | popular place to go for lunch, so either go early or |
| If you're in the mood for fancy, but maybe not | | | | go for dinner. You can get a hold of them by |
| too fancy there are a number of good choices in | | | | calling 403-264-1988. |
| the city. The Gypsy Wine Bar and Lounge is easily | | | | Vietnamese |
| the best of the lot, though. Especially for lunch. | | | | For Vietnamese in Calgary go to Vietnam Fortune. |
| The ambience is relaxed and low-key and the | | | | It's not miles ahead of the pack, but its better |
| Mediterranean style menu is full of delicious and | | | | than most. Mind you, it's hard to go wrong with |
| intriguing items. My personal favourite is the lamb | | | | Vietnamese food. My favourite here is their subs. |
| and dried cranberry burger. Lunch tends to be | | | | Not really any one in particular, they're all good. |
| busy, but you can call ahead at 403-263-5869. | | | | You can find Vietnam Fortune at 1443 Kensington |
| Steakhouse | | | | Road NW, and if you're heading there for dinner |
| The best Steakhouse in Calgary is always a | | | | they can get pretty busy. You can call ahead to |
| competition. Calgary, the self-styled Heart of the | | | | make reservations at 403-270-7110. |
| New West is located in the province of Alberta, | | | | Nellies |
| which produces some of the best beef known to | | | | For those fortunate to be travelling with their |
| mankind. With strict treatment laws, rolling hills | | | | family with them, there's always Nellies. Nellies is |
| made for free-ranging herds, and all the grass an | | | | almost an institution in Calgary, they're known just |
| animal with four stomachs can eat life just doesn't | | | | as much for their great service as for their food. |
| get much better for a cow. That's why this entry | | | | The best part, from a family perspective, is how |
| is going to be a bit of a surprise. The best steak | | | | they handle children in the restaurant. They go |
| for your money in Calgary is not found in a | | | | miles above and beyond the usual crayons and |
| steakhouse but an Italian restaurant-slash-market | | | | placemat/colouring board with full on board |
| called Mercato. There are plenty of other steak | | | | games, action figures, dolls and two foot tall |
| houses in Calgary worthy of honourable mentions, | | | | Godzillas. Hell, even I'd like to play with those toys, |
| (Ric's Steakhouse, Chicago Chophouse, and Ruth's | | | | they're so cool. There are several locations spread |
| Chris Steakhouse are all venerable choices) but | | | | out around Calgary, so your best bet to track |
| pound for pound the best steak in the city is | | | | one down is to go here. |
| found at 2224 4 Street SW. Mercato is usually | | | | Brunch |
| fairly busy at dinner, you probably shouldn't even | | | | Brunch is by far my favourite meal, and the best |
| bother trying to go there for lunch if it's after | | | | place to get it in town is at Diner Deluxe. The |
| 11:45, though. Call ahead at 403-263-5535. | | | | Diner has a slick, retro fifties-ish decor, the |
| Seafood | | | | service is reliably excellent and the menu includes |
| Landlocked provinces such as Alberta are never | | | | such astronomically amazing dishes as stuffed |
| great places to get seafood in. The problem is | | | | French Toast with home-made Yam Hash |
| simply one of transportation; fresh fish will always | | | | Browns. Diner Deluxe is located at 804 Edmonton |
| taste better than fish that's been frozen. Having | | | | Trail NE, and unfortunately you cannot call ahead |
| said that, there are still some excellent places in | | | | to make reservations for brunch. However, you |
| Calgary to go and devour some former residents | | | | can always call ahead to check how full they are... |
| of the world's oceans. Strangely, one of the best | | | | their number is 403-276-5449. |
| places in Calgary to get seafood is a steakhouse. | | | | There are thousands of restaurants in Calgary, |
| Yup, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is also known for its | | | | and only a few are mentioned here. It's also good |
| excellent shrimp, crab, and halibut. Since the | | | | to keep in mind that the restaurants listed here |
| restaurant is located in the Calgary Tower, this is | | | | are my own personal choices, so don't feel bad if |
| kind of a double win for anyone visiting the city. | | | | your favourite isn't listed. The point I'm getting at |
| The address is 295-155 9th Ave SE, and their | | | | here is that while this article makes for a good |
| reservations line is 403-246-3636. | | | | starting point, you'll find plenty of worthwhile |
| Pubs/Sports Lounges | | | | venues out there on your own as well. Bon |
| Sometimes all you want is a good, cold beer (or | | | | Appetit! |
| warm beer if you're English) and a burger. If you | | | | |
