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Summer is proving to be an especially busy time for Calgary’s dining scene. At least 10 new eateries have opened in the last two weeks, and established restaurants have been debuting new menu items and products. Suffice to say, there is no shortage of places to get your lunch or supper on this summer. Here’s what you need to know about the latest food-related openings, news and events in Calgary.
A+ Buffet Sushi & Bar opens
A+ Buffet Sushi & Bar celebrated its grand opening last week. The restaurant serves its modern Asian cuisine buffet-style, featuring dishes like tempura, seafood, chicken teriyaki, barbecue ribs, dessert and more. There are also almost 60 kinds of made to order sushi. At 10,000 square feet and with 300 seats, there’s plenty of room to bring the whole family or a group of friends.
6712 Macleod Tr. S.E., 403-455-9766
Carino Bistro adds new ramen dishes to its menu
Those who visit this Japanese and Italian fusion restaurant for dinner will be happy to find five new ramen bowls on the menu. The new ramen options include flavours like the hakata spiced tonkotsu (with barbecue pork, pork belly, mushrooms, sesame seeds, toasted seaweed and boiled egg) and the duck tsukemen (with braised duck breast, green onion, bamboo shoots, toasted seaweed, arugula and boiled egg).
Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant hosts The Seafood Bake
Indulge in your love of seafood at The Seafood Bake on Friday, July 29. This will be the first public event held in the Meadow Muse Pavilion in Fish Creek Provincial Park. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., you can expect harvest tables lined with paper, then topped with as much family-style seafood as you can eat, courtesy of the chefs at the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant. There will even be a live band at the event. Tickets are $69 each through the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant.
Earls.67 opens on Stephen Avenue
Canadian restaurant chain Earls is offering a new experience with Earls.67, a prototype restaurant on Stephen Avenue that will test new industry concepts. For example, the restaurant is currently testing the idea of adding an automatic 16 percent hospitality charge to bills, which is split between the team. The 10,000-square-foot space is divided into five different areas, including a lobby lounge, beer patio and a two-level glass atrium with a view of Stephen Avenue. The menu features a wide range of dining options, including sushi, skewers grilled on a robata grill, share plates and alcoholic punch bowls for the table to share.
315 8 Ave. S.W., 403-265-3275, earls67.ca, @earls67
Frenchie Wine Bar opens on 17 Ave. S.W.
The team behind Una Pizza + Wine and Una Takeaway have opened a new eatery called Frenchie Wine Bar. To find it, just head to the back of Una Takeaway, where a large portrait of a French bulldog marks the entrance to the wine bar. The space was designed by Connie Young, and features low lighting, an oversized banquette and dark wood. At only 500 square feet, it’s a small space with 15 seats that’s perfect for intimate chats over a glass of wine from small, unique producers. While you sip, try the made-in-house charcuterie or a cheese board featuring cheeses from Janice Beaton Fine Cheese.
616 17 Ave. S.W., bmex.ca
Lot 102 opens second location
Lot 102 opened its first restaurant location in Kensington in 2015. In July, it opened a second location in the southwest area of Calgary. The focus is on bourbon, burgers and beer here, so stop by the new space to get your hands on any of the above. The restaurant offers 12 different kinds of burgers, ranging from a double bacon cheeseburger to a garden burger.
8835 Macleod Tr. S.W., lotrestaurants.ca, @lot102yyc
Osteria de Medici becomes Osteria Chef’s Table
If you’ve driven past Osteria de Medici’s old space in Kensington lately, you may have noticed some changes. Now under new ownership and management, the Italian restaurant is now owned by Giovanni Jan Lipnik and Michele de Cesare, who were the chef and sous-chef, respectively, at Osteria de Medici. The restaurant’s new name, Osteria Chef’s Table, is just one of many changes the space has undergone. At 60-seats, Osteria Chef’s Table is about a third of its previous size. Fusion Sushi & Thai has taken over the rest of the restaurant’s old space. Osteria Chef’s Table has a new look and vibe, and while some of Osteria de Medici’s standard dishes remain on the menu, there are also some new offerings. But don’t worry, you’ll still find great traditional pastas, veal, fish and meat dishes.
201 10 St. N.W., 403-283-5553, osteria.ca
Naina’s Kitchen is moving to 17 Ave. S.E.
Naina’s Kitchen, well-loved for its poutine, stuffed burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, will be moving to the space currently occupied by Villa Maria Ristorante at 121 17 Ave. S.E. The eatery is aiming to have it’s doors open for early September.
Ricardo’s Hideaway opens in the Beltline
Ricardo’s Hideaway is a new rum bar that opened just off 17 Ave. S.W. in mid-July. The 775-square-foot space, which is easy to spot thanks to its cursive, neon “Ricardo’s” sign at the entrance, offers around 30 rum cocktails, though there are some white spirit cocktails if rum isn’t your thing. Chef J.P. Pedhirney has also developed a selection of Latin snacks, which include ahi tuna ceviche, empanadas, plains, roti and more. Ricardo’s also has a 750-square-foot patio.
1530 5 St. S.W., ricardoshideaway.ca
Rosso Coffee Roasters opens fifth location in Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
The next time you’re going to visit Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, be sure to stop by Rosso Coffee Roasters’ newest coffee shop. The fifth location for the local roasting company opened on July 1, which was also the NMC’s opening day. Designed by Holland Design, the 1,500-square-foot coffee shop features high ceilings, soft wood tones and plenty of communal seating. The menu is similar to Rosso’s other locations, but it also features unique elements that aren’t available at all of the others like nitrogen-infused cold brew on tap. The plan is to eventually serve beer and wine at this location as well.
850 4 St. S.E., 403-476-1667, rossocoffeeroasters.com, @rossocoffeeco
Sidewalk Citizen debuts a new menu at the Simmons Building
Swing by Sidewalk Citizen’s location at the Simmons Building in East Village to try its new menu, which debuted this past Saturday. Some of the new menu items that would be perfect for breakfast include a savoury granola (with oats, vegetables, greek yogurt, pumpkin and sunflower seeds and za’atar) and a chia and coconut pudding (with tapioca, fruit and almonds).
Shiki Menya collaborates with a Japanese brewery to create a sake and launches new menu items
Shiki Menya has collaborated with Mikotsuru Sake Brewery in Japan to create a new sake called Junmaikan. Available in an 180 mL can, the drink was made using Yoneshiro sake brewing rice, and would be a great accompaniment to a ramen bowl. Pick up some of the sake from Shiki Menya for $12, or find it at Shikiji or Vine Arts Wines & Spirits.
When you stop in to buy some sake, be sure to check out Shiki Menya’s new menu items as well. A few new dishes have been added to the menu as of July 15th, and the menu now features items like a veggie kimchi taco, a new drink called “The David Ershon” and a featured ramen section that will change.
Sweet Relief Pastries opens in Victoria Park
Deirdre Lotecki, formerly the executive pastry chef for deVille Coffee, has opened her own bakery in Victoria Park. Sweet Relief Pastries is a modern, almost 1,000-square-foot shop filled with treats like chocolate covered oreos, French macarons, cupcakes and more. Beautiful classic and signature cakes are also available to order, and come in flavours like classic cookies and cream and coffee toffee crunch. Sweet Relief Pastries uses many ingredients from local suppliers in its treats, including Chinook Honey Company, Foothills Creamery and Sparks Egg Farm.
120 13 Ave. S.W., 587-894-0822, sweetreliefpastries.com, @sweetreliefyyc
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The Derrick Gin Mill & Kitchen drops new dishes and drinks
This gin-focused restaurant recently debuted some new dishes and drinks. Head down to The Derrick to try new cocktails like The Gambler (with gin strega, vanilla and fernet branca) and the Aviation Royale (with gin maraschino, absinthe, lemon, violet, bubbles and lemon zest). There are also new bar snacks like the halibut lettuce wraps and bigger dishes like the half rack of lamb.
The Guild opens on Stephen Avenue
Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants opened its first restaurant in Western Canada earlier this month. Located in the Hudson’s Bay Building on Stephen Avenue, The Guild features a menu centered around live fire cooking and locally sourced meats. The restaurant initially opened its doors in early July with a special Stampede menu, and will start serving its regular menu for lunch and dinner starting on July 21. Executive chef Ryan O’Flynn and his team will be serving up dishes like wild boar country pâté, oysters, duck leg confit, braised Jacob’s ladder bison and more. If you can, grab a seat on the restaurant’s impressive patio, which overlooks Stephen Avenue.
200 8 Ave. S.W., 403-770-2313, theguildrestaurant.com, @theguildcalgary
White Rose Vegetarian Kitchen and The Coal Shed Smokehouse opens in Bowness
Owned by the team behind Open Range and Big Fish, these two new food spots in Bowness are ideal for carnivores and herbivores alike. White Rose Vegetarian Kitchen is a 45-seat restaurant that used to be a 1950s White Rose gas station. The restaurant offers a family-style vegetarian menu that is mostly split into $12 dishes like okra grilled cheese sandwiches and $18 dishes like braised rapini. In front of the restaurant is The Coal Shed Smokehouse, where braised, grilled and smoked meats like beef brisket, bison burgers and Alberta lamb shank can be purchased for takeout.
6512 Bowness Rd. N.W., 403-455-8055, whiterosekitchen.ca, @meet_and_veg
Wise &Â Wright opens on Stephen Avenue
Yet another great addition to Stephen Avenue’s dining scene, Wise & Wright opened its doors on July 12. The 1,552-square-foot, 40-seat restaurant is well worth a visit for a morning coffee and treat, lunch or dinner during the week. Look for items like built up toasts and breakfast muffins to start the day, or opt for a stone oven flatbread, super food salad or one of its bowls for lunch or dinner. On weekends, the menu focuses on brunch, which includes some of the dishes available during the week plus some additional ones like brunch bowls, baked omelettes and more. Drink-wise, you’ll find organic teas, cold pressed juice, coffee and smoothies.
163, 317 7 Ave. S.W., wiseandwright.com, @wiseandwright