Calgary's Best Restaurants 2011 : Judges Recommendations

Editor's Note: We've launched a new free weekly e-mail newsletter focusing on all things food. Sent each Tuesday, the Avenue Food & Drink Newsletter will keep you up to date on the latest Calgary food news. Sign Up Now

Our Judges Recommendation Winners are Calgary restaurants that have been singled out as amazing but because of the structure of our competition, didn't win a specific category.

Any list of the best restaurants in Calgary would be incomplete without them. They were talked about over and over in our deliberations and by readers. They either just missed being the best in several categories or there wasn't a category that fit them well. So we created a category just for them because they have been singled out by our judges for special recognition.

We'll post all of the winners of the 8th Annual Food Awards tomorrow evening but we thought we would give our readers a little amuse bouche tonight, just to get your palate ready for a full heaping of great Calgary dining.

Aida’s Mediterranean Bistro
Aida Abboud’s home-cooked Lebanese cuisine includes platters of dips, kebabs and couscous for omnivores and vegetarians, alike, all served in a casual setting with a gold-painted tin ceiling and rustic wood chairs. 2208 4 St. S.W., 403-541-1189, aidasbistro.ca

Alloy
Distinctly Californian with its glamourous white-and-pink interior. Alloy is on the cusp of the inner-city limits. Revel in the mix of flavours that blend Asan, Latin and Mediterranean influences. 220 42 Ave. S.E., 403-287-9255, alloydining.com

Bavarian Inn Restaurant
Set amongst the scenic foothills of the Canadian Rockies in Bragg Creek, the Bavarian Inn’s Alpine lodge decor perfectly accentuates the gourmet schnitzel dishes it’s renowned for. 75 White Ave., Bragg Creek, 403-949-3611, thebavarianinn.com

Bistro Piq Niq
Owned by jazz musician Rob Young and his interior designer wife, Connie, PiqNiq is a cool, downtown bistro that won’t bust your wallet with great specials like a no corkage fee on Tuesdays. 811 1 St. S.W., 403-263-1650, beatniq.com

Buchanan’s Chop House and Whisky Bar
Owners Michael and Carol Buchanan make sure everything in their kitchen is prepared from scratch — from the pasta to the sauce — and Buchanan’s vast selection of single-malt whiskies will warm your stomach along with its food. 738 3 Ave. S.W., 403-261-4646, buchanans.ca

The Casbah
Moroccan specialties, including tagines and couscous, are served to diners lounging among cushions, tapestries and antiques that will make you think you are in Casablanca. 720 11 Ave. S.W., 403-265-9800, casbahrestaurant.ca

Centini
Centini’s elegant dining room, decorated with inspiring Canadian works of art, is usually packed with Beltline bigwigs and young professionals looking to unwind and dine on top-notch Italian cuisine. 160 8 Ave. S.E., 403-269-1600, centini.com

Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro
Chef John Donovan uses naturally raised game to produce American bistro dishes with an Albertan twist, such as buffalo tartare and grilled rabbit sausage. 113 8 Ave. S.W., 403-410-5555, crmr.com/divino

Fleur de Sel
The quaint, French brasserie is the perfect place to start a romantic evening, as Fleur de Sel’s colourful, classy staff make the experience truly magnifique. 2015 4 St. S.W., 403-228-9764, fleurdeselbrasserie.com

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co.
Make the trip out to Canmore when you’re hankering for handcrafted pizza — thin-crust, calzone and traditional — with a variety of fresh ingredients, all baked in wood-fired ovens that you inevitably watch in mouthwatering anticipation. 1, 838 10 St., Canmore, 403-609-5508, rockymountainflatbread.ca

Saint Germain
Situated in Hotel Arts, Saint Germain’s executive chef, Grayson Sherman, sticks to his “food philosophy” of fresh ingredients that change with the season to create lush, French-inspired cuisine. 115 12 Ave. S.W., 403-290-1322, saintgermain.ca

Sun’s BBQ Restaurant
Sick of the westernized food court fare and in the mood for real Chinese food? There’s not a better place in town than Sun’s to get authentic Chinese. 1423 Centre St. N.E., 403-230-8890
 
Three Ravens Restaurant & Wine Bar
Placed on the side of Tunnel Mountain in Banff, Three Ravens’ glass walls offer an unmatched view of the Bow Valley, and its seasonal, fresh menu choices are as breathtaking as the scenery. 107 Tunnel Mountain Dr., Banff, 403-762-6300

The Trough Dining Co.
Trough’s globe-spanning menu is split into two playful sides: Laurel and Hardy. Both are worth the drive to Canmore. Laurel’s side features appetizers, including Vietnamese pork spring roll, bruschetta and duck confit; Hardy’s side features mains such as chicken tikka and Lebanese rack of lamb. 725 9 St., Canmore, 403-678-2820, thetrough.ca