Avenue

Dinner with Dad

Celebrate Father’s Day, or any other day this month, at these six restaurants

By Anthony Charron
Photography By Jared Sych

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Downtown style

Seven Restolounge is made of up two levels. The main floor is a bustling lounge, and the second floor of the 8th Avenue S.W. location is a well-designed fine-dining restaurant with a contemporary menu that incorporates cuisine styles from around the world. Tapas items like shrimp tempura ($15) and duck confit ($14) can be found alongside lighter fare such as lobster bisque ($12) and nicoise salad ($19). There are pastas like Mama’s spaghetti and meatballs ($20) and Brome Lake duck ravioli ($21). Entrée selections include vanilla bean sea bass ($29), beef short ribs ($29) and a 12-ounce AAA sterling beef New York steak ($37).

Owned by the Metropolitan Grill Group, both floors of Seven seem to attract Calgary’s up and comers. (603 8 Ave. S.W., 403-277-2727)

Deli done right

Kensington’s Peppino just might have the best Italian-style sandwiches in the entire city. It certainly earns points for its extensive selection, with more than two dozen creations, including the crantastic turkey ($7.75), hot Italian meatball ($7.75) and the BLT with cheese ($7.50). If you are not a meat-eater, Peppino’s also has nine different vegetarian subs, including eggplant parmigiana ($8.50) and a bocconcini sandwich ($7.75). If you are a hearty eater, try the Da Nico’s ($9), which loads a Peppino baguette with capicollo, calabrese salami, mortadella, hot peppers, cheese, lettuce and meatballs.

Peppino also has prepared take-home items like Italian sausage, pastas, soups and stock and a good selection of other dry goods. (101, 1240 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-283-5350)

Vampires, beware

With a name like Antonio’s Garlic Clove, it is no surprise that garlic is an ingredient found in abundance in nearly every dish. There is brie cheese in homemade bread with whole roasted garlic ($13), a garlic and onion salad (small, $7) and cream of roasted garlic soup ($8) — and that’s just for starters. The entrées show the influence of a number of cuisine styles from Indian (garlic butter chicken on penne, $20) to French (Duck a la Blue-b, $32), but with names like the Stinkin’ Steak (eight-ounce, $30), you’d better bring some breath mints.

Antonio’s even has desserts made using the ubiquitous bulb. The 4th Street location is tucked into a building with a number of other restaurants and has a nice bistro feel. (2206 4 St. S.W., 403-228-0866)

Hats off

The 17th Avenue S.W. location of El Sombrero is small, but the taste and portions of its authentic Mexican cuisine are big. Decorated in a south-of-the-border style, the Latin feel of El Somberero is often enhanced by live Spanish guitar performances. Get started with an appetizer like taquitos chiquitos ($9), jalapenos rellenos ($9) or ceviche Acapulco ($9). The entrée selection is extensive and has favourites including tacos ($16.50, beef or chicken) and chicken enchiladas with mole sauce ($17). Other dishes like pork chops with adobo or mole sauce and combination platters round out the menu.

Let the chef pick his favourites for the combinacion de la casa ($19), or try one of the daily specials available Monday to Thursday. And what goes better with fine Mexican food than a tasty lime margarita? (530 17 Ave. S.W., 403-228-0332)

Spicy selections

For more than 20 years, Charlie Chan’s Rice House has served up fine Szechuan cuisine, and that tradition continues today at its Kensington location. The food here is quick and delicious, and it is open until 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can satisfy that ginger beef craving at almost any time. Start with spring rolls ($6), chicken satay (six skewers, $9.25) or dumplings ($10).

If you are in the mood for soup, try the egg drop ($3.75) or wor wonton (medium, $9.50). Create your own feast from the various dish categories like vegetable (Buddha’s delight, $10; Szechuan eggplant, $12), seafood (salt and pepper seafood, $16), beef (ginger beef, $12), chicken (lemon chicken, $12) and pork (Szechuan pork, $12). It’s Chinese food done right. (1140 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-283-6165)

Catch as catch can

If you are looking for fresh seafood in a casual atmosphere, look no further than Catch Oyster Bar. While the elegant dining room upstairs is more upscale, the oyster bar is a perfect place to enjoy a variety of great seafood dishes. In addition to freshly shucked oysters, Dungeness crab and Atlantic lobster available at market price, the dinner menu also includes appetizers like oysters Rockefeller (half dozen, $19), blue crab and snow crab cakes ($18) and moules frites ($20). There are creations like roasted sablefish ($28) and seared Atlantic salmon ($25) featuring seafood flown in fresh daily.

If you aren’t in the mood for seafood, you might try the Celtic beef burger ($16) or an eight-ounce New York strip loin steak ($30). For the seafood-loving group of four to six people, you might be tempted by the three- level tower of power ($170), which includes lobster, crab, scallops, prawns, mussels, clams and oysters. (100 8 Ave. S.E. 403-206-0000)