For the fifth year, we asked some of the city’s top food writers to weigh in with their top restaurant choices in a variety of categories, from best new restaurant and best of the ’burbs, to best wine list and best place for kids. (our panelists, John Gilchrist, Danyael Halprin and dee Hobsbawn-Smith,) For the first time, we also asked you — our restaurant-savvy readers — to tell us where you love to eat, and you responded to our online survey in droves. This collective wisdom produced some clear winners, some surprises, some questionable choices (McDonald’s?!) and most importantly, a diverse and robust list of places to eat and drink. Those who have made the final list are sure to tempt your taste buds and inspire you to get out and experience the wide range of culinary delights Calgary has to offer.
To whet your appetite the list of all the eateries that were selected in 2008 continues below.
A&A Foods and Deli, 1401 20 Ave. N.W., 289-1400 and two other locations.
Aida’s Mediterranean Bistro, 2208 4 St. S.W., 541-1189. Alcatra, 1000 7 Ave. S.W., 265-9598.
Alloy [1], 220 42 Ave. S.E., 287-9255.
Artisan Bistro, 809 1 Ave. N.E., 263-3727.
Atomic, 623 1 St. S.W., 228-6642.
Avenue Diner, 105 8 Ave. S.W., 263-2673.
Avison Young Club at the Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise S.E., 571-9733.
The Bears Den, 254028 Bearspaw Rd., 241-7611.
Belgo Brasserie, 501 8 Ave. S.W., 265-6555.
The Belvedere, 107 8 Ave. S.W., 265-9595.
Bison Mountain Bistro, 213, 211 Bear St., Banff, 403-762-5550.
Bistro Piq Niq, 811 1 St. S.W., 263-1650.
Bistro Saint Germain, 115 12 Ave. S.W., 290-1322.
Bistro Twenty Two Ten, [2] 2210 4 St. S.W., 228-4528.
Blink Restaurant and Bar [3], 111 8 Ave. S.W., 263-5330.
Blowfish Sushi Lounge [4], 100, 625 11 Ave. S.W., 237-8588.
Blue Dog Café, 110 3 Ave. W., Cochrane, 932-4282.
Blue House Café, 2, 3843 19 St. N.W., 284-9111.
Bonterra Trattoria, 1016 8 St. S.W., 262-8480.
Boogie’s Burgers 908 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 230-7070.
Boyd’s Seafood Restaurant, 5211 Macleod Tr. S.W., 253-7575.
Brava Bistro [5], 723 17 Ave. S.W, 228-1854.
Buchanan’s, 738 3 Ave. S.W., 261-4646.
Bumpy’s Cafe, 1040 8 St. S.W., 265-0244.
Caesar’s Steak House, 512 4 Ave. S.W., 264-1222.
Caffé Beano [6], 1613 9 St. S.W., 229-1232.
Café Divine, 42 McRae St., Okotoks, 938-0000.
Calgary Farmer’s Market, Currie Barracks, 4421 Quesnay Wood Dr. S.W., 244-4548.
Capo, 1420 9 Ave. S.E., 264-2276.
The Casbah, 720 11 Ave. S.W., 265-9800.
Catch Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 100 8 Ave. S.E., 206-0000.
Chili Club Thai House, 125, 555 11 Ave. S.W., 237-8828 and 1904 36 St. S.W., 217-8862.
The Clay Oven, 349, 3132 26 St. N.E., 250-2161.
Cora’s Breakfast and Lunch, 402, 4600 130 Ave. S.E., 265-7545.
The Coup, 924B 17 Ave. S.W., 541-1041.
Crazy Weed Kitchen, 1600 Railway Ave., Canmore, 403-609-253.
Diner Deluxe, 804 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 276-5499.
Divino Wine and Cheese Bistro [7], 113 8 Ave. S.W., 410-5555.
Earl’s, 3030, 23 St. N.E., 291-6700 and six other locations.
Eight Restaurant, 1530 5 St. S.W., 806-0884.
Fleur de Sel, 2, 2015 4 St. S.W., 228-9764.
Fuze Finer Dining, 2nd floor, 110 Banff Ave., Banff, 403-760-0853.
Globefish Sushi and Izakaya [8], 326 14 St. N.W., 521-0222 and 1, 2009 33 Ave. S.W., 249-8866.
Golden Inn Restaurant, 107A 2 Ave. S.E., 269-2211.
Hana Sushi [9], 1803 4 St. S.W., 229-1499.
The Highwood Dining Room, at SAIT, 1301 16 Ave. N.W., 284-8615.
Il Centro, 106, 6036 3 St. S.W., 258-2294.
Il Sogno, 24 4 St. N.E., 232-8901. Istanbul, 4129 4 St. N.W., 229-0542.
Jonas’ Restaurant, 937 6 Ave. S.W., 262-3302.
Kinjo Sushi [10], 7101 Macleod Tr. S., 255-8998.La Chaumière, 139 17 Ave. S.W., 228-5690.
Lazy Loaf & Kettle, 8 Parkdale Cres. N.W., 270-7810.
Le Villa, 404, 1851 Sirocco Dr. S.W., 217-9699,
Leo Fu’s Szechwan & Mandarin Cuisine, 511 70 Ave. S.W., 255-2528.
Lion’s Den Restaurant, 234 17 Ave. S.E., 265-8482.
Little Chef, 400, 555 Strathcona Blvd. S.W., 242-7219.
The Living Room, 514 17 Ave. S.W., 228-9830.
Marathon Ehtiopian Restaurant, 130 10 St. N.W., 283-6796.
McDonald’s, 222 8 Ave. S.W, 265-8096 and 42 other locations.
Mekong, 2885 17 Ave. S.E., 248-1488. Mercato, 2224 4 St. S.W., 263-5535.
Mercury Lounge, 101, 550 17 Ave. S.W., 229-0222.
Mimo Restaurant, 203, 4909 17 Ave. S.E., 235-3377.
Moti Mahal Restaurant [11], 20, 1805 14 St. S.W., 228-9990 and 38, 240 Midpark Wy. S.E., 201-7336.
Moughal Mahal Restaurant, 3, 2711 17 Ave. S.W., 242-8205.
Mt. Everest’s Kitchen, 1448 17 Ave. S.W., 806-2337.
Muse Restaurant and Lounge, 107 10A St. N.W., 670-6873.
Namskar, 202 16 Ave. N.E. 230-4447.
Nectar Desserts, Upstairs, 1216 9 Ave. S.E., 263-8486.
Olive Garden, 333 36 St. N.E., 248-1020, olivegarden.com.
Opa Souvlaki, 835 17 Ave. S.W., 245-4080 and nine other locations.
Open Range Steaks and Chops, 1114 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 277-3408.
Opus on 8th, 628 8 Ave. S.W., 269-4110.
Orchid Room, 315 8 Ave. S.W., 263-4457.
Palace of Eats, 1411 11 St. S.W., 244-6602.
Parthenon Restaurant, 8304 Fairmount Dr. S.E., 255-6444.
The Pavilion Restaurant, 246 Hawstone Dr. N.W., 208-3063.
Peters’ Drive-In, 219 16 Ave. N.E., 277-2747.
Post Hotel, 200 Pipestone Rd. Lake Louise, 403-522-3989.
Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club, 1 Priddis Greens Dr., Priddis, 931-3171.
Purple Perk, 2212 4 St. S.W., 244-1300
Quarry Bistro and Wine Bar, 718 Main St. Canmore, 403-678-6088.
Railway Deli, 702 Bow Valley Tr., Canmore, 678-3637.
The Ranche Restaurant, 15979 Bow Bottom Tr. S.E., 225-3939.
Raw Bar, 119 12 Ave. S.W., 266-4611.
Redwater Rustic Grille [12], 9223 Macleod Tr. S.W., 253-4266.
Regency Palace, Top Floor, 328 Centre St. S.E., 777-2288.
Rimrock Dining Room & Oak Room Lounge, 133 9 Ave. S.W., 262-1234.
River Café, Prince’s Island Park, 261-7670.
Rouge, 1240 8 Ave. S.E., 531-2767.
Route 40 Soup Company, 146 Main St. Turner Valley, 933-7676.
Saigon Restaurant, 1221 12 Ave. S.W., 228-4200.
Seven Restolounge, 603 8 Ave. S.W., 277-2727.
Simone’s Bistro, 636 10 Ave. S.W., 263-6661.
Spolumbo’s Fine Foods and Deli, 1308 9 Ave. S.E., 264-6452.
Stage West Theatre Restaurant, 727 42 Ave. S.E., 243-6642.
Sunterra Market, 1851 Sirocco Dr. S.W, 266-3049 and four other locations.
Sushi-Bar Miki, 10, 5032 16 Ave. N.W., 286-2860.
Thai Boat, 108, 2323 32 Ave. N.E., 291-9887.
Thai Nongkhai, 10, 7400 Macleod Tr. S.E., 705-3329.
Thai Place West, 2359 Banff Tr. N.W., 291-4148.
Thai Sa-On, 351 10 Ave. S.W., 264-3526.
Thai Tai Toasted Asian Subs and Grill, 615C 17 Ave. S.W., 244-3060.
Tiffin Curry and Roti House, 188 26 St. S.E. 273-2420.
Tommy Burger Bar [13], 9629 Macleod Tr. S.W., 258-0668.
Towa Sushi, 2116 4 St. S.W., 245-8585.
The Trough Dining Co., 725B 9 St., Canmore, 403-678-2820.
Tubby Dog, 1022 17 Ave. S.W., 244-0694.
Vietnam Restaurant, 227 12 Ave. S.E., 263-0995.
Vintage Chophouse & Tavern, 322 11 Ave. S.W., 262-7262.
Wild Ginger [14], 351 4th Ave. S.W., 262-2888.
Links:
[1] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/alloy
[2] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/bistro-twenty-two-ten
[3] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/blink-resturant-and-bar
[4] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/blowfish-sushi-lounge
[5] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/brava-bistro
[6] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/caffe-beano
[7] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/divino-wine-%26amp;-cheese-bistro
[8] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/globefish-sushi-and-izakaya
[9] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/hana-sushi
[10] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/kinjo-sushi-and-grill
[11] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/moti-mahal
[12] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/redwater-rustic-grille
[13] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/tommy-burger-bar
[14] http://www.avenuecalgary.com/best-restaurants/item/wild-ginger