Each year, we ask Avenue readers to vote for their favourite restaurants in Calgary in our Best Restaurants readers’ choice ballot. These are some of their favourite places in the city.
Winner
Cinnamon Indian Cuisine & Bar
Cinnamon Indian Cuisine & Bar offers not just one, but two locations where you can fill up on tasty Indian cuisine. Whether you dine at the Beltline or Vista Heights restaurant, expect a delicious spread of Indian cuisine, including vegetable pakoras, ghee roast lamb, chole masala and cinnamon chicken, as well as a great selection of cocktails and wines to accompany your meal.
1207 11 Ave. S.W., 403-290-1777; 3022 23 St. N.E., 403-454-3640, cinnamoncalgary.ca, @cinnamonyyc
Runners-up
Calcutta Cricket Club
Dine on delicious kati rolls, chili chicken and dal makhani inside Calcutta Cricket Club’s decadent and colourful dining room designed by local artist (and co-owner) Maya Gohill. If you can’t decide what to order, the restaurant’s three-course tasting menu promises a memorable evening for your table. The restaurant also has an excellent Express Lunch Thali platter if you are stopping by for lunch.
1213 1 St. S.W., 403-719-1555, calcuttacricketclub.com, @calcuttacricket
Moti Mahal
Specializing in East Indian cuisine, this Bankview restaurant offers a wide variety of must-try dishes across its menu of tandoori, chicken, seafood, paneer, lamb, lentil and vegetable specialties. Be sure to save room for dessert, where you can choose from tempting options like gulab jamun or ras malai.
1805 14 St. S.W., 403-243-5516, @motimahal
Tava Wok Modern Indian & Indo-Chinese Bistro
While Tava Wok has loads of excellent Indian dishes you might expect to find — think chana masala, shahi paneer and street food favourites like papdi chaat and pani puri — what helps set this restaurant stand out is the Indo-Chinese cuisine they also serve. For the epitome of this mashup, try the chicken tikka fried rice or the chilli chicken.
7171 80 Ave. N.E., 403-764-5700, tavawokyyc.ca, @tavawok
Masala Bhavan South Indian Cuisine
With its extensive menu and welcoming atmosphere, it’s no surprise that Masala Bhavan’s South Indian cuisine has earned a devoted following since the restaurant opened in 2015. From starters like the tandoori chicken and fish pakoda to mains like the Kerala prawn masala, a full menu of flavourful dishes await.
4604 37 St. S.W., 403-460-4535 and 403-667-6932, masalabhavan.com, @masalabhavan