Each year, we ask our readers to weigh in on the best restaurants in Calgary with an online voting ballot. Here are the winners and runners-up for Best Mediterranean Restaurants in Calgary.
Winner
Aida’s Bistro
Since 2000, this Mission restaurant has served up traditional dishes from owner Aida Abboud’s home country of Lebanon. In fact, you’ll still find the restaurant’s namesake running the kitchen from time to time. Pop by for classic Lebanese dishes like tabbouli, lamb kabob and share plates piled with hummus, grape leaves, falafel and more. The sweets are all made in-house as well, like baklava or kashtaliey, a milk pudding topped with pistachio and rose water.
2208 4 St. S.W., 403-541-1189, aidasbistro.ca, @aidasbistro
Runners-up
Jerusalem Shawarma
Using traditional recipes brought over to Calgary from Palestine, the family-owned restaurant Jerusalem Shawarma serves up platters, wraps, poutines, salads and rice bowls with your choice of donair, shawarma, falafel, kababs and more. For dessert, grab some baklava to finish off the meal.
Ten Calgary locations, jerusalem-shawarma.ca, @jerusalemshawarmacalgary
Paros Real Greek
Paros Real Greek’s three locations all feature family recipes. The quick-service restaurants serve grilled souvlaki, gyro and roast lamb, both on plates and in pita wraps (the wraps are even topped with fries, in traditional Greek form).
1436 8 St. S.W., 403-453-1039; 8650 112 Ave. N.W., 403-547-7040; and 1810 80 Mahogany Rd. S.E., 403-395-0095, parosrealgreek.com, @parosrealgreek
Santorini Greek Taverna
This family-owned Greek restaurant has been serving Calgarians fresh, authentic Greek fare for more than 30 years. The welcoming environment makes this a great spot to enjoy some souvlaki, moussaka or even Mediterranean sea bass or bream, which Santorini occasionally flies in from the Mediterranean.
1502 Centre St. N., 403-276-8363, santorinirestaurant.com, @santorinigreektaverna_
Broken Plate Kitchen & Bar
Broken Plate is known for its modern take on traditional Greek food. Favourites like dolmades, tzatziki, lamb sirloin souvlaki and moussaka can all be enjoyed at this Mediterranean dining hub in Willow Park. The baklava cheesecake with mixed berry compote beckons for dessert.
10816 Macleod Tr. S.E., 403-225-9650, brokenplate.ca, @brokenplateyyc
