10 New Restaurants That Have Opened in Calgary Recently

From Aspen Woods to Royal Vista to Chinatown, there are new restaurants in neighbourhoods throughout the city.

Inside the newly opened Waalflower in Bridgeland. Photograph by Maggie Keeper.

Allora opens in Aspen Woods

 

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What is it: Allora, the newest restaurant addition to Calgary’s Vintage Group, brings locally-minded and freshly made Italian fare to southwest Calgary.

Where is it: 114, 326 Aspen Glen Landing S.W., 403-686-6731

What’s on the menu: Allora sums up its menu as “local, handmade, or directly imported from Italy,” and guests can actually check out the menu board along the restaurant’s back wall to find out where key ingredients from that day’s menu come from. The Italian menu features house made ricotta, proscuitto di parma, four kinds of pizza, braised Alberta lamb shank and desserts like tiramisu and mascarpone cheesecake. The pasta, which is made fresh by the chefs daily, is a particular standout at Allora  — be sure to try the carbonara made with spaghetti, pecorino, guanciale and black pepper. Gluten-free pasta is also available.

The space: Allora opened in Redwater Rustic Grille’s former space in the Aspen Landing Shopping Centre. Filled with natural light, the restaurant’s decor hints at its Italian nature and there’s a private dining room with a lovely painted mural. The restaurant’s glass-enclosed pasta station is particularly notable. Formerly Redwater’s private dining room, it’s now where Allora’s chefs make their fresh pasta and anyone can make a reservation to dine at the table inside the station.

What else you should know: Try to grab a seat on the 50-seat patio, which opens in May and is perfectly situated overlooking the shopping centre’s neighbourhood pond.

allorarestaurant.com

 

Cafe & Mi opens in Royal Vista

 

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What is it: Cafe & Mi is Calgary’s second cat cafe. Guests can come by just to grab a bite, play with the cats in a separate room that looks into the cafe area or both. The cats come from the Alberta Animal Rescue Society and the Calgary Humane Society and are available for adoption.

Where is it: 1134, 12 Royal Vista Way N.W., 403-375-4611

What’s on the menu: Sweet and savoury waffles are the star of the cafe’s menu, with options like a bacon and egg waffle, a barbecue pulled pork waffle, an apple cinnamon waffle and a peaches and cream waffle. Baked goods, Fratello coffee, tea, iced drinks and bubble tea round out the menu.

cafeandmi.com

 

Diner Deluxe opens in Mahogany

 

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What is it: This is Diner Deluxe’s third location, which opened in Mahogany’s Westman Village in early April.

Where is it: 106 Mahogany Centre S.E., 587-482-9979

What’s on the menu: The Mahogany location features the same breakfast and lunch menu as the other two locations. Expect breakfast poutine, eggs Benedict, skillets, Bananas Foster French toast, huevos rancheros, burgers, Kansas City pulled pork sandwiches, mac and cheese and more.

The space: Designed by Frank Architecture & Interiors, Diner Deluxe’s Mahogany location has a mid-century modern meets Palm Springs atmosphere thanks to design elements like the pink and green colour palette, a wall of white breeze blocks and a retro wall clock. Be sure to snap of photo of Instagrammable touches like the neon “But first, coffee” sign.

What else you should know: Diner Deluxe also has locations in Renfrew and Aspen Woods.

dinerdeluxe.com

 

La Diperie opens in Country Hills Village

 

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What is it: Montreal-based chain La Diperie recently opened its first Western Canada location in Calgary. The ice cream shops specialize in chocolate-dipped ice cream cones, as well as other frozen treats.

Where is it: 519, 500 Country Hills Blvd. N.E., 403-452-4005

What’s on the menu: La Diperie is known for its chocolate-dipped ice cream, so naturally, there are plenty of options when it comes to this signature product. The eatery offers 30 flavours of chocolate dip, including espresso, activated charcoal, banana, mint, maple and more. You can then add toppings like almonds, gummy bears or pretzels. If you’re not sure which flavours to go with, La Diperie has 11 suggested combinations including L’Apres Match (with pretzel crumbs, dark chocolate and caramel ganache) or Samberry (with raspberry cheesecake, white chocolate, roasted graham crumbs and whipped cream).

ladiperie.com

 

Finesse Desserts opens in Kingsland

 

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What is it: A new French pastry shop in Kingsland.

Where is it: 232, 7337 Macleod Tr. S.W.

What’s on the menu: This is one of those pastry shops where the treats look almost too pretty to eat. But not eating them would be a mistake. Canelés, éclairs, fruit tarts, chocolate chip cookies, macarons and cakes are all made with close attention to detail. The glazed desserts are particularly beautiful, and taste just as good — try the Fairytale dessert, which is made with vanilla mousse, a pineapple insert, a coconut base and a white chocolate velour covering, or the Passion dessert, which is made with raspberry mousse, passion fruit insert and a pistachio base.

The space: This lovely shop has an eye-catching chandelier and an accent wall decked out in flowers. There’s only one table to sit at, but that just means you’ll be the hero of the night when you show up to a family dinner with some of these treats for dessert.

What else you should know: Finesse Desserts also serves coffee and tea.

finessedesserts.ca

 

The Moose and Poncho opens in Chinatown

 

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What is it: It’s only been open a little over a month, but this unassuming counter service restaurant is quietly gaining a reputation for having some of the best and most authentic Mexican food in the city.

Where is it: 18, 132 3 Ave. S.E., 587-707-4980

What’s on the menu: Tacos are the primary focus on the menu, with five soft taco options featuring everything from cured pork shoulder to green chorizo and potato. Guests can visit the toppings bar to garnish them with different salsas, cheese, onions and other toppings. There are also fried quesadillas, fried tacos and oven baked taco dishes like the pollo mole and puerco verde with verdolagas. Make sure you leave room for dessert so you can try the churros with Mexican caramel and order a glass of refillable agua fresca to wash it all down.

The space: The Moose and Poncho’s location makes this restaurant a bit of a hidden gem. Located in Chinatown’s Far East Shopping Centre, look for a small sign outside the centre’s door to know you’re in the right place. The restaurant itself is small but festive, with colourful walls and Mexican-themed memorabilia surrounding a handful of tables.

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Monki Breakfastclub & Bistro opens in Inglewood

 

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What is it: Monki Breakfastclub & Bistro has called the Beltline home for more than six years. On April 15, the popular breakfast and lunch spot opened a second location in Inglewood.

Where is it: 4, 1420 9 Ave. S.E.

What’s on the menu: The Beltline and Inglewood locations share the same menu, which means you can still order dishes like the brisket hash, the pancake s’mores stack, chocolate fondue and five kinds of eggs Benedict (try it with the pink Prosecco hollandaise sauce). The restaurant also has an impressive selection of hot sauce to choose from, including a few local options. Wash it all down with a mint lemonade, a Caesar or a mimosa.

The space: Monki Inglewood is located in The Fine Diner’s former space and it has undergone a pretty significant redesign. Brick accent walls and wood tables add some rustic charm, while cute wooden monkeys hanging from ceiling plants add a playful touch to the space. Monki Inglewood is nearly twice the size of Monki Beltline West and has a second dining area in the back of the space.

What else you should know: You can also visit Monki’s original location in the Beltline at 1301 10 Ave. S.W.

monkibistro.ca

 

Southland Yard opens in Willow Park

 

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What is it: Part of the Delta Hotels Calgary South, Southland Yard is a new adults-only bar that combines tasty food with fun games for a memorable casual dining experience.

Where is it: 135 Southland Dr. S.E.

What’s on the menu: Open for brunch, lunch, dinner and late-night bites, there’s a little something for everyone at Southland Yard. The menu features an elevated take on bar fare with dishes like chili-honey almonds, pan-seared Brussels sprouts, grilled chicken lettuce wraps, Wagyu beef hot dogs, flatbreads, steak frites and more. There are more than a dozen local beers on tap, as well as a selection of wines and cocktails.

The space: There’s more to do at Southland Yard than just eating — the bar has an indoor bocce ball court, shuffleboard, pool and foosball, not mention arcade games like pinball.

What else you should know: The bar offers a twice-daily happy hour, so swing by between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close to get a deal on beer and house wine.

southlandyard.com

 

Super Smash Café opens in northwest Calgary

 

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What is it: Super Smash Café is a new video game cafe in northwest Calgary. Guests can choose from three differently-priced packages and play by the hour using their choice of game console. The cafe has games like Mario Kart, Zelda, Pokemon and more.

Where is it: 1706, 1240 16 Ave. N.W.

What’s on the menu: Along with Fratello coffee and tea drinks, the cafe offers a selection of baked goods including cinnamon rolls, cookies, muffins and pastries.

The space: If you’re planning to play for awhile, don’t worry — each gaming station has a couch so that you can stay comfy while you play.

What else you should know: The cafe is walking distance from SAIT, so if you’re a student who needs a mid-day gaming break, this could be the perfect spot for you.

supersmashcafe.ca

 

Waalflower opens in Bridgeland

 

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What is it: Waalflower officially opened on March 5 in the historic De Waal building, which used to be home to restaurants like Il Sogno, Whitehall and Elwood & the Rabbit.

Where is it: 24 4 St. N.E., 587-349-9008

What’s on the menu: Waalflower’s kitchen is led by executive chef Jean-Paul Comte. The menu features a wide range of seasonal fare including honey sesame wings, ahi tuna, a conchiglie bake, lamb meatballs, Alberta striploin and five kinds of pizza. The cocktails, both boozy and not, are a standout at Waalflower as well. Created by mixologist Justin Darnes, drinks like the smoked pina colada, the flaming Zombie (Original 1934) and the colour-changing Gardener’s Tonic have been splashed across Instagram since the restaurant opened.

The space: Waalflower was designed by Hribar Design Group. The 3,000-square-foot, 80-seat restaurant features a casual, colourful vibe accented by local artwork.

What else you should know: Happy hour runs Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and features deals on wine, select classic cocktails, pizza, wings and more.

waalflower.ca

 

More Food News

Buffo has launched a new Sunday Supper series that will feature a different chef every month.

Check out the new menus at Cassis Bistro and Elbow Room.

The Chocolate Lab is making big designer chocolate eggs for Easter again.

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