There’s nothing like a lot of family time to make you want to get out of the house and have a meal alone with your husband. Calgary may not be as big as some of the other places I’ve lived, but it does have a respectable selection of restaurants. On this trip, I discovered some new gems and revisited old favorites.
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Hands down, my new go-to place in Calgary is GreekTown on 4th. The food tastes really authentic, unlike a lot of Greek joints I’ve been too, and dishes like the lamb shank or the bison meatballs are simply divine. Looking forward to sampling some of the specialty Greek cocktails on the patio when we come back in warmer weather.
When I’m looking for a great lunch spot, I can always count on Metropolitan Grill on 9th Ave. Nice wine list, solid burgers and I wouldn’t turn down a helping of their lobster man and cheese. Is it the most innovative menu? No, but good atmosphere, consistent quality and a good selection of steaks and smaller bites make the Grill a satisfying choice every time.
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And then there’s Earls. Earls is an awesome Canadian chain (with a few US locations in Boston, Miami, Colorado and Washington State); eating there is like being magically transported back to your teenage days when drinking was first allowed and your crew would roll up to the bar like they owned the place. Despite being a chain, the food is both good and comforting, and their mix of classic and signature cocktails are great. Definitely try the Caesar Drink. This Canadian bar staple was created in Calgary in 1969 at the Westin Hotel. Similar to a Bloody Mary, but way better.
If you’re looking to get a whole group together, there’s no place like National beerhall on 10th for a party. Obviously, the beer is a huge draw here, with tons of stouts, lagers, porters and ales, but the bourbon’s pretty great too. There’s always something going ona raucous viewing of the Flames’ in action, a football bash or some fresh live music. Definitely a fun night out.
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Briggs is a great place to share a bite of old-school food that’s excellently prepared. Chefs Lacaze and Taylor are on a mission to make food simpler, tastier and cheaper; they deliver all that, plus a great sharing menu that lets you explore more options like smoked brisket sliders or deviled eggs (how awesome is that?)
Finally, if you just need to grab-and-go, try Koob the Kabob factory. Despite its fast food’ model, nothing is pre-prepared, all the meat and produce is fresh, and they offer light options like swapping bread for a salad plate. Nice to see Calgary getting more health conscious!