Calgary Restaurants

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We went to this location to celebrate my father-in-law's 89th birthday. Great location, awesome food and decent prices make this a place we'll visit again.

Favorite Dish: I selected the Bountiful Beef Ribs basted with Carolina Honey sauce with a loaded baked potato and cole slaw. Padre had the BBQ Salmon (an 8oz. Atlantic Salmon filet, grilled and brushed with TR BBQ sauce) with rice and vegetables. LJ chose the Grilled Chicken Spinach Stack (two stacked, grilled chicken breasts straight from the open grill covered with a rich blend of four cheeses, artichoke hearts and creamy spinach) and served with a loaded baked potato and vegetables.

We went there for my father's birthday. It was a Tuesday night and there were 9 of us. The Tuesday night special was pasta dishes. For $7 you had a choice of various types of pasta. All of us ate for around $78. The only complaint was the Caesar salad tasted like vinegar. The waiter did remove the cost of the salad from the bill.

Favorite Dish: All of the pasta was good.

Originally started in Vancouver, Amato Gelato has now opened a store in Calgary. Sure, there's a few gelato places in Calgary, but having done *ahem* some extensive research, I do believe Amato wins hands down for flavor and quality. Mario LoScerbo learned ice cream making from his father and grandfather, and the care and skill that his company uses to make the gelatos and sorbettos shines through. They even have an alarm on the fridge that sells pre-packaged products so that the door isn't left open too long and the -30C temperature is maintained.

There are so many flavors on display, it's almost overwhelming. Many flavors are already packed in plastic containers to take home, which are a lot easier to handle than the traditional styrofoam and plastic insert containers.

All the gelatos are made with skim milk -- less guilt for most customers, and the sorbettos are so rich in flavor and creamy you'll swear there was some type of dairy in there.

Favorite Dish: There is so much to choose from -- even red bean and taro for the asian crowd. I highly recommend: Hedgehog (chocolate and hazelnut), Mango sorbetto, Coconut, and the Raspberry and Watermelon sorbettos.

They also serve coffee, grilled paninis and some pastry items. But most people are there for the gelato....

Sakana Grill probably offers the best sushi at the most affordable prices in town. The sushi is always well-prepared, and their lunch specials are good value. The highlight of the restaurant is the floating sushi bar. If sushi is not your taste, there are also other authentic Japanese dishes offered as well as Teppan Yaki.

Favorite Dish: We almost always order the love boat -- a bamboo boat filled with sushi for two. The loveboat special also comes with soup, salad and dessert, so be really hungry before you go.

Southern cooking should never be second best. Food here is made with the finest ingredients (e.g., chickens are fresh and prepared on an applewood rotisserie, AAA steaks are used, ribs are smoked with hickory rubbed and basted with the finest spices and BBQ sauces available. Just remember their slogan; "Cause barbeque is not just food, it's a state of mind."

Favorite Dish: As soon as you walk into the restaurant, you feel as if you are surrounded by friends. The employees are smiling as well as very helpful and know their menu items very well. You start off with a loaf of homemade bread with sweet butter.

For an appetizer, we chose the Garlic Flatbread (wood oven baked flatbread covered with fresh herbs and garlic). For an entree, we decided to split a full rack of Baby Back Ribs (mouth watering tender, juicy ribs basted with smokey BBQ sauce) served with coleslaw and thick cut fries smothered in home-style chicken gravy.

To wash this satisfying meal down, we ordered a pitcher of Big Rock Honey Brown Lager (an exceptionally smooth and mellow golden-brown lager with a subtle hint of sweet honey which produces a rich creamy head and a clean aftertaste).

The Ranche Restaurant is a fine dining facility located in the restored Ranche House where one can enjoy lunch, dinner, cocktails or weekend brunch. The menu features a wide variety of Alberta regional cuisine. The Grand Salon seats about 125 guests while Charlie's room (complete with original ranch table) seats another 25 and there are private dining rooms available. Sit down beside the massive fireplace in the cozy 'Wolf Den' or enjoy the covered wrap-around verandah during warm weather.

Favorite Dish: Start off with Prince Edward Isle Mussels sauteed in beer that comes with potatoes, red peppers and onions. The sauce is so good, you'll want to capture every drop (so do it with the bread that comes with your meal). For dinner, try one of the following entrées: Beef Tenderloin (it comes with double potatoes and veggies covered in a delighful wine sauce, or Alberta Steak and Pork Ribs (which comes with bleu cheese mashed potatoes and veggies also covered with delicious wine sauce). Wash your meals down with either a glass of St. Gayan Gigondas Red Wine or a pint of Big Rock Traditional Ale. For all this, the total bill came up to $90.90 (CND).

Melrose is one of my favorite spots on 17th Ave in Calgary. This place always has some type of heartbeat, great place to watch hockey and also a great place for singles to meet sexy singles. Make sure you stop in this spot as you hop around 17th Ave.

Favorite Dish: Keiths

I stayed nearby in the Hotel Arts which made a couple of my friends happy since it gave them the perfect opportunity to eat at Saint Germains. Its received other favorable reviews and therefore was on the hot list for my friends to try.

The interior is slightly elegant, but overly so. While a dress code may not be enforced, business casual may be the norm. The tables have white linens, but you can also eat up at the full service bar too if you wish.

Favorite Dish: The salads and starters are good. We particularly liked the oysters made in a citron vodka. But then again we also liked the mussles steamed with beer and herbs.

The entrees were excellent too. The boeuf bourguignon was tender and flavorful. But also listen to the daily specials, like the one we had with the jumbo shrimp and rich pilaf.

The service was decent, but we were there on a quiet evening so had rather attentive service.