CITY’S RESTAURANTS SHINE
Where to take guests this summer
So, the out-of-town friends and relatives are arriving for a taste of Stampede and Calgary in general. You’ll hit a few of the midway’s culinary highlights and have the folks over for a barbecue, but where else can you suggest for a fine meal out? Here are a few suggestions. (And, next week I’ll have some more for those heading into the country and the mountains.)
BLINK
One of Calgary’s consistently finest restaurants — think lamb tenderloin with lamb sausage and miso gnocchi or hanger steak with oyster mushrooms and fiddleheads — Blink is housed in one of the city’s many historic sandstone buildings. It’s the place where, in 1923, cowboy Eddie King rode his horse into the restaurant (then the Club Cafe) during Stampede, starting a long tradition. 111 Stephen Ave., 403-263-5330, blinkcalgary.com
BRIDGETTE BAR
Only a few months old, Bridgette Bar sets the standard for a blend of excellent food (wood-roasted duck with rhubarb, watercress and charred beet salad) with a great wine, beer and cocktail list in a stylish mid-century modern setting. (The building was constructed to be a flour warehouse.) 739 10th Ave. S.W., No phone, text 403-700-0191, bridgettebar.com
BUCHANAN’S CHOP HOUSE AND WHISKY BAR
If your visitors want to chow down on great Alberta beef, try Buchanan’s, a classic haven of excellent burgers (fresh ground, cooked-to-order), as well as fine steaks and seafood, for over 25 years. Buchanan’s also has an outstanding collection of whisky. 738 3rd Ave. S.W., 403-261-4646, buchanans.ca
CHARBAR
The Simmons building in the East Village is filled with culinary treasures, from Sidewalk Citizen’s fine baking to Phil & Sebastian’s fresh-roasted coffee. But the highlight for a visitor is the Rooftop Bar @ The Simmons (an offshoot of Charbar) with its spectacular view of the city and the Bow and its menu of napa cabbage salad with sprouted lentils and red curry tacos. 618 Confluence Way S.E., 403-452-3115, rtbsimmons.ca
DEANE HOUSE
The newest restaurant in the oldest building this year is Deane House. Set in the beautifully restored house built for Superintendent Richard Deane of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police in 1906, it’s more than a historical setting. Deane House is the sister restaurant of River Cafe and sets a contemporary Canadian menu of smoked red lentil hummus and bison rib-eye. 806 9th Ave. S.E., 403-264-0595, deanehouse.com
FOREIGN CONCEPT
The hottest restaurant in the city right now, Foreign Concept showcases the talents of chefowner Duncan Ly and executive chef — and 2017 Canadian Culinary Champion — Jinhee Lee in creative and sublimely satisfying dishes, such as cha ca la vong trout and gochujang albacore tuna poke. It’s timeless and modern Pan-Asian cuisine at its finest. 1011 1st St. S.W., 403-719-7288, foreignconcept.ca
THE NASH
A revitalized former railroad workers’ hotel in Inglewood is the setting for star chef Michael Noble’s second restaurant. (His first is Notable in Montgomery.) The setting is a great mash-up of historical and contemporary, and his wood-fired menu of charred broccolini with crispy pancetta and lamb sirloin with sun-dried tomato and olive relish is sumptuous. 925 11 St. S.E., 403-984-3365, thenashyyc.com
NATIONAL ON 8TH
Craft beer — about 60 varieties — on the roof. Need I say more? How about fried chicken and biscuits or warm pretzels with beer cheese and stout mustard? The National Beer Halls — all four of them around town — have a solid rep for good beer and good food. The National on 8th has a huge rooftop patio overlooking downtown and a stylish interior if the weather goes south. +30 240 Stephen Ave., 403-237-5556, ntnl.ca
PLOWSHARE
Need a good breakfast downtown? After the free pancakes have run out, that is? You might have to pay for the lemon ricotta pancakes or the eggs Benedict on house-made biscuits, but they’re worth it. 817 1st St. S.W., 403-454-4953
PURE CONTEMPORARY VIETNAMESE
Creativity comes in big bowls of tamarind-glazed cod and plates of braised pork belly rolls in the hands of chef-owner Lam Pham. His menu of contemporary Vietnamese street food is constantly changing, with new elements added to a complex and satisfying cuisine. A visit to Pure is for those who think they’ve tried everything in Asian cuisine. 815 8th Ave. S.W., 403-475-1899
ROCKY’S BURGERS
At some point you just have to have a burger. With fries. So step up to Rocky’s burger bus in the parking lot of the Crossroads Market. And, don’t let your firsttimer friend order a “double.” Introduce them to Rocky’s with a single burger. Trust me. And have some fries. If the weather is inclement, head to Burger 320 in Bridgeland or on 10th Street N.W. 1235 16th Ave. S.E., 403-336-0405, rockysburgers.com
ROUGE
A little elegant patio dining perhaps? Rouge’s patio spills out onto an immense yard and garden, with the Bow just a few metres away. The French-influenced regional cuisine is intelligently designed and beautifully constructed under the supervision of chief culinary officer Paul Rogalski and chef Brian Diamond. Partner Olivier Reynaud choreographs service and oversees a great wine program here. 1240 8th Ave. S.E., 403-531-2767, rougecalgary.com
SELKIRK GRILLE
A visit to Heritage Park is a fine way to see where Calgary has come from. And a meal at Selkirk Grille is a fine way to see where Calgary’s cuisine is at now with a quinoa spinach salad, mussels poached in apple cider and bison wontons with a Saskatoon gastrique. 1900 Heritage Dr. S.E., 403-268-8607, heritagepark.ca
SILVER INN
Perhaps a visit to the home of ginger beef is in order. Since 1975, Silver Inn has been serving some of the best Beijinginspired food anywhere. The setting is simple, but the chicken and cashews in yellow bean sauce, the grilled dumplings and the ginger beef are as good as ever. 2710 Centre St. N., 403-276-6711, silverinnrestaurant.com John Gilchrist can be reached at escurial@telus.net or at 403-2357532 or follow him on Twitter @ GilchristJohn