New restaurants to watch for in 2014
The local restaurant scene is bubbling along with many projects in the works for 2014. Here are some of the new places we can look forward to opening over the next few months.
The Nash
After a couple years of searching for a new restaurant site, Michael Noble, owner of the always-packed Notable, has leased a space in Inglewood’s historic National Hotel. Noble says his new restaurant will not be a second Notable, that it will have its own character. Look for The Nash to open in the fall of 2014.
The Lake House
Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts, the folks behind Cilantro, Divino, Bar C and various mountain properties, are moving out of The Ranche in Fish Creek Park and into the former Inn on Lake Bonavista location. The Ranche menu concept will remain but the name will change to The Lake House. It should open in early February.
Bow Valley Ranche
The sister-brother team of Michelle and Nils Kuenz along with Jerry Schmidt and chef Daryl Kerr, all of Great Events Catering, will take over the historic Hull ranch and re-christen it Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant. Following some renovations, they hope to open by Valentine’s Day and reopen Annie’s as a bakery-cafe later in the spring.
Symons
Restaurateur Witold Twardowski, who has had a hand in numerous Calgary restaurants from Teatro and River Cafe to Ubu Theatre Lounge and Sabroso, is working on Symons at Symons Valley Ranch in the city’s far north. Twardowski has partnered with Kevin Turner, executive chef at Brava Bistro for the past decade, to create a 90-seat roadhouse restaurant in keeping with the rustic tone of Symons Valley. Look for Symons to open soon.
Beltliner Diner
The dynamic trio of Brendan Bankowski (Taste), Eric Francis (Jack FM) and Shawn Greenwood (Taste) will open the Beltliner Diner in the new Marriot Fairfield on the corner of 12th Avenue and 2nd Street S.W. this spring. The Beltliner is meant to be a “modern diner.”
Native Tongues
Also resident in the new Marriot will be Native Tongues, a taqueria by chef/sommelier Cody Willis. It promises to be an exciting place — its website advertises “tacos, bourbon, hip-hop.” It should launch in the spring too.
Bocce
Look for Bocce, a pizza parlour from the folks at Mercato, to open at 2207 – 4 Street S.W. early in the New Year beside the new Mission Phil & Sebastian coffee house.
Black Pig Bistro
One of the most hotly anticipated arrivals of 2014 is Black Pig Bistro in Bridgeland. Alison Bieber, former chef at Cucina, is partnering with Denise and Larry Scammell to open a casual, 50seat bistro with top-quality food and moderate prices. Named after the Black Iberian Pig, the bistro will show influences of Spanish, Italian and French cuisines.
Parker House
Parker House, owned by the CA Group (The Trib, Murrieta’s) is currently closed and undergoing renovations to become a gastropub soon.
Bensonhurst
Bensonhurst Pizza, named after a Brooklyn neighbourhood and created by Brian Printz, will open shortly at 933 – 17 Avenue S.W. Bensonhurst will offer pizzas in varying styles — New York, Chicago, California, New Jersey and Neapolitan.
Thai Charm
Airdrie will see the launch of Thai Charm in the spring of 2014 in Bayside Village at 800 Yankee Valley Blvd S.W. Owned by Kullanit Nya of the family who have Thai Nongkhai and De Thai, Thai Charm promises to be packed with great Thai flavour.
Anju, Goro & Gun, Double Zero, National Westhills
2014 will be a busy year for the Concorde Group. Already the owners of places such as Model Milk, Clive Burger and two National Beer Halls, the Concorde Group will open a third National in Westhills shortly.
Following that, Anju (now partnered with Concorde) will relocate to the northeast corner of 4th Street and 17th Avenue S.W. in the space which most recently housed Petite. Roy Oh’s unique Modern Korean cuisine should be back on the market by March.
Goro & Gun is also under construction in Scotia Centre. The lower level of the huge West restaurant is being converted into a ramen house, Japanese barbecue restaurant and sushi bar. Talented chef Tomo Mitsumo, formerly of Ubu, is in charge of the kitchen.
And the large empty space in the northeast corner of Chinook Centre will soon be home to a second Double Zero Pizza.
With Wurst and Mission Diner reopening before Christmas, more flood-affected places are coming back online. Look for news on other places such as Earls Tin Palace and Manuel Latruwe coming soon.