Calgary Area, Canada

Eating out in Calgary Area, Canada

If you know even a little about Calgary, you know you can't think of this Wild West town without thinking of its beef. The province of Alberta is famous for its cattle herds that produce some of the finest beef in the world, which means that Calgary has numerous steakhouses and barbecue joints. Cowboy cuisine is, in fact, the regional specialty and there's plenty of it around. Starting with the Big Event - the Calgary Stampede - we recommend that you mosey up to one of the chuckwagons stationed around the rodeo and order a traditional breakfast plate of syrup-drenched flapjacks and crispy bacon, always served with a heaping helping of western hospitality! Check out some of the restaurants cooking up all sorts of cowboy chow favorites. Don't think that's all there is, though! Calgary's diverse cultures present adventurous diners with a showcase of global cuisine like Spanish, Cajun, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Mexican, Greek, East Indian, and Thai, to name just a few!.

Gourmet

Fusion's chef-owners appropriated the name of a trend that's all the rage on the culinary scene. Their particular brand of fusion is the California one, mixing seafood and fruit staples with variations of Southwestern, Oriental, Tuscan, and Mexican flavors. One splendid result is the Southwestern black beans with Tuscan beans blanketing grilled salmon with frizzled leeks. It's fantastic! Try the tuna mixed with mango in a wasabi cream with a warm, mint and lemon bulgar salad for an intensely savory meal. A tree-lined patio, casually elegant room, and an impressive maturity of service put on the finishing touches. 514 -17 Avenue SW.

Highly Recommended

The Belvedere stirred up quite a buzz when it opened in early 1999, and it remains exceptional both in terms of its cuisine and the appeal of the room, which is done up with exposed beams, a big skylight, and mirrored panels. The unusual taste combinations like ahi tuna and foie gras, duck confit with a potato terrine, Riesling glaze, and wild rice gnocchi are best described as contemporary global fusion. Expect dinner to last 2-3 hours because the seasonal menu featuring fresh local ingredients, continental preparation, and a bit of Asian sensibility is more of an event than just another meal! 107 - 8 Ave SW.

Local Flair

Buzzards Cowboy Cuisine - From the old broken-down wagon, to the campfire in the dirt flowerbed, to the cattle ranch artifacts, Buzzards feels like someone forgot to tell it that the West isn't wild anymore. The menu is caught in a time warp, developed from cowboy research at the Glenbow Museum and refined for modern tastes. Stop by and dig into the famous Alberta AAA steaks, BBQ ribs, prairie oysters, and the local specialty saskatoonberry pie. Wash it all back with a pint of Buzzard Breath Ale and see why the Discovery Channel calls it "Calgary's only authentic cowboy restaurant!" 140 - 10 Avenue SW.

Romantic

Lake Bonavista surpasses all expectations of genteel dining in gracefully-appointed rooms that exude an elegant and convivial atmosphere. Glass walls that offer stunning views on three sides of a private 52-acre lake. The chef mingles flavors and styles, creating a menu that sizzles with creative Canadian recipes and classic Continental twists, served by an ingratiating and polished staff. Be sure to spice up your night with dancing to live music in the downstairs Showboat Bar and Grill! 747 Lake Bonavista Drive SE.

Going party in Calgary Area, Canada

The nightlife in Calgary is more subdued than other vacation towns, but there is still plenty of fun to please even the slickest of big-city slickers. Bars and cafés buzz with live music and chat, dance clubs pulse with a party-hearty crowd, and comedy clubs keep everyone in stitches. If you're feeling particularly lucky, let 'em roll at any of the several casinos. Perhaps a bit of culture, you say? The finer things in life shine bright in the Calgary night, from the symphonies to ballet to dramatic theater. For a listing of current happenings, pick up a copy of Where Calgary magazine at hotels and visitor centers, or check the Arts and Style section of the Calgary Herald.

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

The Jack Singer Concert Hall packs a wallop with sensational shows like the joint orchestra and philharmonic chorus evening of Wagner and Weber. Other favorites are Eastern-European folk music shows, including Chopin and Dvorak, as well as a sentimental journey through the music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman.

Stampede Casino

The Big Four Building at Stampede Park holds Calgary's largest gaming hall, a smoke-controlled environment with a mass of slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, and Royal Ascot Horse Racing.

Auburn Saloon

The theater crowd calls this bar its own and thinks an evening here is the most fun you can have with your clothes on..or off. The now fondly infamous "night of nakedness" a few years back started as one man's way of getting a waiter's attention. Drop by and see what antics the thespians up with next!.

James Joyce Irish Pub

Seldom will you find a pub as perfect as this. It's no pre-fab strip-mall pretend-Irish pub - this atmospherically smoky place is real. The jovial Irish staff presides over dark wood booths, Guinness served at 3 temperatures, Celtic bands, and hearty pub fare served with fresh soda bread, Kilkenny Cream Ale, and nutty sticky pudding for desert.

Deane House Dinner Theater

This interactive dinner theater stages a new "Mystery From History" each Friday night, seamlessly woven around an elegant four-course dinner.

Cinescape

With the right mix of movies, games, internet, and food packed into 18,000 square feet of a post-modern, toon-townish space, Cinescape has a full-service restaurant and bar, high speed ISDN connected computers, over 85 different hi-tech interactive games, and a totally kickin' VR Roller Coaster.

Blue Rock Wine and Cigar Bar

In the upbeat area of 4th St SW, this one-of-a-kind wine and cigar bar opened as an instant hit. Beyond the relaxing, sophisticated decor, Blue Rock presents an expertly crafted menu with a phenomenal wine list. Light up a stogie, sink into a comfy sofa, and drift away to the soothing sounds of jazz and blues.

Common events in Calgary Area, Canada

Wildlights

Holiday lights, caroling, snow games, and bonfires. November-January.

PanCanadian PlayRites

This festival of new plays includes stage readings, dramatizations of works in progress, seminars, and parties. January-March.

Alberta Dance Explosions

Alberta's longest-running festival of original choreography has only one rule bring the best to the cabaret-style studio! Three diverse weekends host 30 established, emerging, and first time choreographers in the line up, along with special guest stars. February.

Calgary Winter Festival

This is a city-wide celebration of the winter season involving sporting events, art and cultural presentations, and community carnivals. February.

Calgary International Children's Festival

Local kids wait all year for this 5-day jubilee of theater, puppetry, storytelling, mime, sculpture, dance, comedy, and music in and around the Arts Centre. There are lots of other activities like face painting, puppet-building, string games, and more on the Olympic Plaza. May.

Calgary Stampede

Millions of visitors from around the world partake in Calgary's largest annual event. Rodeos, a midway, shows, and much more transform the city into a cowboy town for ten days of friendly festivities. There's also a parade and one of the largest prize purses in North America! July.

Twelve Days of Christmas

This old-fashioned holiday event entertains with crafts, wagon rides, hot breakfast, and a home-style lunch. November - December.

Zoo Year's Eve

Families herd into the zoo for this favorite event featuring early fireworks and live music among the regular attractions that include 1,200 animals, indoor gardens, and a prehistoric park. December 31.