After a year of tasting some of the best that Calgary’s culinary scene has to offer, you, the readers, have cast your ballots for your favourite eateries in our 12th annual Most Memorable Meal Awards. This year, the reader-voted categories include 17 types of cuisine that reflect the growing geographically influenced restaurants around the city, plus categories for service, ambiance and wine selection. We’ve profiled the top vote-getters in each category, and focused on the key elements that made these dining experiences worth remembering.

BEST AMBIANCE: RIVER CAFÉ
You’ll find a creative, seasonal menu by Executive Chef Scott Pohorelic. They even have a garden in warmer months to grow their own vegetables and are part of the city’s slow-food movement.

Known For: Idyllic Charm The River Café has nabbed this award for the sixth year running. Set in the middle of downtown’s Prince’s Island Park along the Bow River, with no parking on grounds, diners must walk through the park to get to this elegant restaurant.

BEST ASIAN/CHINESE: SILVER DRAGON
Authentic Cantonese dishes and daily dim sum have helped build a loyal following over the past 40 years.

Known For: Favourite Recipes What keeps people coming back might have something to do with the secret-recipe sauce, a sweet dressing that perfectly complements their signature pan-fried prawns.

BEST BRUNCH: M.T. TUCKER’S
This local favourite steakhouse has rustic, Western-style furnishings and sprawling buffets.

Known For: Savoury Creations There are over 100 breakfast selections at their Sunday brunch buffet, but the best is the vegetarian quiche—a delicate blend of eggs, cream and spices in a pastry crust.

BEST CANADIAN REGIONAL: OH! CANADA
Offers original new-world recipes that reflect Canada’s cultural mosaic, and picturesque patriotic decor.

Known For: Canuck Concoctions Try their maple salmon, a Pacific salmon loin marinated in real maple syrup and topped with fresh Saskatoon berries, served with wild rice basmati pilaf and seasonal vegetables.

BEST CASUAL: CATCH OYSTER BAR
Attached to the upscale restaurant Catch is their Oyster Bar—a pleasant, comfortable pub-like setting featuring casual style dishes with fresh seafood flown in daily.

Known For: Tasty Seafood Their halibut and chips (with French fries that have been cooked twice) are fresh, light and oh-so-yummy—not an easy feat in prairie country. Their wonton-crusted prawn tempura with togarashi dip also comes highly recommended.

BEST EASTERN EUROPEAN: JONAS’ RESTAURANT & BAR
Tucked in a non-descript location in downtown’s southwest, this cozy Hungarian eatery has been wildly popular since its opening eight years ago.

Known For: Home Cooking Owner Janos Jonas prepares food just like he did back in Hungary. The signature chicken paprikash has a velvety, rich taste with a mild paprika and is accompanied by spaetzli-style dumplings.

BEST FINE DINING: THE BELVEDERE
Not interested in just turning tables, The Belvedere is the place to go to for a lingering, upscale dining experience.

Known For: Details, Details Staff ensure all aspects are covered from the moment guests come in (regulars are often welcomed by name), to making all food and accompaniments in-house. The meat in the Alberta Lamb Duo is ordered from a local farmer who raises the animal and then hand delivers the meat.

BEST FRENCH: LA CHAUMIÈRE
Spend a romantic evening here surrounded by a panorama of elegantly curved windows and artwork.

Known For: Romantic Tête-á-Tête This eatery offers meals for two, including the classic Chateaubriand, also known as filet mignon; a 16 oz cut of beef tenderloin served with mixed vegetables and roast potato, and topped with Béarnaise sauce.

BEST GOURMET BURGER: BUCHANAN’S
This lively San Francisco-style chophouse is also a shrine to single malt whiskey, with over 200 varieties on hand.

Known For: Lotsa Meat Their half-pound burgers are ground and mixed on-site. Try the classic bacon-cheese burger, or for something more adventurous, go for the jalapeño and jack cheese.

BEST GREEK/MEDITERRANEAN: BROKEN PLATE
On Friday and Saturday evenings get your week-long frustrations out while participating in plate-breaking and “Zorba the Greek” dancing with contemporary Greek cuisine.

Known For: Smashing Dishes Their three-layer signature Moussaka is zesty and flavourful; the bottom layer consists of eggplant slices sautéed in olive oil, the middle is cinnamon-scented beef, and the top is a cheese-flavoured baked béchamel.

BEST HOTEL DINING: RIMROCK RESTAURANT
This elegant 92-year-old dining room in the Fairmont Palliser Hotel is one of the city’s major culinary landmarks.

Known For: Historical Flair The restaurant maintains its antique décor, like an original mural painted by a local artist in the early 1900s, with hand-tooled leather pillars and historical fireplace. They also feature local produce with meats cut to order, like their Spring Creek Ranch 10 oz AAA rib-eye steak.

BEST INDIAN/PAKISTANI: GLORY OF INDIA
Chef Jassie Bakhshi brings 27 years of culinary experience to the table offering traditional Delhi-style Indian food.

Known For: Authentic Touch Sample the ultra-popular lunchtime buffet with a selection of rarer dishes like the chicken Chatinard with roasted spices and tamarind paste, as well as a large variety of favourites like butter chicken, tandoori prawns, and rogan josh.

BEST ITALIAN: CENTINI
A lively atmosphere enhanced by the concept of “theatrical dining”—where you can watch chefs preparing your food.

Known For: Italian Passion The menu features dishes that chef and owner Fabio Centini learned to cook while growing up in Le Marche, Italy. He recommends the gnocchi: Italian potato dumplings with a Gorgonzola cream sauce.

BEST LATIN AMERICAN: BLUE HOUSE CAFÉ
Drawing inspiration from its roots in Chile and Colombia, this café offers a fine-dining South American experience with live flamenco guitar Thursday to Sunday.

Known For: Spiced-up Specialties Try arroz con mariscos, their seafood speciality that includes mussels, scallops, shrimp and calamari on a bed of rice.

BEST OVERALL: TEATRO
Set inside a 1900s bank, this fine dining establishment garnered the most votes in all categories. It serves a seasonal menu with dishes that have modern Italian feel infused with international influences.

Known For: Simple Elegance Teatro truly has it all: beautiful food, excellent service and an elegant setting. The chef’s tasting menu gives you a chance to experience a little bit of everything the restaurant has to offer—Executive Chef Dominique Moussu maintains a delicate balance of flavours.

BEST PUB/BAR: BARLEY MILL
A warm atmosphere with old wood accents, stone fireplaces, and tables tucked in nooks for intimate or lively conversation.

Known For: Classy Comfort Perhaps this concept is best illustrated by their menu—though offering typical pub fare, the items all come with a twist. Be sure to try their turkey sandwich with Brie cheese and strawberries, or their pan-seared halibut encrusted with pistachios.

BEST SERVICE: MURRIETA’S
The setting here is perfect for any occasion with an open skylight, exposed brick, and a wide selection of dishes like their lamb meatball spaghetti.

Known For: Personality The staff here are hired more for their cheerful dispositions than experience, though they do go through extensive in-house training before being put on the floor. Servers are encouraged to use their personality to brighten diners’ visits.

BEST STEAK: CAESAR’S STEAK HOUSE
This downtown landmark since 1972 showcases a Roman themed-décor with seasoned burgundy leather, gleaming brass, and rich woodwork.

Known For: Royal Treatment Waiters in suits serve your food, making this the ultimate setting for a meal of aged and charbroiled prime Alberta beef. They offer cuts of rib-eye, filet mignon, T-bone or New York steak.

BEST SUSHI: HANA SUSHI
The décor is East meets West (you’ll notice a large, fake cactus in the corner of the room), the service is warm and inviting, and the sashimi plump and fresh.

Known For: Bento Boxes You get to try a variety of items in these boxes that are as appealing to the eye as they are to the stomach. Also worth trying is the house special—a giant roll with tuna, salmon, seasticks, avocado and roe.

BEST THAI: THE KING & I
The first to bring Thai food to Calgary approximately 20 years ago, today it continues the tradition of contemporary Thai cuisine á la carte.

Known For: Flavour Fusions The Chu Chi seafood dish is a favourite with scallops and shrimp stir-fried alongside seasonal vegetables and a yummy homemade chilli jam that’s infused with coconut milk.

BEST WINE SELECTION: MUSE
Located in Kensington, this sophisticated, atrium-style restaurant features eclectic French and Canadian cuisine.

Known For: Trendy Wine The wine cellar is filled with over 100 selections that are mostly wines of today, with some dating back to the 1960s. Pinot Nero, a lighter Italian red wine, is recommended as a match for many menu items—bottles go for $89.

BIRKS SILVER SERVICE: VINTAGE CHOPHOUSE
Every year, the members of Calgary’s Les Clefs d’Or (“the Golden Keys”), a prestigious international organization of hotel concierges, choose a restaurant they feel consistently provides great service to hotel guests. Don Mooney, the chapter’s local director, says they take into account many aspects including the quality of a restaurant’s food, service, and ambiance. “It has to be top notch,” he says, “with a commitment to the concierge, like last minute reservations, accommodating to special requests, and squeezing in that extra table when they are full.”

This year, Mooney says they were happy to present the award to Vintage Chophouse & Tavern. With overstuffed leather seats, private booths, plasma TVs, and a lounge with live music on Friday and Saturday nights, there’s something for everyone. They also have a wide menu selection with many cuts of Alberta beef alongside creative pastas and seafood delicacies.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT AS CHOSEN BY THE EDITOR OF WHERE MAGAZINE: BOLERO
When Bolero opened its doors last May, not only did it bring a new steakhouse to Calgary’s food scene, but it also introduced a new way of dining to the city. Styled after Brazilian charusscarias, it offers a rodizio-style experience. Rodizio dining is a concept where carvers (or “gaúchos” as they’re called, meaning cowboys in Portuguese) circle the room carrying meat skewered on swords. With a colour-coded wooden dowel, diners are able to signal when they want the waiters to stop at their table. The waiters then carve the meat for you. There’s a flat all-you-can-eat fee, so it’s up to you to decide when you’ve had enough.

General Manager Tim Warman was inspired to open Bolero after visiting a similar establishment in the U.S. “It donned on me how similar this Brazilian notion was with Western culture,” he says. “Cowboys roasting meats on an open fire and sharing food—it was a new concept for a restaurant, but not an unusual one.”

Currently Bolero offers 15 different kinds of meat; most are lightly seasoned with sea salt, but there are also a few Parmesan and garlic choices, as well as vegetable and pineapple skewers. All items are roasted over charcoal. For a break from the meat, diners can head to their cold salad and hot plate bars. In the future, Warman says he has plans to introduce a few more dishes to the menu including a platter of salmon. But for now, they’ll stick to what’s making them so popular.

Best Ambiance
River Café

Bistro Piq Niq

The Living Room

Panorama Dining Room

Best Asian / Chinese
Silver Dragon

Oriental Phoenix

China Rose

Regency Palace

Best Brunch
M.T. Tucker’s

Avenue Diner

Diner Deluxe

Nellie’s

Best Canadian Regional
Oh! Canada

The Ranche

WildWood Grill

Newport Grill on Lake Bonavista

Best Casual
Catch Oyster Bar

Buzzards Cowboy Cuisine

The Old Spaghetti Factory

Metropolitan Grill

Best Eastern European
Jonas’ Restaurant & Bar

Skazka Restaurant & Bar

Istanbul Restaurant

Heidelberg Haus

Best Fine Dining
The Belvedere

Capo Restaurant

Teatro

Bears Den

Best French
La Chaumière

Saint Germain

Rouge

Fleur de Sel Brasserie

Best Gourmet Burger
Buchanan’s Chophouse

Tommy Burger

Fatburger

Jack Astor’s

Best Greek / Mediterranean
Broken Plate

Santorini Greek Taverna

Aida’s Mediterranean Bistro

Sahara Restaurant & Lounge

Best Hotel Dining
Rimrock Restaurant at the Fairmont Palliser

Thomsons at the Hyatt Regency

Raw Bar at Hotel Arts

North 51 Steakhouse at the Delta Calgary Airport

Best Indian / Pakistani
Glory of India

Moti Mahal

Taj Mahal

Namskar

Best Italian
Centini

Osteria de Medici

Il Sogno

Bonterra Trattoria

Best Latin American
Blue House Café

Don Quijote

La Pachanga

Julio’s Barrio

Best Pub / Bar
Barley Mill

Melrose Café & Bar

Flames Central & Wildfire Grill

The James Joyce

Best Service
Murrieta’s

Vintage Chophouse & Tavern

Smuggler’s Inn

Belgo Brasserie

Best Steak
Caesar’s Steak House

Carver’s Steakhouse

The Keg

Saltlik Steakhouse

Best Sushi
Hana Sushi

Sakana Grill

Globefish Sushi & Izakaya

Kyoto 17

Best Thai
The King & I

Rose Garden Thai

Thai Boat

Thai Sa-on

Best Wine Selection
Muse

Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro

Tribune

Redwater Rustic Grille

Publication Date: 1/2008