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We love a weekend away in Calgary. It’s close enough to us that a road trip (or better yet, plane ride) can be done over a long weekend and provide us with a fun getaway. The 1-hour flight from Regina is definitely the way to go but sometimes a girl needs to stock up at the Chinook Mall so a road trip is needed. We have been making a few trips to this city over the past few years because my son has made Calgary his home. Calgary has provided him with many opportunities in the field of broadcasting and I am very proud of the life he is building there.
Calgary truly is a beautiful city. The breathtaking view of the mountains and the striking skyline never grow tired for me. On our last visit, we stayed in an AirBnB right downtown and had a spectacular view of the Calgary tower. But Calgary isn’t just beautiful, it also has a cool vibe. Despite its size, it still has that western, hometown feeling mixed with a metropolitan, big-city feel that makes me love being there.
Not only are there hundreds of attractions and things to do right in the city of Calgary or on a day trip to the mountains, but Calgary also has fantastic places to eat and a super fun nightlife. Of course, we are always looking for a great place to eat and drink wine and have discovered three restaurants that instantly became favourites for us. You will notice a strong Italian influence in all three of these places because we tend to seek out Italian restaurants while on vacation. Regina is seriously lacking in the Italian restaurant department! It’s probably a good thing there isn’t an authentic Italian restaurant in Regina though because, well you know, carbs!
I have decided to share the restaurants in alphabetical order because I couldn’t possibly rank them. While they are all uniquely different and we love them all equally, there are a few things each restaurant has in common: share plates are encouraged, the wine lists are exceptional, and you can watch the Chef and team prepare your meal. We are already thinking about how we can fit these three restaurants into our next trip AND seek out new places to eat. First world problems!
3 Amazing Restaurants in Calgary, Alberta
1. Bread and Circus
Bread and Circus on 17th Avenue SW is an intimate, trattoria-inspired dining room with a fun and friendly vibe. We visited this restaurant with another couple late on a Saturday night and it was still bustling. We started out with a glass of the Mongarda Prosecco while we perused the menu and selected a couple of antipasti dishes. I was relieved to learn that sharing was encouraged because I could tell by the offerings that it was going to be impossible to make a decision.
We ordered the Daily Salumi, Squash & Burrata, and Warm Olives to start. The Salumi which changes daily and is served with thyme poached pears, basil and balsamic was devoured before I could take a picture. The Squash & Burrata was delightful and looked so appetizing I made sure to snap a pic before we dug in. The mix of roasted acorn squash with the burrata cheese and pumpkin seed pesto made this dish sweet, savory and exceptionally flavourful. Definitely try this antipasti dish when you visit Bread and Circus!
My favourite course at an Italian restaurant is Primi. I am a die-hard pasta lover and I pretty much wanted to try every dish on the menu. After much deliberation we settled on three pasta dishes and two Secondi dishes. Because we were sharing, I didn’t order any gluten free options but Bread and Circus does have gluten free pasta and can make almost every menu item gluten free, including their bread!
The Gnocchi Pomodoro was prepared with a light tomato sauce and topped with house made ricotta and basil. It was light and tangy and the ricotta was deliciously creamy.
Amatriciana is a savoury and slightly spicy pasta sauce that was served over bigoli noodles and topped with crispy pancetta and pecorino romano. It was the perfect combination of salty and sweet.
I am a huge fan of Tagliatelle with a light cream sauce and the Tagliatelle Al Olio did not disappoint. The cherry tomatoes added a bit of tanginess to this fresh and flavourful pasta.
For the second course, we ordered the Saltimbocca and the Giant Stuffed Meatball. Honestly, there were so many delicious flavours and samplings of each dish on my plate I don’t recall trying the Saltimbocca but my husband and friends assure me it was excellent. I mean a pork loin with prosciutto, pecorino, and crushed tomato and garlic? How could it not have been a savory piece of heaven? I can tell you first-hand though that the Giant Stuffed Meatball was unforgettable. It’s a mozzarella stuffed veal and pork meatball topped with a thick and hearty tomato sauce and Parmigiano. It did not disappoint!
We paired this meal with a bottle of Scarpetta Barbera del Monferrato. This Italian wine is medium bodied but nicely balanced so it paired well with the rich pasta dishes but also the pork and beef.
We opted out of dessert with a plan to head out into the blizzardy city to enjoy more wine elsewhere. Frenchie Wine Bar is tucked away at the back of Bread and Circus but was hosting a private event so we went to check out Bar Von Der Fels downtown. This was a super cool wine bar that I will review at another time.
2. Mercato
Mercato is an Italian style market and restaurant located at 25th Avenue and 4th Street SW. It is a vibrant and bustling dining room with a full view of the kitchen. When it’s busy it can be a bit loud but that’s what we love about this place. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is entertaining and the service is second to none. It feels like a neighbourhood trattoria in Rome where everyone is a friend or family member. We have been to Mercato a few times and I’d like to say we’ve tried many of their dishes but alas, once we discover something we like we tend to order it every time.
The Bistecca (rib steak) is definitely a highlight of this menu and takes us back to our time in Florence when we first tried this cut of steak. This dish is definitely for sharing and not for someone who doesn’t like their steak rare. Another excellent meat dish is the Arrosto Misto. This is a family style mixed grill of several types of meat so you’re going to want to bring your appetite or friends.
For appetizers, we love the Bruschetta and the Panzanella. They also have an awesome charcuterie board which you know I can NEVER pass up.
My personal favourites at Mercato are the Gnocchi served with asparagus and fresh ricotta and the Tagliatelle topped with classic Pomodoro sauce and Parmigiano. Are you detecting a theme for my “go to” pasta dishes? Honestly, there are several dishes on the menu that look amazing but, with my hard-shell fish allergy, I have to steer clear of a few of them. I’ve also had the Risotto here and it was delicious. Don’t let the saffron roasted bone marrow deter you. It’s so good! For veggies, we like the asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and the mushrooms sautéed in garlic and chili peppers.
Aside from the delicious menu, what we really appreciate about Mercato is the friendly and knowledgeable staff. They are going to walk you through the menu and make recommendations for each course and they’re not going to steer you wrong. The wine list is impressive. We’ve had our server recommend the wine every time we’ve visited and have enjoyed each bottle immensely.
Mercato is a fun place to go with friends on a Saturday night for an excellent meal and delightful wine. This restaurant would have a slightly higher price point but we think given the food offerings and service it’s worth it. If you’re in the area during the day, be sure to check out the market.
3. Ten Foot Henry
I asked our friends on social media where they recommended we eat while in Calgary and Ten Foot Henry came up a number of times. We were delighted to discover it was within walking distance of our AirBnB so we made a late reservation.
Ten Foot Henry is another family-style dining experience in an intimate space with an open kitchen. I loved the natural décor and cool vibe of this place. The menu is centered on vegetables but with a unique twist. We requested a seat at the kitchen bar so we could watch the young culinary team at work. Their dishes are best enjoyed shared which we love because we generally want to try several items on the menu.
We started out with the tomatoes and feta on sourdough bread. This was a deliciously fresh and flavourful dish that was beautifully presented.
We were told if we went to Ten Foot Henry we should try the beets and we can see why. Marinated beets, served on a bed of pureed avocado and topped with toasted seeds, this was a tasty and tangy dish that packed a flavourful punch.
From the pasta selections, we chose the Bucatini Cacio e Pepe. This is a simple pasta dish made of only pepper and cheese but this dish is anything but ordinary. This was one small plate I wished was larger and I didn’t have to share! They also have a Tagliatelle Pomodoro on the menu at Ten Foot Henry but I didn’t think I should have that TWO nights in a row. I’m sure the Tagliatelle is excellent here but I’m so glad we went with the Bucatini Cacio e Pepe.
The menu has a variety of fish and meat selections as well but we had decided to keep our meal light on this night although my husband was intrigued by the cherry filled doughnut. Unfortunately, they were sold out of the doughnut by the time we were ready for dessert during our late-night reservation but, our server informed us they sell them at the Little Henry Café so we made our way back here the next morning for coffee and a doughnut. It was worth the trip back for sure.
All three of these Calgary restaurants have a fun, trendy and unique atmosphere with exceptional food quality and outstanding service. We highly recommend any of these eateries for a date night or an evening out with friends. We can’t wait to return!
