By Sarah Sussman
Summer was one long heatwave for Calgarians with the opening of some of the city’s hottest new restaurants and eateries. With so many new dining spots popping up all across the city, here are the newest restaurants you need to try as we wrap up summer 2017. [Photo credit: Sarah Sussman]
For those with a hankering for inventive global cuisine, summer 2017 saw the opening of several exciting international eateries.
Calcutta Cricket Club is a casual-upscale Colonial-style Indian restaurant serving up Bengali cuisine inside a beautifully designed interior courtesy of local artist Maya Gohill. Located in the former space of Bar C, Calcutta Cricket Club has already made a name for itself with its kati rolls featuring tandoor grilled meats or paneer wrapped in flaky soft paratha. Make sure you add an egg to your roll – it will change your life. And ask for a spot out on the veranda (the restaurant’s hidden side patio) to enjoy a tropical escape from the hustle and bustle of 17th Avenue.
A few blocks up the avenue between 4th and 5th Street, Ox & Angela finally had its grand reopening, changing its name to Ox Bar de Tapas. The restaurant still specializes in Spanish tapas, but updated its menu with some new culinary creations and a fresh new coat of royal blue paint. Get a table for two and order The Famous Spanish Table. For $45 per person, you’ll be treated to a sumptuous tasting menu of tapas chosen by Chef Kai.
Meat is an Alberta essential, and this summer the city has several new exciting restaurants with protein-loaded, meat-centric offerings.
One of Calgary’s favourite burger joints, Boogie's Burgers, recently expanded into its second location in the heart of Marda Loop. If you haven’t yet taken on the challenge of eating Doug’s “Don’t Fear The Reaper” Burger, stop on in and see if you can make it through even half a burger. The monstrous offering features four beef patties, four slices of bacon, a butterflied beef wiener, two slices of cheddar, a fried egg, a mini corn dog and more. Wash it down with one of Boogie's signature milkshakes and call it a day.
Downtown’s newest grab-and-go lunch spot, Meat & Bread is a restaurant originally from Vancouver that specializes in quality, simply-prepared sandwiches. Calgary’s location is housed inside of the historic Grain Exchange building in the downtown core and features a rotating daily menu as well as a legendary porchetta sandwich with salsa verde and crackling. Show up right at 11 a.m. to avoid waiting in line.
And for those who want a more adventurous gastronomical experience, Prohibition Freehouse has a meatball-centric menu starring meat and veggie balls served with various sauces, sides and fixings. The meatballs are served up in every imaginable way including inside sandwiches and sliders, over top pasta, mixed in to poutine and more. The restaurant is located in Kensington in the space formerly occupied by Molly Malone’s. So make sure you nab a spot on the rooftop patio – it’s one of the best patios in the city.
A tried and true comfort, Italian cuisine has always been a local favourite. And for good reason, too. Although Calgaians will be sad to see the closing of Bocce on 4th Street, there’s a brand new inner city Italian restaurant to get excited about.
Located along the popular 1st Street strip, Parm has given new life to the street with its bright orange exterior and delicious menu of Italian comfort foods. The eatery boasts a casual sit-down dining experience, as well as a grab-and-go deli and market area. Parm’s crown jewel is its wood fired pizza, made-to-order by chef Barrie Flett. But Parm also has (arguably) the best spaghetti carbonara in all of Calgary.
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The best of Calgary neighbourhoods:
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While Calgary’s dessert scene usually doesn’t get as much love, this summer treated the city to a handful of sweet new eats.
A purrfect addition to the Kensington neighbourhood, Regal Cat Café opened up this summer as Calgary’s first (and only) cat café. Regal Cat Café is a combination cat visiting room and café with a decadent menu of locally made beverages and sweets. Grab an Instagram-worthy kitty macaron (made by Ollia Macarons & Tea) or a Tearriffic loose leaf tea and book a 45-minute visiting session with the café cats. All cats are available for adoption through the local not-for-profit MEOW Foundation.
And for those who want to cool down a bit, Scrollio Rolled Ice Cream is one of the sweetest new additions to 17th Avenue. Rolled ice cream is a frozen Thai dessert and one of the “it” foods of summer 2017. The treat is made by pouring milk or cream on to a frozen metal pan and tossing it with tasty add-ins. Once the concoction freezes, it is scraped up into rolls and served up with even more toppings.
With so many new dining options popping up around the city, make sure you check out summer 2017’s newest dining hot spots while the weather is still warm. Whether you’re looking for homemade pizza pies, meaty sandwiches or sweet rolled ice cream, there are numerous exciting new additions to try throughout Calgary right now.
