When talking about the restaurant scene in Canada, many are quick to name cities such as Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver as the foodie hubs.
While they all certainly deserve their flowers, Forbes Travel Guide just named Calgary as the “buzziest Canadian food scene.”
Calgary has flown under the radar, often associated with steakhouses and the Calgary Stampede, the guide says, but over the years, the city has become a “destination in its own right, driven by an increasingly diverse and delicious culinary scene that’s earning international recognition.”
The “delightfully eclectic dining scene” we see now in the city has emerged through an experimental approach to dining, a diversifying population, and a willingness to showcase the abundance of ingredients originating from Alberta.
“Throughout the city, you’ll find fine-dining tasting menus saddled up alongside neo-Vietnamese eateries, hyper-local riverside restaurants and convivial pasta spots where tables are in high demand,” the Forbes Travel Guide adds.
Many restaurants and chefs are highlighted, such as acclaimed spots including the River Cafe and Rouge, both of which are credited as early pioneers in demonstrating what dining could be in the city.
Other spots that received a shout-out in the guide include Charcut and its chefs Connie DeSousa and John Jackson, Una Pizza + Wine, Major Tom, Sidewalk Citizen and Park by Sidewalk Citizen, and Calcutta Cricket Club.
Of course, restaurants such as DOPO and Eight, which recently placed second on a list of North America’s best restaurants, were featured, alongside newer additions to the city’s dining scene, including Korean restaurant SOT and the Vietnamese-influenced Lai Rai.
While Calgarians have been urging people not to sleep on its food scene, it’s exciting to see it finally getting some well-deserved recognition.
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