| A food critic's faves
I love to eat out, and what and where is best depends on my mood. So, here's a personal list of great eats:
· Best takeout (tie)
Skylark Restaurant (5315 - 17 Ave. S.E., phone 272-6313); and Curry 'n' Hurry (10091 Hidden Valley Dr. N.W., phone 275-1414). Both of these Indian places have great, intensely flavoured food – and what could be better the next day than leftover Indian takeout?
· Best high-end meal (tie)
Teatro (1 St. S.E. and Stephen Avenue, phone 290-1012), and The Cross House (1240 - 8 Ave. S.E., phone 531-2767). We had an absolutely wonderful set menu at Teatro, where Michael Allemeier proved once again how a great chef plays with traditional recipes and turns them into something spellbinding. The Cross House has more conventional food, but it is of similarly high quality. The duck breast with espresso jus at the Cross House was the best dish I have eaten in a Calgary restaurant all year.
· Best newcomer
Shikiji (1608 Centre St. N., phone 520-0093). The more good Japanese noodle houses in town, the better.
· Best quick restaurant lunch
Prego Cucina Italiana (2nd floor, Eau Claire Market, phone 233-7885). A great plate of pasta on the patio with super service… what more can you ask for?
· Best pizza
La Trattoria d'Italia (3927 Edmonton Trail N.E., phone 276-6026). It's the corn meal on the crust that keeps me coming back.
· Best burger (tie)
The Drum and Monkey (12 Ave. and 1 St. S.W.) and Buchanan's (7 St. and 3 St. S.W., phone 261-4646). Two excellent burgers – hand-formed patties, grilled, decent buns. (Sadly, Martin's on Eighth is now closed, and their burger was just as good as these two.) |
