| Some of the best food in Calgary can be found in the northeast. Its cultural diversity enriches our eating experience with authentic international cuisine. Accordingly, I decided to follow up on some recommendations from friends who work in the northeast and prefer to avoid restaurant chains.
Overlooking Deerfoot Trail N.E., just off 32nd Avenue, is an unassuming office building. Hiding inside on the main floor you’ll find the Infusion Bistro Café, run by the nurturing parents you never had. Mebs and Shenool Charania are serving up a breakfast of bacon, eggs and hash browns, lunch wraps made to order, soups, salads and spicy samosa wraps (the latter offered every other Thursday). My lunch date and I shared the tandoori chicken wrap ($6.50) and the samosa wrap ($7.25) built and stuffed with our choice of vegetables. In the space of my one short visit, the Charanias had inquired about my day, found out my name and shortened it from "Janet" to "Jan." OK, "Jan" works. I guess I’m halfway to being a "regular." My date, who works in the building, does something complicated with international investments and, while I don’t understand or keep track of what he does in any given day, the Charanias seem to. Mebs also seemed to know what he liked in his wrap. This is like hanging out at your kitchen at home. So if you ever get reprimanded at work, or fired, you should go immediately to see Mebs and Shenool. They will talk you down and then give you something spicy and delicious to eat. Or just pop in throughout the day for snacks and love. Infusion is located at #100, 1212 -31 Ave. N.E.; phone 717-2525.
Just off Memorial Drive and 28th Street S.E. there’s a winding little road – Second Avenue – that accesses Boston Pizza and Swiss Chalet on one side and the Short Pants Plaza on the other. Guess which side of the road offers the best food? That’s right, the side that’s more fun to say. In the Short Pants Plaza you’ll find the Village Pita Bakery, which offers counter service and a few high barstools to its steady lunch crowd. Try the meat pie of savoury beef spread in fresh-baked pita for its simplicity and spice (not to mention its price: $2.75). The falafel was one of the best I’d ever had ($5.95). Prepare to share your bowl of olives with friendly others. The Village Pita Bakery is at #208, 255 - 28 St. S.E.; phone 273-0330.
For more conventional fare, jump in your time machine and get out at the Reef ’n Beef Restaurant and Lounge near the Peter Lougheed Centre. My guest and I entered to the warbling of Lionel Ritchie and Elton John, and discovered a late-’70s-early-’80s decor of dark wood, burgundy hues, dusty old books and even a rumpus-room-style coat check. The leather-bound menu features a long-forgotten font and old standard favourites such as beef dip and French onion soup. The fabulous garlic toast, one of the hallmarks of a good ’80s restaurant, was served in plastic baskets and foil, intensifying the fun retro experience. The mushroom caps with escargot were a bit bland, but the house pizza was packed with meaty goodness. We also shared the steak and breaded shrimp, which included soup or salad to start. We discovered too late that the dinner menu was available at lunch. Too bad, because several different friends have recommended their signature Reef ’n Beef dish, consisting of a six-ounce New York steak or prime rib (the latter not available at lunch) and lobster tail, with soup, salad and vegetables ($29.95). The lounge offered a steak sandwich lunch special for $3.95. There’s nothing overly creative about the Reef ’n Beef, but what’s remarkable is its solid, dependable menu choices at mid-’80s prices. It’s at 3735 Rundlehorn Drive N.E.; phone 285-3322.
Given the number of independently run, diverse eateries in the northeast, there is no defensible reason to resort to food chains. |
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