Executive chef and owner Rick Chuk with a succulent bone in the rib chop

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LeVilla

When I first heard about LeVilla steakhouse in the city’s southwest, I imagined a stuffy bistro with exorbitant prices. Thankfully, I was wrong. With a room that feels more like an intimate ski lodge than a frou-frou French restaurant, LeVilla boasts a delightful menu in a relaxed, elegant atmosphere.

My boyfriend and I decide to visit on a Wednesday night. Entering through a cozy dining room, we are led out to a windowed sunroom that features river stone pillars, fireplaces and reclaimed wood wainscotting. Surrounded by snow-covered trees, the space has a warm, woodsy vibe to it.

Once seated, we are given three menus: a food menu, an extensive wine and spirits menu and a water menu. Chuckling at the water menu, we review a selection that ranges in price from $4 to $35 for a bottle of Bling H20 (the bottle is accessorized with Swarovski crystals). We go with Calgary’s delectable tap water (free).

To start, we have the strawberry and goat cheese salad ($13), a fantastic mix bursting with fresh flavour. Incorporating equal amounts of each ingredient, the dish perfectly balances peppery arugula with sweet strawberries, creamy goat cheese and crisp pancetta.

Our next appetizer is LeVilla’s take on Coquille St. Jaques ($15). Arriving on a shell-shaped dish, the starter features mushrooms and scallops in a creamy white wine sauce topped with a nicely browned Emmenthal cheese. It’s sinfully good. We mop up every last morsel with the accompanying garlic bread.

For the main event, I choose the Cajun grilled rib-eye steak ($31) with a brandy peppercorn sauce (Béarnaise or Marsala wild mushroom sauces also available). The recommended sauce is a great pairing for the steak but I’m not blown away by the beef. I understand a rib-eye is going to have some extra fat on it, but this one is a little too fatty for my liking. It’s too bad, because 50 per cent of the steak is great.

The real showstopper of the night is the panko crusted pork chop ($26). Juicy and succulent, the chop has us at Hello. The light panko breading pairs splendidly with Madeira double-smoked bacon chipotle sauce and is served with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. If you dig on swine, you’ll go crazy for this dish.

Topping it all off we bypass the allure of the Callebaut chocolate mousse tower ($10) and have the chef’s cheesecake ($9). The day’s creation consists of a white chocolate cheesecake with wildberry compote. It’s lovely — fluffy, rich and not overly sweet.

LeVilla is an ideal spot for a date or an elegant night on the town. The service is friendly, professional and attentive. And while it wasn’t what I expected, I was pleasantly surprised by the rustic charm and the scrumptious food.