Find It...
First we wondered what the timber-frame structure being built in Central Memorial Park could possibly be. Then we heard rumours that it was a new restaurant being built by the people who operate River Café.
We admired its construction all summer long. Then we waited. And we waited some more. A local magazine touted it as one of “Calgary’s best patios” before it even opened. I’m not prepared to classify Boxwood’s patio as the best in town (yet), but I am prepared to say that Boxwood has been well worth the wait.
Charmingly located, this new hotspot focuses on local, seasonal and sustainable food. Rustic and warm, the café welcomes an eclectic mix of diners — from folks strolling through the park to couples out for an elegant yet comfortable dining experience. Think of Boxwood as the casual counterpart of the upscale River Café.
Although laid-back, as you might expect, the space is gorgeous.
Featuring exposed beams and a large skylight, the room feels right at home in the park. Details such as potted rosemary plants on every table and the woodcuts of local artist Lisa Brawn do not go unnoticed. From the mosaic tiling and faux twig-and-antler light fixtures, every touch hits the right note.
This is our third time visiting. We’ve now sampled both the dinner and lunch menus and I have to say, I prefer the lunch hour. This might be because Boxwood doesn’t provide a side with its sandwiches or mains and it is up to diners to mix and match their dishes accordingly.
I generally prefer my plates to be compiled for me at dinner. What can I say? I usually end up wanting everything on the menu, so I don’t always do the best job of complementing my dishes with the right sides. You may have better luck — just be sure to ask for pairing suggestions at the counter when placing your order.
Having already sampled Boxwood’s tasty red lentil hummus with large sheets of homemade crackers ($7) on an earlier visit, we opt for the basil ranch greens ($7) and a warm lemon lentil dahl ($6). Both are fantastic.
The dahl has a nice pop of lemon and simmers with the rich flavours of arugula, onion, cumin and coriander.
I’m in love with the basil ranch greens. The fresh mixed greens are lightly dressed with a pear vinaigrette and feature large chunks of creamy Fairwinds Farms chèvre and crunchy pecans. The combination is stellar. Topped with thin slices of lightly sea-salted apples and croutons, this salad is a mouthwatering masterpiece.
Moving onto the sandwiches, we are disheartened to learn that the Spragg Farm spit-roasted porchetta sandwich is sold out again. It was the same story when we came for lunch a few weeks ago. I guess there’s something to be said for eating lunch at noon instead of 2:30 p.m. We go with the chickpea fritters and eggplant sandwich ($10) instead, along with the roasted Sun Works Farm chicken ($10).
The chickpea and fritter sandwich is essentially a falafel sandwich reimagined in a good way. Served on a toothsome ciabatta bun with pickled red onions (yum), Vital Green Farm yogurt and parsley, the fritters are crisp and the eggplant is smooth.
Also served on the lovely house-made ciabatta is the chicken sandwich. Not to be missed, this organic chicken is tender and moist — served with fresh tomatoes, greens and a divine preserved lemon and basil aioli. The vibrancy of the ingredients shine.
Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, you can also order takeout from Boxwood. I definitely recommend the sandwiches, as they are more than enough food for lunch and have the potential to be the crowning moment of your workday.
To cap it off, we finish with the mint ice cream sandwich (also available in Saskatoon Berry for $5). Made with MacKay’s ice cream and wedged between two chilled chocolate cookies, this is a nice take on an old favourite. On a cooler day, we’ll return for the warm apple sticky toffee pudding ($7).
There are too many plusses to mention in regards to Boxwood, but I’ll try to fit in a few more. They recycle and compost, are powered by Bullfrog Power, serve complimentary on-site filtered water, and everything is prepared daily in the restaurant. The service isn’t too shabby either. Take a stroll down to the park and you’ll see what I mean.
Comments: 43
kirancdn wrote:
on Nov 4th, 2010 at 9:02pm Report Abuse
FrankyGatt wrote:
on Dec 10th, 2011 at 8:37pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
on Dec 11th, 2011 at 4:57pm Report Abuse
antielvis wrote:
You want to know why? Well, perhaps one reason is that Calgarian's seem to enjoy paying more as a sort of badge of honour. "Lookie here, I'm so rich I can pay $7.50 for a pint of Kokanee". It's all about flaunting wealth & being "in with the scene". Head up to Edmonton & the prices on the same food & drink are much cheaper. How is that? Or how come I can eat/drink in places like Gastown or the West End in Vancouver for a cheaper price than I can in Calgary? The "West End" is hardly a low priced real estate district. Neither is Gastown.
The reason food is so expensive here is because people in Calgary are willing to pay more just to show the world how "rich and powerful we are". Paying 8 bucks for a beer apparently shows others you're rich. Too bad the others can't see their net worth.
on Dec 12th, 2011 at 11:02am Report Abuse
mgb wrote:
on Dec 12th, 2011 at 3:56pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
on Dec 13th, 2011 at 10:14am Report Abuse
mgb wrote:
on Dec 13th, 2011 at 1:45pm Report Abuse
jwilt wrote:
I always thought that the person who is truly poor is the one who doesn't have money to spend on trivial things or things that matter. Just admit that this is a Global North problem and move on.
on Dec 13th, 2011 at 2:37pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
Nothing poor about me. But I have no interest in being taken for a chump. To paraphrase the old Paul Newman line: If you're sitting in a restaurant in Calgary and you can't figure out who the sucker is, it's you. Where else can you find someone actually defending the robber-baron prices of this wannabe "world city?"
on Dec 13th, 2011 at 5:21pm Report Abuse
jwilt wrote:
antielvis has already pointed out the reality that Calgarians have money, and are willing to spend it on things like food. Why would restaurant owners charge less when they know they can rake in the money? For your benefit? As soon as the demand disappears, the prices will drop.
on Dec 13th, 2011 at 5:53pm Report Abuse
mgb wrote:
Well, obviously by your own definitions of what a chump is, you are one being that you are complaining about having spent money in an "overpriced" Calgary restaurant.
But maybe we can think of it another way Chump...I mean Ron. Maybe the restaurants aren't overpriced, but instead are priced exactly how they should be, you've just spent your whole life being underpaid (relative to everyone else) so things just seem like they cost more than they should. I think all we're really talking about here is a shift in your perceptions rather than completely overhauling our entire society to fit your limited view of how you think it should work.
I'm glad we could put that to bed.
on Dec 13th, 2011 at 7:14pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
Good old "jwilt" too. Duh. Me fall off turnip truck. Me no understand how/why restaurants work. Get real schlemiel. It should be blatantly obvious that, if a Calgary restaurant charges vastly more than like restaurants elsewhere, then the Calgary restaurant is going to be a very short-lived enterprise. Why do you think there are restaurnats that are world-famous, and which have been for many decades? Do you think this is because they habitually try to squeeze exhorbitant amounts from their customers?
Those customers go back to their homes and tell the people there just how short-sighted Calgary restaurnats tried to exploit them. Maybe this is why many Calgary restaurants last about as long as it takes to change your socks.
But as you both seem to be utterly immune to reason, you two can go on living your delusions so much as you like.
This expresses the reason why Calgary will remain a wannabe in its dreams of being a "world city." There is little sense of customer service, only self-service. But the customer says "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice will never happen, because I and everyone I know will never be back again."
You can overcharge and see people once, or you can treat fairly and they will be regulars. No wonder people choose places like McDonald's in the FFwd "Best of Calgary" categories. But, oh yeah, I'M the one who's wrong! I really don't know if I should laugh at your obdurate foolishness, or weep that you are so far gone.
on Dec 14th, 2011 at 10:19am Report Abuse
Josiah wrote:
Hi Ron! Can you please send me an email:
jhughes@ffwd.greatwest.ca
I'm the music and film editor and I have a question.
Thanks!
Josiah
on Dec 14th, 2011 at 11:51am Report Abuse
pb wrote:
on Dec 15th, 2011 at 1:30pm Report Abuse
jwilt wrote:
Just like Rouge right? The one that placed #60 on the S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list? The one that charges $40 a plate? I'ts been open since 2003. In you books, it sounds like they charge "exhorbitant amounts from their customers." I had one of the best meals of my life there.
And just like the River Cafe, too? The one that won the Best Canadian Regional Cuisine and Best Overall Restaurant in 2010 from Where Magazine? The one costs just as much as Rouge? Yup...it has been open since 1995.
Or how about Charcut? It's Calgary's best new restaurant according to FFWD's readers, and has one of the top chefs in Canada as its exec. The owners were contemplating setting up shop in Manhattan, and they picked here. Their menu is expensive as well, but finding a seat is nearly impossible. They've been open a year.
I'm not sure what restaurants you're frequenting, but the ones that are drawing the country's attention aren't "lasting" about as long as it takes to change your socks." They're staples in Calgary's culture, and will continue to be for years. Hopefully, where ever your future travels take you, you'll be able to find some comfort in eating cheap, delicious food. But don't knock Calgary's restaurants.
Now, I expect a response which accuses me of being delusional, being immune to reasoning and having no understanding of the world.
on Dec 15th, 2011 at 2:46pm Report Abuse
officematt2002 wrote:
Jwilt, like most Calgarians, you fall for marketing...as if FFWD's annual reader's poll is very scientific. Isn't Oriental Phoenix still making the list???
on Dec 15th, 2011 at 8:10pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
In September, I was in Leipzig in Auerbachs Keller [Meadowbrook's Celler]. This is a world-famous restaurant that opened in 1438. And its not even the oldest restaurant in Leipzig.
All you need to do is (1.) Be honest. (2.) Look in a few years of telephone books or newspapers and notice the huge number of restaurants in this city that never make it to even as much as ten years.
The simple and sad fact is that for every restaurant in Calgary that you will try to rave about, there are at least 10, maybe even 20, that are mediocre to dreadful. For a city of 1 million +, there are damned few truly good restaurants here.
on Dec 15th, 2011 at 11:49pm Report Abuse
jwilt wrote:
Again, I'm sorry that you have the dreadful experience of living in Calgary. It must suck for you. Some of us actually try to make the most of it. Sure, it may not be Vancouver, or NYC, or Leipzig, but it's alright.
And Matt, I use the FFWD reader's poll because we're on the FFWD website, and I write for them. I think it's a fun poll that suggests where the trends are at. It just so happens that the trend of Charcut has made Maclean's as well. I guess that's just marketing, though. Silly me.
on Dec 16th, 2011 at 2:11am Report Abuse
martypants wrote:
Obviously there are a lot of good restaurants here, and more every year, but there is no question there are many that are overpriced and mediocre. But, what the hell, if people are paying who's going to lower their prices?
on Dec 16th, 2011 at 9:29am Report Abuse
Josiah wrote:
jhughes@ffwd.greatwest.ca
I would like to talk to you about an interesting idea we have.
Thanks!
Josiah
on Dec 16th, 2011 at 9:40am Report Abuse
jwilt wrote:
Well, that's my entire premise. No business owner is going to charge less than what he can get, even if it would make Ron happy.
on Dec 16th, 2011 at 11:52am Report Abuse
Centreman wrote:
on Dec 16th, 2011 at 5:47pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
I also wrote essentially this same note that you see here last night around midnight. It was on for a few minutes, but is now gone. What goes on? (and I don't mean the Beatle's song). If you have any solution to this quandary, let me know.
on Dec 16th, 2011 at 6:52pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
I have no idea how much of the rest of the planet you have seen. I do know that the parochial outlook that you are espousing is most unfortunate - for you and those around you. When you think small, you will find that you tend to get treated as though you ARE small, and easy to take advantage of. You seem satisfied with settling for a sad existing state of affairs. Perhaps you simply don't know what you're missing.
In criticising Calgary restaurants, I try to show that there IS better out there. There is no reason why we could not or should not have that better here - especially if this city is at all serious about trying to be a "world city." There is a lot more to earning that title than a handful of decent restaurants among a sea of mediocrity, just as it will take a lot more than the "Piece of Our Wallets" bridge to attract tourists.
You only get the best when you demand it and strive for it. Complacency is not the answer.
on Dec 16th, 2011 at 7:11pm Report Abuse
Drew Anderson wrote:
on Dec 16th, 2011 at 7:14pm Report Abuse
jwilt wrote:
It's already been made obvious many times on this board that Calgarians don't mind paying a lot of money for their food. It's also been made obvious that even if restaurants charge a lot for their food, they last. But hey, you don't care. You're the king of knowledge, and must crush everyone under the weight of your gargantuan brain. That's cool, I guess.
I'm not "satisfied with settling for a sad existing state of affairs." I'm acknowledging that Calgary is a super wealthy city, and that business owners know that and price accordingly. I'm not sure what exactly you want. For them to drop the prices? Get real, Ron. And what exactly are you doing to "demand it and strive for it" except rant about it on this board?
Maybe you could open up a stunning restaurant that charges $5 a plate to show us all how lost we are. But that would be too much. You'll rant, and once you're done, you'll move away to a real "world city." Thanks for passing through.
on Dec 17th, 2011 at 12:38am Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
I do not claim the accuracy of a scientific poll, by virtually every one I know agrees that Calgary restaurant prices are absurd. It is the main reason I hear about why they usually go to a film or play, etc. and then go straight home; why they don't meet friends at a restaurant to socialise. It's always "our place or yours?" In the real world, there are myriad small places where people eat, drink and socialise. They don't eat and run. Even Calgary used to be like this, and only a few years ago. When visitors come from out of town, we may take them to a restaurant, but try hard not to let them see the bill. There is likely no way to compute the immense amount of $ lost to the local economy annually by this "gouge" mentality
on Dec 17th, 2011 at 10:49am Report Abuse
Josiah wrote:
I think you need to copy and paste the email address into whatever email site or program you use. It sounds like you're maybe just clicking on the email address in your web browser, and the browser is trying to access it like a website.
on Dec 17th, 2011 at 1:42pm Report Abuse
KtotheD wrote:
Ron, the outrageous pricing has been going on for longer than the last 2-3 years. I've observed that the years from the late 90's to right before the downturn were bad for the Calgary cuisine scene. The group that once ran a famous downtown western bar capitalized on their success by opening a series of restaurants that catered to patrons with lots of cash and no critical thinking skills - just give it a catchy international theme, price it to give the perception of high end and the sheep will flock to it. The economic conditions were right for it.
Antielvis, Martypants, the snowball effect of this maybe falls in line with what you are communicating - gimmicky marketing terms like "Gastropub", "Restaulounge" and the need to be seen at these places - don't forget to make it pricey to enhance the cachet.
So what of this new batch of high end restaurants? I'd like to try Boxwood simply because I'm curious about Porchetta but not based on a food critic's opinion. What are their qualifications? Otherwise, I'm quite happy hosting friends at my place and cooking something top notch myself.
on Dec 17th, 2011 at 3:22pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
It astonishes that some try so desperately and with such persistence to defend the indefensible. That makes them seem proud to be exploited. I have many more important things to do with my $ than to let some restaurateur use it to get a new Bentley.
Many restaurants elsewhere have very reasonable prices and superb quality. If they opened a branch here, they would sweep away many Calgary poser palaces within only a few months. To me, it's simple logic: treat others in the same way you would like to be treated in the same circumstances. What message do gougers give to the customer? If they don't care about making my dining experience fully satisfying, I won't be back. We all have a lot of options, which is why certain places see a lot of me and my $. Many of the others will soon be gone, wondering why they failed.
on Dec 17th, 2011 at 5:40pm Report Abuse
jwilt wrote:
This isn't about "exploitation," as you'd suggest it is. When you go out to eat, you willingly engage in a business transaction. No one forces to attend such a hell-hole such as Rouge or the River Cafe. The fact that you'd use such a term is indicative of your ridiculously privileged position in the world (which everyone on this board happens to share).
Would you share with us some of these places that you adore so much? Maybe we can check them out, and realize our ignorance.
on Dec 17th, 2011 at 5:49pm Report Abuse
officematt2002 wrote:
Restaurants in Calgary, and more typically so in the Core, only exist to plunder the expense accounts of energy sector salesmen and staff. It's ridiculous to expect good service and anything but pouty faced waitresses if you do not tip the expected 20% for shoddy service.
Too bad that you fall for marketing gimmicks, jwilt, especially so since you claim to have some journalistic ambitions. Maybe you should start writing Pearl Jam critiques.
on Dec 17th, 2011 at 7:25pm Report Abuse
officematt2002 wrote:
on Dec 17th, 2011 at 7:26pm Report Abuse
jwilt wrote:
on Dec 17th, 2011 at 7:57pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
If an opponent's argument becomes so circular that even you finally recognise it, think: could it be due to your inability to recognise your invincible ignorance?
I NEVER said or even implied that Rouge or River Cafe - or any place - was a "hell hole." That you claim to find such words in anything I have written suggests you may suffer some sort of cognitive dysfunction. But those two places ARE among the over-priced. As such, they have seen the last of my $.
Now you aver that there is something wrong in anyone who finds paying $40 for a meal excessive. And we are supposed to be "grateful" for this! By your command, General Secretary! Are you a shill for the gougers?
If you want the names of a few decent, well-priced restaurants in and near Calgary, I can easily provide them. But I admit that even most of these are now over the top with their alcoholic beverage prices. For openers, try Jonas Restaurant on 6 Av. S.W., or the Austrian-Canadian Club on 12 St. N.E.
on Dec 18th, 2011 at 2:11pm Report Abuse
jwilt wrote:
- "fools of the 1st division"
- a "loser"
- "utterly immune to reason"
- having an "identical crushing lack of foresight"
- questioning my travelling experience
- attacking my supposed age
- holding a "parochial outlook"
- satisfied with "settling for a sad existing state of affairs"
- "proud to be exploited"
- being unable "to recognise your invincible ignorance"
- suffering from "some sort of cognitive dysfunction"
It seems that you've taken control of this board. Congratulations, Ron. You've really earned it.
on Dec 18th, 2011 at 2:48pm Report Abuse
mgb wrote:
The first thing is that the price of food at restaurants in a given city is totally relevent on location. Every business in every city will price according to what the market will bear. In Calgary, the market will bear higher prices, in somewhere like Germany, the same restaurant might have close its doors. That hardly means that Calgarians are being gouged, it just means that in some respects we have a higher cost of living which is most likely representative of our net wealth as a region.
I also think the ages of restaurants in Calgary is an unfair comparison. Our city just isn't that old, if you were to compare the age of a city like Leipzig with Calgary it would suggest that a fifty year old restaurant in Calgary was relatively the same as five hundred year old restaurant in Leipzig, which I think Calgary does have. The other issue here is Calgary's economy, it's pretty boom/bust. There have probably been times where even the best valued restaurants have had to close their doors because they just don't have any customers.
Which brings me to my last point, value. Not everyone is going to find value in paying forty dollars for an entree and that's fine. I think those of us who do have come to appreciate the offerings Calgary has when it comes to our growing food scene. I think it's also safe to say that certain restaurants have no intention of catering to customers who aren't interested in paying higher prices for what is arguably premium food and service. For those people it seems like there are still hundreds of restaurant options available to them and since they don't want to eat at the more expensive restaurants, I'm not sure what the complaints are about - unless they do want to eat at the more expensive restaurants, but they don't want to pay for it.
As for alcohol, it's a heavily taxes commidity and when you combine that with licensing fees and the risk a restaurant or bar takes when it comes to over consumption, it's a wonder it doesn't cost more.
And finally, lol @ Jonas. First the interior of the place underlines as well as anything why a place like Rush or Charcut costs more (a restaurant is so much more than food). And second, I bet the owners of the restaurant would get laughed out of some Hungarian locales for charging as much as $15 for an entree. I'm not saying that they should shut their doors for being ugly inside and not charging more, just that there is as much a place for the Jonas' of Calgary as there is for the Catchs and the Alloys.
on Dec 18th, 2011 at 7:43pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
You and "mgb" refused to get that I am not "poor", but persisted in nonsense. I let you know it was time to read what others say. You remember the slap you got, but not the infantile behaviour that caused it.
As for "mgb": who would silently sit and tolerate the trash spewing therefrom? Look who started that - one who has spewed it for a very long time.
If I must repeat myself, and you still do not get my basic premise, I think you ARE immune to reason. If there was another explanation, you are free to present it. You do not, which suggests it is a fair appraisal.
Read the WHOLE sentence this time, instead of seeking sound bytes to whine about. I say you hold the identical view as the gougers because you DO. You twist yourself into a pretzel to defend them. Let them defend themselves. Do you support them for $, or at least the odd free feed? If it is for love, then you may be beyond saving.
In questioning your travel experience, I try to find your operating parameters. I don't know anything about you. Many Calgary citizens have never been more than 5-600 Km. away from it, and have no idea of the world.
I did NOT "attack" your age, but you seem to regard every word that does not agree with you as an attack. Seems the problem is internal to you. I don't know how old you are, as you have no idea how old I am. For the young, 17 years may seem like forever. Daily, I meet people who have no memory of 1995 - and some are older than me! Again, you were free to inform, but instead chose to sulk.
You say you are happy to pay $40 for a meal. If that is so, then you ARE proud to be exploited. In repeating the same refuted view, you are the very definition of invincible ignorance. The shoe fits. Better wear it.
You made an absurd claim that I held Rouge or River Cafe to be "hell hole(s)" - words I obviously never wrote. Inability to read is a cognitive dysfunction. If you do not suffer from this, prove it. But don't whine. It's unbecoming.
I'd thought this forum would be a place of intelligent discourse. That seems to have been a rash assumption. I must spend most of my time rebutting ill-considered remarks. Everyone can believe what they will, but I insist that they get the facts straight. But go ahead and shoot the messenger. You seem to need to. After all, to have a scapegoat is almost as good as finding a solution, isn't it?
on Dec 18th, 2011 at 10:10pm Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
on Dec 18th, 2011 at 10:35pm Report Abuse
McCommunist wrote:
on Dec 19th, 2011 at 10:56am Report Abuse
C2N wrote:
on Dec 20th, 2011 at 12:36am Report Abuse
rosa wrote:
I have to say I don't have a favorite restaurant in Calgary. That is a sad thing. I've visited some of the "Best of Calgary" suggestions....sorry....disappointed.
Thank you to Ron for your suggestions. I'll try them next.
on Dec 22nd, 2011 at 7:49pm Report Abuse
chachiherbert wrote:
I never supported the river cafe, because of its location in a key city park.
I loved memorial park, I would pass two other libraries to have the pleasure, or excuse in some people's view to visit.
officematt2002 picked up on it, and made me curious. How does one get to build a business in city parks? I don't care if the food will make me grow 5cm and lose a few kilograms. I have honour, and so did my buddies and brothers. For this reason I will never set foot inside that place.
I work out of town now so, I'm not around to pay my respects since the renovation. Where is there room for a restaurant? So the Cenotaph is out back beside the dumpster and grease bin? Are we suppose to be satisfied with this trade off for a rusty piece of work at a busy intersection that will leach into our bow?
There's nobody left from the 1st, very few from the 2nd, and the base closed before our last major conflict. I take it that the city doesn't want to remember.
Angry and Sad
on Jan 12th, 2012 at 7:47pm Report Abuse
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