View the complete list of winners from the 2009 Avenue Food Awards [1]

The 6th Annual Avenue Food Awards Part 1 [2]

The 6th Annual Avenue Food Awards Part 2 [3]

Best Restaurant to Take Kids

AC: This can be a tough category, but a recent trip to Chianti Café [4] and Restaurant on 17th Avenue S.W. confirmed its popularity with families. And with its wide selection of pasta, there’s a little something for everyone at wallet-friendly prices.

JG: Tubby Dog. Not the least bit healthy, but a hot dog topped with Cap’n Crunch cereal and PB&J is every eight-year-old’s dream come true.

DH: Calgary Farmers’ Market [5]. There are waffles with whip cream, strawberries and fresh orange juice, bagels, candy, mini fruit pies, plus a whole lot more, not to mention an inflatable jumping castle — the perfect
precursor to a long nap.

RC: Montana’s [6]. A rustic and lively atmosphere coupled with a stocked kid’s menu makes Montana’s Cookhouse a safe destination for babies, toddlers and kids.

Best of the ’Burbs: Southwest

AC: If you’re looking for a great lunch or breakfast in the southwest, but can’t decide exactly what you want, the Calgary Farmers’ Market [5] has an excellent cross-section of food vendors. It’s like a mall food court taken to
a whole new level.

JG: LeVilla [7]. Steak as it should be from Rick Chuk. This Signal Hill restaurant is a neighbourhood favourite that has people driving in from across the city.

DH: Be saucy at the Redwater Rustic Grille [8]. Pair an entrée with one of the superb sauces of your choosing. Great dining space and service.

RC: Located on the fringes of the core, The Holy Grill serves up a tasty burger and offers a casual and friendly atmosphere.

Best of the ’Burbs: Southeast

AC: Located in a historic, 100-year-old house in Fish Creek Park, The Ranche [9] has a stunning setting that transports one away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and a menu filled with game, such as duck, elk and bison. One of Calgary’s finer dining establishments.

JG: Calm and serene in a Macleod Trail strip mall, Thai Nongkhai serves excellent Thai dishes and has a fine wine list, too.

DH: Karma [10]. A great balance of mild dishes and killer hot ones, like the clay-oven cooked vindaloos, in a contemporary dining room. Also features several Hakka dishes — a blend of Indian and Chinese cuisine.

RC: Cora’s [11]. Readers choose the colourful, lively franchise.

Best of the ’Burbs: Northwest

AC: Tucked away in a strip mall across from McMahon Stadium, you’ll find Saigon Y2K, which might just have the best Vietnamese food in the city. And in Calgary there is a lot of great Vietnamese food. Ideal for takeout.

JG: Thai Place West [12]. Fine dining in a Quality Inn? You bet. Great Thai food in a lovely room, but ask for a table by the indoor pool for that real vacation feel.

DH: A&A Foods and Deli. In addition to the garlicky and fully loaded shawarmas comes an enjoyable serving of owner Jimmy Elrafih, who likes to dance, tease and serenade his patrons.

RC: Located in the rural community of Bearspaw just outside Calgary, the Bear’s Den [13] delivers a balance of high culture, traditional values, sophistication and fine food.

Best of the ’Burbs: Northeast

AC: Alberta King of Subs [14]. Never underestimate the power of a good sandwich. The heart attack-inducing hot and cold sandwiches and poutine varieties at Alberta King of Subs in Temple are worth a trip. While the décor is stuck in the ’80s and the portions will break any diet, it is a Mecca for any hearty sandwich eater.

JG: Clay Oven. Still making the best Indian breads in the city, Clay Oven also offers a great list of Punjabi-style Indian food.

DH: Yamato Dessert Café. The delicious and gossamer Japanese-influenced French pastries, such as green tea mousse cake and raspberry and lychee cheesecake, are wrapped and decorated like les petits cadeaux.

RC: Multi-award-winning Namskar Indian Restaurant [15] is the culinary spice-of-life choice for Calgary’s northeast.

Best Patio

AC: While any patio is great for an afternoon of playing hooky from work and tipping back some brew, the outdoor dining area of Bonterra Trattoria [16]with its rustic wooden overhead beams, two fireplaces and a mountain meadow’s worth of plants, makes you feel like you’re eating miles away from the Beltline.

JG: Rouge [17]. The patio looks over the huge, tree-rimmed yard and organic garden of the historic Cross House. And serves fabulous food, too.

DH: Rouge. Summer is glorious on this patio overlooking a lush acreage that bor-ders the Bow River near the zoo, offering a glimpse of a giraffe’s head, per chance.

RC: Bonterra Trattoria. With one of the best patios in Calgary, the trattoria brings Italy to life for a dining experience to remember.

Most Romantic

AC: Perhaps it’s all the dipping and poking involved in a good round of fondue, or the nook-and-cranny layout of the dining room, but the Laurier Lounge [18] is a good place for a highly suggestive dinner with conversation in hushed tones.

JG: Sultan’s Tent. The new Sultan’s Tent replicates the original’s private, tented, cushioned and screened dining areas. It’s discreet for dinner and intimate conversations.

DH: Il Sogno [19]. To be caressed by sensual Italian cuisine in an elegant dining room lit softly by chandeliers is this restaurant’s romance song.

RC: Blink [20]’s warm and soothing decor makes cozying up on a first date or
with someone special an occasion to be cherished.

Best Quick, Eat-in Meal

AC: Tiffin Curry & Roti House [21]. The exceptional food is served cafeteria style from steam tables on stainless steel platters as fast as you can make your selection. The freshly made roti, hearty portions and good location just off Memorial Drive make it a great choice.

JG: Kinjo Sushi & Grill. From behind the wheel of my car to scarfing back sushi off the boat-bar in under a minute. Can it get any quicker?

DH: Palace of Eats [22]. Salivate, then order a smoked meat plate. A quick and delicious meal worth waiting for, even if it is a long wait, which it often isn’t.

RC: The Holy Grill. Comfort food for any denomination.

Best Buffet

AC: It’s not the biggest buffet you’ll find in the city, but Tandoori Hut in Kensington has all the Indian favourites you want, like butter chicken, fresh naan and a selection of curries that are replenished regularly.

JG: Namskar [15]. Line up at this fine northern Indian restaurant and load up on kormas, dals and tandoori chicken — and a fine butter chicken too. There might even be a good goat dish or two.

DH: Rose Garden Thai. In this serene dining room, there’s always a beautiful spread of Thai favourites, the respective flavours and aromas of which harmonize together rather than clash as at so many other buffets.

RC: Glory of India [23] tops the all-you-can-eat category for readers with its authentic East Indian cuisine. Each dish promises distinct flavour that will have you clamouring for more — and “more” here doesn’t cost a thing.

Best in the Mountains

AC: Banff’s Bison Mountain Bistro [24] and Lounge [24] recently renovated its general store area, but with a commitment to slow food and locally produced ingredients it will continue to produce its unique style of Rocky Mountain comfort food.

JG: The Trough Dining Co [25]. Tucked into a former house on Canmore’s Walk of Champions, this unassuming but boldly named place offers fine food, pleasant service, a comfortable setting and excellent wines.

DH: Crazyweed Kitchen [26]. That Calgarians journey to Canmore and back for a single meal speaks volumes. Robust flavours with an Asian kick and a sprinkling of culinary magic.

RC: Grizzly House [27]. Banff’s famous fondue restaurant tops the getaway spot for a wonderful rustic dining experience in the Rocky Mountains.

Best Restaurant for Sharing Food

AC: The tapas-style menu and laid-back couch seating of Jaroblue [28] make it ideal for sharing with one, or several friends. And if you can’t decide what to order, try the convenient sharing platters.

JG: Thai Sa-On [29]. Gather a group, order an abundance of Thai dishes both hot and cool spice-wise, and select from the restaurant’s remarkable wine list. And share.

DH: Jaroblue. Sultry with a casual cosmo-politan vibe. Its globally inspired tapas ignite conversation, and the very act of sharing fosters a connection among dining companions.

RC: Jaroblue. Tapas and more tapas. Try the chef’s choice sharing platter for $20 or $30 per person.

The 6th Annual Avenue Food Awards Part 1 [2]

The 6th Annual Avenue Food Awards Part 2 [3]

View the complete list of winners from the 2009 Avenue Food Awards  [1]