calgaryurbanfoodie@gmail.com

Andree Lau runs a food blog, Are You Gonna Eat That?, and is also on Twitter @ugonnaeatthat.

Read her new Metro column, Lunch Rush, for more restaurant reviews.

Breakfast, brunch or brinner

June 24, 2010

Open in 1950, Dairy Lane is a jewel in West Hillhurst, doing a humming daytime business that attracts steady lineups especially on weekend mornings.

Quality pizzas galore

June 17, 2010

Famoso, a successful chain from Edmonton, brings its Neopolitan pizza stylings to the main strip in southwest Mission.

Tango finds the beat

June 10, 2010

Carved out of the dark wood of the now-downsized Smuggler's Inn, Tango is an unhurried spot to sip wine and cocktails, and graze on inventive dishes.

Tasty Greek favourites

June 03, 2010

The white and blue exterior of Santorini, which has stood on Centre Street since 1986, is soothing — especially on a snowy almost-summer evening.

Altadore bistro goes bold

May 27, 2010

The chef at the Altadore Dining Lounge must firmly believe in the motto, “Go big or go home,” in offering bold takes on conventional neighbourhood pub/bistro food.

Mediocre pasta fare

May 20, 2010

That’s Italian Too is a place you really want to love, with its red and white checkered tablecloths, glass bud vases, and Italian flag behind the bar.

Uneven night at Murrieta’s

May 13, 2010

A Stephen Avenue anchor, the second-floor Murrieta’s is a beautiful space, with ample room for business groups and romantic dates alike.

For your grilling pleasure

May 06, 2010

Seoul Korean BBQ has one of the best setups in the city for well, what its name implies.

Dressed-up pub grub

April 29, 2010

The District looks like a regular pub, but this saloon focuses on locally grown, organic ingredients and dressed-up pub grub.

An Indonesian retreat

April 22, 2010

Island serenity and a flavourful history combine for a fantastic meal at Bali Indonesia.

Bland burgers disappoint

April 15, 2010

Tommy Burger Bar is this decade’s upgrade of the classic burger joint.

Neighbourhood nosh

April 08, 2010

Vero Bistro Moderne is a true neighbourhood bistro, with loyal regulars packed into the elbow-to-elbow, red and black dining room.

Colonial’s union of flavours

March 31, 2010

The colonization of Quarry Park, an old gravel pit redeveloped into Calgary’s newest community, hasn’t quite registered on GPS or Google Maps.

Ruth’s Chris knows steaks

March 24, 2010

Roll up to Globefish

March 18, 2010

Globefish fashions part of its menu after an izakaya, a kind of tapas bar common in Japan for post-work drinking and snacking.

Warm up and fill up

March 11, 2010

Doing any activity in breathtaking Lake Louise isn’t cheap. Gas, accommodation, parks and lift passes all add up.

Rising above mediocrity

March 04, 2010

Chain restaurants tend to rely on basic grub to be consistent across its locations but often that results in passable, but uninspired, dishes.

Vegetarian delights at The Coup

February 25, 2010

As a committed meat lover, I confess the idea of a vegetarian, much less vegan, meal frightened me.

Warming up at Fassil

February 18, 2010

Most of us turn to hearty stews and warming foods to get us through the winter months. I recently discovered Ethiopian food fits that bill perfectly.

Authentic tacos arrive

February 11, 2010

Most people think of tacos as coming from a drive-through window, or overflowing with ground beef, lettuce and cheddar cheese with sour cream and chunky salsa from a jar.

Mangia bene at Bonterra

February 04, 2010

The rear downtown patio of Bonterra is legendary, but in colder months, the restaurant shouldn’t be overlooked.

Big brunch at Big Fish

January 28, 2010

A lengthy brunch is always a great indulgence; an even better treat is a weekend breakfast/lunch with a twist on the ole bacon and eggs and no lineup outside.

Pebble Street good for stomach, wallet

January 21, 2010

Like a diner’s comfort menu of burgers and fries, Hong-Kong style cafés offer a consistent, economical spread of noodles and rice dishes.

Caesar’s still reigning over steaks

January 14, 2010

Steakhouses in Calgary are a dime a dozen. But none have Caesar’s particular combination of dark wood, heavy red leather chairs, mirrored walls, Roman columns and a grill shaped like an Olympic torch.

Aladdin’s works its genie magic

January 07, 2010

Among the cluster of restaurants in the southeast Avenida Village mall lies Aladdin’s Casbah, run by a Lebanese family transplanted from Quebec.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

December 24, 2009

The corner of 10th Street and Memorial Drive may be cursed. In the last three years alone, three different restaurants have come and gone.

Masterpiece of flavours at Chef's Table

December 16, 2009

Splurging on a special meal is worth every penny when food, service and atmosphere flawlessly combine for a magical evening.

Pimento’s pizza creations on wheels

December 09, 2009

Many Calgarians who lamented when Pimento’s Pizzeria closed its doors in Bridgeland can rejoice once again.

Korean dishes with a side of love

December 02, 2009

The menus at Anju are emblazoned with a quote by chef/owner Roy Oh: “The finest ingredient Mom ever used was love.”

Proper fish and chips at British Chippy

November 26, 2009

Business has been non-stop at the British Chippy since it opened a mere month ago, packed with Calgarians and expats clamouring for authentic fish and chips ($11.99).