10 restaurants to check out during the YYC Food & Drink Experience

Calgary, we hope you’re hungry. The second annual YYC Food and Drink Experience is just around the corner! If you didn’t catch this magical event last year, let us get you up to speed. For 17 days of bliss, 68 restaurants across Calgary will be featuring chef collaborations, exchanges, and winemaker dinners for an affordable price. Woo wee!

We’re talking $20 to $30 for three-course lunches and $30 to $40 for three-course dinners, which is insanely reasonable! If you’re feeling fancy, you can also try their $65 five-course dinner, but you better bring your A game. These guys are not playing around. Here are 10 restaurants you have to try during the most delicious event in Calgary.

THE DEANE HOUSE

The Deane House is one of those places typically reserved for special occasions, but we’re not sure why. The food is amazing, the staff is incredible, and the place is allegedly haunted. Perfect dinner experience if you ask us. If there was going to be a perfect non-special occasion to head over to the Deane House, it’s now!

Where: 806 9th Avenue SE, Calgary

FOREIGN CONCEPT

We love a good fusion resto, and man, Foreign Concept is one of the best. Here, you’ll find 5-star dishes inspired by traditional cuisine from all over Asia. Everything here is flavourful, unique, and served beautifully.

Where: 120, 1011 – 1st Street SW, Calgary

TEATRO

The best part of the YYC Food and Drink Experience is that you get to check out places you might not have gone before because of a more expensive plate. Teatro is an incredible spot, but probably not one you’re hitting up unless it’s a special dinner. Thankfully, during this event you can check it out for way less!

Where: 200 8th Avenue SE, Calgary

MODERN OCEAN

Modern Ocean is a restaurant by seafood lovers, for seafood lovers. The building is beautiful, the ambiance is just right, and the service is incredible. We’re not typically a fish-fanatic, but we’d go back to this place any day.

Where: 100 8th Avenue SE, Calgary

SHOKUNIN

Shokunin has been voted one of the best restaurants in the city almost every year since it opened. You could say that owner Darren Maclean knows his way around a kitchen. Go taste for yourself!

Where: 2016 4th Street SW, Calgary

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PIGEONHOLE

Pigeonhole is known for its A+ cocktail list and small plates, but they’re doing the absolute most during the YYC Food and Drink Experience. Their menu consists of what we can only describe as breakfast for dinner fine dining. You heard that right!

Where: 306 17th Avenue SW, Calgary

MODEL MILK

Model Milk is a Calgary must. They’ve been named one of Calgary’s most date-worthy spots year after year, their food is solid, and their cocktail list is insane.

Where: 308 17th Avenue SW, Calgary

DONNA MAC

Donna Mac is a cute, vegan, gluten-free resto that only uses local and Canadian ingredients. Whether you’re veggie-centric or not, we’re sure you’ll enjoy the heck out of this place.

Where: 1002 9th Street SW, Calgary

BRIDGETTE BAR

Bridgette Bar was named one of Canada’s most romantic restaurants by OpenTable this year, so it’s worth checking out for that reason alone. The food is solid and the ambiance is just right.

Where: 739 10th Avenue SW, Calgary

NUPO

Nupo is new to the Calgary resto scene, but the owner is no stranger to the biz. Nupo is an incredible veggie-forward Japanese spot with great eats. If you were planning on going to check them out, now would be the time!

Where: 631 Confluence Way, SE, Calgary

Honestly, it was tough to pick just 10. There are some heavy hitters on the list, guys! You can take a look at the complete A-Z here. Who knows, you might just find love. The edible kind, of course.

SECOND ANNUAL YYC FOOD AND DRINK EXPERIENCE

When: Friday, February 28th – Sunday, March 15th
Cost: $20+