Go wild! Where to eat wild game in Calgary

Game meats, such as venison, bison and elk, are gaining popularity, partly due to their unique taste, and the fact that they are generally leaner than farmed meats such as beef and pork. You don’t need to dress in camp or carry a gun to sample wild game – just head down to one of these local restaurants. Image credit: iStock.com/Brzozowska.

Go wild! Where to eat wild game in Calgary
Vincci Tsui By

Cilantro

1
338 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0A8

When Cilantro first opened its doors in 1988, it featured Alberta’s first wood-burning pizza oven, imported from Italy. The fire in Cilantro’s pizza oven is still going strong, churning out unique pizzas topped with pulled elk and wild boar sausage. In addition to pizzas, the Fourth Street and 17th Avenue Southwest eatery serves hearty entrees that include coffee-and-chili-braised bison short ribs with Southwest-style grits and maple bacon baked beans.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Lake House

2
747 Lake Bonavista Dr SE, Calgary, AB T2J 0N2

Like Cilantro, The Lake House is owned by Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts, but the ambiance is more upscale, with a beautiful view overlooking Lake Bonavista. Like its sister restaurant, it features bison and wild boar on the menu, but it’s also one of the few places in Calgary that serves caribou. Try the bison-and-caribou game burger, or roasted caribou Denver leg with cheese pie and pickled vegetable salad.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Bears Den

3
254028 Bearspaw Rd, Calgary, AB T3L 2P7

Located just west of the city in the community of Bearspaw, Bears Den features a cozy, friendly atmosphere with a menu that focuses mostly on meat. The restaurant’s venison tenderloin, served on top of creamy polenta and drizzled with a sweet blackcurrant demi-glace, is definitely recommended.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Notable The Restaurant

4
133-4611 Bowness Rd NW, Calgary, AB T3B 0B2

One of the first restaurants in Calgary to bring upscale dining to the suburbs, NOtaBLE is known for its daily creations cooked on a large rotisserie and hot, hardwood grill. These include Alberta bison flank steak with sun-dried cherry and brown butter jus. The elk carpaccio is another must-try – though thinly sliced, the savoury elk meat pairs well with the strong flavours of white wine mustard, Parmesan aioli, watercress salad and grated Parmesan that top the dish.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant

5
15979 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2J 7A7

Located in the historical Hull residence in Fish Creek Park, the Bow Valley Ranche is a popular spot in the summer months. The restaurant is not just a pretty piece of architecture – its menu features creative preparations of mostly local, sustainable ingredients. For example, the baby romaine Caesar salad is a unique Asian-inspired appetizer that features spicy elk salami and wild boar belly.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
More from Vincci Tsui Vincci Tsui
Vincci is a registered dietitian, food lover and eater. She is passionate about guiding people towards better health in ways that are practical and delicious. Aside from her weekly nutrition blog, Vincci is a contributor to Avenue Magazine and is very active in the Calgary food scene and on social media.
Eat your greens: Where to find salad bars in Calgary

Go green: Where to find salad bars

In the past, salads were often labelled “diet food” and served as an afterthought on restaurant menus. For better or worse, restaurant salads are now often sizeable meals, and can sometimes contain more calories than a burger and fries! For those trying to eat healthier, salad bars can help take back some of that control – making your salad as green or as calorie-laden as you’d like. Image credit: iStock/MelanieMaya.
Sushi roll roundup in Calgary

Sushi roll roundup

For those who are new to sushi, the thought of eating raw fish on rice can be a little intimidating. Sushi rolls are a great “gateway” to more traditional nigiri, and thanks to some of the whimsical and creative dishes prepared by local sushi chefs, they are becoming a cuisine unto itself.
Snack packs: Best Asian dumplings in Calgary

Snack packs: Top Asian dumpling spots

Good things come in small packages. Every cuisine seems to have its own version of the dumpling, whether it’s Chinese wontons and potstickers, Japanese gyoza or even Italian ravioli and tortellini, there’s just something satisfying about biting into these little packets wrapped in dough to reveal the flavourful filling inside. Start your journey around the world of dumplings with these delicious Asian offerings.
Close menu