Date night in Calgary, AB

Calgary is a city that loves its pizza, but over the last half decade, the number of delicious and creative pizza joints here has exploded. Below are just a few of the best spots in town in which to enjoy premium pizza pies. Image credit: iStock.com/zoranam.

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.

Mealtime entrees don’t get more comforting than a warm dish of freshly made pasta. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, taking the whole family for dinner or just grabbing some grub at a pub, here’s where to fill your belly with pasta dishes that will leave you happy and undoubtedly full. [Photo credit: iStock.com/kivoart]

Sangria, a Spanish-style wine punch usually made with juice and fresh fruit, has become increasingly popular in North America for good reason: it’s an amazingly refreshing way to enjoy the flavour of wine. Here is a selection of restaurants that are prepared to quench your thirst. [Photo credit: iStock.com/bhofack2]

In land-locked Calgary, getting fresh seafood isn’t as easy as going down to the docks. But chefs throughout the city are bringing in fresh-as-possible lobster that will leave you believing you can smell the ocean breeze as you soak up that last bit of hot butter drizzle on some juicy coastal claws. Here are some places where you can get your lobster fix.

The Big Taste is a magnificent, multi-course celebration of the city’s gastronomic trends and favourite dishes. Eighty of the city’s hottest restaurants are serving value-priced, three- and five-course, prix-fixe meals from March 4 to 13, 2016. On top of these specially created daily meals, The Big Taste features 15 one-off, lunch and dinner “signature events.” Here is a tasty selection of eateries serving daily dinners.

Long the domain of male chefs, restaurant kitchens are no longer an exclusive boys’ cookery club. Here's just a few of the city’s most talented culinary stars who just happen to be female. [Feature photo: Vero Bistro Moderne]

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.

Ordering takeout Chinese food is convenient, but not a top date strategy. Calgary has no greater concentration of date-night-worthy Asian restaurants than in Chinatown. These eateries combine attractive atmosphere with varied menus that feature Chinese-Western faves (ginger beef, salt-and-pepper squid), stellar Old-Country cuisine (mapo tufu, Peking duck) as well as Japanese and Korean spots.

When you’re shelling out for a restaurant meal the quality of the food is obviously important, but so is the experience. Some restaurants just feel good. These Calgary spots offer both great meals and appealing atmosphere for an always-special dining experience. [Image: Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant]

The idea of nose-to-tail butchery – cooking and eating as many parts of an animal as possible rather than just the traditional prize cuts – is increasingly popular, especially among those concerned with reducing food waste. But have you had a chance to try cheeks, intestines or marrow? Here are a few Calgary restaurants that offer dishes that go beyond your typical chops and loins. [Image credit: iStock.com/Bocky Tandiono] 

Some restaurants are cavernous, giving patrons room to spread out and feel anonymous. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to get seriously cozy and settle into an intimate dining experience. These restaurants may be small on space, but they’re big on atmosphere. [Image credit: iStock.com/Predrag Vuckovic]