Buchanans Chop House Bacon Cheeseburger in Calgary (Happy Hour Deal)

I’ve been meaning to try the bacon cheeseburger at Buchanans Chop House for ages. Chew Steel and I had a stressful afternoon, so we decided to treat ourselves to some premium burgers. For this post, let’s listen to Okie From Muskogee.

I’ve been to Buchanans a few times. Chew Steel’s colleague is a regular at this chophouse, and she hosts all her events here. The restaurant is old-school Calgary: white tablecloths, wooden chairs, and a huge wall of whisky for the oil and energy industry patrons.

Chew Steel ordered a Johnny Buchanans beer ($7.75) while I picked a glass of Mucchietto Primitivo Zin ($17). The wine list is full of jokes. One of the milder ones describes a Sauvignon Blanc as “That wild ex. Vigour, bright and sassy with serious melons.” I’ll leave the rest to your imagination. I got the sense that anyone who complained would be called a snowflake and given the boot.

John Mah from Get in Mah’s Belly has been praising the happy hour burger special for months. Every day from 3-6 p.m., Buchanans offers its $27 Bacon Cheeseburger for $16 with the purchase of any drink or other food item.

Buchanans grinds its beef in-house from whole cuts and cooks each burger to order. I asked our server how John Mah likes his burger cooked. She looked at me blankly. Clearly, she had never heard of John Mah. John has 2,000 followers on Facebook. She is not one of them. We ordered ours medium.

The toppings were stacked on the bun. The red onion was cut into thin, even rings, raw and sharp. The pickle, one long slender plank, lay smooth and flat across the bun. A slice of tomato and whole-leaf lettuce completed the burger. Two large, super-crisp pieces of bacon lay crisscrossed on top, cooked right to the edge of burnt. It shattered when I bit into it, with brittle, crackly edges.

The burger stood tall. I’d guess the patty was over two inches thick. The beef was juicy but not greasy. The patty itself was dense and firm, warm pink in the middle. The burger didn’t lean on ketchup, mustard or mayo for flavour, which I appreciated. With beef this good, the clean taste of meat should be the focus.

The fries were a dark golden brown. Hot and crunchy outside, soft as mashed potatoes inside. The orange-coloured aioli tasted a bit like tangy BBQ sauce. I enjoyed dipping each fry into the creamy sauce.

The portion of fries was so generous that I was stuffed and left more than half my burger. Two drinks and two premium burgers came to $60. That’s about what we paid two weeks ago at Flat Boy Burgers at Sea Change’s Skelly Club. Both were good meals, but very different burgers: a thin smash burger there, and a thick, beef-forward patty here.

Is it one of the best burgers I’ve had in Calgary? Yes, but it’s a steakhouse ground sirloin, cooked to order, so set your expectations accordingly if you’re used to the saucy, smash-type burgers popular in the city. Hitting the Sauce gives Buchanans Chop House cheeseburger two phat thumbs up.

For more spots like these, visit my Cheap Eats Calgary (Under $30) guide.

Cheap Eats · Italian · poke · Sushi

Pocket Holic & Scozzafava’s Deli: Calgary Quick Bites

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Neither visit was long enough for its own post, but both spots deserve a repeat visit: Pocket Holic and Scozzafava’s Deli. Let’s listen to Pocketful of Sunshine for this post.

Pocket Holic specializes in udon and inari, a Japanese dish of seasoned rice stuffed inside a deep-fried tofu pouch. I accidentally walked in before they opened, but the staff welcomed me anyway and told me not to worry and order whatever I wanted, even though the display case was empty.

I ordered the Pocket Sushi Combo, four pieces with miso soup ($14.99). I picked Scallop Pocket Sushi, Tempura Shrimp Pocket Sushi, Poke Tuna Pocket Sushi and Aburi Salmon Pocket Sushi.

Each pocket begins with a sweet, wet tofu skin wrapper. These babies are loaded with seasoned rice and generously topped with your choice of ingredients. The creamy scallop was so good, I could feel my eyes rolling into the back of my head. The combination of the silky chunks of scallop and the rich mayonnaise was decadent, like a savoury whipped cream.

The tempura offered the best textural contrast. The proportion of ebi to rice was 2:1. Each bite was so sensual: the warm, crunchy shrimp against the cool, juicy tofu pocket. I would order this again.

I was also a fan of the aburi salmon. The top was slightly charred from the torch, and you could taste the smokiness of the salmon. Rich and satisfying.

The poke had the cleanest flavours: soft, pink tuna cubes and firm, chewy rice. I was full after eating four sushi pockets and washing them down with miso soup. I plan on coming again the next time I’m in the neighbourhood.

I recently visited Scozzafava’s Deli. Before they opened their deli, I remember seeing Instagram posts of people lining up at one of their pop-ups. Turns out I’d been sleeping on a gem: the food is worth the wait.

Aesthetically, their hoagies are gorgeous, generously stuffed with colourful fillings and meats, all tucked into a crusty bun. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan ($17) for Chew Steel and me to share. Although there was no line, I still waited for my sandwich, since the cutlet is made fresh for each order. There’s some serious action in the kitchen; I could see at least three cooks working intently. The person at the front was engaging and made sure the guests eating in were happy with their meals.

When I received my foil-wrapped sandwich, I could feel its warmth and weight. A bit smaller than a footlong sub, but heavier than a hefty banh mi, this puppy was loaded with meat. The white chicken cutlets had a fine, tight crumb and were juicy despite being fried. The fresh mozzarella was soft and mild, with a zip of pesto and spicy marinara. The sesame bread was light and crusty, and soaked in that red sauce, it reminded me of pizza. There’s so much chicken that half a sandwich made a satisfying lunch. Delicious and worth every nickel.

Tofu pockets and Italian hoagies: two very different but excellent handhelds, and both worth going back for. Both meals came in well under $30. For more spots like these, visit my Cheap Eats Calgary (Under $30) guide.

Restaurants · Wine tasting

Metrovino All-Stars: Italy | Calgary Wine Tasting

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Metrovino wrapped up its series with All-Stars: Italy ($78.75). Eva Hudson led this event, along with Isiah Santos and Szivlia Fonalka. Let’s listen to Tu vuò fà l’americano by Renato Carosone for this post.

Divine Offering was already there when I arrived. I put away my coat and bag and dove into the cheese and charcuterie. I learned that Peasant Cheese purposely selected ingredients from Italian regions to best pair with the wines. The spread also included fresh bread from Mari Bakery, olive oil, and biscuits from the Cookbook Co. The olive oil, Galantino Organic Extra Virgin, was grassy and so delectably light that I wanted to sip it.

Here’s a cool fact about Metrovino. The entire team is well-versed in all the wines from their portfolio, but each person specializes in one country. As Eva discussed the wines, we learned that she knows and has visited almost all the producers we sampled. As usual, bottles purchased that night were 15% off.

1. Ciro Picariello – 2024 Irpinia Bianco Fiano ($35, 15% discount $29.75)

The first wine we tasted was from Summonte, Avellino, owned by Ciro Picariello, his wife Rita, and daughter Emma. Eva noted that the grapes are high quality, grown high in the mountains of inland Campania. I noticed a unique tang, while Divine Offering commented that after pairing the wine with some charcuterie, there was almost an aftertaste of sweetness.

2. Ioppa – 2023 Colline Novaresi Nebbiolo ($35, 15% discount $29.75)

Next, we moved north to Ioppa, a family winery in Romagnano Sesia, in the Alto Piemonte area of northern Piedmont. It’s run by Andrea, Marco, and Luca Ioppa, the seventh generation of their family to make wine.

Eva is obsessed with Nebbiolo, and she walked us through Alto Piemonte’s troubled past. Starting in the late 1800s, phylloxera, a vine louse, wiped out the vineyards. As the region industrialized, many people left the land for stable work in textile mills and auto factories. Then the two world wars made recovery in the vineyards harder. The wine itself was light in colour, almost translucent, with a red berry flavour.

3. Colombera & Garella – 2020 Lessona Nebbiolo ($71, 15% discount $60.35)

We stayed in Alto Piemonte for the third wine, from Colombera & Garella in Masserano, a town in the province of Biella. It’s run by Giacomo Colombera and Cristiano Garella.

Eva has sold their wine at Metrovino for over ten years. She described this wine as soulful and savoury. I enjoyed the fragrance and liked how it danced on my tongue. Divine Offering noticed it tasted stronger than it looked. I recently learned that a wine’s colour isn’t a reliable guide to how it will taste. Of all the wines, this one was my favourite.

4. Castagnoli – 2021 Chianti Classico Sangiovese ($44, 15% discount $37.40)

From Piedmont, we headed south to Tuscany. Castagnoli is an organic estate in Castellina in Chianti, owned by a German family. The team is led by Tim Schefenacker, with Filippo Pratesi as winemaker, and Lucy the dog. Its vineyards sit on terraces in the hills, and according to Eva, forest and wild animals surround the estate. Metrovino carries this wine as an exclusive.

I was surprised I liked this wine, as I usually find Chianti harsh and dusty. The colour of blood, it was dark and concentrated. Divine Offering loved the heavier body. We both bought a bottle.

5. Salvatore Marino – 2021 Eloro ‘Turi’ Rosso, Nero d’Avola and Pignatello ($34, 15% discount $28.90)

The fifth wine took us to Pachino, on the southeastern tip of Sicily, where Salvatore Marino and his wife Stefania run a small winery. The wine is named “Turi,” which is the Sicilian nickname for Salvatore. Eva mentioned the family also grows wheat and makes soap and pasta.

Eva’s take on the wine: black olive, soul and precision. I noticed an indescribable scent. I found it unusual in a good way, fresh yet savoury. I bought a bottle.

6. Elvio Tintero – 2024 Moscato d’Asti ‘Sori Gramella’ ($25, 15% discount $21.25)

We finished with something sweet from Elvio Tintero, a fourth-generation family winery in Mango, in Piedmont’s Moscato d’Asti country. It’s run by Marco Tintero and his partner Cinzia. Eva recalled drinking moscato with Elvio and, as he suggested, dipping a biscuit in the wine.

I took to the lovely fragrance. I enjoyed the bubbles, though I found it quite sweet. I plan to bring this one out as a dessert pairing at my upcoming party. I made a mental note to stop by the Cookbook Co. to buy the ring-shaped yogurt and rice flour cookies, Falcone Ciambelline. They were so good that Divine Offering went back for seconds.

We had an epic night learning from Eva, Isiah and Szivlia. I also met two litigators, both new to Calgary, who were very nice. I’m not sure why that surprised me, since the two other litigators I know are just as affable. I introduced them to the German wines I discovered at All Stars: Germany and suggested they book tickets to Metrovino’s 30th anniversary party at the Lougheed House. They bought a bottle of A.J. Adam, an affordable Riesling that was a hit with Dimples. She bought one and told me her neighbours raved about it. I picked up another bottle that night too; with the discount, it came to just over $30.

I went in planning not to buy anything this time, but apart from the $71 Lessona, bottles were priced between $25 and $44, and with 15% off, that worked out to about $21 to $37. They were practically free. At least that’s what I told myself.

For a regularly updated list of tastings and special events, visit my Calgary Wine Tastings & Events Guide.

Cheap Eats · Chinatown · Chinese

Sun’s BBQ Review: Calgary Chinese BBQ Worth Eating In

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My mother, Boss Lady, wanted to check out a Chinese bakery. Last summer, I took her to Logos Bakery & Cake House at Central Landmark. This time, I suggested Maxima Bakery & Cake House, housed inside Lambda Oriental Foods Supermarket. I picked Maxima so she could have lunch at Sun’s BBQ, then shop at King’s Seafood for their frozen jumbo shrimp wonton. For this post, let’s listen to Shut Up.

When we arrived, our server pointed us to a booth by the window. Unfortunately, it was next to a table with one of the loudest talkers I’ve heard outside the Caesar’s Steakhouse lounge. Things improved a little once the restaurant filled up and the noise around us rose, but even then, their conversation carried over everything.

Pro tip: If you want service, just wave a server down. Staff are attentive, but they come over only when it’s obvious you need something. We ordered Steamed Pork Patty and Anchovies ($18.99), BBQ Duck and Roasted Pork Rice Combo ($18.99), and Steamed Tiger Prawns with Garlic ($20.99).

The BBQ combo came with hot herbal broth and blanched vegetables, which helped cut the heaviness of the meats. The duck was thinly sliced, but each slice stood tall. My favourite part was the crisp skin on top, then lean dark meat underneath. The meat tasted clean and rich, but not fatty.

I loved the roasted pork, a crispy pork belly. The skin was ultra-crunchy and shattered in my mouth. The fat underneath melted into the meat. Each bite was pure indulgence. Better than Kingwell’s, too, because the bottom isn’t oversalted.

Boss Lady wanted the tiger prawn dish. The tiger prawns came on a bed of rice noodles. The prawns were butterflied and a lot smaller than the menu picture promised. The noodles made up for it: fragrant, hot, and seasoned all the way through with garlic. I preferred them to the milder prawns. Boss Lady pointed out that BBQ meats and seafood are best steaming fresh. That’s why it’s better to eat in the restaurant than order takeout.

I’ve been following Get In Mah’s Belly for Chinese food recommendations. His friend Coco recommended the pork patty.

The steamed pork patty is not for the timid taster. It’s incredibly pungent from the anchovies. You smell them before you taste them, and they’re salty enough that you’ll want rice. The pork is spread flat on a plate and steamed, so it stays tender. Small shrimp add more briny salt, and water chestnut gives it crunch. I enjoyed it, but it’s not a dish for those who don’t venture past ginger beef and salt and pepper squid.

Boss Lady was happy with our meal. The food was fresh and tasty, while the service was efficient. She wants to come again to try some of the other seafood dishes. I want to take her to two more of Get In Mah Belly’s picks: Marko’s Kitchen and Central Grand Restaurant.

For more local favourites, check out Best Restaurants in Calgary (2026 Guide).

Beer · Burgers

Flat Boy Burgers at Sea Change’s Skelly Club: A Calgary Smash Burger Without the Wait

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On Saturday, our plans changed because our friends came down with the flu. Chew Steel suggested we check out a new place for dinner, and I picked Sea Change Brewing Co.’s Skelly Club. My sister-in-law went recently and recommended it as a casual spot for beers and burgers. Let’s listen to Lost Cause for this post.

The name is a mouthful. To break it down, Sea Change is the brewery, and Skelly Club is its taproom. Flat Boy Burgers operates inside Skelly Club, selling burgers, fries and key lime pie. Though it was busy in the early evening, we had no problem finding a small booth. Unlike the Ship and Anchor, where people settle in for the night, tables turned over quickly.

I had to squint to read the menu’s font, and the dim lighting didn’t help. It was that moment I realized I need progressives. The room has a vintage feel, like a well-kept grandma’s basement. With its dark wood and retro decor, it reminded me of a cleaner, more polished Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville.

Chew Steel ordered the Death Wave ($8), a light, crisp lager. I picked the Man Crush ($8), a mandarin orange ale that oddly tasted a bit like a grapefruit mimosa. Both were refreshing. Surprisingly, Chew Steel preferred the Man Crush over his lager, as he usually doesn’t like fruity beers.

We both ordered double smash burgers ($14) and shared table fries ($10) with Animal sauce. The bun was fantastic, soft and squishy, and held up to two Angus beef patties. The toppings stayed in the background, with just enough lettuce, onion, tomato and pickle for a little crunch, acidity and freshness. The meat was the focus, crispy, with a deep, browned beef flavour. The two patties were the right size for the bun.

The flat fries were thin and wide. They arrived lukewarm, so they weren’t very crispy, and they were heavily salted. The sauce was fine, but I preferred regular ketchup.

I noticed they have veggie and vegan burgers on the menu, so next time I’m bringing Lululemon. If you want a good burger and a beer without booking hours ahead, the way you have to at Class Clown, Skelly Club is a good bet. Calgary could use more places like it.

For more budget-friendly finds, see my guide to Calgary’s best cheap eats.