Francine’s Calgary: Canada’s 100 Best Recommends 2026

August 2026 update: Francine’s was selected for the inaugural Canada’s 100 Best Recommends list, an unranked collection of exceptional casual restaurants chosen by the publication’s judges.

For my birthday, Chew Steel and I checked out Francine’s, a new French restaurant that opened up in Calgary’s Chinatown district. I’ve eaten at Francine’s before at a pop-up and a special event dinner, so I knew we were in for a treat. Let’s listen to Paradise by Sade for this post.

I made reservations at the last minute, so I was only able to secure bar seats at 5:15 p.m. As it was so early in the evening, we weren’t super hungry and just ordered two mains, the Steak Frites ($49.95) and the Smoky Trout and Crepes ($42.95). I wanted to try the trout dish because I read an Instagram post by the chef/owner, Garrett Martin, about his creative process for creating some of the dishes.

We started with a cocktail, a Francine’s martini ($17) for me and a Crepe Suzette Old-Fashioned ($16) for Chew Steel. The ice-cold gin-forward martini was aromatic and herby, marked with a distinct note of fennel. As we sipped, I noticed how quickly the room filled on a Tuesday evening. An older Asian couple sat beside us. It was cute to watch him, intently absorbed watching a YouTube video on his phone while his partner quietly ate, content in her own private little world.

The steak frites were among the best I’ve ever had. I don’t want to be dramatic, but the steak here is a must-eat-before-you-die type of experience. The bavette butcher’s steak was beautifully textured, sliced thin yet generously wide, with a charred, rugged exterior and a ruby-red interior that offered a juicy chew. The peppercorn glaze was rich and smooth, with a peppery bite that cut through the steak.

The fries were ridiculously delicious, golden and light, with an ultra-crunchy shell giving way to a whipped potatoey centre. Jordan, our bartender, nailed the wine pairings. For the steak, he paired it with a glass of Cabernet Franc (Domaine La Paleine, $10, 3oz).

The trout was soft and smoky, with a flavour profile reminiscent of salmon. We tore off a piece of crepe and wrapped it around a piece of trout, two types of pickled onion, cucumber, bright green spinach and chives. Each bite was decadent, drippy and messy.

The trout reminded me of Neptune’s famous johnny cakes, but the flavours were more refined. There wasn’t anything fishy or overly sweet. The combination of what I thought were unusual ingredients blew me away. The flavours were rounded and worked so well together that it made me think of head chef Koji Kobayashi’s fine-dining creations at Sukiyaki House. Jordan selected a bright white wine (Juste Le Blanc, Jurancon Sec $8.50, 3 oz) that cut through the smokiness and the decadent white sauce.

The mains are a generous portion, but I still wanted dessert. We shared the French Toast ($12.95) with honey-caramel, honey ice cream, and 15-month Comte cheese, paired with a glass of sherry (Moscatel Peromesa Jerez Valdespino, $13).

The dessert is worthy of Michelin recognition. The thick-cut bread was warm and eggy, layered with sweet, cold ice cream and topped with salty flakes of cheese. This dish, as well as the two before, had us licking our lips and scraping the plate for every last drop of caramel.

How good was the food? So damn fine, I sent Lovegastro, Quebecoise, Betty, Kournikova, Juliejuliehu and Divine Offering text messages raving about Francine’s and making future plans to revisit.

How indulgent was the food? I had a chemo follow-up appointment the very next day and had gained two pounds. I’m not sure whether that jump was due to fluid and inflammation or to the peppercorn glaze, but I choose to believe it was the sauce doing the heavy lifting.

Francine’s is one of the best restaurants in Calgary right now, and I’m looking forward to my next visit. Go, you won’t regret it!

Restaurants · Special Occasion · Steakhouse

Chairman’s Steakhouse Calgary Wednesday Deal: Worth It?

June 20, 2024April 15, 2026 Hitting the Sauce3 Comments

On Calgary Food—FoodYYC! A Group for foodies’ Facebook page, there are many reviews about the Wednesday special at Chairman’s Steakhouse, I had to check it out. For only $110, you get one 18-ounce ribeye, cheese bread, two salads, two side dishes, and a cheesecake to share. Let’s listen to She’s Got You by Patsy Cline for this post.

Our reservation was for 6:30 p.m., and most of the tables were occupied, except for the best seats in the house, which are right up the window, facing the pond. I noticed those tables were empty for most of the night. Our table was closest to the kitchen entrance.

We started with cocktails, Chew Steel with a Fig Old-Fashion (2.5oz, $18), and myself with a Pink Elegance (2 oz, $23). I appreciated how the restaurant categorizes the cocktails with tags, such as “fruity” or “herby”.

My cocktail was tart than sweet and mainly tasted of strawberries and lemon juice. The ice cube in the old-fashioned sparkled with glitter, glistening with the steakhouse’s initials. The branding is pretty slick, and Chew Steel said it was one smooth cocktail.

The Chairman’s cheese toast is as good as Hy’s Steakhouse but not as oily. The layer of aged white cheddar, Quebec cheese curd and Sylvan Star Gouda was thin and broiled. The bread itself was soft, fluffy, and decadent.

Chew Steel opted for a Waldorf Salad (upgrade $3) while I chose a Caesar salad. His salad was chockful of apples, candied walnuts, grapes, celery and a sprinkling of arugula. He enjoyed the tang from the Stilton cheese.

My Caesar salad was yummy. Smoky bacon punctuated every bite of the chilled, garlicky lettuce. The leaves were generously coated with a blanket of cheese.

Our server, Alec, a former Red Seal chef, gave us very good recommendations. He suggested adding the Ruby Port Jus ($7) for our steak and a glass of 2021 Giusti, Massimo, Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon ($18) for our meal. I liked the wine’s finish, which disappeared on my tongue. Alec mentioned that the wine’s blueberry notes and acidity would pair well with fatty meats like ribeye.

Alec suggested ordering our ribeye medium, and a beautiful medium it was! The middle slices were ruby red. The outside pieces reminded me a little of yakitori because of the smoky flavour and charred fat.

The beef was so flavourful, but I was impressed with the ruby port. Alec said it took 48 hours to reduce. I never ordered steak with sauces, but it was better with it. I would get the ruby port again.

I upgraded our sides: Black Truffle Double Stuffed Potato ($9) and the Black Truffle Gnocchi ($10). The gnocchi had a nice chew, but I forgot to mix up the sauce, peas and parmesan, so the first few bites were dry.

L said it was the best stuffed potato cheese he’d ever eaten. I liked how the truffle flavouring wasn’t overpowering.

Before dessert, I saw a woman with glazed eyes try to enter the kitchen. The manager, wearing a blue suit, immediately escorted her to the washroom and waited for her outside and then walked her to her table. She looked like she was having a good time.

The New York-style cheesecake was nice and light. The graham crust was thin and had a nice crumble. The berry gel and orange curd provided a nice burst of freshness. The almond florentine was a nice decorative touch.

When we finished our meal, most of the tables had turned. A guest walked in and was brought to the best table in the restaurant, right by the water. L recognized him and mentioned that he was the developer of Westman Village.

I can see why Chairman’s is considered one of the best steakhouses in Calgary. I’m looking forward to my next visit. The Wednesday special is an affordable way to test the waters before splurging on a regular night. Hitting the Sauce gives Chairman’s and Alec two phat thumbs up.

Restaurants · Special Occasion · Steakhouse

Opal Restaurant – Azuridge Estate Hotel

November 5, 2023April 29, 2026 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

It was my mother-in-law’s birthday, so her husband, Bobbino, took us out to Opal Restaurant at Azuridge Estate Hotel. It’s a beautiful spot located in the foothills. We sat next to the crackling fireplace and enjoyed watching the sunset through the floor-to-ceiling windows. For this post, let’s listen to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” by Stevie Wonder.

Bobbino told me to pick out the wine. I wanted to avoid racketing up a hefty bill, as he was treating us to dinner, so I selected Pardon & Fils Beaujolais-Villages Gamay ($56), a fresh and fruity Beaujolais. Bobbino enjoyed this wine so much that he ordered a second bottle.

Our server Carly opened the bottle, poured me a little to taste, and handed me the cork. No one has even given me the cork after opening a bottle of wine, so when I went home, I looked it up found out it’s an old tradition. I thought it would be funny when the next time Lululemon comes over, I repeat the ritual, so she knows I’m not serving some faux wine.

Carly came around with an amuse bouche, a hot, crunchy arancini. The shell’s inside was creamy and cheesy, which popped nicely against the bright tomato sauce.

We shared the charcuterie plate ($42), and our eyes popped out when it was delivered to our table. The platter was piled high with cured meats, cheeses, pepper jam, dried fruits and nuts.

Before our mains, Carly brought a palate cleanser and a scoop of passionfruit sorbet, served on a plaque of ice. L admired the clarity of the ice, noting there were no bubbles. G’Mah’s ice platter was more elaborate than ours, as it was imprinted with a happy birthday message. G’Mah mentioned it was worth photographing, but L didn’t take the hint and never took a picture.

Everyone but L ordered the lamb duo ($55), even though Carly recommended it over the ribeye ($55). L’s steak was huge, so big I ate almost half of it. Though his steak was tasty, our rack of lamb was phenomenal.

I loved how tender it was, and Bobbino noted there was no gamey flavour. The lamb tasted clean and almost sweet. G’Mah raved about the garden’s fresh carrots and asparagus, while I was impressed with the crispy potatoes and the ultra-fluffy stuffing. The curry hummus was a great addition to the lamb and potatoes. G-Mah reminded Bobbino of the time when he was given some mint jelly with lamb and how he hated it. He winced and said he didn’t want to talk about it. I also do not like to relive bad food memories.

I understand why people bother driving out of the city to experience such a peaceful experience. We spent almost three hours leisurely sipping and dining while gazing at the picturesque view. Thanks, Bobbino, for a wonderful meal, and happy birthday to G-Mah!

If you’re planning a night out, I keep a running list of the best restaurants in Calgary.

Japanese · Seafood · Special Occasion · Steakhouse · Sushi

OMO Teppan & Kitchen: Calgary’s teppanyaki night out

February 19, 2023April 27, 2026 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

I accepted a position in a cool, entirely new (to me) industry! To mark this happy event, L and I went out to celebrate. I wanted to go somewhere fun and boisterous to unleash my glee with gay abandon. I immediately thought of OMO Teppan & Kitchen, located Calgary’s Bridgeland area, near Edmonton Trail NE. For this post, let’s listen to “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony.

OMO specializes in teppanyaki, a cooking style involving a chef who cooks your food on the grill, along with some entertaining displays of fire and knife skills. In Calgary, there are three teppanyaki restaurants, Japanese Village, OMO Teppan and Kitchen and Tobe Teppanyaki Lounge. Japanese Village is the oldest, with a reputation for curt servers and being rushed to finish your meal. Tobe is the newest, located in Deerfoot City. OMO has been around for about five years and has over a thousand glowing Google reviews raving about the fun entertainment.

As we walked in, the most delicious smells wrapped around us. I was surprised that at 5:30 pm, the restaurant was already full of families. Robots zoomed in the background, bringing chefs meats and vegetables. Periodically, a recording of a birthday song would pop up in the background noise. While we sat and waited for our table, we watched a chef delight small kids with tricks and shouts of “party, party!”.

Our server Ari asked our table if we were celebrating a special occasion. I mentioned I accepted a new job. Another person was celebrating a birthday. The other four were a family, and even though they didn’t say so, it looked like they were meeting the daughter’s boyfriend for the first time.

We ordered a Sake Bomb ($9), Asahi ($9), Wagyu Gyoza 5 pcs ($10), Japanese Wagyu Sushi (2 pcs, $25), Brant Lake Wagyu Sushi (2 pcs, $12), New York Steak 6oz ($40) and Rib Eye 10 oz ($58). All the teppanyaki meals include a shrimp appetizer, soup, salad, grilled vegetables, rice and ice cream.

The Wagyu gyoza is worth ordering again. Be careful, as these dumplings are messy. Hot juices would squirt onto the table when I bit into the plump gyoza. The beef tasted rich and intensely flavoured. L noted the liberal amount of spicy chili oil in the meat filling.

The Brandt Lake wagyu nigiri was leaner and had a cleaner flavour profile than Japanese wagyu. Of the two, I prefer Japanese wagyu for its tender, silky texture and deeper flavour. Next time, I would opt for OMO’s number one-selling sushi, the Flying Dragon Roll ($23).

When Chef Kenny arrived at our table, I knew we were in for a treat. First, his sharp eyes cooly assessed our table, taking everything in. Next, he carefully stretched out his muscular, tattooed arms and kindly greeted everyone, customers and staff. Then, he started the show.

Chef Kenny exhibited impressive juggling skills with sharp objects and fire. He fired broccoli pieces into our mouths, flinging each piece with his spatula like a missile. Birthday Boy and his spouse caught it. What a power couple. Even though Chef Kenny had a great aim, both L and I missed; somehow, the broccoli bounced off my mouth. I told L we needed to practice our food-catching skills at home.

Watching Chef Kenny cook the rest of our food was a delight. Birthday Boy was so excited when Chef Kenny generously squirted his beef with a sauce he shouted in encouragement, “Yeahhhh! Yeahhhh!” Wow, he sure likes his sauce! The Father ordered fried rice, and it was neat to see Chef Kenny crack an egg and then toss it back and forth through the air like a hacky sack.

Chef Kenny nailed our food. The vegetables were hot and crunchy from the grill and well seasoned with fresh pepper. L doesn’t like mushrooms, and he even ate them. Part of the magical flavour of the food is the amount of garlic butter Chef Kenny used. He caught my expression when he put a huge chunk of butter on my steak; he reassured me and joked, “Don’t worry – it’s good cholesterol.”

My ribeye was rich and buttery in texture, a perfect medium rare. The New York is less moist and rich than ribeye, but it has a beefier flavour and more of a chew to it. I enjoyed the “magic sauce” side, which tasted like a yummy blend of sesame oil, soy, mustard and mayonnaise. I would get the ribeye and NY steak again, though I might try the filet mignon on my next visit.

Birthday Boy at our table got cake and a song. Ari asked me if I wanted a cake and apologetically informed me that they didn’t have a song to sing for a new job. Instead, Ari offered to take our picture to remember the night.

Throughout the evening, I observed all the staff working as a team to ensure customers were happy and entertained, particularly the children. We also had a genuinely good time and enjoyed the food. Hitting the Sauce gives OMO, Chef Kenny and Ari two phat thumbs up.

Want more like this? Check out my running list of Calgary’s best restaurants, date nights, and cheap eats.

Restaurants · Seafood · Special Occasion · Steakhouse

Ranchmen’s Club: Dinner at a Calgary institution

April 2, 2022April 9, 2026 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

Wonderland and Double 07 invited us to The Ranchmen’s Club for dinner, located in the Beltline / Connaught area. Since I first met Wonderland, she has consistently praised the executive chef, sommelier and staff at Ranchmen’s, so I was curious and excited to go. For this post, let’s listen to the James Bond theme song.

We met in the lobby and then moved into the Samson Lounge for a cocktail. When I sat down by the fireplace, the first thing I noticed was the deer mount. The room itself has a heritage vibe, like the Lougheed House, located across the street. Wonderland told me she often drops by the lounge to play bridge or to read a book.

Double 07 ordered a round of French Cowboys. I found this cocktail delightfully tart and refreshing. I loved how the bubbles fizzled on my tongue. Before I knew it, Double 07 told us it was time to go for dinner in the Mary Dover room, and we could bring our cocktails inside. Before finishing his sentence, I had already gulped my drink down. L has been trying to break that bad habit of mine since we met. Good luck with that, L.

I wasn’t expecting to dine in a private room, making the dining experience more intimate. We started with small cubes of cheddar cheese and French bread. The bread innards were silky, and the crust was chewy and flaky. Wonderland received gluten-free bread, as the staff are familiar with her dietary restrictions. Wonderland mentioned the cheddar was either two or three years old. L liked the intense, nutty flavour. I enjoyed the cheese, but I would have been content with the bread and butter because the bread was that good.

Double 07 picked out fantastic champagne. Wowee! The bubbles were tiny, with a soft, mellow flavour. I thought this champagne was really something special.

I ordered what the maître d’ recommended – the Caesar Salad, AAA Tenderloin Steak, and the Crab Hasselback Potatoes.

L and Double 07 picked Foie Gras and the Roast Duck Breast, and Wonderland ordered Oysters and the Rack of Lamb.

The lettuce in my salad was crisp and cold, with none of the bitterness I usually find in romaine leaves. I enjoyed the saltiness and softness of the whole sardines and the balanced flavour of the dressing. I thought Ranchmen’s makes a better Caesar than Caesar’s Steakhouse, which was previously my gold standard.

The red wine Double 07 picked out was phenomenal. The smell was so beautiful. I could sniff this wine all night long. The wine was smoky, smooth, with no sweetness to it. I was glad I was sitting down, or I would have been swooning from sheer ecstasy.

The knife crackling through the salty, charbroiled steak sent shivers down my spine. The texture of the meat was so luxuriously tender that I almost wept from the sheer bliss. I’m not exaggerating. I was quiet the entire time I ate, just marvelling at the pairing of the wine with the beef and the sweetness of the tomatoes and the crunch of the pickled onions. I grow my tomatoes, and even when I pick them at the optimal ripeness, they don’t taste this good.

I requested the bearnaise sauce as Wonderland recommended, but I didn’t have to choose, as I received the peppercorn Armagnac and the bearnaise sauce for my steak. The peppercorn and bearnaise added this rich, hot layer of flavour that coated the beef. The Hasselback potatoes were buttery and soft, topped with generous amounts of sweet, flaky crab.

Double 07 picked a 13-year-old dessert wine. The fragrance of the wine was earthy, like a garden in the morning. I’ve never smelled anything like this.

L picked the Spiced Meringue for dessert. The chef split L’s portion in half so I could sample it. I tasted a little clove in the spices. I thought the sour cherry granite nicely balanced the sweetness of the walnut nougatine. I loved the crumbly bits that melted in my mouth. My favourite component of the dessert was the rich smoothness of the birch creameaux.

This meal was something I could never prepare at home. I wouldn’t even know where to get these ingredients, let alone find the wines. What was different about this meal was that I didn’t get tunnel vision like I usually do. There wasn’t one dish that overshadowed another item. Every component worked well together, so I enjoyed the entire progression of the meal.

When I thanked our generous hosts for such an extravagant meal, I mentioned I didn’t know what to do when they came to our place for the next get-together. Wonderland genuinely stated that this was not a competition. I said that was good because there was no way I could ever top the chef’s talent or the sommelier’s skill. I’ll have to think of something special for when Wonderland and Double 07 come over for dinner. Perhaps I’ll have to enlist some professional help.

I ate my breakfast and mid-morning snack the next day. I usually enjoy my chicken and green onion congee and local boiled eggs with cracked pepper and salt. However, the morning after such as epic feast, I have to say my food did not taste as good as it usually does. Hopefully, my tastebuds will revert to their old self, or I will have to do some real soul searching. Thank you, Double 07 and Wonderland, for the excellent company and hospitality.