Last winter, I tried a random little “European bistro” I found online during a business trip. The menu claimed to have an “authentic Hungarian goulash,” but what arrived tasted more like Campbell’s soup with a dash of paprika.
Needless to say, finding good European food is hard to come by.
So when I got back to Calgary, I made it a mission to find restaurants I could go to when craving European food. Over the following months, I visited a range of restaurants across the city, from cozy family-run kitchens to fine dining spots.
After plenty of forkfuls, here are the spots where Calgary’s European kitchens are doing it right.
How much does it cost to get European food at a restaurant in Calgary?
It costs at least $10 to get European food at a restaurant in Calgary. This price is just an estimate. The actual cost will depend on the restaurant and what you order.
Table of Contents
1. Cleaver on 17th
Address: 524 17 Ave SW #102
Contact Details: +14034521211
Operating Hours:
- Monday & Tuesday – 4 PM to 11 PM
- Wednesday & Thursday – 4 PM to 12 AM
- Friday & Saturday – 12 PM to 2 AM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 11 PM
Cleaver on 17th has a happy hour that runs all day Sunday through Thursday. I’ve gone a few times and have enjoyed several drinks and appetizers that hit the spot when I don’t plan on splurging too much.
But when it comes to their actual menu, I enjoy their stuffed chicken breast. Bacon-wrapped and oozing with herb-flecked cream cheese, it sits atop a garlic mash that leaves me wanting seconds. The red wine thyme jus ties it all together.
For those who want something lighter, I’d recommend their Rainbow Trout. People love the way the pan-seared skin tastes exactly like the lemon-garlic butter that pools into the creamy mash beneath.
Even the Prime Beef Carpaccio is a good choice. Many rave about the tissue-thin slices that absorb the peppery arugula flavours and truffle-lemon drizzle.
The only real complaint I have is that while the live music is stellar, it does get a bit loud. It’s hard to have conversations over the music.
The food was amazing
“Absolutely fantastic experience! The 17th Avenue vibe here is unbeatable, and the food was amazing. Every dish we tried was cooked to perfection—full of flavor and truly memorable. A special shoutout to our server, Haseena, who was so sweet and attentive throughout the night. She really made the experience even better. From the food to the service to the atmosphere, everything was spot on. Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for amazing food and a great night out!”
- Manni D Google Reviews
The staff made the dinner very enjoyable
“Was looking at trying something new, and decided to give Cleaver a try and was happy I did. I was greeted as soon as I went inside and had a seat at the bar. It had a nice rustic look inside and with summer here, they also had a set of tables outside on the patio. The staff, Christian, Katerina, and Taylor, made my stay exceptional. I had ordered a non-alcoholic mojito to start and Taylor had not made one before and gave it a go, after an amusing few tries, she got better at it. Christian made one for me and it was perfect. Katerina was new and she exuded so much positive energy and had this beaming smile that can light the room.I ordered the bruschetta to start and it was very good, had really nice flavors to it. I had the wild salmon as my main and it was just a touch over-cooked for my taste. Katerina recommended the sticky toffee for dessert, and it was a nice touch to end the evening.Overall, the staff made the dinner very enjoyable and I would try it again to see how the other dishes are.”
- Tony W Google Reviews
2. Wiener Schnitzel Haus
Address: 1-4703 Bowness Rd NW
Contact Details: +14032882230
Operating Hours: Thursday to Saturday – 5 PM to 9 PM
Wiener Schnitzel Haus grabbed my attention with its schnitzel and strudel. After my meal, I’m now convinced every meal should end with a flaky, sugar-dusted encore.
They have a few different schnitzels on the menu, but I had to try the Alpen Schnitzel. Stuffed with nutty Emmental and draped in smoky bacon, it’s the kind of indulgence that makes calorie-counting feel blasphemous.
The schnitzels are also enormous – my Alpen could’ve fed two, but pride (and melted cheese) made me finish it.
The kartoffelpfanne’s hearty sausage-and-potato fry-up, which I also ordered, arrived sizzling in its cast-iron pan. I enjoyed the crispiness of the potatoes and the filling sausages.
The Traditional Strudel arrived last, with tart apples laced with cinnamon and plump raisins.
What’s also neat about this place is that they sell food you can take to cook at home. I ended up grabbing a bag of their haus-made Spätzle – pillowy, golden, and sold by the bag.
My only complaint? The staff took forever to come around and refill my drink.
The most authentic Schnitzel
“I had the absolute pleasure of dining in last night, & just like every other time, it was nothing short of amazing. The food is beyond delicious & the most authentic Schnitzel I’ve come across in Calgary! Honestly, I wouldn’t know what dish to recommend because everything I’ve tried, I would go back for over & over again.
Thank you for creating such a cozy, welcoming space & for always making the experience so memorable🤍 You are truly appreciated!”
The food was perfect not only in taste but in portion size
“By far my favorite restaurant experience I’ve ever had! My girlfriend and I went there for the first time yesterday for a belated birthday, and haven’t been able to stop talking about how nice the dinner was for the entire next day. The hostess was the absolute kindest (even gave us two beers to take home as a birthday present!), the food was perfect not only in taste but in portion size, the beer was great, and the dessert made in house, itself flawless. I’ve never felt more welcome my first time trying a new place to eat. Anytime I ever need a place to celebrate, mark a special occasion, or to find delicious schnitzel just because I want it, I will 100% be going back. Couldn’t recommend enough.”
- Larson Scullion Google Reviews
3. Flora Euro Kitchen
Address: 14919 Deer Ridge Dr SE #119
Contact Details: +15873292448
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 4:30 PM to 9 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 12 PM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 6 PM
Flora Euro Kitchen serves paella that’s worth the wait—and the hype.
The moment you step inside, the kitchen steals the show. Chefs tend to pans the size of hubcaps, and smoke curls off the sizzling chorizo.
I ordered the chicken and chorizo paella, and it arrived still audibly crackling. The rice had a golden crust (they call it socarrat), which added a toasty crunch that balanced the tender chicken and smoky sausage. No soggy bites here—this paella meant business.
But the real star? The Black Rice Paella. It’s dyed jet-black with squid ink and dotted with fat mussels. It tasted like the best parts of a seafood boil—salty, briny, and brightened by lemon aioli.
While the paellas did take 45 minutes to be served, I didn’t sit there starving.
I snacked on Mititei sausages—garlicky, coarse-ground links with a Balkan kick. Drag them through the sharp mustard on the side, and you’ve got a snack that could outshine a pretzel at a beer garden.
Others told me that the Hungarian goulash is delicious. The shredded beef comes simmering in a paprika-heavy broth, served over buttery spaetzle noodles.
This is as authentic as you can get
“We stopped by for lunch and the food was amazing. The main highlight for us was the paella for 2 – it was a huge portion and I think you can split it between 3 or 4 people even. They were not stingy with the seafood (plenty of shrimp and fish) and the flavour was phenomenal. It had the Spanish seafood taste without being fishy. I think this is as authentic as you can get in Alberta. Amongst their Mediterranean fare, they also have a few Romanian specialties which is nice to see, so there’s something for everyone here.”
- Ivy H Google Reviews
Did not disappoint, it is so good
“I suddenly had cravings for paella, which I haven’t had for years. So, I googled best Spanish paella in Calgary, and saw good reviews for this restaurant. Checked website photos, and menu, and yeah looks appetizing!! Went on a Sunday early dinner and an hour before closing, 6 pm!! So i called and asked if i can pre-order as they have a heads up at the website that it is a 45 min wait for paella, they were nice to take a preorder as i am on my way with my aunt and uncle. When we came, the people were friendly and I advised that I called 20 mins earlier for the paella. To cut the story short, for appetizer we ordered calamari and for soup we tried the salmon soup. We waited for 15 mins and the calamari came. The tenderness is good tasty! Not fan of the dip but its ok the calamari itself is good. Next came the salmon soup, its good too! Finally the chicken and chorizo, the highlight of dinner. Did not disappoint, it is so good, menu said its for 2 people, but there’s 3 of us, and its more than enough. I had take home for lunch still!! Great food, great service!! We will try the seafood paella next time! 5 stars!! Thanks The Flora, another good restaurant to comeback to!! 👍👌”
- Onai Reyes Google Reviews
4. DOPO
Address: 1907 34 Ave SW #10, Calgary, AB T2T 2C2, Canada
Contact Details: +15873492656
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, Saturday, Sunday – 4 PM to 10 PM
- Friday – 4 PM to 11 PM
DOPO doesn’t mess around with reservations—they open tables exactly 30 days out. Therefore, it’s recommended to book a meal here well in advance. But after one meal, I can say it’s worth the extra hassle.
The ricola carpaccio made me pause mid-bite. The slices of hamachi came melted under toasted almonds, and that bright lemon oil zipped across my tongue. It was a dish that had me expressing my gratitude to the chef.
Then came the calamari, which was fried just right, and the squid wasn’t too chewy either. It came stuffed with spicy nduja sausage. Each piece paired well with the sweet tomato sauce and tangy pickled peppers on the side. My lips tingled—in a good way.
Other diners recommend the pollo arrosto. Apparently, the half-chicken’s skin soaks up all the flavours of the marsala wine and mushrooms.
The Vitello Milanese is another crowd favourite. Saffron butter pools around charred Brussels sprouts and salty capers, while freshly grated horseradish punches through the richness.
The service was attentive
“This hidden gem offer a unique experience for an Italian dinning. I’ve visited a ton of Italian restaurants, but I think what sets them apart for me is that the meal/menu is more intentional and targeted. The service was attentive as well. The highlight of my dinning experience was the pasta I had (can’t recall the name, but I will remember the taste forever!) every bite felt like a burst of great flavour. To add the cherry on top, they gave us an anniversary card signed by the DOPO team – very thoughtful! Will I be back to dine again? Absolutely, yes!”
- Serendipity Google Reviews
Everything was excellent!
“Our first visit to their new location and everything was excellent! We had the whipped ricotta and bread, the meatballs, the olives (a must and a throwback to Vanderfels), the vodka gnocchi and the asparagus triangoli. Everything was the best version of that item we have had in the city. Our servers were also fantastic and very on it all night. My only regret was filling up so much on mains that we had no room for desert.”
- Sara Google Reviews
5. Marko’s Kitchen
Address: 5708 1st St SE #1
Contact Details: +14032528328
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 11 AM to 9 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 11 AM to 11 PM
- Sunday – 11 AM to 5 PM
Marko’s Kitchen hooked me the moment I bit into their Marko’s Roll. That flaky, golden crust gave way to a steaming mix of spiced beef and caramelized onions.
I loved the homemade cheese dip, as it was cool and tangy. I admit I shamelessly double-dipped.
What really won me over was the pork schnitzel. The presentation was on point, and it tasted legit. It was pounded thin and fried to a perfect crunch. The heap of fresh cabbage slaw on the side was bright and zesty.
A few regular diners here also bragged about the BBQ platter. Diners love that the smoked pork loin melts like butter, and the garlicky sausages are charred just enough that many forget to share.
The only gripe? A few people complained about the greasiness of the BBQ meats. People who had to pack leftovers said they could literally see the grease staining the takeout box.
Fairly quick to get our food
“It was fairly quick to get our food and order taken. It is a casual restaurant and he said there is usually live music but not when I went. Out of the dishes we tried , cabbage rolls were the best flavour and they had meat or vegan option. I found the smoked peppers to be quite bland , big portion but for $19 it was mainly plain mashed potato and beans.”
- Rachel Keery Google Reviews
The food was delicious
“My husband recently celebrated his birthday at Marko’s Kitchen, and we couldn’t have chosen a better spot. We had a big group, including several excited young children, and the staff was so accommodating and welcoming. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere, and the food was delicious—fresh, homemade, and healthy. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a warm dining experience with great food!”
- Lisa Wong Google Reviews
