A friend of mine came back to Calgary for a short vacation. As a university student studying out of the country, the first thing he asked me was simple: take him out for a meal.
But not just any meal. He wanted the kind of classic, home-cooked food he’s been missing.
That sent us on a hunt for Calgary’s best home-style restaurants, searching for spots that serve comfort on a plate.
If you’re craving that same cozy, familiar taste, here are the restaurants that stood out to us during our search.
How much does home-style food cost in Calgary?
A home-style dish costs from $18 to $30. It still depends on whether it’s a main dish, brunch comfort foods, or sides. Some restaurants also offer shared meals ideal for two or more people, which typically cost from $70.
Table of Contents
1. Cheryl’s Country Kitchen
Address: 532 1 Ave NE, Airdrie
Contact Details: +15872541696
Operating Hours:
- Friday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Cheryl’s Country Kitchen is a cozy restaurant and bar that specialises in hearty, home-cooked meals. From breakfast omelettes to sandwiches and burgers that taste like home, they have it here.
What stood out to us first was their wide range of menu options. They’re complete with appetisers, soups, and salads. Our newly-found favourites, though, are their pizzas. They’ve got pepperoni, BBQ chicken, and even build-your-own pizzas.
We personally liked their chef’s special. The bacon, paired with savoury mushrooms and homemade dough, is just so good.
The other table near us had cheese pizza, and it looked good too. Next time, we’re looking forward to trying their meat lover’s. It’s loaded with ground beef, bacon, and ham, so it must be good.
As for the pricing, it’s very reasonable. A 12” pizza goes for only $19.95, which is perfect for sharing without breaking the bank. On average, you can expect to spend around $10 to $20 per person.
The only thing to take note of is that there may be waiting times, especially during peak hours. But the good news is that they also offer online ordering, so you can still enjoy home-cooked meals without the wait.
Delicious food and helpful server
“Spontaneously dropped into Cheryl’s for our first visit enroute to Calgary, and we’ll DEFINITELY RETURN. What a find! The food was delicious, and our server was very helpful and attentive. The pizza & wings ‘special’ was worth every penny.”
– Mr. Hunterz The, Google Review
Yummy food
“Love Cheryl’s! It’s our favourite place to eat in Airdrie.
Edit: no changes to the review except to mention that we had the personal pizza and wings special tonight, and it was totally worth it! VERY yummy”
– Ms. Stacey Young, Google Review
2. Ten Foot Henry
Address: 1209 1 St SW
Contact Details: +14034755537
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Ten Foot Henry is a well-established restaurant offering fun, family-style dining. They’re an all-day restaurant, which makes them a go-to place for lunches and dinners.
We appreciate that they accept walk-ins since we came here with no reservations. They said that they encourage reservations, but they also welcome walk-ins. We think that it won’t be a problem, though, because they really have a spacious place.
Their broad menu includes salads, pasta, fish, and meat. But since we went there at around 11:45 AM, we went for brunch. The bacon, crispy potatoes, and charred cabbage salad we had were all freshly made—flavourful and very satisfying.
The ambience is nice with good lighting and comfy seating. We also like the indoor plant designs that bring life to the restaurant.
However, the food here is a bit expensive. Prepare at least $40 to $50 per person when dining.
We also found some of their food presentations bland and not that appealing at first sight.
Kind servers and fast service
“I had an absolutely amazing experience. I do think you should go with multiple people so you can share the dishes. I went alone and had the stake all to myself, which was great. The cherry cola cocktail was also delicious. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. The servers were kind and the service was fast. I had a really great time”
– Ms. Satya Cobos, Google Review
Must visit restaurant
“Wonderful lunch at Ten Foot Henry! If you’re in downtown Calgary, I would say this restaurant is a must-visit especially if you are a foodie and want to taste some of the best that Calgary has to offer. Appetisers, food, salad, and drinks were splendid! Was happy to have a chance to try a Chicka Cherry Cola! Service was friendly and the ambiance is bustling with friendly conversation and Canadian hospitality. 5 stars and two thumbs up!”
– Mr. Brian Hah, Google Review
3. Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant
Address: 15979 Bow Bottom Trail SE
Contact Details: +14034761310
Operating Hours:
- Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Friday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant is a unique place we’ve visited. It features Rocky Mountain game meats and, of course, local harvest sourced from farmers.
For us, their ambience is more of a restored historical home. There are old furnishings and intricate designs. It’s more like you’re dining in an antique home, and it’s a unique experience to be honest.
Another thing we like is that they also have outdoor spaces – more like a veranda. Customers love it because there are beautiful, blooming peonies you can stare at while dining.
When it comes to their homemade meals, it doesn’t disappoint. We personally like their eggs Benedict and smoked salmon toast. We also tried their parsley salsa verde, and its tanginess is just right – perfectly balancing the dish.
Their staff are also prompt and made some great suggestions (though we went for other dishes). Customers also agree, saying that their servers are attentive and kind. That makes the experience even more favourable.
Downsides? It’s one of the restaurants that is really expensive. Our average spend is about $50 to $80 per person. A customer also said that they paid $231 for two chicken dishes, a meat dish, and a smoked salmon.
Excellent food and service
“We had such a wonderful experience at Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant. To start, I had the burrata and my partner enjoyed the bison tartare, both were fresh, flavourful, and beautifully presented. For mains, I had the crispy chicken (not quite crispy but still very tasty!) and he had the steak with a scallop, which he loved. We finished with the Horchata Tres Leches, which came out with a candle and birthday message for him – such a thoughtful and special touch.
The drinks and wine were excellent, the service attentive, and the historic house itself is absolutely beautiful. Overall, an outstanding dining experience that made for a memorable birthday celebration. Highly recommend!”
– Ms. Roseanne, Google Review
Fantastic food and service
“I attended my cousin’s wedding here and needless to say everything was amazing. The food was fantastic, staff kind and talkative, the venue absolutely beautiful. I could not have asked for a better venue.”
– Moon Eater, Google Review
4. The Lake House
Address: 747 Lake Bonavista Dr SE
Contact Details: +14032253939
Operating Hours:
- Saturday – Sunday: 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Friday: 11:30 AM – 1:45 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
The Lake House is an award-winning restaurant. It’s also one of the unique places we’ve been with a scenic view of Lake Bonavista.
For their home-style dishes, we love their Rocky Mountain charcuterie. It also comes with their own rye bread, which makes it even more hearty. The rustic flavour that goes with the meat and cheese is perfect.
Aside from that, we ordered their Lake House fish plank. The seafood and fish are house-cured, which gives them a delicate flavour that feels really like home.
Service-wise? Their staff are great and warm. As usual, there are waiting times, but not too much. Also, their place gives more of a romantic vibe. If you’re looking for a good date night place, this is a great pick.
Despite the restaurant’s strengths, there are also some things to take note of. First, their menu is expensive, as it costs at least $80 per person. For us, this is on a very high price point if you’re only craving classic comfort food.
Also, this restaurant hosts private events. A client reported that her reservation was moved due to a private event. The restaurant sent emails to notify the customers, but they ended up in the spam folder. We think that a call is better at times like these.
Wonderful experience
“Wonderful outdoor patio experience, got there before it became too crowded and loved the view of Bonaventure lake beach, great sounds, music was perfect, atmosphere was amazing, and servers were very passionate 😁 would recommend to a friend, 9.8/10, indoor dining area was straight from the set of a culinary movie!!! Love the chandeliers”
– Mr. Maxim Yunev, Google Review
Perfectly-cooked meals
“We enjoyed a terrific meal while enjoying a beautiful sunset over Lake Bonavista.
The Ribeye and Duck Breast were cooked to perfection and the Sticky Toffee Pudding was a sweet delight to end the night.”
– Mr. Vince Y., Google Review
5. Heaven Restaurant Market
Address: 1013 17 Ave SW #119
Contact Details: +14032493037
Operating Hours:
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Monday: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday – Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday – Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Heaven Restaurant Market is a place where they redefine gluten-free dining. They handcrafted meals and cater to people who have dietary restrictions.
To be honest, this one is a nice find because not all restaurants offer such a specialised dining experience. While other restaurants may have gluten-free menus, it’s typically not their focus, unlike Heaven Restaurant Market.
Some of their gluten-free foods include Yucca balls, beef empanadas, and chicken plantain sandwiches. But if we had to pick our favourites, it’d be the quesadillas and tacos.
At first, we’re a bit sceptical about them, but we’re glad we tried them. Both are generously filled and well-seasoned.
The dishes are also well-priced, in general. Two homemade empanadas for $10 is a great deal, and even their most expensive dish is just $25.
We were just surprised by the prices of the cakes. Customers have pointed out the same, saying the cakes feel overpriced compared to the rest of the menu.
Delicious food
“A completely gluten-free menu of Venezuelan food and more. Everything is delicious, I recommend the chicken fingers, arepas, and mini empanadas! The space is cozy and inviting, with lots of plants and a wonderful team of staff. I have brought many people here and they always take such good care of us. They have frozen items to take away and amazing desserts too.”
– Ms. Becca, Google Review
Piece of heaven
“Literally a piece of heaven. I was visiting Calgary and feeling pretty sad about being celiac. Went out with my friends to a restaurant where I couldn’t eat anything… After their meal, they insisted to stop at Heaven so I could eat something and I’m so glad we did. The meal was delicious and I even took alfajores home for dessert. I’m definitely coming back one day to try empanadas! When in Calgary, I know where to eat now.”
– Ms. Natalia, Google Review
