Wildwood Grill & Brewing Company
(Canadian Cuisine with flair)
So here we are, the start of a new year, summer is almost done and it’s time to tell you about another fabulous Calgary restaurant. This time we will be dining at the Wildwood Grill, which is part of The Creative Restaurant Group. Now before I go any further, you need to know that this is by far my favourite place to dine in Calgary! Whether it is atmosphere, service or sheer enjoyment of the food, I make no apologies for the raves that follow! If you’ve never eaten here, shame on you, get out there and enjoy some of the best food you will ever taste.
The Wildwood Grill is located at 2417 4th street SW in what many of us remember as the old Franz’s Gausthouse building however there the similarity ends. These days, the south wall of the building is all windows opening out onto a trellis-covered patio set back from the bustle of 4th street. Things have changed inside as well with a high open beam ceiling and a central stone fireplace with a semi private room behind. The main space is open with a rustic wood floor, copper insert tables and a kitchen/bar along one wall to allow you to watch your meals being prepared. The atmosphere is both cosy and buoyant as you are surrounded by the noise of the kitchen plus the bustle of the space itself. One warning, turn off your cell as they are not allowed however you can forward it to the main number for important calls.
Now the food, just go eat! Okay that’s not enough information so I’ll give you a sample of what awaits. We started with two of our favourites, the Carmen Creek Bison Carpaccio plus Tuna and Bacon. The first is a Bison Carpaccio served with fresh horseradish, shaved parmesan and garlic crostini while the second is seared Ahi Tuna wrapped in double smoked bacon on a red lentil stew with crispy shoestring potatoes. If these two don’t appeal I would suggest either the Brie Pockets or the Wood Oven Baked Prawns, which always tempt the pallet. Following our appetizers, we chose our entrees and for once broke with tradition and went with the daily specials. Our first pick was the Wood Oven Roasted Sea Bass served with Texana rice risotto, fresh vegetables & Tapenade with braised fennel. The second entrée was a Charbroiled Elk Rib Eye served with scalloped potatoes, fresh vegetables and a rosemary peppercorn jus. Both dishes were fabulous however if you go and it is on the menu, order the Caribou Scaloppini for a dish that you won’t soon forget!
Now because every great meal needs great wine, the list at Wildwood won’t disappoint. There is something for everyone from the subtle to the robust. To go with our meal, we chose a ‘98 Bodegas Alion, which is a full-bodied red from the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. Don’t be afraid to pick a wine with some punch as you want it to complement the meal and not be a watered down after thought.
To finish the evening, we felt there was enough room to share dessert, which in this case was Roasted Macadamia Nut Chocolate Cake with a white chocolate and raspberry swirl ice cream finished with Kahlua fudge sauce. With this, we included a glass of ‘97 late-bottled Vintage Taylor Fladgate port, plus a glass of Essensia, a Californian Orange Muscat and with that, a fantastic meal was finished.
Remember I said at the start, this is my favourite establishment in Calgary and if you go I hope you enjoy it as well. Look for some new twists this year as we go forward. As always I can be reached at sgourmet@telus.net for questions or comments.
Wildwood Grill & Brewing Company
(Canadian Cuisine with flair)
2417 - 4th Street SW
(403) 228-0100
www.wildwoodgrill.ca
Food *****
Service *****
Price $14.00- $36.00
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