CALGARY - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 481

place is a big hit with the lunchtime and after-work crowd, especially the large outdoor
section on summer afternoons.
Across from Joey Tomato's, you'll find M 1886 Buffalo Café (187 Barclay Parade SW,
403/269-9255, 6am-3pm Mon.-Fri., 7am-3pm Sat.-Sun., breakfasts $9-15). Named for the
year it was built, it's at least 100 years older than other buildings in the neighborhood.
This restaurant oozes an authentic Old Calgary ambience. Inexpensive breakfasts attract
the most interesting group of diners, but the place is busy all day. Portions are generous,
coffee refills are free, and when you've finished your meal, ask to see the museum down-
stairs.
Steak
Caesar's Steak House (512 4th Ave. SW, 403/264-1222, 11am-midnight Mon.-Fri.,
4:30pm-midnight Sat., $28-52) opened in 1972 and is still going strong. The elegant room
is decorated in a Roman-style setting with dark woods, leather seating, and dim light-
ing—just what you expect from a steakhouse. Although the menu includes ribs and sea-
food, it's juicy prime cuts of Alberta beef that this place is known for.
Striving hard to be the flashiest steakhouse in town, Saltlik (101 Stephen Ave. Walk,
403/537-1160, lunch and dinner daily, $17-34) stretches the rules when it comes to tradi-
tion—it's big, bold, and brassy, the exact opposite of Caesar's.
Tribune (118 Stephen Ave. Walk, 403/269-3160, 11am-10pm Mon.-Thurs.,
11am-11pm Fri., 4pm-11pm Sat., $19-37) has the same urban-slick setting as Saltlik,
which is right across the road. Prices are similar, and while steak is the big draw, the menu
covers all bases, with mains as simple as tomato penne. The best cuts of Alberta beef with
a side of seasonal vegetables are a reasonable $29.
You don't need to spend a fortune to dig into a juicy steak at Buzzards Restaurant &
Bar (140 10th Ave. SW, 403/264-6959, 11am-11pm Mon.-Fri., 5pm-11pm Sat., $14-28),
easily found by its barn-board porch and the broken-down wagon out front. Choices range
from bison burgers for $14 to elk striploin for $28, and it wouldn't be a complete meal at
Buzzard's without sharing a platter of prairie oyster fritters ($12.50) to start.
Canadian
Thomsons (112 Stephen Ave. Walk, 403/537-4449, 6:30am-1:30pm and 5pm-9:30pm
daily, $22-36) is in a historic sandstone building cleverly integrated with the modern Hyatt
Regency, but it's not aimed at the hotel crowd. First off, the buffet breakfast ($20) is as
good as it gets, with omelets made to order and real maple syrup to douse your pancakes.