Chow Down in Cowtown is an (almost!) weekly account of Calgary’s most awesome eats from Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

I was thrilled when B. offered to take me out for brunch yesterday as he lives near the strip on Edmonton Trail that is home to a cluster of delicious breakfast places – Diner Deluxe, Big Fish, AKA Winebar and Over Easy Breakfast, to name a few. But there were a few minor problems: 1) Unlike my friend Tiffany, who always makes sure that we get there at around 10 AM to avoid the brunch rush, B. likes to sleep in a little more and surely by the time we got out the door we would have to stand in line with our stomachs grumbling. 2) Although I wouldn’t mind going to some of the aforementioned places again, B. wanted us to both try something new. So we headed down the hill to a quiet little place called Artisan Bistro.

Artisan Bistro really plays up its European influences – a chalkboard announces the day’s specials while large, purple French doors allow diners to sneak a peek into the kitchen. Each table is set with white tablecloth and a real (!) red rose to complete the classic bistro feel. The food itself is decidedly Spanish – items and ingredients like empanadas, chorizo and dulce de leche feature prominently on the menu, which is a little more expensive than most brunch places in Calgary, with most dishes priced between $10-$17.

I had trouble deciding whether I wanted something sweet (crepes, waffles, even granola!) or savoury (a wide selection of omelettes and sandwiches, plus the aforementioned empanadas and the classic “two eggs any style”), let alone what I wanted to eat. In the end, I decided on the Tarteleta ($13), a roasted vegetable quiche.

The quiche had a flaky, buttery crust and was filled with a light egg-and-cheese mixture loaded with zucchini, mushroom and red pepper. The meal came with a choice of soup and salad; though the salad was a little boring – a pile of romaine with grated carrots on top and sliced tomato and cucumber on the side – I did enjoy the light (buttermilk?) dressing that it came with.

B. had the Athena sandwich ($16.95), which had roasted lamb, caramelized onions, roasted red pepper and a house-made herb aioli. The sandwich came with a choice of two sides – B. chose the salad and pan-roasted potatoes.

I had a bite of the sandwich, which was very rich as it was slathered with aioli and dripping with the sweet caramelized onion. B. shared more of his potatoes with me, which he couldn’t stop raving about – he liked that they were soft and tender, with a touch of crispness on the outside. They were roasted with little bits of garlic that were also on the plate and sprinkled with a bit of salt and pepper. B. swore he tasted a bit of herb in it, but I couldn’t – a touch of parsley maybe? I tend to like my potatoes a little crispier and with a little more herbs, but although I didn’t like the potatoes as much as B. did I ate a lot of them anyway.

The service was pleasant and professional, and our food arrived much quicker than expected, though it should be noted that we were one of two tables dining at the time. I probably won’t be a regular because the food is a little pricey, but I would definitely go back to Artisan Bistro for a classier, quieter brunch.

Artisan Bistro
809 1 Ave NE
Calgary AB T2E 0C2
(403) 263-3727
Open for brunch Wed-Sun 9 AM-3 PM. Open for dinner Fri-Sat 6 PM-10 PM. Kitchen closes 30 minutes before close. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Reservations available (even for brunch!)