Dinner at or near the Airport

[annasuave]

My mom is flying to town for one day next week. She's got few hours to have dinner with me and my sister.

Where's a good place to take our mom for dinner that's either at or near the airport? We are talking about the woman who gave us life, so money is no object.

We want to be close by so we don't have to rush her to airport at the last second. Mom and two daughters - we'll be talking up a storm and need some place relatively quiet. Time with our mom is precious, so we don't want spend any of it fending off lonely travellers. (Our mom's a hottie - so yeah - its an issue.)

Any suggestions?

[Bigtime]

At the airport itself you have the Montana's right in the terminal. Nearby you have the Cactus Club on Barlow south of McKnight, at Barlow and 32nd Ave. you have Joey Tomato's and Earls. Moxie's at the Holiday Inn at McKnight and Barlow.

I think there are a couple of restaurants up at the hotels north of the airport on Barlow there, but not sure about them.

[Bane]

Now that Barlow is closed by the airport, there isn't really anything close by.

[Machi]

There's also 2 restaurants right at the Delta hotel there.. North 51 steakhouse, and Compass.

[Kybosh]

Pacini Pasta & Grill is pretty good just north of the airport on Barlow. They have a bread bar for appetizers.

[The Yen Man]

There's a new italian restaurant just off of Country Hills and Barlow, I think it's call Pacini's or something. If not, there's an Ameci's near Coventry Hills. I'm assuming the portion of Barlow between Country Hills and the airport should still be open right?

[fredr123]

On the northside of the airport there's Pacini's. We ate there when it opened and it was decent. If your mom loves toast, she'll love that place.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by fotze

That sold me. From just your description, sounds like Olive Garden. Perhaps your description is poor?

I like it a lot more than Olive Garden and, boy do I hate Olive Garden.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by fotze

Perhaps your description is poor?

No, I'd say it's pretty accurate. Their "bread bar" is just a couple of loaves of bread and a grill on which to put your bread so you can make it into toast.

I've only been there once, and it was decent, but it didn't really impress me.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by fotze

That sold me. From just your description, sounds like Olive Garden. Perhaps your description is poor?

The entrees we had were pretty good (wife had pasta, I had a pizza) and the kids enjoyed their meal (bunny pizzas ftw). They also served tap water in cool blue bottles.

Their "thing", however, is an endless bread bar. When we were there, they had 3 or 4 different kinds of bread and 4 different kinds of spreads. Basically, you throw your bread on a big grill and make your own toast. Then you finish it off with butter mixed with pesto/garlic/somethingelse all over it.

I think I read the Pacini chain was born in Quebec and chalked a toast bar as yet another nutty thing French people liked far more than the rest of Canada.

[malcolmk14]

Carver's is always excellent. The Cattle Baron is across the street, also decent. Heard good things about Pacini. I've always liked Cactus Club.

But as mentioned above, keep in mind Barlow is now closed and you have to drive around to get to the airport.

[You Need a Thneed]

Yeah, in terms of closeness to the Airport, the stuff around Barlow south of McKnight isn't really close to the airport in terms of driving distance. The closest restaurant outside of the Airport would be Pacini's (sp?). You could go to anything on Country Hills Blvd, anything fairly close to Deerfoot, and it would be about as close as the stuff on Barlow.

[malcolmk14]

Take her to Notable in Bowness, then hop on Stoney Tr -> Deerfoot Tr -> Airport Tr.

[Titan]

This was posted:

Time with our mom is precious, so we don't want spend any of it fending off lonely travellers. (Our mom's a hottie - so yeah - its an issue.)

And this is Fotze's response?

Carver's is pretty good at the Sheraton Cavalier. The table side preparation is really good. Old school steakhouse, but perfectly prepared.

Helpful and to the point of the OP's thread. No lewd double entendres? No offers to host dinner on your lap?

For shame sir. For shame.

[annasuave]

^^
I know, I was surprised too. I'm going to count myself very special indeed to have recieved a gentlemanly response from Fotze, and say thanks.

Looks like either Compass or Pacini's it is. Mother does like toast.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by annasuave

Mother does like toast.

Does she like to make her own toast, without the use of a toaster? If so, she'll be in heaven at Pacini's.

[annasuave]

Originally Posted by getbak

Does she like to make her own toast, without the use of a toaster? If so, she'll be in heaven at Pacini's.

Honestly, you have no idea. Half my childhood was spent crouched in front of a hot oven twirling a peice of bread on a long fork.

[Art Vandelay]

CrossIron Mills Food Court. Only 10 mins north of YYC.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Taco time in the food court.

[Sliver]

That Lebanese place or whatever in Cross Iron Mills is pretty deadly.

Have we seen pics of the hot mom yet?