"James Waters cooks a coast-to-coast Canadian menu on Stephen Avenue — the 22-dollar seared beef skillet alone earns the downtown-Calgary table."
About Klein / Harris
Most Canadian cities treat their own cuisine as an afterthought; Klein / Harris built a downtown Calgary restaurant entirely around it. Opened in 2016 on the pedestrian stretch of Stephen Avenue at 110 8 Avenue SW, it runs a menu that travels coast to coast under executive chef James Waters — British Columbia mushrooms, Maritime oysters, prairie beef. The dish that defines it is the seared beef skillet, a $22 homage to Calgary ginger beef that arrives sizzling in a cast-iron pan. OpenTable diners voted it a Diners' Choice in 2023, and it checks our seven signs of a great restaurant.
The Kitchen
Executive chef James Waters frames the Klein / Harris menu as a journey from west to east — a deliberate tour of Canadian larders rather than a single regional style. The result is coast-to-coast Canadiana: wild seasonal mushrooms from British Columbia, fresh oysters from the Maritimes, black Angus from the prairies, and smoked salmon crudo that nods to the Pacific.
The standout is the seared beef skillet, Waters's $22 tribute to the ginger beef that Calgary effectively invented — it arrives in a cast-iron pan with a bubbling ginger syrup, shaved carrot, peppers and dehydrated ginger, sizzling at the table. Around it the kitchen runs fresh ravioli, candied pork belly with maple butter, and a black Angus striploin with garlic-soy mushrooms, with mains generally landing between $20 and $40. The bar matters too: the K/H Caesar, built on a chilled celery-and-clam broth with Eau Claire Distillery gin, is a local signature. The dated proof is the 2023 OpenTable Diners' Choice, but the better evidence is a downtown room that has stayed busy on an idea — serious Canadian cuisine — most cities never attempt.
The Room
The room sits in a heritage building on the pedestrianised part of Stephen Avenue, all exposed brick and warm wood — comfortable and grown-up without tipping into formal. It works as easily for a downtown business lunch as for an evening out, with a proper bar up front and tables spaced for conversation. Dress is smart-casual, the kind of place a suit and an open collar both look right. It is closed Sundays and Mondays, so plan midweek or a Friday, when the after-work crowd fills the bar.
Best for a Downtown Business Lunch
Book Klein / Harris for a business lunch because it sits in the middle of Stephen Avenue, cooks fast and confidently, and the all-Canadian menu gives visiting clients something to talk about that is not another steakhouse. The room is quiet enough to hear a deal across the table and the seared beef skillet makes a memorable centrepiece without dragging a midday meeting past the hour. See the best restaurants for a business lunch, the first-date tables, and our fine-dining guide.
Not for
Not for a late Sunday or Monday plan — the restaurant is closed both days, so anyone counting on a weekend wind-down dinner at the start of the week will find the doors shut.
Frequently Asked
Is Klein / Harris worth it?
Yes — it is one of the few restaurants anywhere built entirely around Canadian cuisine, and chef James Waters cooks it with real intent. The seared beef skillet at $22 is a genuine signature, mains stay fair at $20 to $40, and the 2023 OpenTable Diners' Choice reflects how consistent it is. For a downtown Calgary table with a point of view, it delivers. See the Calgary dining guide.
What should I order at Klein / Harris?
The seared beef skillet — chef Waters's $22 homage to Calgary ginger beef, served sizzling in a cast-iron pan — is the must-order. From there, the candied pork belly with maple butter, the black Angus striploin with garlic-soy mushrooms, and the Maritime oysters show the coast-to-coast range. Pair it with the K/H Caesar, the bar's celery-and-clam-broth signature.
Where is Klein / Harris in Calgary?
Klein / Harris is at 110 8 Avenue SW, on the pedestrianised stretch of Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary, in a heritage building of exposed brick and warm wood. It is central to the business district, which is part of why it works so well for lunch. The Calgary dining guide lists it among the city's best.
How much does dinner at Klein / Harris cost?
Mains generally run $20 to $40, with the signature seared beef skillet at $22 and shareable starters and oysters adding to the bill. Figure on roughly $50 to $80 a head for a few courses before drinks, which is fair for a downtown room of this quality. Lunch is the value play if you want the kitchen at a gentler price.
When is Klein / Harris open?
Klein / Harris is open Tuesday through Saturday and closed on Sundays and Mondays, serving lunch and dinner midweek and dinner-focused service later in the week. Because it is a downtown room popular with the after-work crowd, Friday evenings and the lunch rush fill quickly, so book ahead by phone on +1 403 262 8100 or online.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Klein / Harris
Via OpenTable · or call +1 403 262 8100
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address110 8 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1B3
NeighbourhoodStephen Avenue, downtown
CuisineCoast-to-coast Canadian
Mains$20–$40 · seared beef skillet $22
Signature dishSeared beef skillet (ginger-beef homage)
Dress codeSmart-casual
HoursTue–Sat · closed Sun & Mon
RecognitionOpenTable Diners' Choice 2023
ChefJames Waters (executive chef)
