Edmonton Trail may not be the most likely restaurant hotspot in the city. It’s a busy road running north of the Bow River and not particularly known as a pedestrian-heavy area like other restaurant rows in communities like Victoria Park or The Beltline. Surprisingly, however, the stretch of road just north of Bridgeland is holding its own as a place to find some of Calgary’s best and most exciting eats. The latest to emerge is Le Charme, a lovely little French Bistro that fits in seamlessly beside buzz-worthy spots like the nearby Bar Gigi and award-winning Pizza Culture.
The Alberta Rainbow Trout at Le Charme restaurant and bar on Edmonton Trail N.E. was photographed on October 22, 2025.Gavin Young/Postmedia
Le Charme’s location will be familiar to regular restaurant goers — from the outside, at least. The restaurant sits in the original Diner Deluxe location, where many a Calgarian has enjoyed a deliciously greasy brunch over the years. Inside, owner Matt Drummond meticulously cleared out and rebuilt the little restaurant space, transforming it into a chic neighbourhood bistro complete with exposed brick, warm wood details, and vintage curiosities scattered throughout. The centrepiece is a long red bar that looks like it has sat in the room for the better part of a half century, even though Drummond built it himself just a few months ago.
The Lemon Ricotta and Spinach Cappelletti at Le Charme restaurant and bar on Edmonton Trail N.E. was photographed on October 22, 2025.Gavin Young/Postmedia
“I wanted a lived-in timeless kind of look,” Drummond says. “Dark wood, burgundy, and brass accents.”
The cozy and welcoming room is perfect for a fall meal (though there is a big patio for the warmer months) encapsulating the hospitality-rich feeling Drummond took pains to create. Drummond has been kicking around the Calgary restaurant industry for some time, having previously worked with the Concorde Group and most recently as a partner at the Umbrella Group, which oversees Rooftop and Brix and Barrel. Still, he yearned to have a smaller more intimate place that reflected his personality, so he rounded up his brother to help to make Le Charme happen, even bringing in their mom to help out with the front of house. Of course, the food needed to be just right to make Le Charme work, and Drummond hired Nils Schneider, an accomplished pastry and savoury chef, to run the kitchen.
The interior of the recently opened Le Charme restaurant and bar on Edmonton Trail N.E. was photographed on October 22, 2025.Gavin Young/Postmedia
Le Charme’s menu is small but focused. While the name strongly suggests French cuisine, Drummond says he doesn’t want people to come in expecting a formal French dining experience.
“We’re not a French restaurant,” he says. “We’re French-inspired with a Western approachability where you can come here on a beautiful date night, or you can come with friends and just have some beers.”
Schneider keeps his menu tight, with a list of only a handful of mains and a slightly larger selection of indulgent small plates. Putting his skills to use, Schneider has created early signatures like a showstopper pâté en croute (layers of meat and aspic encased in pastry) served with homemade mustard ($16), coquilles St. Jacques (creamy scallops) presented in a pretty shell ($18) and irresistible biscuits sprinkled with smoked salt ($10). The entrees are hearty and comforting with options including bucatini covered in duck Bolognese ($26), pork schnitzel in brown butter caper sauce ($28) and an ultra-crispy Alberta rainbow trout perched atop seasonal veggies and tangy dill beurre blanc ($36).
Drummond maintains a similarly small but mighty (and relatively affordable) drink list, with a curated list of cocktails, beer, and rotating wines.
The Pork Schnitzel with spinach spatula and brown butter caper sauce at Le Charme restaurant and bar on Edmonton Trail N.E. was photographed on October 22, 2025.Gavin Young/Postmedia
As for the legacy of the space, don’t fear — after years of Edmonton Trail being known as Calgary’s unofficial brunch district, Drummond isn’t about to break with that history of mid-day indulgence. Look for brunch service to start at Le Charme in the coming months, once the restaurant has a chance to settle into the neighbourhood.
Le Charme is located at 804 Edmonton Trail N.E. and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 3 pm onward. The restaurant can be reached at 587-577-4026 or through lecharme.ca.
The Coquilles St. Jacques at Le Charme restaurant and bar on Edmonton Trail N.E. was photographed on October 22, 2025.Gavin Young/Postmedia
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In other restaurant news, the regional qualifying rounds for the Canadian Culinary Championships are currently happening around the country as part of a series of Canada’s Great Kitchen Party events. The Calgary event is set to take place this Wednesday, Oct. 29 at the Telus Convention Centre. In addition to the competition — and samples from each competing chef — attendees will be able to enjoy wine pairings, live music, and a chance to participate in the organization’s charitable endeavours.
This year’s lineup of chefs vying for the chance to represent Calgary in the finals this January is a strong one. Competitors include Joshua Dyer of The Wilde, Alforno’s Errin Massolin, Jenny Kang from Orchard, Rouge’s Dean Fast, Eden Hrabec of Crazyweed in Canmore, Tracy Little of Sauvage (also in Canmore), Ryuko’s Jun Young Park, and MacKenzie Pavka from Bridgette Bar. For more information on the event, visit greatkitchenparty.com.
Elizabeth Chorney-Booth can be reached at elizabooth@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram at @elizabooth or sign up for her newsletter at hungrycalgary.substack.com.
Dining and Cooking