After building a following as a pop-up, Francine’s has settled into a permanent Chinatown space with a spirited, French-inspired approach.
An intimate tavern-style bar for shareable dishes, polished drinks and an easy shift from daytime dining to lively evenings.
Photo Credit: Dongbu Kim
Francine’s
Chef Garrett Martin and business partner Nate Wry, both alumni of Concorde Group’s hospitality portfolio, bring us Francine’s, a lively bar with French sensibility located in Calgary’s Chinatown. Martin previously oversaw kitchens including Major Tom, Barbarella, Model Milk, Pigeonhole and Sky 360, while Wry refined his classic-minded cocktail style in Calgary, Amsterdam and London. What began as a pop-up inside Meat & Bread quickly built a following before moving into a permanent, brick-lined room of its own. franThe menu leans into the playful and sharable, featuring steak frites, lobster rolls, ham and chips and crêpes, paired with martinis, thoughtful wines and strong non-alcoholic options. Working alongside Martin to execute the vision are Head Chef Laetitia Chrapchynski and Sous Chef Jordan Anderson, while General Manager Tamae Schafer coordinates the hospitality team. More bar than bistro, the space shifts easily from bright daytime lunches to candlelit evenings with disco-inspired music and a steady neighbourhood buzz.
Francine’s | 306 Centre St. S. | francines.ca
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