Charcut Roast House

Evolving Simple Ingredients

A Calgary-favourite place to eat, drink and gather.
Serving award winning, local, chef-driven,
urban-rustic cuisine.

Pioneering Alberta’s Urban-Rustic Food Scene

Led by co-chefs and co-owners John Jackson and Connie DeSousa, CHARCUT Roast House is one of Canada’s most lauded restaurants.

The restaurant’s every detail – from the reclaimed local barn wood panelling to the mason jar chandeliers – transports the authenticity and soul of local, farm-fresh producers and their flavourful ingredients to downtown’s most energetic restaurant and bar. 

With house butchered meats, homemade preserves, seasonal menus, thoughtfully created cocktails, local craft beers, and a bustling open kitchen, Jackson, DeSousa and CHARCUT are helping put Calgary on the world’s culinary map.

Central and Stylish

Located downtown near the Calgary Tower, CHARCUT calls the contemporary Le Germain building home. Inviting interiors feature reclaimed barn wood accents and original local art.

Community Minded

CHARCUT supports local charity though its partnerships and pop-up restaurants.  It brings global chefs together to collaborate and mentors a service-driven, quality conscious team.

Award Winning

Upon opening CHARCUT was named to Canada’s top 10 new restaurants by enRoute Magazine. The restaurant gains consistent high acclaim today.

The Backstory

More about CHARCUT

The Name
CHARCUT Roast House creates an inviting, memorable gathering place with high energy and spontaneity. The name reflects the influences of urban rustic cuisine: CHAR for the custom built rotisserie and charbroiler and CUT for the featured vintage-style slicer and hand-crafted charcuterie eating bar.

The Food
CHARCUT’s style of food is best described as local chef-driven cuisine, with Italian and Country French accents. In creating menus, our goal is to continue to evolve simple ingredients. Ingredients are sourced from small, local artisan farmers and ranchers, with herbs harvested daily from our own garden, minimizing the miles food travels. We like to know the first names of the people whose products we serve.

The Drinks
CHARCUT focuses great attention to detail on the quality of beverages served alongside the food. Ever-evolving wine and craft and cellar beer lists feature many small productions, rare finds and exciting New World varieties. The bar showcases back-to-basics style cocktails, handcrafted with organic ingredients, freshly squeezed juices and premium, small-production spirits.

The Team Approach
The CHARCUT kitchen is led by Co-Executive Chefs, Jackson and DeSousa.  Their co-chef approach to food philosophy, menu creation and execution is drawing attention, accolades and a loyal following from casual diners to the toughest critics. Only together could these global culinary adventurers and proven trend cultivators create one of Canada’s most lauded restaurants.  

The Recognition
Opening in February 2010 to national acclaim, CHARCUT appeared on enRoute Magazine’s coveted ‘Top Ten New Restaurants’ list later that same year. In 2012, the restaurant was honoured by Maclean’s Magazine as one of Canada’s top 50 restaurants. The owners were awarded the top Canadian independent restaurateurs award by FoodService and Hospitality magazine, received Top 40 Under 40 designation by Avenue Magazine and Top Chefs under 40 by Western Living Magazine. They were named as one of the top five restaurants in Canada by Vacay.ca in 2013.  Also in 2013, the CHARCUT owners received Tourism Calgary’s prestigious White Hat Award.  DeSousa was a Top Chef Canada finalist and she and Jackson have appeared on the show.  They have played host to the crew from Food Network’s Eat Street, and even a recent staging at the historic James Beard House in New York. CHARCUT has garnered a substantial fan base, ultimately growing its existing clientele and positioning Calgary and its local favourite restaurant status as an Alberta-must.