Revelwoods Tavern brings Southern comfort to the old Bookers space in southeast Calgary
New restaurant honors legacy of beloved closed crab shack with contemporary Southern cuisine and upscale ambiance. Opens daily from 11 a.m.
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The space that once housed beloved Bookers BBQ and Crab Shack has found a new identity in Revelwoods Tavern and Terrace, a contemporary Southern restaurant that honors its predecessor while charting its own course.
Entrepreneur Juhil Patel identified the potential in the warehouse-like riverfront unit, which sits alongside the successful Fortuna's Row and Strip Joint Chicken. After Bookers closed in 2021, the space struggled to find the right tenant. Patel worked with a consultant group to develop a concept inspired by the food of the deep American South—not because of personal roots in Louisiana or Tennessee, but because Calgary's market lacked upscale Southern comfort dining. The city has plenty of smoked-meat barbecue restaurants, he noted, but few refined takes on the region's cuisine.
"My vision is not to go too far from Bookers, because people loved that concept," Patel said. "It's sort of an upgraded version of Bookers. But I wanted something different so I can attract people looking for something new." He preserved some of the original Bookers wallpaper in Revelwoods' private dining room as a nod to that legacy.
The 120-seat dining room strikes a refined Southern verandah aesthetic with clean design, cozy banquettes, and a showpiece bar fitted with dozens of local beer taps, exclusive wines, and a Southern-inspired cocktail menu. Non-alcoholic options lean heavily on sweet tea. The space transitions easily from casual business lunch to date-night intimacy.
Chef Terry Kluke, formerly of The Wilde and The Wednesday Room, brings a genuine affinity for Southern food shaped by his own Quebecois heritage. "Southern charm with French flair is what we like to say here," he said. "We try to pull from the Southern aspect with some Southern ingredients, using French technique." His firepower comes from a Pira charcoal oven, a beast that allows live-fire cooking in a controlled environment.
Flame-kissed grilled oysters arrive in garlic butter ($12.95 for two). Succulent prawns swim in a zingy house-made cocktail sauce ($20.95). The grill produces a variety of steaks—flatiron steak frites for $36.95 or a 12 oz. striploin for $48.95. Southern classics include andouille sausage-studded gumbo ($24.95) and a proper fried chicken sandwich ($20.95). The real fan favourite, though: perfect little apple pies paired with Chantilly and ice cream ($10.05).
Revelwoods Tavern and Terrace is located at 316 3rd St. S.E. and is open daily from 11 a.m. onwards. Call 403-454-5454 or visit revelwoods.ca.
Good to know
What kind of food does Revelwoods serve?
Revelwoods Tavern & Terrace serves contemporary Southern cuisine with French technique, featuring dishes like grilled oysters, gumbo, fried chicken sandwich, and steaks cooked in a Pira charcoal oven.
Where is Revelwoods located?
Revelwoods Tavern & Terrace is at 316 3rd St. S.E. in Calgary, in the space that formerly housed Bookers BBQ and Crab Shack.
What are the hours?
Revelwoods Tavern & Terrace opens daily from 11 a.m.
What should I order?
The fan favourite is the apple pie with Chantilly and ice cream for $10.05, though the menu also features grilled oysters, gumbo, fried chicken sandwich, and various steaks ranging from $36.95 to $48.95.
