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| Restaurant | Rating | Type of Food | Style | Description | Information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alloy www | | Gourmet | Informal | One of our favourite parts of going to Alloy is driving our friends into the light industrial area of southeast Calgary (just off McLeod Trail) to find a first class restaurant. But suddenly there it is. The setting is fresh. And if you aren't sure what we mean by that, go there to find out. The food is excellent, with sauces that don't overwhelm what they are complimenting. And the servers don't start putting pepper and salt on the food before you have even tried it. We do suspect that this habit in so many restaurants means the chefs don't really know how to season food properly in the first place.  Click here to make reservations through Open Table. |
220 - 42 Ave. SE 403 287-9255 | ||||||
| Carman’s www | | Steak | Formal | You're right; this isn't even near Calgary, but it is our favourite formal steak restaurant and sets a standard against which all eateries of any kind are judged. Reservations required. | 26 Alexander St., Toronto, Ontario (2 north of College, just east of Yonge) 416 924-8558 | ||||||
| Catch Restaurant www | | Gourmet (Upstairs) | Informal | This portion of the Catch building has moved from its original seafood format to an eclectic gourmet menu. The food is elegantly tasty and plated with originality and style. The servers are knowledgeable and friendly. The atmosphere is current with delightful hints of the old Imperial Bank decor peaking through. Note that the Catch Oyster Bar, i.e. the downstairs portion of this establishment has a separate review. The seafood here is approved by the Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise program. Try the chef's tasting menu.Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 100 Stephen Ave. SE 403 206-0000 | ||||||
| Kensington Riverside Inn www | | Gourmet | Informal | Food as art might not be the motto of the Riverside Inn, but it could be. The open kitchen in the intimate setting gives one an ample opportunity to watch the patience, skill and care with which each dish is created. Chef Ramsay fans might be disappointed that this is no "Hell's Kitchen" with food and insults flying around to cries of, "Yes, chef." Here there is just a sense of tasty art being quietly and thoughtfully prepared. And the presentation arising from all of this work is excellent. And, of course, so is the flavour, the service and the setting. We highly approve. Whether you try the chef's tasting menu or choose your favourites from the regular listing, you can't go wrong. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 1126 Memorial Drive NW, 403 228-4442 Toll Free: 877 313-3733 | ||||||
| Rouge www | | Gourmet | Informal | We had always known Rouge as a delightful banquet/reception venue, so decided to test how it did as a from–the–menu restaurant. It excelled. A simple historic setting, a knowledgeable, friendly staff and innovative, delicious dishes. What more could one want? The menu is, as they describe it, "Contemporary French". But we have placed it in the "Gourmet" category so people don't arrive there expecting the usual French onion soup and escargot. The cuisine does dip into French sauces and French cooking methods, but the goes far beyond the original. Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | 1240 - 8 Ave. SE 403 531-2767 | Lunch (June to August and December) M to F 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Dinner M to Sa 5:00 p.m. to close Closed holidays | |||||
| Rush www | | Gourmet | Business Casual | As a 5 rating indicates, the food, service and setting here are all in the excellent category. We find that what sets Rush apart is its attention to details. For example, sparkling water can be provided free with you meal, rather than gouging you $7 for something you can buy at Costco for $1.99. They point out the location of the washroom as they take you to you table, and no glass, cup or plate are every left unattended. These niceties and others like them are small details, but they help set the dining experience here apart from many other aspiring fine dining sites. Rush Dining: Click here to make reservations through Open Table. Rush Lounge: Click here to make reservations through Open Table. | #100 207 9 Ave. SW 403 2717874 | Sunday closed M to F 11:30 a.m. Lunch 5:00 p.m. Dinner Saturday 5:00 p.m. Dinner Su, Holidays Closed |
