The Kensington Thread

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Vendome reopens Monday!

Really? I had given up hope!

Did anyone check it out today?

[Bigtime]

They did open yesterday, I'm probably going by tonight.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Pizza

Would you know what his new restaurant is called?

It's called Inti. Good reviews all around.

https://www.zomato.com/calgary/inti-...ruvian-calgary

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by troutman

Tandoori Hut is gone, replaced by Ramen house

Quick reviews. Got around to trying Ikeman on Sunday for take out. Got the Shio Ramen. Very disappointing, just plain mediocre. I do like the one over by Kensington Wine Market, but honestly for weekday lunch (or when possible) my wife and I go to Carino. Ikeman and Carino are about same price (few dollars), and there is no comparison. Ikeman 5/10

I also did Vendome for breakfast take out Saturday. Got there at open to avoid the line (I guess there is a pro to having two small kids on a Saturday morning). It was very good. The coffee was better than before, the breakfast panini was good as well. Not as good as they used to make it a year or so ago, but still very good and better than anywhere else. Staff was super friendly. I liked the updates to the inside, but I can see how they only planned minor updates and taking 6 months (due to historical building) you would have thought there would be more of a refresh. Still very nice place and love the open front window area. Anyways, Vendome you're still a Sunnyside treasure, great to have you back 8.5/10.

[mikephoen]

Really disappointed with this vendome renovation. They closed for eight months so that they could paint and make a new shelf behind the counter?

I assumed they would improve the horrid system of a big line that goes out the door, but they made it even worse. It takes forever to order and if all you want is a pastry and a coffee you're stuck in the same line as the people trying to order sit down food.

Now they've made the line system even worse. The door swings in, which smashes into the line. And the counter is closer to the door, so the backup is even worse. The kitchen is too small and inefficient for the amount of seats. After 15+ minutes in line, it took almost 40 minutes to get food, and it's only 75% full.

Food is still great, and the building is cool... But everything else is stupid. Hire some frickin' waitresses and treat it like the 100 seat restaurant it is.

[topfiverecords]

Looking forward to this. Signs in the window in one of the buildings here on 10th street for Burger 320. A second location to the one in Bridgeland.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Really disappointed with this vendome renovation. They closed for eight months so that they could paint and make a new shelf behind the counter?

I assumed they would improve the horrid system of a big line that goes out the door, but they made it even worse. It takes forever to order and if all you want is a pastry and a coffee you're stuck in the same line as the people trying to order sit down food.

Now they've made the line system even worse. The door swings in, which smashes into the line. And the counter is closer to the door, so the backup is even worse. The kitchen is too small and inefficient for the amount of seats. After 15+ minutes in line, it took almost 40 minutes to get food, and it's only 75% full.

Food is still great, and the building is cool... But everything else is stupid. Hire some frickin' waitresses and treat it like the 100 seat restaurant it is.

I agree. The wait on Saturday I drove by at 11:30AM was hilarious. I go the second they open, and there is no line and it still takes 15 minutes.

I think the reno was supposed to be minor, and most of the hold up was due to preserving the building. The original reno was only 3 months, and it took 6 so folks thought it was more than it was intended.

They do seem to have more kitchen space upstairs. I am guessing they thought it out to minimize stair time up and down. However, it doesn't seem any quicker. Just slightly different looking.

The food and coffee is still great. In the end that is all I care about. I stay the heck away after 9AM on weekends.

[troutman]

PRLR cocktail lounge coming soon beside Burger 320:

https://mobile.twitter.com/ParlourL

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

^Is it going to be run by Oak Tree?

I'm a bit skeptical as it's a pretty easy bandwagon to jump on lately and it's going to be damned difficult even coming close to being in Proof's league, but I'm hopefully it's good.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by troutman

PRLR cocktail lounge coming soon beside Burger 320:

https://mobile.twitter.com/ParlourL

Why not just call it Parlour Lounge? PRLR was not obvious the first time my wife and I saw the signs because your brain first associates P with the sound pee- and not pahr- so you think Peerlar first. Being creative can also confuse and sacrifice business.

"Hey, want to go to that p r l r place?"

[Otto-matic]

Quickly has opened in Kensington too, its an bubble tea house with food.

[troutman]

http://www.newfoodorder.com/?portfolio=burger-320

BURGER 320

is a project celebrating family, farm, friends & a creative union of our Prairie roots and Italian heritage. In a space of only 320 square feet, Chef Mario captures our imagination with his creativity using fresh local farm ingredients and wonderful Italian flourishes imported from his native homeland. Every burger created is made with fresh brisket, ground daily on-site from locally raised beef. Deliciously custom-grilled and served up with home-fixings you love nestled inside fresh-baked, branded buns.

http://www.avenuecalgary.com/Restaur...er-Restaurant/

Burger 320 is going beyond Bridgeland. It's opening in the space that used to be The House Coffee Sanctuary and it looks like it's going to have waffles and gelato as well as those branded burgers we love. We're looking forward to sitting down in this new space. (And to eating waffles — that's one of the few things Kensington is still missing.) We'll keep you posted as we keep investigating.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by troutman

http://www.newfoodorder.com/?portfolio=burger-320

BURGER 320

is a project celebrating family, farm, friends & a creative union of our Prairie roots and Italian heritage. In a space of only 320 square feet, Chef Mario captures our imagination with his creativity using fresh local farm ingredients and wonderful Italian flourishes imported from his native homeland. Every burger created is made with fresh brisket, ground daily on-site from locally raised beef. Deliciously custom-grilled and served up with home-fixings you love nestled inside fresh-baked, branded buns.

It sounds good but man the one thing that bothers me is do we need another burger joint in the area? We already have Flippin' Burgers down the street / Lot 102 is a Burger pub.

I wish the neighborhood had a Chinese Restaurant or something other then Japanese/Burgers.

[troutman]

Beakerhead, Sept 16-20:

http://www.visitkensington.com/recen...-in-kensington

http://beakerhead.com/events/

On the surface, Beakerhead looks like a week of spectacular fun every September. But it’s more than a schedule of mesmerizing events: it’s a time and place where engineers show their creative sides, and artists get technical, where science hits the street, and everyone gets ingenious.

[troutman]

CJSW will have a tent Saturday at the Sunnyside/Hillhurst Farmer's Market. I will be there 11:30 am to 2 pm handing out buttons and car decals.

http://www.farmersmarket.hillhurstsunnyside.org/

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

It sounds good but man the one thing that bothers me is do we need another burger joint in the area? We already have Flippin' Burgers down the street / Lot 102 is a Burger pub.

I wish the neighborhood had a Chinese Restaurant or something other then Japanese/Burgers.

Yes we do. Quality and pricing competition is good for customers. I'm sure we'll continue to get other types of places opening. There's still lots of vacant spaces available.

[Bigtime]

I'm more than happy to get 3 burger places on 10th. Flippin' is great for that flame broiled customized burger (and their milk shakes), Lot 102 did a really tasty burger also, and Burger 320 was all sorts of delicious when I had their Wickens burger last year with fries.

ALL THE BURGERS GET INTO MY MOUTH.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I wish the neighborhood had a Chinese Restaurant or something other then Japanese/Burgers.

Well technically there is South Silk road at the bottom of 14th, but it's Hunan Chinese cuisine and may be a bit spicy.

How about 4 places for shawarma - or is it 5?

[topfiverecords]

Updates on the pedestrian realm improvements coming to Kensington. Construction to start soon on new sidewalks and tree trenches, with new street and pedestrian lighting, and street furniture to follow. Many trees will be planted next summer. http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...ct=/kensington

This will make a dramatic difference to the feel of the area. It's starting to look a little tired.

[troutman]

Freshii, open now:

https://www.freshii.com/ca