Calgary Bar Advice

[Shazam]

I've never had anything but good service at Hy's. They are slow however. Near as I can tell everything there is made to order (except the baked potatoes, of course, but I think they do the final steps to order).

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Yeah, I think Shazam is right, Hy's isn't exactly fast but in a joint like that I don't mind taking my time. Maybe that is what CF was talking about. Fast doesn't necessarily mean good service. You're food may take a while, but you get taken care of pertty well.

[Shazam]

Is Zen 8 any good? I've heard some really bad things about that place.

It's a wonder how the CC stays afloat. I don't know anyone that likes that place.

I've noticed that Melrose Place is getting awful for service.

[Crazy Flamer]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Yeah, I think Shazam is right, Hy's isn't exactly fast but in a joint like that I don't mind taking my time. Maybe that is what CF was talking about. Fast doesn't necessarily mean good service. You're food may take a while, but you get taken care of pertty well.

Really? Maybe it was just me. I made reservations there one night for 8pm. didn't get seated untill 8:20. Then the waiter came by and asked my gf and I if we would like a drink. He didn't come back for 20 min! I was starting to get very mad. Had it not been for my gf keeping me a little calm I would have gladly tore a strip off of him.

Our food was late coming out as well. And it was horrible. They put WWAAAYYY too much sauce on my steak. I've beent here twice and have the same experiences both times.

I don't mind going to sit down and taking my time for dinner either. But this was just too much. But maybe you guys are right, maybe I was just unlucky.

[Crazy Flamer]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Is Zen 8 any good? I've heard some really bad things about that place.

It's a wonder how the CC stays afloat. I don't know anyone that likes that place.

I've noticed that Melrose Place is getting awful for service.

I've been to Zen8 a few times for Sushi. Its pretty decent. My favorite place for sushi in Calgary is still Sumo in Eau Claire.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Wow, that sucks Crazy Flamer, I've never had a bad experience there, so I'd have to say you were probalby a little unlucky.
As for the sauce, if you order "The Only" it does come with a lot of sauce on it but they're more than happy to go easy on it as I agree too much sauce ruins a good steak.
Too bad you have had some bad experiences there, it is definatley my farovire steak joint, and maybe favorite restaraunt overall in town. And man is the cheese toast ever delicious.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

I've been to Zen8 a few times for Sushi. Its pretty decent. My favorite place for sushi in Calgary is still Sumo in Eau Claire.

Sumo is very good. There are so many good sushi joints downtown. I frequent Hana on 4th, but only because it is closer to where I live.

Zen 8 is decent, but overpriced. Same thing can be said about anything owned by Penny Lane Entertainment.

I couldn't agree with the sentiment about the Chophouse more, I hate all things Vickers, but as bad as it is, it is still better than the Met Grill.

Mmmmm... Hy's. I want some of their onion soup, cheese toast, and filet mignon. And a handful of those mints!

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

I've been to Zen8 a few times for Sushi. Its pretty decent. My favorite place for sushi in Calgary is still Sumo in Eau Claire.

Sushi? Did someone say Sushi? There's probably only one other guy who (might) read this board and have as much of a fetish for sushi as I do, and I don't even know if Chuckles actually read CP

There are only 2 places in Calgary where the sushi is decent, (and not coincidentally Japanese owned), if you want great sushi in Alberta you'll have to make the drive to Banff's Miki's or Suginoya

1. Wa's - Centre Street & 17 Ave NW, across from the Safeway on Centre Street. Best in Calgary.

2. Hana on 4th, decent but nothing spectacular.

Half-decent sushi on a budget, these are the best of the rest, all run by Chinese folks, the staff can all speak Cantonese at these places:

1. Sushi Iciban - Westbrook Mall, pretty good salmon sashimi, and 5 min from my place so these guys get a lot of my $$

2. Sakana Grill - China Town, go after 9PM for Happy Hour Mon-Thur, service is quite inconsistent though, be forewarned

3. Kyoto 17th - Cheapest in town if you get the set dinner, yet not as bad as fast food.

Stay away from:

Sushi BBQ Inn - Across from SAIT on 16th Ave, DO NOT go there, if you've been there in the past 6 months you will know why.

Sushi Tokyo - Chinatown Dragon City Mall - Really, for what you pay, your money will buy you better value elsewhere.

Osaka Sushi House - 16th Ave just off Edmonton Trail, ok for take out but the place is seriously dingy if you dine in (they are meant to be a takeout place anyways).

Zen 8 - come on, I wouldn't even try to spend my money at any of Paul Vicker's establishments. No further justification needed.

[Shazam]

Mmmmm... Hy's. I want some of their onion soup, cheese toast, and filet mignon. And a handful of those mints!

SHUT UP! SHUT UP! Now you're making ME want to go there!

[Robbob]

The Chicago Chophouse is the only steak house I've walked out of still hungry and that is just wrong. Back in '99 we had a $120 tab between 3 people with just pop. Just stupid. The service sucked, I got the impression we were an inconvience visting the establishment. The kicker was it was around 4pm and the place was just dead so there was no excuse.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

There are only 2 places in Calgary where the sushi is decent, (and not coincidentally Japanese owned), if you want great sushi in Alberta you'll have to make the drive to Banff's Miki's or Suginoya

1. Wa's - Centre Street & 17 Ave NW, across from the Safeway on Centre Street. Best in Calgary.

2. Hana on 4th, decent but nothing spectacular.

Half-decent sushi on a budget, these are the best of the rest, all run by Chinese folks, the staff can all speak Cantonese at these places:

1. Sushi Iciban - Westbrook Mall, pretty good salmon sashimi, and 5 min from my place so these guys get a lot of my $$

2. Sakana Grill - China Town, go after 9PM for Happy Hour Mon-Thur, service is quite inconsistent though, be forewarned

3. Kyoto 17th - Cheapest in town if you get the set dinner, yet not as bad as fast food.

Stay away from:

Sushi BBQ Inn - Across from SAIT on 16th Ave, DO NOT go there, if you've been there in the past 6 months you will know why.

Sushi Tokyo - Chinatown Dragon City Mall - Really, for what you pay, your money will buy you better value elsewhere.

Osaka Sushi House - 16th Ave just off Edmonton Trail, ok for take out but the place is seriously dingy if you dine in (they are meant to be a takeout place anyways).

Zen 8 - come on, I wouldn't even try to spend my money at any of Paul Vicker's establishments. No further justification needed.

A couple thing to add (and refute) about Incinerator's post.

First of all, if Japanese owned is what you're after, a fantastic place to go is Sushi Sen on 1st SW and 10th Ave, across from Bottlescrew Bill's. It's Japanese run and is supported by the many Japanese ESL students in the area. It even features Japanese K-1 fighting on a TV in the corner! The sushi itself is fantastic, I'd say it's the #1 in the city right now. It's also on the way to the Saddledome if you're walking from downtown.

(Anyone been to Hiro Sushi on 5th? I've heard it's good too. Or Kinjo's on Macleod?)

I didn't mind Sushi Tokyo that much, and would take it over Sakana Grill - Sakana is just getting a little too dingy and dumpy IMHO, and the service is variable. Last time I was there they mopped the floors with dirty water and the entire place smelled like feet. Haven't been back since.

I eat at Zen 8 often, but that's only because it's right by my office and I work late a lot. It's OK, but overpriced, like the rest of the vickers places. Super hot waitresses though....

[TheCommodoreAfro]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

Sushi? Did someone say Sushi? There's probably only one other guy who (might) read this board and have as much of a fetish for sushi as I do, and I don't even know if Chuckles actually read CP

There are only 2 places in Calgary where the sushi is decent, (and not coincidentally Japanese owned), if you want great sushi in Alberta you'll have to make the drive to Banff's Miki's or Suginoya

1. Wa's - Centre Street & 17 Ave NW, across from the Safeway on Centre Street. Best in Calgary.

2. Hana on 4th, decent but nothing spectacular.

Half-decent sushi on a budget, these are the best of the rest, all run by Chinese folks, the staff can all speak Cantonese at these places:

1. Sushi Iciban - Westbrook Mall, pretty good salmon sashimi, and 5 min from my place so these guys get a lot of my $$

2. Sakana Grill - China Town, go after 9PM for Happy Hour Mon-Thur, service is quite inconsistent though, be forewarned

3. Kyoto 17th - Cheapest in town if you get the set dinner, yet not as bad as fast food.

Stay away from:

Sushi BBQ Inn - Across from SAIT on 16th Ave, DO NOT go there, if you've been there in the past 6 months you will know why.

Sushi Tokyo - Chinatown Dragon City Mall - Really, for what you pay, your money will buy you better value elsewhere.

Osaka Sushi House - 16th Ave just off Edmonton Trail, ok for take out but the place is seriously dingy if you dine in (they are meant to be a takeout place anyways).

Zen 8 - come on, I wouldn't even try to spend my money at any of Paul Vicker's establishments. No further justification needed.

Umm, you lose!

I was lucky enough to have a work dinner this week that was really, really nice. The stuff from home just doesn't compare (like a pint of Guiness in Dublin).

The sashimi was rather fresh, as well...

[Hakan]

Looks good Mike. But I bet Vancouver could give Tokyo a run for its money. I actually heard that Vancouver has the most sushi restaurants per capita than anywhere in the world. I live right above a fantastic Japanese Tapas bar that has impeccably fresh sushi.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by TheCommodoreAfro

Umm, you lose!

I was lucky enough to have a work dinner this week that was really, really nice. The stuff from home just doesn't compare (like a pint of Guiness in Dublin).

The sashimi was rather fresh, as well...

Why must you torture me like this? I haven't been to Japan in 5 years, and I'm really craving for some kobe beef sashimi right now...

[return to the red]

I don't know if anyone has ever been to a Brazilian Steak House or if Calgary even has one (I know Lethbridge sure as hell doesn't) but if you have never been and you ever have the opportunity to go, DO IT!

Just make sure you are REALLY hungry before you go because man-o-man do those places ever stuff you to the gills

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

(Anyone been to Hiro Sushi on 5th? I've heard it's good too. Or Kinjo's on Macleod?)

Kinjo's the old Timmie's one you're talking about right? It looks dingy enough I didn't wanna venture in there. Hiro's food is ok but the price is really not that justifiable. Good location though.

Thanks for the tip on Sushi Sen, I wonder why I've never came across it gotta check this one out soon enough.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Looks good Mike. But I bet Vancouver could give Tokyo a run for its money. I actually heard that Vancouver has the most sushi restaurants per capita than anywhere in the world. I live right above a fantastic Japanese Tapas bar that has impeccably fresh sushi.

I go on an exclusively seafood diet whenever I'm on the coast not just sushi, all that lobsters and crabs' not good for my heart

[octothorp]

Yeah, Sumo's a pretty good sushi place, and having the sports TVs is a nice compromise when there's a game on. Recently I've gone to Fujiyama (on fifth, I think? Right beside the Telus building) and it's pretty good. Hana's my favorite in the city as far as quality, though.

[comrade]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

Sushi? Did someone say Sushi? There's probably only one other guy who (might) read this board and have as much of a fetish for sushi as I do, and I don't even know if Chuckles actually read CP

There are only 2 places in Calgary where the sushi is decent, (and not coincidentally Japanese owned), if you want great sushi in Alberta you'll have to make the drive to Banff's Miki's or Suginoya

1. Wa's - Centre Street & 17 Ave NW, across from the Safeway on Centre Street. Best in Calgary.

2. Hana on 4th, decent but nothing spectacular.

Half-decent sushi on a budget, these are the best of the rest, all run by Chinese folks, the staff can all speak Cantonese at these places:

1. Sushi Iciban - Westbrook Mall, pretty good salmon sashimi, and 5 min from my place so these guys get a lot of my $$

2. Sakana Grill - China Town, go after 9PM for Happy Hour Mon-Thur, service is quite inconsistent though, be forewarned

3. Kyoto 17th - Cheapest in town if you get the set dinner, yet not as bad as fast food.

Stay away from:

Sushi BBQ Inn - Across from SAIT on 16th Ave, DO NOT go there, if you've been there in the past 6 months you will know why.

Sushi Tokyo - Chinatown Dragon City Mall - Really, for what you pay, your money will buy you better value elsewhere.

Osaka Sushi House - 16th Ave just off Edmonton Trail, ok for take out but the place is seriously dingy if you dine in (they are meant to be a takeout place anyways).

Zen 8 - come on, I wouldn't even try to spend my money at any of Paul Vicker's establishments. No further justification needed.

What about Toa(sp?) sushi? Not sure where it is, but the sushi was great and I believe its Kobasews favourite sushi restaurant in Calgary.

[Bobblehead]

It's funny to see how this thread morphed.

Ya wanna know where to find good sushi in town? Look in the "Calgary Bar Advice Thread"!