Good restaurants in Calgary

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by rd_aaron

Did you go on a Friday or Saturday night? Personally, it would just be me and my fiancée so obviously I wouldn't have to worry about not making the reservation but I also don't want to go out for a nice supper and get pushed through in 45 minutes. I might give it a shot this weekend.

It's an office/kids b-day party kind of place, not a date sort of place... unless you are so bored of each other, you'd rather sit around with strangers.

[rd_aaron]

Originally Posted by troutman

You will have to sit around a table with other people.

I realize that. I guess I was just expecting more of a "fine dining" atmosphere. I've been to Samurai in Saskatoon which is considered fine dining (even though it's teppanyaki style), not a place you'd have a kid's birthday party (or apparently a team windup as a picture on the website shows).

[malcolmk14]

I think to be fair, in the past you could have maybe considered Japanese Village to have a bit of a fine dining atmosphere, although it's always been kid-friendly and loud/raucous.

In the last 8 or 10 years, Calgary's dining scene has evolved and become a little bit more sophisticated, and Japanese Village has become more of a family-style place.

I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with going there on a date, because it is fun; it just wouldn't be my first choice because I typically like to go somewhere a little more intimate.

The only time I go anymore is when my younger sister wants to have her birthday there every April as a matter of tradition.

[woob]

Originally Posted by rd_aaron

I'm looking for a good teppanyaki style Japanese restaurant. I see Japanese Village but reading the reviews on Urbanspoon (http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/15/19078...illage-Calgary) makes me not want to go. Apparently if someone in your reservation party cancels last minute, they charge you $25/person who don't show up and the manager & hostess berate you for not having everyone show up... not to mention that they rush you through for supper in under an hour, and actually ask you to leave. How on earth can the place have an 82% rating with reviews like that?

Steak sauce and rice.

[rd_aaron]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I think to be fair, in the past you could have maybe considered Japanese Village to have a bit of a fine dining atmosphere, although it's always been kid-friendly and loud/raucous.

In the last 8 or 10 years, Calgary's dining scene has evolved and become a little bit more sophisticated, and Japanese Village has become more of a family-style place.

I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with going there on a date, because it is fun; it just wouldn't be my first choice because I typically like to go somewhere a little more intimate.

The only time I go anymore is when my younger sister wants to have her birthday there every April as a matter of tradition.

That's good to know. I think we'll check it out this weekend since we're moving and don't want to be cooking meals and making a mess at home.

Originally Posted by woob

Steak sauce and rice.

I'll make sure to get some steak sauce on my rice.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

malcom where would you recomend to try spider rolls and spicy tuna? my favourite in the city so far is globefish but you seem to have tried a lot of places

[Ozy_Flame]

NHB, I'd recommend Towa for spicy tuna (and lots of it). Zen 8 also serves up good spicy tuna sushi - excellent cones as well. The manager often imports his tuna straight from Japan; definitely worth checking out.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by Notorious Honey Badger

malcom where would you recomend to try spider rolls and spicy tuna? my favourite in the city so far is globefish but you seem to have tried a lot of places

Maybe I've just never had a good one but I'm not a fan of spider rolls. I've tried them at Misato and Momoyama and neither one really did it for me so I got turned off and really never ordered them again. I wouldn't be opposed to giving them a shot somewhere else if they come highly recommended.

A lot of places do the spicy tuna roll well, it's an easy one, but as mentioned before my favourite is Sushi & Co... Also, Rice Bowl on 37th between Richmond Rd. and 17th Ave also does a pretty good spicy tuna roll. The sauce at both places (they're so similar) is some kind of korean-style chili sauce and the rolls are a nice big size (bigger at Sushi & Co.) and fair in price ($6). I usually get the Spicy Tuna or Salmon roll as part of the Traditional Roll Combo ($14) and add a Mango Tuna roll on top of that. You can feed two people for $22, add a Tempura and a Spicy Tofu appetizer or something and it's just way too much food.

Towa's spicy tuna roll is my favourite one with mayo-based spicy sauce, it's up there in price ($14) but it is just ridiculously huge. I usually fill up at Towa with a Spicy Salmon roll, negi-toro roll, and an appetizer. About $45 for two people including a tip.

[Pizza]

Originally Posted by rd_aaron

Did you go on a Friday or Saturday night? Personally, it would just be me and my fiancée so obviously I wouldn't have to worry about not making the reservation but I also don't want to go out for a nice supper and get pushed through in 45 minutes. I might give it a shot this weekend.

Twice I've went on a Friday night and yeah, it does get kinda busy. If you're not making a reservation, you might have to wait

You will have to share a table with some people, but that's expected with Teppanyaki. You wont get the intimacy of a single table, but it's a good start if you want a fun date. I havent seen any kids the times i've went there. Honestly at nearly $30 per set dinner there, I doubt you'll be seeing too many kids anyways

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by Pizza

Twice I've went on a Friday night and yeah, it does get kinda busy. If you're not making a reservation, you might have to wait

You will have to share a table with some people, but that's expected with Teppanyaki. You wont get the intimacy of a single table, but it's a good start if you want a fun date. I havent seen any kids the times i've went there. Honestly at nearly $30 per set dinner there, I doubt you'll be seeing too many kids anyways

I have almost the exact opposite experience, strangely. We've been going to Japanese Village for birthdays at least once a year since I was 10 or 12, maybe longer. And my sister is 5 years younger than me. I often see kids there when I go, usually in big family groups with 4-6 adults and a few kids.

They are very kid-friendly and even have a kids menu with $10-12 entrees if I recall correctly.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

. The manager often imports his tuna straight from Japan.

This seems like fluff to me, doesn't Japan import most of their tuna anyway?

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by troutman

You will have to sit around a table with other people.

The best meal I've had in my life I was seated at a table for four with two Austrian women I'd never met. It was a revelation.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by fredr123

Curious where Koto Sushi Lounge and Yamato rank on your list.

Koto Sushi Lounge is decent. Yamato not anywhere near as good. Quality has taken a nose dive in recent years.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Ridiculously sushi list

Have you ever been to Koto Sushi. I have been twice with deal find vouchers and found it pretty decent.

My top two are Misato's and Sushi Towa for the spicey salmon roll and black and white roll.

[malcolmk14]

Had dinner at Charcut tonight.

Heirloom beets with goat cheese and arugula, and the pigs head mortadella to start.
Prime Rib with a side of Broccolini for dinner.
Chocolate pudding with chantilly cream for dessert.

Mmmm. Delicious. Finally got the prime rib that I've been craving since Notable was out last weekend.

[Vansmack]

I've had some delicious meals recently at Niko's in Kensington. The food was amazing and the service has been great.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Had dinner at Charcut tonight.

Heirloom beets with goat cheese and arugula, and the pigs head mortadella to start.
Prime Rib with a side of Broccolini for dinner.
Chocolate pudding with chantilly cream for dessert.

Mmmm. Delicious. Finally got the prime rib that I've been craving since Notable was out last weekend.

Their prime rib is delicious. The Spring Creek beef is unbelievable.

[Table 5]

How do you guys pronounce Charcut btw? I always thought it was the frenchie way (shar koot) since it sounds like it's derived from charcuterrie.....but I've heard people call it the more english "Char Cut" way too...

[flamesrule_kipper34]

Originally Posted by Table 5

How do you guys pronounce Charcut btw? I always thought it was the frenchie way (shar koot) since it sounds like it's derived from charcuterrie.....but I've heard people call it the more english "Char Cut" way too...

I was the same way as you, after looking it up there was an article in Avenue Magazine that states it is meant to be pronounced "Char Cut".

A Cut Above Charcut

(The Charcut name is inspired by the word charcuterie, but is pronounced Anglo-style rather than French.)

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Sushi Bar Zipang seems like a bit of a special occasion place and I would recommend it for top-quality sushi if you have a non-discerning wallet, but I need to go back there myself a few more times to try more things. At least it was really good quality the day I was there.

I really like Zipang for all kinds of sushi/sashimi and japanese dishes.

Their sashimi is awesome because they actually give you a bigger portion than the sushi equivalent.

My next 2 favorites are probably Wa's and Misato's.