The Kensington Thread

[Bigtime]

Brutal, keep supporting anyone still open and offering online/curbside sales. Did dinner with Brasserie last night, saw a few cars queuing up outside of Vero for dinner pickup too. Got a keep a few of these places around for the recovery.

[Lubicon]

It's brutal for everyone out there right now. I desperately want to help local businesses as best I can but with the hole blown in our household finances due to this same crisis there just isn't much room to do anything. I feel bad but this is how it has to be for us right now. Our discretionary spending since March 15 has consisted of one milkshake run to Peters.

[troutman]

Walked by last night and it looks like Indie is about ready to open its doors:

https://www.indiecounterculture.com/

Indie counterculture, is a new restaurant concept and eating experience, opening April 2020 in the heart of Calgary’s Kensington district. Our concept is Indian street food with a cool, edgy vibe, specializing in the staple Indian dishes, and reaching past conventional boundaries offering Indian forward sliders, wraps and legit Indian street food. We have crafted an utterly crazy menu with items like butterface, the blunt and amaze balls! Primarily a specialty take-away restaurant, Indie offers seating and an amazing back patio.

Back patio!

[bdubbs]

Originally Posted by troutman

Walked by last night and it looks like Indie is about ready to open its doors:

https://www.indiecounterculture.com/


Back patio!

Sounds interesting but its a bit far from Kensington proper if you're walking...

[troutman]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

Sounds interesting but its a bit far from Kensington proper if you're walking...

That map is not right - it is at 126 10th Steet NW.

[troutman]

A new place to get weed:

https://www.facebook.com/SpiritleafCAKensington/

1124 Kensington Rd NW

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by troutman

That map is not right - it is at 126 10th Steet NW.

Epic website fail, though.

[Scorch]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I used to love, love, love Flippin Burgers, back when the owner was also the one usually working the grill, it was absolutely top notch. Then over time, the quality dropped way down, as the owner never seemed to be around. I finally gave up on them about a year ago. I wonder if now with the pandemic if the owner is the one making the burgers again. Maybe I should give them another chance.

So I went in on a busy Friday night and it was being run by his employees, with the owner no where to be seen.

Such a noticeable difference

Not to say the burger they made was bad, but you can tell there was so much more love in the food when the owner made it for you. Typical in restaurants where owners are more stingy with toppings and focused more on time efficiency while the staff are more Generous and careful. Quite the flip here

I suggest going in on a weekday when he’s around

[NuclearFart]

Originally Posted by Scorch

So I went in on a busy Friday night and it was being run by his employees, with the owner no where to be seen.

Such a noticeable difference

Not to say the burger they made was bad, but you can tell there was so much more love in the food when the owner made it for you. Typical in restaurants where owners are more stingy with toppings and focused more on time efficiency while the staff are more Generous and careful. Quite the flip here

I suggest going in on a weekday when he’s around

Who is the amateur cook there who always squishes the patties on the grill to make flare ups? Bush league move that consistently turns the patty into a super dry hockey puck.

[Scorch]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Who is the amateur cook there who always squishes the patties on the grill to make flare ups? Bush league move that consistently turns the patty into a super dry hockey puck.

Is that what they do? I wouldn’t know as I was only inside to order and pick up. With their 2 persons max rule, it was expected of me to wait outside as soon as I finish making payment

God, such a rookie move to squish the flavour out of a cooking patty

[calgarywinning]

Lol. Joey's = Good Beef Dip. Great Garlic Bread.

[powderjunkie]

Sounds like today is the last day for Brasserie as we know it. Not sure about Wine Bar. Owner's maybe keeping the space and doing something new...

Not the worst time in the world to reno/revamp. Maybe they have an idea for a concept that is more COVID friendly (as odd as it is to say that)?

[troutman]

Wine Bar was setting up their patio yesterday, so I think it will be business as usual for them.

[Faust]

Eat Crow had their soft launch tonight with the full opening taking place next week.

Goodbye Brasserie, Kensington welcomes new Eat Crow:

https://livewirecalgary.com/2020/05/...-new-eat-crow/

[Lubicon]

Modern Ocean moving to Kensington from Stephen Avenue as of today.

https://modernocean.ca/

[Jiri Hrdina]

So are they basically combining their Kensington location to be Modern Steak/Ocean?
I wonder what will happen to that space on Stephen Ave. Such a great building.

[rohara66]

Not sure if relevant, but does anyone have any leads on monthly parking in the heart of Kensington or closer to everyones favorite chicken joint.

[Voodooman]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

So are they basically combining their Kensington location to be Modern Steak/Ocean?
I wonder what will happen to that space on Stephen Ave. Such a great building.

Yeah, they moved Ocean to Kensington and converted that space in the Stephen Ave. location into a sit-down Modern Burger concept. 2nd floor is Steak and 3rd floor is Rooftop (which runs the Steak Menu). Looking to attract a more casual crowd into the downtown location and diversify Kensington. That’s the new reality, gotta be adaptive.

Had one of our first dinners back out on the Rooftop on Saturday. Luckily they had a table inside for us. The Wagyu tomahawk for 2 was perfection.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Faust

Eat Crow had their soft launch tonight with the full opening taking place next week.

Goodbye Brasserie, Kensington welcomes new Eat Crow:

https://livewirecalgary.com/2020/05/...-new-eat-crow/

We got some of their stuff to go a couple of days ago. A few plates of snack / tapas size things. We sampled their stuff and supplemented with a few of our own veggie preparations.

Hand made perogies (add bacon)
Chick pea fingers with chimichurri
Meat on a stick
Crow Joe (a pulled pork sloppy joe)

Everything was *really good*, flavour wise. Some people would pop up and grope about quantity, but it really was reasonable.

Chick pea fingers themselves were fine, but that one was about the pairing. Nothing beats fresh chimichurri. Nothing.


I think it is what Kensington needs, if Kensington ever becomes what it should. A place you could go and get snacks and a drink or two, then move on.

They have the right idea. Hopefully others follow suit.

[Bigtime]

Signage up at the Midtown site, becoming Scuba Jay's Bar.

www.scubajaysbar.com