Am... wassa regular @Alloy. Not any longer. They appear to plate portion sizes based on who you are - child, woman. But charge the same price. That's shady business practice. They want to nickel and dime in this economy. We won't return. read more

Had an amazing Beef Short Ribs dinner at Alloy last night. Was so tender and flavourful. Potatoes were silky smooth. read more

Alloy - braised short rib | tomato & balsamic reduction . butter milk mashed potatoes . green beans - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

My wife and I shared the seared digby scallops for a starter; they were melt-in-your mouth perfect. For mains she had the duck breast with yuzu bread pudding, grilled bok choy, rhubarb and gochujang bbq sauce; I had the braised short rib in tomato & balsamic reduction with white cheddar mashed potatoes and broccolini. Both were plated beautifully, served at the right temperature, and done just right. Everything paired well with a Kiona Vineyards Riesling 2022. For dessert we shared a matcha cheese cake with cookie crumb, yuzu chantilly, and micro anise. Our server was pleasantly attentive throughout the evening, answered all of our questions about the menu, and handled our table of 8 efficiently. The interior is beautiful! We had a superb experience overall. read more

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The food was amazing. We had truffle gnocchi, beet salad, braised short ribs, lamb & carrot cake. Every morsel was absolutely delicious! The only thing I was disappointed in was they served a Moscow mule in a glass, which as anyone who drinks these delicious concoctions knows, changes the taste quite a bit. Besides that, the dinner was fantastic. read more

Alloy was an unexpected find for us in Calgary, in the middle of a industrial area was a little sanctuary with polished plates of delicious food! The space is deceptively beautiful and airy once you got through the darkened foyer. The patio space looked inviting, but unfortunately it was too chilly for us that day. We started the meal with a lovely surprise of some hummus and olives before moving onto a appetizer of truffle gnocchi. Pasta is not usually on the appetizer list, but we could not resist a good gnocchi! I personally loved the port tenderloin in mole sauce, as it stood out with bold brushes of flavor. read more

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Appy was great ginger beef tartare Enchilada bad, inedible Tiramisu exceptional Service slow and kinda dour read more

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I like Alloy! A bit of an obscure location for a fancy restaurant but I guess that's all right. I like the ambience in the restaurant. The customer service was great! The food was good. I had the Beef Short Ribs Tacos, the special lunch feature of the day. It was only $18 but it tasted really, really good! The other food item that was ordered in my party was the Lamb Meatloaf. It was pretty good as well. Will be back again! read more

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Amazing Valentine's set menu experience. The menu was extended to the weekend since Valentine's was actually during the week. The waitress was hands down one of the best and I told her so. Her passion for service and knowledge of wine pairings with meals were exceptional. She truly enjoyed talking and discussing it all with prompt attention. We also were able to meet with one of the owners who came by our table based on my request of any referrals for delicious soup dumplings. With an interest in Asian food and experiences, he shared his travel experiences as well as his "picks" in the city. Honestly, we could have talked for days. The food was served with just the right amount of time to savor in between the courses and were presented impeccably. It was truly one dine-in that was about the entire food experience! read more

Alloy - Alloy Valentine's menu...pre-fixed, perfect pacing, just right! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Generally good food with a nice atmosphere. Service is kind and attentive. We got the surf and turf, truffle gnocchi, and shared the short rib main. Surf and turf was kind of weird and probably wouldn't get it again. It came with lobster tempura, beef tartare, and wonton crisps. The tempura was fantastic, however the tartare was a bit bland. It wasn't bad paired with the crisps and ketchup, although the pairing with the lobster didn't seem like the best fit. Would get something else next time. The truffle gnocchi was amazing. Tender gnocchi in white sauce with mushrooms and truffle oil. The flavour of the truffle was strong but not overpowering. A great dish and would certainly get it again. The short rib was fantastic as well. The sever even had it split for us onto two plates even though we hadn't asked for it; a nice touch. It came with Parmesan mashed potatoes and mixed roasted carrots and shallot. The potatoes were fantastic, although not sure I could taste Parmesan. I love all roasted vegetables so enough said there. Short rib was tender and delicious. A great dish as well. Would probably get something else next time as there were many good sounding mains, but it is one is certainly have again. The only annoying thing was that they slipped us the $8 sparkling water at the beginning without any indication of price. A bit unfair to ask "still or sparkling" with such a massive difference in price, but then again you don't come to a place like this with budget in mind. Overall it's more of a 4.5/5 experience due this. read more

Alloy - Truffle gnocchi - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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The Ambiance here is so unique and the service is just TOP NOTCH!! Not a cheap place to go but man was this some of the best food I've had in Calgary! read more

We've been going to Alloy now several times each year. The quality and experience have remained excellent. I've only ever had one issue, and when I brought it up, it was dealt with respectfully and very satisfactorily. I anticipate going to Alloy for many years to come. PS - If it's on the menu, get the truffle Gnocchi!! read more

This is a bit of a unique review because Alloy was our wedding / reception venue in 2017. What? a wedding venue? yes - it's the perfect spot for a smaller wedding (130ppl or less). So many reasons why you should go to Alloy or book it for your next event: The people: 1. The owner is super friendly + accommodating 2. very friendly + professional staff (all night long) 3. They already have relationships with vendors which makes planning pretty straightforward 4. Super helpful with menu planning and flexible with various diner diet requirements The space(s): Patio - heated patio (overhead heaters) - a few water features++ - fully enclosed (on the sides, not above) for the right amount of privacy - exterior speakers which is always a nice touch (and you can plug in your own music player) - enough chairs to seat the VIP's / older members of your family or pregnant friends etc. -raised area from which you can say your vows + get great pictures etc. - fully accessible with ramps Main dining room -already decorated very well, so we didn't need to add too much ie. flowers + center pieces - varying table sizes which was helpful for planning - seats 105 in the main room, with room to move around - good acoustics (we had a live singer) + wireless mic setup for our MC + speeches The bar area + related services - perfectly setup to host a dance party - old school "cocktail" movie vibe with pink fluorescent lettering behind the bar - they made his / her cocktails special for the night - no crazy markup on drinks - reasonable wine bottle pricing (this is not the norm!) Other: 1. Minimal deposit: 1k 2. Can adjust timing of your event up to 2 weeks out with NO cancelation fee 3. Tons of parking 4. Great outdoor area in front for photos read more

Celebrating my better half's birthday. Been a while since we've dined at Alloy but he picked the place. Very disappointed with the food and service last night. My medium tenderloin was sliced in half- big mistake as that drained all of its moisture, left is so dry- chewing it was dreadful. Roasted beet salad was ok, could have used ricotta over camembert cheese and more herbs. Tartare was way too cold, came out scooped. May have been over-minced the day prior to service that its consistency is almost as if it was ground and chilled. Not sure if the true concept for the tartare was to simulate a tostada because of the toppings and the combination of flavours had a clear resemblance to the popular mexican/latin american dish. Service was poor, hostess and the waitress weren't warm, inviting and did not have much knowledge of the food. The short rib however, has been consistent- flavourful, tender. Now overall, every item on the menu was overpriced for the overall quality and experience you're getting. We rushed to get the bill, left our meals half eaten and did not bother with dessert. It has completely ruined our evening. We have eaten at almost every place in the city- fine dining or cheap eats and I have not been as disappointed at a restaurant rated 4.6 stars on google. I'm sorry Alloy but I doubt that we'll come back. The drive itself to your location was not at all worth my time. read more

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Don't blink or you might miss this place. Seriously, it's tucked away off of Macleod Trail, behind a hotel and in the middle of an industrial area. The inside does not match the outside. It's so much better :). I was here for lunch, and what a treat. From the decor to the food to the service, aces all around. I had their lunch special, which was a bacon wrapped seared salmon on sweet potato gnocchi with arugula. The flavours fit so nicely together. Hat's off to the chef. I finished up lunch with the panna cotta. This was split into three different small servings with a unique sauce and piece of fruit on each. The mango habanero had a nice kick to it. I'll be back to try the patio next summer. Alloy gets four and a half yums up. read more

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Food: 4.5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Overall experience: 4.5/5 (1- Terrible; 3- decent; 5- Fantastic) After two failed attempts to find an oyster restaurant (Embarcadero and Catch were closed), my friend decided to take me to Alloy since I haven't been there. It's located in the most obscure place- I would have never found this restaurant just by driving along the main roads. Once I entered, the restaurant was very warm and inviting with an unpretentious feel to it. The décor is contemporary with an Asian flare, and includes a cute little patio for those who like to soak up the sun. You also get an amazing glimpse at their vast wine selection next to the entrance. Despite the noise from other tables and how it was sometimes hard to hear my friend talk, it was a very cozy place to have dinner. The service was top notch. Our server was very friendly and made some great recommendations for food and wine. He was attentive, yet not overbearing; giving my friend and I time to talk. We selected a wonderful cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley, California ($80/bottle) based on our server's recommendation for a nice dry red wine. I'm not much of a red wine drinker but I enjoyed this one very much because it was nicely balanced and easy to drink. What I especially enjoyed about my experience was the complimentary homemade naan bread with hummus and olives (instead of your typical bread and butter). The hummus was alright nothing too special- kind of bland and needed a bit more lemon. First up were appetizers. We had ordered the: pistachio crusted seared scallops with corn cream and yam crisps ($18); lobster tempura with a citrus ponzu (Japanese sauce) and pickled vegetable slaw ($19); ahi tuna tartar with chimichurri soy and wonton crisps ($15); and rock crab cakes with a yellow tomato emulsion and grilled pineapple salsa ($18). The seared scallop dish came with two large scallops cooked perfectly, and was divine when paired with the sauce. I would have licked up all the sauce if I wasn't saving room for the rest of my meal. I don't like my food too salty so I thought this dish was well seasoned. I highly recommend this as an appetizer. The lobster tempura was a whole lobster tail that cooked perfectly (not rubbery) and lightly battered so you could still taste the flavours of the food-I absolutely hate over breaded tempura. I wasn't too fond of the pickled vegetable slaw which was pickled carrots in a vinegary sauce. The ahi tuna wasn't anything special, kind of underwhelming - fresh ahi tuna combined with cilantro topped with fresh guacamole. The crab cake starter came with two cakes which on its own was quite salty but paired with the yellow tomato emulsion and pineapple salsa was a great compliment and balanced dish. For our mains we ordered the featured fish special, and surf and turf ($42). I forgot the name of the fish featured but it was similar to a swordfish. The dish was mediocre- I found the fish kind of bland and like a swordfish, it was too dense for my liking. The surf and turf comprised of a moist, succulent beef tenderloin and a lobster spring roll which had more of a potato-like texture (I only had a small bite since I was getting full at this point). Bewarned, the sauce has a little spicy kick to it with a distinguishable taste of coriander. I love to eat, and I especially love dessert so I saved enough room to try the: crème brulee ($9), and lemongrass panna cotta ($9). I have to say, Alloy's crème brulee is the best I've had so far with a silky custard that melted in your mouth. It came in two flavors: butterscotch and summer peach. The butterscotch crème brulee was my favourite since it had a wonderfully deep and rich flavor. I gobbled this portion up while my friend had the summer peach which was very light and refreshing with a hint of peaches and lemon. I always hear about panna cotta but never had the chance to try it until now. It was very smooth, creamy, and light and was paired with three kinds of sauces: lulo jalapeno, mango habanera, and guava chilli. Surprisingly, the sauces tasted fruity with a hint of pepper which added a nice kick and enhancement to the flavours. The lulo jalapeno sauce was too exotic tasting for me so I didn't finish. I highly suggest either of these desserts to try. Overall, I enjoyed my first experience at Alloy's very much. A few dishes were a little underwhelming in taste but the presentation of the food was absolutely beautiful. I also liked how our food came out in a reasonable amount of time with our first starters coming out within 10min after ordering. Definitely worth a visit for fine dining and awesome service! read more

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One word sums up my experience at Alloy: SPECTACULAR. From the moment we walked in, to the moment we left, every single aspect of this restaurant was top notch. The service, the decor, the ambiance, the food, the drinks, the dessert and the farewell, EVERYTHING was exceptional. I was with a large group of people and the GM of the restaurant even paid us a special visit and took us down to the wine cellar. He showed us around and explained the vast array of wine that they carry, and why they offer reduced prices on the wine. The reason is because they want to give people a reason to come to Alloy...well TRUST Me, the reduced prices of the wine is not the ONLY reason to go! I wasn't sure we were in the right place driving over... It's in an industrial area in the S.E., which is a strange location for a restaurant that is so grand, but it just works. It's a gem in the middle of nowhere...literally! I wouldn't hesitate to take the trip up to the boonies of the S.E. to make another visit to Alloy. It truly is everything you can hope a five star restaurant to be. read more

Alloy - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

I think I had very high expectations with this restaurant after all the reviews and recommendations from friends... Even when it was not bad, It was nothing special, as I thought it should be... The ceviche is just ok, a little plain for my taste, and too much tomatoes... The duck foie gras and the duck sausages were great. The lamb was good too... The service definitely should be better... The main dishes took a long time in arriving.. And they were just ok... Not terrible but nothing outstanding... The pheasant was not special at all....The pork was not bad and the ribs just ok... I don't think I will go back here... read more

Alloy - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Finally had an opportunity to head back to Alloy and this time for dinner. We were there a little earlier so the restaurant was quiet but filed up pretty quickly with a diverse group of people. I just love this restaurant and cant praise their food enough - especially now that I have tried the tasting menu which changes all the time. 7 courses for $85 each, you can also do a wine pairing with that but forget how much it was as we had a cocktail to start (amazing and delicious they both were) and then a bottle of wine. They have a large selection of wine so was happy to have some helpful recommends from the waitress. Our waitress also mentioned that their tasting menu is a chance for each of the different chefs in the kitchen to shine. They all have an opportunity to craft one of the dishes per menu so that everyone has a chance to showcase their talents and ideas. Love the inclusion of that as many kitchens don't operate like that. 1st. amuse bouche of the day which was a date wrapped in prosciutto with 2 different sauces on the plate. Holy man what a taste sensation! so glad I didn't make this one bite just so that it lasted longer and I could get all the sauce 2nd. seared king salmon with this delightful salad-ish topping of citrus, fennel and herb sauce. Delicious. 3rd. large portion of seared tuna with togarashi aioli, miso vinigrette and picked ginger, with edemame peas and rocket. Honestly meal could have stopped there. My mouth still waters thinking of it! 4th. thin cut portion of wagu chuck flat steak with chimichurri and jalapeno emulsion - overall not my favourite but anything that came after that tuna was never going to compete. 5th. Sorbetto to clean the palate - real surprise here as it was liquid and served in a shot glad. Pomegranate flavour and super sweet. Think the sweetness was a bit might but also quite a surprise. Did a surprisingly good job as a palate cleanser considering the sweetness though. 6th. Striploin with a drumbui glaze, topped with thin sliced mushrooms and served on duck fat mashed potatoes. that mash! That gravy! Everything was sooooo good! 7th. coconut panna cotta, fresh berries and a rose water syrup (so thats what you do with rose water?) - was a really nice taste difference with the coconut but more of a pudding than pana cotta as it was quite runny. Still super tasty thought. Would I go back? Every day if someone else paid. This restaurant is great for date night as well as a mini celebration with some friends. The patio outside in the little garden is great in summer and the inside is beautiful. If you have never been - Go or get someone to take you! read more

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4* for rack of lamb app 2* for tuna ceviche (which wasn't even a ceviche but more of a tartare...no acid whatsoever - and soooo bland). I wanted the lobster tempura, i didn't see it on the menu nice decor and atmosphere. old office environment that's been transformed. Menu is pretty basic for entrees... pheasant, beef, pork, fish... Service was Excellent! read more

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It was my second visit to Alloy, this time for the Valentines day menu. My husband had asked the restaurant to surprise me with some beautiful orchids and hydrangeas on our table. They came through with a beautiful floral arrangement. We were given a tuna tar tar amuse bouche, which was nice and flavourful. It definitely amused my bouche, I would have ordered a whole plate of it, had there not been a 5 course meal coming. The Valentine's day 2016 menu: There was a special pink girly cocktail, which sounded right up my alley, but I enjoy mixing cocktails at home and could probably make that any time, so tonight my husband and I shared a bottle of wine; a Syrah and Grenache blend that was fruit-forward and a bit bold. Delish! Textures of carrot to start, which was surprisingly divine! We were advised to begin with the sorbet, and move to the puree, then roasted tri-colour carrot slices and a crisp carrot chip. Moving gradually through the different textures from cold to warm to hot which was an interesting sensation. Next came a to die for Truffle and Cauliflower Risotto which came cooked perfectly and in a decent sized portion. Lobster two ways, was lobster filling in a yummy (all be it petite) nero crepe (blackened with ink from cuddle-fish) and three small lobster tail pieces about the size of shrimp. Bison strip loin served rare (so perfectly flavorful and juicy) with brussel-sprouts. My only complaint was that I had hoped to have a larger portion of at least this course if not others as well. I expected that with five courses most would be tiny portions, but every portion was fairly small... even compared to other fine dining five course meals that I have had in the past few months. For desert a Flourless Chocolate Cake with hazelnut gelato and pistachio meringue. So delish! Whenever there is a set Valentine's day menu at a restaurant, I get excited. Yes, it's easier for the staff, but it's also something different from what you could get any other day! Our server was of course very busy but others would deliver our next course on time, and he would come by to add a special comment about this course. He was charismatic and funny, yet not overly familiar, and offered just the right amount of attention, without feeling intrusive at all. (Although, with a 5 course meal you expect to be interrupted, but I still say he was great). read more

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From the outside this place doesn't look like a restaurant and considering it's name and the fact that it's where the Fairmont Resorts offices used to be it's no surprise that you may think its just another oil and gas co. However, once you get inside you're into swankville. The decor is very clean and polished. The large windows on the one side of the dining area makes for a nice natural feeling. I met up with some former colleagues for lunch a couple weeks ago. I had the tacos (see photo). DELICIOUS! They were well put together and the portion size was perfect. Our server was cheerful and friendly and was always at the table right when we needed her, but she was never intrusive. Overall an excellent experience. read more

Alloy - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Solid restaurant, I came on my last night in Calgary because it was right next door to my hotel. I really wanted to try Model Milk but was still closed due to the flooding downtown. Came here on a Wednesday around 7pm and the place was pretty full so I was excited to try this place out. They bring out pita bread with hummus and olives to start which was more refreshing than just a loaf of bread. If the pita was warm it would have been a lot better. I started my night off with a cocktail (Stagecoach) it was very tasty, a good stiff cocktail. I then started off with the wagyu beef with quail egg which was good but not great. The wagyu came out more raw than rare (which I don't mind). However, the fat was more raw as opposed to marbled in the meat which caused parts of the fat to be too chewy instead of melting like butter. My main course was the pork which was actually very delicious. It was a thick cut, bone in, and was still juicy and flavorful. There was a little bit of fat on some of the edges which fitted nicely with the meat. Overall I would say this was a pretty solid meal, I definitely would have given it 5 stars if each dish were slightly less expensive (maybe like $2-$3 less). read more

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Despite the fact that it is known for having a fabulous patio (in the summer), for some reason Alloy comes to mind every December. I hosted a Christmas Party here in 2009, had quite a few lunches and again this year I seem to be back in December. Maybe I find the decor warming and cozy, or perhaps the wine wall is something I would like to take home one day or it feels like outside inside. Owner Uri Heilik and gang have made this a favorite spot away from the beaten path of downtown dining. I brought with me some Alloy newbies for lunch this time and like newbies before them - they loved every minute and taste of it! Save room for dessert. read more

Alloy - Today's lunch @alloyrestaurant - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

We went there with a few friends for the first time and enjoyed every bit of it. The cocktails were well made, balanced in ingredients and liquor and beautifully served. I ordered gnocchi as a starter which was possibly the best I'd ever had. For the main course, I ordered the Icelandic cod. The server said it was a new item on their menu. It was very tasty quite different with the cod is HD before. The dessert was good too, but a bit in the heavy side, so I'd recommend sharing. One of the most important reasons we loved the experience was the server's excellent work. She was very knowledgeable on the menu and experienced on how to recommend food and drink items. I strongly recommend it. read more

In the Calgary fine-dining scene, Alloy proved to be a disappointment given high expectations and a high price point, with good service being the one redeeming factor. Alloy is an unusual restaurant. It's located in an industrial area off McLeod, a building with a non-descript exterior and nearly no signage. Once inside though, it's a classy, upscale joint. The ambiance was modelled after a cherry blossom theme (whether seasonal or not, this is arguably the wrong season for that particular theme, but I digress). Since it was a rare occasion, the two of us opted for the Alloy Tasting Menu; 5 courses at $100 pp. At this price point for 5 courses, $100 is definitely on the higher end of high end. I started with Alloy's rendition of a Pimm's Cup, which proved to be a really decent cocktail, priced at $12. Not bad! The Amuse Bouche we were offered was a steak tartare - pretty good but nothing to write home about. Followed by a potato bacon soup, which I thought was a little provincial for an expensive tasting menu, but it was also pretty decent. Then came a poached pear with a salad with balsamic vinaigrette and blue cheese - again, unremarkable for a tasting menu with exception of the fact that the pear was actually notably underpoached. The 3rd course was a prawn..... curry dish. This was a real let down. The "prawns" were small-medium shrimp that had been WAY overdone such that the flesh was chewy and rubbery (a mortal sin in seafood!!!), and there were literally three of them. What a disappointment. My friend got a truffle mushroom gnocchi, which was miles better than the prawn dish. The "palate cleanser" was a true abomination. it was a glob of wild berry sorbet inside a small glass of prosecco - what??? Before the main, meat course? I didn't even finish this. Quoting my friend, as I would never say something rude like that, "please tell the chef this was trashy". The main meat course was two small triangles of beef tenderloin, with portabello mushrooms and a squash puree. Again, nothing at all to write home about, other than it was average at a smaller than expected portion size (even considering the tasting menu style). Unfortunately, the disappointment didn't end there. The dessert course was a vanilla sponge cake - the cake was dry as paper and whether that was intentional or because it was stale, I will never know, as I didn't finish it. The service was redeeming. Our server was pleasant, understanding, and friendly. Service was paced appropriately, jackets were taken, etc. Given that the price point is high for a 5 course tasting menu, the quality of the food and creations must necessarily be great to be satisfactory. Unfortunately, Alloy fell clearly short of expectations. There are many great places to try tasting menus at a premium price point - and Alloy proved not to be competitive. (As a contrast, consider anew table, which while having a different vibe, offers a delicious, premium 5 course at $70 if memory serves me right.) If I ever try Alloy again, there will have to be a really good reason to. read more

We've spent my birthday week trying a new restaurant every night, as my family gave me a gift of not having to cook for 10 days. Alloy was the final try on our list. We very much looked forward to it. Wow what a disappointment! Chef? Do you actually have a chef, Alloy? $49 for 2 pieces of tough tenderloin each the size of a Toonie. The roast chicken should be called roast shoe leather with sugary bbq sauce smothered on it. It's an attack on the senses not in a good way AT ALL. The heirloom carrots must have received shock treatments because they were lifeless. The whipped potato was watery. I WISH I could give this negative stars. People who eat here and call it good, obviously think a high price tag automatically must equal quality food and dining experience. Alloy is by far the worst dining experience we've not enjoyed in Calgary. read more

Went here for lunch this week and was very happy. We started with the beet salad and it was large enough to share. Real nice start to the meal. I had the crispy chicken sandwich and it was De-lish-ous! The chicken was so crispy and juicy. Outstanding. And the thin fries....I could eat those every day, every meal. My partner had the red snapper and it too was very good. Nice size portion of fish with a curry coconut broth, potatoes, etc. The decor is clean and warm and the service is top notch. Except for the hostess who didn't offer to take our coats and looked and acted like she hated her job. I would have given Alloy 5 stars if not for the hostess' behaviour. She is the first point of contact so she needs to put on her happy face. I will definitely come back. read more

The restaurant is located in an industrial area - I guess cheap rent. Interior decorations & design is nice but certainly not high class standard. At the entrance, the hostess didn't offer to take our coats. That alone already knocks down a knot in the industry. As regarding to food, I can only say it's extremely pricey for its cooking quality. We ordered the following: Greek salad with calamari - $16.00. Appetizer. Calamari batter is DRIED & SALTY. Prawns & melon - $19.00. Appetizer. There is no prawns for that size; it is size 31/40 shrimps. Water melon is not bad 'coz it is marinated in chili. Lobster tempura - $22.00. Appetizer. Batter - thumbs down. Lobster is SALTY. Beef short ribs are extremely SALTY. $32.00. Beef tenderloin - $49.00. Good. Mashed potatoes is nothing to rave about. Halibut - $45.00. Bottom of fish is DRIED & hard. Extremely disappointed. Our server is good. read more

I just relocated to Calgary and have been treated to many of the city's restaurants by my new colleagues. So far, this one is my favorite spot. It's in kind of an odd location off MacLeod Trail, a little south of downtown. But right when you walk up to and through the door, you can tell there's something different, and unique, about this place. It feels like a late 60s Asian-inspired lounge. The lighting and decor are stellar. We had a group of five so we ordered quite a few appetizers for the table. We got the mussels, vegetarian empanadas, seared scallops, roast duck pot stickers. and the lobster tempura. They were all fantastic. The flavor combinations and presentation were some of the best I've had anywhere. The pot stickers and scallops were probably my favorites. For my entree, I had the beef short rib. It literally fell off the bone. Our server, who was tremendously polite and helpful, went out of her way to discuss how each dish is prepared and also told us a lot about the techniques the chef uses to make his dishes all his own. The wine and cocktails list is also excellent. Again, our server was very helpful in finding a good wine pairing. Not only is this my favorite restaurant in Calgary (so far), it's one of my favorite restaurants period. I cannot wait to go back. Very highly recommended. read more

Went here for dinner , based on a recommendation from a friend. For starters, we had lobster tempura (well executed dish, interesting flavors) and PEI mussels (lovely sauce) - fantastic starters As for our main dish, 1) the seared duck -potato gnocchi was good but the duck was dry 2) halibut was ok Overall, the starters were interesting but unfortunately the mains were not strong enough to hold against the starters- at least for me. The bottom line is that I enjoyed the starters over the mains. Thus I give it 3.5 stars. read more

Great experience...four of us went out for my friend's 25th birthday. The drinks were great and admittedly we were drunk before our appey even hit the table. I felt an instant affection for our server who strongly resembled my awesome wedding photographer...but anyways she was great. We had three surf and turfs and my man had some sort of fish...by far the most perfectly cooked and gigantic scallop I've encountered, the meat was perfect. The accompaniments were seasonal and well prepared. We shared some great sorbet before we stumbled out of there. The restaurant is beautiful on the inside, looks like a big nothing from the outside. The staff were patient with my loud but well meaning crowd and we left on a cloud. I highly recommend for a special occasion or special date. read more

First thing I must mention is that they use tap water and do not purify it. I sat down for lunch, the server brought over water and I looked at it and it was actually yellow. I sniffed it and it had a horrible odor. When I asked the server if they used a purifier, she looked surprised and said, "No, but I can bring you bottled water. I don't think anybody in Calgary purifies their water." I asked her if they cooked with tap water and she said that yes, they did. I was very surprised by this because at this time of year (May) there is runoff and it is common knowledge that the water quality is poor. When my friends arrived, one of them ordered a bottle of water, only to find out at the end of the meal when we got the tab that it was $8 and it maybe supplied 2 1/2 glasses of water. Secondly, there was an odor of fish in the restaurant that I noticed upon my arrival and when my friends arrived, it was the first thing they mentioned so that wasn't good. It really did smell quite foul. The food - I made sure I ordered something that wouldn't be using tap water as an ingredient so I ordered the hummus, which was alright. It came with plenty of naan bread and a bowl of olives. Nothing spectacular but good enough. Pitted olives would have been a treat because most of the olives were miniature olives so very little "olive meat" around the pit. Kind of a pain. One of my friends ordered the fish and chips and she said that the panko crust was so tough that she could barely chew it. My other friend ordered the beef tacos and ate the filling but not the shells. She said that the beef had good flavor. The service - I guess the server was miffed at my comments over the water and my refusal to spend $8 for the bottled water, which she really tried to talk me into ordering, because she pretty much vanished after my friends arrived. We had to go up to the hostess to ask for assistance in getting some service. She finally returned to take our order and that went fine but she didn't have much to say to us but that's okay. Also, as I was leaving the restroom, I was coming towards our table when another server crossed in front of me, instead of letting me pass before proceeding to a table to clean it off. All in all, service was very disappointing and not the type of service one would expect at a restaurant that charges such high prices. We don't mind paying for quality food and quality service. I will probably never return but I think if I heard they'd made some changes that I would give it another change, due to the fact that the first couple times the previous year were good experiences. It seems they have gone downhill from last year. Even the interior isn't what it was last year and seems to need a fresh coat of paint or something. Overall, it just wasn't a pleasant experience. read more

Not horrible but not amazing. Nothing to write home about. Went here and ordered the scallop, cod, and chocolate dessert. The scallops were "ok" in a curry but the curry flavor covered up the scallop flavor so that was kinda a bummer. The cod was "ok" it was a generous portion but lacked ingenuity or unique flavor. The chocolate dessert again was just A LOT of chocolate things on one plate. I feel this place is the typical Calgary marketing hype and "scene" without delivering on the food. Again, not a bad meal but for the same price point there are much better restaurants in town. Service was good. read more

Went there for a friend's birthday party. Thet set up tables for us before arriving. My friend didn't like the concept of big square and empty in the middle. Service is super nice, didn't charge cut cake fee is a plus. Enough space for 20 People. Food wise, I don't think they Are extraordinary and worth the money we spent. A friend said last time she was here menu was different and better. Not worth to take risk and try again for next menu. read more

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As George Takei would say, "Oh Myyyy!" This is truly a gorgeous place. You would never expect a shack hidden behind the Holiday Inn on MacLeod to be as posh as it is. The round white banquettes, mirrors and pink back-lit walls makes this place a little gem in a not-so-happening area. The concept of this restaurant is very unique. The owners of this place have Mediterranean and Latin backgrounds and it definitely shows in the menu. I was impressed with how they were able to incorporate asian ingredients into the menu without feeling out of place. Good job with that. The menu was simple and unpretentious. Unlike some restaurants, especially some Italian ones *cough* CAPO *cough*, I did not feel the pressure to order 865986 courses. In fact, they offer complimentary pita, hummus, and olives. I must say, BEST OLIVES EVER. I thought that all olives tasted like Safeway olives, but I was wrong! I also liked the pine nuts on top of the hummus. Nice touch. My lamb was perfectly medium-rare, my mother's risotto was exactly al-dente, and the lemongrass panna cotta was the right amount of sweet I needed at the end of my meal. Big thumbs up for being quiet. One thumb down for waiting almost an hour for my meal, but all is forgiven. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Some good friends took my wife and myself out for dinner for our birthdays last nite. I had never been to alloy before but be assured that I will go back. The service was excellent from the greeting at the door to our server who proved to be friendly, cheerful and professional. The food was terrific! The presentation, flavor and portion size was top notch. If you love good food, this is it. The only negative was that the noise level was to high to enjoy easy conversation. read more

I was taken to Alloy for a business lunch recently and I was absolutely amazed. It took us a while to actually find it because the exterior is so non-descript and since it is in the industrial area of McLeod Trail. When we finally found it and parked, we were utterly thrilled with what we found inside! What a beautiful space! Reminscent of a California bungalow from the 1960s, this bright and lovely pink & white space is ultra-glamourous without being pretentious. No need to worry about a dress-code either -- everyone there was pretty business casual. All three courses were incredible, especially the dessert. They really put effort into creating dynamic and perfectly designed plates. Unique dinnerware assists in that, making little grids of brulees and dips. The staff was really great, despite how busy it was in there. Very attentive and nice. I heard that they just launched a new menu so I would love to go back again to check it out. Maybe in the evening to suss out the dinner-time vibe. read more

Beautiful decor... excellent service. Food was very, very good.... It wasn't the most memorable meal I've ever had... but for Calgary standards, I'd say you almost can't beat it. This is one of the most popular new restaurants in town. You definitely can't get in without a reservation, especially on weekends. The food was perfectly cooked. The only thing stopping me from giving it 5 stars is that while the flavours were very good and well-balanced, it didn't have any wow-factor (eg. unique combination of flavours or creativity like what you get from renown chefs) like what I have experienced in renown fine-dining restaurants abroad. I'd definitely come back to Alloy again! read more

Absolutely my new favorite restaurant in Calgary. The menu is delightfully gourmet, the ambiance is beautiful, and the location is quite difficult to locate but creates a great exclusivity about it. I remember the soup I had was like an avocado bisque, and I also remember the dual flavored creme brulee. This place truly is a gem, and the food is exquisite, I cannot wait to come back this summer and have it again. read more

Alloy is officially my new favorite restaurant in Calgary! It offers perfectly balanced meals with an incredible array of flavors. Everything is perfectly cooked - the beef and chicken were tender and flavorful - and the sides provided the perfect accompaniment to make the dishes really shine. If you're looking for an impressive wine list, high quality ingredients, upscale dishes and fine flavors this is the restaurant for you! I personally highly recommend the chicken supreme (it has a delicious cherry chili sauce) and the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. read more

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