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Alloy
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
220 42 Ave SECalgary, AB T2G 1Y4
(403) 287-9255
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Welcome to Richmond's Pub! We are a fantastic neighborhood pub. We offer great food, great service and a great venue! The one pub that has it all! Live… read more »
38 reviews for Alloy
Review Highlights
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"...try the: crème brulee ($9), and lemongrass panna cotta ($9." In 2 reviews -
"and the lobster tempura." In 4 reviews -
"Lobster tempura and ahi tuna tartar are my favorite apps." In 2 reviews
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38 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah C.
1/30/2012
Our group of friends has an annual Christmas dinner party, we wanted to go to Redwater but they were all booked up in December so we decided to try Alloy.
We had a later reservation (8pm) and it was tough to get to because there was a train going. Once we arrived however, everyone was impressed. The exterior is like a mod bungalow - very unassuming in a weird industrial part of the city.
The interior is beautiful, and although it was winter, the outside patio was lit up and looked beautiful too - definitely want to go there in the summer and sit on the patio all evening.
Our waitress was fantastic, we had a large party and it was NO trouble at all, she managed us with ease and flair. We ordered the ahi tuna tartar and it was very unique. We love ahi tuna and the flavours were delicious.
I ordered the surf and turf and the man ordered the duck duo. Both meals were fantastic. The flavours were to die for, and the portion size was perfect. Not that gourmet miniature portion, and not home cooking giant steak either.
They ran out of Highland Park scotch while we were there, as many of us ordered it, but found a replacement scotch for us and priced it the same despite it being a more expensive scotch.
Overall, we really enjoyed our experience and our food. Definitely will be going back when its warmer outside so I can sit on the patio. -
Review from Orpha C.
Calgary, AB
5/18/2012
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 and we would not ever request to be sat in her section next time. 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. Too bad because they've seemed to 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. -
Review from Leah L.
12/20/2011 ROTD 5/21/2012
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. -
Review from Jenna-Marie L.
Edmonton, AB
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Mmmmmmm - pretty much sums up my experience at Alloy. I have only been here for lunch once but wow was my lunch of the Tuna Tartar ever sensational. It was perfectly seasoned and the avocado foam was so tasty with it! I love the atmosphere here, very modern meets elegant. When my friend and I arrived we were worried that it was full as there was no parking stalls left in the lot (note: parking lot is a little small) but we were quite delighted to find that the restaurant was larger than expected and there were still tables open. The service was great, and for a place that appears quite high end there wasn't the feeling of pretentiousness which was nice. I really hope to come back and eat here again next time I am in Calgary! There was so many other items on the menu I want to try!
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Review from Aymie R.
Calgary, AB
4/8/2012
I had an absolutely wonderful meal here tonight with my family - one of the best I've had to date in Calgary. We all enjoyed our meals and the service was great. I had the duck two ways - wow! The meat was so tender, it literally fell off the bone. I will definitely be back - love the atmosphere, and can't wait to enjoy a meal on the patio this summer.
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Review from Susanne Z.
Orangeville, ON
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
The truffle gnocchi was my favorite. Very friendly service.
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Review from Richard D.
Orangeville, ON
3/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Strange location but great food.
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Review from Carol K.
10/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
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. -
Review from Starsia E.
Calgary, AB
I called Alloy on at Saturday night and asked for a reservation for five right away. They were very friendly and very accomadint to our last minute needs. When parking and going into the restaurant you might feel a bit turned off by the location and the fact that it looks like a office building from the outside but don't judge a book by its cover. Once you step inside you feel welcome and enjoy the quiet even though the place was pretty full. The host and hostess at the front desk were friendly, funny and nice but not in the fake way some are.
We were seated with a view of the bar which really excited my group because they had some very rare but high class choices such as stoli elite. The bartenders were mixing drinks all night and seemed qualified to make the more difficult choices.
Our waitress was a gift after the rude and loud experience we had at Wurst. She was happy, friendly, helpful and professional. She was quick to answer questions and offer suggestions and we never detected an ounce of attitude. She always had the water glasses full and made sure none of our other drinks were ever empty either. She was attentive and interesting but not annoying.
I felt that my food was mediocre considering the price. My scallops were over cooked and came with a tower of crispy fried carrot or yam (I didn't really eat any) strings. It was a little pretentious and didn't go with the scallops. The Tuna Tartar was bland and clearly not seasoned. My mussels were good. I really enjoyed the flavor of the sauce with sundries tomatoes and fennel. The lamb main that two of our group ordered was perfectly cooked and soft like butter. The pork tenderloin main one of the group ordered was the best dish of them all. It was tender and had a subtle smoky flavor from being wrapped in prosciutto. The last member of our group ordered the breaded duck dish. The flavor of the duck was lost to the breading. We ordered and shared a panacotta and a creme brûlée as the ending to our meal. I felt that the pumpkin spice creme brûlée was the hero to my meal and I would have had another if I could eat that much. The panacotta was rich and flavorful with a slight taste of citrus I'm guessing from lemon.
If I were judging the restaurant soley on service I would have given it a
six out of five but I had to give it the four for having more than two not so
great dish. Still I truly believe Alloy is worth a visit. I plan to go again and try more items. -
Review from Chris P.
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. -
Review from Wendy P.
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.Listed in: Great date spots, A more intimate setting
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Review from Mia T.
11/21/2011
Our office had our annual Xmas party at Alloy this year. Like others have mentioned, its in a non descript building in the industrial aread of Calgary's South East. Inside, the decor is very interesting. Sort of retro 50/60's, with a modern twist.
The service was great and the staff were always on top of our drink orders and refilling our wine.
For apps we had tempura shrimp, mini sliders with papaya chipotle sauce and what I think were chicken balls on a skewer. The chicken balls were alright, but the other two were amazing. The tempura was nice and crunchy, it didnt get soggy in the sauce that accompanied it. The sliders were simple, and although I didnt taste papaya or chipotle in the sauce, they beef was very tender.
For a main I had the beef shortrib. It came with yam crisps, and root veg. The meat was again, tender and delicious, we didnt need anything more than a butter knife to gently cut through it. I wish there were more vegetables on the side. I had a few yam crisps, a slice of red pepper, a slice of zucchini and 2 tiny slices of parsnip.
For dessert, I had the cholado, which was a sorbet. You could tell it was fresh and made with real fruit. The unfortunate part was that the serving was only the size of 3 melon balls.
Although I did enjoy my food, the reason I gave it a 3 stars was because, as others have mentioned the portion sizes were very small. I was lucky to not have had to pay for my meal, but looking a the prices on the menu ahead of time, I feel like some people may feel ripped off a bit. -
Review from Terence F.
Calgary, AB
2/13/2011
Alloy: Good But Not Impressive
The title more or less explains the experience. The service was excellent, the food was good but not great and the desert special was sub par.
Service first of all was excellent despite a busy night. The waiter was very attentive and showed no hesitation for any of the requests made at the table. Top notch (as expect of course given the pricing of the restaurant).
The food was pretty good in all respects. As a fusion restaurant, you are bound to come across dishes with "unique" tastes and textures or just weird combinations that you wouldn't have thought of before.
Me and Lily shared an Avocado and Tomato salad, seared scallops, the seared duck and the recommend valentines desert platter. Plating and appearance was very nice, one of the best places I've seen as far as that goes. All the items were arranged very neatly and looked very appetizing. Onto taste...
Avocado Tomato Salad - I didn't actually try any of this but was told it was quite good, though there was a little less Avocado than expected (maybe around 1/3 of an Avocado?), sauce and textures mixed well and was very tasty.
Seared Scallops - The scallops themselves were very good, cooked perfectly. Its too bad that the pistachio crust was MUCH too salty. To the point where we actually had to scrap the crust of the scallop because the saltiness was just overpowering everything else on the dish and was way too much. This was beyond taste bud stimulation, this was just way too salty.
Seared Duck - Imagine eating a steak that tastes like duck and this is pretty much what you have. The sweet potato dumplings/gnocchi on the side were light and fluffy. The duck itself tasted excellent (though a bit on the tough side) though and the sauce was a bit on the sweet side for me. But otherwise a very flavorful taste of duck.
Onto maybe the only "disappointment" of the night was the recommend desert platter. Well it just simply wasn't really good. It was like eating timbits and chocolate out of a purdy's box. The mini sorbet milkshakes were neat, but the rice pudding, dried figs just didn't do it for us. The cupcake was also on the dry side as well and didn't think it was anything special. Now what we should've done (and our friends did) was order the chocolate trio which looked amazing (chocolate cake, gelato etc...) so sadly their impressive desert made our "recommended" special that much more disappointing.
Summary - On the whole the food was good, save for the disappointing desert recommendation. Service was excellent. But I think somehow I expected a lot more from what people were saying about Alloy and I was coming into here expecting to be blown away. Don't get me wrong, Alloy is a good place to eat, just not spectacular. Also to note that it is a more upscale establishment so expect to pay premium prices and medium to small portions, but the taste and service is definitely there. Would I go back? Sure I would, just probably not very often. -
Review from Queenie M.
Calgary, AB
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! -
Review from Kait K.
Calgary, AB
11/3/2010
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. -
Review from Jason O.
Calgary, AB
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. -
Review from B G.
Calgary, AB
11/29/2011
Definitely overrated.
I've heard positive reviews from a number of people, and had to check it out (went for dinner on November 12th). Appetizers were good, and dinner was average. I had the pasta, and my wife had the duck. Claiming that the pasta is made fresh / in-house, it sure didn't taste that way. My wife's duck was ok - but was nothing to write home about.
As far as ambiance is concerned, for a place that tries to brand itself as a fine dining establishment it was far too noisy and the cuisine was not up to the standard it should be. A superficial glance is appealing, but when you look closer it's really an old building with concrete walls and a very cold/empty feel to it. The pictures on the website look good - but in person it's just not the same. -
Review from josh j.
Calgary, AB
1/26/2012
Location Location Location? - I still can't get used to its location. Within its stylish ambit, some seriously delightful dishes are conjured, and proficiently served, up. It provides a wonderful escape when you're inside, and with its nice design touches providing great atmosphere, you're literally oblivious to where you are, until you step outside. You finish your wonderful feed, then you're thrust out into, and confronted with the aspect of being in, an industrial area. Perhaps this is the intended design irony; I just need more time to get into the juxtaposition of it all.
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Review from Erik F.
Calgary, AB
3/13/2010 ROTD 11/3/2010
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. -
Review from shawn f.
11/4/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Extremely nice atmosphere and delicious food. A little expensive in some arenas but over all a very good experience.
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Review from chris b.
Calgary, AB
10/17/2011
Absolutely a favorite. Very cool, modern setting impresses from the minute you walk in. It gets better from there. Excellent service from everyone there. Very helpful with suggestions and pairings. Excellent wine list as well. A bit more expensive but worth it. Excellent value all around and somewhere I'll be back soon.
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Review from spaniel l.
Calgary, AB
5/18/2009
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. -
Review from Sapna G.
Calgary, AB
10/7/2009 1 photo
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. -
Review from Francois C.
Calgary, AB
1/1/2011
Alloy is by far the coolest restaurant in Calgary right now. Food is amazing, wine list is outstanding, atmosphere is so urban and cool that it makes you wonder if you've left Calgary, and I can't honestly think of a better place for a first date. This is the kind of place to take a girl you want to impress, and even to take people from out of town that are visiting from a big city. Alloy is one of the rare gems in this steakhouse town...
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! -
Review from Rob C.
Okotoks, AB
5/9/2009
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. -
Review from Trish L.
Calgary, AB
9/11/2008
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!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Samantha R.
4/23/2010
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. -
Review from randy k.
Calgary, AB
3/31/2011
Went for a business lunch yesterday with two other people. I had driven by Alloy on numerous occasions but never went in. The restaurant is not what I expected, given the the unique if not odd location. Congrats to the designer, the interior has a very simple elegance, not overdone which is too common these days.
On the recommendation of my colleague I had the short rib tacos. By far the best beef tacos I have ever had, the flavor was fantastic. My colleague had the bison chilli, you have to see this dish to believe it. It does not look like chilli, it looks more like a variation of a corn dog (shape wise). He loved the chilli. The third member of our party had a grilled arctic char salad which he enjoyed. The salad looked great and is definitely on my list of things to try on a future visit. -
Review from Trevor M.
Calgary, AB
4/1/2011
Four friends and myself ate at Alloy for my Birthday dinner last night and I must say I was not overly impressed.
The decor is unique and the atmosphere was cool but that just does not make up for average food at an above average price. If it were not for the food I think I would give this place a 4! But in the end that is what tells the real story for me.
We all tried a different starter, main and we shared a few salads so I can certainly say I gave it a fair chance.
Service was friendly but did not seem overly knowledgeable, no food descriptions or desire created,
Dish presentation was quite nice,
Food was sub par, I kept expecting to be wowed by one of the 12 + dishes we ordered but in the end the candle burnt out and we were left with a hefty bill and disappointed taste buds.
I may go back when the patio is open on a nice day to give it one more shot but that will be long after I try several other places on the bookmark list including some repeats to places like The Muse and Rouge where I would gladly spend my time and money :) -
Review from Calgary Guy A.
Calgary, AB
11/30/2010
Took my wife there for her birthday and was blown away by the appetizers and the dessert. Nice fusion of flavours.
We always have a great time enjoying our meals and I'm leaning to just ordering an array of appetizers the next time because they're all so good.
The Panna Cotta served three ways is simply one of the best desserts I've enjoyed in Calgary -- mixture of hot spice (habanero & red chili) with the sweetness of a decadent Panna Cotta made me crave a return trip just for this dish.
Great service, nice decor, good wine list.
We'll definitely be making a return visit.
Thanks Alloy for another memorable meal. -
Review from Ed I.
12/8/2010
Had the scallop appetizer, Greek salad with calamari for my second dish. Entree consisted of land & sea. In my opinion it was a little overpriced.
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Review from Karen K.
Calgary, AB
10/8/2010
I went here for my staggette and the food was amazing, will definitely go back. The presentation was gorgeous, I was almost unwilling to eat it because it was so pretty, but my taste buds were having none of that! well done Alloy, hats off to you!
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Review from Eugene H.
Calgary, AB
4/10/2010
This was the first restaurant I had the pleasure of dining at when I arrived in Calgary a year ago. The experience was exceptionally positive and pleasant as this was also the first time my wife and I were dining with my new Boss. Since then I have gone a few more times depite the need to book weeks in advance. The restaurant has an exceptionally relaxing and soothing interior design. The service is efficient and good. The food has been exceptional and the wine list is comprehensive. Our dining experience has always been a great one and I have no hesitation recommending this restaurant as one of the finest in Calgary.
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Review from Karlee P.
Okotoks, AB
12/11/2010
My favorite restaurant in Calgary! Lobster tempura and ahi tuna tartar are my favorite apps. I have always had the fish special for dinner and haven't been disappointed once. Miss the coconut crepe though since they changed the menu.
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Review from Rick A.
Ottawa, ON
2/6/2011
Improbable location, great restaurant
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Review from Adam G.
Calgary, AB
3/7/2009
Amazing food and ambiance. Best flavor profiles that I have had in Calgary.
Listed in: Great Dining
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Review from Brad M.
5/9/2009
Odd location but one of the better restaurants I've been to in Calgary. Great service.
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Review from Wes J.
Calgary, AB
8/21/2010
really quite perfect.. The service was not rushed, the server helpful and friendly but not overbearing. The appetizers were not minuscule overpriced nothings but rather tasty multilayer treats. The mains were a reasonable size with awesome veg. The care taken in choosing seasonal specials and veg was a welcome thought. A very nice night and very reasonably priced.
