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Balance Lounge & Eatery
Categories: Restaurants Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants, Lounges [Edit]
1504 16th Ave SWCalgary, AB T3C 0Z9
(403) 244-9958
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
One review for Balance Lounge & Eatery
1 review in English
-
Review from Dustin H.
2/7/2011 2 photos
There's a theme to most of what goes on at Balance: It's nice, while it lasts.
I frequented this place for about the last two years, primarily because they started to host comedy shows, starting with a single show as part of the 'Comedy Mile' festival, and then later on as a weekly show, 'Going To Hell Sundays' and I've always been impressed in short stints, followed by disappointment.
The food is good... but it seems like they're emphasizing that you're paying for the flavor and presentation, not for the feeling of having just had a meal. If you want a somewhat high priced apitizer, this is the place... if you want to feel satisfied and have any money left over, I'd take a pass on eating here.
The drinks are pretty much what you'd expect, for the price you'd expect, but as a kind of small venue, things like their beer selection suffer a bit.
Speaking of the size of the room, the comedy shows put on here by GTH Sundays were almost beyond reproach and are some of the best in the city... but in a room that seems like it coul MAYBE fit 50 people, with some enginuity and a crowbar, it's hard to get it the kind of crowd that really makes it come across as great as it should.
Another thing that irrates me is the customer service. Out of the 3 bartenders and 5 servers I've delt with in this place, ONE server was ever pleasent to deal with. Most are generally moody, abrupt, and give the distinct impression they don't want to be there. Also, the last two times I was there, despite having used it NUMEROUS times in the past, and the fact that I could SEE the machine on the counter, I was told "We don't take debit" - and yet, somehow, after the ATM in the bar refused to access my account, they somehow found a way to take it again. Hmmmm. I wonder if this has anything to do with the age-old preference in the bar industry for cash, as it tends to encourage people to round up and give better tips. Regardless of the motivation, however, it looked very poorly on their customer service.
Lastly, it seems like every few months there's some sort of scheduling problem, whether there's a lack of staff or management changes, and they mysteriously close their doors on little to know notice, even on what should be the busiest nights of the week. Not a great way to keep an crowd coming.
That being said, the venue has recently decided to sever ties with GTH Sundays, and thus has lost the one reason I tolerate a lot of their over-priced disappointment. I won't likely be back, and would never encourage anybody else to go.
