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Murrieta's West Coast Bar & Grill
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
808 1 St SWCalgary, AB T2P 1M9
(403) 269-7707
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
16 reviews for Murrieta's West Coast Bar & Grill
16 reviews in English
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Review from Ken S.
Calgary, AB
8/14/2011
Had a colleague in town last week and thought I'd give the expense account a workout and take him out for a nice dinner. I've been to Murrieta's a few times and always have been impressed so thought I'd make an encore visit...very happy I did.
I arrived a little early so took a seat at the bar. The mixologist made me an AMAZING Bloody Mary (actually he made me two since one wasn't quite enough). Perfectly spiced, flavored and nicely garnished with a tangy pickled green been!
Once my guest arrived we made our way to the center dining room. I should provide some background...Murrieta's is in a heritage building that many years ago was home to the Alberta Hotel. Its a beautiful two story sandstone and in the center of the building where what I assume used to just be the roof of the main floor they've added a dinning room with a glass ceiling. On a summer evening it has an almost patio feel to it.
Our waitress (my apologies for not remembering her name...this is what happens when you don't yelp quickly!) was great! Very friendly but never intrusive. She was quite insightful with helping to pick the wine (the Barnett Pinot Noir which was very nice) and did a great job in keeping our glasses topped.
As important as the service is I come to a restaurant to eat and Murrieta's like always impressed. Given my previous liquid appetizer I went straight to the main course. The special that night was a wild boar chop with scalloped potatoes. OMG it was tasty. The boar had bacon reduction sauce and was so tender. Between the meat and potatoes I'm ashamed to say I wasn't able to finish the vegetables (a generic but none the less well prepared trio of carrots, broccoli and cauliflower).
Given the hearty serving unfortunately no room for desert. Probably for the best as it only would have meant extra time on the elliptical. -
Review from Krista B.
Calgary, AB
1/29/2012
The stone work in this building creates an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. I love that we just showed up and found a seat in the lounge-which has the same menu as the restaurant and we could catch the hockey and golf that was on. The seating was well spaced and I didn't feel like we were sitting with the tables next to us-it felt comfortable and private and the fireplace was an added bonus of comfort in this cold city.
The menu options were okay--I was hoping for a few more options. We started with the Trio of Dips for $9--They were Balsamic Glazed Ratatouille, Butternut Squash Hummus, and Roasted Eggplant, Feta, Mint, and Spinach. It came with grilled flat bread. Our appie was a bit disappointing as it was lacking in flavour.
For dinner I had pasta. The Tiger Prawn Tagliatini--Red Thai Curry, Coconut and Kaffir Lime Cream--it was really good-lots of flavour and veggies!
My husband chose the 1/2 chicken. He felt that it was not half a chicken and there were only 3 small potatoes--his food was bland--so he dived into mine. I always seem to share--like it or not!
I would definitely go back-great food, excellent service, and I love the atmosphere! -
Review from Agnes C.
Love the atmosphere! Such a nice place to go to for a nice outing. The open roof top is what really made me fell in love with this place. Food is awesome. Service is attentive and friendly.
We ordered an appetizer to share (if you have been reading my reviews, you probably know what appie I ordered) - Calamari. This is not disappointing at all. Very tasty and good portion for an appetizer. Main course - I ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad....best salad I ever had!! The Ahi Tuna was so fresh and the dressing for the cold soba was creamy and yet light. Mmmm mmmm it was delicious.
This is a great place for a date night!! -
Review from Cornelius V.
Calgary, AB
5/31/2011
Went here on a saturday night. Incredible interior unlike no other bland banal place in this city. Asked for a caesar. Weak as fuck. Asked for some scotch, charged precisely by the ounce and with no double/trip.quad discount(booooooo) also served in a douchey glass. Bartender was a good guy, but he was the only one behind the bar ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. Place full of cougars and their bored assed husbands. Decent cover band playing covers. Oh, and there were TVs inside this historic bar. Yes. TVs. Playing sportscenter. What the hell is wrong with bars these days.
It's a pretty typical west coast canadian place: expensive, unnecessary tvs, weak drinks, and short staffed.
The patio looks cool, however. -
Review from Zain K.
9/11/2010
Fabulous decor and service, but I can't say I was terribly impressed with the food. I came with a party of eight, and we all concurred that the meal was mediocre and overpriced. I ordered the "West Coast Bouillabaise", which actually had more fingerling potatoes (!?) in it than seafood. I suppose the potatoes were what made it "West Coast", but to me they just made it seem a little unrefined (and certainly made it cheaper to produce than the real deal). I also got a dinner salad, which again was unspectacular (as was the bread served with it, which was stale).
On a more positive note, those who ordered dessert seemed to enjoy it. -
Review from Brad G.
Calgary, AB
1/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a joint!
My gal and I have darkened their doorstep on a number of occasions--for just drinks, as well as for the whole shebang--and it's never once disappointed!
Drinks:
The frequent live music courtesy of either a small 3 or 4 piece or their sensational piano man (who, for a small tip, will play anything you throw at him--although my appetite for Billy Joel does play to his strengths) always entertains. Feel free to dance if the music takes you there! Wine and beer selection is vast, and even the lower tier offerings are thoughtful and interesting rather than just being "economical".
Sitting along their balcony in the summer is nearly an unbeatable spot to watch downtown shenanigans--particularly during Stampede.
Dinner:
I've eaten from their frequent features menu--usually highlighting the fruits of a particular harvest season--and never gone wrong; but my default is their beef tenderloin. For a joint that doesn't have the word "Steak" or "Chophouse" in their name, they certainly know their way around a grill.
The dining room--if you choose to eat on that side--is also pleasantly dramatic. -
Review from Aymie R.
Calgary, AB
9/12/2011
I have never been disappointed by a meal here. I have gone with both small and large groups, as well as to parties, and it's always been a fabulous place. Great wine list, and relaxing atmosphere. Love!
-
Review from Andrew M.
11/13/2008
This is a really cool looking restaurant that is in an old bank. It is very impressive to walk in to. Overall I had an OK experience here. The service was spotty, at one point we had to wait 20 minutes to get a bottle of wine. Overall the food was really good, with the exception that my Salmon was over done.
I would probably go back again to see if I had a better experience.. -
Review from Sapna G.
Calgary, AB
10/1/2009 4 photos
After an embarassing evening of poor service, you cannot imagine how refreshing it was to have dessert & coffee at Murrieta's.
When we arrived we were at our wit's end. We needed something to cheer us up and sure enough Murrieta's delivered!
We were seated at the PERFECT table, with the PERFECT chairs, at the PERFECT distance from the piano bar. We were greeted by our FANTASTIC waitress who confidently recommended the lemon cheesecake. She gave us the Coles Notes on the pastry chef and went off into the back to prepare our coffee while we made up our minds. We took her advice and ordered the Lemon cheesecake, along with a cheese plate and a variety of specialty coffees.
The coffees were DELICIOUS but nothing compared to the cheesecake. This woman KNEW what she was talking about!!! The lemon cheesecake was TO DIE FOR and the service we got was IMPECCABLE. The cheese plate was delicious as well, and we spent a couple hours just catching up without being bothered even once.
Our waitress' timing was perfect throughout the course of the entire evening; she checked on us at the perfect times, she brought the bill at the perfect time, and she left us alone at the perfect times!
I was SO impressed with Murrieta's at the end of the night that I'm thinking of booking round 2 later on this week. This place really set the mood for the way our night SHOULD have gone from the get-go. Thank goodness for Murrieta's...they officially saved the day :) -
Review from Moez T.
Calgary, AB
10/27/2009
For one of my recent birthdays (is it a bad sign when you lose count of birthdays?), my fiance treated us with dinner at Murrieta's. We had heard great things about it. We had also heard it was expensive, but really, it's not. I mean, it's not cheap or anything, but it's definitely not the most expensive restaurant I've eaten it. Their website has their menu, with all the prices (rare), so you can see for yourself.
The first thing I noticed about Murrieta's was the decor. Ultra high ceilings and walls that are made to appear like the exterior of a building. If you've seen pictures, it doesn't even come close to matching the experience of sitting in the restaurant. I would suggest just going for coffee some time, just for the decor.
Of course, we weren't there for coffee. The food at Murrieta's was phenomenal. I don't just throw around that word. When we walked out of there, I told my fiance "best meal I've ever had". And it was true; I wasn't just sucking up to my fiance for picking the place. I've had a couple of meals elsewhere that knocked it out of the top spot, but it was still an amazing meal. Just thinking about it makes me want to return.
The service, another very important aspect of any restaurant, was incredible. I've been to several restaurants that excel in one (food or service) and fail miserably on the other. Murrieta's was brilliant on both fronts. Our server was awesome and the whole experience made a long lasting impression. Please try them out, and feel free to bring me along! -
Review from Katie M.
4/19/2010
Came here twice -- once for dinner and once for appetizers and drinks. Dinner was great. I had pasta with prawns and scallops. The pasta and seafood were cooked perfectly and the sauce was very flavorful. Appetizers were a mixed bag:
Flatbreads **
Trio of Dips **
Steak Tartare ****
Lamb Meatballs ****
Calamari ***
Tempura Prawns *****
Service was pretty good. Nothing to rave about.
Not a bad spot for dinner and the menu had a nice selection. I'll have to come back and try some other entrees. -
Review from Trish L.
Calgary, AB
4/14/2009
I went there for lunch today. I'll start off by saying that this used to be my favourite restaurant when Ned Bell was still around and I used to go a couple of times a month. Their lamb meatball spaghetti was to die for as well as their banana cream pie.. but then shortly after Ned left, the standards start slipping. The food and service wasn't as good. And to top things off, the person answering the phone for reservations was borderline rude. So I stopped going and never looked back. It's been about 4-5 years now.. at least. Recently a friend of mine lunched there and had good comments about it so I decided to give it another shot.
I was pleasanty surprised at how things have turned around. The service today was actually really good. I was actually impressed there were about 8 staff serving the tables at lunch service. That's probably twice the number that I'd ever seen in all the times I've been there in the past. Granted, today the restaurant wasn't full (only the dining area was mostly full) due to it being Easter Monday. When I called to make reservations, the person who answered the phone was polite and friendly. And I thought it was a nice touch they called this morning to confirm my reservations.
As for the food, the lamb meatball spaghetti with roasted garlic tomato sauce was just as good as I had remembered it. The spaghetti was cooked to perfection. It just brings back such good memories. I'm glad they have turned things around. I'll definitely be back for my favourite dish.
For dessert, I had the baked alaska with bananas foster. It was ok.. a little on the sweet side.. I loved the bananas though and they were as good as they used to be back in the day.
All in all, I'd definitely say the service today was top notch. The prices on the menu are really reasonable.. I was so surprised after all these years. They are practically comparable to Milestones. I'd go to Murrietas any day over Milestones. I just haven't been these recent years because of my past experience. But my experience today totally changed my mind. -
Review from C T.
Calgary, AB
10/31/2009
We ate at Murrieta's today and I ordered a spinach salad (small) and had the grilled shrimp. Nice salad but needed more seasoning, I think. The plate size was just nice for lunch.
My friends had the prawn tagliani and the chickpea wrap. Both were good.
What I had a problem with was the wait service - neglected our table - didn't refill our water glasses, no bread - overall service - meh.
Don't know if I'll go back. -
Review from Tracey R.
Vancouver, BC
7/5/2009
After our experience at Trib (or Tribune) for dinner, we were so pleased with the GREAT service for our dessert here.
Hostess quickly approached and asked if we wanted the lounge or restaurant. Told her we were just there for dessert and she said they would be happy be seat us wherever we wanted. The lounge was pretty and loud as they have a live band on Friday nights. So we sat in the restaurant. Was really nice to experience the live music, but still be able to hold a conversation.
Waitress quickly came and indicatated she would bring us dessert menus right away and she knew we were just there for dessert. She was patient, gracious and VERY helpful. I really don't like waiters that say 'everything is good' and she helped guide us to desserts we would really like. She didn't say anything was bad, but asked a few questions and then made some recommendations. I had planned to order the chocolate soufle, but she disuaded me. And after she described it to me I realized I really wanted the Baked Alaska (which by the way you should share as it is REALLY good but very very rich). My hubbie thought his creme brulee was some of the best he had had in years (and he is a tough critic).
Even the coffee passed muster. My bro in law owns a coffee roastery and his very very fussy. And while they felt the beans were just okay, it was fresh brewed and hot. Plus, the waitress was quickly able to answer their question on who supplied their coffee.
Wish we had gone here for dinner, as well as dessert. Next time we'll forgo the people watching and have a GREAT dinner. -
Review from Andre D.
Edmonton, AB
8/8/2010
We LOVED this place. When we were walking on Stephen Avenue we looked up to find a small patio upstairs. After searching around the corner on 1st st, there it was. The patio though closes early so I was a bit disappointed. The atmosphere you can't go wrong. I loved the seating arrangement. The service was impeccable.
We had to go for a second time after our night at Pulcinello's. This time we had dessert. The bananas foster was out of this world. The ice cream wasn't running and the toppings weren't drenched. just perfect. I know there is a location in Edmonton on Whyte Ave. I don't know if it would be the same experience. Who knows? But I would highly recommend this place. -
Review from Mike M.
Calgary, AB
I've been here a couple times and it is always great no matter the occasion. I've had birthday parties there and they are great with big groups. Today was a little simpler, just some drinks on the patio. It is the perfect patio for enjoying the sights and sounds of Stephen Avenue... Especially during Stampede.
