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NOtaBLE
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
4611 Bowness Road NorthwestCalgary, AB T3B 0B2
(403) 288-4372
- Hours:
Tue-Wed 11:30 am - 10 pm
Thu-Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Upscale, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
48 reviews for NOtaBLE
Review Highlights
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"I ended my meal off with the Stilton Cheesecake." In 6 reviews -
"Michael Noble competed against the "Iron Chef - Masaharu..." In 7 reviews -
"...is on par with their "gourmet comfort food" menu offering." In 3 reviews
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48 reviews in English
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Review from Terrence L.
Calgary, AB
5/10/2012
Chef Michael Noble is a multiple gold and bronze medal winner for Team Canada in the world culinary Olympics, former head chef of Catch and the first Canadian ever to compete in Iron Chef JAPAN against Morimoto in Battle Potato.
NoTAble, his creation, takes weeks to get a reservation for dinner. Judging from brunch, it's worth it.
I've been to his resto in Bowness often since 2010, always with wickedly great Phil and Sabastien coffee and mimosas. In one visit, my friend Shirley kept raving about the lychee martini (She kept raving on how subtle the lychee flavor was, and how refreshing it was). The Sunday Brunch menu is filled with a familiar selection of farm fresh eggs and freshly smoked bacon, bennys and so on, but always with some sort of modern twist. For example, Chef Noble transformed the classic corned beef hash into a Salmon, sweet corn and pepper hash with potatoes ($14), or the simple crab cake became a dungeness crab and halibut cake ($19) and so on.
There's also the NoTAble burger of the week.... this particular week was a Grade AAA Alberta beef and bison burger with smoked cheese and bacon, on a homemade baked sesame seed bun and freshly cut french fries ($16). and it was simply one of the best I've ever had period.
It's simply fantastic, but my only complaint time and time again.... the length of the service. Honestly, this is an event meal, but definately not a quick pop in for a nosh. 3 hours... that's how long it took for brunch. And it's never been shorter. But Chef Noble is a world class chef, and it's worth every bite. :) -
Review from Corey W.
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant was 100% "NOtaBLE" in my books - but if you don't have a reservation you might end up with "NO-taBLE"...
OK..that was pretty cheesy. Let's move on.
Tucked away in the quietest area of Bowness available (and finally found after the GPS put us 5k off course??), this place was hopping at 9pm Saturday night. We entered to find that amidst this quiet street with nothing open - this restaurant was jam packed and loud and fun and smelled good. We had resos for 9pm and were seated shortly after arriving by a super friendly hostess (of which there appeared to be four of them). Our waiter (Mr. Darren G) quickly arrived to offer and explain about Q Water (of note: they charge 1.50$ and it goes to charity which is pretty cool). After ordering he arrived again with the water and then took the wine order. Their wine list is the perfect size of 30ish wines from 45$-250$.(translation: not 26 pages like some overstuffed local places). We had a Vega tempranillo which was delicious.
Soooo..what did we eat. We started with the potato rolls out of interest as we have never seen such a description..and they were amazing!! Six delicious little rolls (made from a thin potato slice), stuffed with yumminess, presented very Iron Chef style (the chef is Canada's first Iron Chef) and served with a spicy ranch and jalapeno salsa dips. So good and UNIQUE.! For mains we chose the rabbit confit ravioli (available as an appy or main) and the halibut. My normal staple is chicken but they were sold out - which was too bad, as their "rotisserie of the day" was chicken...but it was 930pm on a Saturday after all...The ravioli was really amazing. The fresh homemade pasta was so delicate and not "heavy", there was no drowning in too much heavy sauce and the filling was a perfect mix of minced rabbit and Boursin cheese (can't really go wrong). It was a great pasta. I had the halibut (eating fish in restaurants is new to me as I'm too lazy to make it at home and am taking the opportunity) and a great choice I made. The fillet was sizeable and cooked soooo goood. Topped with a sundried tomato and olive tapenade for punch and color, served with the freshest and crunchiest green beans ever and a chunky puree of fava beans,which to my surprise was a perfect complement to the fish and the flavored topping. It also came with golden beets which makes my hearts happy to eat:)
Having decided that we could definitely eat two desserts (not sure who were trying to kid), we chose the lemon crème brulee and the chocolate "Beast". Hmmm..if I could pick a fav it was the chocolate flourless cake with cherry compote and chocolate sorbet..only because the cake was like a piece of fudge...however, the lemon crème brulee was pretty outstanding (another translation: I could have eaten a vat of it).
I was pleased as punch: NOtaBLE you won this round hands down!
The server was great. Darren came by very often, was chatty and humorous, knew his menu, refilled wine and water a lot, and checked up on everything. He was pretty awesome. The atmosphere is like that of other new restaurants that have been pleasingly opening in Calgary...open kitchen with eating bar to watch, loud (but fun and engaging) atmosphere, dark and quaint, but busy and bustling with a pretty simple and elegant decor..I love an open kitchen..The price points were actually a little less than others as well -which was surprising to see making the meal WELL WORTH the money. Their menu took pride in using local, organic and sustainable foods which is a big movement in Calgary right now and made me happy to read.
No lies - this place was quite notable and I will surely be back often..hopefully sooner rather than later. -
Review from Sergey S.
5/6/2012
The name says it all - we had troubles being seated, two more neighbouring groups had troubles being seated... something needs to be fixed in that department.
Eleven or twelve bucks for a glass of cute wine? Ok, but not when I can buy a bottle of this in a nearby liquor store for the same price. By the way, tempranillo is considered to be a cheapish grape in Spain - though it is way more developed in South America. NOtaBLE was carrying a Spanish version.
Twenty bucks for two medium pieces of chicken and a side? I'm paying that, but those should be majestic, a work of art. In NOtaBLE, they are just good. Check out RD BBQ in Brampton, guys - you can get a bigger portion of chicken twice cheaper... and cooked with love and desire to do something great out of something simple.
The soup was very good, by the way - best part of our meals. Fries were all smallish bits and pieces - yummy though. Salsa and catchup were a Real Canadian Superstore grade. Burger looked and smelled good, but my wife had a stomach pain later in the evening - not sure if that was the cause.
Our server was working just great - she was friendly, positive, helpful and fast. Way faster than the kitchen (something like fifteen minutes wait for the two lunch menu plates when the room is more than half empty? Guys...) NOtaBLE is one of those places where 18% tip comes pre-configured, by the way.
Decor was really nice, though a view from the window was just a side street "el cheapo" businesses - again, bold statement and limited execution.
I am feeling a bit sorry about the owner of this restaurant - looks like he really tried his best to deliver an impressive experience, but fall short in everything but the menu pricing. -
Review from Kelsey M.
Red Deer, AB
5/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome food, awesome service. A little fancy, so not someplace I'd go ALL the time, but certainly perfect for special occassions. The decor is also super cool, and you can see the VERY open kitchen concept, which I love.
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Review from Lauren H.
3/25/2012 ROTD 4/20/2012
Notable does lives up to the hype. It has been on my "to do list" for ages and we finally went as part of a monthly supper club with a group of friends.
Here are the highlights:
Lobster risotto. I shared a taster with my sweetie and I think at one point I stuck my elbows out and wrestled the dish away from him. I had to stifle the urge to lick the bowl.
Double bacon wrapped swordfish with chick pea fries. SO good. Every detail was thought out on the plate and the chick pea fries were unlike anything else I've tasted
We also shared a salted caramel ice cream with chocolate torte-it was a special dessert they are offering right now. I am not a huge fan of chocolate or dessert but again, we battled each other for every bit. Another couple we were with had an issue with theirs in that she was counting the number of bites she had but he didn't, leading to an unfair consumption on his part. It was that good that it was worth fighting over :)
Service was excellent too, timed nicely which you sometimes don't get on a busy night like Saturday.
There were two things that stopped me from giving this 5 stars. The first was that because we were a group of 8, when I made the reservation a couple of months ago I had to put down a $100 deposit in case we didn't show. It wasn't a hold or a credit card to secure the reservation-I basically had to pay it over the phone at the time of the reservation. What that meant was I got a $100 "gift card" to use towards the meal or anther visit. I get what they are trying to do but it is a bit clunky and I haven't encountered it at another restaurant before. I also had to ask for the gift card when our bill came, they hadn't brought it or applied it to the bill-it was like it was up to me to ask about it.
The second thing is that the harvest table (the only table they have for a group of 8) is right beside a "fire exit" door. It lead to a hallway where there was obviously some kind of private room and a function going on. So there was an incredible amount of server traffic behind me II kind of felt like I was in the hallway) the whole time and every time they opened that door, you'd get this bright burst of light from the service hallway. It was kind of distracting and kind of surprised me that servicing the private room when you also have a full harvest table wasn't better thought out.
I'll be back-more likely as part of a smaller group though!
Update: I also didn't mention the automatic 18% which was really 19% tip on the bill as Crystal W pointed out. I know automatic tips are not unusual, but it seemed a bit high (we were a group of 8). We probably would have tipped that much anyway but it was a bit presumptuous and when you combine the auto tip, at that rate, over charge 1% and throw in the $100 deposit it makes me wonder if they want parties of more than four to even come to the restaurant-its like we can't be trusted to show up and tip like good patrons. -
Review from Sandon H.
Calgary, AB
3/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
With so many restaurants opening in this city and it becoming borderline over saturated with mediocrity, we find ourselves coming to NOtaBLE more and more often. If but just for the guarantee that we will leave satisfied.
So often we find ourselves checking out new places (or new to us) and often leaving feeling underwhelmed and more broke than I already am. Sad mouths and sad wallets.
We've enjoyed NOtaBLE on a few occasions, one of them being after we had been to another restaurant that night where we were treated with the worst possible service and attitudes (see Trace F.'s review on Bonterra) that we essentially had to get up and leave and retreat to a place we knew would help recover our evening from disaster. NOtaBLE.
Our most recent visit was this past Wednesday night where we enjoyed a decently priced bottle of wine ($52), a delicious starter and the Rib Eye (cuts like butter) and the Lamb. Both amazingly delicious comfort food with an unpretentious, pleasant server who timed everything perfectly.
NOtaBLE also gives the money you purchase for Q water to local charities as well as practices sustainability and prides itself in purchasing local.
Although it's an out-of-the-way drive for some people, consider how much time you spend looking for parking at a trendy spot right downtown and you'll probably save yourself half an hour going to NOtaBLE and finding a parking space right across the street. *GASP* and paying NOTHING!
Wednesdays are the new Friday nights. We''ll be coming back more and more. -
Review from swcgy g.
Calgary, AB
4/29/2012
We went with a large family group.The food was excellent and expensive.They charged for water (really). The server,a young lady had some "attitude" issues.The tip was also automatically added on (about $50.00 tip).The music was blaring upon us from an overhead speaker,making the experience loud and uncomfortable.
I will shop around for a better place. The servers and the ambience are a large part of going out for a pricey meal, and this place lacks that. -
Review from S S.
Calgary, AB
4/28/2012
Quality of food was good. Prices were a little steep for the small portions. Service was prompt. Extremely smoky, overheard from the table beside us that fans were not working because they had their doors thrown open.
However, food took a long time to come out. But then again this was during their peak dinner rush. My only wish is that more or even all of their menu entrees were offered in taster and main sizes.
May come back, just not anytime soon... -
Review from Ana C.
Calgary, AB
3/12/2012
Ok food, HORRIBLE environment!
We went for dinner on a Sunday afternoon, we had really high expectations as one of our friends had highly recommended this place. We started with the wood fire-grilled bread and garlic confit, I had the half chicken with risotto on the side and my boyfriend had the crusted tuna salad. We grabbed some coffee and the banana loaf for dessert and some vanilla gelato as well. Out of all the meals I think the best one was the tuna but the rest was just ok. The chicken was very greasy considering it's made on the grill...
For the entire time we were there we yelled at each other, the music was playing really loud and at some point we wondered if it was a restaurant or a bar.... When we left we were stressed and tired. Will probably never go back as for us dinner is supposed to be not just about the food but about the whole dining experience. -
Review from Justin B.
Etobicoke, ON
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh lobster risotto and lamb burger. Cesar salad and carbonated water.
Highly Approve. really trendy, busy, tasty and food service can be seen from the open kitchen. Great first meal in Calgary. -
Review from Crystal W.
Calgary, AB
3/25/2012
During my first visit last night with friends, I tried the Ravioli taster (best ravioli ever eaten to date tied with Jacqueline Suzanne's Bistro) and the Rotisserie vegetable "pizza." Also extremely flavorful with unique ingredients and vegetables perfectly cooked for my taste. I sampled my spouse's order of Dungeness crab and shrimp bake, which was good, hearty and sizable. I had the delicious feature cocktail which tasted somewhat like a creamsicle (don't remember the name). Service was excellent and the atmosphere was high energy. It was pretty loud though and I smelled like restaurant afterward, likely due to the open kitchen concept.
What chaps my butt is the automatic 18% gratuity for parties of 7 or more, which of course applied to our larger group last night. I strongly dislike restaurant owners with entitlement regarding this matter. We actually were charged nearly 19% gratuity and my spouse pointed this out to our server. She noted that this may be an error and would mention it to the management, but it did not in fact influence how our bill was handled. We still had to pay the 18.9% gratuity. It also bothers me when the charges are not separated for individuals in a large party. This adds to confusion regarding paying the establishment and people end up leaving a little frustrated and/or disappointed. Situations like this can have the power to deflate the mood at the end of the night, which truly is unfortunate and totally preventable from a business owner/management perspective. I mention this because we struggled and the server intervened to help sort it out. I felt it was awkward and the server appeared a bit sheepish when all was said and done.
I would not return to Notable with a large party. Stick to a small group and you'll be good to go. -
Review from Jennifer E.
Canmore, AB
4/3/2012
Take your outta (or in) towners here for an unforgettable meal where the food is worth waiting for, the servers know EVERYTHING about the food and have a passion for their work..
The wine is pretty fairly priced.
ORDER THE FOLLOWING to leave amazed:
Beef tartar with homemade chips
entree: Swordfish
dessert: Gluten free chocolate cake w homemade gelato (I am drooling again)
overall pretty fantastic. the only thing that sucked was the wait time bc we didnt have a reservation, sooo if the hosts were faster at flipping tables instead of all standing at the door, they would have gotten 5 stars.
i'll go back, but I'll make a reservation next time! -
Review from Carol K.
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a perfect example of what it means to be a great restaurant. It doesn't have to be expensive, or uncomfortably pretentious. All you need is great food and great service.
I managed to squeeze in a lunch/dinner at NOtaBLE between two events for work. I'm so glad that I did because I've been meaning to try this place for a while. When I came in at 4:00, the dinner staff was rolling in, and everyone was hard at work preparing the restaurant for dinner service. The level of production and cooperation as a team was phenomenal. It was like Santa's Factory, and Chef Noble was Santa Claus. One elf was washing wine glasses, another elf was shoveling wood chips into the rotisserie oven, and another elf was examining a hole in the wall or maybe the air conditioning duct... I wasn't sure. The best part about being here at this time was watching everyone come together as a family. Every staff member gets fed. Each of them grabbed a bowl, sat at the long table in the back and took a well deserved break before the crowds started coming in.
I got the lunch menu. Everything looked sooooo good. I can't imagine how amazing the dinner menu would have been. Although, I did get a preview of the juicy lamb spinning in the rotisserie oven. Mmmmm.
My server extremely helpful. She was able to help me narrow it down to two items: the nicoise salad with the panko crusted tuna and the cavatappi noodles with lamb bolognese (both taster size). The nicoise salad is considered one of the best in the city, and it probably deserves that award. Everything came together well, especially when I mixed in the yolk of the quail egg. Honestly, my only complaint is that I would have liked more yolk! The lamb bolognese was perfect!
I ended my meal off with the Stilton Cheesecake. I never knew that blue cheese could taste so good in a cheesecake, but it was the subtlety of the blue cheese that was surprisingly refreshing. The bruleed top was also a nice touch.
Food was excellent, service was excellent, decor and plating was excellent. A few last things:
- they offer a take-out menu! A older fellow came in and got a rotisserie chicken to go. Big yums up!
- I was considering giving this place 4 stars only because I want to up my standards for a 5-star rating. However, Chef Noble came over to talk to me, so for that reason I will not hesitate to give NOtaBLE a 5-star rating.
- Lastly, very good-looking team! Especially the guy trimming romaine hearts. I hope he didn't think I was weird even though I kept on staring at him...
1/30 -
Review from Glenn M.
Calgary, AB
2/1/2012
I never even heard of this place until I found it on Yelp. Contrary to it's name, I have driven by this restaurant many times without noticing it. After seeing some of the exciting reviews of this place I ended up here for lunch a mere 3 sleeps later. Instantly I was impressed once through the front door. The aroma was pleasant and the venue looks terrific. I wouldn't mind quenching my whopping thirst with a nice cold beer at the bar/lounge while waiting for a table to open up (apparantly Fridays and Saturdays are so busy you might expect a wait).
The server was both affable and efficient - my favourite blend. As soon as she told me what the burger of the month was, I had made my choice! Soon a presentable Lamb burger with (some kind of) cheese and plentiful fresh French Fries were in front of me and I had to decide whether to use my fork and knife or open wide. The burger was succulent, bursting with flavour, and cooked to perfection. I will come back 100%. The only problem would be deciding to try something else or just stick to the best burger in town!
Expect to spend about 20 bucks for a burger (with fries) and a coke. It's easily worth it and beats spending 25-30 at some sushi restaurant (and I love sushi)! -
Review from Tara R.
Calgary, AB
11/27/2011
I love NOtaBLE. We tend to go at least once a month. Although, it isn't really aimed at kids we do take our 9 year old fairly often and he too enjoys everything about it.
This week we snuck in a quick midweek lunch. We arrived just after noon on Wednesday and the restaurant was fullish, but we got a great table.
I do like the servers in the evening better than at lunch, lunch is good, dinner is great. Very often the staff will come by our table to say hello even when they aren't in our section. In fact, recently one of the hostesses moved to a downtown spot and called me by name the last time I dropped in there. This personal touch really gives this up scale spot a homey feeling.
Food is terrific. I have honestly loved everything I have had there. I think it is great that the hamburgers change frequently as it gives me a great excuse to go back. Wednesday I had the Niçoise salad which is my go to item and as usual it was fantastic. For dinner it is the lamb which is consistently on the menu but shows up in different forms so I never get bored. Food sources are identified on the menu and I love that so many local farms and ranches are represented so often.
The only downside, is that everyone likes it as much as I do and getting a reservation is really tough. It is worth the wait -
Review from Sabahat N.
Calgary, AB
Took my mom here for dinner when she was visiting, and this place is even better for dinner than for lunch. My mom absolutely loved it and so did I! The place was packed on a Wednesday night, so that says something - NoTable is POPULAR!
Every thing we ordered was delicious - perfect really - and for dinner as good as this, I dont mind paying their prices. At the end of the meal, Chef Noble came to our table to say hi and had a great little chat with us. This elevated our experience by several notches and we left extremely happy diners that night!
Totally worth the trek to Montgomery for this restaurant! Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys GREAT food, and a world class atmosphere!Listed in: So swanky and fabulous, even…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/28/2011
I've been there quite a few times, because I work right around the corner from there. And it has… Read more »
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Review from Jenny W.
Calgary, AB
1/13/2012
The ambiance and food was delicious! Loved it, and think it brings a lot to a dying neighborhood!
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Review from Cathy S.
6/8/2011
With Michael Noble at the helm (a World Culinary Olympics gold medalist, an Iron Chef competitor and former executive chef at Catch and Diva at the Met), I knew that this was a restaurant worth a visit during our trip to Calgary. Our experience at NOtaBLE was almost "NO TABLE" because we could not secure a reservation for our entire week in Calgary, but fortunately they retain 50% of their tables for walk-ins so by arriving early we were able to get in without a wait.
The restaurant is located across the street from a tattoo parlor and a Pizza 3000, not exactly the epicenter of fine dining, but once you enter the premises, the location seems immaterial. The restaurant is abundantly tasteful and elegant without pretense. The wait staff wear jeans and t-shirts so it would be difficult as a patron to show up underdressed.
We were a dining party of 4 that had some special requirements, namely one person in a wheelchair and another with severe food allergies, and the management and our server, Karin, were extremely helpful and accommodating.
We started with the day's soup special, a striped prawn and stinging nettle bisque. It was silky, subtly flavored and delicious.
For mains we jumped all across the menu and ordered scallops, chicken, lamb and a flatiron steak. Beside the dish modifications for food allergies, the kitchen was happy to oblige sides substitutions, so we replaced the potatoes and fries with their spicy tomato Boursin risotto. As far as we were concerned, all of the dishes were home runs.
We shared a couple of desserts, a chocolate hazelnut creme brûlée and a salted caramel chocolate cake, both were very good, but in retrospect probably a bit much after our large meal. The weak point of the evening was in fact the house coffee served, it was rather underwhelming.
Despite the fact the restaurant was at capacity, the kitchen did a pretty good job of turning out the food in a timely manner. Our dining experience lasted two hours, two hours I would gladly repeat the next time we are in town.Listed in: Adventures in Calgaryland
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Review from Carol C.
Calgary, AB
8/9/2011
I enjoyed everything I ate there. The service was excellent even though they had, well, no table. ;-)
I had the liver ... ridiculously delicious and perfectly cooked, which says a lot, if you ever had livers at a restaurant.
I really like the open kitchen and roaster, really sets up a different atmosphere, and makes you hungrier and hungrier by the minute!
Will definitely go back again. -
Review from Elle C.
Wonderful dining experience, and nice little surprise. Tucked away in Bowness, but the outside didn't particularly strike as unfitting, yet the inside is gorgeous. Definately has the new vintage contemporary feel, with the upcycled brassy tables, glass overhead lamps. Mix crowd of casual and dressy on this busy Saturday night but overall really relaxed. Be sure to make reservations as it does get quite busy.
The food? Amazing.
Attention to detail, tastes, textures are impeccable. The crab and shrimp dip is a MUST try, absolutely taaaasty. The thai style mussels were spot on.
My halibut was juicy to the last bite, the lamp leg was soft and tender. I managed to mangle a peice of steak off someone's plate and that was equally impressive. Just wait- I haven't even gotten to dessert.
My only irk here is that our waiter neglected to inform us that the iced tea is brewed in house, and is comparable to sugarless crystal light. Yeh, someone should call Nestle and tell them Noteables is stealing their stuff.
But DESSERT made the WHOLE experience. It was an experience for the eyes, the stomach, and the soul. Chocolate hazelnut brulee? 8 stars. Lemon meringue pie? 10 stars and the entire milky way. The lemon bits were just the right amount of tarte, and the meringue instantly became creamy to the tongue but held its form on the pie. Now THAT is a lemon meringue pie.
Looks like I will be coming here much more often! -
Review from jon h.
1/28/2011 ROTD 2/6/2011
Went Thursday Jan 27th for my gfs birthday.
Bigger restaruant than it seems from the website. Almost full at 6:30pm. We had a nice little booth, near the back of the restaurant.
Buiness casual older crowd, feel free to wear jeans, but some people were dressed up. Servers wear jeans.
Food was AMAZING.
Mussels and fries with dip for appetizer. Huge mussels, and tasty fries.
Main courses: GF had salmon, with shrimp and potatoes, she liked it.
I had the rotisserie special of the night (thurs and fri) Prime rib. WOW, huge piece of meat, cooked perfectly. I couldn't even eat it all. Came with brocollini, carrots, and a tasty scalloped potato, sweet potato, bacon and cheese mix.
Dessert was choc cake with choc ice cream. Ok.
Beers were $7, and my gf had a $12 cocktail.
Pros: Amazing food.
Cons: Very noisy inside. No free bread. Bowness.
Located on the other side of the street of pizza 3000, glad we didn't go there for dinner.
Worth going to, but have a reservation, and bring your rich friends to pay. -
Review from Francois C.
Calgary, AB
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I sure didn't like Catch, but I love NOtaBLE - good job Chef Michael Noble! It is clearly one of Calgary's best restaurants to come along in a long time. It seems like there have been a lot of new restaurants in town lately, but they are often big on flash and low on taste. NOtaBLE hits the mark on both counts. In a truly hip building in a surprising location (in Bowness - seriously, I'm not kidding!), it is clear that NOtaBLE has the potential of becoming one of those iconic Calgary restaurants that you bring friends from out of town to (and there really aren't many of those out there!) NOtaBLE describes itself as having gourmet comfort food - which is a very apropos description.
The decor is urbane, comfortable, and modern -- yet still homey and down to earth. The "ambo" is perfect for either that ultra-romantic first date; a night out without the kids; or even a meal with friends you want to impress with your culinary IQ - and it's hard to nail all of these moods in one shot! Looking around the tables when we were there, there was everything from good looking yuppies, affluent-looking seniors, young hipsters - and again, several couples on dates. (Side note: to the pretty blonde girl sitting beside us on the date with the hairy-chested guy who took a call on his cellphone for a half-hour while leaving you sitting there by yourself - drop the jerk, he's not worth your time!)
Anyway, food is amazing. In my book, the mark of a truly excellent restaurant is doing the simple dishes very well. Although it was hard to decide given the menu that is filled with the usual tried-and-true favourites as well as some creative dishes, I had the Wood-grilled Organic Spring Salmon with risotto (I was tired of Stampede food by then), and it was truly perfect in all respects. Wine list was comprehensive, and the server was knowledgeable. For dessert, I had possibly the funnest dessert I have had in a haute cuisine restaurant in a long time - "Mini Donuts with Creamsicle" (actually, it was a frozen orange panacotta with vanilla mini-donuts) - whimsical, surprising, and delicious!
I can't wait to go back to NOtaBLE and try other things on the menu! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! -
Review from Ky L.
Calgary, AB
6/3/2011
In fall 2010, we tried the aromatic-rubbed free range "half" chicken with house cut fries $22, Wood-grilled organic Spring salmon $28, and 28 day aged prime rib $34. I think they said that the chicken was rotisserie with butter and herbs on the inside, which fuse delicately out into the chicken meat. The chicken was very succulent and flavourful. The salmon was fresh, sweet and very moist. Jamie had the prime rib, he said it was the best ever, and he has dined out a lot.
Michael Noble competed against the "Iron Chef - Masaharu Morimoto". http://www.youtube.com.... He did amazing!
For dessert we tried the Stilton cheese cake. The temperature of cheese cake (room temp) enhanced the flavor of the cheese. I still dream about the cheesecake. Paired it with a dessert wine, it was to die for.
I'm looking for a special occasion or any reason to go back. Make sure to reserve early or you'll be disappointed. What a gem!
Parking can be a challenge, you may have to walk a couple of blocks, so watch the heels ladies. -
Review from Spencer B.
Calgary, AB
12/17/2010 ROTD 9/22/2011
If I have to sum this place up in one sentence: NOtaBLE lives up to the hype.
Rolling in for a late lunch around 2, my mother and I were pleasantly greeted and promptly seated.
Our server was a total pro, filling us in on the specials within minutes as well as our drink choices.
We settled on 2 Wild Rose Cherry Porters (my fav WR beer) and a carafe of sparking water.
NOtaBLE filters their own water, and then you have the option of still or sparkling and the $1 goes to charity.
We both had the spinach salad to start, and I have to say, it has forever changed my opinion. Even after the salad was done, I kept craving more of the vinaigrette and pickled onions.
Our mains were even better, the server recommended the feature burger (which changes monthly) and boy, was she ever right.
The bison/beef patty was succulent, the homemade bun soft and warm, the toppings crisp but the absolute best part was the grainy mustard and mayo sauce on the burger.
For $16 it's quite simply the best fine dining burger I've ever had. And at the best price too.
The fries with sea salt were also perfectly crispy.
Ending the meal with a french press of coffee (no espressos available) and the Stilton cheesecake, we were in heaven.
I feel I should also mention the server's attire: they all wear the same shirt and jeans or slacks.
While some might find this inappropriate, I love it. I'm so sick with the "little black dress" so common in Calgary restaurants. It does not compensate for server's lack of ability. I prefer intelligent, informed answers about the food and wine list. Not cleavage and a giggle.
The only downside to NOtaBLE is that, even though it's on Montgomery (and if you know anyone ignorant enough to refuse an invitation because of the "sketchy" neighbourhood, take someone more deserving) is that it's busy all the time. I couldn't even get in the next week for dinner.
But, after a meal like that, I'm going to keep trying. -
Review from Layn K.
Calgary, AB
2/11/2011
My wife and I went based on the reviews on Yelp.
The crowd was older than we anticipated. Essentially an over 30 crowd which suited us just fine.
It was very busy for an early Wednesday night. We had to wait 15 minutes and ended up sitting in the bar area. Reservations are a must for this popular spot.
The ambiance is very energetic which we quite liked. It is a happening place with an open kitchen. The kitchen lights were a bit bright for my eyes.
The food was excellent. We quite enjoyed the scallops appetizer and absolutely loved the Stilton cheesecake. My lamb shank was great too.
The service was good right up until we wanted our bill. We had to ask the hostess to find our server. This was a real let down and unfortunately is the last impression we had of NOtaBLE. We ordered our desert and had no coffee. Why wouldn't you bring us the bill right after the desert?
Service can definitely be improved here, but we will return for the food and abiance and give it another try. -
Review from Trace F.
Calgary, AB
12/12/2010 ROTD 4/16/2011
After I got over the confusion of a high end restaurant located in a dodgy montgomery.. I gave my head a shake and entered. I have been for lunch and dinner, both simply amazing. Many options on the menu, and everything is made to perfection. Finally a restaurant that views food preparation as an art.
Only thing I could possibly complain about is that the staff should be wearing more professional attire... I dislike the blue t-shirts... but really, that's me scraping the bottom of the pudding cup.. -
Review from Merry K.
My husband and I decided to go to NOtaBLE for date night very last minute. We knew we would wait but we also knew it would be worth it. When we arrived we were told that it would be a 45 minute wait but we only waited 5 minutes because we took the "hot seats" at the bar in front of the rotisserie (which are some of my favorite seats in the house). Sitting at the bar overlooking the open kitchen is tons of fun & still a great dining experience. We were surprised when the people sitting beside us had one drink & left because they didn't get a "real" table.
We couldn't decide on what to get for dinner so we decided to share a few things. We got the grilled flatbread with olive tapenade to start and then shared the mussels with frites and the burger of the month (meatloaf burger) with a side salad. The burger was AMAZING. Quite possible the best burger I've ever had. It was made from ground pork, ground beef and pulled beef. YUM! We finished up dinner with a piece of Stilton cheesecake.
The service this visit was not as good as last time we dined at NOtaBLE. After dessert I actually asked "Where did our server disappear to?" because he disappeared into thin air and left us patiently (mostly) waiting for the bill. We weren't in a huge hurry but we were done with dessert & didn't order coffee so we were ready to go.
Even with the service hiccup, this remains one of our favorite restaurants and we will definitely be back.
Flatbread, mussels, burger, cheesecake and two bourbon and cokes was ~$95 before tip.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/20/2010 ROTD 11/14/2010 First to Review
My husband took me to NOtaBLE tonight for a very belated birthday dinner (my b'day is in December).… Read more »
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Review from Renny C.
Calgary, AB
2/13/2011
I went to NOtaBLE for dinner tonight with my date. We had the lamb shank, the ceviche scallops and the tuna tartare.
I personally felt that the lamb and the tuna tartare were both very bland. The scallops were quite delicious though. The service was great but expected from a restaurant of this calibre. The decor was nice, very contemporary.
If i were to go back again I'd as for the "hot seats". Overall, it was a decent meal but it wasn't anything amazing. -
Review from Maria H.
Calgary, AB
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really a hidden gem in Bowness. Went there for birthday dinner and server suggested a couple of dishes to try, needless to say they were very good. I wished we had sat at the bar, just so we could watch chef in action, will save it for next time.
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Review from Erin S.
2/1/2011
I have been lucky enough to have two meals at NOtaBLE. Dinner with the #yyceats crew from Twitter & then again a celebratory brunch with my sweetie.
Dinner was amazing! They were gracious enough to accommodate our large group (we reserved well in advance and took some juggling on their part.) They let us linger as long as we wanted, despite being a busy Saturday night. Most of us enjoyed many courses. Our waitress was knowledgeable and tended to our every need.
Months later, I still dream of my starter - Ravioli of confit chicken, roast mushrooms and Borsin cheese - $15 (taster) - I cannot recommend this enough. That said, I am glad I opted for the taster size, as I think I would probably find it too salty if I tried to get through a meal size portion.
Also had the pork chops, which were magically cooked just how I like them! Very juicy with an almost impossible pink tinge to the middle. (Despite what we were taught growing up, pork chops do not need to be cooked until dry & tough.) The vegetables had the perfect amount of crispness to them. Who wants soggy veggies?!
A lovely french press of coffee to accompany dessert a s well. Their coffee is top notch for what you would expect in a restaurant.
Brunch was decent. You could definitely walk in & get a table around noon on Sunday afternoon (we still had made reservations.) It was difficult to narrow down my options, with there being breakfast & lunch offerings available.
I chose "Eggs Benedict", rosemary ham, brown butter Hollandaise, cheddar scone ($17) - the eggs were perfect! It came with hashbrowns. Far more than I could eat. I did find it a little heavier than I like and would have preferred half the amount of hashbrowns & had a spoonful of fruit as well. I have to admit I was slightly surprised that it was not a terribly balanced meal.
As for service, wasn't terrible on this visit, but was not amazing either. Our server refilled our water carafe without our asking, but failed to ask if we wanted more coffee. Then she brought our bill automatically without asking if we wanted anything else. This was a bit of a disappointment.
We will definitely be back - likely for dinner. Definitely want to check out the hot seats!Listed in: Places That Sing To Me
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Review from David W.
Calgary, AB
Notable was recommended to us by some friends who now live in Bowness (I [heart] Bowness, word). So as our anniversary was approaching we decided we'd check it out. Ends up, it was a pretty solid decision.
A quick breakdown of Notable:
- Owned by Canadian chef legend, Michael Noble, Notable is quite new on the Calgary restaurant scene.
- Located in dodgy Bowness, you're in for a people-watching treat.
- Go early, go late, make a reservation or be prepared to wait an hour for a table.
- Cool menu offers a select choice of dishes available as "tasters" or "mains"
- No espresso, but serve French-pressed Phil and Sebastians, which is tight.
- Quaint patios with headers offer an awesome "cool-Calgary-night" alternative.
-Serve Canmore's Grizzly Paw sodas
What we had:
Lobster salad "mini buns", chili garlic butter - $24 (main). This dish comprised of five "toasts" with a diced lobster salad mash on top. It was decent. Felt like I was eating lobster SPAM on garlic toast. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have this again.
Ravioli of confit chicken, roast mushrooms and Borsin cheese - $15 (taster). Loved, loved, loved this dish. The ravioli was definitely hand made and, with the accompanying buttery sauce goodness, melted in my mouth.
Pulled rotisserie chicken, cured bacon, Broxburn Farms tomato, lettuce sandwich - $15. What is really a glorified chicken club, this sandwich had me craving more. The mayo offered the perfect condiment and the bun was like the lightest focaccia you've ever had. Side house-cut fries bumped this from a 4.5 to a 5 star dish. I would definitely have this again.
Chinook honey creme brulee - $9. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. This dessert came with blueberries and an almond nougatine that did a great job putting the finishing touch on a great experience.
What we liked:
- Atmosphere is elegant but comfy, which is on par with their "gourmet comfort food" menu offering.
- Busy. The place was bustling with all types of people not afraid to have a good time enjoying good food and good company.
- Single bathrooms, not communal, which seems to be the new thing.
- Open kitchen
- "Non-stop" sparkling or still water for $1, which goes to charity at the end of the year.
- Staff were totally laid back and seemed to like their job (rare)
What we didn't like:
- Old-style furniture. The tables were cool, but the chairs were right out of my great aunts bridge game room - wooden with flat, brown cushions that brought on numbness before the second dish.
- Slow food service. Not sure if it's because they're still finding they're way, and I get the whole "enjoy your meal" thing, but it seemed slow. -
Review from spaniel l.
Calgary, AB
1/30/2011
I went here twice. Once for a tasting menu, second time I just ordered multiple starter dishes.
I love the way chef serves his beef dishes, the mussel dish is just divine, flat bread with the olive paste is perfectly seasoned and the upside down Maui pineapple cake is to die for.
I think Chef Noble prepares the classic French dishes extremely well and he seasons his food to perfection (at least for me).
Service : I've had two different servers so far. They were good but I've had better. I think the food out performs the service by far and they could definitely improve. (I'm being harsh but I am rating the service relatively to other restaurants which had food of similar calibre)
I will definitely be visiting often to enjoy his food and the comfy atmosphere! -
Review from Mike M.
Calgary, AB
9/18/2010
The place was packed, so make sure you make a reservation. I mean why take the risk on the restaurant that everyone is talking about.
Big bright windows, great atmosphere and modern decor welcomed us. We got our table relatively quickly (reservation!!!) and I was impressed how knowledgeable the wait staff was.
We started with the Salmon Belly appy, which is a sweet caramelized salmon and some delicious grilled bread and some tzatziki sauce. A greek foodies dream come true. It was also perfect for garlic fans.
For the main course, I had scallops with grilled romaine heart with a bacon caper dressing. The scallops were huge, it was like they were farmed in one of those lakes by the tar sands. :-)
Believe the buzz, this place is great!
ps. If you wondering about the restaurant's name, the capitalized letters spell out the last name of head chef Michael Noble. -
Review from John F.
1/25/2012
I like this place...... Very busy..... Great menu! Food, service,prices all good and only reason I didn't rate higher was atmosphere..... Too noisy for a fine dinning experience
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Review from Mia T.
6/16/2011
Probably one of my favourite restaurants Ive been to. I had read the reviews about the long waits if you dont make a reservation ( and they only reserve a portion of the restaurant, so walkin can be accomodated) My friend and I were in the front area for about an hour and a half, but the staff brought us drinks, and made sure we were ok until we were seated.
The atmosphere was a lot more casual that I had expected, the servers dressed in jeans and matching shirts. This is a plus for me of course, I love good food in a casual atmosphere. I had the rotisserie chicken which I could smell, and see from the open chicken. It was amazing. My friend had the lamb, and stated it was the best he's ever tasted. The creme brulee with Phil & Sebastian was perfect. Not too sweet and creamy without being sickly.
I love the fact that this place focuses on ingredients that are local, but the best thing is its not expensive! No more so than Earls, and the food is far superior. -
Review from Mike L.
Calgary, AB
2/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Flank steak done perfectly medium rare, halved roasted baby potatoes, cherry tomatoes In balsamic and sea salt
Yowza -
Review from Jamie H.
1/22/2012
Don't know why the food heading says American. This is simply great food period that defies a label. One of the specials was a roast/grilled lamb sirloin with mergeuz sausage and white bean cassoulet. Perfection. Started with the steak tartare topped with quail's egg. A rare treat...get it?! Nice little chocolate dessert to close. Old vine Tempranillo wine followed by an impromptu wine tasting of the list with David. Chef, you've set the bar again and hit it out of the park. Good luck with the HVAC ;-)
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Review from Sherri R.
Calgary, AB
8/30/2011
The boyfriend and I absolutely love it! Food is amazing! It is our date night spot.
Surprising coming from Bowness :) I definitive recommend this restaurant!!! -
Review from D L.
Winlaw, BC
8/7/2011
Very attractive interior. It gets hot as hell in there with no air conditioning and a hot, fully open kitchen. Outside patio is nice if you like an unattractive bunch of stores to view on an ugly city street.
Wedgwood utensils, no salad fork or spoon, and forks and knives are not replaced after salad service. No salt or pepper on the table.
Courteous food servers. Had a nice lunch there and chose to go back for dinner, a disappointment. Price exceeds value.
Overall, I'd call in manque. -
Review from Candace R.
Updated - 7/28/2011
this was such a great evening... Everything about this restaurant was good (except for the noise level!). Our meal, the Tues special of lamb' was incredible. Wine list is very good.
TWO DAYS LATER.....Went again because the food/ service was so terrific. Food/service was again wonderful but for some reason our meal took 40 minutes to come out. Others in the restaurant were serve before us, after coming in AFTER us. only negative...everything else was superb.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/26/2011
this was such a great evening... Everything about this restaurant was good (except for the noise… Read more »
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