- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Vintage Chophouse & Tavern
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
322 11 Ave SWCalgary, AB T2R 0C5
(403) 262-7262
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 12 am
Thu-Fri 11 am - 2 am
Sat 5 pm - 2 am
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
16 reviews for Vintage Chophouse & Tavern
16 reviews in English
-
Review from Corey W.
Short Rib to die for.! Let me just put that out there.
This weekend's visit to Vintage was a redo of last month when we came for a birthday party and were thoroughly let down - by the service and not the food. So a rematch it was. This time we decided to dine in the tavern side versus the dining room side as a change of pace...and it was a Saturday night after all, so the atmosphere was a great fit. The tavern side is still quite elegant, professional and clean but adding to the atmosphere is the tall tables, cool bar and quiet TV's in the background.
We were seated immediately to our reserved table by an enjoyable hostess who was a breeze of fresh air. Just as quickly was our waitress who came to deliver menus and take drink orders. Our server for the night was S-Geri Lynn who was an absolute delight. A perfect blend of laid back (but professional), cute and adorable (but not a ditz) and overall a joy to have serving us who also thanked us for being her table upon leaving.
But back to the food. We all ordered beers (giant delicious Hoegaardens) and some mixed cocktails. Service was prompt and efficient. For appies we ordered the beef tartare and tuna tartare (obviously we had a raw food thing happening). Both were quite delicious and beautifully presented with crustinis and crackers to help eat them. The meat was very fresh and delicately matched to perfect sauces. For our mains we had a couple rounds of the braised short rib, one lamb shank, rib eye and tenderloin steak. The short ribs were to die for - no seriously, I felt I lost lives as I savored this dish for about an hour. It is so flavorful, ridiculously tender (why even give me a steak knife to cut it) and a generous serving. It was paired with creamed potatoes and broccollini (but who cares about sides when the meat is beyond delicious). The lamb shank was very comparable in taste and tenderness so an equally amazing choice. Steak is what this place does well, so the steaks were also very well received with a beautiful side of béarnaise sauce that nicely complemented the tenderloin. As a side for the table we chose the truffled mac and cheese. Now truffle isn't for everyone, but it is for me - so that said, this was a very unique version of mac and cheese as the truffle brings out a very different flavor - but it works. The corkscrew pasta is perfect for sopping up the creamy sauce and it has a perfect crunchy topping. This is a great mac and cheese to share (it's quite rich to eat on your own!).
I wish I could comment on desserts, however the servings here are quite sizeable for a high end restaurant so we had to pass on desserts (both a complaint and a blessing). All the portions of meat were fairly large and being accompanied with sides made the meals very filling and enjoyable.
I've been to Vintage three times now. The first was five years ago and the visit was great. The second was last month and the service was awful, so we had to do a quick redo based on an apology and request to return from the manager. The third visit this weekend was phenomenal. They couldn't have hit better notes - from the entrance, to the expedient service, to the amazing food, to the delightful and attentive server. I look forward to a redo of the redo? -
Review from Meghan H.
Updated - 4/4/2012 2 Check-ins Here
We went BACK to Vintage for a little redo of our previous experience, and boy what a time we had. This time we were greeted by several wonderful hostesses all smiles and friendliness. Our jackets were taken, we were shown to our very cool high bar table in the tavern.
Geri Lynn greeted us right away and took our drink order, menus were presented at time of arrival. Geri Lynn is beyond adorable. She was efficient, friendly, super dooper cute and everyone just loved her. I think we annoyed the sh*t out of her though.
Our appies were the tuna tartare and beef tartare, both delicious. Mains included the short rib x3, the lamb, tenderloin with bernaise, striploin. Everyone over ate and groaned as they hugged their bellies full of delicious beers and beef. Just delicious.
The most surprising part of the night was the bill, no desserts but we had booze and appies and it was 330 for 6 people. I was thoroughly impressed given the quality of the meals and service. An amazing experience, I'm so glad we went back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/15/2012
Damn. Good food, bad service. What do you do? Well, I emailed the manager, unfortunately they… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jamison U.
4/4/2012
I am not sure what the haters here are all about, I come from a 'cow town' where I am seldom happy with beef I get in other places. That was not the case here, having a 14oz rib-eye cooked to perfection. My service was great, the lobster mashed potatoes were amazing. The Caesar salad was good, skip the espresso (it was terrible).
Overall I would certainly return here. -
Review from Brent E.
Calgary, AB
4/5/2012
Enjoyed an excellent dinner.
My wife and I had the steak for two.
It was cooked perfectly.
Great service, wine and atmosphere.
Lots of parking around the corner on 10th Ave -
Review from Miss J.
Calgary, AB
2/19/2012
Can I say rib eye? I was a bit jealous when I saw the boys' rib eye some out and started to drool. Fortunately it was too much food for 2 men, so I was able to steal a piece. It was cooked perfectly, and melted in my mouth. I ordered the ahi tuna. This fish was crusted in blackened sesame seeds, with the most delicious sauce drizzled over it. Our sides for the table were broccolini, asparagus, and scalloped potatoes. The veggies were perfectly crisp, and the calorie packed potatoes are to die for!
-
Review from N. C.
Toronto, ON
10/2/2011
A plastic and shallow imitation of a real steakhouse.
We've eaten in many steakhouses across Canada and the US. This is a sad and superficial restaurant. Save your calories--and your cash--by eating somewhere else.
The iceberg lettuce salad was covered in pudding-like dressing. Iceberg lettuce salad is such a trendy item these days. Either serve a classic version, or be inventive. The chef offered neither. The soup was cold and the seafood appetizer was like eating defrosted fish from your grocer's freezer.
As was the steak. Costco frozen meat tastes better than what they had on offer. However. the Vintages Steak Sauce is a lovely interpretation of a well-balanced steak sauce (Worcestershire, tomato, Tabasco sauce, oil and other ingredients).
The service was poor. The hallmark of any steakhouse is the old-fashioned service. Here, you'll find plastic service that is uneven, inattentive.
The other reviews on this page seem very positive. We're out-of-towners and don't have any nostalgia for this establishment. I think that if you like to drink a lot (they do have a great wine list) and are being taken out for a business lunch (and therefore will never complain)--or you are expensing the meal (and so, you really don't care what you eat), this is an acceptable place to eat. However, if you are expecting a classic steakhouse--go somewhere else. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Calgary, AB
3/13/2012
I had lunch here last week with my bestie for Big Taste. The menu drew us in as it had some interesting elements. I had the french onion soup to start and my friend had the tomato salad. When I go out somewhere to eat, I tend to try their French Onion soup if they offer it because I love seeing how different places make it, and I really enjoyed this one. It was light but flavorful with just the right amount of cheese. Yum! I also snagged a bite of the tomato salad, which was also excellent. For my main I had the Thick Cut BLT which I thought would just be a regular BLT...boy was I wrong! This thing was HUGE!! As soon as the waiter put the plate in front of me, I assessed the situation and wondered how I was going to be able to eat it...when they say thick cut, they mean it. The pork was wonderful, all the flavors and textures of the sandwich came together really nicely. The only things I did not like was that the sandwich fell apart right away...a little messy. And although the pork WAS thick cut and tasty, unfortunately a few bites I had were just pure grease. To end the meal we had the sticky toffee pudding, which was TO DIE. I cant speak for the price, since the Big Taste menu was set at $25 (which I thought was fair for what we got), but the service was excellent, very friendly but not bothersome. I didn't get much of a chance to scope out the interior but it had a very classy feel to it, somewhere you could have a business lunch or a nice dinner. I will probably come back to try the much raved about steak.
-
Review from Robert R.
Calgary, AB
8/15/2011
Vintage is an excellent lunch and dinner establishment with great food, wine list and service. Great menu selections, with steak being the house specialty.
Vegeterians won't be disappointed as the fish is fabulous and the salads you can order at lunch will keep you satisfied. The restaurant has a high end bar area with a full menu and live music some evenings.
A great place to take clients, spouse or date. There is also a private room for larger groups. -
Review from Danny F.
Calgary, AB
10/16/2008
One of Calgary's best places to get a steak, hands down. They are quite expensive but you are getting what you pay for
The wine-list is large and well rounded and if you're not sure then the waiter will provide a recommendation. The appetizers are simply amazing with the mussels being the Pièce de résistance (they taste the same as mussels you would get at a nice restaurant on the coast.) and finally the steak is tender and juicy and not to mention done exactly as you ordered it. I only go here about once a year but I relish it every time. Enjoy! -
Review from Sapna G.
Calgary, AB
9/28/2009 1 photo
Want to hear something funny? I went to the Vintage Chophouse full well knowing that they have nothing vegetarian on their menu and guess what? I had one of my all-time favourite vegetarian meals here. Weird eh?
A bunch of friends and I went over this weekend and when the waitor came by and found out I was a vegetarian, he just smiled and said no problem. He went and talked to the Chef and they custom-made me one of the most delicious meals I've ever had!
What I noticed most was that their ingredients were ridiculously fresh, and the fact that the service was some of the best I've ever experienced, made Vintage one of my all-time favourite fine dining experiences in Calgary.
I know it's funny, but the next time your vegetarian friend says 'Yes, Vintage Chophouse is one of my favourite restaurants in the city', you may want to laugh, but trust me, I'm right there with 'em. -
Review from C T.
Calgary, AB
2/5/2010
Had a business lunch recently at Vintage Chophouse. We had a nice private room with lovely oil paintings of the Rat Pack and music from that era. The chairs were quite comfy around the large dining table. You could easity sit 16 people around the table quite comfortably.
We ordered from the lunch menu and I had the daily soup - cream of tomato - ever so good! The boss also ordered lots of appetizers for the group and I had the crab cake and calamari - they were both really tasty! My entree was the steak sandwich - comes with either a salad, fries or soup. I had the green salad with a vinagrette. I love my steak rare and it actually came as I had ordered it.
My colleague ordered the Beef Stew and he liked it. It came with 2 cheese pastries. Another colleague ordered the Beef Stragonoff on egg noodles - that was a huge platter. Apparently, the waiter will ask how you want your beef done - for a stragonoff? That's different! Another colleague had fish and chips - looked really good with tartar sauce. Yum!
For dessert, there was a light cake with raspberries and a light chocolate icing on the top. Nice and light.
I would definitely try a different item next time, hmmm, maybe the Stragonoff. I just wish the restaurant was nearer to the downtown core. -
Review from Chad T.
10/7/2009
Vintage Chophouse is solid, but not anywhere close to what I would call "the best steak I've ever had".
First of all, my expectations were off because their lunch menu says that dinner options are available in addition to the special plates, burgers, etc that they offer at lunch. So I went there wanting to try the short rib, but they don't serve that at lunchtime.
No problem, I ordered a tenderloin lunch and asked if I could get creamed spinach with that. Nope, creamed spinach is only at dinner time. Very strange.
So, definitely check this place out and see how it performs to your palate, but come at dinner time when the good stuff is being served. -
Review from Michael J S.
12/2/2009
I had a evening meal here on my first visit to Calgary from the UK Nov 2009 Arts Hotel reception staff recomended it to me. It was just a short walk from the hotel. I ate there mid week and I must say the food and ambiance are both first rate. The staff were helpful curtious and very efficent. I've mever before seen waiters and their managment "runing" to serve customers through out the 2 hours I was there. A bit on the expensive side but realy very very good. I will be going back in January 2010 with my pal from Houston Tx
Oh a word of caution this area and that around Arts Hotel appears to attract more than its fair share of down and outs. These men and women seem to go out of their way to irritate people around them. Beware.....
Rgds
Michael -
Review from Bernard L.
Calgary, AB
12/22/2010
We had a group (12 people) lunch today at the chophouse. We arrived at 11:30 and were seated immediately. Our server was friendly and took our beverage order immediately.
By noon, we placed all of our food order.
By 12:45 our food still had not arrived, not even the bread and butter, nor our appetizers. Our lunch organizer talked to the manager about the wait. The manager apologized and showed up some bread immediately.
By 1:00, our appetizers started to show up. I ordered the beef tenderloin carpaccio with fried capers. Unfortunately, the carpaccio didn't have much favor.
By 1:20, none of our entree had shown up. By looking around, there were several bigger tables still had no food and they are sat down the same time as us.
I end up had to leave without my seafood fettucini because I had a meeting. My coworkers were kind enough to pack my fettucini for me and bring it back to the office.
The fettucini was lukewarm by the time it was brought back, But I quite enjoyed the sauce with a lot of garlic in it. The shrimp was done right while I suspect the scallop would be pretty good if it was fresh.
It is a shame that I can't enjoy the food fresh and it took unreasonably long for the food to be served. Will I go back one more time? Probably yes. I hope you have better luck than us -
Review from Hratch P.
Toronto, ON
8/10/2009
I just spent a weekend in Calgary for a friend's wedding and entirely changed my view of the city. I had a fairly negative impression of Calgary from past visits, including the dining scene, but this time I left highly impressed...and Vintage was one of the reasons why.
We've all (in Canada) had Alberta beef, but I'd never seen it prepared so well. These guys season it and cook it to perfection. I have no idea what they put on it but it works. I thought I sensed a bit of butter, and various hints of spices, mild enough to let you enjoy the meat, but present enough to accentuate the natural flavor. Together with the perfect texture of the the meat, a definite contender for best steak I've ever had.
I had to do a pretty serious run along the river and bluffs (stunning this time of year) the next day to work off the meal, but no question it was worth it. -
Review from Eugene H.
Calgary, AB
4/8/2010
I've had business lunches here on a number of occasions and I've never been disappointed. The food is consistently good and is usually promptly served by attentive and attractive staff. A great wine list although somewhat pricy. All in all, it's always a pleasure dining at Vintage! A big thank you to Sarah who served us today!
