- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
WURST
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 10 pm
Thu 11 am - 11 pm
Fri 10 am - 11 pm
Sat 10:30 am - 11 pm
Sun 10:30 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
46 reviews for WURST
Review Highlights
-
"But the pork knuckle was as delicious as it was HUGE." In 3 reviews -
"I love a good German bier hall as much as the next girl..." In 3 reviews -
"The homemade schnapps in Germany is mind boggling good..." In 5 reviews
Loading...
46 reviews in English
-
Review from Corey W.
5/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Giant pig, Giant servings, Giant beer, Giant boots - made for a giant?
I finally made it to Wurst last night for a friend's 29th bday (only 1 left for her) and I was so glad I didn't let laziness on a Friday night overtake the night out. Wurst was deadly. We arrived at 8:30pm and were taken to our seats quickly by a friendly hostess to join the others in the party. We had two tables at the back of what was a very cool restaurant. The giant tree, the lights, the awesome long bar, and nice tables - I liked the deco and I was surprised I did.
The waiter was decent, not withstanding that I got the beer wrong on the first order, then again on the second but alas, third time was a charm. He's lucky I like beer - any beer. The German beers was delicious (specifically the Ayinger Bräu Weisse), and the large menu of beer and serving sizes was something I appreciate. Special note to the massive BOOT of beer. HA! Also surprising to me was the food. It was outstanding and very German. This was my first Schnitzel and I was so impressed. I had the Jaeger Schnitzel which came with Spatzle (I don't even know what all of this stuff was until it was in front of me - so it was a new and exciting venture.). The schnitzel was served in a gravy of sorts with mushrooms and onions and was unbelievably delicious - I could have eaten 5 lbs if it wasn't for the ridic amounts of beer inside my stomach. Others had the Schnitzel Chop which was a HUGGGEEEE hunk of something with a bone and a jar of bitter/sour jam. Again, I don't even know what this food was, but it was great. The portions were massive. Don't bother with a starter as the mains will feed two people each and you will want space for beer. My first German food experience left me excited to try more and come back. After supper we went downstairs which was a contrast to the restaurant. I felt catapulted into a German basement that looked like an old hut in the woods with picnic tables, wooden beams and a million 24 years olds drinking more beer than they could handle it seemed. It was very busy by midnight, everyone was pretty liquored, but it was also pretty fun. The music was top 40 and the song choices were my favs (with a random 1980's hit thrown in - loves it). Giant boots were abound and a silly amount of beer is served here on a nightly basis. (A boot of beer is 35$).
I really liked this place and look forward to a redo so I can try more beer and more German food. My waistline is not a fan of this idea however. It never is. -
Review from Jenn D.
Updated - 5/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I have to say...every time I go to this place, I like it less and less!! It amazes me how crappy the service is in the pub. And the main reason for the crappy service is that it is over packed so the poor servers have to fight crowds to delivery drinks and food. I literally waited over 30 mins to get acknowledged by the server of our section, who then seemed appauled that I was ordering a soda and some food. Which continued to take another 30-45 minutes to arrive. Food came before the soda (go figure), and I then asked for my bill because who knew when I'd see her again.
I don't get why a place woudl sacrifice service to have more people in the buildling. I'm sure it's a fire hazard how they jam everyone in the basement so you can barely walk around. I doubt I'll be rushing back here any time soon.
As for the restaurant upstairs, I'm still madely in love with it. So delicious, so awesome, so everything perfect!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/18/2012 ROTD 1/31/2012
Wow this place is all the rage right now. If I had a dime for every time I heard a friend tell me… Read more »
-
-
Review from Crystal W.
Calgary, AB
5/4/2012 1 photo
I was moderately fearful of coming to Wurst after reading some pretty harsh reviews, but did my best to keep an open mind when finally making my way over for lunch today. I share the same sentiments as Mia T. I think it's beautiful and has a bright, down-to-earth, cozy atmosphere. I loved it as soon as I walked in the door. Even the restroom stalls are tastefully done.
I suspect that having lunch here is the way to go for a no-fail experience. No waiting, excellent service and there's an upscale business crowd kickin' back for their break. Again, loving it.
I was tempted to try the Lobster Cobb salad until I was told about the salmon salad special. It was delicious. Simple and flavorful. With taxes and tip, I spent $21. Pretty average for a restaurant of this nature.
My friend and I took a look at the beir hall before heading out. It's novel and I'd also likely make an effort to head over mid afternoon one day in order to avoid the gong show of long waits and excessive noise. The hostess was telling stories about how fun and crazy it gets here, but I'm too old to care about that. If I want to enjoy the real thing, I'll go to Germany. -
Review from Chantal R.
Maple Ridge, BC
5/23/2012
Holy overpriced German food batman! $26 for a bratwurst entree is crazy, German food is supposed to be large quantities for cheap with way too much beer..a 200ml glass cost $4, no, just no. I've been to Germany often (born & raised in The Netherlands) and this kind of pretentiousness is shameful and doesnt represent the country and its generosity with food and drink at all. The service was meh, however the taste of the food was good and the decor nice and that's the only reason it got 2 stars.
-
Review from Ljubica T.
Calgary, AB
5/3/2012
Wurst wins hands-down for "wurst" attempt at a German eatery. We ordered the Wurst special for March... it was a three-course meal that started off with a duck-slice salad doused in a ketchup-type dressing (too expensive for such a small portion of meat.) The main course was a cast iron dish full of over-salted meat (dinky 3" "bratwurst" sausage, non-German flavored lean porkchop, chunk of smoked back bacon or Slanina as we Serbs like to call it), Russian (purple) potatoes (which aren't exotic, by the way... my mother grows these in Calgary), mystery vegetables (half-cooked Radishes? I don't know... it was so dark I couldn't really see my food) and over-salted/weirdly spiced saurkraut. The last dish was a Black Forest Cake experiment gone wrong.
The food is really not German at all... it is too salty, too spiced and not simple enough. Saurkraut should be sour... not pure salt. Meat should taste like meat... not pure salt. Black Forest Cake should have a hint of Kirsch... not be soaked in vodka.
This place is way overpriced. Dinner for husband and I came to around $100 for Dennys-quality food. A real shame... for these high-end prices, I expect a 100% flawless meal and experience... not pub food/atmosphere.
Anyway, if you want to experience real "German" food, try Edelweiss for lunch, and also give The Austrian Club (NE Industrial area) a shot. It's not in a fancy area like Wurst is (Mission... probably one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city) but is superior in taste. Great for weddings too.
I'm not sure I like the overall concept of Wurst. There is a noisy bar downstairs and a restaurant upstairs. Problem is... in the restaurant upstairs, the downstairs bar noise overpowers everything.... even the Lederhosen-dressed "live music" that walks around playing different tunes (Birthday tunes mostly) is drowned out by the club-type music and very LOUD people downstairs. -
Review from Farees K.
3/20/2012
Went for brunch and have to say this place has potential.
Ambiance - 5 stars - very nice upstairs and fun downstairs. The indoor trees and the rustic decore are very well done. Music is there but just in the background. Very beautiful restaurant.
Food - 4.5 stars - We ordered the sausage/bean skillet and duck benedict with some drinks. Food was very good and great portions. Price was a bit high but I would call the upstairs upscale dining, so well worth it.
Service - 1 star - We were barely greeted at the front by a woman who, in jeans and a shirt, didn't look or act like she worked there. Our waitress also ignored us leaving us with empty glasses and regret that we even left a tip. The place was full but not busy, and 1 waiter/ 5 tables should account for good service. Having been a waiter I understand bad days and overwork affecting your attitude, but this was just apathy.
Beer - A bit early for us, but the menu looked good and price for 2L is actually a reasonable deal when you do the math ($7.50 a 16oz glass).
I could have given this 4 or even 5 stars with better service, but as it is I will go for the food and leave poor tips for the expected poor service. -
Review from Mia T.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went to Wurst for my girlfriend's 30th. Its the first time I've seen the building since its transformation. Its really beautiful. It's rustic, feel with modern touches. The place was packed on a saturday night, our reservation was at 8 pm.
Even though the menu is meat heavy, there are a lot of seafood options and maybe one(?) veggie option.
We all ordered only apps to start, and I had the Octopus Salad, with the charred tomato vinagrette. The Octopus was tender, just enough vinagrette so it wasnt drowning. It came with a salad, with tomato and avocado..which was delicious.
Some of the apps the guys at the table got, were MASSIVE. They didnt bother ordering mains, because the starters were so filling.
The Bavarian wings are stuffed with sausage looked like they each weighed 2 pounds. They were delicious, and the mustard they served with it was nice and tangy.
The shortribs were also tender and the portion size huge. The chef was overly generous with the sauce, but having said that, it was good sauce! Smoky, yet not too sweet.
One of the guys ordered the prime rib...it looked like they served him up a half cow. It came with a ton of mashed potato, veggies and Yorkshire pudding.
I wont go on about what everyone else ordered, but I will say that we were all happy with our food, and our server Mike was OUTSTANDING. Some of the best service Ive had in a while, so thanks Mike. -
Review from Guy P.
Calgary, AB
4/22/2012
Can't speak to the food but after waiting for a table for 45 minutes and then having it taken by someone who just walked in the door was very frustrating. Having a hostess downstairs from 6-9 and implementing a wait list probably wouldn't be that hard.
-
Review from Angelo T.
2/13/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The first time I checked this place out was for a brunch catch up with Elle. The original plan was to come at 11am, but who "plans" on lazy Sundays? Clowns who hate clowns. (*shrugs* I dunno). So after constant back-forth texting of "almost theres" I was the first to come. On Brunchdays their Mimosas on special. Whats a Mimosa? I don't remember but its a great excuse to drink on a Sunday.
We had the duck confit benedict and pan scrambler with house sausage. The duck confit was delicious and the scrambler was a heavy dish that could knock out any form of hangover. I wanted to try their beer but when I looked at the menu, I just shook my head at how ridiculous beer prices are, sorry Wurst, you should be happy I'm giving you four stars on your brunch experience alone.
Their prices are a bit high compared to other popular diner joints in the city but the menu is interests me enough to visit this place again.
The only thing about this place is the weird decor. I gotta be honest I felt like I was in Rivendell (Re: Lord of the Rings) rather than a beergarden. It's the indoor trees with the weird trinkets. -
Review from Stefan W.
Calgary, AB
1/16/2012
I was there for a late lunch on a Saturday and actually found the service to be spectacular. However, the place was nearly empty so this could be why. The house brew is excellent, particularly the 1516 and Kolsch.
A few issues I had. Firstly, it is very expensive. Secondly, the chicken schnitzel was far from authentic. It was thick and juicy, and while that is normally a good thing, it doesn't translate well to schnitzel. Appreciated the minimalist salad dressing but the side portion could have been larger.
All that said, the beer quality is surprisingly good with excellent presentation and style. There was clearly some careful decision making in how to approach the beer drinking experience in this venue. If you can afford it, I highly recommend checking it out. I would venture below to the beer hall, however, and skip the upstairs and the food.Listed in: Best Brewpubs
-
Review from Stephanie S.
Calgary, AB
5/7/2012
I fell in love with Wurst as soon as I walked in the door. I had heard about it through friends, and I was surprised that it was totally different than I was expecting. After driving past here on the way to pick up a friend, we decided to do a late lunch here since I had heard all about it. I absolutely LOVE the decor in here..it's fancy without being pretentious, elegant, and modern. The tree in the middle is just gorgeous. We actually had two servers throughout our meal and they were fantastic! Could not have been nicer and more eager to please. I started with a glass of wine and a plate of oysters. These were probably some of the best oysters I've ever had! For our mains I ordered the Griddle Burger and my friend ordered the Brisket. My burger was hot and delicious, I absolutely loved it! I cant wait to return to Wurst for dinner...the menu had so many delicious items (the cheese plate was calling my name), the decor is lovely for a date and the location is perfect for an after dinner walk. I'd also like to see what the downstairs is all about - I only took a peek but the german beer hall style seating looks pretty cool!
-
Review from Sarah C.
1/30/2012
Went for lunch with a few friends. We ate upstairs, which has beautiful decor. I love the enchanting trees with lights the monstrous paintings.
It was almost empty, and thurs service was exceptional.
I ordered the chicken schnitzel and was less than impressed. It isn't an authentic schnitzel, the meat wasn't pounded thin, and the breading was too bready. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their lunches though. I did enjoy having mimosas which were on special.
We took a peek downstairs at the beer hall type area they had set up, and I can see how service might be an issue if it was packed.
Going for lunch is a good way to go if you want good service, as they are not overwhelmed. -
Review from Cornelius V.
Calgary, AB
11/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I go inside and I instantly LOL. Yes, it does actually look like an outdoor beer garden in Germany, but this is not an outdoor beer garden, or Germany, or Dubai. This is Calgary and we are indoors. No restaurant in Germany is going to decorate themselves like this. Yet this place decorates a German exterior into an interior, which is ridiculous. Apparently you cannot just have a good German restaurant and kinda make it your own. Oh no, you have to mimick something else, otherwise you can't justify $40 a plate.
We instantly go downstairs. Again, kinda mimicking the German Beer Hall look, but not as abrasively. I love the benches, it forces people to share shit, which Calgarians seem really reluctant to do. The kitchen has a wide open view of the place, which is SOOOOOOOOOOOO vancouver/unoriginal/retarded. The kitchen is the place you hide in a restaurant; not expose pretentiously.
The TVs are lame as well, but, I've bitched about this relentlessly towards every bar in this city, so, you know. But credit to them: the volume is loooow and therefore people were talking at a normal tone instead of shouting like baggage handlers around an aircraft engine.
I thought a beer would calm my nerves. I do not see a waitress so I assume this is a 100% authentic German beer hall where you just go get your own fucking drinks and tip them nothing because everything is so fucking expensive and the service is mechanical and bureaucratic at best (which it was at this place! 5 stars for German authenticity!). I look at the beer list, and good fucking lord, each beer is $9 and up.
So I say: "ok, what's on special?"
Bartender says: "creemore springs!"
I say: "yehyeeehh!"
Bartender proceeds to wash glass, I realize something terrible and intervene
"Uh, how much would that be?"
"$6.50"
"HAHAAH for some shitty beer from southern ontario?"
"yep"
"hahahaha fuck that".
We fucking leave. $6.50 is the cheapest domestic beer, "on special". this place is really trying to mimic the German beer hall experience, right down to the pricing...but of course, tips are expected. fuck off. i'll buy some Hacker Pschorr from co-op and drink them in the parking lot behidn this establishment....drinking behind high end beer halls: also an authentic german experience! BUT AT A TENTH OF THE COST! -
Review from Alex L.
Calgary, AB
11/19/2011
$45 for beer and sub par schnitzel. Wont be back for dinner, maybe for drinks.
Having traveled in Germany and Austria, one develops an appreciation for schnitzel. For those who haven't had a chance to visit the land of beer and quality engineering, schnitzel is pork that has been flattened so that it is evenly thin and very crispy when fried. Schnitzel is supposed to be the size of your dinner plate with maybe an accompaniment of some fries or veggies. WURST's rendition makes a mockery of Germany's greatest food. Between the 3 schnitzels ordered, there may have been 6oz of meat. That is an average of 2 ounces per disk for ~$25 a person. For that price, I should be eating caviar rather than pork.
The beer is good and comes in German sized steins (get the 1 or 2L). You are definitely paying for the experience of drinking in a beer hall though as 1L mugs will run you ~$20 with 2L steins at ~$30.
11/30 -
Review from Diane F.
3/21/2012
I cannot comment on the food, but spent some time there over the holidays downstairs in the beer hall and enjoyed the beer sampler on the house thanks to being with a friend of the venue. While the beer is good, I opted for a fruity martini. At $12 a pop it was worth it! I know... odd for a place boasting about beer.
-
Review from Sabahat N.
Calgary, AB
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I met up with 2 friends here last night for dinner and drinks and had a great time. It was my friend's idea to go there and I wasn't sure at first because I had been there once before and wasn't overly impressed by it.
Last night however, was a different experience. We sat at a booth and ordered drinks. My friends both ordered the sampler packs, and I was overjoyed when I saw Steigl Radler on their beer menu. They have my favourite beer! And it was only 6.5$, which is considerably cheaper than the other place in town that carries this beer.
On to the food. I ordered the lamb crepe because I had read that it is big enough for a meal. To be safe, I also ordered onion rings. I was hungry, and wanted to make sure my meal was filling. My friends got the prime rib and the bison short ribs. The food came at a decent time, and the portions looked HUGE. My friend's prime rib was a HUGE HUNKERIN' slab of meat. We wondered how the hell he was going to eat that. My lab crepe was a really good, and very tasty. It was savoury, cheesy and very filling. Definitely more of a MEAL than an appetizer. The onion rings were good, but my personal preference leans on the crispier side. I had a bite of my friend's prime rib - and - o.m.g. - I had a moment with that piece of meat in my mouth. My eyes closed, and the noise drowned away for a few seconds.. It made me feel like I hadn't had meat in years. It was juicy, succulent, flavourful, and just really, REALLY GOOD. In fact, I want to tell everyone that anytime you are craving a phenomenal steak/prime rib or anything of that sort, consider Wurst. It is fantastic!
Wurst's menu is very very pig-centric, so I cannot try TOO many things on their menu, but from what I did try, I was definitely impressed. And bonus points for carrying my favourite beer. -
Review from Jarett L.
Calgary, AB
11/17/2011
Sweet place to hang out and have a few, easy to mingle with strangers as most of the tables downstairs are community type tables. Fun atmosphere, good beer.
Good food, but extremely pricey, I had the rack of lamb and was disappointed with the portions when you compare it to places like Alloy or Charcut, portions are really small and price range is up there with these places.
Will go back to hang out and drink, but I will probably go else where to eat, unless if I'm absolutely craving for some German food. -
Review from Maeghan A.
Calgary, AB
4/30/2012
I went to Wurst for the first time for my friends birthday and it was a really cool and unique experience. The thought of going to a German beer hall sounded awful to a non beer drinker like myself at first but I was blown away by how much fun it was... and I was sober. The menu was full of different kinds of meats and things I didn't understand what they were, but I ended up sharing the fondue for 2 with a friend. It was a cheese fondue with a plate full of different breads, meats, and my new favourite food purple potatoes, and was a perfect size for 2 people to share. It was really good and really fun to have the fondue pot on the table and to just dip away all night. We were there for a reservation at 6:30 and when we got there, there was already a crowd of people trying to find a table. The upstairs is a gorgeous, rustic feeling restaurant and downstairs is the beer hall with long tables and benches. Later on into the night these guys playing tubas, trumpets, and other horns danced around the basement playing music and yodelling. They went up to each table and encouraged everyone to stand on the benches and sing, dance, play drinking games and yodel along. There was such a fun atmosphere and everyone was so friendly. When we left there was a huge line up outside so I would really suggest going earlier to make sure you get in on all the action. I cannot wait to go back!
-
Review from Miss J.
Calgary, AB
12/14/2011
Our company holiday lunch was held at WURST, and I was overly impressed with the service and the food/drinks. We were initially seated upstairs, which was nice and quiet, but several of us were blinded by the sun's reflection (no blinds), so we had to move downstairs. The lower level is not the most suitable place for discussion with the entire table, only those next to you since you'd lose a lung yelling across the table.
The menu had a lot of sharing options as well as individual plates. I wanted to taste everyone's dish at my table and around me since everything looked so good. I tried the scallops, and it was just enough for me (but may be a bit small for men or if I was starving).
Our waitress was wonderful, and I'd definitely return for a date night. -
Review from Éva B.
Calgary, AB
10/24/2011
Let me start this review by saying I loved the venue but we kept running into problems and I began to lose faith. I feel really sad giving this rating because I have heard nothing but awesome things about Wurst, hopefully my next visit can change my mind. A few friends arrived around 7pm at Wurst to grab a table they were told that nothing would be available till around 10:30. So they put their names down for later and we killed some time at another venue close by.
10:30 rolled around and we headed back to Wurst. I really wanted a good pint of beer and some dessert. We were celebrating a friend's birthday and he really wanted to go. We were told they had no idea what we were talking about when we told them we had names down for a group of 7. We spoke to many different staff members who all insisted there was no one on a list by the name we had given. After standing outside in the chilly night air for almost half an hour they let us go into the venue. I don't even know if it was figured out I just know I was happy to go inside the warm building.
We sat down at the table and began looking at the beer menus. The server came by and was in a fake polite mood. Smiling but rolling her eyes when someone asked her a question. (Sorry we didn't memorize the menu.) We had a fairly big group but we were organized and fun natured not rowdy. I could tell right away she was annoyed with our group. She took our orders so quickly she left before the other half of the table had a chance to utter a word and we tried to wave her over to come back since we weren't done but she did not return till some of our drinks came.
Again we ordered some food (the rest of our drinks) and were hoping to get some desserts. Two of our guests ordered a meal while the rest of us were craving something sweet. Again the waitress left before we could even ask her what they were offering for dessert. Finally we got her attention with one of my friends physically tapping her to turn around she came back very angry. Spit out the dessert offerings so fast we all looked at her as if she were speaking in tongues.
I split the apple crisp with my significant other. It wasn't my favourite I felt I could have done a better job making it from scratch at home. Maybe it was the bad taste left in my mouth from our server though. The beer I ordered however was awesome. I love dark beer and I think I could have enjoyed almost every single beer on the list.
I really did love this venue. The upstairs was cozy and fun and the basement was a riot I felt like I was back in Europe I felt very at home. However I was not impressed with the service. Everyone in our group picked up on her attitude and yes I do feel bad if she was going through some tough things however I have worked in the service industry for four years and have always kept my cool in front of my customers (even when they were screaming in my face).
Although we were a big group and I understand they can be tough to handle we didn't like feeling so rushed and we clearly were a burden to our server which was reflected strongly when it came to paying our tab. I would go back to Wurst again I just hope when it comes to eating a meal there I don't have to feel like I'm competing in a 100 yard dash to place my order. -
Review from laura r.
11/29/2011
Came to Wurst for a special dinner a few weeks ago. I love the huge food and drink menu. I can be a bit of a picky eater so I appreciate having so many choices.
My BF and I shared the cast iron ribs with smoked beer sauce, the Bavarian wings (pretzel breaded and stuffed with sausage), and the Caesar salad. I probably wouldn't order the ribs again, they were a bit too fatty, and the bone was kind of falling apart. The wings were much larger than we were expecting, and there was really not a lot of chicken meat; probably 90% sausage : 10% chicken. I think the chicken wing is really just a vessel for the delicious sausage... The hot sauce on the outside of the "wings" combined with the mustard dipping sauce was very good. The Caesar salad was milder than most, our server informed us that the dressing is made without anchovies. I really liked the peppercorn dressing.
The drink menu is fantastic. I tried a beer cocktail which I think was called The Nikki. I don't see it on the online menu and I can't remember exactly what was in it. I think it was Wurst 1516 lager, grapefruit soda, and peach schnapps. So yummy. I also tried the Sir Perry Pear Cider. I really like the 200 ml draft servings. It's a great way to try multiple beers without getting wasted and/or full...
Our server was great. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and gave us some good suggestions. She stopped us from ordering a third meat dish to share, which I am very thankful for. We couldn't even finish the two that we ordered.
There is definitely not enough parking in their private lot. Street parking and paid parking lots are close by. -
Review from Adam G.
Calgary, AB
11/5/2011
This is a one star petition for @WURSTCalgary to add Curry Wurst to the menu.
My actual rating for Wurst is easily a 5 (it's amazing), but when I heard the name and the concept I was REALLY, REALLY hoping that they had one of my favourite German dishes. Especially since I can't find it anywhere else in Calgary..
If you don't know, curry wurst is a very simple quick-food type of dish that is typically only sold in Berlin. But it's the curry sauce on top that is just absolutely amazing.
http://en.wikipedia.or...
I had it while I was on vacation there last year and it blew my effin mind.
If someone at Wurst actually sees this and adds it to the menu, just send me an @reply and I will tell all of my friends. Seriously, I am that into this dish. My Twitter handle is: @alfgoetz
Once again (for the record), I love Wurst and I've been there a TON. If you go sit in the beer hall downstairs and order the Bavarian Wings. You only get three, but that is all you need. Trust me.Listed in: Great Dining, Late Night Drinks
-
Review from Chelsea K.
Calgary, AB
8/16/2011 ROTD 4/15/2012
I promise not to make any puns with the name.
I have been to Wurst on two occasions. Once in the downstairs area, which is a rowdy beer-hall style room with communal seating, and once in the upstairs which features a quieter and more formal seating area.
The menu features German-style (obviously) entrees as well as a few lighter items such as oysters and salads. There is a surprising amount of seafood, which is great for a non-meat eater such as myself. (the meat eaters were very, very happy with the "pile of wurst" and pork knuckle) The beer selection is good, and there is a decent wine selection as well.
When I had dinner the upstairs seating area, the server was friendly, quick, and very knowledgeable of the menu. The interior is beautiful, with a distinctly different vibe on each floor (upstairs is good for dinner and conversation, downstairs is good for a rowdier pub feeling)
Prices are on the higher end, but worth it for great quality. I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Mike A.
Calgary, AB
Updated - 8/19/2011
I'm downgrading. The first review I wrote says that the 'pile of bratwurst' is one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. They really knocked it out of the park that first time, so I went again and ordered the same thing. It came out so fast that the server made a little joke about how they must've been waiting for me. I wouldn't be surprised if the dish actually had been waiting for me, because it didn't seem as well put together. It seemed like the parts of the dish had settled into one another. They also didn't give me a side of mustard like the first time.
It was still very delicious and the rest of the experience held up, but my food didn't live up to the standard that they had originally set.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/26/2011
The five stars is for the 'pile of bratwurst', which is one of the best dishes I've had in a long… Read more »
-
-
Review from Wanda B.
Calgary, AB
11/27/2011
I'm an avid reader of City Palate and as such I heard about Wurst quite some time ago. Being that I have German in my blood and I grew up eating German fare (yes travelled to Germany to visit and stay with relatives as well) it appealed to me, not to mention I enjoy beer (when I'm not drinking wine). And so I have been trying to find a time to bring the family to Wurst but so many factors have stopped us from being able to get there to try it out. During this process I have been in communication with Geoff at Wurst and I have to say above all his customer service has exceeded any I have ever had. Kudos to Geoff!
And so finally I was able to meet a girlfriend there for lunch/brunch on a Saturday (we had made reservations). As soon as I walked into the restaurant I was very impressed with pretty much everything. My gf and I both ordered Benny's for brunch. I had the smoked salmon & double brie eggs benny and my gf had the duck confit eggs benny. Both meals were outstanding, the customer service impressive and quality of food for the price just fabulous.
I also have to mention I enjoyed being able to order samplers of the beer to see if I wanted to indulge more in a particular beer or try a new one. Speaks to me!
I can not think of a con on my first visit to Wurst. What I would recommend as I did not see it on the menu is adding Schnapps as an option. The homemade schnapps in Germany is mind boggling good & potent(my family's recipe). I will return to this restaurant and I will recommend it. Prost! -
Review from Pierre B.
Toronto, ON
8/17/2011
Having spent entirely too much time in Bavarian beer halls, I must say that Wurst recreates the experience as good as I have ever seen. Right down to the food, which I will say is a cut above anything I have ever had in Germany. Particular mention has to be made to the kitchen and head chef for sourcing all of the ingredients locally, from the pork to the pickles, it's all lovingly prepared and broken down onsite.
The beer menu is outstanding and appeals to all appetites and I was impressed with the wine list. Not being a fan of the sweeter wines, I'm not too concerned if the list doesn't contain to many Gerwurtz' or Reislings.
I think this is a good, if not great, concept that represents an authentic and high end dining experience that is worthy of any multi-star experience I have had in other global food cities. Well done Wurst -
Review from Katie C.
Calgary, AB
11/9/2011
I love a good German bier hall as much as the next girl, but this place really brings out my best and my wurst.
I've averaged the 5 and the 1 for a three star. I'd go back because it is so pretty, but I don't know that I would organize an event there in the near future either.
My first visit was during Oktoberfest, a bit of a gong show in the giant basement. Having just gotten back from Germany, it was fun to see the big picnic tables out and about, and the German band in full swing. The atmosphere was great, tons of people but still space to sit, our server was on it and the food that I stole off my friends plate was quite tasty! Overall, a 5 star experience! I love the decor - earthy, European, and just plain stylin'.
I was a little bit disappointed by the beer selection, but I grabbed the sampler, sat back and enjoyed the double headed bird decor. When we finally left a little bit early, I was surprised to see a big line coming out the door.
My second experience emphasized a lot of my bar pet peeves. First of all, I was late meeting some friends, and thought if I got there by 9, I'd beat the line. Not so. And not only that, the bouncer was not interested in letting me join my friends at their table and was downright rude. So, after a little friend- guilt tripping and a too long wait with them, we made it in for some increasingly bad service.
The drinks are, let's face it, overpriced for what they are, which I can live with when everything else comes together. But my second visit was a one star. Either Wurst is a little bi-polar, is getting a little too popular and its going to their heads, or the best time to come down is during lunch or dinner. -
Review from Angela M.
Calgary, AB
7/22/2011
Yes, I just gave a place five stars. Simmer down.
Chelsea selected Wurst as the location for this month's Boys Club, a gathering of tech/web/creative/social media women in Calgary.
We were, quite fortunately, accompanied by Sarah Ward (a.k.a. @frecklesandash), the restaurant's interior designer.
We sat in The Vol Room, decorated with an extremely large painting of a pig and tastefully appointed with modern lighting, seats and tables.
We all remarked on the wood panels adorning the walls and ceiling. Sarah let us know the rustic approach was quite intentional, to give that old German bier haus feel, and the wood came from a 300-year-old barn in Quebec.
Our server, Andrea, was fantastic. This was -- head and shoulders -- the best service experience I've had in Calgary in a good long while. She knew the menu inside and out, forward and backward. She told us when she found out she was getting hired full time, she made sure she sampled everything on the menu.
She was not only knowledgeable about the menu, but she was pleasant and quick. She also apologized profusely when a beer or wine of choice was not available that evening.
For the food, we started with the charcuterie and it was wolfed down in no time. Andrea explained each item on the board but the second I hear 'brie' there doesn't seem to be anything else worth eating.
I. Love. Brie.
Next came my schweinhauxen, or pork knuckle. Be careful with the pronunciation and do not order a sheizenhauxen, because then you'll get a shit knuckle.
First the accessories ... braised red cabbage, a touch too much of pickle flavouring or something, I can't quite put my finger on it. A small dollop of clumpy mashed potatoes.
So yeah, meh.
But the pork knuckle was as delicious as it was HUGE. There was more than enough for a go-box and I had one happy puppy when I got home.
For dessert, I went for the white chocolate mousse (yummm ... Andrea's favourite). The presentation is adorable, coming in a glass jar - complete with lid - and three cookies. It was pretty good, not very rich at all but not enough cookies to go with the amount of mousse.
In all, a delightful evening. I look forward to a return visit to try the Pile of Bratwurst. -
Review from Aymie R.
Calgary, AB
10/6/2011
I went here for the first time on Friday night - the first day of Oktoberfest. I resisted Das Boot, which was probably a good idea as total madness was on order for the evening.
We started with a couple of drinks and appies at the bar. If you don't like or eat meat, probably don't come to Wurst. I think their salads are covered in sausage. The German Chicken Wing is a must-try! I also tried the venison corn dogs and wasn't super-impressed. They were so dry, thank goodness there was aioli and cranberry sauce for dipping! The vibe upstairs with the giant trees in the dining area is perfect. Like dining under the stars :) (See note below re. my crush - he can definitely take me on a date there any time.)
We then moved to the beer hall, which became absolute insanity as the evening progressed. The vibe was great, and lacked the typical Calgary pretentiousness that most spots have. The beer hall picnic tables also help to make things more social.
Also, if anyone knows a hot rugby player named Jamie - he was at Wurst on the 30th and might possibly be the hottest guy in Calgary. CALL ME! -
Review from Ryan M.
Calgary, AB
6/16/2011
Last night I attended the opening of Wurst. Opened by the same people who brought us Mercato, this time they were venturing into German (or more specifically, Bavarian food) basically all the items you might find at Oktoberfest.
I never knew it, but apparently all my favourite foods are Bavarian; Venison Corn Dogs, Lamb Sliders, Stuffed Chicken Wings, along with a spread of smoked meats and Cheese fondue were among the delectable items. My favourite had to be the homemade pretzels and the Bison Profiteroles.
As this is a Bavarian Food and Beer House, the beer selection is extensive; 20 on tap, and plenty more in bottles. My favourite was Stiegl... in the 1 Litre Mug.
Something interesting at Wurst is their 'Stein Wall'; for 250$ per year, you can keep your own beer stein in a private locker that only you and the manager have keys to. Part of the fee goes to charity, and although as of last night they are all sold out, they are currently holding a contest to win one (the last day for entries is June 19th).
All in all, I approve: great food, great beer, a beautiful 2 floor space, and a great location should make Wurst the best new thing in Mission. -
Review from Wendy P.
6/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It doesn't get much Wurst than this. There's a new restaurant and German bier hall where Wildwood used to be. And man oh man, you're in for a treat. My very first time here was for the opening. Yes, it was an evening made to impress. I saved my first review for a return visit to see an ordinary evening out would see the same levels of quality and service.
I stopped in to meet a couple of friends for some birthday drinks (not mine) on Saturday night. I wasn't sure if they'd be upstairs or downstairs, so I did a quick round through the restaurant first. When I was here for the opening there was plenty of standing room. Now that standing room has been replaced with more seating. Nice for those seated so more of them can be accommodated, not so easy to do a walk around through. With all tables full, it was a little cramped getting through there, especially when a server was in the midst of taking somebody's order and there's no way around her. The cool part about the restaurant are the live trees in the middle of it. Yep! Real, live trees.
Downstairs was-thankfully-far less busy than the opening. Don't get the wrong idea, it was still pretty full of people, you just didn't have to make friends with every person you met as you tried to politely brush past them. The long, wooden tables provided ample seating and encouraged patrons to sit where there's room. Only half a table open? No problem! Take a seat, there's plenty of room here. Besides the open kitchen, I'm most excited to see what bier steins start showing up in the lockers by the stairs. You can rent one of your very own you know.
My friends had been here awhile and I had just missed our server coming around for our drink order. So I headed on upto the bar. It was maybe a 10 minute wait in total to get my drink. As I waited, I watched the staff behind the bar. Moving and maneuvering around one another, they were constantly on the go but able to move out of each others way where needed. As one bartender was pouring a beer, she looked up and asked me what I wanted. Multi-tasking with the orders. Efficient. I like it. I told her I wanted something that was a light ale with citrus. She suggested a grapefruit beer. I liked it so much I had another later in the night.
All in all, a delightful evening. Wurst was spot on. I can't wait to go back for some of the lamb and goat cheese crepes I tried at the opening. -
Review from Starsia E.
Calgary, AB
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
My first experience with this restaurant was not a good one. When attempting to make a reservation online I was sad to see nothing for more than 30 days. We went anyways and decided to try and get in downstairs in the bar. We were there more than an hour and not one staff member so much as said welcome to me. They don't take down names and give tables to people as they come available in the order people came in. Most people play dirty to get tables and in a restaurant that costs as much as Wurst, a customer should never have to fight for a table.
The place was so packed there was barely standing room and they had groups of two sitting at tables built for four to eight. One table of two people sat there for over an hour and just had some beer. If they had sat at the bar then at least four people who were there for dinner could have sat down. As well as a huge booth built for at least six with a couple. It's just not intelligent seating at all by the restaurant. The large wooden tables in the middle of the bar which were built to seat I would think at least 15 were mostly half full with reserved signs on them. They stayed that way the entire time we were there. It's not smart seating either because clearly it wasted 20 or more seats for people waiting. Most restaurants I've been too give up your table or move you if you can't fill the seats you reserved. Had they allowed people to sit and eat at those empty seats they'd have a huge uptake in income.
I had a ice tea because I can't drink but the others ordered the large steins of beer. It was sixty dollars for three beers and my group was a little unimpressed with the price. They wouldn't have cared if we were sitting and eating at the time.
So we stood around for an hour trying to find a table for dinner and got nothing but attitude and a clear sense of poor judgement and planning. I was excited to try their food but in the end my experience couldn't be Wurst. -
Review from Gracie d.
Calgary, AB
7/5/2011
Wurst is a welcome addition to Mission. With communal style seating, good tunes (an occasional German umpa band) and an ample beer selection (including their own Wurst brew choices), it's hard not to have a good time at this bier hall! Be prepared to pay more for a pint of beer (1/2 liter starts at 8.50$; bottles $5.50 and up) and a couple of entrees (between 16-40$/ entree). This isn't your average pub.
I like that Wurst has a dining room upstairs and a communal, "sit with strangers"layout downstairs. The menu is the same in both areas. The food seems to be a modern twist on traditional German-Bavarian-European delicacies. We've tried their "jager schnitzel with spaetzle" (great mushroom gravy on thin slices of meat, 23$), sausage-stuffed chicken wings with pretzel coating (3 huge turkey wings for 12$) and their "schweinshaxen" (a roasted pork knuckle- it's big enough to share between 2 people for 23$) All of it is delicious!
One area that could be improved/ better: Service. We've experienced inconsistent service from the team at Wurst. The waitresses are friendly when you arrive and apologetic when it takes 10 minutes for them to deliver your first round... Maybe order the 1L stein so you can relax until your next round;-)Listed in: Best Happy Hour
-
Review from Nicole M.
Calgary, AB
8/30/2011
I'll admit that German food isn't for everyone, but it certainly is for me!
Plates of meat piled high and deep German flavors and crisp German beers. Although not a single ancestor of mine was German, the food here makes me feel like I am going home!
Also they have Pilsner Urquell on tap - which is the best beer on a hot summer day hands down. -
Review from Philippe G.
Calgary, AB
7/5/2011 4 Check-ins Here
This was my first time in and we had the WURST platter and a few WURST beers.
We were denied the boots, and the server was unsure of what the steins cost, but we were happy to keep on with the oversized mugs:)
I will say that the food was what dropped off here for me, the platter seemed very average and the two other appy's were not as German as one might expect. The house made pickles were great but beside the tiny wonderful french pickles, they were out matched..
They have just opened and I look forward to going back and re-reviewing, the room is gorgeous and the communal tables are a great feature. -
Review from Starkie S.
Calgary, AB
1/24/2012
Attended this location for the first time today in honor of a colleagues birthday. The service was swift, very informative on the menu and kept a keen eye to refill drinks.
I partook in the chicken club sandwich - a good feed if you are hungry - food arrived hot and was flavorful. The beer selection was decent and most at the table found something they liked. One person even tackled 'the boot' - a 2 litre beast and not for the shy!
Given this lunch and the level of service I would recommend and visit again. -
Review from bobby t.
Calgary, AB
1/6/2012
Name should be WORST.
I was not not aware that they are owned by the group that runs Mercato. The service was good but the servers had way too many tables to look after. Food was mediocre and inadequate serving size. $80.00 for a seafood tower for 2 that is certainly a rip off. Server says that you get half a lobster as well. we got a half of a head shell with a small claw in it. a real joke. don't wear your good clothes because you will SMELL after you leave.certainly not coming back but the atmosphere is very good similar too its over priced sister---Mercato. -
Review from Kevin R.
Calgary, AB
3/12/2012
This place is the "wurst" for customer service. We went in and were seated in a mostly empty place. We were given menus and told our server would be right there. We waited. And waited. And waited. Not a big deal until a table of six arrived and was seated right beside us. The weren't even done getting their coats off, and the waiter was over with water and drink orders. Walked past us twice. Looked at us twice. And kept walking. Finally we just got up, told the hostess what happened, and left. I sure hope your food is better than your service. We will never know because we won't be back.
-
Review from Matt T.
Calgary, AB
8/30/2011
I've been in to WURST on 3 separate occasions and had great experiences each time. I've tried a few different foods and lots of drinks and so far all have been exceptional.
I love the bigcommunity table ideas and have been fortunate enough to make more than one new friend because of it. The service has been above average each time but I do notice that some servers do stand out from the others. Now I just look for them and have no service worries.
My favorite dish so far has been the Lamb Crepe. Ya I'm fully zee German but anyone would love this dish. It's called an appetizer but I've been in there very hungry and considered it a great meal. The wings are very unique and also great tasting. They're huge and stuffed with sausage...sounds scary but they taste great. As with typical german fare it's not a light meal and can feel very heavy but their dishes also work great for sharing which I would recommend.
The crowd is 25 - 45 and in my experience has been very friendly. I would recommend giving it a try first at non-peak times because it's extremely busy and you'll have a tough time getting a table for a while I'm sure...but I'd definitely recommend giving it a try!
Get a boot of beer and make some new friends over Lamb Crepes and I guarantee a good time! -
Review from jose m.
Calgary, AB
9/7/2011
i was just talking with a friend of mine who is from germany. wurst isn't entirely a german restaurant, however it does have some german dishes while covering standard bistro fare and also having regional dishes like bison short ribs, roasted trout, etc.
we started with a dozen oysters with an even east and west coast split, which were very good. we were told they were freshly shipped in that day and it clearly showed. i heard much about the pile of bratwurst, but i was in the mood for some prime rib, which is was very good. the melted potatoes that came with was amazing. my wife went for the rack of lamb, which was a little on the fatty side for both our taste, but was still good. to be clear, i am one to appreciate and love fattier meat, but the serving we had was just a bit too much.
pricing is a bit on the more expensive side, but nothing too outrageous. the service was amazing and were being helped by one of the bartenders who was both very friendly and fun to talk to. he was one of the main reasons for the 4 star review!
