What I Thought of It

Second Cup
338 - 10 St NW
Calgary AB  T2N 1V8
Phone: 403 270 9698

After a leisurely walk through the trendy Calgary neighborhood of Kensington, it was time to warm up a bit before heading home. And what’s the best way to warm up? Somewhere that serves hot drinks, so my final stop was Second Cup.

The Second Cup coffee shop on 10th Street is right across from the Safeway grocery store, just beyond the main row of shops. From the outside, this Second Cup does not look very big, but the inside had a lot more seating than I expected. There were high tables with stools, low tables with chairs, armchairs, and even a fireplace. The walls had many framed prints and pretty decorations, making for great coffee shop ambiance.

At the order counter, the staff were not very friendly and appeared to regret being at work that day.

There was a sign announcing free wireless Internet for customers, but to get access you need to make a purchase of at least $5.

Going to the washroom was a bit tricky. As in many coffee shops, you need to ask for the key at the counter. I was told, “Sorry, but it’s only for customers.” Huh? Why would I be standing there in my shirt, not wearing my jacket, mitts, and hat (it was freezing outside), if I wasn’t a customer? I’d advise the staff to pay more attention to the customers and try to remember a face longer than one minute (two minutes would have been enough in my case).

The new Cuzco Fair Trade Organic coffee I got was nothing to rave about. It was a bit weak for my taste (I like my coffee strong). Maybe they could put a few more beans in the coffee machine.

Last thoughts: The Second Cup in Kensington is a nice place to sit and enjoy a warm drink. The coffee was not great, but it will do on a cold day. When I’m in the neighborhood again and in need of something warm, I will stop by and see if the staff are having a better day.

Food / Drinks +++
Service ++
Ambiance ++++
Washrooms +++

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
3022 23 St NE
Calgary AB  T2E 8R7
Phone: 403 219 0900

Perkins does not have many restaurants in Alberta, but they do have one in Calgary. To try something new, my friend and I went for dinner at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery. It’s right next to Barlow Trail. Your best bet would be to get on 32nd Avenue going west and then take the first left.

Our first impression of Perkins was so-so. The hostess who showed us to our table was not really friendly and did not seem to care much about anything, but after this things became much better.

Our server, Brian, was probably one of the best servers we’ve ever met, but more about that later.

Perkins has a homey atmosphere. The lighting inside gave us a warm feeling on that dark evening. The furniture consisted of the usual booths and tables, but it all looked pleasant and welcoming.

Brian gave us the perfect amount of time to go through the menu and then expertly took our orders.

I ordered a burger with fries (like in most of these reviews) and a side of mayonnaise. The food came pretty fast, and good old Brian noticed that something was wrong even before the plate hit the table. He apologized that I’d been given sour cream instead of mayonnaise (he could tell from the color). He ran back to the kitchen and in no time I got my proper side of mayonnaise. This was indeed an amazing feat on Brian’s part. Most places don’t even remember to bring my mayo, let alone recognize what it should look like.

My burger looked great, maybe even too good. It was nicely cooked, not dripping with juice but just right, and even had some tasty seasoning. For me they could have used less pepper, but all in all it was a great burger that almost resembled a steak sandwich instead of a boring ground beef patty in a bun. The fries were also good. I seem to have trouble getting good fries in Calgary these days, but Perkins obviously knows how to make them. They were tasty and cooked precisely to my liking.

My friend order the chicken cordon bleu, which was perfectly breaded, crisp, and flavorful. The accompanying vegetables were cooked just right, not over- or under-done like in 9 out of 10 restaurants.

Brian kept an eye on us while he worked the room. My drink, for instance, never reached bottom. He always managed to get me a refill just before the glass could become empty.

After the main meal he noticed that we were full, but my friend’s meal came with pie. Before we even thought of it, he asked if we would prefer to take the pie home in a box. Well, that was the perfect solution. What a smart guy!

The pie - peanut butter - was simply delicious.

Last thoughts: Perkins is a must-visit. It’s close to the airport, so it’s perfect for grabbing a quick meal when you drop off or pick up a friend. The food was excellent and the service we enjoyed was super. Perkins, I will be back, no doubt about that, and I hope I’ll run into Brian again.

Food +++++
Service +++++
Ambiance ++++
Washrooms ++++

Coast Mountain Sports
122 Banff Avenue
Banff AB  T0L 0C0
Phone: 403 760 8249
www.coastmountain.com

Coast Mountain Sports in Banff is right on Banff Avenue, the main retail strip in downtown Banff. To make sure you don’t miss it, the Coast store is between McDonald’s and Tony Roma’s.

Coast Mountain Sports is part of the Forzani Group, which also owns Sport Chek and Sport Mart, and that makes Forzani a formidable player in the sports merchandise market in Canada.

Coast Mountain Sports in Banff is housed in a cozy little building. It’s nice to walk into whether you’re shopping or just browsing. You’ll find footwear on the street level and the rest of their merchandise (mostly clothing) upstairs. The physical space is a bit small for their fairly big inventory of sporting and outdoor goods, so you might be bumping into stuff all the time.

I was looking for a warm, reliable pair of winter boots. When shoe-shopping I often find that stores don’t carry or have run out of my size. At this Coast store, I was lucky to find three different boots that looked promising, and they had all three models in my size. This meant that I could test out all my options and come to a satisfying decision.

The staff were alert and friendly. Even though it was quite busy in the footwear section, they were fast in getting me the boots I wanted to try. The boy who helped me seemed to really know about winter boots, and this made me confident that I would not go home with the wrong choice. I left happy with a great pair of smart-looking and functional boots.

Last thoughts: Coast Mountain Sports in Banff is the first Coast store from which I didn’t leave disappointed. The staff knew what they were doing, and the store had shoes in my size (this rarely happens anywhere else). I will keep this store in mind the next time I am in need of outdoor gear.

Product Range ++++
Service ++++
Ambiance +++

The Stoop
106 Main Street
Rouleau SK
Phone: 306 776 2406
www.thestoop.ca

If you’re a Corner Gas fan, then you of course know where Karen and Davis work. Yes, they work in the Dog River Police headquarters, and the Dog River Police headquarters in real life is The Stoop, a store / coffee shop where you can learn a lot more about the hit TV series filmed in this small town in Saskatchewan.

We visited Dog River (Rouleau, Saskatchewan in real life) in June of 2008, while the filming of the sixth and final season of Corner Gas was still ongoing. It was no surprise that on this Saturday, there were carloads of people stopping in the small town of Rouleau to see where Brent, Lacey, Oscar, Emma and the rest of the gang of Corner Gas live.

Of course, you can’t miss the main set consisting of The Ruby and the gas station. And when you go exploring in the town, you will find places that you’ll remember from the show, like the hotel, grain elevator, insurance office, and lots more.

Now about The Stoop: From the outside, it’s identified as the Dog River Police Department. When you look more closely, there is a sign on the door saying that it is not a real police office.

Inside, there is a coffee shop with little tables covered in all kinds of Corner Gas press and trivia. The walls are covered with even more Corner Gas memorabilia, as well as messages from Corner Gas fans. You’d be hard-pressed to find a blank spot to write a message of your own.

Other than the usual coffee shop food and drinks, The Stoop had some nice ice cream that cooled me down nicely on that hot day.

Of course, The Stoop sells a wide variety of Corner Gas merchandise. I still love and treasure the Corner Gas / The Ruby mug that I bought there.

Last thoughts: The Stoop is a great place to see in Rouleau, where there isn’t much to see besides parts of Corner Gas. The Stoop plays it smart by having all the series merchandise on hand for the die-hard fans like me who make the trip to see Dog River. I hope the town of Rouleau will find a way to keep Dog River alive for us. We will be laughing for years to come at the jokes from Brent and company.

Food +++
Service ++++
Ambiance ++++
Washroom +++

Burger Baron
414 Mayor Magrath Drive N
Lethbridge AB  T1J 0A1
Phone: 403 320 9923

On a visit to Lethbridge this summer, I wanted some food, but the car navigation unit kept pointing me to places that were closed on Sundays. Finally I came to Burger Baron. On this Sunday, it was particularly busy at Burger Baron. The parking lot was playing host to an auto show, which brought the crowds in.

Inside, Burger Baron could use some re-decorating. The place looks far from new, but it still draws the crowds. The menu, of course, is all about burgers, which have names like “Royal Burger”. Your order is taken by a friendly elderly gentleman who seems to be the owner. In fact, he probably started the place. This gentleman made me feel welcome and at home, and he had a kind word for everyone who came into Burger Baron.

After ordering I had to wait for the food to be prepared. Since it was so busy, this took some time, but not more time than was reasonable.

The food was not too bad but also not the best in the world. The poutine was really disappointing. However, the burger was nice and juicy, with some fresh vegetables and crispy golden fries.

Last thoughts: Visiting Burger Baron in Lethbridge is certainly a different experience. You can’t compare it to a “normal” fast food place, because the people there care about your food and you’ll notice that. I would go back to Burger Baron instead of any of the chain restaurants in Lethbridge.

Food +++
Service ++++
Ambiance +++
Washrooms +++

The Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse
A 5.5-km hike from Chateau Lake Louise

If you like nature and feel like having a cup of tea somewhere other than Starbucks or Tim Horton’s, then go for the Teahouse Hike in Lake Louise. From the Chateau Lake Louise, there are two hiking options to two different teahouses. The one described here is farther out and therefore the longer hike. If you really want a challenge, you can hike to both teahouses in one day.

Before you can get your cup of tea, though, you will have to put on your hiking boots. Yes, they are not optional, because the trail is more than just compacted earth. A long stretch of the route consists of rocks, and they are small enough to make you slide and hurt yourself.

The hike can be done without a map. Just go along the lake on the right side (with the Chateau Lake Louise behind you) and keep following the trail for 5.5 kilometers. You will pass some beautiful scenery, including waterfalls, towering rockfaces (where you might spot some rock-climbers), and of course glaciers. Once you reach the teahouse you’ll be at an elevation of 2100 meters. Nearby is a nice little stream of freezing-cold mountain water. There are also two dry toilets so you don’t have to go in the bushes.

The Teahouse stands off to the side from the trail and offers seating on trail level and one level up. The food and drinks are made fresh in the teahouse, and because the teahouse doesn’t have electricity they can’t be stored long. Supplies are brought in by helicopter at the beginning of the season. After this delivery, additional supplies - if they run out - have to be carried on horses or by the teahouse employees themselves.

The teahouse welcomes you with a nice ambiance, especially after a long, exhausting hike. You’ll be glad to sit down and try some of their menu offerings. I had some great lemonade that really refreshed me and made me ready to hike a bit farther to see all the glaciers in the area.

Last thoughts: Visiting this tea house is well worth the hike. One downside is that it can get pretty busy during peak season, which could take away from your experience. Nonetheless, it’s nowhere near as busy as the Lake Agnes Teahouse, which is a much shorter hike from Chateau Lake Louise.

Drinks ++++
Service +++++
Ambiance +++++
Washrooms +++

McDonald’s, Okotoks
600 Big Rock Lane
Okotoks AB  T0L 1T0
Phone: 403 938 3050

McDonald’s in Okotoks is easy to find. First of all, you can’t miss the BIG golden arches in front, and secondly, it’s right on the main road that runs through the city of Okotoks.

This McDonald’s Restaurant has a PlayPlace that also offers some big-kid entertainment. Lucky for hungry customers unaccompanied by kids, the PlayPlace is in a separate room that holds in all the noise.

Going to a McDonald’s with a PlayPlace can be a mistake for people like me who want a quick lunch. If you go there on a day when kids are not in school, then you better be prepared to wait and wait and wait to be served.

The Okotoks McDonald’s probably employs the slowest cooks, of all the McDonald’s I’ve visited.

But let’s back-track a bit.

Ambiance-wise, this McDonald’s has fresh decor and just enough seating (probably not enough when it’s busy).

I ordered a Filet-O-Fish combo, which was fresh and tasted like it should at every McDonald’s.

Last thoughts: There is no reason I won’t return to the McDonald’s in Okotoks, although I might stay away when it’s a school holiday.

Food ++++
Service +++
Ambiance +++
Washrooms +++

A&W, 32nd Street NE
3210 32 St NE
Calgary AB  T1Y 6J7
Phone: 403 735 4977

Another day on the road, another lunch out. This time I made a stop at the A&W on 32nd Street in northeast Calgary. It is close to the shops, just before you hit 36th Avenue, and it’s easy to find if you keep an eye out for it.

Like in most of their restaurants, the decor at this A&W makes you feel like you’ve come home. The entire A&W chain achieves this homey-cozy ambiance better than any fast-food business I know.

Strangely, people were not flocking to this A&W for lunch on this Tuesday, because I was the only customer, but it meant that I was served pronto.

Today, I went for the Chubby Chicken Burger combo. The food came fast, and my root beer came in a real glass mug.

The fries were fresh and crispy, just the way I like them. The burger came with lots and lots of fresh lettuce, though I’m not crazy about eating leaves. The chicken was nicely cooked and still juicy but not greasy.

Last thoughts: A&W on 32nd Street NE succeeded in making me and my stomach happy. I wonder why it’s not busier, but that won’t stop me from going back. The food and service were both top-notch.

Food ++++
Service ++++
Ambiance ++++
Washrooms +++