What I Thought of It

Harveys, Signal Hill
5658 Signal Hill Centre SW
Calgary AB  T3H 3P8
Phone: 403 240 0006

Searching for a quick meal brought us to this Harvey’s Restaurant. You can find this Harvey’s right next to Swiss Chalet, with whom they actually share the front door and washrooms.

Going for dinner could be a bit tricky. The door sign indicated that Harvey’s Signal Hill closes at 7 pm, which could be too early to accommodate a dinner rush.

At the counter, you can either order food from Harvey’s or takeout from Swiss Chalet. I guess they have the same owner.

The staff are friendly but easily flustered. They served us quickly, but the process felt ad hoc, as if it was everyone’s first day on the job.

The ambiance was so-so. The dining area consisted of loose tables and chairs, which deprived the restaurant of a homey feel. There were flower baskets hanging from the ceiling, but the ceiling is low, so watch your head if you’re 6 feet or over.

The burgers lived up to our expectations from Harvey’s.

Last thought: Would I go back to the Harvey’s in Signal Hill?  I don’t think so. Though the food was good, the rest was meh. I might be lured back by a really strong craving for Harvey’s, but I don’t get that often.

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

Wendy’s, Brentwood
4122 Brentwood Rd NW
Calgary AB  T2L 1K8
Phone: 403 282 5216

Wendy’s Brentwood is hard to miss. It’s between the KFC and the Calgary Co-op gas station, just a couple of meters from the CTrain overpass.

Our visit to Wendy’s was on a weekday around 8 pm, and we found it kind of empty. There was one other person eating, and two more came in while we were there.

The main reason for our visit was to get some extra food in our system, because we were still hungry after a too-small dinner. So we chose from the Value Menu, and the Stack Attack looked like a good stomach filler.

Our order was taken efficiently, and the food was ready in a couple of minutes.

The ambiance at this Wendy’s is nice but a bit dated. There are some small booths but mainly tables and chairs.

The washrooms were not very clean. The men’s washroom was a wet and smelly place that I couldn’t wait to get out of. Let’s hope this is not always the case.

Last thoughts: Visiting this Wendy’s left me with a satisfied feeling. Maybe it was just the good-tasting burger, but I think it could be more. I may be going back, in which case I’ll let you know how it goes.

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

A&W, High River
1103 G 18 St SE
High River AB  T1V 2A9
Phone: 403 652 7233

When you access High River from Highway 2, you can’t miss the A&W across the street from McDonald’s.

At lunch time this place is kind of packed, but not in a bad way. You still get served pretty quickly, and you’ll have no problem finding a seat to enjoy your meal at this A&W Restaurant.

Ordering went smoothly, and my order was in my hands in no time. The girl who served me was very friendly and helpful, as the workers should be in any service business.

The ambiance is typical A&W, with lots of orange and pictures from the good old days.

The food was standard - good and consistent, as it is in most A&W Restaurants.

Last thoughts: The A&W in High River is actually pretty good. You walk in for fast food and walk out having had a great meal. I wouldn’t hesitate to stop by again the next time I visit High River.

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

Humpty’s Family Restaurant
42148 Highway 1 W
Calgary AB  T3Z 2P2
Phone: 403 932 9353

This Humpty’s Restaurant is not really in Calgary, if you ask me. You find it on Highway 1, just after the exit to Bragg Creek and Cochrane, connected to the Petro Canada gas station.

After a past visit to a Humpty’s in Calgary, I was hesitant to visit another one, but as you’ll read, this one is much better than the previous one.

You can get to the Highway 1 Humpty’s from either side of the highway - just use the Highway 22X overpass.

On entering Humpty’s you’ll notice a wall full of awards for service and food. Of course, this raised my expectations. One server promptly escorted us to a table, and another server asked if we wanted coffee. What a good start.

The ambiance is average. It is a typical family restaurant/diner, but the space was planned in a strange way, making the restaurant feel cramped. Our booth by the window did offer a nice view of the highway.

Humpty’s just updated their menu, and wow! It has a lot of options that are worth a try.

After much fun deliberation, we finally ordered. I got an M&M Burger (comes with mushrooms and mozzarella cheese), and my friend went for the Meatloaf.

Our food came after a reasonable time and looked very good.

My fries were perfectly crisp and especially tasty. I felt like I was eating something much fancier than potato sticks.

The burger was covered with mushrooms and the mozzarella cheese was melted on top of them. There was fresh lettuce, tomato, and onions on the side. I had said yes to mustard and relish, and these condiments were on the bottom.

The patty was a good size but lacked flavor on its own. The beef itself would have been disappointing, but with the add-ons it made a tasty burger. The patty came in a fresh sesame-seed bun.

The meatloaf was not moist and sliced like the traditional version. At Humpty’s, it was square-shaped beef patties, served with vegetables and garlic bread. The meatloaf was firm and tasty - I could eat this on a bun as a burger. The vegetable were fresh and well seasoned. There were two slices of garlic Ciabatta bread, a great variation on the usual sliced bread.

Last thoughts: Visiting this Humpty’s Family Restaurant on Highway 1 was an eye-opener. It was so much better than my previous experience. The service was super, and the food was good and extremely filling. This is a location I would go back to.

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

White Spot Restaurant
3322 32 St NE
Calgary AB  T2E 8Z5
Phone: 403 237 5100

While driving by the White Spot Restaurant in the northeast of Calgary, I became curious to try it out. It’s easy to find, right on the corner of Barlow Trail and 32nd Avenue, next to the Shaw building.

I got there around 7:30 pm on a Friday, and there was a good-size dinner crowd. I waited a bit, then a girl came but didn’t know where to put me, so she asked for help. I was seated at a table that had not been cleaned. This table was off to the side, between the entrance and the bar area. I still wonder why I was put there, when there was lots of space in the dining area.

Then the server came. She was way too antsy for my liking. She came back 3 times within 3 minutes to ask if I was ready to order. When I asked her to clean the table, she got someone else to do it.

One thing you’ll notice about the menu at White Spot is that the dishes all look alike, and there are not that many to begin with. Ultimately I ordered a burger, of course, and one that came with “endless fries”.

While waiting for the food I looked around. White Spot has a semi-upscale look, with lots of wood and a huge waterfall.

Then the food arrived. After the table was cleaned, nobody had thought of giving me cutlery. So I waved to a girl (my original server was nowhere to be found), and she became flustered with the simple request for cutlery. I got a napkin and a knife (yes, no fork!), but at least I got something.

Let’s start with the fries. They were awesome, some of the best fries I’ve eaten in a restaurant in Calgary. I ordered mayonnaise instead of gravy, and I got something that was not mayonnaise but was even better, and it went perfectly with the fries. My order of a Big Burger entitled me to endless fries. Trust me, you’ll want to get seconds at least. The burger had a good sauce and cooked tomatoes.

Our original server dropped off the bill the first chance she got. I gave her my credit card, and she came back with the slip. While I like to take a leisurely pace when dining out, this lady obviously did not agree. She was back for the slip before I could sign it.

Last thoughts: Although the fries were great, they won’t be enough to lure me back to White Spot. First, the menu is sparse. Second, plenty of other places offer much better service as well as value for money.

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

The Elk & Oarsman
119 Banff Avenue
Banff AB
Phone: 403 762 4616
www.elkandoarsman.com

Our plan had been to eat at The Keg in Banff, but unfortunately for them they are not open that early (3:45 pm). In need of something to fill our famished stomachs, we ended up at The Elk & Oarsman in the building next to The Keg.

The Elk & Oarsman is situated above some shops, and that offers a prime spot for people-watching on Banff Avenue. If the weather’s nice, you can even sit on the rooftop patio, with an even better view of Banff and the mountains.

The decor of The Elk & Oarsman has lots of wood with many antique objects. The result is a cozy and friendly feel. We grabbed a booth by the window so that we could enjoy the view.

The menu offers a good selection of dishes. As usual I wanted a burger, which meant a choice of Angus beef, buffalo, chicken, salmon,…but I went for the elk burger. My friend, on the other hand, looked in the fancy part of the menu and chose the elk rib steak, one of the more expensive items at $27.

With the burger you can choose two sides, so I decided to test the difference between regular potato fries and sweet potato fries. Next time it will be sweet potato fries hands-down. The burger was juicy and very flavorful, definitely a great value choice.

The much pricier elk rib steak was good but just similar to the burger in flavor. In fact, the burger tasted less “gamey”, so burger definitely wins over steak. The vegetables were also underwhelming. They were not fresh and kind of bland.

We had entered The Elk & Oarsman through the door on Banff Avenue. We went up a set of stairs to the pub, but nobody noticed us, and we didn’t know whether to sit or wait to be seated. We waited a bit and then asked. Alternatively, at the other entrance from the mall, there’s a sign that says “wait to be seated”. You’d have a better chance of being noticed that way.

Our waitress was somewhat patient in letting us take our time with the menu. She did forget to ask how the steak should be done, but she fixed that promptly.

Last thoughts: The Elk & Oarsman is a nice location to grab a bite or drink. The food is good, but make your choices wisely. I could come back here but not before trying other places in Banff, because it was also not that special.

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

Applebee’s Calgary
707-388 Country Hills Blvd
Calgary AB  T3K 5J6
Phone: 403 226 6160

Dinner one night found us at the charmingly named Applebee’s. Although Applebee’s is a very common chain restaurant in the U.S. and Canada, you’ll find only one location in Calgary.

The ambiance at Applebee’s is sports-dominated, with lots of decorations supporting local teams like the Stampeders and the Flames. One downside is that the place is kind of dark.

We got there, saw a line-up, and were told to expect a wait of 15-20 minutes. It was exactly that long before we got a table. Our server seemed nice at first, but that false impression soon fell apart. He just didn’t seem to care much. He forgot what we ordered and came back to get it a second time (this also happened to another table). On the bright side the food came quickly.

I got an order of pork ribs with fries. Let’s start with the fries: they were bad! They were doused in as much salt as a whole family would need for a month. They were half soggy and half hard (hard enough to break your teeth on). Then the ribs: they were coated nicely in BBQ sauce, but on their own they were way too dry. I’ve made ribs only once in my life, and that first try turned out ten times better than these Applebee’s ribs.

Last thoughts: My experience at chains like Applebee’s and Montana’s has not been good the last couple of months. In this case, Applebee’s is not going to see me back. Go someplace else - there’s no shortage of better places with better prices.

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

The Paddock Pub
135 Banff Avenue
Banff AB  T1L 1A7
Phone: 403 760 8543

The Paddock Pub is part of the Mount Royal Hotel. It’s not in the hotel but actually a couple of doors down the street, below ground under the hotel. The door in the photo is the only part above ground. You go through the door and down the stairs to reach the Paddock.

This basement pub is roomy. One side of the bar has lots of seating, and the other side is an entertainment zone housing pool tables, video games, and more. The seating area consists of big benches against the wall and tables and chairs directly opposite. On our visit there was hockey showing on the big-screen TV and a couple of smaller TVs.

When we got to The Paddock around 5 pm on a Saturday, it was not busy but there were enough customers to keep the staff working. After sitting down, we waited a while before the lone server came by our table.

The menu at The Paddock Pub is very limited. It has the basic pub dishes but nothing like soup or desserts.

We ordered the Buffalo Burger and Chicken Philly Sandwich. The food looked great on first sight. I then noticed that my fries were lukewarm, not hot. Luckily the rest of the food was properly hot.

The Buffalo Burger was thick and juicy, served on a fresh bun and topped with a nice piece of melted cheese. The Chicken Philly sandwich was also tasty and well prepared. It was supposed to be on panini bread, but the bread was soft (isn’t panini hard?).

Last thoughts: Although the menu at The Paddock Pub is not extensive, I would go back there. The food was just good, no question, though they should put a couple more servers on the floor.

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

CB Hamburger Inn
789 Northmount Dr NW
Calgary AB  T2L 0A1
Phone: 403 282 8188

CB Hamburger Inn is a Calgary institution, so on one of the first good days of spring I decided to give it a try.

CB Hamburger Inn is right on Northmount Drive, just north of 14th Street, in a spacious and eye-catching structure. I have no more to say about the ambiance because it’s not an indoor sit-down restaurant. Instead, there are picnic benches under the big roof and on the edge of the parking lot.

You order inside, which is reminiscent of a gas station mini-mart. I was there on a Monday night 20 minutes before closing (they close at 7 pm on Mondays), and the man who helped me was curt and unwelcoming.

I ordered a Centenniel (triple) burger, fries, and zucchini sticks. My order was screamed to the other staffers, who started preparing the food. I decided to pay by debit card since there was an Interac sign, but it didn”t say anywhere that I would be charged $0.25 extra for doing so. I really didn’t care, but they should have posted a sign notifying customers of the additional charge for debit payments.

My food was handed over in a brown paper bag, and out I went to enjoy it at one of the picnic tables. As soon as I left, the staff locked up and left for the day.

Upon unwrapping my Centenniel burger - which should come with 3 patties - I discovered a big mistake. My burger had only one patty and a piece of bacon. They had given me the wrong burger. I was stuck with it, of course, seeing as CB Hamburger Inn had closed up.

My burger (which I didn’t order) was nothing special. It tasted like frozen processed meat from the supermarket. CB supposedly has some of the best fries in Calgary. My fries were good, thanks mostly to the seasoning. The zucchini sticks were also good - I wish you could find them at more places in Calgary.

I tried to figure out what they gave me instead of the Centenniel burger by recalculating my Interac receipt. They charged me something, but going by the prices on the menu I still can’t recreate the amount I paid.

Last thoughts: CB Hamburger Inn should be a Calgary institution that you can’t live without. For me, it is not, and it never will be. After this experience I’m staying away from this place. And do check your bill when you go to CB!

Food +++
Service ++
Ambiance +++
Washrooms n/a

Cristy’s Rotisserie Chicken
2775 32 Ave NE
Calgary AB
Phone: 403 250 2828
www.cristyschicken.com

Critsy’s Rotisserie Chicken is a small Calgary chain with 3 locations in food courts all over the city and one sit-down place on 32nd Avenue NE. I went to the one on 32nd Avenue NE because I expected more of a sit-down restaurant.

Finding this location of Cristy’s is not difficult - it has big signs and is situated right between Boston Pizza and Arby’s. In front of the building are plenty of parking spots.

Inside, there’s an aisle in front of the ordering counter and seating on both sides of the aisle. The decor feels a bit granny-ish but is nice enough for a sit-down meal. The tables have tablecloths and are additionally covered with plastic to keep them clean.

Ordering is easy. You read the big menu board above the counter, and the staff is helpful, though a bit impatient. After you order the food is prepared and delivered to your table. In my books, it’s like a fast-food restaurant, which I guess is why you find all the other Cristy’s Chicken locations in mall food courts.

The food is good, but don’t expect restaurant food. It is fast food, done a bit more “homestyle” with cooked vegetables and home-cooked chicken. The chicken was no better than what you could pick up at the supermarket hot deli.

Last thoughts: Cristy’s Rotisserie Chicken is an okay place to go for a fast meal or takeout. To me it’s not that special. If I’m craving chicken on-the-go I would choose Chicken on the Way (a Calgary institution) hands-down. Cristy’s is not a place I would go back to again and again.

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