What I Thought of It

Banzai Sushi & Teriyaki House
526A 4 Ave SW
Calgary AB  T2P 0J6
Phone: 403 262 9060

We had just seen a Sunday matinee movie and were famished. On our way home we walked by Banzai Restaurant on 4th Avenue in downtown Calgary.

We decided to stop for a bite to eat.

On entering Banzai Sushi & Teriyaki House you find a fresh environment with great ambiance and decor. On this Sunday afternoon it was not particularly busy, but I think weekdays at lunch time would be a much different story.

Banzai is best described as a Japanese fast-food restaurant. We each ordered a Bento Box (described as a “lunch box” but apparently available all day). The counter lady bade us to take a table then later brought our order.

Each Bento Box ($8.25) came with miso soup, two spring rolls, rice, salad, and two “entrees”. Mine were beef and chicken. Both types of meat were cooked to perfection and topped with teriyaki sauce; the chicken was accompanied by shredded cabbage. The folks at Banzai know their marinades, because the beef and chicken had great flavor. The spring rolls were small and skimpy on filling, but they were crispy and tastily greasy.

My friend’s entrees were California rolls (3 pieces) and tempura (2 shrimp, 1 yam, 1 cucumber, 2 mushrooms). The tempura was good and crisp, and the rolls were adequate.

Last thoughts: Going to Banzai Sushi & Teriyaki House is a quick way to quench your craving for Japanese. For a fast-food establishment, it really delivered on taste, service, and atmosphere. I wouldn’t mind going back.

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

Sport Chek, Stephen Avenue
120 8 Ave SW
Calgary AB  T2P 1B3
Phone: 403 476 8740

Sport Chek opened a brand-new store on Stephen Avenue, in the heart of downtown Calgary, where McNally-Robinson Bookstore used to be.

My first impression of the store was how spacious and clean it looked. It was not dark and crowded, as sports stores tend to be in Canada.

This Sport Chek has three levels. The main floor has women’s apparel, the top floor has men’s apparel, and the basement has assorted merchandise like skates and golf equipment.

I was looking for two things: a frisbee and hiking sandals. Sport Chek didn’t carry frisbees (a.k.a. throwing/flying discs).

I noticed some nice sandals from Keen and asked the sales associate to get me a size 7.5 and a size 8. After a long wait (I thought she got them downstairs), she came back with an 8 but no 7.5. It turns out that Sport Chek does not stock half sizes in sandals. Too bad for me, size 8 was too big, and size 7 was too small.

Last thoughts: This Sport Chek is definitely the nicest looking one I’ve ever seen. I might walk in again the next time I’m in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, as I learned firsthand, their stocking could be better. Sport Chek shoud consider stocking half sizes in sandals (like MEC does); if stockroom space is a problem, they could just offer fewer colors to choose from.

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

1886 Buffalo Cafe
187 Barclay Parade SW
Calgary AB  T2P 4R3
Phone: 403 269 9255

Finding the 1886 Buffalo Cafe is easier than you think. It’s the old-fashioned white wooden building right next to Eau Claire Market.

We went to 1886 Buffalo Cafe for breakfast on a sunny Saturday. To my surprise, there was no line-up outside, like I’m used to seeing when going for weekend brunch. I guess we snagged the last free table, because after us there was a constant queue of about two tables.

Ambiance is something the 1886 Buffalo Cafe has in spades. The building, built in 1911, was part of the Eau Claire & Bow River Lumber Company, and that’s evident in the decor. The walls are filled with old photographs and even some buffalo heads. More photos of heritage days greet you in the downstairs washrooms. The building takes you back to the days of pioneers and settlers.

Because of the building’s shape, tables in the restaurant are split into two rooms. So despite the close packing of tables, you get enough privacy to enjoy your food.

The serving staff are friendly but extremely busy with all the customers they must tend to.

The menu is small but offers enough variety. You’ll find some dishes that sound interesting and inject inspiration into standard fare.

The wait for the food gave us just enough time to enjoy the setting and relax.

I got a regular omelet while my friend went for a chili omelet. I could not resist ordering hash browns with mine, but after seeing the portions it was probably not the best idea.

Yes, the portions were big and each dish came with toast, so if you can, walk your way to 1886 Buffalo Cafe to work up an appetite.

The food tasted excellent.

Coffee drinkers will be in luck. The coffee was good and refilled several times.

Last thoughts: 1886 Buffalo Cafe is a food establishment with a story of its own. Everyone must go there at least once. I look forward to going back, and I also hope they change up the limited menu once in a while.

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

A&W, Chinook Centre
6455 MacLeod Trail SW
Calgary AB
Phone: 403 640 4127

While shopping at the Chinook Centre Mall in Calgary, we were overcome by hunger and we made a beeline for the A&W in the food court.

A&W is one of the first food places in the food court. At 5:30 pm on a Thursday it was not busy. We asked for two Mama burgers, one with fries and Coke, and one with onion rings and the famous A&W Root Beer.

Our food was ready in a pinch, and we settled into a nice table next to the escalator, with a great view of people going up and down.

The Mama burgers were good, as per usual at A&W Restaurants. The fries were also good and crispy. Unfortunately, the root beer was warm. Even A&W root beer tastes awful when not properly chilled.

On first sight the onion rings looked pale, and on first bite they looked even paler and tasted uncooked. I took them back. The server insisted that white onions are supposed to look pale, but eventually he offered me a new bag of onion rings. This new batch of onion rings - supposedly cooked for the same length of time - was brown and crispy, as they should have been.

Last thoughts: Food-court food is never my favorite. Even the fast-food chains seem to slack off at food courts. I give a thumbs-down to this A&W. They replaced my onion rings, but not without an argument and making me feel like I was wrong to complain.

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