What I Thought of It

• A&W, High River

  Eating Out, Fast Food No Comments

  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 +++

  Tags: A&W



• CB Hamburger Inn

  Eating Out, Fast Food No Comments

  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

  Tags: burgers, drive-in, zucchini sticks



• Cristy’s Rotisserie Chicken, 32nd Avenue NE

  Eating Out, Fast Food No Comments

  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 +++

  Tags: chicken, Cristy's Rotisserie Chicken, rotisserie



• Fatburger, Calgary NE

  Eating Out, Fast Food 1 Comment

  Fatburger, Calgary NE
  3545 32 Ave NE
  Calgary AB T1Y 6M6
  Phone: 403 453 1372

  Today - April 30, 2009 - was the second opening day of the second Fatburger in Calgary. In addition to Fatburger in the southeast, there is now a Fatburger in the northeast, almost right on the corner of 32nd Avenue and 36th Street.

  This Fatburger Restaurant is everything you’d expect from a just-opened establishment. Everything looks fresh, clean, and brand-spanking-new. The dining area has booths hugging the walls and windows, and tables in the center.

  The process is simple. You go to the till, pick your burger and toppings, pay, get a number for your order, and go wait at a table for 10 minutes (we were there at dinner time) for the food to come.

  Fatburger is not cheap by any stretch. We ordered one combo meal and one burger (just the sandwich), and the total was over $18. It was steep for dining at what is essentially a fast-food joint. They want to erase the fast-food impression by selling beer. Well, then to me it’s just a fast-food place that sells beer.

  The staff are extremely courteous and friendly, obviously well trained. At least one staff member is constantly patrolling the tables in case one needs to be cleared, to the point where it felt like an invasion of dining privacy.

  Last thoughts: Fatburger is a nice place with good food and filling portions, but it’s a bit pricey for a burger and fries. I might consider this Fatburger the next time I’m hungry and nearby, but I’m equally likely to go to A&W or McDonald’s.

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

  Tags: Fatburger



• Thai Tai Vietnamese Sub, Centre Street, Calgary

  Eating Out, Fast Food, Wings 1 Comment

  Thai Tai Vietnamese Sub
  303 Centre St SW (see map)
  Calgary AB  T2E 1Y2
  Phone: 403 269 9380
  www.thaitaisub.com

  Thai Tai is a chain of Vietnamese restaurants in Calgary. The one I visited is on Centre Street, in the heart of Calgary’s Chinatown.

  Thai Tai has the ambiance of a modern eatery, with fresh decor and lots of natural light.

  In food terms, Thai Tai offers a wide range of subs, soups, spring rolls, and more. I frequent this location of Thai Tai Sub for the Chicken Wings deal. After 5 pm, wings are 25 cents each Sunday to Thursday and 35 cents each Friday and Saturday, with the purchase of at least one bubble tea drink per party. It makes for a quick, tasty, and filling meal that’s light on the wallet.

  The wings are in the top 3 of my favorite cheap wings in Calgary. They are served piping hot, crisp, and most times pretty big. There have been a couple of times when the wings were small-ish and the sauce not so great, but the track record at Thai Tai is good enough to make me a regular. Lately the wings are even served on a bed of shredded lettuce.

  Thai Tai is also a pro at bubble tea. On my last visit I had the Raspberry Mango bubble tea, which was blended to perfection and tasted super.

  The staff at Thai Tai are not warm and fuzzy, but they are polite and not averse to chatting briefly about the weather.

  I do have some bones to pick with this Thai Tai restaurant. First, the food is always served in Styrofoam boxes, even when you’re eating in. If it’s not takeout, there’s no need to add another piece of nasty material to the landfills. How about a reusable plate or basket? Now, due to this choice of serving container, the garbage bins (small to begin with) are always overflowing with trash. The tables could use a good wipe-down, too. They’re often sticky from previous usage and cleaning neglect.

  Finally - and admittedly this will be hard to change - Thai Tai does not have its own washrooms. The closest washrooms are in the little mall behind the restaurant. After getting the key, you need to walk all the way to the back of the mall.

  Last thoughts: Thai Tai Vietnamese Sub on Centre Street is like a fast-food restaurant. I will keep going back because I’m a big fan of their wings and bubble tea, but the place really should be a lot cleaner.

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

  Find Thai Tai Vietnamese Sub on the map.

  Tags: cheap wings, Chinatown, downtown



• McDonald’s, Horizon

  Eating Out, Fast Food No Comments

  McDonald’s, Horizon
  2740 32 Ave NE (see map)
  Calgary AB  T1Y 2S2
  Phone: 403 291 0256

  

  It’s been a while since the last McDonald’s review on this site.

  Lunch on a Sunday afternoon brought us to the golden arches. The McDonald’s on 32nd Avenue NE was on our way. It was not overly busy - there was only a group of 6 people in front of us.

  A crowd of this size wanting to order food should not pose a challenge for McDonald’s, but this McDonald’s was different. I counted 7 staff members all trying to serve the group of 6, and collectively it took them more than 5 minutes to do so. Then it was our turn. We had a simple order - aside for one side salad to substitute for fries - yet they had to re-inquire 4 times what dressing we wanted. Our choice of dressing was not available at the front counter, so they had to get it from the back.

  The Horizon McDonald’s has an older diner look, with darker colors but lots of seating. There is a family seating area, where kids can sit with McDonald’s characters, try the gaming consoles, or play with (very few) blocks at a LEGO table.

  Washrooms are a funny thing at this McDonald’s restaurant. In the men’s washroom everything is low. The toilets, the sink, the mirror…they must have expected a lot of young (or really short) customers.

  Last thoughts: This McDonald’s is not that great. Service is slow and impersonal. The food is okay, but that’s what you’d expect from any McDonald’s. I think I’ll take a pass on this Horizon location next time.

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

  Find McDonald’s Horizon on the map.

  Tags: McDonald's



• Marv’s Classic Soda Shop

  Eating Out, Fast Food 1 Comment

  Marv’s Classic Soda Shop
  121 Centre Ave W (see map)
  Black Diamond AB  T0L 0H0
  Phone: 403 933 7001
  www.marvsclassics.ca

  Hungry for food but hankering for something one-of-a-kind? Then Marv’s is the answer. Marv’s is an authentic-looking 1950s soda shop in the small community of Black Diamond, just 25 minutes southwest of Calgary, which makes it the perfect stop on a mini road trip.

  Finding Marv’s in Black Diamond is not difficult - it’s right on the main road going through Black Diamond and across the street from the Pharmasave.

  As soon as you enter Marv’s you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time. You’ll see a long soda counter with several stools, a big selection of classic candies and retro memorabilia in the store section, and bubble-gum-pink booths in the back inviting you to sit down for Marv’s classic diner fare. Don’t forget to bring quarters: every booth has its own mini jukebox.

  The servers are uniformed in matching pink shirtdresses. In keeping with the decor and ambiance, our servers were youthful and cheerful. The service was great and fast, even on the busy day.

  

  Marv’s has a great selection of unique burgers, especially its famous Peanut Butter burgers.

  We opted for the Bopper Whopper, which has two patties. Order this one judiciously, because the patties were huge. We also got the McGoo Burger, described on the menu as Marv’s best Peanut Butter burger. (Marv’s also has The Elvis, which has peanut butter and banana.) The burgers come solo. If you want fries you have to order the Deluxe. Luckily the prices are pretty good, so go ahead and splurge on tasty fries as a nice addition to the meal.

  Taste-wise you can’t go wrong at Marv’s. The patties were nice and juicy and tasted perfect. But be careful: once you’ve eaten at Marv’s you’ll want to keep going back!

  Last thoughts: Marv’s is one of those places that make going for a drive on a nice day worthwhile. It’s unlike anything else out there. You haven’t seen the 50s until you’ve been to Marv’s Classic Soda Shop. I can’t wait to go back to try more of their menu.

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

  Find Marv’s Classic Soda Shop on the map.

  Tags: Black Diamond, burgers, classic, diner, peanut butter burger, shakes



• Burger King, Country Hills

  Eating Out, Fast Food 1 Comment

  Burger King #12848
  800-500 Country Hills Blvd (see map)
  Calgary AB  T3K 4Y7
  Phone: 403 215 1322

  A very late lunch brought me to the Burger King on Country Hills Boulevard on the north side of Calgary. This Burger King is easy to spot from Deerfoot Trail - it’s in the first strip mall on the right.

  It was just after 4 pm on a Thursday, when I was in dire need of food. Burger King is tried-and-true in my books, so I staggered into this one. This Burger King has a play area for kids, which was dark - maybe closed - today. Elsewhere the restaurant was well lit and cheerful. The plastic booths make for a comfortable spot to eat your lunch and perhaps read the paper at the same time.

  I did notice that it was pretty cold inside the Country Hills Burger King, cold enough to make me think about putting on my jacket.

  The ordering did not go smoothly. In the quiet restaurant there were three people behind the counter, who all expected one of the others to help me. In the end nobody gave me a proper greeting and each fetched a different part of my order.

  The upside at this Burger King, like in some other Burger Kings, is the self-serve pop machine, which gives refills to your heart’s content.

  My BK Big Fish Combo was ready quickly, much faster than I’m used to at Burger King. It tasted as it should, with the nice Burger King tartar sauce that I like, and the fries were also done to standard.

  Last thoughts: This Burger King on Country Hills Boulevard should fix the heating, but I would not think twice about a second visit. That said, the staff could be a bit more friendly to make the customer feel more at home.

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

  Find Burger King, Country Hills on the map.

  Tags: Burger King



• Kentucky Fried Chicken, 52nd Street NE

  Eating Out, Fast Food 1 Comment

  KFC #1744
  1440 52 St NE (see map)
  Calgary AB  T2A 4T8
  Phone: 403 273 3100

  Lunch today was at Kentucky Fried Chicken in the Trans-Canada Mall, an easily accessible shopping area on the corner of Highway 1 and 52nd Street NE. This KFC already had a couple of customers when we got there around noon. It was not quite a lunch rush, but there was a small, steady stream of hungry folks.

  Despite the absence of a heavy lunch crowd, things were moving at a snail’s pace. The staff were very slow taking orders, and I waited almost 5 minutes for my Classic Combo to arrive.

  This KFC had an old-fashioned ambiance dominated by plastic swivel chairs and booths. The dated look could certainly use an overhaul.

  The food was edible but not great. The chicken burger was piled with so much lettuce that, had I left it on, I couldn’t have tasted any chicken. The fries were saved by their seasoning, without which they might have been nothing more than cardboard sticks.

  Last thoughts: I’ve noticed that KFC is doing poorly in the fast-food market, and I think it’s because they haven’t kept up with the times. The restaurants look old and dated, and the staff are lethargic. They don’t need to be running around - they just need to show some interest in their work. For me, KFC is and will remain a last resort.

  Food +++
  Service +++
  Ambiance ++

  Find KFC, 52nd street NE on the map.

  Tags: chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken, KFC



• Dairy Queen, High River

  Eating Out, Fast Food 2 Comments

  Dairy Queen, High River
  1202 16 St SE
  High River AB  T1V 1M4
  Phone: 403 601 8420

  You will find the Dairy Queen Restaurant in High River just next to Highway 2. It’s a fair distance from the center of the town but conveniently close to the hotels and other fast-food restaurants.

  We dropped by this DQ on a Saturday afternoon, when there was a steady stream of customers.

  The staff respectfully stood back while we pondered the menu and readily stepped forward when we wanted to order.

  The food was not ready right away but would be delivered to our table.

  The restaurant was spacious and decorated in soft colors. There were booths against the windows and walls, and tables and chairs in the center. The look of this DQ evidently has not been updated in a while, but it was well-maintained and the old-time feel made for something unique rather than generic.

  Our food came, though napkins were missing. No big deal, because there were plenty at the condiments station nearby.

  The food was hot and fresh and tasted pretty good for fast food. Stay tuned, for I’ll write more about the food items in later reviews.

  Last thoughts: The DQ in High River doesn’t look like much on the outside, but once inside you’ll be happy you dropped in. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back the next time I feel hunger pangs in the vicinity. It’s a shame that Dairy Queen’s prices are higher than its competitors’, as I opt for the more affordable fast-food joints nine times out of ten.

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

  Tags: Dairy Queen

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