What I Thought of It

Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill
5010 4 St NE
Calgary AB  T2K 5X8
Phone: 403 275 1642

After repeatedly hearing radio advertisements for the new Summer Sensations meal, we made plans to dine out at Swiss Chalet. At dinner time on a Sunday night, the Swiss Chalet at McKnight Boulevard & 4th Street NE was packed with customers, yet we were still seated immediately.

The atmosphere at this Swiss Chalet restaurant is on the old-fashioned side, which could be intentional given that the customers tend to be from an older generation.

Service was efficient right from the start, and our food arrived after a short wait. The Summer Sensations meal ($11.99) includes a quarter chicken, salad (spinach or tomato-cucumber), a choice of side, and a sundae or pie for dessert.

Uniquely among restaurants, Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill offers a choice of white or dark meat when you order chicken. We chose dark and were happy we did. The chicken was perfectly cooked, slightly juicy, and very flavorful. The salads looked and tasted fresh (we thought spinach was a better choice than tomato-cucumber). The side of fries was a bit overcooked but still tasted good. The side of vegetables was somewhat bland (needing table pepper) but at least not drenched in butter. All in all, each Summer Sensations meal was more than enough to fill one stomach.

Dessert was still to come. I chose the sundae (vanilla ice cream, chocolate fudge, whipped cream, cinnamon sugar, cherry on top). It was good, but the fudge was poorly mixed in, either sitting on top or stuck on the bottom. My friend chose the pecan pie, warmed up. The pie filling - buttery, sweet, nutty - really hit the spot.

Last thoughts: We had a great dinner experience at the Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill. The staff were extremely courteous, the food was good, and the meal was excellent value. Judging from the full house that night, many others agree. I will definitely keep this restaurant in mind the next time I feel like chicken.

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

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 +++

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.

Chicken on the Way
2nd Ave (see map)
Cluny AB

Driving on Highway 1 from Calgary to Medicine Hat, I was surprised to see signs for Chicken on the Way. Because I’m a huge fan of Chicken on the Way in Calgary, I took this as a sign to stop for some chicken on my way.

Following the signs will bring you to a small town called Cluny. Cluny is a sleepy sort of town. Aside from Chicken on the Way, there’s only two liquor stores and a bakery across the street. Chicken on the Way is easy to find, especially since there are few buildings nearby. Just turn left onto 2nd Ave when you see the Canada Post outlet.

I did not expect it to be busy, but while I was getting my food at Chicken on the Way lots of people went in and out. Cluny is also next to a First Nations reserve, and if they’re like me they will become regulars.

The outside looks similar to Calgary’s Chicken on the Way, with a big sign in red and yellow, but no giant chicken. Cluny’s Chicken on the Way opened in July 2008, so everything still looks fresh and new.

The service was excellent. The lone lady working was very friendly and helpful.

On to the food…get ready for a shock.

The three-piece meal from this Chicken on the Way tasted better than the food I usually get from the parent location in Calgary. The chicken was nice and juicy and not so salty. The fries were also less salty, and they seemed to be cut thinner, which made them crispier. The corn fritter was great, just like the Calgary ones.

Last thoughts: Chicken on the Way in Cluny is probably one of the few food places you will come across on this route. The best part: The food is great! Unfortunately, Chicken on the Way (both Calgary and Cluny) has no inside seating. It’s interesting to see a food place like this in Cluny, and I’m definitely game for some more chicken on the way next time I’m passing by.

Food +++++
Service +++++
Ambiance ++++
Washrooms (out of service on our visit)

Find Chick on the Way Cluny on the map

Kentucky Fried Chicken, Bow Bottom
2-13750 Bow Bottom Trail SE (see map)
Calgary AB  T2J 6T5
Phone: 403 271 4707

A visit to KFC on a normal working day at lunch time gave me a bit of a surprise. I was the only customer in the store, even though the McDonald’s next door was closed for renovations.

The ordering went quickly, and the counter girl was also the one who prepared my food. In the process she forgot my drink, but I guess that was understandable if she was running the place by herself.

This KFC has a nicer ambiance than usual. It has an older look and lots of wood in the decor, which gives a warmer feeling than plastic furniture.

Of the food, I don’t have much to complain. It tasted good and was of course fresh because they made it especially for me.

I did notice one thing that didn’t make me happy. While I was eating my meal, the KFC staff went outside for a little break. When another customer came in, there was nobody around, and so the customer left without ordering.

Last thoughts: This KFC can be a nice, quick stop for lunch, especially for hungry shoppers, since it’s close to Deer Valley Mall.

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

Find KFC Bow Bottom on the map

Chicken Cottage Canada Ltd.
#104, 100-2020 Sunridge Way NE (see map)
Calgary AB  T1Y 7K7
Phone: 403 250 9804
www.chickencottage.ca

This Chicken Cottage is located on Sunridge Way NE in Calgary. At this point in time, it’s tucked out of sight in an area that still needs to be developed. Calgary’s Chicken Cottage is the first one in Canada. It just opened, and I first learned of it from a big advertisement in the local Metro newspaper.

Chicken Cottage is basically another chicken restaurant, although they also offer fish, veggie and quarter-pounder burgers. If I interpret the signage correctly, then the food is prepared according to Halal standards, which is a nice bonus for Calgary’s Islamic population.

The ambiance was welcoming and the place was very clean. It wasn’t very busy, but there was a steady stream of customers, indicating that this Halal fast food chain is off to a good start in Calgary.

I got the Chicken Fillet Burger Meal that comes with fries and a drink. The burger was good, although my bun was cold, as if it just came out of the fridge. The bun was dressed with sauce and a piece of lettuce. The breaded chicken was a bit bland; I couldn’t taste any seasoning. On the plus side, it was not soaked in oil.

My fries came in a little paper bag, and this gave me more fries than I get at McDonald’s.

The service was great; the well-trained counter girl described all the menu options and even brought the food to my table.

The washroom was a pleasant surprise. I daresay it was nicer than my bathroom at home. It was nicely decorated and extremely clean; most restaurants can learn from this.

Last thoughts: The first Chicken Cottage in Canada is worth a visit. The food is good and seems to be fresher than what you get at most fast food places. The great service and ambiance also score big points with me.

The next time I’m in the neighborhood for lunch, Chicken Cottage will be high on the list.

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

Find Chicken Cottage on the map