108732 Fri Aug 05 15:23:01 -0700 2005 8 24 Canada 0 587055 My husband's celebrating his birthday during our upcoming vacation in mid-August. We'll be in Calgary on that date and I'd like to take him out for a great steak dinner. Preferably someplace where I can get something other than steak myself. Any suggestions? TIA . . . Kaz Fri Aug 05 15:23:01 -0700 2005 0 Kaz 1 587056 Caesar's and steak are almost synonymous in "Cowtown"...a number of other options as well Fri Aug 05 17:31:08 -0700 2005 587055 0 Bob Mac 1 587057 My wife and I recently had an excellent anniversary meal at a steakhouse called The Bears Den (http://www.bears-den.ca). You can read about it at the link below... I have heard mixed reviews though... I also concur with Bob Mac's suggestion of Caesars. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/108709#586944 Fri Aug 05 17:50:15 -0700 2005 587055 0 ybnormal 1 587071 Vintage Chophouse has pretty good steaks and a clubby atmosphere (I like the oysters there a lot). I was at Cilantro last night and noticed that they have a buffalo rib eye on the menu ... that's worth trying for sure. Sun Aug 07 13:01:06 -0700 2005 587055 0 Miles 2 587072 Miles: Vintage was the name I could not recollect when speaking with someone about Ned Bell. Is he still there? His name came up because Murrieta's opened up their new Edmonton location with a "very" soft opening last Tuesday. Sun Aug 07 19:00:41 -0700 2005 587071 0 Bob Mac 3 587077 Ned Bell is still at Vintage as far as I know. Have you been to the Murietta's in Edmonton? How was it if you have? Mon Aug 08 05:00:47 -0700 2005 587072 0 Yen 4 587079 Yen: Thank you for the update on Bell. Yes, I went to Murietta's for lunch last Wednesday. This was only the third day that they had been open with abolutely no advertising nor fanfare of any sort. Definitely a "soft" opening. I only knew that they were open because friends had popped in on opening day having seen the tables set earlier in the week. If I was to be brutally honest I would not give it great marks because there is work to be done in the kitchen but nevertheless I will give it another try "down the road". Beautiful room. Like the one in Calgary everything is very polished. Nice ambience. Service was excellent. Menu looks good. Both lunch and dinner should meet...I originally spelled that "meat"..Freudian slip...the expectations of most Edmontonians. Lots of chophouse options with more fish/seafood than I remembered. Wine list is good. Ordered a glass of the Bonterra viognier. Unfortunately it was corked. Mgr. whisked it away and it was promptly replaced. I started with a small house salad, green apples, cider vinaigrette. Way too much dressing. Pet peeve, I want to enjoy the salad, not "drink" dressing. I hate for example, the caesar salad at an Earls where if you do not caution them to go easy, it is like eating "porridge" by the time you get to the bottom of the bowl. Probably just a teaspoon would have sufficed. My fault in part as I usually request underdressed or served on the side. Main lunch course was pretty basic. Steak frites. Excellent piece of perfectly cooked strip loin. Fries disappointed. Too big and soggy, needed to be crisper. The balsamic aioli that came with the fries did not "work" for me. I had a cab from Quails Gate [they seemed to featuring wines from QG]with dinner which was quite good. So even though this is a fairly critical review I would go back. This is not the type of dining I usually gravitate to but when in the mood, I will try Murietta's again. Impressed by the staff, mgr [Chad] and overall General Mgr.[Ron] up from Calgary for the opening. My impression is that they know what they are doing. Receptive to comments, even critical ones. Mon Aug 08 10:33:30 -0700 2005 587077 0 Bob Mac 5 587091 Great review - thanks for the extra details. Im back in Edm for a birthday in a couple weeks, and we're always looking for new restaurants to go to. Love the Calgary space - after years in business, they are quite polished. Wasnt as keen about the Canmore location, so i guess i was hoping the Whyte location would be a little more like it's rival to the south. I'll give it some time before trying it out. It'll be more interesting to see if they can survive in that space - it's huge and opulent, and there's been a few casualties since they renovated many years ago. I guess it'll be Culina instead, unless there's a new alternative you can recommend. Tue Aug 09 02:24:55 -0700 2005 587079 0 Yen 6 587092 Yen: Agree with the observation about the location. Sorrentino's did not last long but that may have had more to do with disputes with hotel mgmt. than the food. L'Attitude always got praise when reviewed but I never went nor did I hear any "buzz" about it. Whyte Ave. is a tough spot...it can be like "Electric Ave" was years ago in Calgary. You want a taxi and/or safe convenient parking near-by rather than being accosted by a bunch of young trunks or returning to find your vehicle "keyed". I mentioned that to mgmt. and they said they are looking at ways to make the Saturday nite diner more comfortable. That is what I meant by being impressed by mgmt. I think they will do what they can to get it right. I cannot think of any place that I would recommend over Culina. Sure there are the "grills", Hardware and Jack's [more special occasions for us], the Rago family have opened another Sorrentino's in what used to be Joey's then Publik in the Whitemud Crossing but Brad does a great job and it is real comfortable. If you just want some drinks and munchies the Wine Bar adjacent to the 4th and Vine liquor store in the Oliver Square shopping centre is quite good. Best selection of wines by the glass in the city along with scotch, cognac and various liqeurs. It was decent the couple of times I visited and I am told that they have expanded their menu. I just wish something similar would open out here in the "culinary wasteland" that is the West End [smile]. Maybe now that we have Murietta's someone else will be inspired by Calgary efforts and open something like Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro or Il Sogno up here....well, I can wish and druel in any event [grin]. Tue Aug 09 10:21:31 -0700 2005 587091 0 Bob Mac