YYC - Recommendations for supper near Chinook mall?

[AriaDream]

Hi everyone! My sister and I are going shopping tomorrow and I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for supper near Chinook mall. I like in the NW so that's definitely not the area I'm familiar with. We have a car so anything reasonably close should be good. Thanks!

[ethereal_girl]

In addition to Redwater, Cactus Club and Globefish which I would also recommend, there is Thai Nongkhai in the strip mall across from Big 4 Motors if you're in the mood for Thai.

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Cactus Club Cafe
7010 MacLeod Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2H 0L3, CA

Thai Nongkhai
7400 Macleod Trail South, Calgary, AB T2H 0L9, CA

[23skidoo]

Link

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Thai Nongkhai
7400 Macleod Trail South, Calgary, AB T2H 0L9, CA

[johnjohnson78]

Just had a quick dinner there last week. Penang beef curry was pretty good albeit fairly small in size. My girlfriend and I also shared a soup (decent) and a som tam salad which was not bad but far from great. Overall I spent about $50 including tip with no booze/dessert/appetizers and left feeling a bit hungry.

Although I enjoyed the food, I didn't really walk away thinking that it was $50 well spent.

[prima]

Bumping this thread-
What restaurants located between Chinook Centre and Shawnee Station serve the best main course salads/Caesar salad/pub food? I'm leaning toward Cactus Club Cafe right now, since they've got so many salads on the menu.

Is Chop the best sit-down option in Chinook Centre? How is their burger?

I'm curious- have any Calgary Chowhounds eaten at McSorley's? I've read other online reviews on other sites which do not make McSorley's look promising. Is the Chinook Joey a better bet than McSorley's?

How are the salads at Smuggler's?

Thanks for any ideas or comments.

[johnjohnson78]

Unfortunately I can't remember all the details about the Chop burger but I can tell you it was decent. Crisp bacon and a quality cheese....the beef had a bit of a unique spice to it and was not dry or too dense. The one thing I found odd was that the burger only comes with honey mustard and that the restaurant (a steakhouse) has no other mustard available?? Anyhow I got the mustard on the side because I really tend to dislike honey mustard and overall I enjoyed the burger but was certainly not blown away. I think I remember it having a garlic aioli (or something similar) as well.

I'd recommend going upstairs to the lounge if you're looking for something a little more lively and casual. If I was looking for a full blown fine dining experience, I'd probably go elsewhere. The burger is pretty good value considering the prices for most of the entrees here.

Joeys---obscenely busy almost all the time and in my opinion it has a slightly run-down early 2000's feel that isn't terribly appealing. That place sees ALOT of mileage but the food is consistent and fairly decent in terms of a big chain restaurant.

McSorleys----I walked in once, but it was insanely busy and it felt to me like the text book definition of a generic sysco pub joint.....so I left. Amateur looking pizzas and gimmicky burgers are what I saw people eating. I could be totally wrong, but that's the feeling I got.

As for caesar salads, I've heard a place called Oscars is pretty good. Apparently their burger is amazing too, but I keep forgetting to try it! Take one for the team?

For the record I'm actually not a total mall rat haha....simply lived minutes away from chinook for years! Honest!!

[prima]

Thanks so much for all your comments. Very helpful.

Don't worry, I don't think you're a mall rat. ;-) I've already had some generic Sysco pub grub this weekend, so I'm hoping we end up at Chop or Cactus Club Cafe! :-)

[nonlinear]

If you can drive 5 minutes south of Chinook, the food at Oscar's/Wellington's is leagues beyond anything you'll get at the mall; IMO, those have BY FAR the best mains/ceasars/pub food in the area. There is also a Jack Astor's on Southland, which is a chain but IMO has far better food and ambience than anything in/near the mall. There is also a White Spot around that same area.

Closer to the mall, Cactus Club has decent food if you can get past the whole "slutty waitress with rehearsed greetings" and "middle-aged after work and book club crowd dining to club music" thing.

I absolutely cannot say anything good about Smulggler's, so I'll just keep it at that LOL.

[prima]

Ha ha- thanks for giving me an idea of the crowd and vibe at Cactus Club Cafe!

I suggested Oscar's, but it looks like Cactus Club will work better for a couple of my friends. Hope to check out Oscar's the next time I'm dining in south Calgary.

I'm visiting from Ontario, so I guess I'd rather dine at Western Cdn chains that I can't find east of Thunder Bay, over national chains, when I'm able to choose! ;-)

[cellophane_star]

Salads at Smugglers = iceberg lettuce and bottled dressings. They're really known for their prime rib. The good part is that the salad bar is unlimited so you can have several plates.

Cactus Club has a really great salad... I believe it's called Raincoast Greens. It has avocado!

I think Globefish Sushi is the best sit down option in Chinook but I haven't been to Chop or McSorley's before.

If you're into a healthier dinner, you should consider Open Sesame (same building as Smugglers). They have a DIY stirfry bar so you can pile on the vegetables. Make a reservation though... they are often very busy.

[prima]

Thanks! We're going with Cactua Club Cafe. :-)

[Shazam]

Chop is good, but holy cadoodle, as a red-blooded male, even I find the staff's outfits inappropriate.

Limerick's is another alright choice for pub food. I'll have to try Oscar's/Wellington's, thanks for the suggestion.

[prima]

Thanks, Shazam!

[BladeXT]

I ate at Pasquales once years ago, had really good apple cinnamon ribs. Small local restaurant, and seemed to have a large number of regulars ("Is this your first time here?" the hostess asked me).
Whenever I'm in the area though, I go directly to Bagolac Saigon, across from the Chinook C-Train station. I've never been "disappointed" per se, but over the years the portions have shrunk even though the prices have stayed the same. The noodle dishes are my favorite, the wor won ton is the best in the area, if not the city imo. And they have good chinese food as well.

[cellophane_star]

I live in the area. All of these suggestions are on MacLeod Trail, south of Chinook.

Open Sesame and Bolero are great but they're usually busy so it's hard to get a last minute table. Smuggler's is ok too.

I also like Cactus Club Cafe & Redwater Grill (both have locations elsewhere in the city).

Kinjo is good for fast sushi (and free Pocky).

And I've been wanting to try Kefi (Greek restaurant) for a while now.

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Open Sesame
6920 Macleod Tr S, Calgary, AB T2H 0L3, CA

Cactus Club Cafe
7010 MacLeod Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2H 0L3, CA

[23skidoo]

IMO Sushi Ichiban was much better than Kinjo, but I haven't been there in quite a while. Globefish (in the mall) is probably better than both.

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Sushi Ichiban Japanese Restaurant
4014 MacLeod Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2R7, CA

[cellophane_star]

I forgot about Globefish in Chinook... agreed.

[KcM]

I'd had a couple underwhelming meals at Globefish in Kensington, so I wasn't expecting much at the Globefish in the mall, but I've been there 4-5 times now since we've moved to the south end of town and I've left super happy every time. Granted, I don't know if I'm just negotiating the menu a little better, or if living in the sushi doldrums of Bonavista has made me thankful for any decent sushi I can get.

I find the Izakaya items fill the post-work beer and something fried craving. While the nigri is nicely cut and always fresh. The creative rolls aren't always the best value, but the "special" rolls on the front of the menu can sometimes be a nice find. A couple months ago they featured a special roll wrapped in soy paper, draped in toro and finished with some yuzu mayo that was a textural and flavour triumph.

Plus, it's easy to wander back into the mall after supper to grab a P&S before heading home or to a movie.

[prima]

Does Cactus Club Cafe take reservations?

[23skidoo]

Buddha's is close by too. My wife isn't vegetarian anymore but we still go there a few times a year.

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Buddha's Veggie Fusion Cuisine
5802 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0K1, CA

[Shazam]

Buddha's isn't vegetarian anymore either :)

I've been to Chop a couple times for lunch now, it's quite good.

[23skidoo]

Yeah, I think they changed a few years back. I still haven't tried the meat dishes, though, just the old favourites from the veggie menu.

[23skidoo]

I was at Alloy last week, and it's close by. The short rib was fantastic, but everything else we ordered was a little overpriced, and it took a long time for the food to arrive.

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Alloy
220 42 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1Y4, CA

[johnjohnson78]

Good call on Alloy. It's definitely your best bet in the area for fine dining, although I have to agree that they've been under achieving a bit considering what they charge.

[talon8]

- Tu Tierra (Mexican) is good and within driving distance
- I'll second Bolero's or Gaucho Brazilian BBQ if you're in to meat heavy meals.

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Bolero
6920 Macleod Tr. S, Calgary, AB T2H 0L3, CA

Gaucho Brazilian BBQ
5920 Macleod Trail S, Calgary, AB T2H 0K2, CA

Tu Tierra Restaurant
8316 Fairmount Dr SE #30, Calgary, AB T2H 0Y8, CA

[Godslamb]

Haven't tried it recently, but I loved Smuggler's Inn just down the road on McLeod Trail. It is rather close. I also have heard that Open Sesame is really good. That is also on McLeod Trail. They are both close to Chinook. I don't know addresses.

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Open Sesame
6920 Macleod Tr S, Calgary, AB T2H 0L3, CA

Smuggler's Inn
6920 Macleod Tr. S, Calgary, AB T2H 0L3, CA

[AriaDream]

That's interesting! I've heard of Smuggler's Inn. I'll mention that to my sister, thank you. :)

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Smuggler's Inn
6920 Macleod Tr. S, Calgary, AB T2H 0L3, CA

[nonlinear]

is there anything in particular you're looking for? what about price range? are you looking for something quick, or do you guys want to take your time?

[AriaDream]

Probably rather take our time. I'm going to treat her so any price range is fine. :) I was thinking of checking out Chop at the mall but I'm not sure what it's like.

[johnjohnson78]

Kindly let us know how it is if you do try Chop. I'd love to hear some opinions. Unfortunately most of the dining around chinook is fast food or big cheesy chain restaurants. I live very close and wish this wasn't the case.

If you're staying in the mall, there's a Globefish sushi restaurant. Across Macleod Tr and to the south there's Tango Bistro which had some good press initially but I found that what they mostly did was dump truffle oil on everything and call it high end. There are a couple of Brazian BBQ joints (I think Bolero is generally preferred to Gaucho?) and Leo Fu's is nearby as well if you're in the mood for western style Chinese food. Golden Bell Saigon is awesome for Vietnamese but it's about as far as you can get from a 'take your time/nice ambience type of meal'.

Wish I could say you must try ______________!!! I'm sure somebody else has something interesting that I can't think of?

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Tango Bistro
6920 MacLeod Trail S, Calgary, AB T2H 0L3, CA

Golden Bell Saigon Restaurant
6008 MacLeod Trail SW #106, Calgary, AB T2H, CA

[23skidoo]

Adding link

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Leo Fu's Szechwan & Mandarin Restaurant
511 70 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2V 0P5, CA

[AriaDream]

I gave my sister the options and laziness won out, so we went to Chop. :) It was quite alright but it's a chain and it really showed. I'm probably going to do a seperate review but basically, the appetizers were okay, the steaks were great but the mashed potatoes were suspiciously gummy, and the mac 'n cheese was awesome. The desserts were great. It just wasn't as awesome as Charcut and the price wasn't any better. We didn't regret going but it's not on our 'must come back' list.