Unexpected Dining Oasis - Alloy
Each month, I eagerly await the next issue of Avenue magazine here in Calgary because there is always some excellent article (whether long or short) on a fairly new restaurant on the scene. My favorite issue this year was their ranking of the top restaurants in Calgary, based upon a few different categories (Best Patio, Best Cocktail, Best for Late Night, etc.). Topping out the Best Overall list was Alloy, a relatively hidden dining spot on 42nd Avenue SE. For those who aren't familiar with the city, this is land of the trades and strip mall, with companies like ABB and random home or commercial services adorning the corridor. It's not exactly a place you would expect to find a high-end restaurant.
However, I like Alloy's style: They found a rather plain-looking building with a wrap-around parking lot, shielding patrons from the busy street. Upon entering, you can easily forget how atypical this location is for such an establishment. The entrance is welcoming with shrubbery and a nicely laid out tile walkway, leading to an over-sized door finished with modern touches. Inside, a wide-open dining room greets you, as well as a cool glimpse at the extensive wine room and, off to the right, the luscious patio area. The thought and effort put into decorating this space goes to show that it isn't really important where your business lies; what is important is that guests truly understand your vision and that you offer an experience on par with what they expect from the type of establishment.
Bryan finally, after 5 full years together, took it upon himself to make a reservation for us last night to celebrate our anniversary. I was very impressed, and I only needed to suggest and guide him slightly! Seated out in the patio, with a lovely waterfall gurgling behind us, we had an open-air view of the sky. Our waitress was extremely attentive and helpful, and offered suggestions and advice on the menu.
Dinner was extremely tasty! I'm not entirely sure I would place Alloy as my "Best Overall" dining experience in Calgary, but I think it would place top 10, for sure. We really appreciated the complementary champagne the owner provided after finding out we were celebrating something special, too. In general, Alloy has a huge wine list, so there should be something for everyone (and we noticed one group brought their own bottle, so obviously that's allowed).
What's a dining experience without the food, right? Well, the food was divine. We opted to share one of the salads, and chose their Tomato Salad that came with fresh blackberries, strawberries, and arugula, along with goat cheese and balsamic. Superb! The chef kindly split the dish for us so we didn't have to fight over it!
Next, as an appetizer, we chose the Truffle Gnocchi - this came highly recommended by our waitress, who said this is probably their top seller. Upon first bites, we were completely sold. I could have just had an entire dish of this for my main meal! (In fact, I believe I overheard a nearby table talking about the same thing, and their server telling them that sometimes they do just sell a double order of this to some people. Good to know for next time!)
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Finally, for our main dishes, Bryan and I opted for different items. The daily special was arctic char with a roasted red pepper sauce and tomatoes and eggplant. The char was delectable (even if it did come with the skin on...), and that sauce was so yummy - just a hint of flavor but it complemented the fish beautifully.
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Bryan's 'Surf and Turf' came with a fairly good sized piece of tenderloin, cooked to perfection, and a large piece of lobster tail. Underneath it all was a delicious risotto with edamame.
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Everything we ate was quite wonderfully. It was great to sit outside and feel like you were in a bit of an oasis, surrounded by running water, lush landscaping, and the sound of the CP Rail train traveling by! (Yes, Alloy is situated beside the train tracks.) For a date night or a group gathering, or even just a night away from the kitchen, Alloy would be a great choice! It is on the pricier side, with main dishes starting at around $25, but it was worth every penny.
However, I like Alloy's style: They found a rather plain-looking building with a wrap-around parking lot, shielding patrons from the busy street. Upon entering, you can easily forget how atypical this location is for such an establishment. The entrance is welcoming with shrubbery and a nicely laid out tile walkway, leading to an over-sized door finished with modern touches. Inside, a wide-open dining room greets you, as well as a cool glimpse at the extensive wine room and, off to the right, the luscious patio area. The thought and effort put into decorating this space goes to show that it isn't really important where your business lies; what is important is that guests truly understand your vision and that you offer an experience on par with what they expect from the type of establishment.
Bryan finally, after 5 full years together, took it upon himself to make a reservation for us last night to celebrate our anniversary. I was very impressed, and I only needed to suggest and guide him slightly! Seated out in the patio, with a lovely waterfall gurgling behind us, we had an open-air view of the sky. Our waitress was extremely attentive and helpful, and offered suggestions and advice on the menu.
Dinner was extremely tasty! I'm not entirely sure I would place Alloy as my "Best Overall" dining experience in Calgary, but I think it would place top 10, for sure. We really appreciated the complementary champagne the owner provided after finding out we were celebrating something special, too. In general, Alloy has a huge wine list, so there should be something for everyone (and we noticed one group brought their own bottle, so obviously that's allowed).
What's a dining experience without the food, right? Well, the food was divine. We opted to share one of the salads, and chose their Tomato Salad that came with fresh blackberries, strawberries, and arugula, along with goat cheese and balsamic. Superb! The chef kindly split the dish for us so we didn't have to fight over it!
Next, as an appetizer, we chose the Truffle Gnocchi - this came highly recommended by our waitress, who said this is probably their top seller. Upon first bites, we were completely sold. I could have just had an entire dish of this for my main meal! (In fact, I believe I overheard a nearby table talking about the same thing, and their server telling them that sometimes they do just sell a double order of this to some people. Good to know for next time!)
Finally, for our main dishes, Bryan and I opted for different items. The daily special was arctic char with a roasted red pepper sauce and tomatoes and eggplant. The char was delectable (even if it did come with the skin on...), and that sauce was so yummy - just a hint of flavor but it complemented the fish beautifully.
Bryan's 'Surf and Turf' came with a fairly good sized piece of tenderloin, cooked to perfection, and a large piece of lobster tail. Underneath it all was a delicious risotto with edamame.
Everything we ate was quite wonderfully. It was great to sit outside and feel like you were in a bit of an oasis, surrounded by running water, lush landscaping, and the sound of the CP Rail train traveling by! (Yes, Alloy is situated beside the train tracks.) For a date night or a group gathering, or even just a night away from the kitchen, Alloy would be a great choice! It is on the pricier side, with main dishes starting at around $25, but it was worth every penny.
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