EIGHT

Very unique experience, and food was incredibly creative, only 8 seats available and reservations are hard to get. Start out in their exclusive lounge, Speakeasy, for starters and cocktails before heading over for dinner. Very cool bar menu including their mocktail. After dinner we returned to the lounge they called it After Eight for drinks and petite four. Darren himself came out and gave a brief intro and dropped in and out to chat with us. An experience to remember!

It was my first time and it was the best culinary experience I've ever had. I have been to highly acclaimed restaurants before but the experience Chef Darren and his team provide is something you'll remember forever. The passion and creativity that is presented in the food is so unique. It really sums up what real Canadian cuisine is and should be . Have to thank Randy, Sandrine, Chef Dez and Demi for their impeccable service and hospitality. It was a wonderful experience and I hope to go again in a different season.

This is one of the most unique, and best experiences I have had within Canada. With the recent introduction of the Michelin rating in Canada it is beyond comprehension that this would not hold the distinction. One of the dishes (duck) and two of the mock tails were not to the liking of my guest at dinner, however it was based on personal preference and nothing to do with the quality or taste of the food. I have been to about 10 or so Michelin Star restaurants in NYC, Eight sits firmly above the majority, nestled somewhere close to Per Se and Atomix at the top of the list. The team was wonderful, very light hearted and personable throughout the whole experience. The Food and service is the best I have had in Calgary and Canada. The scarcity of the reservations can be frustrating at first as I had tried to get in for a few years, however after the experience of trying to get scarce reservations in a city like New York it became a breeze, and adds alot to the fun.

Excellent service by our server Sandrine. Knowledgeable and always smiling. Kudos to Chef Desmond for the amazing food! No doubt one of the best restaurants in Canada.

Possibly the most expensive dining experience I have ever had in Canada, and third in the world (behind Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo and Le Palais in Taipei), I had pretty high expectation for this establishment. Overall, I felt the experience stroke high right away, but unfortunately fell short as the evening progressed. Over a 19 course fare, the initial bites truly shined, including my favorite, chawanmushi with lobster, which featured a very well emulsified lobster infused hollandaise sauce. Other highlights included the Innisfail carrot soup, king crab mixed with hokkaido uni cream and dressed with caviar, a king salmon prepared in sashimi bites but trayed with a crispy skin. These dishes all came in bite size appetizer portions, and showed off some amazing gastronomy skills of the chef and the staff. Once we entered entree territory, the BC halibut prepared with Thai curry and the chicken jus infused, black truffles donned pasta were both great, however, it is also around this time, I realize I may not be full due to these entree's tiny portions and the unlimited baguette served with sake churned butter being brought to the table. Things started to take a dive with the last 2 entrees, the duck from Quebec, served in a "Peking style", and the Alberta beef sirloin. Starting with the duck, I saw it sat on the cutting board for at least 15 to 20 minutes, and when it was served it was already lukewarm. Although claimed to be dry-aged for 15 days, I just didn't get any flavor punch that I expected from the process. Furthermore, having had way too many greatly prepared duck around the world, many of them cheaper than this meal, this dish just came across as bland, lukewarm, and tough. The sirloin was even worse, not only was it not very flavorful (no aging this time), there was a pretty large piece of tough tendon inside the meat. Not only myself and my companion felt this, the group next to us expressed the same displeasure before I shared my feelings about it. To be frank, this particular dish should not have been prepared at an establishment like this, and I encourage the culinary team to review its place on the menu. Unfortunately overall the portions of the dishes were so small, I had a full dozen pieces of the baguette and I was barely full. My companion left hungry. That being said, more than half of the dishes were truly amazing, although the consistency of the courses could use some improvement. Overall, I would consider this meal being in the top 20 meals I've had in my life. But at its price point, I truly wish the experience would have ranked much higher.

Very unique dining experience in Calgary. I've been fortunate to attend Michelin star restaurants, and the service, the food and the attention to detail is right up there with them. It's taken me many attempts to get a reservation, but it was well worth the wait. The mocktail and tea pairings were very unique and enjoyable to go along with the meal experience.

Eight is easily one of the finest dining establishments I’ve experienced in Calgary. Every detail, from the exquisitely crafted dishes to the impeccable ambiance, speaks to culinary excellence. The service was truly on par with a Michelin-starred restaurant—attentive, knowledgeable, and effortlessly professional. Eight delivers an unforgettable dining experience that sets a new standard for Calgary’s food scene.

Hands down THE BEST culinary experience of my life! Thank you to all the talented staff. Witnessing the passion for what you do was absolutely incredible. I felt so attended to at every second of the night. I left with a huge smile on my face from the company, the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, and the laughs!