EIGHT

As the name suggests, there is only room for 8 people and reservations are a must; almost like getting concert tickets. The atmosphere is great, you use a phone in the hotel lobby to be escorted to a speakeasy for pre dinner drinks which are so unique and delicious. Then it's time for dinner which doesn't disappoint. We had 19 courses and each one was a piece of art and flavor was unbelievable. We loved how the chef and team explained the inspiration behind each course, which is a cross between Canadian and Japanese cuisines. My wife had the tea pairing and each one was incredible, I had the wine pairing which was very good too. Cannot wait to come back, reservations open soon!

I went to Eight with my mother and up until the very end, the experience was excellent. The food and drinks were delicious, the service during dinner was great, and we were invited into the speakeasy area for a final drink, which felt like a nice touch. The head chef even came out to mingle with guests. Talking to the head chef, my mother shared a kind story. A few nights earlier, she had attended a private dinner where a chef spoke very highly of Darren MacLean, sharing that working under him saved his career when he was about to walk away from food entirely. My mother was simply trying to pass along a compliment and casually asked the head chef to share it with Darren if he ever got the chance. Before she even finished speaking, the head chef cut her off, scoffed, laughed, and said, “I guarantee Darren probably doesn’t even remember him.” He openly mocked her, continued laughing when she told him he was being rude, and then walked away from her mid‑sentence. It was incredibly disrespectful and humiliating to watch someone speak to my mother that way, especially when she was doing nothing but trying to be kind. The bartender witnessed this entire exchange. When I told him how uncomfortable we were and that we wanted to leave immediately, he brushed it off by saying, “he’s Irish, that’s just how they speak.” That is not an excuse. We are not in Ireland, and even if we were, being rude and condescending to guests is unacceptable, especially after such an expensive dining experience. I then tried to raise this issue with another member of management who had earlier told us he was there to make sure we were comfortable. While he did apologize, he seemed disinterested and did nothing to meaningfully address what had happened. This interaction completely ruined what would have otherwise been a five‑star experience. I am appalled that a head chef would so casually disrespect a guest, and even more appalled that staff defended and minimized his behavior. For a restaurant of this caliber and price point, this is unacceptable. I will not be returning.

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!

Eight Restaurant gave me a great dining experience during reservations. From making a reservation to being served, everything was handled professionally. The food was excellent, full of flavor, and well presented. The environment was warm and enjoyable, which made my dining experience even better. I had a great time and would definitely recommend Eight Restaurant to anyone who loves good food and quality service.

Eight Restaurant gave me a truly enjoyable dining experience. From the reservation process to being served my meal, everything felt well organized and professional. The food was delicious, and every dish was full of flavor. The atmosphere was comfortable which made the experience even better. I would gladly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for quality food and excellent service.

Eight Restaurant is a place I truly enjoyed when I visit. The staff were polite and welcoming, and the restaurant had a great atmosphere. The food was well prepared and very tasty, and the dinners were satisfying. I had a wonderful experience and will gladly go again if there is another chance to enjoys their good cuisine and quality service.

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.

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.