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Sylvonna Beech
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 n alloy is an amalgam of at least two different elements – one of which must be a metal. The two components combine to form a new metallic material. Alloy – the restaurant - is a new dining experience in Calgary formed by two owners Rogelio Herrera and Uri Heilik, possessed, respectively, of Latin and Mediterranean origin. These two cultures combine in a menu and ambiance comprised of their heritage infused with Asian elements, creating a cutting edge culinary adventure.
 Alloys are generally combined in an effort to improve on the qualities of their individual parts – which makes this off-the-beaten-path resto (it’s located off Macleod Trail) a potential trifecta for your tongue.
Although the location is a bit off (it seems to be plopped in the middle of a warehouse district), the interior does not attest to its surroundings. Nothing like a dirty warehouse, Alloy's interior is indeed elegant and chic. White booths are sleek and trendy, with cherry blossom trees abound. Marble accents are powdered throughout, whipping the space into a relaxed and romantic setting.
The food is a fusion of seafood and tapas-like offerings, such as hummus and olives ($7) or ahi tuna tartar ($12). Another special feature of the menu was the fact that many of the main entrées could be ordered in both light and full servings. For a more substantial meal, for example, the trio of lamb ($36) is certainly a nourishing and massive plate, although it lacked that pleasing, extra-salty charcoal crunch.
The seafood risotto ($36.00) bordered with baby clams and mussels in the shell is better than average. The flavours are subtle, but the rice is still a bit gummy, probably because of the difficulties the kitchen has to take to serve risotto in a timely fashion. The baked monkfish with creamy orzo and lobster ginger consommé is a delectable main, clocking in at $30.00.
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 AT A GLANCE
Alloy
220 42 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alta
403-287-9255
Fusion
Macleod Trail
Venue:
Restaurant
Hours:
Lunch: Mon. to Fri.: 11:00am-2:00pm Dinner: Sun. to Thu.: 5:00pm- 10pm Fri. to Sat.: 5:00pm- 11:00pm
Price Range:
$$$$ (Expensive)
Payment:
All
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THE BUZZ
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IN THE AREA
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10 Reader Reviews | Como se que es un restaurante nuevo y con mucho futuro estoy segura todos los comentarios de sus clientes son para su bien asi que quiero dar mi opinion.
LA VAJILLA EXCELENTE
NOS ATENdIO JORGE MUY BIEN
LA UBICACION EXCELENTE
LA PRESENTACION DEL RESTAURANTE EXTERIOR E INTERIOR EXCELENTE
BUEN PARQUEADERO
1-Para la calidad del restaurante creo son importantes los manteles en la mesa (sinceramente me senti en un restaurante del comun)
2-Extrane la libreta donde se le lleva la cuenta al cliente, esta se usa hasta en los restaurantes de menos categoria.
3-Me parecio la musica muy dura por lo tanto la gente tiene que hablar muy duro
4-Tambien extrane tanta luz que no es muy corriente en los restaurantes elegantes, razon por la cual ni una velita o floresita que DA el toque romanatico a estos, como tambien si algunas personas no van vestidas adecuadamente para la elegancia del restaurante con poca luz se nota menos.
Esto lo hago porque estoy segura que de algo puede servir y porque se que para que los clientes continuen llendo es bueno corregir algunos detalles.
Cordialmente
Ruby
1. Anonymous's Review :: January 07, 2008 |
Como se que es un restaurante nuevo y con mucho futuro estoy segura todos los comentarios de sus clientes son para su bien asi que quiero dar mi opinion.
LA VAJILLA EXCELENTE
NOS ATENdIO JORGE MUY BIEN
LA UBICACION EXCELENTE
LA PRESENTACION DEL RESTAURANTE EXTERIOR E INTERIOR EXCELENTE
BUEN PARQUEADERO
1-Para la calidad del restaurante creo son importantes los manteles en la mesa (sinceramente me senti en un restaurante del comun)
2-Extrane la libreta donde se le lleva la cuenta al cliente, esta se usa hasta en los restaurantes de menos categoria.
3-Me parecio la musica muy dura por lo tanto la gente tiene que hablar muy duro
4-Tambien extrane tanta luz que no es muy corriente en los restaurantes elegantes, razon por la cual ni una velita o floresita que DA el toque romanatico a estos, como tambien si algunas personas no van vestidas adecuadamente para la elegancia del restaurante con poca luz se nota menos.
Esto lo hago porque estoy segura que de algo puede servir y porque se que para que los clientes continuen llendo es bueno corregir algunos detalles.
Cordialmente
Ruby
2. Ruby Hoyos's Review :: January 05, 2008 Ruby Hoyos's Rating: 3 Stars |
Alloy is a well run restaurant with very good food and service, spacious table arrangements in a big U shaped room centred with an attractive glass wine cellar. Atmosphere is comfortable and casual in a minimalist sort of sense that doesn't quite manage to make you forget that it was put into industrial office space.
Only opened at the beginning of November 2007 it suffers from having a wine list that has no significant wines of any bottle age. Hopefully that will change over time. The wine list otherwise is wide-ranging with most bottles being in the good and affordable range (i.e. under $100) with a very few high end choices. I would think that at least until they start having some older vintages it would be much more attractive a place to me if they would allow patrons to bring their own wine, which they don't allow.
The menu had a range of choices and at our table the four of us sampled a wide range of them. My appetizer was half a tempura lobster tail that was good but not outstanding. My main dish of lamb three ways (chop, sirloin and meatloaf) were nicely presented and prepared in a delicious sauce with giant couscous. The lamb chop and sirloin was slightly tough but otherwise very good. I had it rare and perhaps medium rare would have suited it better. At our table a snapper special was competently prepared but seemed bland to the person who ordered it. The seafood risotto was good but not extraordinary and the duck breast very tasty but not as good as the best around town.
Deserts included a sampler of three flavours of panna cotta, each one inventive and delicious combining some spice and fruit in a topping to this dish. A quintet of sorbet got very favorable reviews.
Overall a nice evening in a good restaurant. Still, this place will need to kick it up a notch to be considered one of the best in town.
3. Anonymous's Review :: December 18, 2007 |
Alloy is a well run restaurant with very good food and service, spacious table arrangements in a big U shaped room centred with an attractive glass wine cellar. Atmosphere is comfortable and casual in a minimalist sort of sense that doesn't quite manage to make you forget that it was put into industrial office space.
Only opened at the beginning of November 2007 it suffers from having a wine list that has no significant wines of any bottle age. Hopefully that will change over time. The wine list otherwise is wide-ranging with most bottles being in the good and affordable range (i.e. under $100) with a very few high end choices. I would think that at least until they start having some older vintages it would be much more attractive a place to me if they would allow patrons to bring their own wine, which they don't allow.
The menu had a range of choices and at our table the four of us sampled a wide range of them. My appetizer was half a tempura lobster tail that was good but not outstanding. My main dish of lamb three ways (chop, sirloin and meatloaf) were nicely presented and prepared in a delicious sauce with giant couscous. The lamb chop and sirloin was slightly tough but otherwise very good. I had it rare and perhaps medium rare would have suited it better. At our table a snapper special was competently prepared but seemed bland to the person who ordered it. The seafood risotto was good but not extraordinary and the duck breast very tasty but not as good as the best around town.
Deserts included a sampler of three flavours of panna cotta, each one inventive and delicious combining some spice and fruit in a topping to this dish. A quintet of sorbet got very favorable reviews.
Overall a nice evening in a good restaurant. Still, this place will need to kick it up a notch to be considered one of the best in town.
4. Tad Gruchalla-Wesierski's Review :: December 14, 2007 Tad Gruchalla-Wesierski's Rating: 3 Stars |
I have been to ALLOY twice now since it opened on November 1st. It was a great dining experience. The ambiance was very elegant. Every item that we ordered was made to perfection and delicious! I would recommend this dining experience to anyone.
5. Anonymous's Review :: November 19, 2007 |
What can I say but WOW! My expectations of this place were cold atmosphere, snobbish servers and expensive food and wine. I am glad I only got one right.
Our party of 8 sat at the "chef's table" and were quite impressed with the decor, food and service.
Our server, which I am sorry to say we didn't catch her name, was incredible. She was very knowledgeable about ALL aspects of the menu. We had questions, she answered them, made her recommendations based our tastes and we were very happy with the choices she made. Our server was "down to earth" so to speak. She instantly put us at easy and set the stage to what would be a laid back relaxing evening with friends in gorgeous surroundings. How can one have a relaxed evening in this chic decor?? I wouldn't think one could...but we did!
I am not a restaurant/food critic but I know what I like/dislike.
The food choices were nothing I had ever tried before, but again our server took the time to talk to me about what I liked and didn't like, and then she gave me some recommendations. "We" chose wisely.
Our table all ordered different appetizers so we could have a taste of everything. I had the Lamb Trio for my main dish and it was magnificent! The presentation of the food itself was stunning. Did I mention how nice the staff was?
Price wise...well...it was a tad expensive. Expect anywhere from $80-$90 a person including wine, appetizers, main dish and desert.
Summary - take out a loan or whatever you need to do because this place is worth it.
6. Anonymous's Review :: November 16, 2007 |
What can I say but WOW! My expectations of this place were cold atmosphere, snobbish servers and expensive food and wine. I am glad I only got one right.
Our party of 8 sat at the "chef's table" and were quite impressed with the decor, food and service.
Our server, which I am sorry to say we didn't catch her name, was incredible. She was very knowledgeable about ALL aspects of the menu. We had questions, she answered them, made her recommendations based our tastes and we were very happy with the choices she made. Our server was "down to earth" so to speak. She instantly put us at easy and set the stage to what would be a laid back relaxing evening with friends in gorgeous surroundings. How can one have a relaxed evening in this chic decor?? I wouldn't think one could...but we did!
I am not a restaurant/food critic but I know what I like/dislike.
The food choices were nothing I had ever tried before, but again our server took the time to talk to me about what I liked and didn't like, and then she gave me some recommendations. "We" chose wisely.
Our table all ordered different appetizers so we could have a taste of everything. I had the Lamb Trio for my main dish and it was magnificent! The presentation of the food itself was stunning. Did I mention how nice the staff was?
Price wise...well...it was a tad expensive. Expect anywhere from $80-$90 a person including wine, appetizers, main dish and desert.
Summary - take out a loan or whatever you need to do because this place is worth it.
7. Karen MacKinnon's Review :: November 16, 2007 Karen MacKinnon's Rating: 4 Stars |
I and three friends went to Alloy last night, and I was very impressed with everything from the stunning interior design work to the sophisticated and creative menus (both food and drink) to the outstanding execution of those menus. I highly recommend Alloy as a great place to wine and dine with friends or as a quiet dinner-date venue. An added bonus is the ample and well-planned parking...
8. Anonymous's Review :: November 15, 2007 |
I have been to ALLOY twice now since it opened on November 1st. It was a great dining experience. The ambiance was very elegant. Every item that we ordered was made to perfection and delicious! I would recommend this dining experience to anyone.
9. Sonya's Review :: November 15, 2007 Sonya's Rating: 4 Stars |
I and three friends went to Alloy last night, and I was very impressed with everything from the stunning interior design work to the sophisticated and creative menus (both food and drink) to the outstanding execution of those menus. I highly recommend Alloy as a great place to wine and dine with friends or as a quiet dinner-date venue. An added bonus is the ample and well-planned parking...
10. Alloy Restaurant's Review :: November 14, 2007 Alloy Restaurant's Rating: 4 Stars |
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  220 42 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alta |
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MBO Calgary :: Calgary Restaurants & Dining Guide
