Rouge

Rouge just continues to impress us. I had my 50th Birthday here in 2014 and we just had my wife’s 60th Birthday here as well. Rey did such an incredible job in helping with menus and planning it made the event so easy to make happen. We enjoyed it so much that we had a group of 10 friends for a Christmas gathering this past Saturday. Again the food and ambiance were amazing. Presentation, quality are second to none and the service takes it to a new level. We enjoyed it so much that our group has decided that Rouge will be our Christmas gathering destination from here forward. Thanks to the great team at Rouge and especially Rey.

Amazing outing for our 5th anniversary! Our host and waitress was great, always checking in with us and made recommendations. The food was incredible - portions were good and we felt like every detail mattered! It's been a while since we've been, and it's just as good as we remembered.

Went here for our anniversary and decided to try something out of our comfort zone! Service was spectacular and it was a really cool restaurant in a house built in the 1800’s. We went with the blind tasting 6 course menu. My favourite was the soup. Although, I don’t remember what was in it. I was super excited to try the rabbit but was a little disappointed it wasn’t served fresh. Overall, amazing experience!

Treated ourselves for a special occasion and Rouge did not disappoint with warm, friendly, knowledgeable service. We chose the tasting menu which was superb, standouts were the salmon and beef tenderloin. Wine list was interesting with good value wines by the glass and a great selection by the bottle. Would highly recommend for a special treat, not cheap but still good value for what you get to enjoy.

Went for our 5th wedding anniversary for the first time and it was amazing. Every dish and drink was fantastic, made all the more perfect by the host and both servers (wish I remembered their names!)

Wowwwww this was such an amazing meal! Went for the chefs menu for a special night out and it was awesome. My bf isn't big on the foodie stuff so he wasn't into the uniqueness quite as much as I was but one dish he just didn't want to eat - I told them he wasn't fond of smoked salmon, and he was so embarrassed - i tried to ensure him that it's ok to say you don't like something (nobody likes to complain, but when you're paying this much you want to enjoy it!), and so they whipped up something else within 10 minutes and after that he perked up completely for the rest of the meal. They had such great attitudes and didn't make us feel awkward for turning away a dish, I even requested 2 different desserts and they made it happen. I was thrilled! I have to say - 6 courses doesn't include the palette cleansers. I was absolutely stuffed and I regret not wearing stretchy pants or loose fitting dress. My waistline changed from my rib cage to my hips. The server was so awesome all the servers and hostess were friendly and helpful, my server even took care of a spider that found its way onto the table without even flinching. I guess black widows haven't had fatal bites on record since the 80's, what do ya know. The place is stunning the food is divine. I will definitely return. They also allow single diners to order the chef menu which isn't always the case. Totally recommend it if you love fine dining!

Our server, Miriam, was lovely and patient as we ask about the dishes. Surprisingly, we adored the pork tenderloin more than the beef. The way they made potatoes were so interesting. It was a delightful experience. It’s a pricey restaurant, and I’m rating it 4 since I wasn’t “wowed” by the beef nor the vegan lasagna. However, looking forward to come back here to try their tasting menu.

We had the chef's tasting menu and the wine pairings. The staff was really friendly, and always made sure our drinks were filled. The wine was fantastic, and well paired with the food. The food, was decent but I wasn't really wowed by any dish. I probably wouldn't recommend it, because the value wasn't there for me. The overall experience was really good! Thank you so much 😊

I am visiting from out of town and found this gem of a place. A beautiful two story house with a lush garden makes this a lovely dining experience with personality and an excellent menu.

Meticulously prepared dishes in a historic home makes Rouge a "must-visit" when you're in Calgary. Prepare to dine and be blown away by the plating and scrumptious food. Excellent gluten-free options. Tasty cocktails. Attentive staff. Great event space.

Our trip to Canada was absolutely breathtaking but the restaurant Rouge for our anniversary night was incredible! by far an extraordinary experience one that we will not forget anytime soon... The food was excellent. The ambience was incredible and the quaint house turned into a restaurant had historical charm. We would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a romantic evening. Our West to East tour of Canada, from Calgary to Montreal. Rouge was our number one favorite.

Made a reservation just incase but it didn't feel busy so not sure if was necessary. Felt underdressed in jeans and a t-shirt but staff didn't complain, but I did see several couples in semi-formal wear. Great romantic date spot! Parking was non-existent. Had to park 3 blocks away in a residential zone. Staff were friendly and seated us immediately. Staff were well dressed and polite. After ordering our entrees free bread and mini bagels were provided with superb butters. Bread was fresh, soft, and crispy all in good ways. Entrees came in a timely manner. my duck as cooked perfectly, tender, flavorful. I was not a fan of the creamed rutabaga as it was almost grainy in texture. The parsnip was a nice choice of vegetable and paired well. My friend reported the pork loin was tender and wonderful. To me it looked like a substantial portion and was definitely the best bang for your buck. On-top apple/mashed potato combo was interesting. I was not a fan of this combination but my friend was. The lamb was very limited in portion but was cooked well. We opted for 2 desserts not knowing the portion sizes. The pumpkin upside down cake was a table favorite- soft flavorful, with lovely cherry marmalade. The tart was a little lighter in flavor and the pear still had a crunch which was nice it eases mushy. The small portion of spiced Gelato just wasn't enough moisture in my opinion. A wonderful surprise after we paid was the bite-sized pavlova with raspberry jam and whipped cream. Delicious! Staff didn't rush us and we felt very comfortable here. Would go back once the menu changes to see their next creations!

Really beautiful food that could be just a touch tastier for the price. Wonderful chef tasting that's good for a special occasion. Setting is lovely near the river.

Well I was really excited about this restaurant given the reviews and published articles. We moved to Calgary a few months ago and it was our first date night out with a babysitter looking after the kids so I was looking forward to a very special evening with my wife. The location and setting are as described elsewhere, lovely. We opted for the the chef's tasting menu with wine pairing since this was a once in a quarter event. The amuse bouche was nice. The tomato bisque was interesting - best part of the tasting menu. The foie tarte, that I was very excited about, a) came with a caterpillar in my wife's case, and b) since she was gagging and I elected to finish hers as well as mine, was truly disappointing. You take something that should be the most exciting thing in the tasting and serve it cold and dense, covered in aspic, it could be just about anything but definitely not something stimulating. Reminded me of pumpkin pie but not in a good way. Then my flank steak came out. My wife's was good apparently, but mine was completely run through with sinews to the point that I couldn't actually chew through and swallow any piece of it. Our server took my plate away while I was still attempting to chew the last part so I had to spit it out in my napkin and ask for a new one. We brought all of this to the attention of our server, very pleasantly as we didn't want the evening to go further south, and got an I'm sorry but quite shockingly nobody from the back of the house came out to talk to us until I explicitly mentioned that that might be an appropriate response under the circumstances. Someone (Dean?) did finally come out and address the issues and said that they would reach out to us by email to arrange a repeat visit "as their guests" to make up for this very unpleasant experience but 24 hours later we have heard nothing. I was holding off on writing this review to see if they might follow through as promised but at this point it only seems fair to warn future patrons. I hear there are some great restaurants in Calgary and look forward to trying them!

Items Selected: Sliced Beet - Foie Gras, Diced Pear Cured Trout - Pickled Chard, Garlic Scape Aioli, Rye Crumbs Red Fife Sourdough - House-churned Salted Butter Cheese & Charcuterie - Peppered Elk Sausage, Air Dried Lonza, Foie Gras Torchon, Bresaola, 4-year Aged Grizzly Gouda, Tiger Blue Cheese, Ipedon, Pickled Blood Orange, Candied Walnut, Olives, Pickled Yellowfoot Mushrooms, Cornichons, Apple Moustarda, Baguette Crisps Spicy Greens - Sweetbreads, Black Garlic Vinaigrette, Goat Yogurt, Pumpkin Seeds, Pickled Chanterelles Rougie Duck Breast - Sunflower Seed Butter, Bok Choy, Charred Eggplant, Sunflower Shoots Caffe Umbria Double Espresso - Ice and Brown Sugar Roasted Apple Mille Feuille - Puff Pastry, Crème Diplomat Pumpkin Sticky Toffee Pudding - Walnut Nougatine, Toffee, Garden Squash Ice Cream Blueberry Mousse - Pistachio, Lemon Balm, Blood Orange Jam Considered by many to be Alberta's best fine-dining restaurant since opening in 2003, the 19th Century Cross House reimagined as Rouge by Chef Paul Rogalski and Olivier Reynaud, it was less than thirty minutes after exiting their sister-Bistro that I was seated in a sizable corner two-top, the server not even walking my way until nearly fifteen minutes later. Suggesting a strong focus on Alberta in their online description, the words "regional" and "local" liberally sprinkled with adjectives of self-praise to define their "Philosophy of Fine Dining," Rouge is located in a residential neighborhood with ample parking along the streets, the building itself appropriately painted a deep shade of red with the interior pleasant, if not a bit stuffy, as heavy curtains and linens are flanked by vivid oil paintings. Apologizing profusely for 'ignoring' me, a large table in the adjoining room commanding a lot of attention combined with my location and the Hostess not alerting him to my presence offered as an excuse, it was with Water and Menu in hand that choices were made, the tasting menu passed due to an odd Asian theme in a place whose style very clearly references France. Offered two Amuses to begin the night, the second plus a later Salad presented gratis as further apology, both the Beet and Duck Liver as well as the cured Trout proved tasty and complex while a half-slice of Red Fife Sourdough was served as though it was some sort of luxury ingredient alongside grassy House-churned Butter that instead stole the spotlight. Disappointed by Bistro Rouge's outsourced cured Meats, and again here where Elk Sausage and Bresaola are brought in with Canadian Cheeses to pair with housemade Lonza and a compact Foie Gras Torchon that proved impossible to spread on razor-thin Crostini, accoutrements including Pickled Blood Orange and Yellowfoot Mushrooms thankfully propped up the $36CAD Board, the aforementioned Salad a far better value with featuring the complex interplay of seared Sweetbreads, bright acid, tangy Yogurt and toasted Pumpkin Seeds. Featuring the same exquisite Rougie Duck as Model Milk, but eschewing aging in favor of a plump Breast pan-Seared over ground Sunflower Seeds, Bok Choy and charred Eggplant under a tangle of Sunflower Shoots, dessert at Rouge showed similar to that at the Bistro by way of two choices, the Roasted Apple Mille-Feuille texturally compromised by 'leather' akin to a Fruit Roll-Up while the Sticky Toffee Pudding tasted like moist Spice Cake next to crumbles of Walnut and lightly-sweetened Garden Squash Ice Cream.

Oh Rouge, what a disappointment. I've wanted to come here for a while and when I saw they had a more affordable tasting menu choice for the new Food & Drink Experience festival, I excitedly booked for the $65 Gourmet 5 course menu. From beginning to end, the meal was absolutely lackluster and mediocre at best. Started with a complimentary amuse bouse of some salmon roe cream cheese thing that honestly tasted like Philadelphia smoked salmon spread on a bit of bread. It's complimentary, so okay but made for a suspicious start to the meal in terms of quality. Okay now on to the first real starter, the duck rilette, this might have been the most flavourful dish of the night but texturally was a bit one note. I liked all the accoutrements and I know rilette isnt easy to plate to make appetizing so I'll give you a pass here. Next was the mushroom truffle bisque. For someone that loves mushroom and the umami of truffle, this was such a disappointment. I've had better soups from cafeterias. The truffle oil tasted like an attempt at saving a boring soup, and it tasted like it. 3rd course was the foie gras parfait with juniper crackers. First the proportions are way off, there's 3 little crackers with a whole lotta parfait. I've had great foie and this was not it. Visually was unappealing, and tasted a bit cat-food like. 4th the entree: Short rib. This is a classic nice restaurant main stay, you cant muck this up too much right? Well, texturally, the shortrib was stringy, no real sauce on it, the risotto + side vegetables lacked real flavor. As I picked through my plate, my only thought was: How is this one of the best restaurants in Calgary? Cut to dessert, whipped lemon parfait. Another 'whipped dish', we do all have teeth you know? What is with the lack of texture in these dishes? If you're gonna do a crumb, make it be a crunch. If it's a soft crumb on a soft parfait, where is the joy in that. All i could taste was one same lemonly taste of sweetness. Another one-note dish to end the night. OH, almost forgot the 'last taste' of a coffee cake with creme fresh on top. Another complimentary item, which I totally appreciate the thought, but honestly tasted like grocery store bought coffee cake with some cool whip on top. Sorry Rouge, perhaps my expectations were too high, perhaps it was an off choice for a tasting menu, but my goodness was the whole meal a sad trumpet tune of disappointment. I do love the cute decor, and service was perfectly normal and fine. But you gotta step it up when it comes to the food. This was barely passable compared to a chain restaurant. Next to say a Pigeonhole or a Ten Foot Henry, the food here can't even be mentioned in the same league. Also stop throwing berries on things and calling it Canadiana. I expected much more thoughtful pairing of flavours, and PRESENCE of flavour from a restaurant of this calibre and reputation.

This is a very special place with fantastic service and very unique and flavourful dishes. The ambience is intimate and romantic. The charcuterie plate is ample and full of many different flavours including Saskatoon berries. The plate included fantastic cheeses and meats. One highlight was the baby carrots from the Rouge garden.

Went here for the 2020 Summer Feast for $65. The menu wasn't posted online, but my friend and I wanted to trust that the restaurant would serve something good. We heard good things about Rouge, and both liked French cuisine. But, boy, was it disappointing. The appetizer was a garden salad, which I could've made at home for $5. The portion size for the main (small strips of bison, polenta?, romanesco, and ratatouille) was the size of a kid's meal. My friend's portion of romanesco (type of broccoli that grows like Fibonacci) was a third of what I received. Dessert was panna cotta, while I received a block of chocolate. Desserts were a good size and delicious. The panna cotta was definitely the winner. Thoroughly disappointed with the meal throughout, and left still hungry. Stopped by to pick up fast food on the way home. And the time between the appetizer and the main course felt like an eternity. There's four hours free parking nearby and I had to check the clock to compare time of arrival to when we got our mains--1.5 hours after getting seated. Food was decent enough, but not worth the time or the price. Never going back.

Rouge, heard it is rated #1 in Calgary? Its situated in the most Haunted House "Dean House" in Calgary, Wow! http://www.avenuecalgary.com/City-Life/Calgarys-Most-Haunted-Buildings/. I would rated the foods 3.5 to 4 at the most. Its great foods but not the Wow feeling! The best for the night would goes to the Lamb dish with local sustainable farm. The lamb meat was really tender, juicy & has a bit of east indian spice kick to it when chewing in the mouth. Ambient was good but not really romantic setting, service was great! Recommend to try if you are curious. The bill was $252/person CAD with Chef's choice selections $100/person and alcohol of course. It was a great night out!

Brilliant service, solid atmosphere, delicious food. Ordered the sampler as was not disappointed by the selection presented. Would go back.

My boyfriend and I came here for our fourth anniversary. We came in on a Sunday night in late November so we wouldn't have to deal with excessive noise from other patrons. For the majority of our dinner it was only us and an older couple. The food was really good, it was light and healthy. The service was a bit meh. It wasn't awful, it wasn't great either. There was only one server and he was definitely prioritizing the older couple over us. We only ever saw him when he was giving us our food and when it came time for the bill. We were in the same part of the restaurant with the other couple and we could hear just how much more attentive our server was to them. He didn't stop by to ask us if we wanted anymore bread or crackers and he didn't stop to ask us how our food was. Over all we felt a little bit ignored and a little unwelcome. He definitely didn't deserve the hefty tip my boyfriend left him. I can't say I would go back on my own accord. There are nicer restaurants with better service.

A bit over rated. Food was good but small portions as expected, but pricey. Excellent service.

Over priced, but heard it was a great place to go on a date. Food came cold... most likely because their Manager was to busy talking to the other staff or on her phone. Then when we asked for a new plate she said there was nothing she could do.... some manager you have that she can't even order the kitchen to fire up another plate.

I wish I could give this restaurant more than 2 stars. I was there on the weekend for my hubbys birthday dinner ( One of 2 actually - Anju was the clear favourite!) and we both left disappointed. Walking up to the ol house its impressive - from the foilage to the signpost, to the gate to the house itself, its beautiful. Once inside, it feels like you are in a heritage bldg. We were told we were going to be seated outside but were asked if we preferred inside - We did, so we were given a table inside...we were glad of it. The outside tables were in a marquis tent with clear plastic sides ( opaque aka blurry),and although the tables were dressed the same as inside, the chairs were essentially plastic garden furniture. The patrons all faced into the backyard - and the mood in there was deadly - like they were attending a post funeral brunch. We were so glad we weren't in there. We started our meal with a cocktail - the Rouge - and after waiting quite a while for it - the server brought us over 2 glasses of bubbly while we were waiting for our cocktails and apologized. When the drinks did come we sipped them and said nothing.. it was only about 10 minutes later that we both told each other how much we hated them. They tasted medicinal. Like a ricola candy liquefied into a drink and blended with god only knows what else - definitely not enjoyable. For our starters, I had the butter leaf salad - my hubby had the shrimp salad. My salad, while beautiful was so bland. SO bland. The only thing on the plate that was a stand out were the poached tomatoes and they were good - bless em. The shrimp salad was apparently the same, not bland as in subtle and refined, but bland as in lacking flavour and seasoning. For the mains - I had asked for an assortment of veggies- ( I am a vegetarian) and when it arrived, although visually appealing - was once again lacking in flavour - where was the seasoning? The birthday boy had the duck breast and loved it - apparently it was delicious- so that is a good thing. For dessert we ordered the buttermilk cake and I will say it was the best thing of the night and I am not a dessert fan - it was moist and decadent - however it didnt make up for me - for the rest of an underseasoned meal. The service was efficient and pleasant - its just a shame that the food didnt match the reputation or price that went along with the service standard. A highlight of the night was walking through the garden out back where they grow alot of the ingredients that you eat while dining. The vibe in the garden in quite amazing - serene and beautiful. All in all though, the food should be the star here - and the night we went it definitely wasnt shining very brightly.

This place was amazing, quaint and charming!! The food was very flavorful, skip the "fois gerois"

We had a fantastic experience dining at Rouge last Saturday night. It was the first time for my fiance and I, so we requested the best table available and decided to splurge on the Food & Wine pairing. So glad we did!! Our waitress was friendly and attentive from the get go. She seated us at a beautiful table in front of the window upstairs, and I loved feeling a little spooked due to the ghost stories and sightings here. The trips to the bathroom were interesting, as that's where most sightings have occurred! The atmosphere is very mellow, in fact we were among the first to arrive for their dinner service and the silence was eerie - it did get busier throughout the night but overall I appreciated the lack of noise. We were given ample time to peruse the menu, and decided to order cocktails to start. I trusted her to bring me something delicious, and she did not disappoint! From what I can remember, it was a martini of vodka, elderflower, and fruit juices. Very refreshing and delicious! Josh had a stout which he really enjoyed. Once we were through with the cocktails we started with our first course. Normally I would take photos of each but I was way too excited to dive in! The amuse bouche was a beef tartare, which scared Josh a little, but he ended up loving it - it was delicious. Throughout the evening we dined on foie gras, duck, rabbit, beef tenderloin, and more. By the end of it (as per usual with wine pairings), I was a little drunk, but we devoured every bite and savoured all of the delicious flavours. It was Josh's first pairing, and we loved how the flavours of the food were complimented so well by the different kinds of wine. At the end, our server gave us a sheet listing everything we had, which was great. I really liked that our server engaged us (without the annoying small talk you usually get) but still managed to give us privacy and ample time between courses to let our food settle. We didn't feel rushed at all, in fact we were there for over 3 hours! It was such a lovely treat to have that time to spend together, and super romantic. One of my favourite dates we've had - in fact, over a week later we're still talking about it - and salivating over the beef tenderloin course (SO GOOD!). In closing, the service and food here is incredible, not to mention the charm and character of this historic building. It's definitely not cheap, but you get what you pay for. I wouldn't hesitate to return here for a special occasion!

Relived honeymoon in France with family at the Rouge in Calgary recently! It's so rare that our whole family is in the same city at the same time, but this restaurant made it a memorable experience. We called the day before to book a reso and they were very accommodating although I wouldn't risk this again. The wine list is a true trip through the great wine producing regions of France: St. Emillon, Pomerol, Bordeaux etc. We had one of the Châteauneuf-du-Papes. My sis and I started off with one of their crazy big German beers....yum. I loved my Bison "Tortiere" with Boozy Garden Pin Cherries appetizer, but the table ordered one of each from Octopus to Foie Gras. The main courses were equally as tantalizing...Arctic Char with Pressed Sushi Rice, I usually order fish when we go out...a popular dish at the table was the Beef Chateaubriand with a pomme puree bone marrow and Foie Gras fondue served in the bone marrow...at least you know what you're getting when it arrives! Our waiter was friendly and very informative about : wine, food, the restaurant, folk lore about restaurants...refreshing. A must do when in Calgary, if you can get in, as it was voted #60 best restaurant in the world...tastebud flashback to France!

I honestly believe that my experience at Rouge was not worth the money. $215 per person and 3 out of 5 courses were nothing but disappointment. The combination of ingredients didn't work and food was rather bland. I was given Canadian wine on two occasions and a glass of cider! Only two wines were French and not that impressive either. I had this impression that they tried to get rid off some food and that's why it was put on chef's menu. Will I ever be back? doubt it. There are better restaurants in Calgary

This is easily one of my favourite restaurants in Calgary! We have been there twice now and both times had a fabulous meal. It is an historic house situated on its own plot of land, with its own garden. The restaurant is still divided into the original rooms, which can be closed off for special events and meetings. These separate rooms also help to keep the restaurant quieter. Such a great ambiance. The only downside to this historic house is they aren't allowed to add AC, so we've been told summer time can get quite warm. The staff is always warm and inviting. They go the extra mile for you. I'm not one to enjoy wine or beer, but the last time we were there the waiter introduced me to both a wine and beer that I would actually order. The experience here wouldn't be the same without these fantastic people! The food is incredible. I highly recommend that you splurge on the chef's tasting menu. I have had my palate challenged and delighted with the meals here. Items that I have never liked in the past, prepared at Rouge, have left me wanting more. I have a red meat intolerance and must eat all red meat well done. At Rouge, I learnt what a properly cooked well done piece of meat is all about. My steak was juicy, flavourful and nowhere near the shoe-leather I'd experienced nearly everywhere else. It is a true skill to perfectly cook a steak well-done. Now I know a properly well-done steak is amazing! I have tried so many new foods here and they have all been fabulous! This is the perfect place for a date! Be prepared though, this much awesomeness does come with a higher price tag, but it is well worth it!

I'm not a foodie but I've been fortunate enough to experience some very fine dining. Rouge is now absolutely #1 the best meal I've ever eaten. The kicker is, I have difficult to work with allergies. Gluten AND dairy. Rouge had no trouble at all with my restrictions, and even spoiled me a little because of them! Bread and butter for my partner but delicious gluten-free crostini topped with smoked salmon for me? Wow! I had no clue gluten-free bread could taste so good. And that was before our appetizers! Great news celiacs! You can finally eat good food in Calgary!

I guess it is all depends if you like gourmet food. (and even more important, if you like to pay for it a lot). I should start by saying that the place is beautiful and the atmosphere is very intimate. The service is excellent and very friendly, though I thought bit pretentious. The food is very fresh and it tasted good as well (I would even say more then good), but it is not something you can't find in other good places. It was defiantly not worth the amount charged. For a full meal for two with wine and desert we paid $210, and we didn't even ordered the expensive dishes on the menu. One odd think I must mention. The place is very quite, and it forces you to remain quite as well. We had to whisper the entire visit, and so did the other guests (which I assume created a vicious circle of awkward silence). Very odd. In short, we went there for our anniversary and because the place is keep being ranked as the one of the best in Canada(!). Well, I guess we can crossed this one off of our list. I don't think we'll go again, because the food and the since of awe surrounding the place, is not worth the money.

My Wife and I recently went to Rouge for a date night, we've wanted to try Rouge for some time and decided that this was a good time to try. We arrived for our 6:30 and were warmly greeted by the hostess and our coats were taken to coat check at no charge. Once shown to our table our waiter arrived within seconds to provide us with Ice or Sparkling water. For dinner we decided on the Chef's 6 course menu, the entire experience was amazing. The food arrived at the perfect rate we didn't feel rushed at all but we also weren't waiting a long time between courses. If you goto Rouge I would highly suggest doing the tasting menu as it provides a great experience of their food.

Recently took my family here for my mom's birthday. I'm pretty sure it was my parents first true French Dining experience and it was all of our first time at this restaurant. The restaurant itself is located in an old school looking house, interior decor is nothing out of the ordinary, looks like any other restaurant housed inside a house. The service was nothing short exceptional! Started off with a dozen oysters and the Seared Foie Gras, Pork Tourtière, Boozy Cherries. The cherries were super sour and over powered the taste of the foie gras which was kind of disappointing and the only disappointing part of our meal. My dad had the Duo of Char-grilled Alberta Lamb Chops and Moroccan Style Sausage, Garden Mint Couscous, brother's gf has the Duet of Pork Tenderloin and Crispy Smoked Ham Hock, Rhubarb Sauce, Brown Rice "Risotto" and may I say the risotto was DELICIOUS, my mom and i shared the AAA Alberta Beef Chateaubriand (For Two), Bone Marrow and Foie Gras Spring Roll, Potato Rösti, the beef was super tender, the spring roll was very tasty! Never had bone marrow and foie gras combined together. Brother had the Smoked High Country Bison Striploin Medallions, Raisin Bread Panade, Madeira Cream, everyone seemed to enjoy their meals thoroughly. I will definitely be back but not on an often basis, as I wouldl go broke faster then Greece.

4.5 stars Went for a date night Sat July 16th during stampede. Everyone was seated on the patio, since it was nice outside. Wow, amazing service and FOOD! The main courses were perfect... We had tuna, and the peking duck. From start to finish, had a great meal. Highly recomended. In the same class as Teatro, Capo, Catch, etc... Next time would try the 6 course tasting menu (when I am not paying...)

Two stars for service, three stars for food. Had the chef tasting menu. Food was good but a little too salty on most dishes (eg carrot soup, tuna tartare). Foie gras was very good. Main entree was BBQ'd quail with broccoli - would've expected something more elaborate and expensive for a $115/pp tasting menu. Disappointed with the cheese and dessert (last two courses). Overall, not a lot of unique flavour pairings, uniqueness and elaboration in the dishes to justify such an expensive price tag and a spot in Canada's top 100 restaurants. Ambiance was nice - nice backyard patio. You can walk around their large backyard and look at their vegetable garden (don't set expectations high...just a regular backyard garden). Here's my biggest complaint: There was a wedding happening at the same time on the second floor of the restaurant and it felt like service to regular customers was sacrificed. Given the restaurant was aware that a wedding was taking place, adequate staff and resources should have been prepared. We were there for two hours and only got to the main entree by the two hour mark. 1.5 hours into the dinner we asked our server Ryan to speed up the courses. We were waiting a very long time (20-25 mins) between courses. He apologized and explained that the wedding was affecting their service speed. We said we had a hard cut off at 8pm as we had a show to catch. We expected they would do everything to meet the request. We asked to have the rest of the courses packed to go. Even with this request we were kept there until 8:20pm. The restaurant didnt do us any favours on the bill. I am disappointed with the service level and quality of food. Not worth a $300 bill for two. Not worth being on Canada's top 100 restaurants. Wouldnt recommend doing the tasting menu.

Delicious food and friendly staff! It definitely deserves its popular high ratings. It took a bit for the food to arrive at the table but it's ok we were enjoying ourselves anyways. Very delightful.

We had the chef's tasting menu and I have to say it was one of the best dining experiences I have had. The flavours, texture... it was just perfect. They include a lot of organic, locally grown items in the menu and even grow some of them in their beautiful garden, which you can tour as you enjoy of a glass of wine. The only reason I don't give 5 stars in my review was the service. Although our waitress was very nice, she had no idea what kind of wines she was serving and even had trouble explaining the dishes. In any regular restaurant this would not had been an issue but with such beautiful food, it was a shame we didn't get to learn more about the pairings and what they were going for with each choice.

What a great dining experience. Enjoyed it from the moment I walked in though the tour afterwards. Appetizers, tartare with mushrooms and eggs yolk, elk with chimichira sauce and pork loin with raspberry polenta, Dang. The bread was hot and had oil and raspberry vinagarette. Afterwards, a tour of the home.

My favorite restaurant in Calgary, and maybe in the world. The service is always excellent. Menu adventurous. I fell in love with this restaurant when I tried their lobster cappuccino at a wine and food tasting years ago. I have been back for many different occasions. You can taste the fresh ingredients and the sophistication of this world ranked restaurant. Only if I could afford to go there all the time ... :)

Rouge My sister and I had been wanting to eat at Restaurant Rouge for quite some time. Our busy schedules only made it happen on October 18th 2018 as my sister had her birthday dinner at that location. The food we ate was exactly what we expected; delicious. BUT.......the service offered by the waitress assigned to our table was lamentable. Here are a few "highlights" of the evening: 1. Upon observing that several glasses were placed in such way that it made it difficult to determine which one belonged to whom, one of our guests asked our waitress to assist her in determining which glass belonged to her. She responded in a condescending way saying: "water glasses were always on the right". At first, this may seem inoffensive. However, all it took was a quick look at the table to legitimize the question asked. 2. A bottle of wine was ordered. At some point, the guest who had ordered that bottle asked our waitress to pour some for others siting at the table. The waitress said: "we don't do this here". It left many of us confused. We enquired further to understand what she meant. It turns out that she thought that a bottle of wine was brought in from outside. Problem is we had not brought in our own wine and there was no reason for her to believe that we had. Why make that assumption? 3. Earlier in the evening, someone had called upon her to assist and get an additional drink. She turned around and said: "What?". While I had noticed that the tone was pretty abrupt and had an undertone of impatience, I did not comment as I gave her the benefit of the doubt. In light of the other occurrences of the evening I now wonder ... 4. Later in the evening, a guest asked questions about the menu and as she was about to place an order, the waitress said "I will take your order when I take everyone else's". It was unequivocal to all of us that she was once again being rude and condescending. 5. Lastly, when our orders came, our main waitress had not properly instructed the other servers/waitresses as to which plate went where. They were confused to such a degree that OUR PLATES WERE MOVED OUT OF OUR SIGHT to try and figure the whole thing out. It is at this time that one of the guests advocated for the group and said that she had enough of the waitress. That same guest continued on and said that it was inappropriate to place a plate in front of a client, remove it, disappear with several plates and later come back with them. Our waitress disappeared and never came back. Notwithstanding the fact that the replacement crew was much better, we were surprised to hear someone who appeared to be the Manager, say that our previous waitress was one of their best! Considering the poor service we had received, what should we make of this comment? Any person with a little bit of insight would reassess the situation and determine whether or not had been the author of their own demise. However, after discussing between ourselves, we were all convinced that we did not deserve any of it. This raises another question. If this is the best or one of the best waitresses; it is unfortunate that while a Chef is providing us with the best food, a waitress is negating it all! Our most vocal advocate said that she would not return to this restaurant. I interjected and said that the food was too good for me to concur. 24 hours later, I changed my mind. No food is good enough to accept to be treated in a condescending and unprofessional manner. It is unfortunate.

I haven't had the full dinner experience, nor tried the Chef's complete tasting menu, but it sounds like others have had great experiences. It certainly isn't cheap, but Rouge has won many accolades from food critics - including landing a spot on San Pellegrino World's Best Restaurants list (2010). I have been for lunch and dessert - both of which were delicious and accompanied by stellar service. One of the things that I enjoy the most about Rouge is their garden. Despite the location in a relatively densely popluated area of Inglewood, the A.E. Cross House is on a pretty large plot of land. The Rouge team uses the area to grow fresh vegetables and herbs as well as house their small greenhouse for tomatoes. We had the pleasure of meeting the Chef de Cuisine, JP Pedhirney, who explained their food philosophy. They take the "local" food movement to heart, and get inspiration for their food from their garden. They then source additional food from local farmers and try to keep it as close to home as possible. He was friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about food. For lunch, I enjoyed the Braised Short Rib which was incredibly tender with a well balanced, flavorful sauce. My side salad was fairly average, although it was accompanied by deep fried chick peas which I didn't really care for. I have also tried 2 different desserts here. I may be a bit biased because I'm not a big dessert fan. The panacotta with oatmeal crisp topping was delicious and not overly sweet. We also had the chocolate chip cake with bacon. I know that deserts with bacon are all the rage right now, but I personally prefer my bacon without sugar - and this particular desert didn't convert me. Overall, I've quite enjoyed my two experiences at Rouge. I guess I will have to come for dinner one of these days for the full experience.

4.5 Rouge, Rouge, Rouge. A gem of an establishment in a quaint, hipster part of Calgary. Rouge is the place I take important clients, special dates, and close friends. I find that the dinners are better than the lunches and that the chef's tasting is the best way to receive the full Rouge experience. The physical structure of Rouge is quite unique to Calgary. A heritage home in Inglewood has been converted in to a restaurant, much like L'Hermitage in Vancouver. Thus, the restaurant is segregated in to rooms, accompanying no more than a handful of tables in each room. What's also neat about Rouge is that they've got their own garden from which they harvest a variety of organic food. It'll appear in the oil to dip your bread in, as a side accompanying beautiful local meats, etc. The service has ranged from superb to average. But I do not fault Rouge for "average" service as I know the establishment gives opportunities to bushy-tailed, bright-eyed younger folk who are still new to the industry. I'm looking forward to my next dinner here!

A very delicious meal for sure - I had the pheasant and really enjoyed it. The Nanaimo bar was also very good. I've always wanted to try foie gras so decided to give it a go - too rich for me, but I did like the chicken liver pate. The service was excellent - attentive, very polished, everything is presented with an explanation. The only thing I wish is that the atmosphere was slightly more intimate - I felt very much out in the open with how the tables were arranged (we were seated in a room upstairs), and that we did not have much privacy with our conversation. I would come back for a special occassion, but may be a little bit too spendy for frequent visits! It is definitely a place where you would want to dress up a bit more - the "older" crowd was generally dressed appropriately (ie. no jeans). The younger generation, myself included, were in jeans - and I personally felt underdressed and a bit out of place.

I have been going to Rouge every year for six years. After. My experience last week, I won't be back. Their menu used to be amazing. Not so anymore. It was unimaginative and short. Example, my friend and I ordered quiche with French fries! Service was mediocre and talking about how dry his mouth was after Stampede, was too much information. The quiche with a Phyllo crust, may or may not have been made that day. Filling was good but neither of us ate the crust which was soggy. French fries were good, but a splash of truffle oil would have made them more interesting. Finally, my expensive dessert. Neither one of us could eat it. The plate presentation resembled dog doings on a concrete patio. Small tubes of tasteless chocolate. Their patio ambiance remains spot on, but all else disappointing.

World class in Calgary! Enjoyed three wonderful hours experiencing the tasting menu and wine pairings last night. Excellent service, seven courses of delightful delicious creative 'fun'. Perfect for those of you that want the best of European food here at home. Thanks Rouge!

Amazing experience! French styled cuisine that is prepared with all the details in mind. Good quality and flavours are perfection! The restaurant is situated in Inglewood in an older house. The charm and ambiance are nice. Service was great as was the recommendation for wine with our meal. Great experience overall.

I had an incredible experience at Rouge no wonder making a reservation is recommended to be made days or weeks ahead. They were very accommodating about our last minute call of late arrival despite seeing after how most of their tables taken. Anyway, our server Ryan knows was great and knows very well of the menu. We decided to have the Chef's Tasting 6-course Menu. Ryan has communicated my date's food allergies to the chef, who is very creative and was able to modify some of the courses with the restriction taken into account. Also, I've asked for their caesar/vodka as I've heard they make a really good one. Unfortunately they have taken this off their cocktail menu for more than a year but the staff were able to have their bartender come at our table. She explained that they can make me this cocktail similar from what they used to serve (though it wont have the olive infused vodka as originally) which turned out so good! They make so many ingredients on their menu that are home-grown or homemade like their olives, organic vegetables, butter, pesto sauce, spreads.. The cheese we were served with was apparently Canada's #1 Gouda and sure did taste the best. I cannot put into words how to describe every amazing meal they had prepared for us. Red Tuna, Foie Gras and Chicken Liver Parfait, Egg Yolk Raviolis to start were remarkable and so is our main which was the Rabit Leg Crepinette. They then surprise you with a dessert you've never prolly had anywhere else we had their Maple Pecan Butter Tart, Spiced Plum Sorbet and Lemon- Vanilla Panna Cotta. Magnifique! Everything was well excuted. The place is very romantic and vintage. So worth what youre paying for. All the staff were exceptional. I dont know how else to describe my experience here, other's will definitely have to see and experience it for themselves.

Went for Hubby's birthday and had a wonderful experience. We had the Cold Smoked Elk Carpaccio, Pickled Blueberries, First Pressed Canola & Foie Gras Parfait, Apple Bourbon Gelée, Compressed Apple to start. Excellent choices! I'm not a pate fan but the Foie Gras was fabulous. For dinner, Hubby had the Seared Halibut, White Bean and Chorizo Ragout, Clams, Blistered Cherry Tomato Sauce Vierge and I had the Birch Smoked Duck Breast, Steel Cut Oat and Mushroom Risotto, Braised Red Cabbage, Natural Duck Jus. Absolutely delicious! And we ended with Brie Cheesecake, Poppy Seed Honey, Raspberry Fluid Gel - yeah, not so much. I love Brie and I love cheesecake but together, not so fabulous. Just not my taste I guess. All in all, a great experience I would definitely repeat.

Great service, great wine, good food. We went for my bday which was maybe why the bill was over $500 for two people. We just did the chefs pairing which was just good, the beef tartar was the highlight without question. A couple of the wines were terrible but we ordered a bottle to have at the table just in case the wine they paired was brutal. The food was good, not great as I mentioned. Will we be back...yes, but, I will order off the menu.

My gastronomic exuberance knows no satiety! Truly one of the best fine dining experiences I have ever had. We had the chef's tasting menu, which they were able to adapt to my food allergies (celiac and lactarded) without compromising taste or texture - no mean feat. Normally everyone has bread to start, and I just sit there looking sad, but Rouge's house made gluten-free bun was a delicious treat. Clearly made from a combination of flours, it was moist, springy, and flavourful. The butternut squash ravioli in the rabbit jus was exquisite, each bite was a burst of incredible flavor and the savory jus complemented the squash perfectly. The braised beef cheek was the most tender thing I have ever eaten, and I cook sous vide at home. It was rich and savory without being overpowering. We also had pears poached in vanilla extract that were an experience in and of themselves. The pears were at perfect ripness, and yielded a burst of vanilla flavor when bitten into. There were several other items in the tasting, and none were a disappointment. This is a meal to be savored over several hours. Take the time to appreciate the unique sensory experience that comes with each course - the tastes, textures, and smells are all unique and multifaceted. The service was stellar, warm but professional. The staff are extremely attentive, and pay special attention to your needs. The house itself is unique and charming, I very much enjoyed looking around.

The rouge experience was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Our server was everything. He first gave us an exciting 2 minute introduction of the restaurant, and his enthusiasm the whole time he did that was amazing. He made us feel very welcome without being annoying, you can tell he loves his job dearly. His knowledge about the food and wine menu is exceptional. Don't know what wine to order for your main course? Ask him. Want to know more about the rumored 'ghost'? He'll gladly tell you without making you feel stupid for asking. With this exceptional service and delicious food, it was one dining experience I will not forget.

My husband and I have been to Rouge many times and have NEVER been disappointed. The service, food and ambiance are perfect for a romantic dinner or a special family dinner . I would always recommend doing a Chef's tasting menu.

Brought my girlfriend here for our five-year anniversary, and we weren't disappointed. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable; the interior of the restaurant was beautiful and well-decorated,and the food was some of the best I've had in a long while. Try their Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake if ever you get the chance - it's downright incredible. I'll definitely be going here again.

My wife and I tried Rouge for our anniversary two summers ago. Feeling adventurous, we had the tasting menu, and all I can say is...wow! Too many courses to remember, it's lost in a blur of wine pairings, foie gras, truffles, and other delightful things. Two minor gripes were street noise (we dined on the patio) and - ack! - mosquitoes. After dinner, chef/owner Paul Rogalski gave a tour of his herb garden and greenhouse. A bit on the spendy side, but like all really good things, worth the splurge.

We had a great day in Calgary and looked for a restaurant with good reviews. Found this place in an odd part of town. Parked in their lot down the street. Walked up to a dead atmosphere on a Tuesday at lunch and we were turned down because our two kids were less than 10 years old.

An overall excellent experience. We were served by Fabrizio who did a fantastic job. He was very friendly, had great energy and a dedicated attention to detail. He also did an excellent job of attending us while still giving us personal time. We have the charcuterie which was great, and the pork hock soup, which my husband adored, and the tortellini with fennel sausage, which was one of the highlights of the night. We then had the wild boar and Alberta tenderloin for our mains, both of which were excellent. We finished with a dark chocolate terrine which was a lovely and not too sweet. The view is always beautiful and we look forward to returning this summer when we can eat outside near the garden! I especially recommend this restaurant for special or intimate occasions, as it is my personal favourite and where we chose to celebrate.

Best dinner I've had in Calgary. The house is apparently haunted and has been around some time as a restaurant. Food was amazing, fresh, full of local ingredients and well presented. Friends even had a vegetarian meal prepared on-the-fly, off menu that was to die for. Service is great too!