EIGHT

What an amazing experience! The chef explains the logic of each dish and where the ingredients were sourced. His food is a delicious tribute to the various cultures that have contributed to our complex Canadian culture and an adventurous exploration of where Canadian cuisine is heading. It is worth every dollar and minute invested. I have been to Michelin starred restaurants around the world and Eight is right up there with the best.

Chef was an unknown chef, not Darren Maclean. For the price you pay, which is more than some Michelin star restaurants, you expect to at least read a bio of them on the website. Food was alright. A few good dishes, a few bad dishes and the rest mediocre. Overhyped. Would not return.

Chef Darren Maclean has really made a new, informative and hand curated dining experience. Service staff was professional and interactive with us, including Darren himself. Although they state to not accommodate with allergies, I was spoiled enough to have been made well thought out modifications. Once in a life time fine dining experience.

After 2 years of trying to get 2 seats to the hottest ticket in town, we finally made it!! And what an experience it was. For 3 1/2 hours, we were transported out of Calgary and into an ethereal realm of otherworldly (while still being a study in Canadiana cuisine) deliciousness.

The pursuit of exquisite food and dining experiences is one of our greatest indulgences (mine and my husband’s) and we have been known on several occasions to build vacation plans around an awesome and hard-to-get meal reservation in another city, province or country. So while this dinner was certainly spendy by Calgary standards, it wasn’t our most expensive meal but it was shocking in that we were able to have such a sublime dining experience so close to home. It was worth every penny and more. Calgary has become a real food mecca in the last several years with many notable and worthy restaurants both as staples and newly popping up, but this one is in a class of its own.

One of the things that sets it apart, aside from the extremely creative presentation and unique combinations and preparations of ingredients, is the very personal and in-depth story of each course as told by the creator himself, Chef Darren Maclean. The loving respect with which he speaks of the animals, the vegetables, his farm, sustainability, his chosen techniques and the combination of the food and courses makes you feel like he is sharing his whole world and his deepest secrets with you. While we have eaten at many 1, 2 and 3 Star Michelin restaurants around the world, we have never experienced such a personal and intimate explanation of every step of the meal creation. (Without being overbearing and infringing on the special experience we were sharing dining here together as a couple)

I really hesitated to write a review as this tiny gem is already incredibly difficult to get into, but I truly feel like I was a part of history in the making with Chef Darren able to launch yet further onto the world stage dining scene anytime and gain his own stars or more and I would be doing a disservice by not proclaiming my hardcore fandom now. I love Shokunin and Nupo, and great food is always promised and never disappoints, but if you have a chance to snag a seat at Eight, run, don’t walk. Chef Darren is truly one of Calgary’s great treasures.

It broke my heart that cameras/phones weren’t allowed to take photos of all of the beautiful and creative dishes, but I understand the desire that everyone remain present and not distracted and it was certainly effective. It shall have to suffice to only see the beautiful bites again when I lay down, close my eyes and dream. (And of course whenever I manage to get another reservation!!)

Bravo Zulu Chef Darren. It would also be very remiss of me to not add that the host, Richard, and other chefs and servers were really awesome too. Thank you!!

What an incredible experience! We were so lucky to be able to witness Darren in his house doing what he loves.

There are a lot of murmurs about pricing being high but I believe it is worth every penny. Quality over quantity.

Being able to sit there in a very small atmosphere allowed us to be able to learn about where the food was coming from and how it was made, the thoughts put into the dish etc.

What an incredible opportunity to see a top chef do what he loves as he tries to redefines Canadian food.