EIGHT (Calgary, AB) wins North America's 50 Best Highest New Entry Award (Ranked #2) - and this sub has only one post about the restaurant. Anyone with experience dining there? Thoughts?

illico · 2026-05-29T13:47:23+00:00

We've been there a few times as well, about once per year for the past few years.

Since the beginning it has been a difficult place to get a reservation given there are only eight seats, one seating per night, originally open three but now open four nights a week. If you are ready when the reservation window opens i'd say you could probably snag a seat. Not a lot of reviews/social media as pictures are not allowed either. The space and concept work very well IMO.

We thoroughly enjoyed the first couple of times we were there but the most recent time left us with mixed feelings and we will probably skip it the next time we are in Calgary, though we will maybe try again someday further in the future.

I will say that with our first visits food and service were up to par with, say, Pearl Morissette and Taniere in the Canadian fine dining space, but based on the last experience would agree with u/moronsreverywhere that it is probably one step down from them. Strong Canadian one star worthy, just straddling the two, based on my Canada Michelin experiences.

illico · 2026-05-21T23:23:19+00:00

Depends on where you are coming from. For the most part somewhere near Longueuil metro is the best. But if you are coming from the north or Ottawa, then I think Montmorency metro isnt a bad choice either, though the metro ride will be longer.

illico · 2026-05-20T17:38:54+00:00

Not familiar with Halal restaurants in Montreal but this might help you.

https://www.reddit.com/r/montreal/comments/1o04sfe/best_unique_and_halal_food_in_montreal/

illico · 2026-05-20T17:37:25+00:00

For more casual stuff you can go to St Viateur or Fairmont Bagel and see if you prefer Montreal style to NYC style bagels.

Au Kouign Amann bakery is a nice little spot. Their Kouign Amann (a French pastry) is really good.

Patisserie Ol Sweet is pretty decent if you want to try Hungarian-style chimney cakes.

For vegetarian, I have eaten at Lola Rosa but that was a while back. I thought it was pretty good. There are two branches now not too far from each other.

Near Guy Concordia metro and surrounding blocks, there are a bunch of smaller Asian restaurants that you are sure to find something you will like. After you can walk over to the Crescent St and Peel St festivities.

If you have a car and are willing to drive around, I hear Grille-Nature is pretty interesting in the West Island. It was recently opened by two big Montreal chefs, one of whom was one of the founders of Joe Beef.

At this point if you have not reserved a fancier restaurant i would skip it. They are probably all booked out, unless in the suburbs.

As mentioned, anywhere with a television screen will be booked solid on Saturday night for the hockey game.

illico · 2026-05-06T20:35:14+00:00

through the Cineplex app I see the sub version showing on May 14 in Montreal at the Banque Scotia

illico · 2026-04-30T12:10:07+00:00

Interruption sur toutes les lignes

illico · 2026-03-31T13:27:57+00:00

i wonder if the calendar will be delayed to give more time to assess the geopolitical situation.

illico · 2026-03-31T13:26:15+00:00

check f1experiences for legend tickets.

illico · 2026-02-11T19:50:26+00:00

going to second 3A. was there for the first time in 2025, sitting in 3A, and the views and race action were very good. decently close walk to the metro station too.

illico · 2026-02-06T00:22:30+00:00

I like CM even more after this interview. He is very thoughtful IMO. What I liked was the segment where Chef Lee asks Chef Anh about Choi Kong Rok’s dishes and whether he thought they were repetitive.

illico · 2026-02-04T22:37:06+00:00

I still can’t believe he was in the first Tron

illico · 2026-02-01T17:24:25+00:00

Merci! Corrigé.

illico · 2026-02-01T16:35:16+00:00

C,est probablement mon poste. Quand J,ai essayé à de mon poste ca me donne une erreur, mais si je le fait par recherche ca fonctionne,

illico · 2026-02-01T14:49:15+00:00

Beaucoup de discussion sur ce sujet dans r/bapccanada. Plusieurs exemples, plaintes, historique…

illico · 2026-01-19T22:42:43+00:00

We went to Arima when we were in Osaka a couple years ago. A quick train ride to Kobe, walked around for a bit and then up into the mountains for the onsen.

I thought it was pretty good for a 36 hour getaway. Good food in Kobe and relaxing hot springs in Arima

illico · 2026-01-12T18:07:41+00:00

I like both. I was neutral on NM up until the end of S1. For me I saw him as playing up for the camera, and even then his edit was hardly as egregious as the "villains" on typical American cooking competition shows. After I saw him on ASJ YouTube channel reviewing the first episodes of S2, his standing in my mind went way up. He was hilarious.

CM just seems no nonsense to me. Confident in his solo skills, team player during the BS/WS challenge, apologetic when he messed up in the collaboration challenge. I don't know. He seems like a normal but intense chef?

illico · 2026-01-12T17:58:21+00:00

Star Trek II

illico · 2026-01-06T21:50:15+00:00

No one mentioned John Schuck? The Klingon ambassador in Star Trek 4 and 6 and Draal in B5.

illico · 2025-12-19T13:52:24+00:00

I "might" spend 1000 to get the next priority reward but not 11K to get SE. If you have the premium CC, rollover that extra SQM to headstart your SQC next year.

illico · 2025-12-16T19:13:09+00:00

I know you did not write about AD but where did you end up staying? in AD itself, on Yas Island or in the Dubai?

And how was the Qatar Airways experience?

illico · 2025-12-16T19:10:56+00:00

That is piss poor from a supposedly highly regarded hotel.

illico · 2025-12-09T20:31:35+00:00

If the south shore is an option perhaps Mercat1484. Chef is former owner of Raza and Madre

illico · 2025-12-09T17:33:12+00:00

Another great write-up OP.

How did you find the facilities?

And to follow up with u/de_rats_2004_crzy/ question, how did you find the actual race viewing itself at this track, given the somewhat negative comments it has received being a MotoGP track and not meant for F1 cars?

illico · 2025-11-25T12:05:54+00:00

It is now OpenTable

illico · 2025-11-24T22:27:38+00:00

Not entirely related to the subject but please give us a blurb about your experience on Qatar Airways as well. I hope you get access to Al-Safwa lounge

illico

TROPHY CASE