Model Milk

“the happy hour menu is where Model Milk really shines if you're watching your budget - $12 for their famous cauliflower with tahini was an absolute steal and the portion was generous enough that two people could split it as an app”

“main courses are like $30-40 which puts this in splurge territory for sure. ok but wine list starts at $14 per glass so a full dinner for two easily hits $120+ wiht tip lol”

“snagged a seat at teh chef's counter and had front-row seats to teh kitchen ballet basically. the bartender crafted this peeerfect negroni variation while i watched the line cooks plate each dish wiht surgical precision - solo dining doesn't get much better than that honestly”

“service definitely slowed down during the dinner rush around 7:30, my second cocktail took like nearly 15 minutes to arrive even after i caught the bartender's eye multiple times”

“they dont do brunch here but honestly their dinner game is SO STRONG im genuinely considering becoming a nite person. the bone marrow wiht herb salad was literally pure caveman luxury - rich indulgent & the kinda thing that makes u question all ur life choices in the best way possible ha”

“only real gripe? the cocktail took FOREVER to get to us and i was already halfway through my appetizer before i even had a drink to sip on”

“the pan-seared halibut was absolutely stunning tbh - perfectly caramelized crust & then flaky buttery flesh that like melted on the fork. fish was clearly day-boat fresh and the chef like... knew when to stop seasoning it so you could actually taste the sweetness”

“the mussels in the appetizer were slightly overcooked tho, had that rubbery thing that happens when theyve been on heat like thirty seconds too long”

“ok the pork belly was legitimately a masterclass in technique - crispy skin and then like impossibly tender meat underneath, paired with pickled daikon that just provided the perfect acidic counterpoint. this is fusion done with respect and skill, not like the confused mashup you see at so many places”

“the cocktail list tho leaned heavily into trendy western flavors and kinda missed an opportunity to incorporate some asian-inspired elements that could've complemented the food program beatifully dead serious”

“the chocolate soufflé was straight up a masterpiece - light as air with molten center that just oozes warm chocolate ganache everywhere. paired with thier house-made vanilla bean ice cream it was honestly the kind of dessert where u close ur eyes and forget where u are 10/10”

“teh wine list tho? extensive sure but like, felt overpriced honestly!!! even teh mid-range bottles were pushing $80 which feels pretty steep for calgary no cap”