Mug Shotz Sports Bar & Grill

This place is a hidden gem.  If you can get past the dark parking lot and through the doors you will find a sports pub with dart boards, big screen T.V.s and Calgary Flames swag on every wall.  I have lived in Calgary all my life, and have never heard of this place until a friend ate there and just could not stop raving about the food.  After verifying his testimony against the reviews found on one of my favourite websites www.hotwings.ca, the ratings alone convinced me that it was worth a try.  I was forewarned that this place was a hole in the wall hidden deep within Calgary's industrial area, but I knew from experience that the best dishes can be found in places where you least expect.

Mug Shotz, without a doubt lived up to it's name for their wings. Fried to perfection, the flavours were not only in the sauce but embedded in each bite of the chicken wing.  Every flavour we tried was unique on it's own.  My favourite was the Mug Shots salt and pepper which consists of an exquisite combination of flavours resembling Chinese salt and pepper squid.  Everything from onions and chilli flakes to julienne red and green peppers, a definite must-try for your first time. They have been rated the best wings in Calgary for a reason, try it out, you won't regret it.

Tipperary's Pub

This was a great place to go on a Thursday night to catch the game.  No matter where you sit there seemed to be a good view of one of the many TV's in the venue.  It was an upbeat environment with a traditional yet modern Irish pub theme.

We ordered a variety of the $2 basket of dry rib special, fries and a side of rich, savoury and flavourful gravy that resembled KFC gravy.  For the price and the 13 flavours of ribs to choose from, you really can't go wrong.  This time around the ribs were juicy and plump, not dry and chewy like many other places.

I read the reviews on this place and was surprised at the mediocre response since I had such a good experience. But I guess the success of a pub is based on how consistently they can bring customers back in and consistency is based on so many factors. The cooks, the service, as well as the number of orders running through the kitchen at one time are only a few of the factors that can make these cheap rib or wing nights a hit or a miss. From my experience working as a cook in a fast paced pub environment, just a few extra minutes in the fryer can change any food item from juicy and crispy to dry and crunchy.

I can't speak for all the food items on the menu, but as far as what we ordered, everything turned out really well.  I would recommend trying out Tipperary's, especially on a Thursday.

Calgary Court Restaurant

This is a great Hong Kong style café that offers a quick meal at a reasonable price.  If you have no idea how a Hong Kong style café  might be like, picture an Asian Denny's.  It's a loud and bustling venue with a lot of in and out traffic.  If you like variety, here is where you will find an extensive menu of over 300 menu items.  They have specials on a daily basis which consists of an entree, soup, rice or spaghetti, garlic toast and a drink. All this for no more than $15, tax and tip included.  The service is fast and the food is worth every penny.  When people ask for a good Chinese restaurant recommendation, I often reply with four questions "How traditional?", "How adventurous?" , "Who are you going with?" and "How much are you looking to spend?"  This isn't the place to take your first date, but it offers good food that comes out quick and it is easy on the wallet.  It's not hard to find a dish that is captivating for each person in the party.  There is a wide range of selection from Sweet & Sour Pork with Rice to Deep Fried Pig's Intestine, if neither sounds appealing maybe just settle for a Ham & Egg Sandwich.  Give this place a try, you wont regret it!

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

If you want a good quality burger without firing up the grill, drop by the Five Guys Burgers and Fries.  The first thing you will notice when you enter the doors are bags of peanuts piled knee high and are a added bonus for those hungrily waiting for their orders.  Already you can tell that this was a casual and relaxed environment. Judging from the traffic that was going in and out of this restaurant, it could have only meant one thing… great food.  This isn't your regular fast food burger joint.  The patties are not frozen and only put on the grill after each order, ensuring that each burger was served fresh and not sitting on the grill to dry out for the next order.  I had the bacon cheese burger and you have your choice of about a dozen or so free toppings. The burger was juicy and had great flavour, the fresh grilled mushrooms and onions were a great complement. We added Cajun fries and they were spicy, tasty and plentiful. They really don't skimp out on anything around here, it was as if they were trying to get rid of all their toppings in our two burgers. All in all, this is a great place for lunch or dinner and a much more satisfying alternative to your average fast food burger. 

  

http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx

The Big Cheese Poutinerie

Take a stroll down 17th Avenue, if you are looking for a quick bite and happen to pass by the The Big Cheese Poutinerie it would be worth your while to check in .  Just located a few doors down from the Melrose Cafe, it's hard to pass by without noticing the mouth watering aroma and the big plaid awning flaring off the building.

It was slightly crowded with a small line up which is a good indication that I had arrived at the right place.  I had been hearing mixed reviews and had to try it for myself.  We ordered two small sized poutine's, the portions were perfect for the two of us to share.  There was good flavor in both, I enjoyed the "Notorious P.I.G." over the "Veggie Nacho".  I found the two to be a great combination, we decided it was best to go with one that was heavy and the other... slightly heavier.  Nice setting, good flavors, but eat it fast or be prepared to grab a spoon for some potato soup in a box.

Summary
It's a nice venue to check out and open late on weekends.  I would recommend trying it out, but I wouldn't say it fully satisfies my craving for a good traditional Montreal poutine.  It's definitely great to see a new fast food restaurant that is unique and non franchised.  Not that I have anything against franchises, it's just nice to have some variety and competition.  It keeps vendors on their toes, which means higher food quality at reasonable prices.

http://www.mybigcheese.com/
Street View - The google street view was taken prior to the opening of The Big Cheese Poutinerie