On Calgary Food—FoodYYC! A Group for foodies’ Facebook page, there are many reviews about the Wednesday special at Chairman’s Steakhouse, I had to check it out. For only $110, you get one 18-ounce ribeye, cheese bread, two salads, two side dishes, and a cheesecake to share. Let’s listen to “She’s Got You” by Patsy Cline for this post.
Our reservation was for 6:30 p.m., and most of the tables were occupied, except for the best seats in the house, which are right up the window, facing the pond. I noticed those tables were empty for most of the night. Our table was near the kitchen entrance.
We started with cocktails, Chew Steel with a Fig Old-Fashion (2.5oz, $18), and myself with a Pink Elegance (2 oz, $23). I appreciated how the restaurant categorizes the cocktails with tags, such as “fruity” or “herby”.
My cocktail was tart than sweet and mainly tasted of strawberries and lemon juice. The ice cube in the old-fashioned sparkled with glitter, glistening with the steakhouse’s initials. The branding is pretty slick, and Chew Steel said it was one smooth cocktail.
The Chairman’s cheese toast is as good as Hy’s Steakhouse but not as oily. The layer of aged white cheddar, Quebec cheese curd and Sylvan Star Gouda was thin and broiled. The bread itself was soft, fluffy, and decadent.
Chew Steel opted for a Waldorf Salad (upgrade $3) while I chose a Caesar salad. His salad was chockful of apples, candied walnuts, grapes, celery and a sprinkling of arugula. He enjoyed the tang from the Stilton cheese.
My Caesar salad was yummy. Smoky bacon punctuated every bite of the chilled, garlicky lettuce. The leaves were generously coated with a blanket of cheese.
Our server, Alec, a former Red Seal chef, gave us very good recommendations. He suggested adding the Ruby Port Jus ($7) for our steak and a glass of 2021 Giusti, Massimo, Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon ($18) for our meal. I liked the wine’s finish, which disappeared on my tongue. Alec mentioned that the wine’s blueberry notes and acidity would pair well with fatty meats like ribeye.
Alec suggested ordering our ribeye medium, and a beautiful medium it was! The middle slices were ruby red. The outside pieces reminded me a little of yakitori because of the smoky flavour and charred fat.
The beef was so flavourful, but I was impressed with the ruby port. Alec said it took 48 hours to reduce. I never ordered steak with sauces, but it was better with it. I would get the ruby port again.
I upgraded our sides: Black Truffle Double Stuffed Potato ($9) and the Black Truffle Gnocchi ($10). The gnocchi had a nice chew, but I forgot to mix up the sauce, peas and parmesan, so the first few bites were dry.
L said it was the best stuffed potato cheese he’d ever eaten. I liked how the truffle flavouring wasn’t overpowering.
Before dessert, I saw a woman with glazed eyes try to enter the kitchen. The manager, wearing a blue suit, immediately escorted her to the washroom and waited for her outside and then walked her to her table. She looked like she was having a good time.
The New York-style cheesecake was nice and light. The graham crust was thin and had a nice crumble. The berry gel and orange curd provided a nice burst of freshness. The almond florentine was a nice decorative touch.
When we finished our meal, most of the tables had turned. A guest walked in and was brought to the best table in the restaurant, right by the water. L recognized him and mentioned that he was the developer of Westman Village.
I recommend checking out Chairman’s Steakhouse. The Wednesday special is an affordable way to test the waters before splurging on a regular night. Hitting the Sauce gives Chairman’s and Alec two phat thumbs up.
Hitting the Sauce 