Bar Milpa Calgary: Quesabirria, Seared Cabbage and $12 Cocktails

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For our monthly girls’ night, we picked Bar Milpa. We’d heard Duncan Ly and a new crew had taken over the kitchen. And days earlier, the Calgary Herald ran a piece on the restaurant shakeup, which I took as a sign from the culinary gods. Before Milpa, we’d had wine at my place. I poured Kournikova, Betty, and Québécoise wines from my recent Metrovino tastings. For this post, let’s listen to Tame Impala – Dracula.

The room itself surprised me; it was a dark teal and quieter than I expected for a Friday. The last time we were here, we were stuck in the back corner by the bathroom, which felt like I was sitting in WestJet’s ultra-basic economy. This time we sat smack in the middle of the room.

Milpa focuses on Latin-inspired beverages. Betty, Kournikova and I started with Pineapple Nom-Nom, cold and bright, and refreshingly priced at only $12. I always order whatever Kournikova selects, as she knows her cocktails and doesn’t like them sweet. Québécoise picked Blue Drank with Tito’s vodka ($12).

The first dish to come out was the Tuna Tostada ($16). The tostada was crunchy, loaded with fresh tuna. It made for a great bite, salty, saucy, with a little heat underneath. I was pleased to see how much tuna they piled on. With seafood prices what they are, most Calgary restaurants aren’t this generous. This was everyone’s favourite dish of the night.

Betty’s second favourite dish was the Scallop Crudo ($22). The scallops were clean-tasting and not fishy. The pickled chilis added heat, and the rhubarb leche de tigre gave it a nice pop.

The Elote ($15), which is a shaved sheet of corn, came piping hot. Crunchy and cheesy, each nibble gave way to sweet, salty kernels.

For our second drink, Betty, Kournikova and I had the Patrón Margarita ($19), while Québécoise chose a Ma-W-Eh Hi-Ball ($12). The margarita was good too; citrusy, salty on the rim, potent yet smooth.

We ordered the 6 oz Flank Steak ($22) medium rare. It came out closer to well done, though the presentation was beautiful.

The Seared Cabbage ($17) fires off on all cylinders. The cabbage was hot and tender, yet still crispy. The whipped feta was decadent, the salsa macha smoky, and the candied peanut sweet. Nom, nom, nom! Milpa serves one of the best versions of charred cabbage in the city. I made a mental note to bring my friend Lululemon to Milpa. She’d appreciate the vegetarian dishes and the cocktails.

Another must-order is the Quesabirria Taco ($14). I dipped the taco into the steaming-hot consommé and bite through the crackly shell. I loved the blistered edges of the taco and the flavour bomb of the meat, salsa, and cheese. I had to suck back juices from the beef brisket. It was messy in the best possible way.

We were all happy with our experience. What I appreciated most was how hot each dish was and how fresh the raw appetizers were. It was also nice to enjoy twelve buck Pineapple Nom-Nom instead of the standard $20-and-up cocktails at most bars. Don’t get me wrong, I know alcohol is expensive, and restaurants need to make money to keep running. But whenever I see a well-priced drink, the inner student in me squeals with glee.

On the way out, we ran into Trevor Nguyen, the general manager, and André Bueno, the bar manager. We chatted with them briefly and thanked them for such a great meal. Congrats to Duncan and the team on the delicious revamp of the menu.

Want more like this? Check out my running list of Calgary’s best restaurants, date nights, and cheap eats.

17th Ave · Pizza

Una Pizza + Wine: Lunch special in Calgary

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I took Bex Oxo out for a belated lunch. Since we share a love of a good deal, we checked out Una Pizzeria‘s lunch special. For this post, let’s listen to Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush.

From Monday to Friday until 2PM, Una offers a $20 lunch special that includes a pop, tea or coffee. I went with a crispy Diet Coke, and Bex Oxo ordered an Americano.

You start with a small kale Caesar, and “small” is a lie. It’s bigger than a side, about half a regular order. I like the chew of the kale, and the dry crunchiness from the toasted garlic panko crumbs, grated cheese, and prosciutto. The boiled egg adds a richness, while the citrus in the dressing cuts through the heavy flavours of the meat and cheese. The kale salad tastes like a charcuterie board decided to become a salad.

You can pick between pasta or a pizza. For pizza, options are the Sweet & Spicy or 4-Maggi. We went Sweet & Spicy. It’s about half a regular pizza, the perfect personal size. The crust is light and crisp, though the center gets a bit wet from the sauce. Each slice holds some meaty goodness from the chorizo and prosciutto, sweet heat from habanero honey, and peppery arugula to freshen things up. I still boxed half because that salad was filling.

Mid-lunch, a pack of grade 4–5 kids rolled in and confidently ordered. They came in polite and organized. When offered by their server, they refused the kids’ menu as they found the selection limited. Instead, they shared pizzas, expertly split the bills and were making post-lunch plans. One offered up his house for entertainment. Another piped up and told everyone to relax and to enjoy a bit more time at Una. My mouth must have dropped open. What baby ballers, living their best lives. If I were their mother, I would be so proud.

Another thing I love about UNA is the service. It’s consistently excellent at every location. It honestly feels like they hire people for their ability to genuinely care. Every staff member gives off serious Care Bear Stare vibes.

Twenty bucks for a drink, a substantial salad, and a personal pizza or pasta is one of the best lunch deals in the city right now. Hitting the Sauce gives Una and their staff two phat thumbs up.

For more reviews like this, see my picks for best pizza in Calgary.

17th Ave · French · Restaurants · Seafood

Cassis Bistro Calgary: Avenue’s 2026 French Restaurant Runner-Up

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August 2026 update: Avenue Calgary named Cassis Bistro a runner-up in its 2026 Best French Restaurants readers’ choice category.

One of Beep Beep’s favourite spots in Calgary is Cassis Bistro. I’ve yet to meet anyone who isn’t smitten with this place. My own siblings were also instant fans. Let’s listen to Jardin d’Hiverv for this post.

This one’s a short post because we skipped appetizers and dessert. Beep Beep’s a light eater, and my own appetite’s still finding its way back post-surgery. But these mussels at Cassis deserve a special shoutout because they were so damn good.

I notice on the menu that Cassis now brings in mussels ($34) from Salt Spring Island. Best decision ever. Some of the mussels were so fat that they were the size of a large oyster. Every mussel was steamed perfectly, silky and tender, with an almost custardy center that melts on the tongue, right down to the very last shell. And then there’s that taste, fragrant of the sea and delicately sweet. The wine our server picked, Pouilly-Fume ($18) went so well with the mussels.

I noticed the duck fat fried frites are different now. Each one is longer and not as brittle as before, resulting in elegant, crispy stems with a still-soft center. When I dipped each frite into the rich, garlicky aioli, I nearly wept with joy. I held back my tears from a fraying thread of self-dignity.

We also shared an order of Beef Tartare au Couteau ($32), with more of those golden frites and a salad. According to my French friend, Fougui, no one does it better than Cassis. I love the pomp and ceremony of cracking that bright orange organic egg farm yolk and stirring the creaminess into the tartare.

The cool pieces of beef pop with the flavour of briny capers and mustard. The portion of beef tartare is generous. Our server selected a glass of Cotes Du Rhones ($14) that Beep Beep mentioned paired well with bright flavours in the tartare.

When we left the patio, I bumped into the owner, who, fun fact, happens to live a few blocks away from me. I told him the mussels were so good I would be back in a week. What I really wanted to say to him was never, ever retire. Calgary needs Cassis like a moule needs its frites.

17th Ave · Restaurants · Wine tasting

Missy This and That (No. 8 on Canada’s best 100 bars) & Lula Bar

September 13, 2024April 30, 2026 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

On Saturday morning, Instagram notified me that Juice Imports was turning eight and celebrating at Missy This That. I DMed Bottlenick and Chew Steel to see if they were up for some natural wine. For this post, let’s listen to “Birthday” by Selena Gomez.

The crowd is young! Or rather, I’m getting old. The clientele had a friendly vibe, just chilling out with a hipster glass of wine. Pretty ladies lounged around the bar, swigging back big glasses of natural wine with ease and digging into plates of green curry, the feature dish.

Getting an elusive wine from Juice Import’s rare portfolio felt so good. It’s been too long! We asked Erik questions, and while he spouted his poetic descriptions, the merriment in the room deafened his words. I picked a rosé that tasted light and juicy, like fresh strawberries. Bottlenick requested a particular type of white wine, probably something unnecessarily complex. Chew Steel stuck true to his habit – an Old Fashion cocktail.

This evening was a particularly hot day, and the table we sat in wasn’t close to the air con. I was sweating like a pig, trying vainly to prevent my upper lip from perspiring. I did have an appetite for one more glass of wine, this time, a red. Erik steered me to a light and fun glass.

After I wished Juice Imports a happy birthday, we left to cool off in an air-conditioned joint, Lulu Bar. Bottlenick wanted the Coal Roasted Cod ($39), and I selected the Sichuan Noodle Salad ($17) and the Steamed Lobster Dumplings ($20). Poor Chew Steel hasn’t ordered on his own in my presence for 14 years, so he didn’t request anything special.

The food at Lulu is very good. The cod was tender and lightly sauced with coconut cream and curry. I enjoyed the fried brioche bread, which retained its crispy exterior despite sitting in a pool of sauce. There was just enough fish and bread for each of us to get a good portion.

The noodle salad didn’t quite live up to my memory from 2020, but it was still quite tasty. It featured a generous amount of saucy noodles and Asian sesame dressing, but it was missing the fresh crunch, numbing sauce, and herby notes that I remembered.

My favourite bite of the night was the steamed lobster dumplings. The seafood flavour was prominent, and the dumpling itself offered a delightfully chewy, gelatinous texture.

Juice Imports, we’re counting on you to host more events! This city needs your energy! Together, united, we can create fun and unforgettable experiences for all Calgarians.

For more posts like this, check out my running list of best date night spots in Calgary.

17th Ave · Beer · Burgers · Wine tasting

Class Clown: Avenue’s Best Restaurants 2026

November 26, 2023April 30, 2026 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

On Sunday, I texted Divine Offering and asked if she wanted to go somewhere for dinner. We went back and forth and decided on Class Clown, a new burger joint that opened up in Mission. I heard the burgers were delicious; and they served natural wines from Juice Imports. For this post, let’s listen to It’s Tricky Run DMC.

While I walked over, I signed up for the online waitlist about twenty minutes before I scored a seat at the bar. The heady smell of the beef hit me when I was still a block away. I like the vibe of the place. The space is very 70s, with curtains fringed around the bar’s ceiling and amber lights set against the walls. Rap music, on the other hand, was right from the early 90s, played loud and proud. I spotted a small private room that looked cozy and secluded. I wonder how you score that table.

Divine Offering and I shared a bottle of Orenji Dormilona ($55). We would get a glass, but our bartender persuaded us it was a better deal to get the bottle. I found the wine juicy, fresh, and easy to drink. Divine Offering mentioned she had never tried orange wine before and would order this again.

I was craving a burger. I ordered the California Classic ($12.75) and paired it with the Super-Duper Fries ($8.50). I informed Divine Offering that Miss Foodie highly recommended the Szechuwannabe Hot Chicken ($12.5), which she picked.

I loved my burger. The beef was lacey and crisp, and the two patties were proportional to the generous amount of lettuce shards, tomatoes, and squishy bun. I liked the stickiness of the cheese and how flavourful every ingredient tasted. Each bite was airy, crunchy and overwhelmingly delicious. It was so good that we stopped talking and just enjoyed every bite.

The bowl of fries arrived utterly covered in melted cheese, house sauce, and Coney sauce, garnished with a sprinkle of Cheetos. The best component of the fries is the coney sauce, which is sweet, meaty and tangy. I liked the fries, but I would have preferred splitting another burger with Divine Offering, because the burger was that good.

Divine Offering said her chicken sandwich was one of her favourites in the city, and it was a tie between this one and the Nashville hot chicken sandwich from Hi-5 Burger at First Street Market. She mentioned the batter was crispy, and the chicken was juicy. She didn’t find it too spicy or heavy, even though it was dripping with sauce and oil.

When I came home, I told L he missed out. Class Clown makes one of the best burgers in the city, and we have to go back to try some of the other offerings. Hitting the Sauce gives Class Clown two phat thumbs up.

Want more like this? Check out my running list of Calgary’s best restaurants, date nights, and cheap eats.