Varbar Wine Bar – Fondue and champagne in Calgary

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Lululemon treated me to a belated birthday dinner at Varbar with fondue and champagne. The evening struck a chord between indulgence and charm, securing its place on my list of must-try spots in Calgary when you’re in the mood to celebrate. For this post, let’s listen to Mykonos by Fleet Foxes.

The restaurant is tiny, even smaller than Bar Gigi. Four tables for two, a bar with four stools, it feels like someone carved out an attic or closet and turned it into a tiny, sparkly playground for unapologetic lushes.

I have limited experience with champagne, mostly through Juice Imports tastings and time spent with good neighbours, Quebecoise, Sirski, and Kournikova. What I do know is this: I don’t care for the yeasty styles, which thankfully, weren’t on the menu at Varbar.

Lululemon ordered us a champagne flight ($45), fondue for two ($65), kimchi brussels sprouts ($7), and a glass of Pommery Brut Ŕose ($28). Our flight came first, and I followed her lead, tasting each glass and deciding which one we wanted to save for last.

The first one we tried, Bolinger Champagne Special Cuvee ($34 glass), reminded Lululemon of autumn and pear cider. I noticed the tang at the end and then no aftertaste. The bubbles were fine and gentle on the tongue.

The second champagne was Charles Mignon Réserve Rosé ($25 per glass). I enjoyed the clean, bright bubbles and the way they sparkled on the palate. Lululemon noted hints of rose and lychee. I thought it was absolutely delicious.

The Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve ($26 per glass) was equally impressive. Compared to the first two, it leaned softer and more toasty, with a gentle roundness that made it feel a little more unique.

Lululemon wanted us to try one more, so we landed on the Pommery Brut Rosé ($28). It ended up being her favourite, fresh, dry, with bright strawberry and raspberry notes, and the liveliest bubbles of the night.

Our fondue came with bread cubes, pickles, pickled white onions, baby potatoes, and green apples. Lululemon’s favourite were the in-house-made kimchi brussels sprouts, which were crunchy and tangy, and the apples.

I’ve had fondue three times before, once at a restaurant and twice at a friend’s house. Varbar’s gruyère and emmental fondue is the best I’ve had. The cheese itself was silky, nutty and savoury with a touch of sweetness.

I think one reason is that the cheese is served bubbling hot, which makes a big difference in its texture. It was stretchy and smooth, evenly coating each ingredient. I especially loved the acidity of the pickles cutting through the richness of the molten cheese, alongside the contrast between the cold, plain potatoes and the juicy green apples.

At the bottom of the pot, the cheese formed this golden, crispy crust that’s completely different from the silky fondue. It’s deeper, saltier, with a crunch that reminds me of the edges of a fancy grilled cheese sandwich.

Everything was so decadent, I wanted to weep with joy. Unfortunately, I was too dehydrated from treatment to shed a tear, so I did the only reasonable thing and kept eating.

Lululemon’s birthday is coming up, and I’ll need to come up with something spectacular. She’s a vegetarian, which makes this a tough act to follow. Best case, I take her back to VarBar and try to recreate the magic. Thank you, Lululemon, for such a thoughtful and memorable night.

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

Bars/Lounges · Chinatown · French · Restaurants · Seafood · Special Occasion · Steakhouse · Wine tasting

Francine Calgary: A Date Night That Actually Holds Up

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For my birthday, Chew Steel and I checked out Francine’s, a new French restaurant that opened up in Calgary’s Chinatown district. I’ve eaten at Francine’s before at a pop-up and a special event dinner, so I knew we were in for a treat. Let’s listen to Paradise by Sade for this post.

I made reservations at the last minute, so I was only able to secure bar seats at 5:15 p.m. As it was so early in the evening, we weren’t super hungry and just ordered two mains, the Steak Frites ($39.95) and the Smoky Trout and Crepes ($42.95). I wanted to try the trout dish because I read an Instagram post by the chef/owner, Garrett Martin, about his creative process for creating some of the dishes.

We started with a cocktail, a Francine’s martini ($17) for me and a Crepe Suzette Old-Fashioned ($16) for Chew Steel. The ice-cold gin-forward martini was aromatic and herby, marked with a distinct note of fennel. As we sipped, I noticed how quickly the room filled on a Tuesday evening. An older Asian couple sat beside us. It was cute to watch him, intently absorbed watching a YouTube video on his phone while his partner quietly ate, content in her own private little world.

The steak frites were among the best I’ve ever had. I don’t want to be dramatic, but the steak here is a must-eat-before-you-die type of experience. The bavette butcher’s steak was beautifully textured, sliced thin yet generously wide, with a charred, rugged exterior and a ruby-red interior that offered a juicy chew. The peppercorn glaze was rich and smooth, with a peppery bite that cut through the steak.

The fries were ridiculously delicious, golden and light, with an ultra-crunchy shell giving way to a whipped potatoey centre. Jordan, our bartender, nailed the wine pairings. For the steak, he paired it with a glass of Cabernet Franc (Domaine La Paleine, $10, 3oz).

The trout was soft and smoky, with a flavour profile reminiscent of salmon. We tore off a piece of crepe and wrapped it around a piece of trout, two types of pickled onion, cucumber, bright green spinach and chives. Each bite was decadent, drippy and messy.

The trout reminded me of Neptune’s famous johnny cakes, but the flavours were more refined. There wasn’t anything fishy or overly sweet. The combination of what I thought were unusual ingredients blew me away. The flavours were rounded and worked so well together that it made me think of head chef Koji Kobayashi’s fine-dining creations at Sukiyaki House. Jordan selected a bright white wine (Juste Le Blanc, Jurancon Sec $8.50, 3 oz) that cut through the smokiness and the decadent white sauce.

The mains are a generous portion, but I still wanted dessert. We shared the French Toast ($12.95) with honey-caramel, honey ice cream, and 15-month Comte cheese, paired with a glass of sherry (Moscatel Peromesa Jerez Valdespino, $13).

The dessert is worthy of Michelin recognition. The thick-cut bread was warm and eggy, layered with sweet, cold ice cream and topped with salty flakes of cheese. This dish, as well as the two before, had us licking our lips and scraping the plate for every last drop of caramel.

How good was the food? So damn fine, I sent Lovegastro, Quebecoise, Betty, Kournikova, Juliejuliehu and Divine Offering text messages raving about Francine’s and making future plans to revisit.

How indulgent was the food? I had a chemo follow-up appointment the very next day and had gained two pounds. I’m not sure whether that jump was due to fluid and inflammation or to the peppercorn glaze, but I choose to believe it was the sauce doing the heavy lifting.

The crowning glory is the value. For this level of cooking, the prices make Francine’s an easy choice any night of the week, not just for special occasions. Wines matched to each course are $6–10, and the steak frites is priced below lower than chains like The Keg and Cactus Club. Francine’s is one of the best restaurants in Calgary right now, and I’m looking forward to my next visit. Go, you won’t regret it!

Bars/Lounges · Curry · Indian · Mexican

La Hacienda & Himalayan Nepali Cuisine

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After Christmas and before my first chemo appointment, I wanted to go out for cocktails and a bite to eat. December was a month of indulgent platters from Peasant Cheese and memorable meals at Cassis Bistro, Sukiyaki House, and The Exchange Restaurant. January, by contrast, is about cooking nourishing foods, rest and gentle exercise. For this post, let’s listen to “Clean” by Taylor Swift.

Our first stop was La Hacienda, located in Calgary’s Marda Loop neighbourhood. This bar and its family of restaurants, such as Bar Rocca and DOPO, are difficult to find if you aren’t a regular or from the area. While locals may find this quirky characteristic charming, when the weather is -27, I was not amused. Lucky for us, our server/bartender, a man with large expressive eyes and floppy brown hair, offered us cocktails and conversation well worth the chilly adventure over.

We sat at a table between the bar and the washroom. The green print wallpaper, framed photos and lamps give a calming 1920’s vibe, like you’re sitting in your fancy aunt’s parlour, but it’s loaded with booze.

Our first round of drinks were nice, but it the second round, based on our server’s recommendation, was the winner. Tequila Margarita ($17, plus an upcharge for Don Fulano Blanco). I love a good margarita, but this one? Pure bliss. I didn’t see the bill, but it tasted like it was worth every nickel. More complex than a basic margarita but still dangerously easy to sip, with tropical vibes and a hint of grapefruit.

Our server ended the night with a taste from La Hacienda’s portfolio, a super damn delicious sake. It was light, with a softer, gentler flavour than most sakes I’ve tried. Next time I’m at Sukiyaki House, I’m going to show Judith this label and ask her thoughts on this sake.

We learned a lot from our server. He knew all about where these unique bottles were sourced and who the producers were. He also told us the food served at La Hacienda is created by the head chef at Penny Crown, formerly from DOPO. If you haven’t been to this cocktail bar, go! Hopefully, you will get the same experience we received.

Chew Steel and I were planning on dining at DOPO next, but our reservations got mixed up. Instead, we head back to our hood to the Himalayan. Ah, we could spot Himalyan’s clear signage a mile away, even with my poor eyesight. Despite arriving as the last customers of the night, our servers assured us to take our time.

I knew what we wanted: Machha Ko Jol ($26), Cha Chau Noodles with Chicken ($23), a side Daal ($6) and extra naan ($4). The Maccha curry is usually my favourite, but the pieces of fish seem more mushy and lack the tantalizing toothsome bite they had on previous visits.

The Cha Cha noodles were superb! The noodles were al dente and chewy, tangled up with crunchy cabbage and carrot strands. And the chicken was juicy and tender, nicely flavoured from what tasted like a high-temperature wok or grill. The chau chau noodles never disappoint, nor does the Himalyan Eggplant dish, which we usually order.

The next restaurant outing I have planned is Penny Crown, another restaurant part of the burgeoning empire of tiny restaurants. I waited 30 days before my birthday to book Penny Crown because it is so popular. Based on the buzz alone, I’m expecting something special —as in Bar Gigi, Sukiyaki House, Cassis level good. To be continued.

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

Bars/Lounges

Bar Rocca: Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2025

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On Chew Steel’s birthday, he couldn’t decide on where to go. I suggested we stay local and check out one of the many new eateries popping up in Calgary’s Marda Loop neighbourhood, like Bar Rocca. Let’s listen to ‘Take You Higher’ by Leisure.

I read in the Herald that the same person behind DOPO, Penny Crown, La Hacienda, and Pizza Face owns Bar Rocca. The space actually has personality, unlike the neighbourhood’s new orange and white community entrance sign. The tall white tiled walls, brick, and foliage have character that you don’t see much in Calgary. The wine bar looks like a cross between a greenhouse and a corridor you find in some European side street.

At 6:00 pm on a Monday, the bar was quiet so that we could pick our own seats. We sat close to the fireplace at the back of the restaurant. I could peep through the bar and saw an employee intensely whipping something in a big bowl.

To start, the birthday boy went for a Classic Old-Fashioned ($18), and I asked our server, Team Tony (according to the receipt) to pick a wine for me. He brought over a delightful glass of Tilenus Mengia ($19).

As the night went on, Team Tony kept nailing the pairings, and I couldn’t help thinking of myself at his age. My swill pairings were chosen for one reason, cheapness. Yellow Tail, Apothic, Painted Turtle and whatever fit my sad little budget.

The first dish we tried, the Prosciutto & Stracciatella ($38) is a winner. What I loved most was the temperature of all the ingredients. The chilled burrata tasted like cold whipped cream. The prosciutto was soft and cool on my tongue, hammy and not the fatty, rubbery stuff you get at Costco. The bread was warm and the balsamic drizzle was sweet and sticky like figs. Chew Steel said it reminded him of a deconstructed ham and cheese sandwich. The portion was generous. There’s a ton of meat on this plate, just like on my own bones.

Chew Steel wanted to try the Spicy Tuna Tartare ($28). Damn, she’s a spicy one! The texture reminded me of a negitoro maki, minced and creamy. The watercress and onion added a subtle crunch, like celery. L picked up some citrus notes. Team Tony paired it with a white wine our server described as “a little salty,” and together it was perfect.

Google’s Danni T recommended the Polpetti ($18), a duo of big meatballs, so I ordered it. The meatballs were soft and tender, and the red sauce was salty, tangy, and hearty. I ended up mopping up the leftover sauce with my toast.

The restaurant scene in Altadore is changing and for the better. Gone are the days when eating out in Marda Loop meant choosing from Merchants, Original Joe’s, Trop, or Globefish. Bar Rocca won me over, especially with its service, wine and food pairings.

Bars/Lounges · Restaurants · Seafood

The Exchange: Meeting Chef Carla Davila Carlin

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Beep Beep came to visit me! To celebrate, we booked a massage at Vital Performance Care, and then we dropped by for dinner at The Exchange in Eau Claire with Chew Steel. Let’s listen to ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ for this post.

We kicked things off with The First Bloom Gin & T ($15) — a fragrant goblet of organic gin, grapefruit tonic, ice, and rose petals. Chew Steel opted for the smoked old-fashioned, which was as smooth and well-crafted as it looked. But it was Liam, our server, who truly impressed with his wine recommendation: a bottle of Joseph Jewell Pinot Noir ($105) from the Russian River Valley. I don’t usually go for Pinots, but this one won me over — vibrant and full of flavour, like ripe strawberries steeped in warm tea.

Chew Steel’s Peruvian Pork Sandwich ($24) was sumptuous. When I took a bite, the richness of the crisp pork belly, enveloped in a warm, crusty bun, packed a flavourful bite. And that carrot soup hit the spot. Thick and hot, each sip was perfectly seasoned and so soul-satisfying. You could taste the love in the sandwich and soup! I would order this again.

I’ve ordered the Roasted Pork Copa ($33) twice now because it’s that good. The sweetly glazed pork is melt-in-your-mouth tender, even better when dipped into the tart cherry sauce. The stewed farro is silky with just the right bit of chew, and the generous portion could easily satisfy two. Beep Beep declared her wine paired nicely with the pork.

I enjoyed the Highwood Crossing Organic Grain Bowl ($22). The yuzu vinaigrette was bright and complemented the emerald green avocado, pea shoots, grilled chicken, and grains. All the ingredients tasted fresh.

I’ve also tried the Poached Icelandic Cod ($31), a customer favourite, and the portion is impressively generous. The sauce leans a bit too sweet and milky for my taste, but the Spiced Humbolt Squid ($18) more than makes up for it — thick-cut, tender, and coated in a crisp gluten-free cornmeal crumb. Personally, I’d love it even more in a light tempura batter, but then again, I’ve been living on McNuggets and Oreo McFlurries lately, so I know my palate might not be the gold standard.

We plan to take G-Mah, Bobbino, and my mother, Boss Lady, in the next month. I have my eye on some other dishes. Our Italian friend Fit told us the garlic and olive oil tagliatelle is stellar, which says a lot, knowing her food preferences. I’m also keen to try the burger and ribeye steak, both of which were recommended by other servers. In any case, Hitting the Sauce gives The Exchange two phat thumbs up.