Calgary restaurant review: Alloy

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“It’s not fusion… it’s Alloy. Fusion is so last decade.” – Calgary Herald

Tucked in between industrial buildings, industrial sites, quiet lush greens, shy from the public’s glare – all but a few minutes’ drive from the populous Chinook Mall – lies a neat, cozy restaurant that brings fused cultures to life. As one walks into the restaurant, one would be surprised in its fanciful decorations, the hours of work put into the restaurant’s interior; an interior that brings about an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. The restaurant takes a Japanese feel to it: cherry blossoms blush against the pink vibrant, dynamic walls; pale bamboos take a bold stance against the wall as one explores deeper into the other wing of the restaurant.

Alloy restaurant interior. Excuse the attempt to “blur” the restaurant-goers’ facial features.

Atmosphere 9/10

White bamboos.

Though the restaurant was beautifully decorated, its spacious layout allowed for one major flaw: noise. During the lunch hour, men and women take a relaxing break from work, chattering away. In the way the tables were arranged, it allowed for little privacy, as everything was out in the open. Conversations swamped the atmosphere of the restaurant; the diners voice their thoughts louder and louder in competition as an attempt to be heard over the busy buzz.

Service 8.5/10

In the midst of action, the waiters and waitresses seem to be over-absorbed in trying to serve all the tables on time, to please all their customers at once. This brought about a feeling of neglect of the customer on their behalf, as not enough attention was placed upon any table in particular, and it seemed that their focus was nowhere – the service being somewhat slow at times. It was difficult to tell if this was just a result of short staffing. Overall, though, their service representatives tried to be very courteous when they were called upon.

Cleanliness 10/10

The restaurant and its people showed real effort in cleaning their surroundings – every surface was impeccably clean (save for the restaurant goers’ mess – which will be cleaned thoroughly shortly after their finishing of a dish.)

Food and Price 9/10

The food quality was both very appetizing in its appearance and its delicate flavouring, meeting its mid-high price range nicely (though the price was a little on the high end for the appetizers.) One little disappointment that brought this category down to a sturdy 9/10 is from one of their over-cooked dishes (over-fried fish from their fish-and-chips dish does not prove very entertaining to saw through with a knife!)

Appetizers

Panko prawns (yuzu aioli, mango & pasilla pepper salsa) $16. The juicy prawns enveloped in a crispy coating is nicely topped with smooth mayonnaise and strips of mango as a delicate balance of texture and flavour.
Lobster wonton soup (lobster & tomato broth) $9. Interesting combination of flavour, though it is not particularly suited to one’s taste. The lobster side of the dish was a bit hard to distinguish.
Mussels (sundried tomato & roasted fennel cream, caraway crackers) $17. The sweet-sour taste of the sun-dried tomatoes add a nice balance to the fresh and sweet mussels bathed in a rich, scrumptious sauce.

Entree

Fish & chips (panko crusted steel head trout, yuzu mayo, yam fries) $19. Here comes the over-crispy trout with its impenetrable shell! The mayonnaise makes up for the scratchy texture (though not its hardness.) Yam fries add a very nice shine to the dish with its naturally sweet flavour, alongside with the fresh greens.
Ahi tuna sandwich (sichuan spiced, pickled vegetables, cilantro, wasabi mayo) $18. The out-of-focus fluffiness of the pita bread adds another complementary dimension to the clean taste of the half-cooked ahi tuna. Choice of side dish (yam fries or mixed greens.)

Dessert…or not

Well, unfortunately, the delicious dishes left little to no room for the desserts. Maybe next time!

Overall Rating: 9/10

Overall, Alloy provided a very vibrant and enjoyable luncheon on a gloomy, cloudy Friday in Calgary!