Saint Germain

Decided to try finally try Saint Germain last Saturday and we had nothing but a great time! We went to celebrate my husband's b'day, but we were suggested to go with another couple who had just eaten there earlier last week for a wine society dinner. They said the food was so good for the wine dinner that we should certainly all go back again.

Our table for 4 was sat at 8:30 and the place was...+READ Decided to try finally try Saint Germain last Saturday and we had nothing but a great time! We went to celebrate my husband's b'day, but we were suggested to go with another couple who had just eaten there earlier last week for a wine society dinner. They said the food was so good for the wine dinner that we should certainly all go back again.

Our table for 4 was sat at 8:30 and the place was completely packed. If I have any complaint is that it was so busy and loud there.

Our server, a girl, was very efficient with the wines we brought in, but I can see how service can get a little slow as her and another server were opening wine for a larger group of 20+ that must have brought in about 24 bottles of wine.

The food was exactly what we were looking for - french bistro. Pretty simple stuff but done really well. My husband, who was celebrating his b'day, had the duck confit and remarked that it was as good as Balthazar in NY. I had the Plat du Jour of braised Alberta lamb shank - it was amazingly tender and full of braising flavor. Our friends both had the beef bourguignon as this was the main course they had had with the wine dinner and had been craving it all week. They remarked it was even better that the previous time. That must happen when over 100 of the same meal is being served rather than just two.

Through dinner our friends said that during the wine dinner the negociant from Bordeaux stood up and remarked that his wines had never been matched more perfectly than that night - quite the compliment I suppose.

The Chefs and the owner were introduced and from what our friends could make out was that the ex-chef from Teatro (Dominique) was now the executive or consulting executive chef at Saint Germain. The owner (Ray or Jay or something like that) was introduced as well.

Anyway, our dinner was superb. And when I say that, it goes for the food, service, ambience, etc... The energy in the restaurant was buzzing. Loud though!!!

Will certainly go back.

Oh yeah, the server did mention that she thought that the no corkage deal that they were offering was going to be stopped soon - except for Sundays.-COLLAPSE / REPLY (12 Replies) (by melanie62, updated October 27, 2009)

We had been to Saint Germain about 2 yrs ago and found the food quite good although the service was uneventful.

We decided to try them again last night for the Localicious menu - the fixed prix 3 course menu. 4 of us went with the fixed menu, two ordered a la carte, and we also ordered a bottle of wine and 4 appetizers, 5 additional drinks for the table.

The food was very average... nothing...+READ We had been to Saint Germain about 2 yrs ago and found the food quite good although the service was uneventful.

We decided to try them again last night for the Localicious menu - the fixed prix 3 course menu. 4 of us went with the fixed menu, two ordered a la carte, and we also ordered a bottle of wine and 4 appetizers, 5 additional drinks for the table.

The food was very average... nothing to rave about. I'd been to Petite the week before and Petite's food was definitely superior. The service at Saint Germain was horrible! Our server wouldn't have even qualified average rating at the standard Joeys or Moxie's much less at a restaurant like Saint Germain. She didn't check on us regularly, we had to ask another server to get our bill, we had to flag her down to ask for after dinner coffees and dessert.

It was so poor that we watched the couple at the table next to us come in with a bottle of wine, sit down, receive NO service for about 15 mins, and walk out. Then the next couple came in. Had one drink, no service and also walked out. The third couple sat down, received water and by the time we had left they also received no additional service. We paid our bill walked out and 5 minutes later walked by the window of Saint Germain to find that third couple had also walked out!

We will not be returning to Saint Germain. There are better options in Calgary: Petite, Divino's, Catch, Alloy...-COLLAPSE / REPLY (12 Replies) (by foodkarma, updated October 18, 2009)