She says – Regardless of what Zaidi says, I found 80th & Ivy first.
I was watching the construction of what was shaping up to be a very chic and trendy restaurant mere blocks from the boy’s house for sometime (and pointing it out everytime we drove by) and getting quite excited. Just because he actually ate there first, doesn’t mean he gets the credit.
We finally got to try 80th & Ivy a couple Fridays ago before going to see the new Batman movie (because man cannot live on popcorn alone). The inside of the restaurant is every bit as funky as I thought it would be, but we decided to eat on the patio and people watch instead. The views inside are much nicer – that is, unless you enjoy sight of people lined up outside the neighbouring Liquor Depot.
The service was very friendly and personable. The waitresses shake your hand when they introduce themselves, which is a bit startling at first (“Oh hi, we’re Alis?”) but a really nice touch when you think about it!
Now on to the good stuff (my brain’s a little fried this week, so it’s in point form).
Cockatils – just look how fun those are. Both were very sweet, girly, and unique. Mine had egg whites??
You guessed right, boy Ali’s is the pink one
Duck two ways – so good! I think I prefered the duck balls, but the spring rolls were equally tasty. It’s hard to go wrong with fried things.
Steak bites – always delicious. The steak was tender and the fancy asian dipping sauce they came with was drink-out-of-the-little-cup good.
Duck, cow. Cow, duck.
Halibut – admittedly, a little disappointing. The sauce and veggies were tasty (mmm asparagus), but the fish was a touch dry. I ate most of this course myself, because when it came, Zaidi was frantically trying to find a way to get our Dark Knight Rises tickets out of an email on his broken phone. By the time his sister came to the rescue with a way to get the tickets, I think he’d lost his appetite.
Insert “just for the halibut” joke here
He said – So after a friend and I were walking along 17th and discovered 80th and Ivy without any help from anyone (including any other writers of this blog), and it had all the makings for a possible keeper, I thought what better place to try for our next entry. The patio is placed right on 17th Avenue, which is a perfect place for people watching, and once the waitress came up and introduced herself (with a handshake to go with it) I knew we were at a contender. The food on both occasions was really tasty excluding the halibut which was a bit dry. But what makes 80th and Ivy stick out is the over the top positive and friendly service, the chic interior, and the “it” atmosphere. It feels like the place you have to be at. On top of that the cocktails are some of the most unique and tasty I have tried, and they are all worth a sip. If you get a chance, I recommend sitting at the bar and chatting with the knowledgeable bartender staff, but be warned that you will need a cab ride home!
Ranking:
Location: 5 out of 5 “I Feels” (we actually walked the walking distance this time… booyah)
Service: 4.5 out of 5 “Yay Hurrays” (Not quite Cibo amazing, but still pretty top notch. Unless you’re a handshake-hating germaphobe)
Atmosphere: 4.5 out of 5 “Purple Shirts” ( the inside is very cool! And they have a white couch… in a wine bar!)
Nicheness: 4 out of 5 “Green Tights” (Though it gets pretty busy, it’s small enough to still have privacy, and isn’t too popular yet.)
Price: 3 out of 5 “Overstuffed Wallets” (On the expensive side, but still better than most “fancy” places in downtown)
Taste: 4 out of 5 “Jeepers” (Only the halibut wasn’t top notch so far, otherwise the food is different and tasty. Also those cocktails are worth a visit alone).
Overall: 25/30. One of the best new restaurants in Cowtown! And the top ranked entry so far. So glad that I, girl Ali, found it :)
