Loved the food here. We went with a group (ladies night) and had an incredible veal dish. The atmosphere was great and good music. Service was top notch. I would really recommend this place although prices are little on the high side. read more

Model Milk... so many great things, I don't know where to start! The constantly updated menu always gives you a reason to go back. The quality of ingredients and the unique variety of dishes offered will have you leaving completely satisfied. The service is always catered to the customers needs. The ambience is darling! I highly suggest this place! read more

My wife and I stopped in Model Milk for an early Flames pre-game dinner. We started with the cheese donuts and Fricassee of Calamari. Each of these dishes were incredible and were unlike anything I had ever eaten before. We followed that up with the fried chicken for two, which was more like fried chicken for three. It came with a wedge salad to help balance the chicken with some cool veggies. I highly recommend the fried chicken, and would definitely order it again. We were too full to try any dessert this time around. Hopefully next time I will be able to indulge. read more

Model Milk - Fried Chicken!!! It was amazing and I ate too much. - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

I have to give this place 5 stars just for service! The food was great. Awesome concept. Cool and fun design inside. However, they went above and beyond to accomodate a food allergy for me. I would have been happy to settle for something less on the menu (I've done it often elsewhere). I got my food and was sooo excited to get such fabulous service. read more

Pricy but quality was good. Service good. Very nice menu choices but not really any vegetarian options. No vegan options. Hand crafted non alcoholic specialty drinks are fabulous. A unique and memorable dining experience. read more

I came expecting to love love love this place. I didn't. *sad face* As one of enroute's top picks for Canada 2012, my expectations for this place were very high. Sometimes reputations exceed experiences. We came midweek and had no trouble getting a table without a reservation (they do take reservations apparently, despite their website indication). We stuck to the small plates menu to maximize our experience: FRICASSEE OF CALAMARI Guanciale, Edamame, Pimenton. Impression: interesting Ingredients, looked like an Italian pasta dish and didn't impress taste wise, not bad, but nothing to go out of your way for. FOIE GRAS PARFAIT Blackberry Coulis, Crostini. This was good. Yes I'd order it again. OCTOPUS Bone Marrow Vinaigrette, Parsley Coulis. This was disappointing. Overly chewy, and while this is often the case with octopus, I have had it tender (although for that preparation was pickled, and maybe that is what is necessary for tender octopus). I wanted to like this more. COUNTRY FRIED SWEETBREADS Hot Sauce, Roasted Buttermilk Emulsion, Celery Salad. This was good, nice texture and the flavors were like Frank's hot sauce tamed with buttermilk, a sophisticated hot wing. We also had spring rolls which are not on the website menu. The server highly recommended these, and I'm glad we included them in our meal. The wine selection was reasonably good, and the sommelier was available for questions or suggestions. It is worth a second trip before making a final rating, but there are so many places to try and not enough opportunities. read more

Went here in the summer to try something new. They were able to cater to Vegan which is always a great surprise. Interesting drink menu, decor was fine. Wait staff seemed nervous either because management is breathing down their necks or they were new. All in all good. read more

Fantastic menu for the eater looking for great local ingredients prepared with creative and inventive flair. Example: "Rabbit and donuts appetizer." Think rabbit charcuterie with donut holes, that have a light tempura-like crisp, balanced out with subtle mustard seed (no vinegar-y/spicy bite) and a light sauce to pull it all together. Apps are great. Drinks are fantastic! Talk to Clint the bartender. Burger is fantastic! One of the only places in Calgary you can order to temp! (No well done burgers here! Unless that's you're cup of tea- but I'm guessing most of you gasped at the thought.) Enjoy! read more

Apple Pie and Ice Cream Sandwhich were the winners. Generous portions and amazing flavours. The rubbery Calamari was the loser. read more

With a group of co workers we walked up to Model Milk having read good reviews. I was not disappointed. The space and atmosphere was modern upbeat and fun. I have to rave about our appetizers. I am not a Peas type person but the Summer Peas and Fava Beans was fresh and delicious with a hint of mint and green goddess dressing. Be sure to try the duck hearts. Wine Entrees and dessert just fantastic! I highly recommend. read more

This was a great meal! To start I had the duck hearts and they were cooked perfectly. Lightly breaded and very tender. I would have been happy eating just the duck hearts all night. For my main I had the smoked brisket. It was exceptional! Just the right amount of smoke so it wasn't over powering but you knew it was there. It was so tender I hardly needed my knife. Highly recommend. The cocktails were great as well. If you're a fan of Mezcal get the Blue Demon jr jr. Go to Model Milk if you want a great dinner in a great atmosphere! read more

Prices are crazy crazy but totally worth it. Did you know Leo DiCaprio lived here while filming both the Revenant and Inception. Its his favourite Calgary restaurant and he has been to a few good restaurants !!!! So he should know !!! read more

Went here for a birthday dinner last month. Menu seemed exciting but the results were disappointing . Nothing wowed us for the price we paid. I do love their apple pie! Definitely recommend that. There is cheddar rolled into the crust so it's a savoury sweet concoction I find myself craving! Skip dinner - go for dessert! read more

The best meal I've had in the city. Intricate, interesting flavours and combinations. Probably one of 3 or so restaurants that truly push the envelop and maintain a creative edge. The price point is no joke though. So go once you have paid all your bills. read more

Had sunday supper here this weekend- restaurant is noisy and tables are close as others have mentioned. portions size decent. standouts include- bresaola, spinach, and goat curd. The bresaola is almost like a cross between pastrami and roast beef. Haven't seen this kind of spinach before, but the flavor was a little different in a good way. I also liked how firm the stalks and leaves were. Overall, the this was a good combo with the meat and goat cheese the zucchini flower friti with shishito aioli was also very good. The crunchy textures and delicate flavor of the squash and whatever leaves they fried with it were very good. The aioli provided a nice spicy contrast to the delicate fried flavors of the components. read more

Model Milk is something different that Calgary offers and I have to say I'm pretty impressed. The restaurant used to be a milk factory so decor is extremely eclectic. I love the exposed stone, and the hanging candles really add a nice touch. The food was delicious although I would say the portions were a little small. The dessert though, OMG. The apple pie with cheese baked in the crust really just made me drool. This pie is to die for, you must order it! There are tons of great wines and aperitifs for after your meal. The casual atmosphere creates a really trendy place and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! Model Milk is great, I'm coming back soon! read more

See all

Model Milk is a relatively new restaurant (est. 2011) on 17th Ave. The space itself is amazing. Modern, inviting with a lot of variety. It has a small patio with a little bar downstairs. Then going up 3 stairs you enter a huge open area, tastefully decorated. You can go up a full flight of stairs to the upstairs dining area, which is overlooking the big open space. There is some bar-like seating and a bunch of tables. Very inviting and fun. Reminds me of some of the hipster restaurants I've been to in New York. One problem was that it was very noisy. We were at a small table with 5 people, 1 on the end, and it was hard to hear the people sitting across the table from you. The beer list is excellent with a good selection of nice microbrews including a few I had never heard of from Ontario. The menu is small, varied, and distinct with a number of appealing options. The 5 people in my party all ordered something different, independently and there are only maybe 7 large dishes on the menu. They were offering a nightly special of fish tacos, where they bring a whole sea bass to your table and as many tortillas as you want. It is accompanied by 5 delicious sauces like a sriracha-based sauce, a jalapeno vinaigrette, a pickled cucumber, an avocado "mousse" (which seemed to be the same as guacamole to me), and a freshly made tomato salsa. This dish was fantastic, all 5 were delicious. It was meant to be dinner for two, but we ordered it as an appetizer for the whole table of 5, and there was enough fish for us to have about 3 small tacos each. So often with fish tacos the fish itself isn't great, but when they cook you a delicious sea bass (gosh!) and bring it your table, you know it's good. My wife ordered the macaroni with braised lamb. It wasn't sitting well with her and was quite heavy and hard to eat. I ordered the rainbow trout which was very delicious, with butter lettuce and blue cheese citrus sauce. I really enjoyed mine, but shouldn't have ordered more fish after going for the fish tacos. Overall, I was fairly impressed but my wife wasn't. The space and distinct menu was compelling enough that we will definitely give it another chance. read more

The food in incredible! The service is amazing, the place is large but quite intimate, it's simply all around incredible! I loved every second. I'll definitely be making my way out again! :'D read more

Its all about the $$, party of 3 - we had a reservation at 6 pm - we sat until around 8 pm eating and drinking.. at the end we were having coffee and asked for the check which was close to 400 bucks - we paid the bill and than decided we would like to continue with more coffee - the waiters tells us there is another reservation on this table... pathetic.. where is the hospitality - after the confused look on our face he goes to manager and comes back and says its okay we could sit and have 1 more cup of coffee - finally we drink the 2nd cup and are about to leave - the waiter gives me a $ 7 check for the coffee - I was like are you kidding me.. This restaurant may have good food but its all about the $$$ - I wont be going here again.. read more

HEEEELLLLLO Delicious. A last minute friend date night meant that I got to experience a restaurant I've been dying to go to (forever). I know I got off on the late bus. The food was DELICIOUS, my friend had the duck and I had the Arctic char. So good. The flavours are so well balanced. And though they did take some time (it was a Thursday prior to a long weekend - they were busy), the service was REALLY great. Not only that, but I loved their small bites - the cheesy puff things, OMG. And the grown up tater-tots, I'll be back just for those. Along with great food, amazing service, I also appreciate really good cocktails. My favourite part was that they had at least 5-6 different gin based drinks! We had a couple, delicious. And don't skip out on desert. A place that's super busy, but takes a walk-in, delivers excellent service and food and drinks to go back for deserves 5 stars. read more

I am so glad I was able to come here with a group of friends before I left Calgary. The trick is to come before the dinner rush (before 6) and to come with a smaller group. The atmosphere was great. We were seated upstairs, so we had a bird's eye view of the open kitchen and the tables downstairs. It's loud and busy, but not in an obtrusive or displeasing way. I loved everything we ordered for appetizers - the foie gras parfait, calamari and the chantrelle mushrooms. The mushrooms were absolutely delicious, and what an absolute shame that they don't serve it anymore. (To be honest, I would come back just for that.) I also had a cocktail; I forget now which, but that was really good too. For our dinner, we (a group of four) had two orders of the chicken and waffles, because it said on the menu "For 2." It was way too much. There are about six pieces of chicken per order, and since they're free-range, the pieces were humongous. Deliciously humongous, but after having had appetizers already, it was way too much. I wasn't a big fan of the waffles or the syrup and gravy, but the chicken, fried on buttermilk batter, was great. If only we had the sense to share one order between four of us. Then it wouldn't have felt like such an ordeal finishing it. The service was really good; our waiter was very patient with us, especially since a fifth person came an hour late and left an hour early. Overall, a lovely dining experience I would not mind repeating in the future. There is definitely credence in Model Milk's reputation in the restaurant circuit nationwide. read more

Wow, I'm glad I finally tried this restaurant. I've heard raving reviews from friends and Yelpers, but I wasn't even close to grasping how wicked this place was going to be. The moment I walked in, I was taken aback. This has to be the coolest interior designed restaurant I've seen in Calgary. Super hip. Very modern. Looks like a high-end dining restaurant, but without the snobby feel. The food is amazing. I had their Bison Brisket, and it was tasty. The portion is just right, which some people may not like for the price. But I get the impression the owner(s) and staff know they're serving quality food for the right price. They have a wicked selection of cocktails and beer. I'm coming back here for sure. read more

I absolutely love the drink menu at this place! Such unique flavour combinations! We really enjoyed the enthusiasm of the staff, the server who brought our brisket was as excited about the meat as we were! read more

See all

Food portions are small. They play the music too damn loud (like can't have a conversation loud). We ordered 3 plates. 2 small and one main. The 2 small were delicious, but the main dish (rabbit) was difficult to choke down. It was cold and gross and we waited 30 minutes for it. I really wanted the apple pie, but after the rabbit and was told it takes 10 minutes for the apple pie to cook I asked for the check. Tip: just order some small plates and apple pie the minute you walk in cause the servers take too long to get your order in. read more

I'm not from Calgary and my chef/foodie friend has been recommending Model Milk to me every single time I go visit Calgary. I finally went and I cannot wait to go again! We took the immediate and extended family out for a celebratory dinner on a Saturday evening. The place was packed and while I didn't find it overly loud, my parent's sure did. They also found it a little dark (dad had the candle up against the menu to read, lol- oh boy!) We started with the calamari which isn't anything like your typical calamari - it isn't deep fried and has edamame and croutons in it too! I had the beer cheese and donuts entree (their vegetarian entree) and it was freaking amazing. I highly recommend. The table beside us ordered the Brisket and it looked incredible - that'll be the next thing I order when my guy and I come down (because I am MAKING him take me so he can experience this place) There was a large drink menu and the drinks looked super tasty! Though I had already been drinking wine beforehand so I just continued with that. Their apple pie is incredible - seriously, even if you don't have room for dessert - get it, your taste buds will thank you. Our server was fantastic- super knowledgeable and seemed to be having a ton of fun with our table. I cannot wait to come back for my next dinner! read more

Their unique apple pie is a must try!!! Amazing white cheddar crumble with white chocolate filling....absolutely the best pie I've ever had in my life! Moist sticky inside and crunchy crust outside, rich flavors without being overly sweet. Model milk is a special place to me, had my 2 year anniversary and two last dinners here, we came back here just for this dessert =) read more

Model Milk - The best apple pie!!! Amazing white cheddar crumble with white chocolate filling....I would go back to Calgary just for this! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Great metro vibe. Trendy but not pretentious. Great chef and staff. Inventive menu using local ingredients. Enjoyed the in house drinks. Decent beer and wine list. Desserts are made in house. Consider a reservation for busy times. Calamari appie is not ur batter covered variety. Worth a try with its tasty marinade read more

This restaurent offers an interesting dining experience formal and informal at the same time. The place is spacious yet cozy. The movable tables are fun and convenient. The food is pretty tasty, especially the appetizers, and very specifically, the calamari dish is my favorite. It is suitable for romantics dates as well as group dinners. It has the open kitchen concept, which is pretty cool. The only negatives are that it does not take any reservations and the main dishes are so-so (the taste is good, but not too much variety). Appies are great, so I would get a few and share - tapas style. read more

Model Milk is perfect for pre or post dinner drinks but that's pretty much it. I've had dinner there several times and the food is just alright. Based on the hype, décor and presentation, one would expect the food to be mind blowing. Not so much. The portions are small for the price as well. The stars are for friendly and attentive staff (also easy on the eyes), excellent cocktails and very cool décor. read more

Well made drinks, non standard fare, good service and parking is available. Sounds great. On the other hand it is fairly pricy and not not sure that it does anything really different. The best thing is that 17th Ave is vibrant and offers a lot of competition, especially if you are looking for more budget conscious choices. read more

Wow - really salty! I was really looking forward to it, but wasn't happy. I will give it another try, just to make sure it wasn't an off night. read more

I like! Model Milk creates a unique twist on traditional dishes. I ordered the Wagyu Short Rib and it was flavorful in all the right ways. Mind you, the cut of beef was very marbled, so for those of you who don't like a fatty meat, then you probably won't enjoy this dish. My friend ordered the Oyster Mushroom vegetarian dish, and it was quite tasty too. The apple juice sage soda is refreshingly sweet. The service here is excellent, and that's why I give Model Milk a 5 star review. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. read more

A recent Sunday dinner left me wanting a bit more from this well praised location. The tasty egg salad was a promising start but the over salted beet presentation left a taste in my mouth long after the bland short ribs were finished. If the star of the meal, the cod fish ball, hadn't arrived with the perfectly matched lingonberry sauce, the meal would have been less memorable. An uninspired rice pudding finished the meal without any treat from its overly petite jelly jar presentation. Super service and someone who knows what they are doing with the wine list saved the rating! Kudos for those stars! I hoped the $35. sampling dinner would inspire a return to explore the real menu further, but I think not. read more

This is the type of place i have a hard time finding something on the menu that i actually want. Great dessert and service. I am just not a fan of whats on the menu. read more

Before flying out for a long trip out of country, I knew I had to have my last supper in Calgary here at Model Milk. I went for their Sunday Supper ($40.00), which I had never tried before. The dining experience was just amazing - our server was very accommodating with my allergies and even gave my friend and I an extra plate of dessert! What a great atmosphere, very relaxed and casual, but also great place to celebrate. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Last weekend I enjoyed my first meal at Model Milk. It was DELICIOUS. The service was great, the atmosphere was inviting and decor was quaint. Putting that all aside the Sunday Dinner was an innovative way of enjoying a meal. I would gladly visit the restaurant again, I look forward to it! read more

Model Milk - At Model Milk - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Best brisket in the city! This place has a wicked atmosphere and is really cozy and warm.

First off let me say the chef is extremely talented. Menu items feature a lot of comfort food which have been elevated to a five star level. While everything on the menu is worth ordering, I highly recommend shrimp and grits, buffalo wing sweetbreads, blood sausage with gnocchi. Any of the family style (for 2) platters will be guaranteed hits. Wait staff is very knowledgeable of both the food and beverage offerings. Wine list has a lot of underrated gems and a lot of thought was put into the cocktail offerings. Definitely one of the top three restaurants in Calgary. read more

Had 2 drinks and 4 "small plates" between two. Although it was not a lot of food found that we were stuffed because of how rich the food was (in a good way). Cool vibe. Great service. They are GREAT at cooking food to the perfect ..texture. The calamari (not fried) is a must try! read more

My favorite dinner in Calgary so far, this place has everything. Although if I was 10 years older I'd feel very out of place, fortunately I'm not quite ancient enough that I can't roll with the young hipsters still .... it has massive high ceilings and also sitting up top so you can look down on the other diners beneath, I just love the rod iron railings and reclaimed look of the place, evidently it's a renovated bread factory. The original type of table seating is really fascinating, there's a massive I-beam running along the middle of the floor and the tables wooden table tops are planted on top but are movable so you can either add to them and make one massive long family style table or separate them into smaller families or whatever. The food was absolutely spectacular, these photos do not do it justice. Ice cream sandwich was by far the best ice cream sandwich ever - it was delicious creamy homemade vanilla ice cream with lots of vanilla seeds visible smashed between the two best chocolate chip cookies using milk chocolate I've ever had. I tried to share mine with my kids but then I rethought about it and ate the whole thing myself. An additional amazing retro touch is they literally have a DJ up top spinning vinyl. We had a long chat because I absolutely love his taste in music. Movie stars come here all the time and I could see why I just love it. Thanks again, We are moving here soon so I can't wait to come back, so happy for your success. Wish you had places like this in Toronto. PS did you know that all the movie stars like Leo DeCaprio and Christian Bale while filming Revenant ate here regularly ? Also all the cast from Fargo and even my favourite, Morgan Freeman. Those guys all have great taste :) PS If you are looking for a restaurant locally; Whatever you do, NEVER go to the Calgary restaurant The Guild. The insane manager literally called the police and tried to put me "under citizens arrest" for accidentally knocking over a glass of wine- see my full review here https://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-guild-calgary read more