Bar Gigi — Restaurant in Calgary

Bar Gigi is an intriguing mix of contradictions—equal parts quirky charm and pretentious flair. Housed in what used to be a Halibut House, the restaurant doesn’t shy away from its roots, leaving the old sign in place and simply layering a neon “Bar Gigi” over the top. It’s as if they’ve embraced the space’s history, rolling with the punches in a way that feels oddly intentional yet unpolished, much like the rest of the experience.

Inside, the vibe shifts to something intimate and unique. The open kitchen lets you watch the chefs work, adding a personal touch but perhaps leaving them with little privacy. The menu itself feels like a love letter to culinary creativity—sometimes hitting the mark, other times leaving you scratching your head.

The crudo scallops with yuzu and chive olive oil were underwhelming, setting a low bar for the night, and the fried bocconcini balls, while tasty, felt more like elevated mozzarella sticks. But just when expectations started to waver, the rib dish arrived. With perfectly charred bark and tender, flavorful meat that melted off the bone, it was one of the best ribs I’ve ever had.

The pasta, served with pulled duck, stole the show. The al dente texture paired with the chewiness of the duck created a harmony that everyone at the table loved—even those who typically avoid duck. It was one of those rare dishes that surprises and delights you with every bite.

On the cocktail side, Dani, the server, was an absolute star. Her off-menu creations elevated the entire experience. The reimagined passion fruit margarita, with mezcal substituted for tequila, was phenomenal—complex, smoky, and perfectly balanced. The Subaru Campari mezcal drink, dedicated to one of the staff members, might just be the best cocktail on the menu. And her White Negroni, also off-menu, was nothing short of outstanding. These drinks alone make a return visit worthwhile.

Desserts had their highs and lows. The chocolate ganache with sesame felt like a clash of flavors, but the lemon posset was an absolute crowd-pleaser—light, refreshing, and impossible not to devour.

Bar Gigi feels like a “beautiful disaster.” From the unassuming exterior to the mix of hits and misses on the menu, it’s a restaurant that doesn’t quite conform to expectations. But somehow, that’s what makes it memorable. It’s the kind of place you’d return to, armed with the knowledge of what to order—definitely the ribs, the duck pasta, and those fantastic cocktails.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but with a caveat: go in knowing it’s not perfect, and that’s part...

20/10, would eat again... and again and again and...

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by Dani - our fabulous server. She was energetic and excited to give us a walk through of the menu and favourite dishes. She was great with her recommendations on portions and how many dishes to get for our table.

I ordered a disgustingly dirty martini and she understood the assignment! Not only was it basically opaque, she gave me the bonus leftovers in a teeny-tini glass. So I had 1.5 drinks for the price of one! It was super cute and she even garnished the teeny-tini with more olives!

We ordered everything on their menu, except for the baby gem lettuce, tagliatelle and pork ribeye.

My favourite dish was the squash blossom - it was beautifully prepared, stuffed with potato and cheese, lightly battered and fried. These delicate vegetables require special preparation, and these chefs delivered on that need exceptionally.

I was also thrilled to see a Denver steak on the menu. I have only seen this cut at one other restaurant in Alberta, and it is severely under appreciated. Tender, melt-in-your-mouth cuts of steak laid upon a saucy base with 3x washed onions, mayo and horseradish mixed together. DEAD. DYING. DECEASED. I loved it and even saved the last 2 pieces to take home to our dog, which Dani packaged up with a cute note written on the box for her (and she LOVED. Her eyes rolled back into her head with each nibble).

Our our of town guests were blown away by the quality of the meal. The pacing was exceptional - we never felt rushed, and each dish appeared precisely as we needed another. Drinks were quickly replaced and filled generously, and the servers were dedicated to explaining each dish without interrupting our table's flow or conversations. Dani was also excited to give us some insider tips on the best ways to eat each dish, which we really appreciated.

I cannot say enough good things. I hope that Bar Gigi has a long and successful existence in Calgary, and I plan to dine there as often as I can to support them! You should too.

P.S. sign up for their newsletter, as it is a seven-cover restaurant and you will not be able to get in without booking several weeks in advance. So plan accordingly and bring...

Oh boy, where do we even start on this review of our last night dinner at @_bargigiyyc We had this new cool place on our list for a few months, but could not find a reservation, so yesterday we lucked out and had a table at 5:45. We started with cocktails - @alexcconac had the Doni Juice and I had the Mezcal Negroni. Let’s put it this way, I have never thought of Mezcal to add such deep richness to the Italian classic. It was an instant hit and we ended up having a few more. In the photos: The highlight of our dining was the spaghetti in chicken jus and duck confit. This clicked home on a different level. My mom used to make us hand cut noodles in a similar chicken stew jus and the taste was exactly the same. @sandro_chinea to think that a young Italian man in Canada could transport me 8000 kms away and 30 years back to the country side of Moldova is insane. This proves that taste is a universal language that we all speak intuitively. 15 out of 10 Our second highlight was the prawn toast. The guys managed to make a humble prawn taste like the most decadent buttery lobster roll. We can’t wait to have it again 💯 The Hokkaido scallop crudo with yuzu koshō was refreshing and light. The herb oil was not overpowering the scallop taste. Something I will reproduce. 15 out of 10 The raviolini sheet is one of their most popular dishes. I loved the spaghetti more, but these were equally great 10 out of 10 The dessert. Not pictured here is the lemon posset with passionfruit syrup. We had that one on the house and it was the big surprise. Holy mother of desserts. This chocolate ganache was absolutely insane. This is coming from someone who will prefer savoury over sweet. I forgot about the sunchokes with white anchovies. The taste of Italy right there in your mouth. Overall, the food experience was fantastic. We can’t rave enough about it. The service was very fast, with the two lovely ladies being very personable and professional. You could feel their enthusiasm and passion for the restaurant. They also comped a few drinks and a dessert for no reason rather than just being nice. It truly felt like eating at your Italian corner...