Leafy Grill — Restaurant in Calgary

Welcome to this beauty addition to YYC’s SE food scene! Leafy Grill is tucked away in an unassuming strip mall in Bonavista Downs and has been here for just over a month now. Don’t let the location fool you, because despite being the only restaurant in the area it is TOP notch and worth the drive no matter where in the city you reside.

Consisting of less than 10 tables that fill up quickly (even on Sunday at lunch) you are greeted by gracious and friendly staff welcoming you into their flavorful world. We were given a complimentary starter of mixed veg pakoras while we perused the menu (they were excellent and a good indication of what was to follow.) Crispy outside, soft inside and complimented with 2 kinds of chutney.

For our mains we had saffron rice and bowls consisting of spinach and paneer, butter chicken, lamb vindaloo and coconut shrimp curry. The beauty of Leafy Grill’s dishes is that none of them had thin sauces but also weren’t too heavy either. Wonderfully balanced textures while showcasing the complex spice profiles good Indian food is known for. While all were outstanding, the butter chicken is usually what I judge most places on because it’s the most commonly ordered. It’s also how I compare restaurants. There’s nothing worse than overcooked dry chicken, thin sauce and when the flavor leans too hard into the tomatoey side of things. This wasn’t any of those things and we should’ve ordered two. 😂 Each of the protein dishes were expertly cooked and tender. Most places overcook the shrimp but not here. We also had both butter and garlic naan breads and they had nice thin and light profiles , a light baste of butter and those blistered bubbles I love so much that add texture AND flavor. Delicious on their own, but also the perfect means to mop up all of the incredible sauces in our mains.

Lastly we finished off with some gulab jamun that none of us needed but we had anyway. These were a surprise. Many times they’re very dense and some places don’t even bother to warm them up and just serve them at room temperature or cold. Leafy Grill’s were neither. They were soft, warm and sweet. A great way to finish off after all the savory goodness we’d just enjoyed.

Now for the REAL shocker. 6 of us ate for only $109 and that number INCLUDED a 20% tip. We even brought home FOUR containers of leftovers and a lot of bread! Yeah. Value anyone? I’d say so. My ONLY complaint is that they don’t seem to be licensed but don’t let that stop you from darkening Leafy Grill’s doorway. So happy to have a high quality delicious Indian option in my area and the fact it’s also an incredible value too is going to make this place a regular spot for hopefully many years to come. Cross posted to YYC Foodies page on Facebook and Instagram...

We were at this restaurant for dinner last night and I must say that it was an awsome experience altogether. Being from India I can very well relate flavours to authentic Indian cuisine and this was the restaurant which serves the best Indian food comparing the experience that we have had at other outlets in the last 2 years. To start with we were offered a complimentary snack, mixed veg pakoda which we ended up ordering too ( seems to be a nice strategy as they are pretty much sure to get an order too due to the taste). The food that followed was the best that I have tasted in whole calgary till date. The lamb biriyani was too good and the curries that we had especially the Chicken Bhuna, prawn vindaloo and the breads - Butter naan, aloo naan were really awsome too. We had to wait a bit to be at the tables even though we had our reservation in place but all that patience did result in having a great dining experience at this restaurant. The two girls who were providing the service were exceptional too as they ensured that we are comfortable and were really welcoming too. The only con that I had observed is with regards to the space available as the restaurant is pretty much small in terms of area and it is high time that you guys have to move to a big place or atleast open up another branch as I am sure that you are going to be really successful in the coming years.

A few tips for those planning to visit.

The food quantity is really good for the price and you be prepared asking for containers to take home in case you misjudge while ordering

*please do check with them before you start your trip to the restaurant even if you have a reservation as there might be a delay in getting your table but this is not a con at all as in the end you will be happy with the experience for sure. I just metioned it so that you can better make use of the time spent.

Just like other reviews the chicken buna is superb and the lamb biriyani we loved too. We ordered almost 10 dishes and almost all of them were truly awsome when it comes to flavour/taste.

We will return to the place for sure for such great food in the future too!! Thank you for the food and the...

The restaurant appears to have undergone minimal, if any, renovations since its last incarnation. The staff, while polite, had limited proficiency in English. I observed a family arriving after me; one member had celiac disease and needed gluten-free options. I suspect the server was unfamiliar with this dietary requirement, raising concerns about the customer's well-being. The hostess, who had only been on the job for 15 minutes, also struggled with English and lacked knowledge of the menu. However, she maintained a courteous demeanor.

Their menu primarily featured individual dishes, with a single combo option priced around $50. This combo included one appetizer, two main courses, rice, naan, and a dessert.

I opted for the tandoori chicken tikka as the appetizer, which featured well-seasoned skewered chicken cooked to perfection, delivering a delicious taste.

For my first main course, I chose the butter chicken, which impressed with a flavor rating of 9.5/10. While the portion size was decent, it could have contained more chicken and smaller pieces. Nonetheless, it offered an authentic and excellent taste.

My second main course was the prawn curry, which would have received a perfect 10/10 if it had included more than five tail-on prawns. The flavor, however, was fantastic.

The rice and naan were both good, although only two pieces of naan were served.

Dessert options were limited to Gulab jamun, a sweet treat reminiscent of a cake Timbit in a sugary sauce, with a portion size of only two pieces.

To their credit, they provided a complimentary mango lassi, which was delightful, and perhaps mix veg pakora, which was also enjoyable.

In summary, the food quality at this restaurant earns a solid 9.5/10 for flavor. Nevertheless, I would recommend offering larger portions, especially for those intending to feed a small family. Additionally, introducing a common delivery service could boost sales and streamline the ordering process...