Q Haute Cuisine

While I can appreciate unique and different types of foods… I entered Q Haute somewhat skeptical as these places you often leave hungrier after you eat… will say I left Q Haute a true fan and convert of this type of dining.
Portion sizes were a big factor why I was closed in my thinking but left this resturant feeling full…
Q Haute foods pack flavor, style and creativity in a bite size portion. Best way to explain the concept… a 7 course meal of mystery that the chef prepares. Don’t worry about asking for a menu it simply comes down to chefs choice… less any dietary restrictions you may have. My favorite dish was the Wild MushroomRisotto, Fole Gras Butter, Gruyère. Every dish can be taken down in 1 – 2 bites with the exception of this one which looked like a bowl of soup and was served with a fork. The cheese is formed into a froth which makes it appear soupy and the mushroom flavor made the dish. Exceeded expectations…
Also to add the resturant overlooks one of the well manicure city parks in Calgary and is decorated in gray, black and white décor.
Great experience and highly recommend!

Definitely on the pricier side, but the food is delicious! The lunch here is also not bad — 3 course for 25 bucks is a great deal for the quality of food that you are getting. would come back again!

Did a cooking class on Monday there and it could not have been better! Everyone was friendly, kind, helpful and willing to share information and ideas. The food was outstanding. This was the best class I’ve ever done!

The food here is still Ahhh-​mazing but the service was REALLY disappointing this last visit so I’m taking away a star for the 2 –3 star service. Sorry Q Haute… I … didn’t… really… want … to but I felt your glowing review was otherwise a lie after a weak front of house experience and that should be addressed. Considering everyone in that room was paying $ 125+ service better be tip top. Service like this would be fine in a family restaurant but it’s a weak show in this class of dining especially considering the expected tip is more that you might pay for your whole meal in one of these types of restaurants.
Issues:
1. We waited an uncomfortable amount of time before being offered water or addressed in anyway by the servers after being seated.
2. We added relevant details to our open table reservation but not one of our servers read them. No one knew I was vegetarian or mentioned our special occasion which we listed. Last time they knew one of us was vegetarian and that it was our first trip (that’s my Q haute comparison) I ended up explaining I was ovo-​lacto vegetarian over and over (the servers weren’t communicating or passing it on). Two didn’t know was ovo-​lacto vegetarian even meant. Later I was brought a dish with eggs and asked if it was ok… seriously? at this level of dining you should know before it walks out of the kitchen not a second before I take a bite.
3. They missed our bread and I discovered that bread was key to feeling satiated after a Q Haute dinner because we both left kinda hungry.
4. Wine knowledge was poor (not the Sommelier because he’s great but in the servers). I was told my Malbec was from a region that doesn’t grow Malbec. When I said «Oh, didn’t know it grew there» she went to look and discovered it was Argentinian which was very far off.
5. We were given our kitchen tour with a group of 8+ people before the wrong course (it’s suppose to be after main and before dessert… because they give you pre-​dessert in the kitchen) so it was just awkward and there were just too many people in the kitchen for a tour. Why do this if it’s such an problem for the service staff? It felt like an inconvenience not a joy like I imagine it was intended to be. Also I’m glad to have had a tour before because they didn’t explain techniques or what we were seeing well and it was a bit of a time waste.
6. One of the servers had terrible B.O. so it was difficult to have them lean over you explaining your dish when you could smell something not at all appetizing.
7. Courses should be cleared before the next one comes out. Our pickup pre-​dessert from the tour ended up coming out when I still was eating savoury food… nice try, I guess?
8. We ordered tea to end the meal (The Sommelier is the same from last time and he’s great with his teas too). Well our server left it steeping and walked away and just left it way too long. To her credit she realized eventually and remade it for us but still it was inattention.
9. We were probably here an hour too long and it was mostly due to service as I don’t believe it was the kitchen. The servers all seem to share tables and it left a lot of gaps and I would notice them repeating a walk around the room with water but that has just happened yet our dishes had been sitting in front of me for 10 minutes. Last time, we put the fork down and the dish was cleared which is maybe a bit more responsive than I expect but that’s my comparison.
10. The souvenir menu like we got last time so I can gush on Unilocal about what I ate and the cutting edge food techniques used to amaze my taste buds? Nope. Can’t remember and I was counting on my crib sheet to sound smart for you guys. I saw another table with them though… Forgotten again… fitting given it was the running theme of our night.
11. Another table stormed out a couple courses in because of the service so it really was an off night I guess. I get that’s a challenging situation but I think the staff could have also tried better to contain the 5 minutes of complaints from this couple so that it wasn’t coming back into the dining room and effecting the ambiance for those trying to enjoy the evening.
Over all I still enjoyed my trip but I expected better as the bar had been set very high. I would say the servers last time were world class professionals in hospitality and the servers this round were not new to serving but probably worked at Ricky’s or something until recently.
I hope they pull it together before I go back.

I finally got to check out Q Haute! I’ve been delaying my visit to this restaurant due to its associated price tag, but decided to give it a try during the Big Taste week as there is a set price (we went with 3 courses for $ 35).
When you go to Q Haute, you’re paying not only for the high quality and innovative dishes that are being served to you but also the dining experience. The service and interaction with the staff at Q Haute was exceptional. I read from earlier reviews that you can expect to be there for 2.5−3 hours, and that was exactly what happened with our visit. It was a relaxing and comfortable setting, where the servers were not inclined to rush us out of there.
Prior to our meal, we were served an amuse bouche (yam and cranberry biscuit). While it was interesting, it didn’t do much for me.
With a fancy restaurant, one would assume pretty dishes that may or may not deliver in taste. However, I found that with the first course that we were served (beef cheek terrine, lemon grass veloute, mushroom, balsamic, mitzuna), it was not only beautifully presented but the combination of all the different parts of the plate were complimented each other quite nicely (as recommended by our server to combine all parts with each bite). I was quite surprised at this.
Next up was the main course of the night (and also my favourite dish): sous vide chicken stuffed duck breast. Whilst the meat inside was super tender, the skin on the outside was crispy. My only complaint was that it was too small :(
Before serving us our final course, an employee came up and offered us a tour of their kitchen. I loved the interactive and knowledge sharing aspect of this! The beginning of the tour started with a brief history of the restaurant (La Caille on the Bow) before it was reinvented to become Q Haute and its neighboring restaurant Oceana. Within the kitchen, they showed us their sous vide machine and as well a huge pot of reuseable sauce. It was a tamed kitchen in my opinion (where’s the hustle and bustle?!?), mostly due to the fact that it was Big Taste week and their Big Taste menu was all that was being served.
For our final course, it was a very rich plate of chocolate mousse, which was offset with the help of the dulce de leuce ice cream.
Before we were set off to go, we were also given complimentary bee pollen dusted raspberry macarons. Unfortunately I was not a fan of these, it was too hard (aka not freshly made) and the flavour was not anything noteworthy.
Overall, I’m glad I got to try out Q Haute. This would be a restaurant that I would recommend if you wish to celebrate something, not a restaurant that you go casually just because. A fair warning for those planning to go during Big Taste, while the quality of the food is great, the portions are dainty so if you’re starvin’ marvin, you might have to make a pit stop elsewhere afterwards.

Went here for the Calgary Big Taste and did the $ 35 dinner menu 3-​course meal. I was a little hesitant on how I would feel since a lot of fine-​dining restaurants have the risk of not living up to the hype. But I have to say, I was more than impressed with Q Haute. The menu changes everyday but they ask you what you like/​dislike and any allergies. It was supposed to be a 3-​course but they give you a snack in the beginning to wake up your taste buds and then they gave us macarons along with the bill. It has great ambiance and the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. Very romantic atmosphere if you are planning for a special date night. Highly recommend!

Just had the most amazing valentines dinner and it’s not because it was Valentine’s Day. The food first of all was impeccable and to reiterate the review before yes this restaurant is for foodies is it expensive but oh do they deliver. From the service to the food this was 5 stars and beyond we spend three hours there and it felt like the time flew by. We had a tour of the restaurant and saw the kitchen in its glory. We had such an amazing server, it made fine dinning a less stuffy affair. ALSO I was on a cleanse and could not have sugar or starches Which for any other restaurant would have been an ultimate failure but they prepared a special menu for me from beginning to end and I did not miss out on anything the chefs were masterful in their accommodations & pairings and inventive considering the restrictions. 5stars and plus

The food here is excellent. I often leave expensive restaurants feeling like I could’ve prepared a much better meal myself but at Q Haute, the skill involved in their dishes are far beyond my abilities. The service is excellent and the location right off the river makes for a very romantic setting. They don’t just offer a fantastic meal, they offer a dining experience. It’s a must try.

Q Haute is a wonderful place for a special meal. The food is presented beautifully and the service is remarkable. We had the 4 course Chef’s tasting menu but including the palate cleansers and small bites there were 7 courses. Each course was very unique and a surprise. Be prepared to spend a good 2.5−3 hours here. It didn’t feel that long because there were many courses so the time went by really quickly.
The meal started off with a olive oil and port gelato with ground walnut. It was delicious and refreshing to have something sweet for the first course. Following this there were many carefully crafted, delicate and creative courses. They offered us a tour of the kitchen before we were served dessert. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the kitchen, it was an enjoyable experience and made me appreciate the food even more. They had some high tech gadgets and a chef even explained and prepared a pre-​dessert on the anti-​griddle. The desserts were delicious and a great way to finish off the meal.

My husband and I would like to thank Marcello and the entire staff for making our wedding day so special. The service was over the top and food was exceptional! All of our guests have made a point of letting us know how impressed they were with the venue. I would highly recommend Q Haute as a wedding venue… especially if it’s a same sex wedding.

First, a word of warning: This is a restaurant designed for foodies. If you’re looking for a slightly elevated chop house or a better-​than-​usual dining experience in Calgary, keep looking.
What you’ll find: Currently Q Haute Cuisine has a single pre fixe offering with an optional alcohol (mostly wine) and non-​alcohol drink pairings. They also have a wine list, though we were told that in the future they may 86 the wine list and just make the pairings part of the offering. I say offering, versus menu, because no menu is provided (until after the meal) — what is being served that evening is a surprise. And this is what makes it so much fun.
What makes QHC good: Chef and co-​owner Michele Aurigemma uses best available ingredients, artfully prepared and presented, and cooked with a deft hand. His kitchen is well run and each course, along with the amuse-​bouche and other single-​bite additions, are thoughtfully prepared and well executed. He has a strong sense of flavors, textures, and the art of presentation.
What makes QHC worthy of a visit: The front of the house is equal to the kitchen in the explanation of each dish, manner of service, and the history behind every item offered, be it the wine, teas, mixed drinks, or the concepts behind the meal. The maître d’, Josh, though young, reflects his classical butler training in how he treats each of his guests.
Your commitment: This will not be a fast meal, plan on spending 2.5−3 hours for the short 4 course, and on weekends when they offer 7+ courses, plan on spending 4 hours. Eating at QHC isn’t a meal, it’s an event.
Added bonus: During the meal each of the tables is escorted through the kitchen to see how it works, and offered a small taste treat (ours was an alcohol infused lollipop prepared on an anti-​griddle). If you love restaurants, then this is a real treat.
In my opinion this is a restaurant that aims to be a Michelin rated, and should be. If they can consistently prepare and serve food in the manner that we experienced, they are definitely worthy of a 1 star rating. Josh told us the story of a woman who chanced upon QHC on a business trip and was so impressed she flew back with her husband from Texas just to have another meal there; and from my experience I can relate to that. From my wife’s and my perspective, we felt fortunate to have stumbled upon such a great gem. Kudos to Michele, Josh, and rest of the staff at QHC.

My coworkers and I came here for the 2-​course $ 20 lunch. You can add dessert for an additional $ 5.00. I was surprised to see that we had multiple choices for the appetizer and main. Soup or two types of salad for the appy. Three choices for the main and two others with an upgrade of $ 15.00.
Our group was big enough to warrant a private dining room. Let’s just say we were all wowed by the service, food, ambience and presentation.
I ordered the carrot veloute with chive crème fraîche and lamb with barley risotto. The food was lovely. The lamb dish was very rich — so be warned. The portions look small but it is quite dense and filling.
For lunch, I don’t know anywhere else where you can get such a nice meal. At dinner, though the cost is higher, you can off-​set the cost by attending one of their events, which is reasonably priced or get a gift certificate from Costco.
The crowning glory of the meal were the beautiful, fresh gerbras we received at the end. The last time I received a flower at a restaurant, I was five. Most definitely a memorable experience. Great place for group dining.

I have been to Q Haute for lunch, dinner and mother’s day brunch and I have never been disappointed.
The food is great, the presentation superb and they definitely get 5 stars for creativity. The waiters are very attentive and they are very familiar with the menu — they are great at answering any questions you may have on the food and also the wines.
The location is perfect for a romantic dinner, right in the middle of Eau Claire overlooking the Bow River.
In occasion you may be able to get a tour of the kitchen and ask questions to the kitchen staff. That was one of the highlights of the night for me, as I got to see all the love and work that goes into making these wonderful dishes.

This is the best place that I have been in Calgary. Exceptional quality for the price and ambience. Not only the food looks good, they taste good too!

Q Haute is my favorite restaurant in Calgary. Every dining experience I have had here has been nothing short of excellent (and I have dined here over 11 times for both dinner and lunch).
First off, Q Haute is in a beautiful part of the city, just south of the Elbow River, in the NW section of downtown Calgary. In the summer, the Elbow River area is blooming with beautiful flowers and the river is dazzling. In the winter, the area is a scene out of Narnia, with the river frozen over and the trees iced with snow. The well-​appointed décor in Q Haute is contemporary in styling with white being a predominant color in the furnishings. Q Haute has at least three large, separate dining «rooms», suited for special events or a feeling of dining in an estate home.
The service staff are eager to please, pleasant, and passionate about their work. I have received a tour of the pristine, high-​tech kitchen on a couple of occasions during which time I have received short lessons on the techniques employed by the cooking staff and am convinced that the team is a very skilled, talented bunch of cooks.
Order a la carte or a whole set of food from the tasting menu. You will not be disappointed. The food is imaginative but grounded, whimsical yet accessible by all types of the people of various culinary tastes. Every friend and corporate guest I have taken there have fully enjoyed dining at Q Haute.
I truly believe Q Haute is a gem in the city and is underrated. I am always looking for the next opportunity and next excuse to eat at Q Haute.

WOW. Best meal/​experience I’ve ever had in my life. We ordered the NATURA chefs menu (didn’t have a choice in the matter) with the wine pairings. We received an unending bombardment of delicious, amazing foods. Unique cooking methods, flavours, textures, combined with amazing wines.
The server explained in detail each item, how to eat, and what to expect.
After the main courses, we were given a short tour of the kitchen, and a little treat in the kitchen.
This place blew me away. I will definitely go back, although probably once a year, since I will need another job to pay for the meal :)

Did a great job with a recent employee event here. The service standards are exceptional, and the food was a close second. Some very creative dishes for appetizers and desserts; even though this was a large group event, the food wasn’t dumbed down at all.
They had set up a great space for us that allowed lots of mingling but still had plenty of seats for people that needed to take a load off. Great light, not too loud, and they had a screen, projector, and even access to their music system to help us with the inevitable speeches and funny photos.
Will definitely return for our next super-​special event.

My friend has been wanting to bring me here for a while now… but I bought tickets for a winery estate dinner and made plans to go with hubby. Imagine my surprise when I opened the front door and my friend was there waiting for her hubby! Great minds think alike I guess.
The food, was amazing… visually appealing and also delicious to eat. We had amazing service from our server, who also doubled as the tea sommelier.
And in the end, a kitchen tour :) If you are looking for a place to take someone special, you can sit at the Chef’s table in the kitchen during service… highly recommended!
From start to finish we enjoyed our visit and plan to go again.

I took my wife out for a fantastic fine meal. The prices are typical for the fine dining scene; $ 125 for a 7 course chief’s tasting. Then add another $ 75 each for wine parings.
The atmosphere was great; upscale with nice tables overlooking the river and the Peace Bridge. Every course was unique and amazing; everything was prepared so nicely and tasted delicious. My favorite was the Wild Mushroom Risotto, and the Quail Breast. What I really liked was the service. I discreetly told the server I had $ 400 to spend that night, and to just surprise us with courses and wines. I told him no shell fish for me and anything goes but pickles for the wife, and bam! They made it all work. We got 7 half glasses of wine; something for every course, and they brought the bottles to our table each time so we could take pictures of the stuff I liked, and help our self to more if we liked a particular wine.
The dessert was by far the best thing I have ever had in my life. 7 different chocolates with each a different texture. I’d easily shell out $ 40 just to have that dessert again; wow was it good.
I really enjoyed it and I will be back, however not more than once a year as the prices are pretty steep. I don’t think they were unreasonable for fine dining, but if I compare to Taste (near Hotel Arts) they are more down to earth semi-​casual dining, and the dishes there were half the price and the same amazing delicious taste and unique experiences.
So anyway if you have $ 400 to spend on a great night out and you want upscale dining I highly recommend it here, if you want the same food but more casual check out Taste.

It was good. Food was good. Actually I was surprised to find this kind of restaurant in Calgary… haha oops, did I say that aloud?! Yes that’s an unfair statement… I haven’t tried very many restaurants in Calgary yet…
Would love to go back to try Chef’s tasting menu.