Pigeonhole

Delicious and flavourful. You can tell each dish has been poured on with love and meticulousness of artisans. They are served in small quantities but are meant to be shared, or not. I will definitely come back.

When I booked for a table for two on Valentines, the online reservation system told me the only slot available was at 9:30pm. This was THREE WEEKS before Valentines. Still there’s nothing more romantic than taking the #1 woman of your heart to Canada’s (new) #1 restaurant. I don’t think I’ve seen Pigeonhole’s dining ambiance in Calgary before. I’ve never been to Europe much, but I read that someone thought this was reminiscent of Paris’ night bistros. I definitely felt like a film extra on Paris J’Taime. We loved the décor and felt it was a place you went to celebrate with your significant other.
First I was thoroughly impressed with our service. The hostesses were welcoming and warm, the staff moved about like ninjas as they brought our dishes and moved our plates, and our server who was well versed with the menu and provided the most intelligent and thorough breakdown of the experience each dish and cocktail on the menu. Even though their presence wasn’t made, kudos should also be given to management.
The food at Pigeonhole is memorable and deserving of the praise it’s received. I don’t know where to begin because to say each dish was my favorite makes me feel like a lazy parent refusing to pick a favourite child. Thank god I don’t have children.
The ricotta dumplings inspire obsession within every gastronome, I can still recall the wow factor every bite this dish had, the pillow-​y rich dumpling with the slight savory earthiness of spinach, tied together with a ragu I’d sacrifice my left arm for.
The nori crumpets were tasty, but what was interesting about the dish was the shrimp butter. The rabbit and bacon pâté on bread and octopus and marguez sausage stew were stellar. The pâté was meaty and subtle in flavour, enhanced by the toasted bread and fresh garden greens. The octopus stew was tender and every chew yielded so much umami goodness, which included the wonderful spice that leaked out from the north african merguez sausage.
Finally the burnt cabbage, which I suspect could be an item most diners gloss over because they think «how the fuck is cabbage fancy» But any diner who has seen their fare share of artsy food shows know know all about burnt cabbage and the smoky sweet experience it brings. Seems easy but it’s a hard dish to cook in I.M.H.O and Pigeonhole executes a sweet and complex smoky cabbage that’s wonderfully spiked with aged cheddar.
The cocktail menu is small, after all Pigeonhole is a wine joint. We aren’t big wine people, we dug into 3 of their great cocktails. Which were great and potent. Again credit to our waitress for suggesting the right libation at the right time. It all went so well with the food we ate.

Wow. I love Pigeonhole. One of my new favourite restaurants in a city that has a ton of amazing restaurants already!
A group of 4 of us dined at Pigeonhole on the weekend and decided to give the server the final say on what we ate. We told him our level of hunger and any allergies or preferences, and he helped us make choices. He wasn’t pushy at all; in fact, he encouraged us to order less dishes to start and work from there. He also let me in on the Earl Grey martini, which has been taken off the menu for the moment because it was TOO popular. It was absolutely incredible, though, especially for someone like me who prefers strong liquor tastes to be disguised by fruity, sweet flavours.
We ended up ordering the following:
Driveview Farms Lamb Tartare
Sustainable BC Tuna Crudo
Charred Cabbage
Grilled Duck Leg
Mussels in Green Sauce
Salted Cod Crepes
Ricotta Dumplings
We definitely pigged out. My favourite was for sure the tuna, which melted in your mouth and was honestly heaven. I don’t know how to explain it except to say that I wanted to marry it. The cabbage was surprisingly great, grilled and slathered in cheese and sauce; I say surprisingly because let’s be honest, it’s not the first thing that would jump out from a menu. In fact, I loved almost everything; the only thing I wasn’t totally and embarrassingly over the top about was the cod crepes. The texture was a bit too soft for my liking and the flavours weren’t as adventurous as some of the other dishes. It didn’t matter at that point though because I was drunk and gushing to anyone who would listen about the tuna.
Overall, all of us felt that the price was well worth it (we each paid under $ 60pp including tip and drinks). The service was excellent. Our server was always present when we needed him but not at the table so often that it felt overbearing. He was also funny, unpretentious and helpful. The food came to our table very quickly as well.
It was a pleasant surprise to be so blown away by a restaurant in Calgary. While new things are popping up every day, it’s nice to see that there are still places like Pigeonhole where everything is done to near perfection.

I really wanted to like this place after the hype I heard. I thought it was good, but not great place overall. The server was a friendly enough guy, but it has started to bug me when these restaurants focus on non-​GMO, sustainable, organic as rubber stamps of quality. I was offered to sample any wine on the list before buying a bottle. However, when I asked to do so I was met with «well all our wines are good, the one you want is organic, non-GMO…blah blah» then indirect pressure just to buy the bottle. Kind of disappointing. I don’t care what kind if methods the winery uses if its good wine, but hey I am not pretentious hipster like that.
The dishes were very good to inedible. Ricotta dumplings and charred cabbage were excellent. Duck leg was good, Angus beef was average, crumpets average, lamb breast was awful. Seriously, it was a solid piece of fat I couldn’t chew, totally disgusting. Cheese plate had excellent blue cheese, but the cheddar and Bree were average.
Overall a good not great place that is overhyped. Seeing as I hear that it is related to model milk I am not surprised. They need to turn up the substance and turn down the kitch. Ie: The record player was a cool idea, but would have preferred not to chew the fat.

I was looking forward to trying this new place out, with all the hype that has been in the media and that it is related to Model Milk, which is a great restaurant.
The décor is nice enough, the wallpaper is atrocious, are they going for gramma’s kitchen? Some of the tables must be left over from the old Victoria’s restaurant, I’m all for up-​cycling, but ugly is ugly.
Now to the food … Tapas style and sharing … They should go to Barcelona to check out what tapas culture really is. Tapas are generally cheaper, more casual and quick. The service was good, but slow and it was a Tuesday evening. Having said that, it’s nice to see restaurants busy during the week. The noise level was unbearably loud, not a place for a date or a romantic evening. Unless you want to breakup in public! No one will hear you or your partner begging to give it, just one more chance.
Our food took quite a while to come out. The devilled eggs were too salty. The Tuna with the puffed rice was good, minus the puffed rice, and it was overly doused in a soupy soya sauce flavour that completely drowned the Tuna, that was supposed to be the star of the dish.
Then we had the ricotta dumplings, they were perfect, the haloumi with the beets were delicious, the duck was tender, three very good picks .
For dessert we had the lemon. Mandelines, they were also nice light and a reasonable portion.
So, we had two glasses of wine, 5 dishes, one dessert for $ 110.00, pre tip.
You may leave Pigeonhole hungry, but you’re eating like a bird after all.
Even though I didn’t give a very good rating, I would still return, I do appreciate the creativity that goes into the food, and would try other options. This would not be my go to restaurant, however, when you’re sitting around trying to figure out what to do and where to eat on a weekend, I would see Pigeonhole as a weekday option.

Beautiful décor, fun atmosphere, and delicious food! I probably had the best duck dish ever (besides Peking duck…). The duck is so tender and flavourful, feels like dream. A must try place!

First of all you need to know… Earl Grey Martini! It’s not on the menu so it is a secret gem. Second if you are looking for a quick meal this is not your joint. We had a 6:30 reservation and didn’t get seated until 6:45 and it took 1.5 hrs to complete our event. It was still worth it and understandable for the number one new restaurant in all of Canada. The food combinations are unlike any other you’ve had before. That said the food is excellent. The servings are small and you can expect to order 3 plates per person. This allows you to share and try more dishes. The roasted scallion aoli served with the beef was perhaps my favorite steak topping I have ever had. The blue plate chicken special was my next favorite. The chicken is on the bone and a bit difficult to manage on a small plate, but set the pretentiousness to the side and dig in. This dish was phenomenal. The jus served with this bowl had me dipping the ladle for more. We loved this place and the ambiance it offered. Love love love love…

Loved the concept and look of Pigeonhole. It was perfect for a Friday night date night. We tried chicken liver mousse, charred cabbage, ricotta dumplings and grilled octopus. All were really great except the octopus. It was extreme chewy and lacking in flavour. The lamb marguez on the dish was tasty but not enough to carry the dish. We would not order it again.
The other three dishes were excellent and we will definitely visit again. We were also impressed with their list of craft cocktails. Can’t wait to return.

This place is wonderful. We usually sit at the bar (best view of the cheeses, drool) the manager is awesome, probably the best service experience I’ve had in the city. We’ve only tried a few of the dishes they were both amazing. Love the rotating menu, always something new. This place is a must visit.

Finally got to check out this place and I have to say that I loved my experience here! I came here last Friday around 5pm, right before it started to get busy. The ambiance is very quaint and lovely inside.
While looking at the menu, there were so many dishes that I wanted to try! Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try absolutely everything because we weren’t that hungry. My recommendations would be the: Eggplant Baba Ghanoush (something light and to get the taste buds stirring), Halloumi Cheese (it’s goat cheese. and although sheep/​goat is something I tend to stray away from due to its gamey-​ness, I couldn’t taste the strong scent and returned to this dish for seconds. and even thirds…), and the ricotta dumplings (something different and unique)! Though our server did mention that they change up the menu quite often, so I’ll have to make sure I return soon enough to ensure my fav. dishes are still there and also so I can try the things I missed this time around.
Our server Andrew was very attentive and informative. He was very approachable and even went on to explain how all the China’s that Pigeonhole used were bought individually, as there was no duplication of the same plates (cute!). While being friendly, he was not overbearing and made sure that we were still able to enjoy our conversation uninterrupted.
I will definitely return! The only downside to this tapas restaurant is that you have to ensure you don’t come super hungry. You’ll have to drop a number of bills before you can get full.

I really like Pigeonhole. It’s a fun, charming place that serves up unique (to me at least) dishes that won’t break the bank. You can eat a lot or a little, as the dishes are served in snack size portions.
The last time I visited, we tried some amazing vegetarian dishes. My favourite was a tomato tart and a deconstructed salad. This ain’t your neighbourhood pub or favourite steakhouse. Go with girlfriends or with a group of people that enjoy imaginative food that is beautifully presented.
One day I’ll check out their caviar and champagne special on Monday.

We came here a month ago on the last leg of our honeymoon as our «splurge» celebration meal and we were severely disappointed…
We used to live in Calgary, work in the industry, and we have been to many restaurants including Model Milk (which we really enjoyed) so we thought Pigeonhole would be a safe bet.
We came in on a busy Friday night — a bit later in the night (around 9:30pm). Our server/​bartender was great — the cocktails we ordered were not very palatable though (although they were strong!).
We ordered a few plates to try:
Salted cod crepes — these were delicious! Perfectly cooked and great flavour combinations.
Charred cabbage — also tasty, but a bit greasy
Cauliflower — it really was as amazing as the reviews say!
BC Pine Mushrooms — definitely not a win — our sourdough baguette was burnt (not toasted, not «charred») and so burnt in fact that it was all you could taste — we had to take the mushrooms off the bread to fully enjoy the subtle taste
Milk fed veal breast — do NOT get this — we literally had the taste of sesame stuck in our mouths for the rest of the night. It was SO salty and SO doused with sesame sauce we couldn’t even finish it, much less taste the actual veal (I’m sure it was delicious).
Not sure if it was late and the kitchen dropped the ball, but for such a high rated restaurant you’d think their quality & service would be on par no matter what time it is.
Yes we did like ³⁄₅ dishes, maybe we just made bad choices on the other 2? But the thing that left us with the most sour taste in our mouths (after the saltiness of the sesame) was the management style. My husband (a former chef who has worked in some of the best restaurants in this country) talked to the manager (or supervisor) about our «abysmal» dishes — he removed the veal off our bill that we barely ate, but was in no way sympathetic, or willing to go the extra mile to change our opinion of the food and restaurant. We were still STARVING but after being treated like we were somewhere that we didn’t belong and didn’t deserve to be taken care of, we just paid the bill and went somewhere else. Absolutely terrible hospitality on his part and the restaurant’s for that matter.

Fairly new place with the same owner as Model Milk.
First of all, the dishes are tapas style and they will adjust portions of each dish to accommodate to how many people are in your party. We had 5 and they charged extra to add extra pieces to plates (ex. Dumplings come in 4, charge extra for 1 extra). Although they didn’t tell us before doing so, we appreciated it. If you don’t want them to do that, you should let your server know.
We tried many dishes and I would recommend;
— Charred cabbage (Taste reminds me of okonomiyaki!)
— Ricotta dumplings
— Cheese platter (There’s about 14 diff kinds — you can trust your server to bring out whichever based on your preferences or you can choose)
— Pine haven grass fed beef
We also tried the salmon, tuna crudo, tomatoes and peaches, lamb tartare, boar sausage, mushroom, and the cidar glazed chicken. All these dishes were good, but I think a bit more unique and would depend on personal preferences.
For dessert we had pot de crème and the maple butter madeleines. The maple butter is the filling inside the madeleine (for some reason I thought it would be a dip on the side) but it came out nice and warm and were really good! Served in 3s. The pot de crème is very thick and has a strong coffee taste to it. It’s not my fav but I also don’t like the thick textured desserts (personal preference).
I like the atmosphere of the restaurant. The service was excellent — our server was extremely friendly and took the time to make recommendations and very accommodating.
If you are curious about the dishes, I would request for a table near the kitchen where all the food comes out. You can check out the plates as servers walk past you: D
I recommend trying this place with a large group of people so you can get a taste of everything.
A little bit on the pricier side so maybe save it for a fancy girls night out or some kind of occasion ;)

One of the best meals I’ve had this year. Partner and I had seven plates: watermelon with smoked tofu, cauliflower, ricotta dumplings, crepes stuffed with cod, veal, octopus, and cabbage. Each was masterfully complex and not one wasn’t delicious, but if I had to pick ones I’d order again they’d be the cauliflower (one of the best treatments of one of my favourite vegetables), the cod crepes and the cabbage… but ask me again if the menu shakes things up. Service was absolutely perfect, smart, friendly, and the pacing of the dishes was very impressive given how complex managing this format is. So SEVEN shared plates, two glasses of wine and one excellent Village Kölsch were $ 120. Stunning deal, beautiful experience all around.

Fantastic location, great patio, service was top-​notch. The menu has many unique dishes which I haven’t seen elsewhere (their friend cauliflower dish — Delicious!)
Great spot for my group of 5 girls. Definitely pricey, but the service and quality of the food reflected that.
Will definitely be back!

This spot is GORGEOUS in a total Gatsby-​esque way… which is what I hope they were going for, otherwise I’m totally off. They have a great collection of cocktails that come in vintage glasses. Beware though: these are potent. Delicious, but potent. You won’t notice because they go down smooth but the sugar and gin will hit you later, right around the same time as the tab. At $ 13 a pop, this isn’t the venue for a frugal evening out, but perfect for a girls night or a something-​special date. Staff was lovely and attentive, and particularly accommodating to our rowdy group of 7, god bless them. This is a great new addition to 17^th, and I’ll be back to sample more of the menu soon!

Many places have fine food. Or a good cocktail. Or unique wines. Rarely does a place have that AND good (unpretentious yet highly efficient and fun) service. Pigeonhole, despite its unusual name, tied every one of those together in a spontaneous visit this evening.
From the bartender who left his post when he saw we were stranded at the door, to the waitress who kept us entertained with well timed visits, and the hostess who kept things moving in between– I’ll be telling one and all to visit here ASAP.
Right, the food: halibut ceviche is a knockout (pow! Citrus!). Bok choy was a real surprise dish that we raved about (it’s the hazelnuts). Morels and dumplings were the richest item we tried. About the only thing that was simply good and not great was the wagyu; a bit chewy for a premium tender cut. But still nice flavour and fresh unique presentation.
Pot de crème for dessert is really a misnomer; this is a Pot de Crime– it’s so good you’ll want to steal it from your companions.
Throw in a few inspired cocktails and some adventurous wine choices, and you have a great slice of evening celebration.
On my exclusive «to visit again» list.

Excellent tapas style plates perfect for sharing — although very tasty a full meal is a little rich for my palette. List of new takes on classic dishes and beautiful ingredients. All wines are organic/​bio-​dynamic and the cocktails are excellent.

This spot is a gem!
Service is really excellent and attentive.
Food is small portions; they are all very good and tasteful.
Drink menu is small but really high quality.
Atmosphere is really fun.
Def recommend this place.

Was I excited about opening night at Pigeonhole? You bet! There is some serious Calgary talent attached to this new restaurant and everything about our time spent there was perfect.
When you walk in, you can see the beautiful bar where the bartenders make some mad cocktails (try the Earl Grey Martini I am begging you!) then beyond that, the chefs working diligently in the exposed kitchen, complete with a legit hibachi grill and long prep table. What they are creating, my friends, is magic on a plate. Ingredients you never would have thought to put together somehow meld into a cacophony of flavours which work their way from your mouth to your brain. What? Sorry for the cheese…
Speaking of cheese. Try the ugly duckling dish (talk about pigeonholing a dish.) of halloumi, pickled rhubarb, celery (the ‘it’ vegetable of 2015!), olives, and Pistachio purée.
In all we tried ⁶⁄₁₆ available dishes.
–Chickpea Panisse
–Hallomi
–Nettle Dumplings with morels and peas. Wow. I have literally not stopped thinking about this dish since Friday. How DO they do it?
–Nori Crumpets with Shrimp Butter… Buttah!
–Salted Halibut Perogies with ramps
–Edamame in Salty Butter with Rabbit Sausage– the perfect dish as far as I’m concerned.
I’m sure we could have ordered more and been totally satisfied. I’m not sure anyone can say this is a place to have dinner… but I would love to return with a larger group and order the entire menu! And if you are into wine, you have plenty to choose from.
Every dish was spot on. The service was spot on (Hi Heather!). Do yourself a favour and make a reservation for Pigeonhole today.