Rush Ocean Prime

Well, Prime it is not. Service was very slow and inattentive. There were literally 5 people in the huge restaurant and I waited for 25 mins for a drink refill. Had the beef tartare and it was quite good. Then waited 40 mins to get my scallops and rissotto! When it came, rissotto was so undercooked, it was crunchy. I think over those 40 mins they could have at least cooked the arborio! For the high price point, this restaurant completely over-​promises and under-​delivers.

Calgary has amazing upscale eateries and Rush has been hyped to be part of that elite group. Swank décor aside; I can’t say I can agree given the mediocre overall experience at the restaurant.
The first impression from th entrance is stunning, the interior décor is ultra-​modern and sophisticated. The service is prompt on the slow side although lacks attentiveness when asking something out of the menu description or receiving the food cooking temperature as ordered or suggested.
Eight people were in our group, two having specific dietary requirements. This is supposed to be a seafood and steak house, the steaks came back way undercooked for medium and medium well, while the seafood and particularly the seared salmon were way overcooked for medium. One of our guests ordered a seared salmon with a salad instead of the starch accompanying it; a rubbery well done fish came to the table with a tiny round cup of sliced butter lettuce and 8 tiny little square green pepper squares (less than penny sized each); the portions left very little to be desired.
All and all, the décor is impressive but the lack of service attentiveness and the food being well below average for the category of establishment «Rush» is Branded to be, leads us to keep moving to other downtown Calgary dining explorations; next!

Been coming here for a few years now. This Restaurant features contemporary modern stylish décor. The Restaurant set up does give you sense of high end luxury feeling. In comparison to other Restaurants this is a very nice modern stylish. If you are there for the first you kind of wonder what’s on the menu?
They have valet parking At the front in the evenings.
They serve fusion style of food as they have French, Italian, Europeian, Asian sauces and spices. They come up with some interesting dishes.
Their presentation is wonderful and clean makes the food look even more appetizing.
They also have a great selection of wines and spirits to compliment your dinner. Price is a little on the high side. They also have a full bar.
Appetizers are awesome as well tasty and light.
Dinner was very tasty not over powering with spices cooked just right.
Dessert is light yet creamy not overly sweet just hit the spot killing your sweet tooth.
This restaurant has a over all package and experience clients that I bring all end up coming back.

An average sized group came here for dinner a week or so ago and while the décor is swanky, the food and prices are meh.
We all ordered drinks which took far too long to arrive. When we finally got to ordering our food we were all on drink #2. The service was disorganized and chaotic — no excuse for a place that takes groups and was really not busy on the night we were there. They couldn’t keep straight who ordered what, and messed up the meat «doneness» on almost everyone’s steak.
You cannot call yourself OCEAN and PRIME and mess up your seafood and beef. It’s insane. But they somehow managed to. I ordered the short ribs and scallops — rubbery scallops, and run-​of-​the-​mill short ribs. The portions were a total joke. Mediocre protein and then 2 carrots and a potato? For 50 dollars. Total rip off to charge customers 10 dollars for a side of vegetables to accompany protein.
The cherry on the horribly cooked cake was that after we finished eating and were ordering our tea/​coffee a server brought out a plate of scallops to one of us… So strange!
Never again

Rush perpetuates the trend of overpriced and overhyped restaurants in Calgary. This review may sound a bit harsh, but when we consider the hysterical price points of the menu items, an elevated quality is expected.
Our group of 10 went for dinner at Rush. Décor is quite spectacular, with a beautiful layout and inviting lighting. Service was friendly, but poor. ~15min to fill a drinks order when the restaurant was not that busy is too long. When they did arrive, we had to help the staff sort out where the went. This was a trend all night as items got placed at the wrong seat, or wrong table entirely.
The one major highlight I should establish immediately: the beef selections are spectacular. They were generally well cooked (though sometimes not to spec, I’ll get to that) and are of high quality. I had the wagyu 10oz, asked for it rare, it came medium. Not the end of the world as the beef is such a spectacular cut and was still very tender with an excellent sear. Most others in the group saw medium-​ish. Effectively, nearly everyone’s beef was overdone. Not to the extent where it reduced the quality, but a bit of an issue when you start at $ 40 without sides.
A few of us got the lobster accompaniment. All were rubbery and overdone and hysterically overpriced. It’s $ 18 for a half lobster. No really, it’s exactly a lobster split in half. Tiny claw and tiny tail, and a bunch of nearly inedible bits in between sprinkled with shell. That said, the hollandaise sauce was great, however. You can also select a number of small portioned green vegetable sides for $ 10 – 15.
Another ordered the scallops and short ribs, which come with potatoes, of course. The short ribs were cooked well but were otherwise quite salty. The three small scallops were rubbery and overdone. Scallops are not difficult to cook. Had the dish been in the mid 20s, it would have been acceptable. But again, we are talking $ 34 here. This is a place that centralizes its marketing on surf and turf. You’d think you’d know how to properly cook them.
Back to the composition; the steaks came with overcooked and soggy carrots, with two or three slices of baby potatoes. Really? Is this a 1980s steak house? Do we really have to pay $ 10 extra for broccoli? It’s a bit absurd that this trend is allowed to continue. You can opt for a $ 5 side of red wine demi glaze, which in my opinion is just too salty and overpowering for a good cut of beef. I didn’t ask for it, and got it anyway and was charged for it.
And, of course, the ever prevalent 20% mandatory tip. Is tipping really that bad of an issue in this city that we’ve now stepped up to a mandatory 20% on large group? Regardless, I am continually seeing this practice being used and abused, particularly in the case of Rush where service was sloppy, slow, inaccurate. Dishes were overcooked, sides were overpriced and lacking, and drinks were poorly made. Throw in the fact the bathrooms were disgusting, out of towels by 9pm, and already occupied by drunks by 10pm (one of them nearly passed out on the chair in the bathroom), and you have one awkward dining experience.
For dessert, I just had a macchiato. Not sure what they actually served me, but I’m pretty sure it was just strong coffee. Complete with coarse grounds in the bottom of the glass. Disgusting.
Another questionable practice… we were not given the option to split the bill and had to deal with a suddenly impatient server. No really, it’s 2014 and it’s a large group. Either give us the option to split the bill up or wait a few minutes for us to do the math. Instead she awkwardly hovered over us. Since the bill had charges with names that didn’t match the menu, it wasn’t particularly easy to figure out quickly. My wife and I had two beers, one gin and tonic, wagyu 10oz, scallops/​short ribs, half lobster. $ 178. The best part is, as we were about to leave, a server came by with a dish asking who ordered scallops. Slow clap.
Don’t get me wrong, we still had a great time, and that may be because we’re an easygoing group. But, for the prices Rush demand and the mandatory tipping, a harsh review is required. I do not recommend this place. Honestly, go to the Keg. It’s equally as unremarkable but will cost you significantly less.

What a stellar restaurant. The service was great and the décor was so pretty! It was very sleek and well maintained. It was surprisingly not that busy for a weekend night though.
My boyfriend had steak and I had fish. We had the calamari to start and usually I think calamari is too much of a typical appetizer choice, but boy am I glad that we ordered it. I’m tired of the typical breaded rings that are deep fried and come with the same sauce as every other restaurant. ROP actually does not bread the calamari and instead drizzles this light tasting sauce on top right before serving. They were so tender and tasty — just delicious!

Fraudulent. Yup, there’s no other way to say it. Waiter: «Can I have that topped with bearnaise sauce for you.» Us: «Sure.» The bill: «Additional $ 15+ tax». Waiter: «The special today is a bison steak». Me: «Rare please.» The bill «$ 68+ tax». (Ended up being more expensive than ANYTHING else on the menu!).
Sorry guys but if you’re to do the used car salesman bait and switch, then have the common decency to mention the upcharge. Disgusting behaviour. Lost a customer for life.

Wouldn’t go back.
Went for the express lunch, and they were already out of the main.
Ordered the tomato burrata salad.
Tomatoes not in season, they were tasteless.
I don’t understand where the burrata was from, as the skin was tough and nasty. The curds weren’t soft and oozy– they were like chunks of week old dry ricotta.
There was honey drizzled on top– made no sense. It did not go with the balsamic reduction and 1 sprig of basil.
Ambience and service was great, but I went for the food!

I’ve been to Rush many times for business lunches and evening meals, and have never had a bad experience here. Their food, wine and cocktail list and service are all exceptional. On my most recent visit, I enjoyed the chili garlic shrimp, 6 oz CAB tenderloin with the most delicious scalloped potatoes, and a lovely bottle of Malbec. We had one server who was a little on the odd side, but otherwise the service was very good. Attentive without being intrusive.
Very intimate and upscale environment, but not pretentious. If you are having a small dinner party, it’s really nice to book in one of their private rooms.

After years of driving by and reading good reviews, I was excited to try Rush for a business lunch. I even checked out their menu before hand!
But alas, it didn’t live up to the hype or my expectations. The service was solid — I will give them that. But the good was not good at all. I will pay good money for great food but this missed the mark. I had the fried chicken sandwich. The chicken was over cooked (dry and borderline burnt) and the bun was also burnt. You could smell a burnt smell coming from the plate. The fries, which were supposed to be the best fries of my life according to my dining partner and the server, were good but luke warm.
Décor is nice but it’s awfully dark in there, even during the day (which is why I’m not sure if the chicken was burnt or just close to burnt). My friend had the seafood pasta which looked good — she enjoyed it — but seemed pretty simple.
Disappointing that the food was not good. They have a relatively short menu, and they weren’t super busy, so it shouldn’t have been hard to make an awesome sandwich and fries. I won’t be «rushing» back anytime soon.

Held a group event here with a set menu. The food was relatively well executed but incredibly expensive for the portions and the challenging service.
We had pre-​ordered 2 white and 2 red wines, but our servers were apparently not aware of this fact, despite the fact that bottles of all 4 were stacked on the table nearby. We practically had to get up and show them what was available in order to be able to try them all.
Despite the emptiness of the restaurant, our group was broken into two groups. With the super-​high-​backed chairs, this essentially meant that our group was broken into two pods that couldn’t interact in any way. When I asked for the pounding music to be turned down so that I could make some announcements and thank some people, I got a raised eyebrow rather than an «of course!».
At the end of our event, we actually were asked to move on, which we were happy to do rather than spend more money at the bar. Really, when I’ve dropped as much cash as we just have for 20 people, you really need to get ready for the dinner service around us, rather than actively pushing us out the door.
Won’t return here, despite the good flavours.

Rush is fine dining with a friendly touch.
I’ve always been a fan of steak, so when I was told that Rush has one of the best in the city I knew it would be my birthday lunch destination. I started the meal with the calamari which was a less traditional non-​battered approach which worked well. For my main, I ordered a steak with fries and was not disappointed. My steak was cooked perfectly and was served with a large portion of flavored butter on top which complimented the steak very well. There was a huge portion of fries that I could never have finished but they were some of the best fries I have ever had. The staff was very kind and provided a great level of service while happily answering all of the questions I had. I will definitely be back to Rush when looking to impress a date or to celebrate an occasion.
Great food with nice décor and pleasant staff.

We went to Rush on Valentine’s Day. It wasn’t over crowded as most places are on such an occasion. It is a «steak and seafood» restaurant. The atmosphere was great, but definitely more lounge like, but a very fancy lounge. We ordered the chef’s Valentine’s menu and were served a four course dining treat. I’m not the biggest fan of seafood and I would go back just for the prawns we were served that night. All the courses were fantastic and finished off with an amazing dessert. I find that sometimes dessert at nicer restaurants is sometimes lacking, but Rush definitely is not in that class. If you’re downtown I would definitely recommend to check this restaurant out.
Courses:
Seafood tasting plate ⁷⁄₁₀
Bacon and Eggs ⁸⁄₁₀
Scallops and short ribs ⁹⁄₁₀
Rush Butter Cake 9.5÷10
Note: I only give full marks for life changing experiences!

I can’t say enough good things about this place.
It has a really nice environment,
Everything on the menu is exquisite, you won’t be sorry!
The service is excellent, the staff are professional and courteous.
Try their express lunch menu, or book their private dining rooms for bigger groups or functions.

My first experience at Rush was for an Xmas party and it was fabulous. Fabulous because 1. My boss paid for everything 2. The service is outstanding 3. The food is fantastic.
While perusing the drink menu, the server who approached me asked what I was in the mood for. I told him something fresh and I was served exactly that: grey goose pear vodka (who knew there was such a flavour?!) with lime, water and a splash of ginger ale.
The service during our main meal was done by stealth like servers, that we barely noticed. They seem to not want to get in the way of your dining experience, but are on hand at the exact right moment if need be. Rush may seem like another boys club meeting place for downtown corporates, but if you can get past that, your in for a real treat.

Love it.
I’ve been here for New Years Eve… and a few times since then. Gosh, the food was so delicious, it’s on the steeper side of the bill but it’s a great fine dining experience. I love the atmosphere, the décor. Service was really outstanding — as it should be. Valet parking in the winter is appreciated.
AND… let me tell you, I don’t care much for red velvet cake (yes I’m party of that 1% of the population)… BUT the red velvet cake here SOOOOO GOOD. Actually all the deserts are to die for. So good!!!
Definitely not for the people who like mediocre stuff.

I loved this place… The food was very good, and the service really friendly. The dessert was great, I had the crème brûlée and I loved it… I would definitely go back there…

We had a terrific lunch experience at Rush! The service was awesome from the time we entered the building through the end of the meal. The lunch menu had good variety, and the food was very good. The presentation was crisp throughout.
While the food is a little pricey relative to the quality of the food, the service and atmosphere make up for it.

I really like this place! I visited Rush during Calgary’s Big Taste event and the food was superb, though somewhat mismatched. A crab cake followed by curry followed by gelato doesn’t really have a theme, but maybe that’s what they were going for. In any case, it was delicious. Service was fast but a bit stoic. The whole vibe from Rush is pretty high-​end, which is lovely for luxury but I prefer something a bit edgier with more engaging staff. Nevertheless, I’m hesitant to give them any negative review comments because I feel like they did everything right even if it’s not my style! Décor is very modern and beautiful. I’d really love to come back on a date night or a special occasion, that’s what Rush seems perfect for!

Such a nice RESTAURANT!!! Ok the only down side is that we went on a holiday and Calgary was quite empty and so was this restaurant. Bf & moi can’t wait to try this place again when its packed~
The deco is super cute, the lounge and the dining room is very upscale and modern. I loved the feel to the whole place.
I had the goat cheese salad (roasted & marinated beets | walnut | maple truffle emulsion $ 11) which was superrrr tasty! I also had the roasted & cultivated mushrooms $ 9 side super yummy, I am a big mushroom fan and these were GOOD!
My bf ordered the fraser valley duck (crispy skin breast | barley pilaf | frisee | brie | blackberry $ 32) after he got it he remembered he doesn’t like duck lol, he loves trying new things but is very limited in his likings. He wants to try the steak next time, they have tenderloin, rib eye, and striploin or maybe even lamb.
We ordered a few sides to share — overall the meal was delicious! Just wish the restaurant was a litte more busy, but will def try it again as the last time we were in that area we walked by it and just looking through the windows it looked quite busy!
Can’t wait 2 try it again n update my review :)