Sultan’s Tent

Great Food, Nicest Staff, Wonderful Vegetarian/​Vegan options. And last but not least LOVE the décor, romantic and intimate. Great for date night or a group.

Such a cool experience! I love the atmosphere, the décor, and the SERVER we had… the most pleasant server I ever think I’ve had — she has to know she’s a 6 out of 5 stars. So friendly, so genuine, just generally amazing!
We went for the Sultan’s feast, and I loved the soup, it was amazing. I could eat that soup every day forever. The salad was a nice variety and the courses were good too. I enjoyed the meat samosas with cinnamon. The layout of the meal was phenomenal, such a great experience eating with friends and enjoying each other’s company with appropriate sized courses to look forward to.
We tried a couscous dish and it was pretty good! Definitely hard to try the Sultan’s feast for one person, I definitely recommend splitting it and just ordering an extra soup and tea at the end.
Definitely recommend trying this place for the experience, ambiance, and in our case, exceptional service. For food, I really liked the soup and the sweet meat samosa!

Let me just start off by saying that I ADORE this place. It makes me want to go to Morocco all by itself.
I was immediately in love with the décor; I really appreciated the drapes that would seclude each booth giving you a bit of privacy. It almost gave the illusion that you were in the comfort of your own home and not at a restaurant.
Never having been, I was very impressed with the servers’ willingness to explain the rituals of the at-​the-​table hand-​washing, proper eating etiquette and an in-​depth and passionate explanation of the menu. We started relatively small, ordering the vegetable couscous and beef saffron tajine. Had I known how amazing the food was going to be, I’d have doubled up and ordered 4 dishes! And then of course would have immediately exploded because the couscous and tajine we ordered were plenty for two of us. The couscous was so nicely flavoured and the vegetables that came with it were amazing. The beef in the saffron tajine was melt-​in-​your-​mouth soft and the sauce in the tajine was incredible. I also think eating it with your hands makes it even tastier.
What really blew me away was our server having brought a complementary dessert after having found out it was my birthday with a sweet little birthday candle in it (which was delicious, of course — the dessert, not the candle). The Moroccan coffee and tea we both had with the meal was so delicious. I was expecting the coffee to be bitter but it wasn’t at all; the cinnamon and orange blossom in it was just to die for. And the mint tea! Pure perfection.
I’d come back in a heartbeat. If they didn’t close in 10 minutes I might go over right now after talking about it!

We entered our cozy booth that felt like a Moroccan tent, with varying colours, patterns and textures. The atmosphere was very warm and romantic. We had the briq of mergez, beef couscous, and saffron lamb tagine, all of which were delicious. We enjoyed the fine ingredients with their subtle spices. We also ordered the pisco sour and cream soda for adults. The drinks had the right flavours, but seemed diluted. We’ll return for the food and atmosphere, but pass on the drinks.

Going to the sultan’s tent is an experience. And It is totally worth it. I moved away from Calgary five years ago. Before I left I decided to try all the restaurants I wanted to try but hadn’t before I left. I tried the Sultan’s Tent. It was an experience. One that was both culturally and culinarily beautiful. So back in Calgary five years later … it was my first choice for my dinner birthday celebration with a few close friends. We were not disappointed. Three of five of us had the sultans feast. It is costly (about $ 55) but totally ample food to split with somebody else or indulge yourself. You won’t be disappointed. The lentil soup to start was savoury and great. We tried all the phyllo pastry appies which were good. Recommend the Bastille royale and the lamb sausage one. The entries… what can I say. YUM!!! When I moved away I started to make my own tagine in my crock pot because I loved it so much and
Knew I couldn’t get tagine in Victoria. But this was a humble reminder I am just a Canadian who likes to eat and cook trying to make an authentic Moroccan dish. I had the sweet lamb tagine (honey almond and plums) to try it out. Also sampled the fish, The spicy lamb, vegetarian and a lovely couscous with shrimp. Good to share if you are with a group. The dessert, braewat, was lovely and very well paired with the Moroccan mint tea. The whole experience of sitting in the uniquely decorated booth. The attentive and Moroccan dressed server who was knowledgable and made the experience so lovely. The rinsing of hands with orange blossom infused water before and after the meal was just beautiful. Be prepared to treat yourself at this lovely restaurant. And just experience a little taste of morocco in Calgary!!! So glad I made it back and will plan to do so again for my next visit to Calgary. Learn a little about the Moroccan culture and sample some amazing food.

You GUYS I can’t even express in words how much I love this place. It’s become our go-​to treat ourselves restaurant in Calgary. The atmosphere is unbeatable, you feel transported the second you walk through the door. Private fabric-​covered booths are SO romantic for a date or just great for any sort of catching up you’ve got to do with girlfriends :)
I’ve always found the food to be AMAZING, the prices are a bit high but SO so so so so so worth it. And I am a really cheap person so for me to be saying that is HIGH praise. The cornish hen is to die for. Eat it right off the carcas and then maybe lay back on the comfortable bench seats for a bit of a rest because holy moly a «feast» will fill up two people. (cool tip! They don’t charge per person if you order a «feast» which is like a four-​course combo thing, only per feast! and one feast is enough for two people by far.

I’ve been eating at this restaurant for probably about 10 years now and it’s been consistent for those years.
The Sultan’s Tent has a great history and there is a reason why it’s been open for 30+ years. They have good food and good service, and a good system.
It’s a full experience.

Excellent place if in the mood for something uncommon from the everyday fare of North American food! Love it!
The atmosphere is absolutely great! Colourful rugs/​tapestries are everywhere, decorates the walls and individual seating areas throughout the restaurant, the dark restaurant tones down the vibrant colours to make it easily a cozy, night time feel. The background music is authentic and not so loud that people have to speak loudly at one another.
Our hostess was very pleasant. She had sat us in a room with a menu, very willing to answer any questions we had about the menu while our table was setting up.
Appetizer — The B’stilla Royale had a concoction of various spices mixed with egg, meat, and nuts. Ours came out hot with a sprinkling of cinnamon and confectioner’s sugar on top. Very flaky, very savoury, and slightly sweet. Ours was split for three people, perfect for a small appetizer.
Main entrée — We had ordered the Saffron Lamb Tagine, Mergez Tagine, and the Chicken Vegetable Tagine, all to share among the three of us. The spices were not overwhelming, but definitely notable. Most Moroccan restaurants I have been to has not been the best experience for me because of the preserved lemons, I usually find the lemons having a bit of a pine-​sol-​like or ammonia tinge that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. This was one of the very few times I have dined that I have really enjoyed the preserved lemon in our tagines, it did not have a cleanser-​like taste, but a nice addition to the flavour. Olives give it a nice saltiness, as well. The meats were cooked for a long time, it was flavoured with the spices beautifully, and very tender to eat. We had used the leftover bread to soak up all of the sauce from our tagines.
Dessert — We opted out of dessert, but ended the meal with a mint tea to cleanse our palates. It was a little sweeter than I personally preferred, but it was not as sweet as several other places I have had. Great way to end the meal.
There is two things I want to include in this review. This is one of the few Moroccan restaurants that still do the traditional hand washing at the table with the large urn with warm water (scented with orange blossom) rather than a sink near the dining area. The second one is eating with your hands. There are forks available, but the true experience is to eat with your three fingers. It also makes the meal more fun, and it actually became a conversation piece as well. Who knew eating with hands would be so enjoyable?
The price of the meal is a little higher than a typical dinner out with friends, however, it was worth it. The atmosphere, food, and service was exceptional. I will be back the next time I am in Calgary.

Food and service are excellent! Always my go to restaurant! Their food and drinks are amazing. You defiantly get enough food to fill you up. I recommend trying the mint tea and coffee, you won’t be disappointed

This place is definitely ‘an experience’.
For experience: 5 stars. The booth is huge and beautifully decorated. All the staff are dressed up in traditional outfits. They wash your hands with orange rosewater before the meal. The server explains the menu before you order, and serves everything traditionally.
Unfortunately for this place, I’m more focused on ‘the meal’ part of the restaurant. And all the meals failed to wow. Admittedly, I’m a Torontonian and have access to super authentic Moroccan food so maybe my standards are a bit high.
But given their steep prices, I really expected bigger portions, and more complex flavours. Everybody in my party agreed that the place was overpriced. Regardless, I recommend everyone come here at least once just to ‘experience’ it.

Great place!!! Loved the seating arrangements very comfortable and private. Service was wonderful. The food was very good, the lentil soup was excellent, but the shrimp in my main dish was a little dry and over cooked.

This place is great for kids. A truly unique experience for young and old.
It’s been awhile. I last visited this restaurant with a group of coworkers several years ago. It was great then and our family experience this time was equally impressive.
The prices haven’t changed much, it’s expensive but so was the Moroccan Castle (surprised to see that place gone). Between four of us we shared the Harira soup, 2 appetizers, the bread, a tagine and a couscous dish. It was more than enough food for all of us and we were completely stuffed when we left. We still managed to share a Braewat, Moroccan mint tea and enjoy some Moroccan coffee. In two hours we were in and out. I expected longer and prepared the kids with a pack full of activities. We were pleasantly surprised.
A lot of food, unique flavours, exceptional service all in a lovely setting. Thrilled we were able to share this experience with our well behaved 8 & 5 year olds.
Looking forward to the next time, we just need to remember to wear loose clothing ;).

Love this place! My husband and I went for dinner randomly one night. Doesnt look like much from the outside but the inside is so beautiful. Very quiet and the booths are so comfortable. Nice and low and relaxing with lots of pillows. You could fit 7 people at one booth. The waitress told us to lean back and pushed the table closer to us, they want you to relax! Not too much for a drink menu but your there for the FOOD. This isnt a pub. Food was spectacular and fresh. EXPENSIVE but worth the treat. The décor is beautiful with beads sequins pillows and drapery even over the ceiling. Feels very authentic. My husband and I agreed that we are going to turn a room of our house like this into a relaxation/​romance pillowy room, with a low bed, cushions, colourful & sultry drapes, under a starry sky. It is so sexy and romantic! I wouldnt bring children here.
We will definately come back!

I’ve always loved this place, as the atmosphere and décor, plus the overall experience is absolutely fantastic. It’s probably in it’s way, one of the most romantic places for a date in Calgary, though you really do have to schedule a few hours for a dinner. The whole experience is to create an oasis away from life in Calgary, and they achieve this in spades. Buuuut… part of that experience involves getting your food at, well, a camel’s pace… that is a camel after all of it’s legs have been hit with hammers Chicago mob style.
Now let’s get to the food. The couscous and tangines are simply sublime. I’ve yet to have a bad meal whereas the meat was tough or under seasoned. It’s always been tender, tasty and flavourful with the unique spices, and hints of almond, honey and mint thoughout. I’m especially a fan of the Braewat, a pastry stuffed with almond and sesame and sweetened with honey.
It’s definately pricey, but the Sultan’s Tent and their set meal is probably the best way I know for a «forgive me for not walking the dog» or «forgetting your birthday» dinner. It’s a guaranteed way to get out of the dog house!
#55 of Unilocal’s 30-​Day Review Challenge

My co-​workers and I decided to visit this restaurant for our ladies’ night dinner. We had no problem finding it, however there wasn’t a ton of parking and we ended up parking on a side street… no problem really.
We were seated in our own private room/​tent, very cozy with lots of pillows and bench seating. The music was fun and set the mood, and the lighting was perfect. Our waiter promptly came by and introduced himself.
Although I can’t remember his name, I must say he has been one of the best waiters I’ve ever had. He was a younger gentleman, very pleasant, courteous, and knowledgeable. He went through the menu with us and explained each course and what to expect. It was nice as none of us had been there before and we weren’t sure what to order. We all agreed on the Moroccan Mint Tea, which was SO GOOD!
Before our meal was served, the waiter brought a basin and poured warm water over our hands so we could wash before eating. What a treat!
We all ended up getting the Sultaness Feast, with different mains and appies. I had the soup to start, which was the perfect temperature and texture. We didn’t have utensils, and I was happy to sip it straight from the bowl. The other ladies in the group had the salad, which seemed a little more difficult to eat without utensils, but once we figured out how to scoop it up with the bread all was good.
I had the B’Stilla Royale for my appetizer, and was simply scrumptious with a mixture of sweet, spicy, and savoury flavours.
My main was the Vegetable Tagine, which was slightly spicy with fresh cooked peppers, tomatoes, and other yummy vegetables.
Dessert was the Braewat, similar to Baklava but not as sweet. Totally to die for!!!
I would definitely come back here! The food was delicious and fresh, and very unique. It was also fun to eat with our hands once we got the hang of it.
If you are in a hurry, then this isn’t the place to go. Our meal lasted 3 hours, but we honestly didn’t notice the time as we enjoyed each course and each other’s company.

The Sultan’s tent has very nice food, and we have been numerous times. We have had the sultan/​sultaness feast, the lamb, and always ensure to get the moroccan mint tea! But let’s be honest, the time required for the food, is far too long. Albeit, the atmosphere is suited to comfort and expect to spend some time waiting for your food, times 3.
The service was fine, the problem is the costs! One just cannot justify the costs for such small portions of food and the amount of time to cook it. I am torn here because the food is indeed very nice, but honestly, the menue prices make going there more often prohibitive. Parking is quite tricky also, and I am very glad there is a venue such as this to rate these restaurants, as eating out in Calgary is a culture of small portions of food for large amounts of money, and we as a group need to change the culture.
If you go to Sultan’s tent, give yourself plenty of time, budget for it, and be patient with parking, and you will enjoy.
K

I just went there tonight, this is my very first time trying Moroccan food so I have nothing to compare to. I had the Sultaness feast and there was quite a lot of food. I particularly like the bread, the salad and the B’stilla. The B’stilla was very nicely done, and tasted great with the icing sugar and cinnimon. For entrée I had beef couscous, not bad, but didn’t stand out. Vanilla ice cream with mango sauce was good, and also the mint tea (it was sweet!)
I agree that it was pretty expensive, $ 39 for the feast, I was gonna get a drink too but $ 7 is a bit much. Even single entrée it was about $ 20 – 26. Service was excellent, I didn’t have to ask them once to refill my water (I must’ve had like 5 – 6 glasses throughout the meal). But the food came reallllll slowwwww. We started ordering our food at 6-​ish, and finished at 9pm. I’m glad we had a party of 5 if it were just my fiancé and me we might get pretty upset.

I love Moroccan food. I love food in general but I have to say that the Sultan’s Tent was just ok. I found that The Casbah had a better menu, the restaurant itself was a lot nicer and the portions were waaaay bigger.
We were a fairly large group, about 10, and I was well aware that the food would take long because Moroccan food is an art and can’t be rushed and all that jazz, I get it! But it took about an hour for the appetizers and another hour for the main, and we ordered the family style platters which were self serve. The appetizers were rather small for the price points and the platters had a larger couscous to meat and veg ratio that I found odd. The waiter even told us that the wait would be longer than usual because they ran out of chicken! WTF? How do you «run out of chicken?» I’m sorry, does this menu not consist of primarily chicken? I guess they had to make a run for the Safeway just up the street.-sigh–
The service was incredibly slow and it took half an hour to get the bill. At about $ 400 for 10, no booze and an 18% automatic gratuity, and most of us were still hungry, we felt really screwed. For $ 40 a pop, it was not worth the money.
For the food quality and taste I give the Sultan 4, the service and portion sizes I give him a 2, for the dismal parking situation I give him another 2 and for running out of chicken during dinner I give him a very disappointing 1. All in all a 2.5 star rating and a «won’t be returning anytime soon» from this foodie.

The food here is excellent. The décor is fabulous. The service is great. But the prices. Way way overpriced. Fine dining prices for what is really a casual experience. There is nothing about this place that screams fine dining, yet they charge those prices.
I can recommend the place definitely, but expect to feel overcharged.

Okay, so here’s the deal.
In terms of décor, atmosphere, entertainment and experience, The Sultan’s Tent gets 5 stars, HANDS DOWN.
In terms of food though, I’m gonna be honest. Three to four stars. NOT the best middle-​eastern food I’ve ever had.
It’s true though, just stepping foot into The Sultan’s Tent makes you feel like you’ve been transported half way across the globe. It’s AMAZING. I LOVE that on weekends they have stunning belly-​dancers who shimmy their way around the room. I LOVE everything from the imported decorations, the art pieces and the statues, all the way to the lighting.
But I’m stickin’ to my case, the food is alright. Not excellent, just alright.
If you’ve never been, it’s definitely worth it to go once and undergo the cultural experience.
But I have been once in Calgary and once in Toronto and although both evenings made for a remarkable night, the conclusion was the same. The food is just alright.