We can’t help but love Chef Michael Noble’s Calgary restaurant, NOtaBLE. It’s comfortable and cozy and describes itself as serving gourmet comfort food. (And the name’s pretty awesome to boot, no?) Located in Calgary’s Bowness district, NOtaBLE attempts to create a sense of community by bringing people together over a plate of local, sustainable food that dazzles tastebuds. The care that has been put into this restaurant really comes out in the details. NOtaBLE pours premium 4-stage filtered “Q Water” which the restaurant charges $1/litre for so that profits can benefit local charities.
NOtaBLE believes in switching up the menu, but not so often that diners can’t establish a favourite dish. Each day of the week, NOtaBLE offers a different rotisserie feature, though the 28-day aged prime rib takes up two nights because everyone knows how much Calgary diners love a good cut of beef. Once a month, NOtaBLE Restaurant puts a different burger on their menu.
The entrée offerings cover a wide variety of tastes, so there will be something to tempt every member of your party. Seafood lovers should check out the Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Bake with wilted spinach and aged cheddar. For a twist on an old classic, sample the Ravioli of Confit Chicken with roast mushrooms and Boursin cheese. Be sure to save room for dessert so that you can try the legendary Stilton cheesecake with rhubarb compote. There’s even a take-out menu for those who would rather eat at home than make a reservation or wait for a table. NOtaBLE offers a full 4lb rotisserie chicken on their takeout menu that, frankly, puts the to-go chickens at the grocery store to shame. For an inside look at the goings-on inside the kitchen, check out the “hot seats” at the bar with a view of the rotisserie. NOtaBLE Restaurant, 4611 Bowness Road NW, Calgary, 403-288-4372.