Cleaver

Worst place I have ever eaten ! Took my family out for Father’s Day and I should have saved my money. Service was so slow, do not bring kids as they don’t have anything on their brunch menu that can eat and I had to keep my 9 month old on my knee the entire time as they didn’t have a high chair ! We had the Irish breakfast, Irish I’m Irish and I have never been served that disgusting plate of crap anywhere in Ireland before ! I would be ashamed to serve it to a dog ! My kids had plain old duck fat fries and eat one each they were dropping in so much salt they couldn’t eat them ! I should have saved my $ 70, for 2 side order of fries, plain water, and 2 Irish breakfasts yuck ! Ended up having to pay again as we were starving and went to Rickis :)

beautiful food (got the lambchops, fries, and tartare) though the wine is severely overpriced i’d still come back maybe just not imbibe this time. wait staff was gracious and very present without hovering, and the ambiance is divine. making it my goal to try everything on the menu, nothing else to say, just simply good food at a very reasonable price (again, barring the drinks).

After bar hopping around 17^th, a few of us ended up here for some cocktails. I’ve gotta say, if you’re looking for some interesting and different cocktails check this place out! The names alone are fun to go through: clotted cleaver, the protestant, the Catholic, smoked old fashioned. And each one has some crazy ingredient or quirk that makes them fun. The smoked old fashioned is done by burning an oak board and seeing the glass upside down on it to get the flavor! The protestant has cotton candy in it! I suggest sitting at the bar because the bar tenders, or maybe mixologists? Are fun to talk to and make awesome drinks.

Wow, what a surprise. My buddy told me once he got wings and they were awesome, so by that sole input and what I saw while walking by it for some reason I thought this was just a small bar on the 17^th avenue strip — Nope! This is a legit restaurant that boasts a menu that rivals any of the top tier restaurants in the area.
Décor is really cool, at the front that have high top tables with leather cushioned high top chairs with a soft back, small detail but to me makes the whole meal so much more enjoyable to be super comfortable. They start you off with complementary popcorn, for my night it had a mesquite rub on them — it got devoured quickly. Was with a group so we ordered a bunch of things, quick run-​down:
Candied bacon appetizer — at $ 5, a great way to start! Lamb — incredible, side ‘sauce’ (orange colored) was out of this world
Beef cheek ravioli — maybe the star of the show, very big and very flavorful
Cock — get the cock! One of the better birds I have ever had!
Tuna — very unique, long thin strips of Tuna, loved it
Beef tartare — loved it, served with mini baguette like rolls
Asparagus with speck and egg confit — pretty good but the speck was lacking
Soft shell crab slider — okay, nothing too special (the other sliders looked amazing)
Bucatini — was pretty good but not super memorable, a bit to heavy on the pasta and light on the meat (cannot recall what it was on the menu, but small bits of it for sure)
Drinks were great, the special old fashioned was good but a little too expensive to have more than one ($ 17), I’d suggest going with a Manhattan instead.

During Poutine-​Week I went on a Poutine Crawl with a group and our first stop was Cleaver, but I almost wish we’d saved it until last because it was so good it set the bar super high!
The location itself is almost so blended in that you don’t even notice it at first, but once you get inside it’s clean and bright with lots of wood and mirrors. It’s got a nice feel to it but it was rather loud as it filled up. The tables were set already with paper menus and a mug full of popcorn between the place settings. The popcorn itself was good, with a nice smokey-​cheesy flavour.
The poutine we had was Curds, Treacle-​Gravy, Whiskey Duck, with Parmesan Duck-​fat Fries. The fries were well seasoned but a little limp but the cheese on them was delightfully gooey. The gravy was delicious, with great duck fat flavour unfortunately it was a little too thin so instead of coating the fries it just pooled at the bottom of the bowl. The duck meat was perfectly cooked pulled similarly to pulled-​pork which blended well with the fries.
All in all I would eat that again for sure, though I haven’t tried anything from the regular menu yet.

This was our second visit to Cleaver, our first visit was during AB burger fest and the second was for their pop up long weekend brunch. Our first visit was great, the patio is a beautiful south facing little spot that is great for drinks and people watching and the burger was great as well.
For brunch we were able to check out more of the interior of the resturant and although we were not sure exactly what direction they were headed for the décor we eventually settled on southern farm. It was cold and rainy outside but with the leather and wood décor and gas lanterns inside it was welcoming and cozy.
Love the coffee here. It is served fresh ground in a French press which delivers great flavour but for a first time user of a French press can be a bit intimidating. I ordered the pancakes with bacon and blueberries. When it come it looks small because of the plating but really there are 3 full size fluffy pancakes and 4 pieces of bacon there. I really enjoyed the dish, the pancakes were fluffy and the bacon was extra crisp just like I like it. The pancakes come pre-​dressed with syrup but there was just enough to give the sweetness and not a drenching which I really liked. My husband ordered the hangover chorizo hash with baked egg. The dish had a great seasoning on it and the egg was a perfect creamy sunny side that broke beautifully into the hash. He really liked the chorizo as well and said it had just the right amount of spice and great flavor.
Although breakfast was enough, we also opted to order the duck fat fries afterwards. They were great. A fairly large serving that stayed crispy and were well seasoned right down to the bottom of the bowl. Don’t be afraid of the curry aioli either it was a great addition that had us going back for more.
Overall both experiences here have been very good and we will be keeping it on our list of places to return to.

I really love their cocktail menu here. Each drink the bartenders make you can tell they really put a lot of love and effort into. Food is also very different and delicious. A great place to come to if you have a sophisticated palate and love trying new things. Atmosphere is pub like with a hipster feel. Would recommend for a date night or with a small group of friends.

Came here for their pop up brunch so my review doesn’t really cover the dinner or their normal menu. I’d love to come back to try their regular menu on an evening.
The brunch menu had a lot of choice including sweet and savoury, and three different Benny’s.
I ordered the pancakes which came with bacon and blueberries. The food was tasty, but lacking enough blueberries to enjoy with the pancakes.
Our experience was fine for brunch. Service was polite and prompt. It was a bit odd that the restaurant wasn’t full yet they packed in the people so we were directly next to other couples, while there were multiple empty tables. Not a big deal, but the tables are über close together so if there is enough space they should allow guests the space.
I liked the layout of the place, definitely had a butcher type vibe that fits with their cleaver and meat theme.
The three stars are because the experience was good but nothing stood out in terms of the food or service. Again, I’d like to go back for dinner to see what they have to offer then.

I’m still trying to find something fantastic to say about this place but honestly I wasn’t blown away by any of it. The food was good but not great. The service was alright. The atmosphere was OK.
A few things kinda bugged me about this place. First their menu is confusing. I get the idea of being minimalist and designy but the wording of the headings confused me. Our waitress never explained the concept of the menu but did tell us everything was meant for sharing. At that moment I thought ‘that’s cool. My wife and I can try a bunch of stuff’. So we ordered the duck fat fries, fish and chips and the egg yolk ravioli along with some wine.
When the food arrived I was disappointed by their idea of share plates. I’m sorry but the portions were meant for one person not two. The duck fat fries were good but had too much salt. The ravioli was ok, I’ve had better. The pasta was too chewy for me. The fish and chips was a complete disappointment. The portion was small and the homemade potato chips were so salty I couldn’t eat them.
The prices for their food are expensive and the wine prices are also overpriced. My suggestions: change your website. Add some text explaining the story of the restaurant and why you plate things so awkwardly. Get your servers in the habit of always explaining the concept of the menu and be honest with portion sizes. Lastly take a dollar or so off your menu items.
I won’t return here.

Summary: interesting new cocktail lounge/​restaurant that could be improved with better service and cocktails.
Went for Tuesday «7 $ cocktail special». Ordered a Manhattan and Creamy Polenta. The latter was delicious with mushrooms and truffle oil. It definitely hit the spot.
However the cocktail was another story. It was bland and flavourless. I was excited that were using Alberta Premium Dark Horse. I use this as home everyday to make Manhanttan’s but Cleaver’s version was uninspiring and definitely not worth the 15 $.
In addition, apparently not all cocktails were 7 $ specials. Apparently, it was only a select few which was not made obvious to us. The server made good by giving us a drink for free but we had to fight for it. Table of six also has automatic gratuity of 20% which seems on the excessive side. Typically it is 18% for table of 8 or more.

Checked out this place because the décor. It’s actually a huge space with lots of tables crammed together, but stays looking like an upscale pub.
There is an open face kitchen so you can watch your food being made. They do all the meaty classics: blood sausages, chicken and waffles, some form of meat sided with duck fat fries… some truffle aioli here and there. Drink options are really inventive and fun.
Service was very attentive but not overly so. And you get free popcorn.

If you’re on social media, there is no doubt that you’re heard about Cleaver. I had their name in my head after seeing many posts on Instagram. I forgot to remember that the 777 special is on Sundays and Tuesdays, however. That’s $ 7 for plank $ 7 for wine $ 7 for beer/​cocktails. I was there on a Thursday.
The Scene:
Cleaver oozes coolness. From the sign– a simple cleaver to a witty drink menu like the Moby Dick to Moby Chick. You can tell the owners have put thought into every detail of the restaurant.
Their patio is perfect for the summer– I’m a sucker for string lights and candle lights so I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant a lot!
The Crowd:
A great spot for a group. And the menu caters to this crowd. The $ 75, 42oz «Bull» is meant to be shared and there is a good selection of sides to customize your meal.
The Taste:
Cleaver seems to follow the rule, «no Basics allowed». Instead of bread you get popcorn sprinkled with curry. Which is actually quite addictive. And the rule goes for the salads and condiments too. You won’t find a caesar salad or ketchup on the menu. If you want tomato jam however, Cleaver gotchu!
You’re also put on notice that «any modifications and substitutions will be politely declined.»
The Conclusion:
The menu is unique and has a good variety but if you are looking for a steak and potato place, Cleaver is not for you. I think with an adventurous spirit and a full wallet you can have a really great time at Cleaver. I think the next time I would go back on a Sunday or Tuesday though.

I visited this establishment with friends a while back for a birthday. The food was only okay. Highlights were the polenta, the strip loin, and the Yorkshire pudding. These items did have me coming back for another bite. The polenta and mushrooms were full of rich, earthy flavour. The strip loin was juicy and had a great balance especially when paired with the bernaise sauce. The Yorkshire pudding was a delight served with chicken liver pâté. I thought the sticky toffee pudding was delicious but hat wasn’t a thought shared at the table.
The other things we ordered were not a good experience. The tempura kale felt heavy and overly greasy that the sweet ginger dip couldn’t mask. The duck fat fries were over fried and overly salty. The seared chicken salad and the soft shell crab slider were tasty but not memorable.
Unfortunately the service was sub par. The wait staff are very helpful in accommodating dietary concerns but they seem to have mixed priorities when it comes to serving the table and taking orders. For instance, we ordered a bottle of wine and the server wanted to put away the tray before opening and serving the wine. Also, they wanted to open another table’s wine after asking us what we needed. It may have been a busy night but more attention to the customer would have been appreciated.

I love it here. The ambiance, food and service are all excellent.
We came on an exceptionally hot day. With the patio doors open, the restaurant itself was quite warm. Luckily they have an extensive drink menu.
I didn’t try the complimentary popcorn as the other members of our party devoured it, but that’s a great sign!
We really wanted to try the cock (the roasted chicken prepared whole) but the restaurant unfortunately sold out of it. Apparently, they only prepare four per day so if you’re interested in ordering it, perhaps phone and order it in advance. Oh well, onto the food we actually ate…
We started off with the lamb, buttermilk chicken and soft shell crab sliders and brie/​speck flat bread. The rest of my party loved the lamb (I’m not a fan of game meat so I passed) but I did try the korma dipping sauce that accompanied the lamb and it was delicious. The buttermilk chicken slider was very good and the soft shell crab slider was unreal. It was probably my favourite thing on the menu that we ate. It was crunchy, yet soft, deep fried goodness. The flat bread also hit the spot. You just can’t go wrong with brie! Great start to the meal.
For our main, we had the 42oz steak, the polenta with mushrooms and truffle, the duck fat fries with parmesan and truffle (they use a lot of truffle oil!), and the kale chicken salad. Steak was cooked perfectly and accompanied by a tasty bernaise sauce and topped with onion rings, the polenta was very good but could’ve been a bit thicker in consistency, and the kale chicken salad was a good balance to our salt-​laden meal! The duck fat fries were so crispy and they maintained their crispiness throughout the meal.
We finished with the marshmallow dessert which was yummy but very sweet and definitely should shared and the Guiness ice cream sandwich, which was not-​so-​sweet and I wouldn’t order that again — it really didn’t taste like much of anything.

I’ve been meaning to try Cleaver for a long time. Mostly because of a review from Dale and seeing that Cleaver makes a deep-​fried crab slider.
My husband and I ordered the Kale and Beet salad, Slider Combo (fried chicken, lamb, crab) and the duck fat fries.
Believe all the reviews that rave about the fries. So good. These aren’t those wimpy fries with no flavour. Long, crispy with a soft interior and this deliciousness I’m guessing comes from the duck fat. I would come back just for those fries.
I didn’t care for the lamb slider but I went crazy over the fried chicken and crab. The fried chicken was so tasty, I’d say the chicken and crab tied in terms of awesomeness.
The Kale and Beet salad was healthy. If you want something to balance all the mayo drenched sliders and deep-​fried goodness, I would get it. I found it a tad pricey for $ 17.

A great place to have a snack!
Me and my gff went there for dinner, and we had a couple of drinks (good selection of wines) and some appetizers and a salad.
Everything that we tried was really delicious. A salad with pieces of bread, with a very good dressing. A mini chicken burger with maybe too much deep fried bread crumbs. And the egg plant croquets with cheese (maybe a bit less of cheese would have being better)
I really enjoy my time there, it was superb.
I didn’t gave 5 stars because it doesn’t make sense that they charge you two dollars for tab water
Bottom line is that you should try it, but expect a big bill

Have had a couple of nice meals at Cleaver.
First Clever experience, my friends and I enjoyed all of the dishes, which we shared — Kale chicken salad, feta and bean bruscetta, selection of three sliders and the tuna wraps. We finished it up with the salted caramel fondue which came with donuts and homemade marshmallows — amazing! I have come back again just for this dessert dish.
The atmosphere was great, and had no issues with the service. Others have complained about the price, but we got a lot of food for a reasonable price. I have been back for dinner and brunch, and will definitely keep Cleaver on my rotation. They also have some very tasty cocktails.

This place was a pleasant surprise for Calgary. I’m a stickler and it was a surprise.
Walked in on a Sunday afternoon and took up a couple of seats at the bar. Décor follows suit with a lot of hipster décor in YYC… they’re just catching up to that style here unfortunately and in other (larger metropolitan) cities it’s on its way out… I did not see a TV… I hope there were no TV’s. TV’s need to be banned from social places.
The menu is limited and they do specify that no modifications will be made so this was a bit of a piss off at first BUT luckily they had a robust enough selection of food that Vegans & Vegetarians will be able to fill up no problem.
Looked like a great selection of beers, wines and spirits. Seemed to be quite the number of old fashioned cocktails being served as well. I did not partake.
All the veggie dishes were prepared well and plated artfully. Nothing was over salted or under cooked.
Jeff had one of their pork belly sliders (which are full sized) and was pretty impressed with the taste. They do them up pretty large so you have the option of ordering just one.
Decent pricing for what you get. After all, Moxies is trying to charge $ 20 for one of their hideous salads now so you can’t complain.
I’d go back for sure.

The room is exceptionally well thought out with attention to detail everywhere that ties into their rustic, industrial, quasi-​romantic slaughterhouse look. Please bare with me as I bark out single sentences relating to the super cool things I saw, tasted and experience here for the remainder of this review.
Extra Touches/​Cool S#!+:
Plastic handled cutlery like your grandparents had. Tin bowl-​plates like when your parents took you camping. Cocktail glasses that, depending on the drink, range from glass bottles stuffed in brown paper bags, to classic whisky glasses, to copper mugs. Tap handles made from rusty cleavers and vintage meat mallets on an antiquated looking iron pipe bar. Chicken wire and reclaimed would cabinet fronts. Old wood, raw metal and concrete everywhere. Leather bar stools with pipe bases. Bill holders made from hollowed out bone.
The Food: Gourmet’ed up classics. They start you off with complimentary truffle popcorn served in a tin mug. Double cooked duck fat fries topped with salt and pepper served with curry aioli — $ 7 and totally delicious. Get this as a side if you opted for the sliders like I did. For $ 21 you can get the Slider Trio — 3 sliders of your choice. We went with the Pork Belly, The Crab, and the Beef. For $ 7 a slider, I’d expect quite a lot and Cleaver delivers. While the sliders are built on micro burger buns about and inch and a half in diameter, they’re piled so high they take a wooden BBQ skewer to hold them all together.
The service was rad. We received a positive greeting from the very beginning that encouraged to check the place out. Full disclosure — I was looking to grab a cocktail at Ox & Angela but they were closed for a private function so we wandered over to Cleaver. I’d been very excited to go for a full-​on dinner here but didn’t think it was the right kind of place to stop by for a cocktail or two. The friendly gent assured me that we were in fact in the place we needed to be and that there was a cocktail revolution happening inside Cleaver.

Wow. I have not had such a great experience as I had last night at any place in Calgary in a long time.
This place is awesome. The food is fantastic and unique. The service is friendly and the ambience is very cool.
First of all, its busy there. In a great way. But things run very smoothly and no one makes you feel rushed.
The menu boasts a lot of delicious and inventive small plates as well as some larger items for sharing. We have the kale tempura (yum), duck fat fries (could not stop eating these) and the strip loin steak to share (melt in your mouth). But by far my favourite was were the scallops and blood pudding. Just wow. I could have eaten 10 plates of those. We finished the meal with toffee pudding. Delicious. All the food was perfectly cooked (and showed up hot!) and served in a casual rustic style. Its definitely a classy casual kind of place!
They make a «smoked» old fashioned and the preparation and presentation are worth whatever the price of the drink is. They put a lot of care and love into the details and it shows in everything you experience at Cleaver. All the servers were knowledgeable, super friendly — it already has a neighbourhood feel despite not being open for very long.
I cant wait to go back and try the sliders — we spied some from afar and they look spectacular!