Leopold’s Tavern Review

You are walking downtown with stars in your eyes and a belly that won’t stop grumbling.  You dream of big things but first you need to sate your hunger.  You don’t want just any place.  You want to go to a place where everyone is welcome, the vibe is trendy, and the food is dynamite!  You look across the street and there it is.  A brick-built eatery with illuminating neon signs and a picture of a sea monster on the window.  You should be scared but instead you are intrigued.  Now it is time for an adventure. 

On the outside! Click any picture to visit their website

Atmosphere

Twinkle lights, Polaroid cameras, and action!  It sounds like the set of a movie does it not?  In this case, this place is like a film: an indie one in fact.  This joint is perfect for anybody who is an artist, musician, or just a person who is dying to find the best burger in all the land.  There are all kinds of light fixtures from vintage to modern, the walls are filled with polaroid photos of some really fun memories, and there are other artworks of all kinds that are there too.  It seems messy but I can promise you, everything seems to fit in this space like it was meant to be.  You just have to look at it a little closer. 

The wooden tables, chairs, and booths are quite comfortable and clean while music from every era is playing on its speakers which really sets the scene.  Yes, they also have TVs that will keep the sports fans up-to-date and happy.  As you can see this is the kind of place you can stay in for a long time.  The only thing wrong with this place is that the bathrooms are kind of smelly and it would be great if that changed.  It is not over-powering by any means but it would be nice if there was some kind of de-odorizer in there. 

The atmosphere

Service

“Service with a smile.”  That is what you get when you enter this tavern.  Everyone there from the manager to the server is super sweet to their customers.  They always check on you to make sure you are doing okay, are happy to let you know the specials, and if you have any questions or restrictions, they will help you out.  It should also be said that they are super fast when it comes to your order.  Even when you have an odd request or need to change something, they are good with it.  Your food or drink is brought to you in a timely fashion.  I cannot stress how great they are here. 

The Food

Food

Everything you could ever dream of when it comes to Canadian pub food is in this location.  Not only do they have poutine galore but several options that make the decision hard to pick out what meal you want.  In this case, I got their Southwest Burrito Bowl and it was the perfect dish.  They have both meat and a plant-based option which is perfect for anyone who has a certain diet.  So, I had ordered the plant-based option with the regular cheese, which is my personal preference. 

The bowl is spicy and filled with fresh ingredients that still makes my mouth water as I write about it.  The Mexican rice inside of it was cooked perfectly with the best spices, the kale slaw gave it a little crunch, and the in-house guacamole added a touch of coolness that balanced it all out.  Still when you add their pico de gallo, corn, radishes, jalapeno lime dressing and black beans you have the perfect taste of freshness.  Then you add the creamy queso fresco, crisp but spicy jalapeno peppers, and chipotle you get an explosion of tastes that you will keep going back for even though you are sweating bullets.  So, what are you waiting for?  What am I waiting for?     

The book. To buy click the pic

Book

The perfect book for this hip, historical (looking at least) and happening place is a novel called “A Love Song for Ricki Wilde” by Tia Williams.  The music from different eras reminds me of all the tunes that Ezra “Breeze” Walker had listened to and love.  The atmosphere that belongs to the avant-garde with its pictures and artwork is filled with all kinds of recollections that the place itself experienced.  And then above all there is the food.  It is just the kind of place I can see Ricki Wilde hanging out after a hard day of floristry.  She would come here just to sit in front of the bar and gaze at one of their taps that is decorated with moss and a lily.  Ezra would meet her there too and they would just sit with their favourite foods and drinks, listening to the beats. 

A little bit of Ricki

Final Thoughts/Ratings

9/10

When you find a place this friendly and a food-lover’s delight, you should not avoid it.  Sure, it looks a little messy at first and the bathrooms are not the greatest but in the end all of the good things that they have to offer trump that.  There are several amazing food options to be had that you can’t go wrong with what you pick, the music is fun, but most of all the people are authentic, artistic, and approachable.  Just the kind of place you want to hang out to unwind from the grind.  I’ll certainly be back. 

 address: 1201 1 St SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0V3, leopoldstavern.com