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| - First off I would like to note that before the renovation, Ox and Angela was my favourite restaurant in Calgary because of their expertly crafted flavours and attention to detail in everything they served.
I came here to try the "new" restaurant aka renovation and left utterly disappointed and heartbroken that the restaurant I loved is a mere shadow of its former glory.
I came here for the happy hour and tried about 8 things on the menu plus 2 drinks. I politely asked the bartender if they still have the delicious Ox cocktail but he shortly said "that's never coming back" so I ordered another instead. I was shocked to see that the pork belly was gone, fried artichoke hearts with Harissa gone, and other delightful items had been nixed. The Persian dates, normally delightful, were over-saturated in overly acidic sauce which burned my tongue and overpowered the entire date....it tasted awful. The steak, always the best thing, was served to me dried out on top of a tasty green sauce but again, the cut of meat was junk and the recipe was changed for the worse. The octopus was served whole and fried, usually my favourite item, but frying it just destroys the delicate flavour! I did notice that much more care and attention to detail was given to people ordering after the happy hour ended, aka better cuts of beef, so beware that half price is no deal at all because you get half the quality (in my experience and observation).
Unfortunately, although the new ambiance is cool, it caters much more to young people looking to drink at a bar instead of dining and having a nice meal. As a result, I have the impression that following other restaurants in Calgary (like Parc Brasserie), this place has dumbed down the flavours in the menu for the average Calgarian. Let's be honest, young people in Calgary demand good deals in lieu of exquisite food, and unfortunately Ox Bar caters to that market now.
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