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| - I'm glad the the Coup exists, and that it's been able to survive for almost 7 years now, especially in an area that has seen the rise and fall of many other restaurants.
But to me, the Coup is just okay. And "just okay" isn't a bad thing. It just means I don't think it's the greatest. There are many places now in Calgary that, while aren't a completely vegetarian restaurant, are happy to accomodate a vegan lifestyle. If you don't believe me, you can check out my list that has almost 125 restaurants on it.
What it's great for is accommodating not just a vegan lifestyle, but dietary restrictions (I have several friends that can't have dairy, and others that have gluten allergies) and sensitivities. The staff is well-versed on what is and what isn't in the entrees, so you can order something and not be worried that you're going to get surprise whipped egg sauce.
I had their Upstream burger served in a brown rice tortilla, since I can't have their focaccia. It was nice, but rich and heavy. Even served inside a thin tortilla, so I can't imagine how much more lead-balloon-y I would've felt if the burger had been served with the standard bread. A tomato slice or even some ketchup would've done wonders for it. Also, when I bit in to one side, all I got was a huge mouthful of vegan aioli.
It was served with their soup of the day, which I liked better. It was a cozy, hearty bowl of lentil soup where the lentils were still intact and gave the broth a warm, nutty flavor.
My friend had their peanut satay noodle bowl, but could barely get through it because it was overloaded with way too much sauce and way too many peanuts. Restraint, chef! You could've served the noodle bowl with a plate of crackers for dipping in to the sauce, that's how much there was.
So, hit and miss. If I could rate them 3.5 stars I would, because I did appreciate the friendly and prompt service. And I do like that Meet is across the room, and you can order drinks and appetizers while you wait for a table. But at the end of the day, I'm there for the food, and the food is just okay for me.
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