Model Milk has consistently been on the Avenue Magazines Best Restaurants list for Calgary so I was really stoked to try it out! Went here for dinner around 5 pm which is when they open up so I didn't have to wait too long to be seated without a reservation Yay! They actually have a huge space inside with two levels of seating - something that I really didn't realize when I just walked by it. It has a casual pub like decor on the inside which was really unexpected given their fine dining options on the menu. The server was really nice and let us know that everything they cooked with was locally sourced which is really impressive.
We tried the fricasse of calamari, hand rolled rye cavatelli and the pine haven grass fed beef.
The calamari had a spicy and tangy flavor to it and it had croutons and edamame mixed in to it as well. This was an interesting combination of ingredients - I would recommend it. The cavatelli had carmelized onions and was topped off with a poached duck yolk which we then mixed in with the pasta. This dish was not my favourite. The pasta just tasted like yolk in the end. I ended up mixing it with the calamari and that tasted good! The beef was amazing! It was charred on the outside and cooked medium on the inside. It was done really perfect and was placed on a bed of creamed kale and red wine which was a really great combination. I would get this again for sure!
The place was on the pricey side and there were items on the menu that were up to $100. However, they are using local products and making great food so it does warrant trying out at least once! Pigeonhole is another restaurant that is run by the same chef so you could do either one!