| rev:text
| - Scotch eggs. The moment I heard that National had scotch eggs, with soft yolks, I knew that this place was worth checking out. Right next to the Ship & Anchor, National is yet another jewel in the crown for Calgary's famous strip. So what sets National apart from other bars and eateries on 17th Avenue?
How about the food? The first thing I noticed when I first heard of this place was that the Scotch eggs were served hot with a soft yolk. By simply changing this one detail, the whole experience of eating a Scotch egg is transformed. Simplicity, common sense and imagination take a traditionally common food item, which is normally eaten cold with a hard boiled egg and transform it into something extraordinary and pleasurable.
It was also a pleasant surprise to learn that the burgers at National are made with house ground beef, which is hand chopped. This extra step in quality not only ensures the freshness of the finished product, but also gives the diner a rare opportunity, or should I say 'medium rare'. Yes, it's not often that you can order a burger these days that's medium rare, but here you can, and I can honestly say it's been too long.
The 'thrice-cooked' fries are crisp and fresh, delicately salted and very good on their own. The fact that they are 'thrice cooked' is awesome considering that many places don't even cook their fries twice.
The Roasted Chicken Club was a very generous serving of very flavourful white and dark meat in a ciabatta bun, topped with a spicy sriracha mayo, cheese and sliced pickle. The mayo has a nice, but not too overwhelming kick that complements the taste of the meat. If you're not a burger fan, this one is definitely a good alternative. If you have a light appetite, it's perfect for sharing.
Also a nice notable detail in both sandwiches was the immense quarter slice of dill pickle. I love pickles on the side and these are nice and big.
The drink selection here is very good, featuring a vast menu of beers, local and beyond. Cocktails, I didn't have the opportunity to sample on this visit, but seemed to be popular as well.
The space is large, open concept with lots of seating, including a large amount of communal tables in the center of the space, perfect for people watching. If you want to catch the game, there are a line of TVs lining the length of the huge bar. Decor is rustic, but clean and contemporary. I find that it's comfortable, inviting and the perfect place to chill out.
Next time you're in the neighbourhood, be sure to check out National, try a Scotch egg and have a great time.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)