"1"^^ . . "1"^^ . "The best thing about the Block kitchen & Lounge, is that McDonald's is across the street. I wonder if business has picked up since it opened. \nFirst time I followed a review from JOHN GILCHRIST top 10 restaurants picks of 2014 from the Calgary herald and it is certainly the LAST TIME I will ever take his advice. The Block was #8 on the top 10 list. And frankly I don't think it should be in any list other than a list of restaurants to avoid. I seriously question the creditability of the other restaurants mentioned in the article. \n\nhttp://calgaryherald.com/storyline/this-should-make-you-hungry-calgarys-10-best-new-restaurants-of-2014\n \nThe food was barely mediocre and for the price! I felt being robbed at gunpoint might have been cheaper. The steak when asked medium well came out ocean blue. So blue I swear I can hear it still moooing. The Pear and WALNUT salad came with no walnuts. Two orders of the exact same pasta came one with garlic toast and one with out. You'd think they were made at the same time. The Block Caesar was 1/3 Worcestershire sauce and 2/3 Tabasco and I think an ounce of water. \n\nService was not very efficient but it was a little busy. The highlight was probably that our server was very nice. So nice that it almost made you forgive for all the wrong orders, missing items, and late drinks. ALMOST. \n\nMaybe I'm being to harsh. Maybe I came on an OFF...OFF.....so OFF Night. Though I don't know how more off you can get. Or maybe I came during another \"menu change\" as an excuse for the not so appetizing food. \n\nBTW we ordered:\n\nBread basket \n\nChicken wings (best thing we tried but that ain't saying much) \n\nPotato chip prawns (I think the prawns were going bad. It was a bit sour but the sauce masked it well) \n\nSalmon gravlax (salmon tasted little too fishy but over all ok)\n\nPears & Walnut (it was like salad in a bag from Safeway with out the walnuts)\n\nLobster mac and cheese (I prefer Kraft Dinner)\n\nParadelle meatball (not bad. Meat balls a little gamey for my taste)\n\nLobster pot pie (my friend puked afterwards. She thinks it was the over spicy caesar)\n\nArtic char (little bit dry but it was ok)\n\nSirloin steak (mooooooo)\n\nI've concluded that the Block must have a lot of good friends for so many good reviews or the new intern was cooking alone tonight. I hope things change for their sake. But even if it does I will not risk returning."^^ . "2014-12-30T00:00:00"^^ . "1"^^ . . "2"^^ . .