Ubu Lounge - Calgary

I have been a regular visitor to this restaurant for over 5 or 6 years, back when it was known as the Velvet Lounge. Situated at the Grand Theatre, it is located in the common area before the entrance to the actual theatre itself, giving it a prime location. The decor holds a lot of history, with parts of the original theatre still visible in the flooring, ceiling, and old catwalks. The sushi is beautifully presented and there are always new items added to the menu, with Chef Tomo Mitsuno putting great care into his work. The prices are reasonable, making it accessible to all patrons, and the drinks are excellent with a good selection available from the Drinks Manager. Located in the downtown core and easily accessible by commuter train, this trendy spot comes highly recommended. The music creates a lounge atmosphere, with a regular saxophone player and DJ playing cool jazz sets. Additionally, the Ubu Lounge next door hosts a variety of musicians throughout the month, attracting a diverse crowd. Overall, a great spot to hang out on Wednesdays or Thursdays when in downtown Calgary.

Although pricey, this restaurant is definitely worth the expense. The employees are excellent, the food is amazing (they even use real crab meat in their sushi), and the beer is always cold. The location and decor are also impressive. Unfortunately, they are not open for lunch on Saturdays, but that is not a major drawback.

Oh, what an amazing lounge! The sushi was unbelievable, the customer service was spectacular, and we had an overall great night. This place is a must-visit if you're in Calgary.

I'm not a big sushi person, but Ubu manages to bring it to a place that makes it very palatable to me. Contrary to some of the other reviews, we really enjoyed it! It's website calls it Asian 'avant garde' and that is what it is! Not only are there the traditional sushi offerings, their Roasted Duck Rolls - with mizuna, cucumber, ginger and green onion oil are delightful as was the Steak and Mushroom Roll - tempura mushroom drizzled in truffle oil, cream cheese rolled and topped with a thick piece of wasabi steak. Crispy Yam and Salmon Rolls - Salmon and avocado rolls, topped with yam tempura, drizzled with spicy mayo were scrumptious. Being a novice, maybe there ARE some better sushi places in town, but I give Ubu full marks for creative presentation, tasty food, friendliness and great deals. Wednesday nights are $5 wine nights, Thursday is half price sushi and Sapporo pints for $4, I think it is. It's got a great vibe, especially when Theatre Junction is happening (can get busy), with great entertainment -worth a visit!

We wanted to try this place based on some recommendations and hype. It came highly recommended and we like the location. What a disappointment!! We found the food unimaginative, tasteless sometimes. Nicely presented, but then such a let-down in taste. We had a variety of dishes, all of which I've forgotten now. When we left the restaurant, we made a reservation at our favourite place, the Sushi Club on Kensington, for the next night. That place we can rely on.