Donna Mac
I drove past the restaurant simply titled Donna Mac one evening and was completely taken in by the gorgeous decor and very inviting styling of this brand new eatery that is on the corner of 10th Avenue and 9th Street here in Calgary. Floor-to-ceiling windows gave me a great view of what to anticipate inside.
Here is another gorgeous interior by Sarah Ward (Two Penny and Proof). I loved the light hickory flooring. This is a sexy space to enjoy a night out dining and enjoying others company with many sharing plates to dive into!
What better way to start off the night than with this scrumptious cocktail, On The Brightside. A perfect balance of Absolut, Bols Apricot and Fino Sherry along with orange, lemon, maple and rosemary.
I was almost clapping with excitement to see this stunning plate of Roasted Beets appear as one of the first courses. The pairing of beets with grapefruit, fromage blanc, stout beer malt, and chervil was epic. I would have that again in a flash!
A small but perfectly balanced bowl of Scallop Tartare was next, served with kholrabi, cucumber, herbs, horseradish and sprinkled with poppy seeds. This was delightfully delicious!
Rave reviews were given out for the next dish entitled Pork Salad which is a unique blend of pork, cabbage, pear, chili, and herbs.
The dishes kept coming and this Grilled Brassicas which is pork sausage, espelette peppers, salted turnip and almonds was one of my favorites. The surprising crunch from the nuts and the wonderful flavor from the sausage was a unique offering that I so enjoyed.
Time to try another cocktail and this one was so pretty with jasmine tea right in the ice cube! This Tanqueray based libation, On a Larkin is paired up with St. Germain and Limoncello and is in the section on the cocktail list of While You Eat!
This Wild Mushrooms plate is made with roma rice, radicchio, apple, and red wine. It is a risotto dish and if you are a fan you will like the freshness this has to it.
The sharing and plates continued with a Pork Belly that everyone was loving!! It is served with sake steamed clams, seaweed salad, and fermented rice.
I am drooling thinking about not only the Beef Cheeks and how tender, melt in your mouth they were but how unbelievably awesome the Jalapeno and Cheddar Potatoes were. They were creamy and so full of wonderful flavor, and are ranked up there with the best mash I have ever had!
If you are a shrimp fan you will be diving into this dish called Shrimp on Shrimp on Shrimp which come grilled, fried and gravy, with Old Bay, and an old school lemon wedge!
Per special request we were able to sample the Fried Chicken Sandwich which I am sure is done sous vide and served on a tumeric bun, delish!
This Burnt Honey Cake with compressed pears and yogurt mousse is a nice change from most desserts, light and delicious!
This dessert is called Chocolate and Malt and I would have licked the bowl if no one was watching. This is a sublime combination of dark, milk and white chocolate with pistachio brittle.
I loved this 1 Bite Smore as for me it is the perfect little bit of sweet! I believe this is only $2 and after a big meal this is the way to finish things off. The top is made of crispy rice paper, so clever!
Come down yourself to try all these dishes or more! Donna Mac is located at 1002–9 Street SW(403) 719-3622. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram too!
Jeanette says
I can totally understand why you wanted to stop here! I LOVE decor myself and would love to try out this restaurant. This food looks divine!
Stacie says
Donna Mac looks like an amazing restaurant! I love that posh atmosphere. It’s just perfect for a night out.
Melissa Chapman says
A real find aand the dishes looked amazing and all so special and fit for a gourmet. I will look for this next time I am in the city around that area. It looks like a perfect date night restaurant.
Michelle Waller says
This place looks amazing. I love somewhere that has amazing atmosphere and even more amazing food!
Kathy says
This place sounds amazing. The food looks so delicious too. Sounds like an all around great place to eat.
TColeman says
All of this food looks like it tastes incredible. I would love to be able to try this stuff!
Sinisa says
Very exquisite and impressive menu. Would like to try it sometime
Chelley Martinka says
What a beautiful venue AND THAT FOOD!!!! I want to plan a trip just to eat there!
Dawn Lopez says
I would love to try the food at Donna Mac. Your pictures look amazing and are making me want to head over there right now for dinner. The shrimp on shrimp on shrimp looks delish!
Amy Desrosiers says
This restaurant looks amazing! I love the sleek look of this joint.
Claudia Krusch says
I love the look of the lights. The Roasted Beets looks so delicious I would love to give them a try. It is always fun to try new restaurants.
Stacie says
Donna Mac looks like a fantastic restaurant. I love the atmosphere and the food looks divine.
Cyn Gagen says
Wise choice going there. That food looks amazing. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant too.
susan5minutesformom says
What an understated name for such a pretty restaurant. Love the decor and the food looks amazing.
Vanessa Delia says
I’ve never heard of this place before. It’s right up my alley. Adding to my list of must stop at places!
Cindy Gordon says
What a gorgeous place to get a bite to eat. Lots of great food it looks like too!
Sarah says
Everything looks so yummy! I need to find a place like this by where I live.
Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says
Those are all awesome! It would be so nice to be able to dine here and just enjoy the good food and the lovely ambiance!
Allison says
What a beautiful restaurant and your meal is so colorful – I love to eat the rainbow! After the morning I’ve had, I could use that cocktail right about now
Nancy P says
Wow this looks like such a great restaurant to visit. Everything is so colourful and looks delicious.