Review The Highwood - Calgary

Awesome dining experience and our server was super attentive. The food tasted amazing and was plated beautifully. The desserts were not too sweet, just perfect!

We finally got a chance to check this place out (open after covid restrictions were lifted). The overall experience was decent. Food quality was amazing!

Great establishment to introduce older kids to their first fine dining experience without feeling as if you're the breaking the bank!🤮🏦

We were a table of six, at the last seating. The food was fantastic, good portion size. The service was very good. A little shy and not as engaging but that should come with practice. They were accommodating to taste and food restrictions. And the desserts were great.

We had a very nice evening served by polite and attentive servers. We enjoyed the pork belly bao to start, salmon entree and lamb chop entree. Meals were prepared to perfection as I asked for my fish to be well done. The lamb had balanced flavors and tender. Finished with the chocolate cherry tart. We can't recommend the highwood enough. Please remember these are students learning and practicing their trade.

It is a school, so keep that in mind. Our waiter was very green. But he was very polite and tried to be cognisant of our needs, including time constraints. The food was all around good. Would definitely go back!

The whole experience was not so good, and we definitely won't go back. The bread was from last week's class... Hard and chewy. Appetizers were OK. The soup (the one in the cappuccino cup) and salad were fantastic. The main dishes were great. My steak was cooked perfectly, but I just did not like the big chunk of deep fried hash brown with my steak cause it made my steak extra heavy. The deserts were beautiful but tasted terrible. I could not even finish one third of mine and I tried! Very bad way to finish the meal to be honest. The server never asked us how things were, and the two times that I mentioned something, nothing changed. At the end they almost charged us for another table by mistake. I caught it only because I always check my bill and felt like it was a lot higher. So, two stars because four out of seven (bread, dessert, service, and the value) were fail for us. I understand they are students, but when I pay over $110 for two, I start to expect high quality and good service.

Parking was free after 6pm and there were lots of available spots close by (thats good when outside was -35!). When you walk in it does not feel like a school. The restaurant had giant pillars that made me feel like i was on a cruise ship. Some corners of the room were very dark and there was no table lighting. We knew this place was for students to gain real life experience but the server that we had seemed shockingly inexperienced to the point that was quite entertaining. We sat at the table for 15 minutes waiting for the rest of our party and didnt get a menu to peruse. The waiter would ask a question and when answered in the positive would have to leave then come back to do the task. If youre looking for good service for the price or have low patience this might not be for you. That being said, our server was polite and you could tell he was trying his best. The food was good (slighty under salted for my taste) but portion sizes were reasonable. The desserts were a perfect ending as they were exceptional (sorry no pic cuz they were so good). A little bit on the pricey side being $50 per person and does not have a kids menu. An extra main was $20. Overall I left full and satisfied.

I’m not quite sure how anyone could assess the Highwood experience any lower than a “4”!! I’ve been going here with friends for almost 20 years. Everyone I take here wants to be included the next time we go. <br/>The food, the service, and the environment is amazing. They use the best ingredients supervised by red seal chefs. Well done Sait. I award you 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ <br/>

Atmosphere is great and I don’t mind the teaching that goes along for the students during dinner at all. The student chefs are super talented and almost everything came out perfectly. They used a lot of techniques in the cooking that was evident. It’s basically a high end meal for only $50.

I've been here twice for dinner and once for lunch in the past 5 months. I am actually going again tonight for dinner.<br/><br/>The fixed price dinner is not cheap, but well worth the price given the quality of the food and the presentation. <br/><br/>The menu does not change too often and it seems that there are certain dishes that repeat from one menu to the next. Tonight's menu is the same that I had in February, but slightly different from what I had in October 2016.<br/><br/>The wine and cocktails are reasonably priced, but are on top of the fixed price dinner ($48).<br/><br/>The service can be a bit hit or miss as the students are in training, but it is never rude or unpleasant. It is a training restaurant so the entire operation is staffed with students at the SAIT culinary institute.<br/><br/>I would recommend going at least once if you live in the city.

It took me 2 years, and I finally was able to get a reservation for the lunch buffet. I was super excited.  Overall, I think the food was decent especially the strip loin roast and salmon.  The selection was plentiful.  I didn't try any desserts coz I was too full, but they all looked really good.  Most notably, the service was excellent: friendly, sincere and attentive.  I was really impressed.  Our student server's put many professional servers, even at high end restaurants, in shame.  Thank you, Issac, for taking such good care of us and keep up the good work.Of courses, there were some rough edges but one has to take into consideration that this is a training place for students, and that's why the prices are so low.  We all should give them some slacks for their efforts.  I think it's not fair to judge the students the same way as if one is paying $200/person in a real fine dining restaurant because you are not.  p.s. Though they are students, remember to give them a good tip.  They really deserve it!!!

It hurts me to write this review. I don’t really know why our experience is so much different than everyone else’s on here, but wow… what a disappointing dining experience. Perhaps our friends have hyped it up too much for us. Perhaps our expectations were set way too high. We keep making excuses in different scenarios yet I cannot get over the fact how much I disliked tonight’s dinner...

Having a hard time choosing a restaurant to impress your date? Let me introduce to Calgary’s best kept secret – The Highwood. Located on SAIT main campus, The Highwood is known for its exceptional food and outstanding service. For an exceptional value, you can enjoy a delicious meal prepared by students from SAIT’s hospitality and culinary programs, under the guidance of renowned chefs and service instructors. Whether you choose to drop by for lunch (Monday to Friday, prices vary) or dinner (Monday to Thursday, five-course set menu at $48 pp), both require reservations.

It was a great lunch at sait fine dinning classroom. The presentation was awesome. They r all really beautiful. From the appetizer to our dessert, the experience was impress. Thanks for all the great work

Having a hard time choosing a restaurant to impress your date? Let me introduce to Calgary’s best kept secret – The Highwood. Located on SAIT main campus, The Highwood is known for its exceptional food and outstanding service. For an exceptional value, you can enjoy a delicious meal prepared by students from SAIT’s hospitality and culinary programs, under the guidance of renowned chefs and service instructors. Whether you choose to drop by for lunch (Monday to Friday, prices vary) or dinner (Monday to Thursday, five-course set menu at $48 pp), both require reservations.

Amazing night at The Highwood. We went for the 5-course dinner ($48 pp) and enjoyed every dish and moment! Look out for the remote food station which you can order dishes that's not on the menu and enjoy live demonstration! Remember to make reservation online and dress formal!

...allows the culinary students, under the guidance of their instructors, showcase their talents both through the service in the dining room and inside the kitchen.

Gourmet food and sincere service. This is a culinary classroom so the menu changes by the school term. Went to the 5-course dinner with 2 friends. It was awesome. Service is quite good and definitely sincere given that the dinning room is served by students in a class. The theme of the menu for the term is Japanese-French fusion which is definitely creative and high quality. I had a duck 2 ways appetizer (smoked duck and pate), Japanese borscht for soup, wild mushroom salad, sablefish with miso for the main, and it ended with a dessert buffet. Everything was nicely and creatively presented, not to mention it's delicious. It is worth every $ you pay for it! I cannot tell whether it will be as good when they change menu but I don't think it will be any disappointment. I will go back to try a different menu for sure.

Came in yesterday for a reunion with my fellow sait culinary graduates. The service was amazing, the food was incredible. One of my buddies ordered an Italian iced coffee (?) it was made table side and the liqour was flambéed which was pretty wicked. Can't wait to go again. I'm never disappointed when I come here!! :)

Hidden culinary school gem. Few people even know this place exists, and it's really a shame. However, considering how long in advance you need to make reservations, I'm kind of hoping it stays that way. One of the best dining experiences you will ever have is at this hidden gem located on the SAIT campus. The food is original, delicious, and the service is impeccable. When you take your last bite of one course, it is whisked away and the next is presented. These chefs are the greatest up and comers in Calgary, and it shows. LOVE this place.

Outstanding food, awful service. Arrived on time for our 6 PM reservation. There was already a reasonable crowd waiting to be seating and not a hostess or server in sight. Finally got seated around 6:20 PM once some staff finally appeared out of the back. <br/><br/>We had two servers - a drinks server and a food server. Both were reasonably friendly, but not particularly knowledgeable or competent. <br/><br/>The food was fantastic. I've eaten at many of the best restaurants in Calgary and the food was on par with what you'd expect from a high end establishment. Many of the dishes were quite interesting, and getting a five course menu for under $50 is a great deal. Butternut squash gnocchi with duck confit was a great appetizer to start. The deconstructed cobb salad was pretty good and showed some endeavours in molecular gastronomy, with the egg in powder form, but I found it wasn't as flavourful as a typical Cobb. Cornish hen stuffed with pistachios was fantastic. Dessert choices were plentiful and tasty. <br/><br/>The downside is that the servers were extremely slow and incompetent. I'm surprised they are training in hospitality, as I'd expect better from untrained high school students. Dropped off the main courses but didn't notice he'd taken the knives away for most of the table. 3 people at the table were missing knives, but when one asked for a knife, he didn't think to check that others were also missing knives, and made 3 separate trips to bring back a knife. We had a large round table, and to take coffee orders the server approached one side and took orders then shouted across the table "anyone over there want coffee" rather than make his way around the table. When my coffee cup was empty he simply took it away without asking if I wanted a refill. After showing up for a 6 PM reservation, we finally were served dessert at 10 PM (and not because we were lingering). <br/><br/>Overall great food, but be prepared to have your patience tested by the slow and awkward service.

Great food for a great price. The Highwood allows SAIT culinary students to get some real experience while providing the diner with a high quality meal at a fraction of the price of a high end restaurant. The service is funny at times with the students running the show, you get a few very nervous wait staff. It just adds to the charm. The food is always top notch and you know the ingredients are unsurpassed.

Okay, not very good. 1301 - 16th Avenue Northwest<br/>Calgary, AB T2M 0L4<br/>(403) 284-8615<br/>http://www.sait.ca/highwood<br/><br/>Some friends and I went to the Highwood restaurant at the Sait campus last Tuesday night. Now, the Highwood is the teaching restaurant for the Sait cooking programme. Young chefs and hospitality/tourism workers in training get a chance to practice their skills in a realistic restaurant environment. I'd heard about the Highwood for a number of years, always in the context of glowing praise. Given that it is just young students rather than professional chefs making the dishes I should have been a bit more circumspect, but I have to admit, after hearing all those rave reviews, I went in with somewhat inflated expectations.<br/><br/>The Highwood is an attractive, fairly large, dining hall. It's neat and well appointed, and while it isn't luxurious, it doesn't particularly stand out as a training environment. It could just as well be a real restaurant. The menu is also surprisingly extensive, again belying the academic nature of the enterprise. The way it works is that you pay about $40/person for dinner, and you get a 5 course meal. You can choose one item from each of the courses on the menu: Appetizer, salad, soup, entree, and dessert. Beverages are extra. It seems like a pretty darn good deal!<br/><br/>The trouble, at least on this particular occasion, is that the food is not particularly good. It's ok. It's edible. But it's distinctly below average, even by the standards of a chain restaurant like Earls or Moxies. This dissonance between the food quality and the high-class aspirations of the menu (Escargot Mushroom Stew; Green Pea and Garlic Veloute) does not lend itself to a truly satisfying experience. Among the 7 of us at dinner, we tried most of the items on the menu.<br/><br/>Appetizers: The Roasted Butternul Squash and Ricotta Ravioli was by all accounts ok, but the presentation was off. Why does it look like salmon? The Blue Crab Cakes were quite decent, though not extraordinary. The Escargot and Mushroom Stew was bland.<br/><br/><br/>Soups: The Green Pea and Garlic Veloute soup was not bad. The Roasted Chicken and Barley Broth soup apparently disappointed.<br/><br/><br/>Salads: The Caesar Salad was okay; The Roasted Root Vegetable Salad was worthy of a hospital cafeteria in its tastelessness (read awful).<br/><br/>Entrees: The Grilled Beef Striploin Medallion was overcooked and bland (how hard can steak be to pull off?). The Herb Crusted Alberta Lamb Rack Chops were, I'm told, not bad. They definitely seemed more tender than the beef medallion. The person at our table who had the Lightly Smoked Fillet of Pacific Salmon really liked it! I would have thought fish would be much harder to get right, but apparently the smoking in the gas-fired oven did some good. There was a Chateaubriand (beef tenderloin steak) special which apparently turned out reasonably well.<br/><br/>Desserts: Of all the courses, the dessert was the only one that didn't disappoint. All in all the desserts were really quite well made. I tried some of my friend's chocolate mousse, which had a nice light texture but was still rich and flavourful. I myself had the pumpkin brulee, which, as someone at the table pointed out, tasted kind of like pumpkin pie filling. I agree, but it was still tasty.<br/><br/>Back when I was in University, a friend of mine was in the Sait cooking programme. One thing he said at the time that has stuck with me was that appearance played a much greater role in the judging of these competitions than taste. With the exception of the ravioli, I'd say maybe the cooking programme at Sait places too much emphasis on aesthetics: The food looks good on the plate, but it doesn't work once it hits the palate. As for all of the great things I'd heard about this place from people in the past, I dunno, either they need to get out more, or this was an aberration. To be honest though, at $40 a pop, I won't be back to find out any time soon. I should also mention that getting reservations at the Highwood is a pain the butt, yet another reason to pass, unless you are in an expansive moon and are willing to go out of your way to contribute to the education of our next generation of cooks!<br/><br/>Find more of my Calgary food reviews at <br/><br/>http://vladsfoodblog.blogspot.com

Best place for cheap eats and excellent food!. The SAIT Highwood dining room has got to be the best place to go if you want a great meal at a great price. The Highwood is a live classroom environment, where students of SAIT's Hospitality & Tourism program practice their skills in serving, cooking and bartending. <br/>Because of this, the menu is always varied and changing to encourage the cooks to try new and different things and to challenge the servers on their knowledge of cuisine. SAIT is also world- renowned for their cooking program, so the dishes are wonderfully prepared and delicious, with the head chefs always looking on to make sure everything is perpared properly.<br/>Being a learning environment also means that sometimes mistakes are made (my husband had an entire tray of drinks spilled on him one time) but they rarely occur, and when they do, they are dealt with promptly by the ever-present instructors that are keeping tabs on the students. <br/>The cuisine at the Highwood is something you would expect out of a high-end restaurant, but at prices that are at least one-third of what you might expect.<br/><br/>Reservations are absolutely required and fill quickly, so I would recommend planning as far in advance as you can. The Highwood is also popular for their Thursday Buffet Lunches, which also fill up quickly for bookings. As of this review, all of the buffet lunches from September to December were already booked solid!<br/><br/>I would highly recommend the Highwood to anyone looking for an excellent lunch or dinner experience!

Went to the Highwood at SAIT for a 5 course dinner last Wednesday with Steve, Alana, Harley and Andrea. I've heard mostly good things from friends and coworkers so the bar was set pretty high. It was an interesting experience... with proper setting which

For all the positive reviews I've heard of The Highwood in the past and how hard it is to get a reservation, my experience simply did not live up to the hype.

Some friends and I went to the Highwood restaurant at the Sait campus last Tuesday night. Now, the Highwood is the teaching restaurant for the Sait cooking programme. Young chefs and hospitality/tourism workers in training get a chance to practice their s

Service was very very earnest, if unpolished. Our waitress did not introduce herself for instance, nor did a bread basket appear until we noticed one at the other table and asked for it.