An acclaimed restaurant in Calgary, co-owned by Chef Darren MacLean, known for its refined dining experience. It has been recognized among North America's best and as a top restaurant in Calgary.
Masako Morishita is a self-taught chef from Kobe, Japan, who transitioned from a career as an NFL cheerleader for the Washington Commanders to become a James Beard Award-winning executive chef. She is renowned for...
EIGHT offers an exclusive 8-seat dining experience, focusing on an interactive tasting menu that explores Canada's unique cultural mosaic and terroir. The restaurant operates seasonally, with bookings released for specific periods.
Customer Perception
While direct customer reviews are not provided, the restaurant's high ranking (No. 2 NA 50 Best) and the fact that bookings sell out within 30 seconds indicate extremely high demand and a very positive perception among diners, suggesting an exceptional and sought-after culinary experience.
Additional Details
EIGHT is known for its 'Cultural Chef Exchanges,' where Chef Darren MacLean collaborates with renowned chefs from around the world to create unique culinary experiences. The restaurant aims to push boundaries by creating a unique and inclusive 20-course menu.
Bookings are released seasonally (e.g., Fall bookings for Oct, Nov, Dec). Due to its limited seating (8 seats) and high demand, it is critical to book well in advance immediately upon release, as seats sell out very quickly.
Absolutely unreal experience at EIGHT. Every dish was next level — creative, beautiful, and packed with flavour. You can tell there is serious talent and passion behind every plate. The food wasn’t just good… it was AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING.
The atmosphere was elegant but comfortable, service was outstanding, and every course felt like a surprise in the best way possible.
This is not just dinner — it’s an experience. Easily one of the best meals I’ve had in Calgary. If you’re thinking about going… do it.
Now come eat at the EIGHT… it’s amazing. 🔥🍽️⭐
As the name suggests, there is only room for 8 people and reservations are a must; almost like getting concert tickets.
The atmosphere is great, you use a phone in the hotel lobby to be escorted to a speakeasy for pre dinner drinks which are so unique and delicious.
Then it's time for dinner which doesn't disappoint. We had 19 courses and each one was a piece of art and flavor was unbelievable. We loved how the chef and team explained the inspiration behind each course, which is a cross between Canadian and Japanese cuisines. My wife had the tea pairing and each one was incredible, I had the wine pairing which was very good too.
Cannot wait to come back, reservations open soon!
1
I went to Eight with my mother and up until the very end, the experience was excellent. The food and drinks were delicious, the service during dinner was great, and we were invited into the speakeasy area for a final drink, which felt like a nice touch. The head chef even came out to mingle with guests.
Talking to the head chef, my mother shared a kind story. A few nights earlier, she had attended a private dinner where a chef spoke very highly of Darren MacLean, sharing that working under him saved his career when he was about to walk away from food entirely. My mother was simply trying to pass along a compliment and casually asked the head chef to share it with Darren if he ever got the chance.
Before she even finished speaking, the head chef cut her off, scoffed, laughed, and said, “I guarantee Darren probably doesn’t even remember him.” He openly mocked her, continued laughing when she told him he was being rude, and then walked away from her mid‑sentence. It was incredibly disrespectful and humiliating to watch someone speak to my mother that way, especially when she was doing nothing but trying to be kind.
The bartender witnessed this entire exchange. When I told him how uncomfortable we were and that we wanted to leave immediately, he brushed it off by saying, “he’s Irish, that’s just how they speak.” That is not an excuse. We are not in Ireland, and even if we were, being rude and condescending to guests is unacceptable, especially after such an expensive dining experience.
I then tried to raise this issue with another member of management who had earlier told us he was there to make sure we were comfortable. While he did apologize, he seemed disinterested and did nothing to meaningfully address what had happened.
This interaction completely ruined what would have otherwise been a five‑star experience. I am appalled that a head chef would so casually disrespect a guest, and even more appalled that staff defended and minimized his behavior. For a restaurant of this caliber and price point, this is unacceptable. I will not be returning.
5
Very unique experience, and food was incredibly creative, only 8 seats available and reservations are hard to get. Start out in their exclusive lounge, Speakeasy, for starters and cocktails before heading over for dinner. Very cool bar menu including their mocktail. After dinner we returned to the lounge they called it After Eight for drinks and petite four. Darren himself came out and gave a brief intro and dropped in and out to chat with us. An experience to remember!
5
Eight Restaurant gave me a great dining experience during reservations. From making a reservation to being served, everything was handled professionally. The food was excellent, full of flavor, and well presented. The environment was warm and enjoyable, which made my dining experience even better. I had a great time and would definitely recommend Eight Restaurant to anyone who loves good food and quality service.