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Old school and a certain crowd that likes it, but a location that has always struggled.
 
I've been at work for 32 days now - home tomorrow. Yes, it is against AB labor law - but nonetheless. First eateries I will attend - Chipotle and Nero or Bianco - for some of the best Italian food in the city.
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Interesting location. Especially with the old browns space empty directly across…
Moving from their location a block down the road?
 
My guess is get blown out of the water, as their food doesn’t even rate on the same scale of those other high end Italian restaurants you mentioned
I think these are essentially different kinds of restaurants. There are people who would consider Olia or Nero overpriced and pretentious and will never, ever set foot there.
 
I’m interested in hearing everyone’s insights on downtown’s food/restaurant industry. More specifically, where a new restaurant or bar would be most strategically located within the downtown core.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the viability of a new restaurant downtown, but I’m curious what those who live or work in the area think. I feel like our downtown is somewhat unique in that there seem to be pockets of pretty active business and vibrancy, surrounded by what can feel like a lot of desolation. I’ve quickly mapped my very broad and probably ill-informed assessment of the area, not even including some other emerging pockets, like west of 111th on Jasper, where a few interesting restaurants/bars seem to be opening up (Daniel Costa’s places, Kommune, F’n Za, etc.).

Of course a bunch of different factors will change your answer, but very generally, where exactly would YOU put your bar/restaurant and why?

It’s no hidden gem but I think somewhere on Jasper, between 101st and 109th Street, still offers some decent value. For purportedly being our Main Street, rent is not as high as you might expect. I think it’s generally lower than in the Ice District area or 104th Street. It feels like the sweet spot that serves a bunch of those different pockets (Gov workers from the south, corporate workers all around, and a little residual ice district). A few major residential projects and public parks seem to be slowly developing around the area as well, which may serve to improve evening traffic.

But I’m curious if anyone’s got a sleeper spot. Maybe an undervalued corner in an emerging area. Am I underestimating The Quarter’s? Lol
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One so-called "sleeper spot" is 103 St between Jasper Ave and ICE District. There are some cool restos such as Sabor and XO Bistro, but there are also some vacancies in the Revillon building (e.g. The Creperie) and a noticeable vacancy in the podium of 103 St Tower.

The "kind of a dead zone" in the NW may be resurrected once the Valley Line LRT is completed, but you should never discount the presence of students and staff from Norquest and MacEwan.
 
I never understood the hype when hick-fill-a opened up in WEM, there were long line ups for weeks. When the lines went away I gave it a try and found the food underwhelming. It's just another KFC clone.
 

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