Forty stories above downtown Calgary, Major Tom is a glamorous steakhouse reimagined for the modern age.
8
Major Tom
Calgary
Street Address
700 2nd ST. SW, 40th Floor
City + Province
Calgary, AB
Reservations
Yes
Website
Visiting Major Tom is like riding a well–appointed, solar–powered rocket ship to a distant galaxy for a good Alberta steak. Our space odyssey begins at Stephen Avenue Place in downtown Calgary where we’re directed to an express elevator that launches us up to the 40th floor.
Meet the majors: Executive chef Garrett Martin and chef de cuisine Garrett Rotel; fire up dessert with the boozy “Old Fashioned” Baked Alaska.
The glittering 198–seat dining room soars above the land, showcasing the wide–open prairie below so expansively, it feels like you could walk the floor forever to take in the panoramic views. Or, you could settle into Frank Architecture’s vision of a late–1960s, dark wood–, leather–and bronze–accented luxury spaceship, for which the wickedly clever bon vivant Truman Capote was the inspiration. His spirit twin, a dandyish server, glides by in shorts and loafers – not to mention a blue cravat.
The cocktails are so good you will forget your space fright: Major Tom “originals,” “covers” of classics and, for grown–up space cadets, hibiscus Jell–O shots made with a naturally fermented Hungarian red wine. We tuck into a fresh and lively golden beet salad dotted with smoked cheddar, horseradish and woodsy pine–nut vinaigrette, and then a savoury plate of English–cut prime rib from Alberta Prime. (No need to take your protein pills.) Major Tom’s head may be in outer space, but its careful sourcing is down to earth, calling on farms and ranches planted on provincial soil below.
Nibble on Alberta snow peas in parmesan and crispy hen egg with pepperoni jam in a dining room with a view.
The haunting scent of bergamot in the Earl Grey mousse of your London Fog Verrine dessert will linger on, further proof that Major Tom has really made the grade.
Don’t miss: A stroll around the expansive dining room to take in the panoramic views of the city laid out below.