The Varbar Restaurant Review
When you are taking a walk in an ordinary neighborhood and you find an intriguing restaurant that just seemed to magically appear, you might want to check it out. *Correction* You have to check it out! This special place is called “Varbar by Moonlight & Eli.” You will find it hidden away on Richmond Road in the Southwest. It can be missed so keep your eyes peeled and GPS on.
Come inside! The door is open.
Atmosphere
Think gothic mystique and Victorian elegance mixed together in one small but sexy space. That is what you can expect when you walk into the Varbar. It’s like walking into a hidden French bistro for a secret rendezvous with a lover. Perhaps they are a secret agent or from the wizarding world looking to escape from Azkaban.
The walls are adorned in black and gold to create a luxurious atmosphere where anything can happen. Vintage crystal lanterns hang from the ceiling and give off mystical vibes, candles are on every table to put you in that sensual mood, and intricate mirrors that make you wonder if you stepped into a secret realm where magical things can happen (maybe even something romantic *wink*). This place is perfect for a passionate date night or a fun night out with some fabulous friends. Varbar is exciting and yet it is a warm, safe environment that is welcoming to everyone.
Bring on the Mystery and Magic
Service
It is a little slow but you have to give them a little leeway due to the fact that there is only one person there to do everything by themselves. And boy our lady server delivered! She was a marvelous hostess; kind, attentive, and she knew everything she needed to know about the menu. Her knowledge of wine is mind-blowing and she manages to let us know the differences in the chocolate fondue flavours. Suffice to say, we have tipped her well. She earned it!
Pop the champagne
Food
Now to what we are really here for; the food. And when it comes to food there is nothing a fondue can’t do. And this was an excellent one to be had. The Swiss Fondue for Two is what was ordered. It was a fine mixture of Gruyere and Emmental cheeses that is creamy, rich and flows like a river for your palate. What you have with it is up to you but when you order you automatically get granny smith apples, cocktail onions, bread cubes, and potatoes. Each one of these gives off a unique favour like the apples have a tartness that balances out the cheese and brings it to life or the cocktail onions have a pungent punch but not overpowering. Luckily you can have add-ons which includes but not limited to: grape tomatoes, broccoli, pickled mushrooms and asparagus. Now these items also bring something interesting to your tastebuds to make it all unforgettable.
To finish it all off you want to have their chocolate fondue for two as well. Unlike the cheese, you have three choices: original Belgium dark chocolate, Sweet Bella chai chocolate, or Sweet Bella salted caramel chocolate. We ordered the Sweet Bella chai fondue and we were not sorry. It was a sweet but spicy treat that went with every single fruit, marshmallow, and wafer cookie that our server brought us. Just writing about it right now makes me want some by my computer just so I can nibble on it as I go.
The best wine (or champagne as it is a champagne bar) to go with all of this is their feature flight option. They give you three different kinds of champagne that give you a variety of tastes and textures to explore. The first one is a light crispy introduction, the second is a little dryer, while the last one gets a little bit sweet. If you don’t know what you want then this is the perfect choice. If you love all kinds of champagne or just can’t decide you know you picked the best way to go if you want to take a few flights of fancy.
Chocolate and chai, lets get spicy!
Book
The best book pairing to go with this awesome little eatery is called, “In the Moonlight Hours” by Rory Spickett. This particular book is a supernatural mystery that is set in Montreal which this restaurant has the same feel as the famous French metropolitan with its charm and character. Speaking of character, I can see this being the same kind of place that Zara the nightclub owner would either own or visit at with her necromancer boyfriend Lucien. With its elegance, nightly ambiance, and mysterious atmosphere is the perfect place to read a cool novella that is about the unknown. Even the food itself feels like old-time French culture which is present in Spickett’s book. Something that is worth the read and visit at least once in your life.
A book that is meant to be read in the dark corners of a restaurant
Final Thoughts/Ratings
8/10
One of the best and most romantic places I have ever been to. Just the feel of this restaurant is the perfect place to give you that little sense of daring without actually being in any kind of danger. The fondue is absolutely mesmerizing with its creamy delights and different items to dip into which gives it a unique flavour with each bite. Everything about this place is a wonderful experience.
Its only downside is that it is expensive and it can add up in the bank account. But at least you get what you pay for. It is also quite hard to find and can be missed if you are not paying close attention. But not to worry, once you do find it you will not want to leave. I would go back to this place again in a minute. Everything about it makes one want to “Dance in the Moonlight.”
VarBar
2915 Richmond Rd SW
Calgary, AB
Thursday - Saturday
5PM - 10PM
Sunday
3PM - 8PM
Tel: 825-449-2334
Email: moonlightandeli@gmail.com
Let’s dance in the moonlight!
