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Essence - Westin Calgary Reviews List
Essence - Westin Calgary
A place to replenish, renew, and nourish. Whether sitting down for a business meeting or a special occasion, you’ll enjoy the stylish atmosphere and fabulous menu, which showcases Alberta's many flavors.
See more Essence - Westin Calgary details
60 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Rating Breakdown 60 reviews
5 stars
(7)
4 stars
(34)
3 stars
(15)
2 stars
(4)
1 star
(0)
Food
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- great for lunch(29)
- good for groups(13)
- fit for foodies(7)
- great for brunch(7)
- special occasion(5)
- neighborhood gem(2)
Essence - Westin Calgary Reviews List
Review 1 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Mother's day Nosh
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"At the last moment, we decided we wanted to go for Mother's day brunch. Everything was booked solid but Essence had an opening. Food was great, servers were attentive and the dining area had room to move as the tables were nicely spaced apart. With two small kids, it was the best we could have hoped for. We would go back."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: good for groups, great for brunch, kid-friendly, great for lunch, special occasion
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Review 2 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Mother's Day Brunch
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Went for the Mother's Day Brunch and loved it. I actually liked the fact thatt it wasn't a full brunch spread with carved meat and salads, it was only breakfast. The bacon was the best I have ever tastted at a buffet. They had an awesome omelet station and lots of fresh fruits and pastries. The only thing that was missing is the pancakes or french toast. I was fine without it but my kids missed them, although they did like the cinnamon buns. They did have crepes with chocolate sauce and bananas as well. All in all a great Mother's Day Brunch."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: great for brunch
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Review 3 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We went to Essence for Mother's Day brunch and the buffet was delicious. Lots of good choices. Nicely located in the Westin hotel."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: great for brunch
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Review 4 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
This was my first time at
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This was my first time at Essence and I went for breakfast. I noticed they had several healthy choice options on their menu and I look forward to going back and trying them all!"
Dined on 24/04/2013
2012
Special Features: great for brunch
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Review 5 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The waiter was not very helpful.
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The waiter was not very helpful. Didn't refill our glasses and when asked about an item on the menu, he told us to just look at it. He didn't bother to explain further. He was kind of overly attentive but in a useless way. He asked us about needless things instead of focusing on what we could've wanted. Plus, he talks to fast that you can hardly understand what he's saying.
Food wasn't great this time. Two dishes came swimming in some broth with didn't look appealing and not enough vegetables on the side. Won't go back again."
Food wasn't great this time. Two dishes came swimming in some broth with didn't look appealing and not enough vegetables on the side. Won't go back again."
Dined on 17/04/2013
2012
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Review 6 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Great food and service, the
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Great food and service, the ambiance could use some work."
Dined on 16/04/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for lunch
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Review 7 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
I have been to Essence for
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"I have been to Essence for business lunches several times and they have always come through with good service and food."
Dined on 10/04/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups, great for lunch
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Review 8 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
All things considered, the
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"All things considered, the food was just ok and that does not equal the price point."
Dined on 03/04/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies
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Review 9 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
very professional great for
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"very professional great for business lunch....good replacement for the now gone commerce club dining room"
Dined on 03/04/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, great for lunch
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Review 10 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Our server was excellent -
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Our server was excellent - pleasant, prompt and helpful. Meals were delicious. But $5.00 for a cup of tea? Really?"
Dined on 26/03/2013
2011
Special Features: great for lunch
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Review 11 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Outstanding!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Excellent service and food through and through. Went there for a business lunch for 9 people. Still with that number of people, our food came almost quickly and server was attentive to all of us constantly. Would definitely recommend and will use again!"
Dined on 25/03/2013
2012
Special Features: good for groups, special occasion, great for lunch
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Review 12 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Where's the menu?
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The food was great, though the lack of a menu detailing the dishes meant that we still don't know what was in the ravioli - our server said that she'd never eaten it so didn't know! And that was the only down-side, the lack of a written menu. I'd eat at Essence again, hopefully when it's a bit less busy."
Dined on 08/03/2013
2010
Special Features: good for groups, great for lunch
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Review 13 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
This was a wonderful restaurant...u
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This was a wonderful restaurant...unexpected since it is a hotel restaurant. The food was absolutely wonderful! Will try it for dinner sometime, but for lunch, I'd definitely recommended wholeheartedly!"
Dined on 21/02/2013
2012
Special Features: great for brunch, late-night find, neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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Review 14 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Poor Service
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The restaurant was about 1/3 full and there were plenty of staff. It took us over 35 minutes to get our meal after ordering. We had to ask another server (ours was hard to be found) how much longer our order would take. It was lunch hour after all. I saw our waiter walking around adding salt & pepper shakers to tables, yet he seemed to be oblivious to us. People around us were getting their meals quicker and leaving before we even got ours. Not once did our waiter ask us how our lunch was. Terrible, disrespectful service. I would not recommend this place at all for lunch. Too slow and rude service."
Dined on 22/02/2013
2012
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Review 15 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
I would like to see calories
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"I would like to see calories listed for each meel.
Vegan diet is getting popular."
Vegan diet is getting popular."
Dined on 19/02/2013
2009
Special Features: great for lunch
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Review 16 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Great hidden gem for lunch,
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
"Great hidden gem for lunch, never seems to get booked. Food is great however there is one particular service, an older man who is terrible at customer service."
Dined on 31/01/2013
2012
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Review 17 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
The service was outstanding
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The service was outstanding and the food was too. The decor is a bit dated and I felt like I was sitting in a cave. Time for an update?"
Dined on 29/01/2013
2006
Special Features: great for lunch
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Review 18 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
This is a great place to eat
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"This is a great place to eat and to be able to visit with your lunch/dinner dates. There is no loud music to overpower conversation and the food and service is excellent!!!"
Dined on 17/01/2013
2008
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
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Review 19 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Great place for a quiet lunch
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Great place for a quiet lunch or dinner"
Dined on 25/01/2013
2006
Special Features: good for groups, great for lunch
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Review 20 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Poor service. Not enough
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Poor service. Not enough servers working I assume."
Dined on 24/01/2013
2010
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Review 21 for Essence - Westin Calgary
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The restauarant is nicely
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"The restauarant is nicely located, well lit and has a great downtown lunch feel to it. The menu is good, well priced and has variety. The food was ok, I had a burger that was slightly overdone and my guest had a cobb salad which she said was great.
The service was average at best; start to finish service was 90 minutes, no drink refills (the waiter didn't come back to our table once), we sat for 10 minutes after lunch waiting on the bill and then a further 10 minutes waiting on the server to bring the credit card machine, during which time my guest had to leave for a meeting. The restauarant wasn't very busy although the server was likely serving 6 tables."
Dined on 22/01/2013
2010
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Essence - Westin Calgary
Based on the average of (39) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
5 out of 5 recommend this product
Food
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.2
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic