Ricardo's Hideaway - Calgary

Cute little Caribbean rum bar just off 17th ave. The atmosphere is pretty chill and the servers were really lovely and attentive. The jerk chicken was the show stopper. A perfect blend of sweet and spicy with a great texture. The daiquiris are not blended and aren’t disgustingly sweet, which was great! The Hemingway was my fave. Stop in for a little snack and a cocktail. Rums up!

Amazing drinks, great quality of food, nice atmosphere, and great service. I would highly recommend the Piña Colada and plantain chips. Great place to pre drink or relax and sip on high quality drinks with friends or a first date eat light but feel good after a drink or two.

I really like the vibe in here. It's quaint, cozy, and personal. The music really relaxes you and you (should) feel at home. This time we ate the plantain chips which were excellent a thin, crispy and perfect with spicy ketchup. The empananadas are also really nice the crust is thin and crispy with fresh ingredients inside. Then the beef patties! Not the same as what you've probably had before and apparently they might go on the permanent menu soon. Drinks were good as always (I have a goal to drink all 28 on the menu this year). Looking forward to my next visit!

It was Friday night and I wanted to go out. Despite that night being the start of The Big Taste festival, a nine-day event of restaurant specials, I opted out. Though the reputable restaurants that participate in The Big Taste offer wicked value – a three-course meal for $20.00 and up, I don’t like the crowd it attracts and how crazy it gets.

I recently visited this restaurant twice and found that the food was not as exceptional as it was at the beginning. However, it is still above average! I almost hesitate to write a review for Ricardo's because everything they do is so perfect that I want to keep it a secret. The atmosphere is a perfect 10/10 and there is nothing else to say about it. Their cocktails also deserve a full 10/10, especially the Mojito which is made without sugar upon request and is possibly better than what I make at home. The food deserves a ridiculous 15/10 rating, as it is among the top 5 on 17th Avenue. It is hard to find a bad dish on their menu. Despite how great this place is, they could easily charge double and it would still be considered good value. The only thing they need to do now is expand.