Calgary’s gay community has already discovered The Twisted Element as their newest popular gay hangout, but there is another gem buried there.  When their doors open at 4:00pm every day, they are a fully licensed restaurant!

We recently decided to check out what Twisted Element has to offer someone looking for a bite to eat, and were very pleased with the selection and quality that they have to offer. We kicked things off by perusing their extensive selection of appetizers (all half price on Mondays from 4:00pm – 9:00pm). We narrowed the field to potato skins, bruschetta and meatballs. First to arrive was the bruschetta, served with garlic bread. Tart and tangy, the bruschetta bursts with flavor. The soft garlic bread is a great choice as opposed to serving crackers or toasted baguette, which can be harder to eat. The combination just melts in your mouth. The potato skins are very well done - soft and loaded with cheese and pieces of bacon. The meatballs, cooked in a pineapple curry sauce, are going to be very popular. The sweetness of the pineapple blends well with the curry creating something unique to whet your appetite. They also feature chicken wings, on special for just 15 cents each every Thursday from 4:00pm – 9:00pm.

Twisted offers four varieties of oven baked pizza: The traditional pepperoni and Hawaiian as well as  Mediterranean and BBQ Chicken, all of which are available on Friday’s from 4:00pm to 9:00pm for only $8.99. We went with the BBQ chicken and were happy with the choice. Bulls-eye BBQ sauce, Diced chicken breast, red onions and mushrooms are smothered in a three-cheese blend. The pizzas are huge and the crust, although thin, isn’t overly crisp or from being over baked. Twisted has a pizza oven which means the pizzas are created in a traditional manner. Since Friday nights are the first night of the weekend, stop by early and share a pizza with a friend!

For entrées Twisted offers a variety of classics. What is sure to become a favorite is their chicken club sandwich  – chicken breast, smoked bacon, lettuce and tomato piled on a croissant. It absolutely melts in your mouth. They also offer a charbroiled burger, either sirloin or chicken breast, served with lettuce, tomato and red onion, with the choice of adding cheese or bacon. In a unique twist (pardon the pun), the burger is served on a sourdough Kaiser bun as opposed to a traditional hamburger bun. The meat is very good quality – indeed this burger is a cut above. All sandwiches are served with your choice of French fries or their delicious mixed greens or ceaser salads. We also chose to sample their lasagna, which is served with ceaser salad and garlic toast. The hearty lasagna is served in an individual dish. Topped with a three-cheese blend, it is stuffed with ricotta cheese and covered in Bolognese sauce. It’s a perfect way to warm up on a cold winter night!

Twisted’s dessert menu varies, and has included a variety of cakes and cheesecakes. On the night the three of us visited, they featured carrot cake, white chocolate cappuccino cake and turtle cheesecake. Any of the three would be a great way to cap off your evening, all are rich and will satisfy any sweet tooth. Check with your server as to what Twisted’s dessert choices are when you visit.

Twisted Element offers quality, tasty food at a reasonable price. Whether stopping in for dinner, or getting nourishment to dance the night away, you can’t go wrong paying them a visit!

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Contributor Jason Clevett |

Locale Calgary |

Topic Food | Twisted Element |