Talk of the town restaurants in Edmonton
Certain restaurants tend to cause a buzz – sometimes even before the doors open. Whether it’s the food, the chef, the location or the backstory (or all of the above) that has us talking, the names of these establishments have lingered on our lips. And, none of them show signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Rostizado
102-10359 104 St NW, Edmonton AB T5J 1B9There was tons of buzz about Rostizado before it even opened, thanks to its super popular sister restaurants, Tres Carnales. But, Rostizado is no copycat; instead, the restaurant does its own thing: big platters of slow-roasted meats and amazing traditional Latin cuisine. The hearty meals are festive, brightly coloured and full of flavour.
Ampersand 27
10612 82 Ave NW, Edmonton AB T6E 2A7The mysterious name (the ampersand used to be the 27th letter of the alphabet), along with the fact that this would be Chef Nathin Byes first solo restaurant after his sudden departure from the Lazia group of restaurants, which included the iconic Wildflower Grill, created a lot of hype about the restaurant. The inventive menu, which includes dishes such as pig ear pad Thai and pressured octopus, will continue to hold our attention.
Daravara
10713 124th Street NW, Edmonton AB T5M 0H2Prior to its opening, this neighbourhood pub was shrouded in mystery (no website!). But the whole 124 Street area knew it was coming, and speculated wildly about what Daravara would bring to this booming area. The answer is a homey atmosphere and casual pub grub that is a few notches above other pubs in terms of taste and creativity. One surprise that has kept everyone talking about this spot is their brunch: it is shockingly good.
Meat Barbecue Ltd
8216 104 St Nw, Edmonton AB T6E 4E6As soon as that beautiful, glowing blue sign went up on the exterior, proclaiming with four little letters what would soon be enjoyed inside, people got excited about Meat. And, that remains true to this day – carnivores are still going crazy for the brisket, fried chicken, crazy good sandwiches and delicious sides.
RGE RD
10643 123 Street NW, Edmonton AB T5N 1P3Chef Blair Lesback created years of hype for his first restaurant by holding fancy dinners under the stars at rural locations around central Alberta. It was then that we all first caught wind of his love of local producers and partialness to whole-animal cooking (tip to tail, no waste). When RGE RD finally opened in 2013, it did not disappoint. It instantly won a slew of awards, along with our hearts.
Bar Bricco
10347 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton AB T5J 1Y5This light snacks and drinks hangout is the long-awaited follow-up to Chef Daniel Costa’s brilliantly successful first restaurant, Corso 32. This means everyone waited with bated breath for Bar Bricco to open its doors. Now that it is here, the creative, playful menu – a one-bite egg yolk ravioli, anyone? – continues to keep our attention.
Woodwork Restaurant
10132 100 St NW, Edmonton AB T5J 0N8Located in the historic McLeod Building downtown, Woodwork caused a stir when it opened because it was different than anything else you could find downtown. Items like smoked chicken drumsticks are on the same menu as smoke-roasted bone marrow and Cornish game hen. Wood-fired meatballs and clams co-exist in peace, while the brassica salad has gotten diners excited about kale.
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