Vi's for Pies

I've been hearing about this place for awhile and finally had a chance to check it out. Really nice little cafe. Mostly a place for desserts but they have some other food there too. The interior is nice and relaxing and has a fireplace. If you are a chocoholic you have to have the chocolate, almond and coconut cream pie. It is so rich and creamy and has a chocolate crumbly base. All of their portions are quite large and worth the money. Oh and the waitress was such a sweetheart.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: none found/13408 stony plain rd

The Red Piano

What an amazing time I had at this place last night. It's a new place in West Edmonton Mall Bourbon st. You have to go to this place. It's rather upscale though. No jeans allowed. There is a red carpet that leads up to the entrance to make you feel somewhat like a vip. Coatcheck is $3 and is mandatory. It was somewhat disappointing at first to discover that there were no available tables to sit at. The only ones we found were in the back and were reserved. If you reserve a table it's $20 we later found out. We were starting to feel like it wasn't our sort of place but then the really nice door guys found us a good table with an ok view of the duelling pianos. Yes, there are two pianos in the centre of the room with some performers that can play any song that you request. (On each table there are little pieces of paper where you can place song requests. They generally prefer $20 or so but they might get to your song toward the end of the night. They played all the well known songs of everyone's generation. Lots of Elton John to my delight and the guy singing sounded almost just like him. In fact, most of the time they sounded like the original artists.
I added this post as a restaurant review because you can get food there too. They specialize in New Orleans/cajun cooking. I chose their 3 soups sampler and I have to say, those were the three best tasting soups I have ever had in my life. One was a seafood gumbo, another french onion and the other some sort of chicken or something I don't recall, but each one was flavoured so deliciously that I highly recommend it. I highly recommend this whole place. Not only do you get a great meal and 100% attentive service (the waitress always made sure we had water), but you get enjoyable entertainment w/a bit of a lightshow. Heck even their website is enjoyable. Check it out!

Rating: 10 stars out of 10
Website: http://www.theredpiano.ca

Block 1912

I would rather have stuck with restaurant reviews as opposed to cafes but since this is my favorite cafe I wanted to add it. Located on Whyte ave, this cafe is the best in the city. It has an artsy atmosphere with comfortable furniture and high ceilings that create a feeling of spaciousness. They don't have much for food, only a certain amount of items in their display case, but when it comes to desserts, it's hard to make a choice. They are all so delicious. They also can make up any smoothy or ice cream item that you desire. If you're allergic to regular milk, they can make any drink with soymilk. I used to go here with my writing group and order a big piece of chocolate cake and a chai tea in one of those big mugs you see on 'friends'. Everyone I've spoken to loves this place.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: none found

Humpty's

The atmosphere upon entering says cozy country kitchen. It's very clean and has comfortable booths. The service is really friendly and prompt. They make great smoothies but unfortunately their food is not very good. It's probably good as a breakfast place with the family or a get together with a friend for coffee but that's about it.

Rating: 5.5 out 10 stars

Website: http://www.humptys.com

Earl's (West Edmonton Mall location)

It's trendy, clean and cramped. The tables are all in one big open space and are all close together. It's rather noisy and seems to be where the younger crowd goes to be seen. I prefer cozy and comfortable booths. There aren't any. It seems like half sports bar and half posh restaurant. As for the service, nothing to complain about. As for the food, I didn't like my sandwich at all but my husband really enjoyed his meal. Considering he's picky when it comes to restaurants, he really likes Earls including this location. He likes the food and they have his favorite type of beer.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.earls.ca

Earl's (Mayfield Common area)

Pleasantly surprised upon entering Earl's last night. After all the negative stuff I had heard about other locations, I figured this one would be just as bad. It wasn't at all. The atmosphere was warm and cozy with beautiful glass etchings throughout. There were a bunch of artsy pictures on the walls and a fireplace. The service was good, we didn't have to wait long for our meals or beverages. I had a tasty and unique meal. Actually it was an appetizer of prawns and scallops in a soft tortilla shell with a creamy lime dip. I don't usually like seafood but I really liked this. My father-in-law wolfed down his meal within minutes, which I believe was linguini with prawns. The guy behind me said his meal was really tasty once i overheard the waitress ask him how everything was. Decently priced food and plenty of items to choose from. Good job Earl's team!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.earls.ca

Fantasy Grill

Been there a few times. Comes across as fancy but is more of a family restaurant. You feel somewhat wealthy when you eat there. Nice atmosphere, good place to celebrate a birthday. I had a plate of strawberries and whipped cream drizzled with chocolate and topped with a sparkler for free. Waitstaff is attentive to your needs.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.fantasylandhotel.com/dining/fantasyland_grill.asp

Hardware Grill

Trendy restaurant downtown. Seems to be quite popular. Gets alot of good reviews. It is rather upscale, alot of people were dressed up. The main courses are quite pricey but people seem to enjoy them. I however, did not enjoy my meal, but that's only because I ordered the wrong thing. It was a little too bizarre for my tastebuds. My husband really enjoyed his though. I liked how the meals were elaborately presented, it showed they were prepared with great care. I can appreciate meals that look like works of art.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.hardwaregrill.com

Jungle Jim's

Located in West Edmonton Mall in Bourbon street. Love the interior. It's done up, well like, you know...a jungle. It's my favorite place to go for drinks with friends as they have a good drink selection. The service is prompt and friendly. As for the food, it's just your standard type of pub fare, nothing special.

Rating: 5.5 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.junglejims.ca/locations.php

Cafe DeVille

Upscale swanky place attached to the Glenora Bed and Breakfast building. Was completely packed and noisy but comfortable. The waitstaff was really nice. The food was gourmet and there is a good selection on the menu. They create a good mix of flavours. I love french restaurants.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.cafedeville.com

Mirabelle

Dated yet nice atmosphere. Has a giant chandelier in the center of the dining room. The food was good for the price. Oddly enough my husband and I, although pushing 40 were the youngest people there. Seems to be a popular place for seniors. It was a nice place to spend a birthday.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars

Website: none found

Homefire Grill

The atmosphere was rather funky but had a whole bunch of weird symbols on the walls and on the lamps. The waitress was really nice and we didn't have to wait too long for our meals. Decently priced but food was just okay.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.homefiregrill.ca

Ric's Grill

Dimly lit, romantic atmosphere. Good date place. There is a fireplace as soon as you walk in. The service was very friendly but unfortunately quite slow. It took quite awhile to get a table even though it wasn't busy and my husband waited a long time for his dessert. Nothing at all wrong with the food. Prepared well.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.ricsgrill.com

Century Grill

Although this is mainly a steakhouse, this restaurant has an upscale, classy feel to it. Even the lounge seems classy with it's piano and martini bar. It seemed like the majority of the customers were dressed up. Alot of business-like people there. Service was really friendly and we were served pretty quick. The food was good but over priced.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.centurygrill.com

Bistro Praha

Small, popular little restaurant downtown. It was very crowded and loud when I was there. Specializes in eastern european cuisine including mainly schnitzel. I am not big on this type of cuisine so instead I had a crepe, which was really good.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars

Website: none found

Khazana

Another excellent Indian restaurant. This was the first Indian restaurant I had ever gone to and from then on I was hooked. I was dead set against spicey food for the longest time but now I like it, although not all Indian food is spicey. One of the most memorable and tastiest meals I have ever had has been here. It was some sort of paneer and peppers dish. This place was big on atmosphere and even had a little stage (although no one was performing on it). You could see the naan bread being cooked in the big tandoori ovens.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.khazana.ab.ca/contact.htm

Tropika Malaysian Cuisine

Nice atmosphere, lots of seating, rather trendy. I don't recall what I ate but all I remember is that considering I don't usually like Tai food, I really liked the food prepared here. They have pages and pages of menu items to choose from at affordable prices. Not just a good place to go and eat, but a nice spot to get together for drinks with friends.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.tropikagroup.com

Joey's

Not to be confused with Joey's Only fish and seafood place or Joey Tomato's. This is just plain Joey's. Trendy atmosphere, friendly service. Had the best non alcoholic hot chocolate there as well as the tastiest hummus and pita. Also they had a unique way of preparing their mashed potatoes and their steaks are nice and tender.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.joeysmedgrill.com

Daawat

Another Indian restaurant comparable to New Asian Village and Khazana with a little less atmosphere. The food is just as tantalizing. The service is just as friendly, I suppose a little more so since the server is the owner himself. They have about the same amount of buffet items. Very impressive, have been there a few times.

Rating: 8.75 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.edmontondining.com/daawat_mayfield

Cafe Europa

The atmosphere is really nice. Comes across as being somewhat upscale, especially with the chefs being seen walking around wearing their tall, white hats. Lots of seating and overlooks the food court at West Edmonton Mall. They have a buffet that has a fair number of things to choose from. Unfortunately some of the food tasted and looked like it had been sitting for days. But the amount of all you can eat dessert makes it worth the money. They have a bunch of cakes, which taste and look fresh as if they had come straight from a bakery.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.fantasylandhotel.com/dining/cafe_europa.asp

Blue Plate Diner

Interesting 60's retro atmosphere. We were seated at an old kitchen table and chair set that alot of us grew up with. Rather loud. Friendly staff. Interesting menu items at decent prices. Cute place to check out. Perfect for vegetarians or those on a gluten free diet.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.blueplatediner.ca

Urban Diner

Cute little 50's/60's retro restaurant. If you like oldies music then you would like this place as that is all they play. I wasn't big on the food but their desserts are good and if you like milkshakes, they make the very best in the whole city.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.urbandiner.com/urbandiner.asp

The Cheesecake Cafe

Regular atmosphere, nothing very memorable. Good place to go if you are extra hungry. They give huge portions. They have a great selection of desserts, (includes more than just cheesecake). Nice waitstaff, decent prices.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.cheesecakecafe.ca/edmonton

Mr. Mikes Steakhouse & Bar

A big improvement on the old Mr. Mike's. The interior is very nice, I especially like the native art piece in the middle of the room. There are two levels so there is lots of seating. Although there's a bar within the dining area, that doesn't detract from the nice atmosphere. The food was good but not fancy. Had the best hot chocolate liquor drink there. The waitstaff was sociable. I felt quite comfortable there.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.mrmikes.ca/flash.html

The Harvest Room

Upscale restaurant inside the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. Cozy atmosphere. View of the North Saskatchewan river. Pleasant service. Perfect place for brunch. Had the best french toast I've ever had. High end prices but that's to be expected for one of the fanciest restaurants in town.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.fairmont.com/en_fa/

The Dish

Cute and funky little bistro on Stony Plain Road. Comfortable atmosphere. Friendly service. Affordable priced and unique menu items. Very much enjoyed the squash curry soup.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.runawayspoon.com

Red Ox Inn

Quaint little restaurant resembling a british tavern. The exterior is charming but the interior is the starkest place I've ever been. There aren't even any pictures on the walls. There are only a few tables so reservations are a must. The service was extra friendly as the host walked us out of the restaurant after we were done and even took a step outside to say goodbye. It is also the quiestest place i've ever been. The food was good and carefully prepared. Food and service-wise it was a nice restaurant but as you know I am big on atmosphere.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://theredoxinn.com

Four Rooms

Mmmmm lava cakes! And yay live jazz! Two of my favorite things put together equals good ratings. This funky restaurant oddly enough has four seperate eating areas. The serving staff was efficient and friendly. The second time I went there I had small samples of food called, "Tapas" which I really enjoyed.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.edmontonbulletin.com/fourrooms/

Japanese Village

Highly recommended japanese restaurant. I love the private little tatani rooms. The food was always served with a smile and I felt extra special having it brought right to the room. If you didn't want to eat in a seperate room, then you could watch the cook prepare your meal in front of you. I've heard only good things from others as well. Located across from the library downtown.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.home.istar.ca/~ncsc/

Cha for Tea Palace

If you like dim sum then it's the place to go. I however, only like some items. I did not think much of this place. It looked like an old bingo hall converted into a stark restaurant and the service was not pleasant. One server pointed to the table she wanted us to sit at and told us to sit over there. This is the main reason for the low rating. Nontheless, if you want to try something different then it's worth checking out.

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars

Sorrentino's (Westside)

The best place for pasta to my knowledge. The last visit I had veal and cheese stuffed ravioli with a lemon parmeson sauce. Nice atmosphere and friendly service. Unique touch to be able to watch the pizzas being fired up in the big forno ovens.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.sorrentinos.com

The Creperie

Nice romantic atmosphere but also frequented by families. Decently priced french restaurant. It's a place to go if you like crepes. They have a good alcoholic and non alcoholic drink selection. The food is prepared well and eating there gives one the feeling of being wealthy as it seems like a high class joint. Great place to meet a friend and get caught up on old times over a glass of wine. I liked all the bottles filled with stuff they used to partition each area.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.thecreperie.com

The Sawmill (Terra Losa location)

Really nice interior. There are mini lights all over to remind one of Christmas time. I like the pictures on the walls of loggers because it reminds me of British Columbia where I'm from. The service is okay and the salad bar is too small but fresher than some. The food is average, except for their melt-in-your-mouth prime rib that seems to be their specialty. It's very affordable and has a good selection of menu items. It's the perfect place to go with your family.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.sawmillrestaurant.com

Wild Tangerine Cucina Domestica

Unique cuisine known as asian fusion. The atmosphere was trendy and comfortable. I wasn't big on what I ordered, which was two appetizers but I had a bite of my husband's stuffed chicken and it was very tasty. It took a really long time to get our meals. We kept waiting and waiting and I was disappointed with my dessert. It's not that it tasted bad, but it was misleading. I ordered what was labeled as "fortune cookies," which I thought meant some kind of interestingly done fortune cookie. The cookies were not fortune cookies at all but regular looking round cookies with chocolate and nuts in them. It was still a nice place to eat and what I really appreciate about the evening, was that the owner of the restaurant came to all the tables and spoke to each guest like you were old friends. I felt the most welcome here out of all the restaurants.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.wildtangerine.com

New Asian Village

If you like Indian food, go there. My favorite place for Indian cuisine. At least the one on the west end of Edmonton. I have not checked out the other ones, so I cannot comment on them. They have an all you eat buffet full of all sorts of succulent and unique flavors. They have a dimly lit, cozy atmosphere with interesting pictures on the walls and a central fireplace. The service is very friendly. The price is right, you will be pleasantly stuffed and you will look forward to the next time you get to return.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Website: http://newasianvillage.com

Moxies

Good place to get together for dinner or drinks with friends. All the menu items are affordable and the food is okay. They have a good selection of food and drinks. The service is average. One server was extremely friendly. The two locations I've been to had a nice atmosphere. The one near Nait is okay but the one in West Edmonton Mall is quite nice (especially the washrooms). The west end location is very popular too. Almost every night it's packed.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.moxies.ca

Chop

Cozy and dimly lit restaurant next to Denny's on 178 st. Perfect for a date, very romantic especially with the candles on the tables. Loved the interior. It was comfortable and looked nice and particularly liked the unique chandeliers hanging in various parts of the room. Even their bathrooms are nice (I'm big on bathrooms), which had a tv and fireplace. Decent menu. I had the goatcheese stuffed chicked breast topped with a tomato sauce and sauteed vegetables and rice pilaf. I also had a starter caeser salad which was one of the best i've had. The staff was very friendly and went out of my way to get me a drink that wasn't even on the menu. The menu items were a little pricey but were well prepared. It was a worthwhile evening spent there, highly recommended.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.chop.ca

The Unheardof

This is my personal favorite out of all the restaurants in Edmonton. Although the food was good, it didn't have to do with the food itself. I'm really big on atmosphere. It had an old time feel to it with big band music playing on the overhead and antique photos on the walls (including in the washrooms). As I sat there, enjoying my meal, I was taken back in time to the olden days. Another thing that impressed me was their extensive selection of teas. They had more teas than a tea shop (or so it seemed). But what impressed me the most was how they included an extra little item to enjoy while we waited for our main course, at no charge. It was a champagne and fruitjuice slushy in a flute glass.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.unheardof.com

The Blue Pear

Wonderful little restaurant in an area of town you wouldn't expect to find such a classy joint. This is the sort of place that if you drove by it and blinked then you would miss it. It is part of a building attached to a vacuum cleaner shop and across from a pawn shop in a seedy area of town. The restaurant itself is a hidden gem and are made to feel welcome the moment you ring the door bell. Yes, that's correct, you have to ring a doorbell as if you've arrived at someone's private residence.
As you enter, you will notice how teeny tiny the place is. There are hardly any tables but that is okay. The less tables, the more personal service that you get. The staff was really friendly and sociable and brought each part of a five course meal out at the perfect times. Once I was finished digesting one course and was starting to get hungry again, out came the next course. This was the main reason for their high rating. The second reason was their good food, prepared with such care and detail, each course looked like a little work of art. I don't recall what I ate, all I know is that it was tasty and was able to eat every bite, instead of having to be so overstuffed that i'd have to take the remainder of my meal home.
The only drawbacks would be the stark atmosphere (except for a cascading water effect on a wall) and the price. It cost $100 per person for a five course meal. You didn't have any other options for price. You couldn't just spend $50 and get a three course meal. Sufficed to say, this was the most expensive dinner we have ever had but worth it for the experience.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Website: http://www.thebluepear.com/

Laura Eats Edmonton

Okay, so some people would think that spending hundreds of dollars a month on eating out would be a foolish thing to do. I say that they would be absolutely right! But when a mortgage is paid off and there are no other major expenditures, the first thing my husband and I think to do is to check out another restaurant in Edmonton. We've been here for 12 years and have done everything else there is to do, besides we're much too lazy to stay home and cook for ourselves. It's much more enjoyable to have someone else do it for us. But it does get costly. Tips alone would total the amount of the average person's monthly car payment. Fortunately we enjoy it, so I figured it's high time I blogged about my dining experiences. So here goes...