8216-104 Street (587)–520-6338
Angela’s Selection
Go figure… The yogi amongst us picked the place called Meat.
Upon entering, the restaurant definitely had a cafeteria feel. The tables were
a light wood colour and there were so many of them! It was also noisy like a
cafeteria. Every day, Meat smokes over 700 lbs of meat. In their words, when
they are out, they are out. In terms of food, there were no appetizers. Food
was served family-style (share and share alike). To simplify matters, we
ignored the sandwiches and ordered a platter of assorted meats: beef brisket,
pulled pork, BBQ ribs, smoked apple-glazed chicken, fried chicken and Andouille
sausage. Complementing the meats, there were four house-made sauces: cherry,
spicy, bourbon and mustard. We wanted to fill every square inch of the table
with food so we ordered several sides as well: Brussel sprouts, coleslaw, mac
and cheese, garlic fries and the largest pickles one dollar could buy. Now that
the table is set, each person had their own strategy for eating. Bree’s was
fast and furious (inspiring us all to go into attack mode). Fighting her
anxiety, Ang tried to keep it slow and steady so she wouldn’t overdo it. She
says she has had problems with buffets in the past. Dave was a stacker. Every
morsel of meat had to be accompanied by a slice of pickle, a garlic fry or two,
a little mac and cheese… you get the idea. As an invited guest, Graeme just did
as he was told. There wasn’t a dry piece of meat on the table. The sides weren’t
exceptional but then again, the restaurant’s name isn’t Side Dishes, is it? The
desserts we ordered were peach cobbler, pecan pie and bourbon banana parfait.
They were all delicious but that BB parfait was outstanding!!! Full bellies and
full hearts were shared by all. After a seven month hiatus, this dinner club
will be remembered for reconnecting as much as for sharing an enjoyable meal.
The Parlour – November 28, 2014
10334-108 Street (780)-990-0404
Dave’s Selection
Dave’s Selection
The sign and outdoor fireplace stoked our imaginations but
the Parlour’s interior failed to live up to its namesake. Once inside, the
ceiling was vaulted enough to accommodate a loft. The main level featured a
wood-fired pizza oven. Otherwise, the tall tables and open bar felt more like a
lounge than a parlour. Maybe if we had ventured up to the second level, we
would have enjoyed the atmosphere a little more. The appetizers, on the other
hand, were fantabulous. Bree: carpaccio, Dave: meatballs, Angela: cauliflower
fritto… delicious, scrumptious, delectable… these appetizers alone were worth
visiting the Parlour again and again. So too was the wine. The Sandhill Pinot
Gris went down so smooth a second bottle was ordered. Now to describe the main
course. Bree’s excitement for the signature Parlour pizzas was quickly cooled
by the Gamberi which sucked royally (in her exact words). Dave dove into the
spaghettini and meatballs. This variation on a classic dish was okay but
definitely not memorable. Angela was pumped to be in an Italian eatery so she
ordered the lemon prawn linguine. There was a lot of pasta but not a lot of
flavour. All in all, the entrees were a bit of a let down. In no particular
order, the desserts were the lemon tart, the chocolate torta and a
coconut/mango gelato. Of the three, the gelato was the best but you can’t go
wrong with Pinocchio. Time to wrap it up! Although this wasn't the best Dinner
Club experience, getting together before the holidays was just what we all
needed.
Viphalay - July 25, 2014
Bree’s Selection
Sometimes lightning does strike the same place twice. Viphalay is located in the exact same building that our inaugural restaurant (La Tapa) was. With that in mind, Bree reserved an upstairs table near the window because we love the natural light. Our server was a real character. We neglected to get her name. She was incredibly flamboyant and outspoken. All in all, sge was a lovely lady (but she may not have been born that way). Enough said. Now let’s talk food. Our appetizers included Thai samosas (third favourite), crispy cream cheese wontons (number two because there was too much wonton and not enough cheese), and the appetizer of the year award goes to… Goong Laow Dang (red wine shrimps). Dang it was good! After that flavour fiesta, we moved on to the main course. Bree ordered Gaeng Kiew Wan (green curry). Ang chose the spicy beef stir fry. Dave decided on Gai Himapan (Orange Cashew Nut Chicken – that English description needs an adjective, don’t you think?). For good measure, we added coconut rice. Although we ordered separately, the dishes loaned themselves to being sharing and who were we to argue? All three main courses were amazing but the green curry was served with an extra dash of pizzazz. As this point we were fairly stuffed so we limited ourselves to two desserts. There wasn’t a huge variety anyway. Both of our desserts contained fried banana. One was served with vanilla ice cream and the other with cinnamon and maple syrup. They were both delicious! By our count, Viphalay was the third Thai restaurant that Bree has chosen and as usual, it did not disappoint. Great job, Bree!
Woodwork - April 4, 2014
10132-100 Street (780)-757-4100
Ang’s Selection
In keeping with Dinner Club rules, Angela asked permission to bring her hubby Graeme as her date. Permission was granted. Before we get started though, there’s something our readership needs to know. Bree has a habit of trying to guess the restaurant ahead of time. It wouldn’t be so bad except she’s often right. We don’t know how she does it. Luckily for Ang, this wasn’t one of those times. The mystery was upheld until the moment we arrived. Immediately upon entering Woodwork, it was all about the bar. Its surface consisted of a solid wood plank that extended along the left-hand side. In behind, a series of wooden shelves stretched high to the ceiling. They were lined with bottle after bottle of alcohol. The uppermost shelf was reached via a cool sliding ladder, the kind you usually see in traditional libraries. It was like a library of booze. Mmm booze. The alcohol menu was three times larger than that of the food. It offered drinks of all hues and inventive concoctions too. For instance, Bree ordered a violet cocktail that tasted like a flower. Ang sampled a bourbon infused with whipped egg white. Some drinks they liked. Some they sent back. Plain old Dave had boring old water. Wahwahwah. As far as the food was concerned, Woodwork was our first restaurant where the menu seemed to change day by day. Angela’s appetizer was the brassica kale salad. It was effing amazing. Bree agrees. Graeme and Bree both combined chowder and a side order of warm corn bread. The chowder was loved. The corn bread, a little less so. Dave’s smaller dish was a scalding skillet of mac and cheese with pork cracklings. It was delicious. Note to self: when the waitress warns that it’s hot, it truly is. Five days later, Dave and Bree both still bear the burns marks. Oops. On to the main course. Angela reeled in a flank steak served with hickory frites (as did Graeme). She found the meat and frites super salty. Here’s some alliteration for you: Bree had the baby back ribs with beans and coleslaw. The best part by far was the beans. Dave opted for the understated country pie, a pastry stuffed with house ham and smoked chicken. It was good but it couldn’t compare to the mac and cheese he enjoyed earlier. Let’s talk about dessert baby… Let’s talk about things sweet and savoury… After ordering every dessert, the only one worth discussing was the sticky toffee pudding. It perfected the ratio of sticky toffee, pudding, sauce and whipped cream. It was amaze-balls. High five Zawada! Dinner Club out.
Ang’s Selection
In keeping with Dinner Club rules, Angela asked permission to bring her hubby Graeme as her date. Permission was granted. Before we get started though, there’s something our readership needs to know. Bree has a habit of trying to guess the restaurant ahead of time. It wouldn’t be so bad except she’s often right. We don’t know how she does it. Luckily for Ang, this wasn’t one of those times. The mystery was upheld until the moment we arrived. Immediately upon entering Woodwork, it was all about the bar. Its surface consisted of a solid wood plank that extended along the left-hand side. In behind, a series of wooden shelves stretched high to the ceiling. They were lined with bottle after bottle of alcohol. The uppermost shelf was reached via a cool sliding ladder, the kind you usually see in traditional libraries. It was like a library of booze. Mmm booze. The alcohol menu was three times larger than that of the food. It offered drinks of all hues and inventive concoctions too. For instance, Bree ordered a violet cocktail that tasted like a flower. Ang sampled a bourbon infused with whipped egg white. Some drinks they liked. Some they sent back. Plain old Dave had boring old water. Wahwahwah. As far as the food was concerned, Woodwork was our first restaurant where the menu seemed to change day by day. Angela’s appetizer was the brassica kale salad. It was effing amazing. Bree agrees. Graeme and Bree both combined chowder and a side order of warm corn bread. The chowder was loved. The corn bread, a little less so. Dave’s smaller dish was a scalding skillet of mac and cheese with pork cracklings. It was delicious. Note to self: when the waitress warns that it’s hot, it truly is. Five days later, Dave and Bree both still bear the burns marks. Oops. On to the main course. Angela reeled in a flank steak served with hickory frites (as did Graeme). She found the meat and frites super salty. Here’s some alliteration for you: Bree had the baby back ribs with beans and coleslaw. The best part by far was the beans. Dave opted for the understated country pie, a pastry stuffed with house ham and smoked chicken. It was good but it couldn’t compare to the mac and cheese he enjoyed earlier. Let’s talk about dessert baby… Let’s talk about things sweet and savoury… After ordering every dessert, the only one worth discussing was the sticky toffee pudding. It perfected the ratio of sticky toffee, pudding, sauce and whipped cream. It was amaze-balls. High five Zawada! Dinner Club out.
Mayfield Dinner Theatre - February 22, 2014
16615-109 Avenue (780) 483-4051
Dave’s Selection
Sometimes a person has to leave before she can be invited
back. Former Edmontonian, now a Saskatoonian, Leia Bridge fit that category,
and so she accompanied the group on this outing. The stage was set for this dinner
club when we saw a warning sign that read: Caution gunshots and frightening
scenes. We were worried our little Zawada would get too scared. The title of
the play was Death Trap and the food was served buffet style. We were seated in
a booth and it was a good thing too. People placed at tables often had to turn
their heads to see the play and those located next to aisles were bothered by
patrons going to and from the buffet. The selection of food looked larger than
it actually was. The dining hall was sectioned into three clusters of tables.
However, each section presented the same dishes as the others. Also, there was
a display of desserts and a meat carving station on opposite sides of the
space. Of everything we ate, the following dishes topped the list: Leia liked
the Yorkshire pudding. Bree beat her way to the front of the line for the prime
rib with extra extra horse radish sauce and au jus. Angela savoured the salmon
lox. Dave’s favourite was the chicken stuffed with goat cheese. As good as the
main course was, the desserts took the cake. Literally. There were almost too
many to choose from: chocolate fondue, strawberry panacotta, chocolate mousse,
chocolate cake with strawberry topping, caramel chocolate pecan, all sorts of
fruit… I’m sure we we’re missing lots. Suffice it to say, the desserts were a
definite highlight. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the play itself. We
loaded up our dessert plates and hyped up our expectations. We hoped it would
be great. There is no other way to say it. It wasn’t. This murder mystery about
a writer struggling to find his muse was plagued by too many twists to the
plot. Did the protagonist kill his protégé to steal his story ideas? Were both
writers actually conspiring together for ulterior motives? Was the apprentice
more in control than his mentor? Sorry to say, by the end we didn’t care. All
in all, we loved our evening, and the company especially, but perhaps a musical
would have been better in retrospect. La Ronde - November 15, 2013
10111 Bellamy Hill Road
780-428-6611
Bree's Selection
With high prices comes high expectations and La Ronde is certainly a restaurant with a reputation. Angela even wore a dress to mark the occasion of Dinner Club’s fifth anniversary. If you haven’t already heard, La Ronde is Edmonton’s only revolving restaurant. Located on the 24th floor of the Chateau Lacombe Hotel, it offers a fine dining experience accompanied by music in a classy atmosphere. Despite a prolonged wait for our drinks, our server Jay turned out to be quite the entertainer. Once he warmed up to us, he even renamed himself El Chino. Our whistle wetters for the night included Inniskillin times two bottles for the girls. It was delicious. Somewhat surprising was the plethora of mocktails offered for Dave’s enjoyment. He chose the Burt Reynolds (cherry juice and Coke) and wasn’t disappointed. Alright, appies: Ang had tomato bisque and gin soup. She couldn’t taste the gin but a clear swirl served as proof it was there. Dave chose another soup selection: a marvelous mushroom medley. The aftertaste was as mesmerizing as the first slurp. Bree’s crab cakes were an obvious choice for her but these ones were especially moist and might have been her favourite so far. For the main course, it was steaks all around. Dave’s was a slightly undercooked rib eye. Angela loved her triple A sirloin. Intrigued by the name deconstructed beef Wellington, Bree took the bait. It was D-licious but she wished there was more pastry. La Ronde’s numerous dessert selections were impressive. Angela’s confection of choice was the banana and mango ice cream bomb. Judging by the fact that she left half the bland ice cream behind, she didn’t think it was the bomb after all. Don’t let the description “Honey and Toasted Pinenut Tart” fool you, Dave’s dessert was more than just a mouthful of words. The ginger taste was a definite highlight. Bree didn’t think her fresh strawberry sampler was super great but it was better than the others. Aside from bring a day too early for the improved view (the downtown core’s Christmas lights started a day later), La Ronde was incroyable, magnifique and… awesome. At a rate of one rotation per hour, we enjoyed two rounds of scenery on one great evening. A la prochaine!
780-428-6611
Bree's Selection
With high prices comes high expectations and La Ronde is certainly a restaurant with a reputation. Angela even wore a dress to mark the occasion of Dinner Club’s fifth anniversary. If you haven’t already heard, La Ronde is Edmonton’s only revolving restaurant. Located on the 24th floor of the Chateau Lacombe Hotel, it offers a fine dining experience accompanied by music in a classy atmosphere. Despite a prolonged wait for our drinks, our server Jay turned out to be quite the entertainer. Once he warmed up to us, he even renamed himself El Chino. Our whistle wetters for the night included Inniskillin times two bottles for the girls. It was delicious. Somewhat surprising was the plethora of mocktails offered for Dave’s enjoyment. He chose the Burt Reynolds (cherry juice and Coke) and wasn’t disappointed. Alright, appies: Ang had tomato bisque and gin soup. She couldn’t taste the gin but a clear swirl served as proof it was there. Dave chose another soup selection: a marvelous mushroom medley. The aftertaste was as mesmerizing as the first slurp. Bree’s crab cakes were an obvious choice for her but these ones were especially moist and might have been her favourite so far. For the main course, it was steaks all around. Dave’s was a slightly undercooked rib eye. Angela loved her triple A sirloin. Intrigued by the name deconstructed beef Wellington, Bree took the bait. It was D-licious but she wished there was more pastry. La Ronde’s numerous dessert selections were impressive. Angela’s confection of choice was the banana and mango ice cream bomb. Judging by the fact that she left half the bland ice cream behind, she didn’t think it was the bomb after all. Don’t let the description “Honey and Toasted Pinenut Tart” fool you, Dave’s dessert was more than just a mouthful of words. The ginger taste was a definite highlight. Bree didn’t think her fresh strawberry sampler was super great but it was better than the others. Aside from bring a day too early for the improved view (the downtown core’s Christmas lights started a day later), La Ronde was incroyable, magnifique and… awesome. At a rate of one rotation per hour, we enjoyed two rounds of scenery on one great evening. A la prochaine!
The Burg - July 20, 2013
10190-104 St. 780-760-1780
Angela’s Selection
Congratulations to the Burg for being blessed with our presence on its grand opening weekend. Even so, reservations were not needed as it was surprisingly slow. It was a brick building with an industrial feel. As we entered, there was a pub atmosphere with an open concept to their seating. However, as we ventured farther into the space, wrap around booths offered a more private dining experience. It was the best of both worlds. The top three things we loved about the décor were 1) The cow print design on the benches in the booths. 2) The cluster of bare bulbs that lit our table. 3) The great amount of TV’s showing various games. Our usual game of guess the waitress’s name got a bit carried away. No one guessed her name (It was Shannon) so we tried to guess her other two occupations. She also tried to guess our first names, and when that didn’t go well (Bree is not a Barb), she attempted to predict what we would order. Again, not successful. By this time, we knew we had a kindred spirit in Shannon. Must have been because she was a yoga instructor too. Bree insists we mention that she guessed that correctly. Yay for Bree! Shannon bought her a free drink as a reward. Alrighty, let’s get down to the nitty gritty… food. For a burger joint, the selection was amazing. The appetizers we chose were salt and pepper potato chips, deep fried pickles (the best in the city), and prosciutto wrapped prawns. Truly, it would have been filling enough if we stopped there but of course it’s Dinner Club so we didn’t! Let’s talk burgers. Angela opted for her usual bison burger. Bree ordered the Burg’s self-titled special: The Burg, which came stuffed with bacon and cheese. Not to be outdone, Dave decided on the largest burger on the menu, aptly called The Man Amongst Boys. And despite Shannon’s disparaging remarks, he proved he was a man by finishing it all. Dessert time! There was somewhat of a kerfuffle when Dave did the unexpected by passing on the apple crumble in favour of the ice cream sandwich. Angela saved the day by agreeing to have the crumble. Bree had the lemon tart. As it turned out, the cookies that sandwiched the ice cream were much too tough. The lemon tart was too tart. And the apple crumble was just right. Lucky Angela. The Burg was the trifecta of all awesomeness: Good friends, good food and a sassy waitress. Three bottles of wine didn’t hurt either.
Angela’s Selection
Congratulations to the Burg for being blessed with our presence on its grand opening weekend. Even so, reservations were not needed as it was surprisingly slow. It was a brick building with an industrial feel. As we entered, there was a pub atmosphere with an open concept to their seating. However, as we ventured farther into the space, wrap around booths offered a more private dining experience. It was the best of both worlds. The top three things we loved about the décor were 1) The cow print design on the benches in the booths. 2) The cluster of bare bulbs that lit our table. 3) The great amount of TV’s showing various games. Our usual game of guess the waitress’s name got a bit carried away. No one guessed her name (It was Shannon) so we tried to guess her other two occupations. She also tried to guess our first names, and when that didn’t go well (Bree is not a Barb), she attempted to predict what we would order. Again, not successful. By this time, we knew we had a kindred spirit in Shannon. Must have been because she was a yoga instructor too. Bree insists we mention that she guessed that correctly. Yay for Bree! Shannon bought her a free drink as a reward. Alrighty, let’s get down to the nitty gritty… food. For a burger joint, the selection was amazing. The appetizers we chose were salt and pepper potato chips, deep fried pickles (the best in the city), and prosciutto wrapped prawns. Truly, it would have been filling enough if we stopped there but of course it’s Dinner Club so we didn’t! Let’s talk burgers. Angela opted for her usual bison burger. Bree ordered the Burg’s self-titled special: The Burg, which came stuffed with bacon and cheese. Not to be outdone, Dave decided on the largest burger on the menu, aptly called The Man Amongst Boys. And despite Shannon’s disparaging remarks, he proved he was a man by finishing it all. Dessert time! There was somewhat of a kerfuffle when Dave did the unexpected by passing on the apple crumble in favour of the ice cream sandwich. Angela saved the day by agreeing to have the crumble. Bree had the lemon tart. As it turned out, the cookies that sandwiched the ice cream were much too tough. The lemon tart was too tart. And the apple crumble was just right. Lucky Angela. The Burg was the trifecta of all awesomeness: Good friends, good food and a sassy waitress. Three bottles of wine didn’t hurt either.
Nineteen (XIX) - June 7, 2013
5940 Mullen Way 780-395-1119
Dave’s Selection
It is customary for the restaurant selector to give the other participants a heads up regarding price and dress code. On both accounts Dave failed. We felt a bit under dressed and we didn’t pack enough cash into our wallets. We nearly had to wash dishes! On this wondrous occasion, Ang brought her forever plus one, Graeme. Actually, this was his second time. Overall, the décor looked nice but on closer inspection the tile and leather on the walls looked like they’d become dated in a few years. On the other hand, Bree loved the open concept kitchen and Dave thought the “molecular structure” chandeliers were a cool touch. Let’s talk about our server, Joanne. She started off on the right foot when we realized she had mutual friends with Bree. She had a solid sense of humour and the service was up there with the best we’ve had. Now it’s time for the food: We had two appetizers and two salads to get the evening rolling. The first appie was mussels with hand cut fries and bread with a salted crust. The second appie was lamb ballz with pasta in marinara sauce. Both were delicious, but the salads were other worldly. If you ever have the chance, order the Californian which included mixed greens, cashews, strawberries, feta and chicken. The other salad, the Asian, was equally tasty and provided a zesty alternative to the Californian. For the main dish there was an abundance of seafood on the menu which relegated Dave to the chicken served with a scrumptious side of mac and cheese. Graeme really wanted the short ribs but somehow ended up with the sea bass so Angela switched her halibut and linguine with him. It was a little too creamy for Ang’s liking so the swap worked for everyone. Bree had the beef tenderloin (recommended by Joanne) which she enjoyed immensely. Sometimes selecting the wine based on its name works out. Dog Point tasted so good we ordered a second bottle. It was a decent dessert menu. Angela had the sour cream cheese cake which was light and fluffy. Bree went with the crème brule which was a little on the cold side. Graeme got an espresso bread pudding and didn’t have to worry about anyone stealing it from him. Dave wasn’t adventurous and got his usual apple tart. And to top it all off, Joanne brought each of us a bite of molten lava cake that was off the menu. If you ever hit up Nineteen, dress better than we did and ask for Joanne. Guaranteed good times!
Dave’s Selection
It is customary for the restaurant selector to give the other participants a heads up regarding price and dress code. On both accounts Dave failed. We felt a bit under dressed and we didn’t pack enough cash into our wallets. We nearly had to wash dishes! On this wondrous occasion, Ang brought her forever plus one, Graeme. Actually, this was his second time. Overall, the décor looked nice but on closer inspection the tile and leather on the walls looked like they’d become dated in a few years. On the other hand, Bree loved the open concept kitchen and Dave thought the “molecular structure” chandeliers were a cool touch. Let’s talk about our server, Joanne. She started off on the right foot when we realized she had mutual friends with Bree. She had a solid sense of humour and the service was up there with the best we’ve had. Now it’s time for the food: We had two appetizers and two salads to get the evening rolling. The first appie was mussels with hand cut fries and bread with a salted crust. The second appie was lamb ballz with pasta in marinara sauce. Both were delicious, but the salads were other worldly. If you ever have the chance, order the Californian which included mixed greens, cashews, strawberries, feta and chicken. The other salad, the Asian, was equally tasty and provided a zesty alternative to the Californian. For the main dish there was an abundance of seafood on the menu which relegated Dave to the chicken served with a scrumptious side of mac and cheese. Graeme really wanted the short ribs but somehow ended up with the sea bass so Angela switched her halibut and linguine with him. It was a little too creamy for Ang’s liking so the swap worked for everyone. Bree had the beef tenderloin (recommended by Joanne) which she enjoyed immensely. Sometimes selecting the wine based on its name works out. Dog Point tasted so good we ordered a second bottle. It was a decent dessert menu. Angela had the sour cream cheese cake which was light and fluffy. Bree went with the crème brule which was a little on the cold side. Graeme got an espresso bread pudding and didn’t have to worry about anyone stealing it from him. Dave wasn’t adventurous and got his usual apple tart. And to top it all off, Joanne brought each of us a bite of molten lava cake that was off the menu. If you ever hit up Nineteen, dress better than we did and ask for Joanne. Guaranteed good times!
Numchok Willai's - March 8, 2013
10623- 124 Street (Edmonton) - March 8, 2013
Bree's Selection
Because of limited parking out front, we sneaked around to the back and discovered an entrance from that side too. The restaurant consisted of a small space holding twenty tables and three large buddhas. The table cloths with elephants embroidered on them were mighty cool but nothing else stood out. Even though the decor didn't grab our attention, the food certainly did. And after all people, isn't that why we go to restaurants? For the love of food. We shared only one appetizer which isn't like us at all: fried wontons with a fish sauce on the side. They were crispy delish. The rest of the meal was sharezies (which translates to fight Zawada for your right to eat). No food forts allowed. We had pa-nang chicken, steamed egg plant, pad thai, hot basil beef and coconut rice. It was a cage match between the chicken and the beef for which was best. Bree felt it was a split decision. Dave didn't give the egg plant a chance, didn't even try it. Bree and Ang were steamed! Ha ha. Oh dessert, sweet dessert. Ang's coconut black sticky rice and mango was good but she was no fan of the hard rice. Bree and Dave ended up with variations of the same dessert: deep fried banana with whipped cream and chocolate and ice cream, but Bree opted out on the ice cream. It was comme ci comme ca according to Bree. Dave loved it long time. All told we were in and out within an hour which compels us to offer a strategy for restaurants that rush: order one course at a time. For instance, order appies. Relax. Drink. Rinse. Repeat... until you're through all the courses. On the way out the door, we had a nice chat with Santi (the owner) about an article in Avenue magazine that ranked Edmonton restaurants. Having been to most of the restaurants on the list, we're confident with placing Numchok Willai's fifth on our list (based on food alone).
Until we meet again...
Bree's Selection
Because of limited parking out front, we sneaked around to the back and discovered an entrance from that side too. The restaurant consisted of a small space holding twenty tables and three large buddhas. The table cloths with elephants embroidered on them were mighty cool but nothing else stood out. Even though the decor didn't grab our attention, the food certainly did. And after all people, isn't that why we go to restaurants? For the love of food. We shared only one appetizer which isn't like us at all: fried wontons with a fish sauce on the side. They were crispy delish. The rest of the meal was sharezies (which translates to fight Zawada for your right to eat). No food forts allowed. We had pa-nang chicken, steamed egg plant, pad thai, hot basil beef and coconut rice. It was a cage match between the chicken and the beef for which was best. Bree felt it was a split decision. Dave didn't give the egg plant a chance, didn't even try it. Bree and Ang were steamed! Ha ha. Oh dessert, sweet dessert. Ang's coconut black sticky rice and mango was good but she was no fan of the hard rice. Bree and Dave ended up with variations of the same dessert: deep fried banana with whipped cream and chocolate and ice cream, but Bree opted out on the ice cream. It was comme ci comme ca according to Bree. Dave loved it long time. All told we were in and out within an hour which compels us to offer a strategy for restaurants that rush: order one course at a time. For instance, order appies. Relax. Drink. Rinse. Repeat... until you're through all the courses. On the way out the door, we had a nice chat with Santi (the owner) about an article in Avenue magazine that ranked Edmonton restaurants. Having been to most of the restaurants on the list, we're confident with placing Numchok Willai's fifth on our list (based on food alone).
Until we meet again...
Three Boars Eatery - October 26, 2012
8424-109 Street (780-757-2600)
Angela's Selection
If you didn't know it was there, you'd walk right past. Maybe that's why so many people slowed to peer in the window at us while we ate - they didn't know they'd arrived. As we entered, there was a cozy bar the length of one wall on the main floor. Next we ascended the narrow wooden staircase to the dining area. We were surprised that Bree's pregnant belly made it all the way up. There were a grand total of six tables and we were seated at the one closest to the drafty window. Ang had to wedge a napkin into the gap to keep the wind out. In terms of the decor, there was reclaimed wooden floor and walls. Some of the seating was likewise on wooden benches which contributed to the rustic feel. At Three Boars they're not called appetizers. They're called Bar Snacks. Our Bar Snack of choice was the salted candied cashews. The next category on the menu was titled Rabbit Food. It was aptly named for its selection of salads and vegetable dishes. We enjoyed the Panzanella salad. Stacked with market vegetables and croutons, it was the largest item on the menu. Our server then explained that the rest of the meal was tapas style (listed as small plates on the menu). You know when Dave, Angela and Bree all agree, it must have been an excellent dish. That special dish for us was the oxtail bourguinon poutine. It tasted more like homemade stew but it was great. After that, we couldn't agree on the other two dishes. Bree and Ang preferred the duck rillet with toast and beer mustard on the side. Dave, on the other hand, thought the slow roasted pork shoulder was the love of his life. The girls found it way too salty. For dessert there was only one choice. It was carrot cake or nothing at all. Can you guess what we chose? Carrot cake! Its icing was fluffier than the cream cheese we were used to and the cake itself was almost too dense. It's okay though because they change their menu often. And thus ends another Dinner Club. Thank God Angela's pick isn't for another two turns. Ha!
8424-109 Street (780-757-2600)
Angela's Selection
If you didn't know it was there, you'd walk right past. Maybe that's why so many people slowed to peer in the window at us while we ate - they didn't know they'd arrived. As we entered, there was a cozy bar the length of one wall on the main floor. Next we ascended the narrow wooden staircase to the dining area. We were surprised that Bree's pregnant belly made it all the way up. There were a grand total of six tables and we were seated at the one closest to the drafty window. Ang had to wedge a napkin into the gap to keep the wind out. In terms of the decor, there was reclaimed wooden floor and walls. Some of the seating was likewise on wooden benches which contributed to the rustic feel. At Three Boars they're not called appetizers. They're called Bar Snacks. Our Bar Snack of choice was the salted candied cashews. The next category on the menu was titled Rabbit Food. It was aptly named for its selection of salads and vegetable dishes. We enjoyed the Panzanella salad. Stacked with market vegetables and croutons, it was the largest item on the menu. Our server then explained that the rest of the meal was tapas style (listed as small plates on the menu). You know when Dave, Angela and Bree all agree, it must have been an excellent dish. That special dish for us was the oxtail bourguinon poutine. It tasted more like homemade stew but it was great. After that, we couldn't agree on the other two dishes. Bree and Ang preferred the duck rillet with toast and beer mustard on the side. Dave, on the other hand, thought the slow roasted pork shoulder was the love of his life. The girls found it way too salty. For dessert there was only one choice. It was carrot cake or nothing at all. Can you guess what we chose? Carrot cake! Its icing was fluffier than the cream cheese we were used to and the cake itself was almost too dense. It's okay though because they change their menu often. And thus ends another Dinner Club. Thank God Angela's pick isn't for another two turns. Ha!
Phoenicia - June 24, 2012
10406 Mayfield Road 780-455-8855
Dave's choice.
You know it's going to be authentic Lebanese cuisine when you are the only caucasians in the place. The decor was typically modern and spacious but it didn't scream Middle Eastern like we had hoped. According to our waitress,, RaeAnne (sp), we had arranged Dinner Club a day late. Apparently Phoenicia comes alive on a Saturday night with dancing (even onto the street) and live music. Wednesday nights are happening too because it's tango night. Now let's dive into the food. There were a couple of different options for ordering: You could order individual items off the menu or, like we did, the full meal deal: a little bit of everything. Ordinarily the full meal deal serves a minimum of four people but seeing as it was our first time there, RaeAnne hooked us up. Because there were so many items, we are going to simplify this by naming each dish and then following it with a √ or x (for loved it or not). This overly obvious explanation was insisted upon by Bree. Tabbouleh (salad) x Fattoush (more salad) √ Hummus (chick pea dip) √ Baba Ganoush (egg plant dip) x but it's an awesome word. Wara'a Areeish Bil Zeyt (grape leaves) x Loubeh Bil Zeyt (Romano beans) √ Batata Harra (potatoes)√ Bil Jibneh (cheese pastry) √ Jwainih (chicken wings) √√ so good! Kibbeh (dumplings) √ but sauce needed. Jat Mashawee (mixed grill skewer) √ Bakalava (dessert which our waitress kindly brought us double of) √. While Dave damn near sprained his face trying to pronounce the various foods, all in all Phoenicia was a great send off before Dave's trip to the Middle East this summer.
Nola Creole Kitchen & Music House – March 31, 2012
11802-124 St. (Two blocks from Dave’s house- so why did he have to drive all the way to the west end to pick the girls up? Damn you rule #8) 780-451-1390
Bree’s selection
Bree’s selection
Nola’s chill vibe began with a darker atmosphere and a lit stage on the far end. Throughout there was a red and black décor with some accents of note: records on the wall and a display of musical instruments. The only feature that didn’t belong was the VLT machines. Thank goodness they were curtained off from the rest of the space. When we first arrived the place was busy and so it was a distracted waitress who brought us our appetizers. As “tapas” we chose barbequed shrimp, grilled andoulille sausage and smoked tomato and red pepper bisque. Much to Dave’s dismay he had to share his soup with his spoon becoming communal. No food forts at this Dinner Club. The soup was delish (great consistency) but the girls really loved their sausage! The first band felt more like background music so we decided it was time to play guess the waitress’s name! We also decided to make it into another official rule (#10): if a person guesses correctly, the other two will pay for their meal. Minus the alcohol. There are limits to everything. Bree guessed Veronica. Ang guessed Andrea. Dave guessed Cynthia. None of us were right, but “Crystal” opened up to us from then on. In fact, she challenged us to guess her middle name. She even gave us the hint that it kind of sounds like a stripper name. Bree guessed Sunshine. Ang guessed Panther. And miracle of miracles Dave guessed Rose which was absolutely right! Nevertheless, for the rest of the night she was known as panther. Rawr. Now back to the food: Bree’s main course was alligator jambalaya. It was too dry so she asked for extra sauce and then it was sausome. Dave chose the pork and peaches on a bed of rice which wasn’t very warm. Angela ordered the blackened snap snap snapper. Yes, she did like it. Might have liked a bit more of it actually. To wash down their dinners the girls shared a bottle of White Truck. Pure class. Nothing but the best for the sistas. By this time the second band took the stage. They were okay but the people dancing stole the show. With a leather dress, arms in the air and a lot of “bubbling” going on, the party had really started. When Crystal came by to ask if we wanted dessert, we said, “Yes, one of everything! Except for bread pudding.” She was impressed. Between chocolate mousse, pecan tarts and beignets (fried balls of doughnutty goodness dipped in chocolate sauce), balls won hands down. This entire dinner club is best summed up in three words: panther, sausage and balls.
Vivo Ristorante - January 8, 2012
18348 Lessard Road 780-756-7710
Angela's Selection
Have you ever been to a restaurant where the meals you ate were not your choice? Neither had we until we met Corey, our waiter. Immediately after learning of our Dinner Club mission, he snatched the menus from our hands and asked us to trust him. Despite Angela's initial hesitation (What if he chose only the expensive items on the menu?), we agreed. Sweet surrender. After a brief but heated battle over which plate was designated for the olive oil/balsamic vinegar for our bread (Bree was right. Dave was wrong. Corey brought us new plates), our first appetizer arrived. It was a caesar salad like no other. The big head of lettuce came out on its plate chopped into three sections. They charred it, dressing and all, to bring out the flavour. We loved! And then BAM! Corey uppercuts us with the best part of the meal: the fettucinni! Even without cream in the sauce, the garlic, the buffalo mozzarella, the butter... it melted in our mouths. We had to request a second helping. It was a guilty pleasure indeed. With his next surprise, could Corey equal the amazing fettucinni? Not exactly. It depends on whom you ask. When the brussel sprouts arrived, Angela recoiled in true childhood horror. (If only there was ketchup). Meanwhile Bree laughed at Angela until her childhood nemesis arrived: beats. It was Angela's turn to gloat. Dave... was Switzerland. With the vegetables, we received bistecca, a sizeable medium rare steak. It was tasty but nothing to write home about. Where Vivo somewhat dropped the ball was the limited dessert selection. Because we passed on the cheese platter, we were left with tiramisu and gelato. Not being coffee fans, the tiramisu ranked second to the sour apple, blood orange and lemon flavoured gelato. Throughout the meal we wet our whistles with pellegrinos for Dave and Angela/Bree switched things up by ordering two bottles of a white wine called Blasted Church. Hell never tasted so good. The decor was modern with an open style kitchen where an eager eater could sit watch them cook. So Corey, if you're reading this, it's time for your report card: Bree holds up a 9.5 on her old school score card (Beats, really?). Angela offers 1 and 3/4 thumbs up (Brussel sprouts... no ketchup). Teacher Dave gives an A- (Corey is not a hot female). Vivo is definitely worth a second go.
Angela's Selection
Have you ever been to a restaurant where the meals you ate were not your choice? Neither had we until we met Corey, our waiter. Immediately after learning of our Dinner Club mission, he snatched the menus from our hands and asked us to trust him. Despite Angela's initial hesitation (What if he chose only the expensive items on the menu?), we agreed. Sweet surrender. After a brief but heated battle over which plate was designated for the olive oil/balsamic vinegar for our bread (Bree was right. Dave was wrong. Corey brought us new plates), our first appetizer arrived. It was a caesar salad like no other. The big head of lettuce came out on its plate chopped into three sections. They charred it, dressing and all, to bring out the flavour. We loved! And then BAM! Corey uppercuts us with the best part of the meal: the fettucinni! Even without cream in the sauce, the garlic, the buffalo mozzarella, the butter... it melted in our mouths. We had to request a second helping. It was a guilty pleasure indeed. With his next surprise, could Corey equal the amazing fettucinni? Not exactly. It depends on whom you ask. When the brussel sprouts arrived, Angela recoiled in true childhood horror. (If only there was ketchup). Meanwhile Bree laughed at Angela until her childhood nemesis arrived: beats. It was Angela's turn to gloat. Dave... was Switzerland. With the vegetables, we received bistecca, a sizeable medium rare steak. It was tasty but nothing to write home about. Where Vivo somewhat dropped the ball was the limited dessert selection. Because we passed on the cheese platter, we were left with tiramisu and gelato. Not being coffee fans, the tiramisu ranked second to the sour apple, blood orange and lemon flavoured gelato. Throughout the meal we wet our whistles with pellegrinos for Dave and Angela/Bree switched things up by ordering two bottles of a white wine called Blasted Church. Hell never tasted so good. The decor was modern with an open style kitchen where an eager eater could sit watch them cook. So Corey, if you're reading this, it's time for your report card: Bree holds up a 9.5 on her old school score card (Beats, really?). Angela offers 1 and 3/4 thumbs up (Brussel sprouts... no ketchup). Teacher Dave gives an A- (Corey is not a hot female). Vivo is definitely worth a second go.
Padmanadi - November 27, 2011
10740-101 Street 780-428-8899
Dave's Selection
We have decided to title this Dinner Club: "I can't believe it's not..." Padmanadi is a vegetarian/vegan/non-alcoholic Indonesian restaurant. Immediately upon entering, BOOM, there was a huge Buddha to the right and cool wooden chairs that Angela thought resembled the letter A. Bree thought they weren't loungey/comfortable enough. The walls have framed photographs of various employees and the wallpaper became funkier the farther one got into the space. We ordered three appetizers: gado-gado (a tofu salad with peanut sauce), salty chicken* with hot sauce (not real chicken) and roti with curry (a crepe-like bread). The salty chicken was great but Bree especially enjoyed the salad. The restaurant's concept encourages sharing and not only with the appetizers. The three entres we chose to share were ginger beef* (also not meat), spicy string beans, and Indonesian rice with vegetables. Bree liked to call the last dish 'crazy rice'. We're not sure why. Oh well. The food was served very quickly and it was piping hot. The waitress brought us enough water to drown in. In other words, the service was prompt and efficient. We were well fed and well hydrated. The meal was delicious, however, the desserts did not have a wow factor. From the many choices, Bree was quick to pick chocolate lava cake. Angela set her sites on a pineapple cupcake with coconut frosting. Dave made the safe choice and took on a vanilla cheesecake drizzled with berry sauce. The chocolate cake lacked flavour. The cheesecake wasn't dense enough. That leaves the cupcake with the distinction as best dessert. It actually had flavour. Despite the lack of alcohol (Bree couldn't satisfy her beer craving) and the speed of the experience (we were in and out in an hour), we did enjoy a change from the ordinary meats and treats of our previous restaurants. Come to think of it, the time has flown so fast! This is the third year anniversary of Dinner Club. That would make it the longest relationship Dave has had with a woman. Two women actually! Let's hope for many more to come!
Dave's Selection
We have decided to title this Dinner Club: "I can't believe it's not..." Padmanadi is a vegetarian/vegan/non-alcoholic Indonesian restaurant. Immediately upon entering, BOOM, there was a huge Buddha to the right and cool wooden chairs that Angela thought resembled the letter A. Bree thought they weren't loungey/comfortable enough. The walls have framed photographs of various employees and the wallpaper became funkier the farther one got into the space. We ordered three appetizers: gado-gado (a tofu salad with peanut sauce), salty chicken* with hot sauce (not real chicken) and roti with curry (a crepe-like bread). The salty chicken was great but Bree especially enjoyed the salad. The restaurant's concept encourages sharing and not only with the appetizers. The three entres we chose to share were ginger beef* (also not meat), spicy string beans, and Indonesian rice with vegetables. Bree liked to call the last dish 'crazy rice'. We're not sure why. Oh well. The food was served very quickly and it was piping hot. The waitress brought us enough water to drown in. In other words, the service was prompt and efficient. We were well fed and well hydrated. The meal was delicious, however, the desserts did not have a wow factor. From the many choices, Bree was quick to pick chocolate lava cake. Angela set her sites on a pineapple cupcake with coconut frosting. Dave made the safe choice and took on a vanilla cheesecake drizzled with berry sauce. The chocolate cake lacked flavour. The cheesecake wasn't dense enough. That leaves the cupcake with the distinction as best dessert. It actually had flavour. Despite the lack of alcohol (Bree couldn't satisfy her beer craving) and the speed of the experience (we were in and out in an hour), we did enjoy a change from the ordinary meats and treats of our previous restaurants. Come to think of it, the time has flown so fast! This is the third year anniversary of Dinner Club. That would make it the longest relationship Dave has had with a woman. Two women actually! Let's hope for many more to come!
Corso 32 - September 9, 2011
10345 Jasper Avenue 780-421-4622
Bree’s Selection
As we approached we could not help but notice Corso 32 was situated below Penthouse Massage. Interesting. Despite holding reservations for 10:00 pm (Corso 32 appears to encourage late night dining) we had to wait twenty minutes to be seated during which time Dave seriously considered ducking upstairs for a quick “massage”. This ten to twelve table restaurant was dimly lit which is why we noticed the cool light fixtures first. There was also an illustration of a pig on the wall with its various sections labeled. Yum? Awkward? A bit of both. We certainly didn’t need to know that prosciutto comes from a pig’s butt. The menu was simple: we started with antipasti. Bree had prosciutto with baked cheese and egg on it. It tasted like breakfast! Angela selected the arugula salad. Dave had pasta stuffed with ricotta and egg yolk on the side which was runny and yucky in his opinion. Of the three, Bree’s was best. Before we move on to the main course, let’s talk about our cold waitress… all business there! We didn’t even bother to learn her name. Ok, back to the food. Bree tucked into gnocchi with wild wild boar. Angela is not nearly vegan so she sucked back half a hen (like a champ) with wicked shaved zucchini/lemon mint sprinkled on top. Dave’s house made ravioli with brown butter and chopped asparagus was delicious. Our three way cage match didn’t decide whose entrée was the best so we’ll give them a tie. There were only three desserts on the menu so we ordered them all. Angela chose the chocolate torta which was super rich but she did enjoy the salty hazelnuts (also like a champ). Bree had vanilla panna cotta with Okanagan fruit. “It was a light, refreshing end to her meal,” says Angela Zawada, Bree’s unofficial spokeswoman. Dave’s dessert won the night. It was morsels of deep fried fluffy batter with a hint of lemoncello in the center of each. So good! The atmosphere was great. The food was superb. But the best part of the evening was the “stimulating” conversation. Sorry non-dinner clubbers, can’t repeat it here. We are pinky sworn to secrecy. Insert elitist laugh here… bah ha ha – ahem.
Bree’s Selection
As we approached we could not help but notice Corso 32 was situated below Penthouse Massage. Interesting. Despite holding reservations for 10:00 pm (Corso 32 appears to encourage late night dining) we had to wait twenty minutes to be seated during which time Dave seriously considered ducking upstairs for a quick “massage”. This ten to twelve table restaurant was dimly lit which is why we noticed the cool light fixtures first. There was also an illustration of a pig on the wall with its various sections labeled. Yum? Awkward? A bit of both. We certainly didn’t need to know that prosciutto comes from a pig’s butt. The menu was simple: we started with antipasti. Bree had prosciutto with baked cheese and egg on it. It tasted like breakfast! Angela selected the arugula salad. Dave had pasta stuffed with ricotta and egg yolk on the side which was runny and yucky in his opinion. Of the three, Bree’s was best. Before we move on to the main course, let’s talk about our cold waitress… all business there! We didn’t even bother to learn her name. Ok, back to the food. Bree tucked into gnocchi with wild wild boar. Angela is not nearly vegan so she sucked back half a hen (like a champ) with wicked shaved zucchini/lemon mint sprinkled on top. Dave’s house made ravioli with brown butter and chopped asparagus was delicious. Our three way cage match didn’t decide whose entrée was the best so we’ll give them a tie. There were only three desserts on the menu so we ordered them all. Angela chose the chocolate torta which was super rich but she did enjoy the salty hazelnuts (also like a champ). Bree had vanilla panna cotta with Okanagan fruit. “It was a light, refreshing end to her meal,” says Angela Zawada, Bree’s unofficial spokeswoman. Dave’s dessert won the night. It was morsels of deep fried fluffy batter with a hint of lemoncello in the center of each. So good! The atmosphere was great. The food was superb. But the best part of the evening was the “stimulating” conversation. Sorry non-dinner clubbers, can’t repeat it here. We are pinky sworn to secrecy. Insert elitist laugh here… bah ha ha – ahem.
Pampa: Brazilian Steakhouse - March 19, 2011
9929-109 Street 780-756-7030
Angela's Selection
Meat on a stick: And now for the rest of the story... Pampa is three weeks old and because of Angela's recent trip to Brazil, it was an obvious choice. The restaurant was very open - almost food court style in its layout. At the centre of the space there was a buffet so we didn't need to order appetizers this time around. There was quite an assortment of nutritious foods available. Some stand outs included quinoa, pineapple powdered with cinnamon, mango, and a refreshing apple salad. Bree, however, wasn't the biggest buffet fan. Our waiter, Chris, had an interesting sense of humour. When Dave asked him why all of the meat masters (the servers who bring around meat skewers for sampling) were men, he said it was because women skewer around too much. We told him that he was funny and he said, "I know. I have a Brazilian of them." Ha ha ha. It turns out there are nine varieties of meat on a stick. Our two favourites were the spicy sausage and the garlic encrusted sirloin. We should also mention that on every table each person has a small cardboard circle with green on one side and red on the other. Green means meat please! while red means no more (at least for now). From time to time special treats were brought randomly by the table. Dave went gaga for the cinnamon coated bananas and asked for another one. Chris was kind enough to hook a brother up. It didn't take long to feel full so we ordered desserts while we still could. Bree ordered a coconut custard that she wasn't happy with so the owner of the restaurant came over to suggest an alternative on the house. We were very impressed with the service. Hopefully the next Dinner Club pick will also allow Angela to speak the native tongue of the waiters... Obrigado Pampa!
Angela's Selection
Meat on a stick: And now for the rest of the story... Pampa is three weeks old and because of Angela's recent trip to Brazil, it was an obvious choice. The restaurant was very open - almost food court style in its layout. At the centre of the space there was a buffet so we didn't need to order appetizers this time around. There was quite an assortment of nutritious foods available. Some stand outs included quinoa, pineapple powdered with cinnamon, mango, and a refreshing apple salad. Bree, however, wasn't the biggest buffet fan. Our waiter, Chris, had an interesting sense of humour. When Dave asked him why all of the meat masters (the servers who bring around meat skewers for sampling) were men, he said it was because women skewer around too much. We told him that he was funny and he said, "I know. I have a Brazilian of them." Ha ha ha. It turns out there are nine varieties of meat on a stick. Our two favourites were the spicy sausage and the garlic encrusted sirloin. We should also mention that on every table each person has a small cardboard circle with green on one side and red on the other. Green means meat please! while red means no more (at least for now). From time to time special treats were brought randomly by the table. Dave went gaga for the cinnamon coated bananas and asked for another one. Chris was kind enough to hook a brother up. It didn't take long to feel full so we ordered desserts while we still could. Bree ordered a coconut custard that she wasn't happy with so the owner of the restaurant came over to suggest an alternative on the house. We were very impressed with the service. Hopefully the next Dinner Club pick will also allow Angela to speak the native tongue of the waiters... Obrigado Pampa!
The Unheard Of - December 19, 2010
9602 Whyte Avenue 780-432-0480
Dave's Selection
Despite being called The Unheard Of, this popular restaurant is actually celebrating its thirty-year anniversary. What stood out about The Unheard Of was its Victorian decor. As soon as we walked through the door we saw various royal portraits and Victorian Christmas decorations on the walls. For $70 we were each given an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. Even with this offer, we think this was our most expensive Dinner Club restaurant to date. Then again, that might also be because of the $60 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407. For appetizers, Ang enjoyed a refreshing choice of swordfish abd Ahi tuna in coconut sausomeness. Bree started her seafood kick with a seafood bisque. Dave chose a pear and brie salad with a scattering of cranberries. Angela's entree was a bison two ways served medium rare. In case you were wondering, the first way was a bison dumpling in consume while the second way was a bison steak. Bree had The Unheard Of seafood medley which consisted of lobster tail, shrimp, scallops, risotto and lemon chili sauce. Dave dived into three peppercorn lamb. Okay, let's talk dessert. A small fight broke out at this moment. Angela fell asleep at the wheel and so she got the last pick. Bree bullied the rest of us so she took the turtle tart which she loved more than life itself. Angela settled for the sauvignon blank poached pear which again was refreshing (which means disappointing). Dave tucked into the white chocolate cranberry cheesecake which was yummy thank you very much! Our waiter, Bridon, (not Bobert but nice guess Bree) opened up as the night progressed. He even called us a tricycle (Dave calls being the front wheel). It was good to sneak in a Dinner Club before everyone went their separate ways for the holidays.
Dave's Selection
Despite being called The Unheard Of, this popular restaurant is actually celebrating its thirty-year anniversary. What stood out about The Unheard Of was its Victorian decor. As soon as we walked through the door we saw various royal portraits and Victorian Christmas decorations on the walls. For $70 we were each given an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. Even with this offer, we think this was our most expensive Dinner Club restaurant to date. Then again, that might also be because of the $60 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407. For appetizers, Ang enjoyed a refreshing choice of swordfish abd Ahi tuna in coconut sausomeness. Bree started her seafood kick with a seafood bisque. Dave chose a pear and brie salad with a scattering of cranberries. Angela's entree was a bison two ways served medium rare. In case you were wondering, the first way was a bison dumpling in consume while the second way was a bison steak. Bree had The Unheard Of seafood medley which consisted of lobster tail, shrimp, scallops, risotto and lemon chili sauce. Dave dived into three peppercorn lamb. Okay, let's talk dessert. A small fight broke out at this moment. Angela fell asleep at the wheel and so she got the last pick. Bree bullied the rest of us so she took the turtle tart which she loved more than life itself. Angela settled for the sauvignon blank poached pear which again was refreshing (which means disappointing). Dave tucked into the white chocolate cranberry cheesecake which was yummy thank you very much! Our waiter, Bridon, (not Bobert but nice guess Bree) opened up as the night progressed. He even called us a tricycle (Dave calls being the front wheel). It was good to sneak in a Dinner Club before everyone went their separate ways for the holidays.
Sabor Divino - September 17, 2010
10220-103 St. #109 780-757-1114
Bree's Selection
We each had a different aspect of the decor that we liked. Ang loved the timber. Bree liked the piano in the middle of the room. The wrought iron decorations on the wall caught Dave's eye. Also, on each timber beam there was a glass lantern that housed a speaker. Admittedly it took us a while to figure out what they were. Yet again, Ang brought a plus one with a healthy appetite: Graeme. Funny how Ang has chalked up three while Dave has yet to have one. Ouch. Our appetizers included broiled egg plant, mussels and spicy Italian sausages. Thumbs up all around. There was sangria on the menu so Graeme and the ladies went bobbing for fruit as usual. For an entree Ang dived into a plate of black spaghetti - we found out that the black comes from the ink of an octopus. Bree had probably the best pork she ate in her life (and clams). Graeme needed a steak so he got a steak. No back flips for the steak. Dave chose his dish solely on its name: Deuling Wild Boar. It tasted a bit like chili but didn't live up to expectations. There were two songs' worth of entertainment performed by a guitarist and a songster crooning into an old-school microphone. It was great but just didn't last. (That's what she said). The singer sang Happy Birthday to a woman at the table behind ours. In keeping with Dinner Club rules, we sent over the dessert sampler which included creme brule, mousse, cheese cake and tiramisu. It looked so good that we ordered it too. It was perfect for our group of four. We enjoyed the food, our time together and the entertainment but Ang and Bree wanted the wine to be more accessible... the waiter kept the bottle at the bar. Hopefully it's not another three months until the next time!
Bree's Selection
We each had a different aspect of the decor that we liked. Ang loved the timber. Bree liked the piano in the middle of the room. The wrought iron decorations on the wall caught Dave's eye. Also, on each timber beam there was a glass lantern that housed a speaker. Admittedly it took us a while to figure out what they were. Yet again, Ang brought a plus one with a healthy appetite: Graeme. Funny how Ang has chalked up three while Dave has yet to have one. Ouch. Our appetizers included broiled egg plant, mussels and spicy Italian sausages. Thumbs up all around. There was sangria on the menu so Graeme and the ladies went bobbing for fruit as usual. For an entree Ang dived into a plate of black spaghetti - we found out that the black comes from the ink of an octopus. Bree had probably the best pork she ate in her life (and clams). Graeme needed a steak so he got a steak. No back flips for the steak. Dave chose his dish solely on its name: Deuling Wild Boar. It tasted a bit like chili but didn't live up to expectations. There were two songs' worth of entertainment performed by a guitarist and a songster crooning into an old-school microphone. It was great but just didn't last. (That's what she said). The singer sang Happy Birthday to a woman at the table behind ours. In keeping with Dinner Club rules, we sent over the dessert sampler which included creme brule, mousse, cheese cake and tiramisu. It looked so good that we ordered it too. It was perfect for our group of four. We enjoyed the food, our time together and the entertainment but Ang and Bree wanted the wine to be more accessible... the waiter kept the bottle at the bar. Hopefully it's not another three months until the next time!
The Red Ox Inn - June 20, 2010
9420-91St. 780-465-5727
Ang's Pick
This was the smallest Dinner Club restaurant on record. It had only nine tables. It had a very simple decor with nothing on the walls. Before we go any further, we had a visiting member. Carol Zawada (aka. Morley) was Angela Zawada's plus one. In other words, she was Zawada's Zawada. As simple as the restaurant was, the server's demeanor elevated it to a more formal atmosphere. For appetizers we had, get this, Green Eggs and Ham, shrimp and dumplings (which were not sausome) and spinach beat salad with candied pecans. The Zawada's (being Polish) thought that there should have been more beats. For the main course, Dave had a little lamb, Bree had pork (417 calories... she is on this calorie counting kick), Ang had halibut and we are saving the best for last. Carol selected the special: the jerk snapper, and ohhh snap, it was good! It was coated in jerk seasoning... just the right amount of spice. The pesto cooled it off. It was served with rice and beans as well as a sprout salad. It was voted the best of the four dishes. The bottle of wine that accompanied the meal was Pinto Final Malbec. All three ladies gave it a woop woop (in case you don't know, woop woop is a good thing). Then it was time for dessert. Ang vetoed the cheese plate so that left us with four out of the five available choices. This caused a bit of a quandary because we would have to order the bread pudding. No one looked forward to it. Here are the four desserts: Bread pudding (#1 in appearance but #3 in taste), chocolate cake (least liked on all counts), pecan pie with really cool whip cream (#3 in looks #2 in taste) and lemon tart (#2 in looks #1 in taste... props to Zawada C. It was when Ang made her ritual trip to the bathroom we learned she would make a lousy interior decorator. She clearly grew up on the farm because she was in love with the barn theme therein. She was the only one. As the night drew to a close, we realized we didn't yet know the server's name so we made a game of guessing. Dave guessed Cyril. Carol guessed Allan. Angela made two guesses because she is special: Jeremy and Theo. Bree guessed Bobert. His actual name? It was Ramone. We were all wrong. He laughed at our silly game and said Theo was his favourite. We made his week. Just the right portion of food + great service + good company = another successful Dinner Club. Oh yeah, and Carol can come back next time she is in town.
Ang's Pick
This was the smallest Dinner Club restaurant on record. It had only nine tables. It had a very simple decor with nothing on the walls. Before we go any further, we had a visiting member. Carol Zawada (aka. Morley) was Angela Zawada's plus one. In other words, she was Zawada's Zawada. As simple as the restaurant was, the server's demeanor elevated it to a more formal atmosphere. For appetizers we had, get this, Green Eggs and Ham, shrimp and dumplings (which were not sausome) and spinach beat salad with candied pecans. The Zawada's (being Polish) thought that there should have been more beats. For the main course, Dave had a little lamb, Bree had pork (417 calories... she is on this calorie counting kick), Ang had halibut and we are saving the best for last. Carol selected the special: the jerk snapper, and ohhh snap, it was good! It was coated in jerk seasoning... just the right amount of spice. The pesto cooled it off. It was served with rice and beans as well as a sprout salad. It was voted the best of the four dishes. The bottle of wine that accompanied the meal was Pinto Final Malbec. All three ladies gave it a woop woop (in case you don't know, woop woop is a good thing). Then it was time for dessert. Ang vetoed the cheese plate so that left us with four out of the five available choices. This caused a bit of a quandary because we would have to order the bread pudding. No one looked forward to it. Here are the four desserts: Bread pudding (#1 in appearance but #3 in taste), chocolate cake (least liked on all counts), pecan pie with really cool whip cream (#3 in looks #2 in taste) and lemon tart (#2 in looks #1 in taste... props to Zawada C. It was when Ang made her ritual trip to the bathroom we learned she would make a lousy interior decorator. She clearly grew up on the farm because she was in love with the barn theme therein. She was the only one. As the night drew to a close, we realized we didn't yet know the server's name so we made a game of guessing. Dave guessed Cyril. Carol guessed Allan. Angela made two guesses because she is special: Jeremy and Theo. Bree guessed Bobert. His actual name? It was Ramone. We were all wrong. He laughed at our silly game and said Theo was his favourite. We made his week. Just the right portion of food + great service + good company = another successful Dinner Club. Oh yeah, and Carol can come back next time she is in town.
Violino - May 1, 2010
10133-125 St. Edmonton. 780-757-8701
Dave's Pick.
Tonight's special guest appearance... drum roll please... Michael Reid (Bree's beau). Violino is situated in a large but cute house just off 124th street. We were greeted enthusiastically by our waiter Leon who told us we could call him Peter if we didn't like anything. The tables were quite close together so we were blessed with the opportunity to overhear the conversation of a snooty family seated near us. We learned all about their various methods of preparing meat and the ins and outs of writing a resume. Way to go snooty family! The appetizers we shared included: prosciutto marinara, fonduta al formaggio and classico caprese. Ang and Bree enjoyed all of them while Mike and Dave were much pickier. Both didn't like the vegetables and surprise surprise... Dave wouldn't touch the seafood. Now time for the main course. Bree had the tiger striped (rawr) agnolotti with lobster. Mike had costina di manzo brasato with lobster on the side. Angela tucked into butternut squash risotto. When Dave's pasticcio di pollo alla crema arrived it drew many oohs and ahs because the pasta was brought to the table inside of a hollowed out wheel of cheese. Even the snooty family was looking on enviously. Dessert time: This is when Leon became Peter because the kitchen wouldn't make the special peanut butter dessert for Bree because it was only to be served with a certain dinner. Fine Peter fine! We did end up ordering almost every dessert available: peach cobbler, espresso tiramisu and the chef's sampler for two. We skipped the gelatto because they were out of mango... sacrilege! No visit to a restaurant would be complete without a trip to the washrooms which were located upstairs. The upstairs also hosts parties and larger functions by reservation only. As we all sit down to write this, and after a strenuous evaluation process, we have come to the conclusion that "Brother Reid" will be allowed back for future Dinner Club outings. Yet again, a great Dinner Club evening!
Dave's Pick.
Tonight's special guest appearance... drum roll please... Michael Reid (Bree's beau). Violino is situated in a large but cute house just off 124th street. We were greeted enthusiastically by our waiter Leon who told us we could call him Peter if we didn't like anything. The tables were quite close together so we were blessed with the opportunity to overhear the conversation of a snooty family seated near us. We learned all about their various methods of preparing meat and the ins and outs of writing a resume. Way to go snooty family! The appetizers we shared included: prosciutto marinara, fonduta al formaggio and classico caprese. Ang and Bree enjoyed all of them while Mike and Dave were much pickier. Both didn't like the vegetables and surprise surprise... Dave wouldn't touch the seafood. Now time for the main course. Bree had the tiger striped (rawr) agnolotti with lobster. Mike had costina di manzo brasato with lobster on the side. Angela tucked into butternut squash risotto. When Dave's pasticcio di pollo alla crema arrived it drew many oohs and ahs because the pasta was brought to the table inside of a hollowed out wheel of cheese. Even the snooty family was looking on enviously. Dessert time: This is when Leon became Peter because the kitchen wouldn't make the special peanut butter dessert for Bree because it was only to be served with a certain dinner. Fine Peter fine! We did end up ordering almost every dessert available: peach cobbler, espresso tiramisu and the chef's sampler for two. We skipped the gelatto because they were out of mango... sacrilege! No visit to a restaurant would be complete without a trip to the washrooms which were located upstairs. The upstairs also hosts parties and larger functions by reservation only. As we all sit down to write this, and after a strenuous evaluation process, we have come to the conclusion that "Brother Reid" will be allowed back for future Dinner Club outings. Yet again, a great Dinner Club evening!
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