Openings
- The newest pizzeria to open in Edmonton is Fn’za, offering California-style pizza. It is located at 11939 Jasper Avenue.
- Okinawa Onigiri Cafe, located at 10011 102 Avenue (a space vacant since The Sequel Cafe closed during the pandemic) is now open. They serve up Japanese rice sandwiches and artisanal coffees.
- One01 Bistro is a new Asian restaurant located at 10508 101 Street.
- Little Bear’s summer location in Garneau at Eleanor and Laurent opens on May 10 at 10926 88 Avenue.
- Diced, the board game restaurant from the folks behind Waffle Bird and Table Top Cafe, held its grand opening on May 4.
- Twice Cream is opening up its second location in Sherwood Park, to be located at #120, 75 Salisbury Way.
Upcoming Events
- St. Albert Rib Fest is taking place June 7-9 at the Century Casino in St. Albert.
Local News
- Restaurant Yarrow abruptly closed last month, allegedly not refunding guests who had already pre-paid for their meals. Ben Staley, the chef who helped open the restaurant in 2020, left the venture in 2022, but was getting messages from people on social media blaming him for Restaurant Yarrow’s end. He clarified his involvement, and distanced himself from the owners in this blog post: “What is currently happening is a disgrace.”
- News that the newly-revamped Downtown Farmers’ Market would be returning this summer was released earlier this year, but it was confirmed this week that the market will have a delayed start of June 15 and run until October 12. Vendors returning to 104 Street include Riverbend Gardens, Sundog Organic Farm, and Ocean Odyssey.
- Top One’s all-you-can-eat dim sum, the first restaurant to offer this in Edmonton starting in February, was short-lived. May 12 will be the final day to partake in AYCE, though a la carte dim sum will still be available.
- Flying Dragon, offering noodles, rice bowls, and skewers in Old Strathcona, is under new management with a new menu.
- Mexican restaurant Anejo is featured in the latest edition of Modern Luxuria.
- Edify checked out Diced and Mokha Coffee House.
- Co-founder of Feed the Soul Dining Week Rochelle Ignacio put together a list of Black-owned businesses to visit for Explore Edmonton, including spots to eat and drink.
- Happy ninth birthday to Nongbu!
- Mother, the sister bakery to Chartier located in Leduc, commemorated its first birthday last week.
- Die Pie celebrated its first anniversary in its current location.
- Imported cheese from Ukraine is now available at The Italian Centre Shop.
- Rice Howard Way may become a designated entertainment district after unanimous support from City Council’s community and public services committee. Council will need to approve this measure before it moves forward.
- Congratulations to Omar Mouallem, whose documentary The Lebanese Burger Mafia is nominated for a James Beard Award under the Documentary Visual Media category.
What I Ate
- Mack and I were able to get away for a date at Darling. We’d been meaning to check out the wine bar for some time, but hadn’t yet had the opportunity. We unintentionally lined it up well, with their spring menu on offer – we really enjoyed the beef carpaccio, and loved the freshness of the green bean salad. Great service, and vibe.
Our meal at Darling
- We love that Good Goods has been bringing in fresh baked goods on the weekend (including Bagel Bar goodies on Saturdays). We picked up some items to try from Eats by Cole on Sunday. The cinnamon buns were a great value, and the sourdough bagels had a nice chew. It is dangerous knowledge to know these are just a pre-order click away.
Our order from Eats by Cole
- Mack and I were invited to attend the opening of L’OCA Quality Market’s flagship store in Sherwood Park on Friday. It is no doubt an ambitious project. They have transformed the shell of a former Rona into a 45,000 square foot grocery store and two restaurants. L’OCA is led by Paul Moran, a Top Chef Canada winner who relocated here from Tofino to oversee its culinary aspects. Oro, an Italian restaurant, will probably be a welcome addition to a community without many finer dining establishments. Pyro, L’OCA’s other sit down restaurant, will likely also be well-received with its airy, spacious interior and approachable menu.
What is less certain is how the grocery side of L’OCA will fare. L’OCA emphasized their gourmet take-home meals and premium products (including a full-service butchery and bread made with flour ground in-house). But given the current conversations about grocery store prices (including some who have decided – privileged or not – to boycott Loblaws this month), how will shoppers react to higher costs?
Sherwood Park was chosen due to its proximity to the city and its resident make-up. However, given L’OCA has also shared that they are opening two additional locations in Edmonton in 2025 (including one rumoured in the neighbourhood of Parkview), it seems to suggest that the owners are aware that the idea of a destination grocery store may not be all that appealing. Time will tell. L’OCA Quality Market opens to the public on May 10 at 340 Baseline Road.