Category: restaurant reviews

Western Sensibilities: Thanh Thanh Oriental Noodle House

After the ceremony, Janice and I accompanied May and her family for lunch. We decided on Thanh Thanh (10718-101 Street), a newly renovated Vietnamese restaurant at Janice’s suggestion.

Just outside of Chinatown, Thanh Thanh offers free parking, always a plus for eateries in the downtown core. The decor is impressively chic – tile floors, brown suede banquets, simple black tables, mirrors to create the illusion of space, and a clean tank filled with blood parrots. While this was my first time at the restaurant, I’m certain the changes have much improved the dining space.

I was surprised at how busy the place was, at noon on a random Saturday. By the time we left over an hour later, there was actually a wait for tables. We ordered a few dishes to share, including hot and sour soup, cashew chicken, beef, chicken and vegetable chow fun, and a sizzling beef and mushroom plate.

The food arrived in no time. Hot, fresh, and of reasonable quality, I was very happy with my experience. I’ll be certain to try their pho in the future.

With large portions and fast service, I can see why Thanh Thanh has become a lunch and dinner destination for those in the know.

Blood Parrots!

Restaurant interior

Hot & Sour Soup

Cashew Chicken

Warm and Inviting: Free Press Bistro

Dickson and I met up after work today for a quick bite to eat. He insisted on something “warm” (what can I say? He’s an articulate one), and I suggested the Free Press Bistro (10014-104 Street).

Until recently, the restaurant belonged to the Original Fare collective, a group of independently-owned eateries in the city. The following is an excerpt from an interview with Natasha Shekhter-Chapman, one of the proprietors of Free Press, distributed in the November 2006 Original Fare newsletter:

“Our concept is to do non-processed panini’s. What I found with panini’s is that most of them are processed, generic food. Whereas here the chicken is roasted, the pork is pulled. Everything down to our desserts we make here. For us it is about non-processed, unique, healthy, incorporating all different aspects of the world. You look at our menu and we’ve got Thai and Vietnamese, and then we have the French, the Cajun, kind of all over the world but combining them all into a very basic thing. Everybody loves sandwiches.”

I’d been there once prior, almost a year ago, on a similarly blustery day, but wasn’t too impressed with the food at that time, however. Just a stone’s throw (okay, maybe more like a punt) away from Bay Station, it’s in quite a convenient downtown location.

The restaurant was cozy and inviting, and even more so as the dimmed lighting brought out the warmth in the earth toned walls. Non-obtrusive vintage newspapers accented the dining room, a theme continued on their colorful menus. While I wasn’t a huge fan of their furniture (clunky metal and tacky pink), the calming ambiance somewhat made up for it.

To start, we ordered the intriguing Chip Butty, an apparent spin on a British pub classic, with fries and mozza grilled between Ciabatta bread. For our main plates, I went with the Chicken Parmesan (breaded chicken, tomato sauce, mozzarella), while Dickson chose the Free Press Club (chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon).

The Chip Butty came soon enough, and my, it may be my new favorite sandwich. The combination of french fries and melted cheese encased in crisp Ciabatta tasted heavenly and had it been served with gravy instead of a lemon dill aioli, it could have been considered a ‘poutine sandwich.’ Come to think of it, perhaps I should add a panini grill to my kitchen wish list.

As for our entrees – the chicken in mine was a tad on the dry side, but using ketchup for dipping, it wasn’t too noticeable. The star of the sandwich was indeed the bread. Dickson wondered if they baked it on-site. Based on their interview excerpt above, I’d hope so. Lastly, the fries were of the shoestring variety (which I normally dislike), but I didn’t mind them on this occasion.

While I’m happy to say I had a good experience this time around, I may have to return to see if they can remain consistent with both the service and the food.

Restaurant interior

Cool menu

Chip Butty with Lemon Dill Aioli

Club Sandwich (with a dollop of ketchup because Dickson couldn’t wait to dig in)

Chicken Parmesan

Quietly Authentic: Sushi Wasabi

Following the play, Annie and I went to Sushi Wasabi (5714-111 Street) for dinner.

Tucked away in the Lendrum strip mall, I was somewhat surprised that such a nondescript eatery could draw the constant patronage that it did that night. And this led to one of the downsides of the restaurant – because of the table demand (and limited seating), we weren’t able to dawdle and chat as long as we would have liked.

Annie assured me that their food was very authentic, which explained to some degree their higher-than-average prices. Thankfully, I managed to find something on the menu that didn’t involve raw food or fish – the Shichmiyaki Chicken (chicken marinated in Teriyaki sauce served with bean sprouts). I also ordered a side of Miso Soup. Annie opted for the Bento Box, which also came with Miso Soup.

Before our food came, the waitress brought hot towels for us. I felt like I was on a Singapore Airlines flight! It was nicely refreshing. Our soups arrived shortly after, which I found less salty than Kyoto’s version. As for the chicken – it was definitely better than Mikado’s beef equivalent. Lightly fried, then cooked with Teriyaki sauce, the morsels were delightfully crispy and delicately flavored. And though the portion size was fair, on hungrier nights, I’d likely order an appetizer for good measure.

With great service and good food, I can see why Sushi Wasabi is so popular and in such high regard.

Restaurant interior

Miso Soup

Bento Box

Shichmiyaki Chicken

Sub-par Pho: King Noodle House

Dickson had been referred to King Noodle House (10613-97 Street) by a friend who claimed it boasted the best pho in the city. Emboldened by such a high recommendation, we sought to put it to the test on Friday.

The furniture was clearly from another era, seemingly having been transplanted from an 80s bar. The variations of pho offered were numerous, taking up at least eighty percent of their menu. Clipped inside the plastic jackets as well were copies of two favorable reviews from the Edmonton Journal and the Edmonton Sun. I ended up selecting pho with beef balls and flank, while Dickson chose the special #2 (containing a number of things I can’t recall).

The food came lightning quick, perhaps only two minutes behind the record set by Pho Hoa. My dish arrived with plenty of cilantro (hurrah), but all of it had already been submerged in the soup (boo). I found the meat portion small, but worst of all, the soup base was sub-par – oily and lacking flavor, it was rather disappointing. It definitely left me unsatisfied and in longing for a replacement bowl from either Pagolac or Doan’s.

Next up for pho firsts: V’s (#111, 4990-92 Avenue).

Restaurant interior

In place of an actual fish tank

Special #2

Pho with Beef Balls and Flank

Annie’s Birthday: Joey’s Global Grill and Dirty Minds

Last night, Mack, Dickson and I helped Annie celebrate her birthday, starting with dinner at Joey’s Global Grill & Lounge (9911-19 Avenue).

A restaurant I have been to numerous times since it opened a few years ago, it defines the “casual upscale” movement, and appears not to hire waitresses a day over 25. It was a typical Saturday night, where the wait time for a table was between forty five and sixty minutes. Luckily, Mack and Dickson arrived early enough to counter the fashionably late females.

My order was sadly predictable – the Wild Mushroom Soup and Caesar Salad. Unfortunately, not much else on their menu appeals to me (it is actually remarkably similar to the offerings found at Earl’s, but slightly better). Still, the soup is consistently excellent, so I can’t complain – creamy, sweet, and served with just enough mushrooms – it is the perfect choice to temper a cold winter’s night.

Ginger beef appetizer

Bellini (it has been much too long since my last Bellini)

Wild Mushroom Soup & Caesar Salad

Mack’s Lobster Ravioli

Dickson’s Quarter Chicken

Annie’s Chicken & Ribs

Present time!

Us

After dinner, we headed back to my house for dessert, movies, and a trial run of Dirty Minds. Dickson and Mack thought they’d try to bypass a quick trip to the grocery store by heading straight to my house, betting that my family would welcome them inside with open arms. A quick phone call to my Dad ensured that didn’t happen, and is one of the many reasons I love my family – they actually let the boys wait outside on the porch until Annie and I returned. Sure, I felt a teeny bit guilty, but it was a good opportunity for them to test out the warmth of their winter jackets.

No dice!

Before watching Scary Movie 4 (crap) and The Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift (incredible stunt driving), we played More Dirty Minds. It was pretty fun, with Dickson even coming up with a teaser of his own! Annie and I ended up beating them through the luck of the cards we drew.

Dickson engrossed in his clues

Annie’s D-i-r-t-y

It was a nice night overall. Happy birthday, Annie!

Surprisingly Efficient: Boston Pizza

Mack and I needed a quick dinner fix yesterday evening before our 8pm play, and passing up on several shady-looking neighborhood haunts, resigned to the nearby Boston Pizza (10543-124 Street).

I am ashamed that my food adventures in high school were limited to the downtown BPs on Jasper Avenue. It was our favorite eating establishment out of general laziness and naiveté to what the culinary scene had to offer. As such, I am now very reluctant to retread my adolescent dining roots and avoid the chain whenever possible. But on this night, our hands were tied, so between the Mr. Sub on the corner and the Oilers game beaming from the lounge inside, Boston Pizza was a welcome option.

As our time was limited, we made sure to check the prep time on our food, and on the server’s promise that our medium pepperoni and mushroom pizza would be done in ten minutes, we watched the clock and waited.

And arrive it did(!) – hot, and on time – count me as both surprised and extremely pleased. Nor was it badly made (though I would have called for a tad more mushrooms).

Topped off with a friendly and cheerful waitress, I would highly recommend this off-the-beaten track Boston Pizza…who knew it could be a dining destination for the theatrically-inclined?

Pepperoni & Mushroom Pizza

Unexpectedly Disappointing: The Keg

After returning to Edmonton on Sunday, Dickson and I decided on dinner at The Keg in South Edmonton Common (1631-102 Street). Besides a Christmas party at the end of one of my student teaching terms many years ago, I haven’t eaten at The Keg since.

Walking in, this location was quite impressive – looming doors enclosed a large waiting area, all dark wood fixtures and flooring, dimly lit to set the desired tone and ambiance. The dining room was large and spacious, a combination of stand alone tables and booths, with the design allowing for several private dining enclaves. Lastly, a fireplace at one end extended the necessary warmth and feeling of comfortable hospitality the chain undoubtedly wants to be known for. In stark contrast with the surroundings though, was the music. For some unexplainable reason, upbeat hits from the 80s streamed from the speakers (e.g. The Jackson 5’s “ABC”) – appropriate for family restaurants perhaps, but not compatible with a muted, sophisticated dining area on a Sunday night.

Our waitress was surprisingly flighty and forgetful throughout the evening, but her cheeriness and genuine nature made her mistakes forgivable. Armed with menus, I chose to go with a lighter supper – a Keg Cesar and French Onion Soup, while Dickson ordered a Keg-sized Grilled Top Sirloin (medium) and a side of Portabella & Button Mushrooms. In an imbibing mood, I also called for a Greyhound (vodka and freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice), which seemed like an intriguing twist on the usual orange-based Screwdriver. The drink was either perfect (with the sourness of the grapefruit tempering the bitterness of the vodka), or just watered down.

The salad came quickly, but was smaller than I had anticipated. The same can be said for the soup, although the broth was quite good – rich and layered with flavor. I can’t say Dickson enjoyed his meal as much, save perhaps the mushroom and baked potato sides. His steak came out downright carcinogenic, and was more accurately labeled well done (and dry) as opposed to medium.

While I didn’t have a bad time, I really expected more from The Keg. Perhaps some of the funding for their television ad campaigns should be diverted to food preparation and music selection classes instead.

Dining room

Greyhound cocktail
Keg Cesar

French Onion Soup

Portabella & Button Mushrooms

Grilled Top Sirloin and Baked Potato

Us (Dickson’s eyes are open!)

Friendly and Efficient: Kyoto Japanese Cuisine

I went to Kyoto Japanese Cuisine (10128-109 Street) for a farewell lunch this afternoon with my workmates. In order to bypass the oft-busy lunchtime crowd, we not only elected to start our meal early (11:30am), but we also pre-ordered our food the day before.

We arrived fashionably late – quarter to noon – to a table already set, with filled glasses and bowls of Miso soup waiting. The restaurant itself is tasteful, with clean decor and muted colors. The chairs were slightly awkward though – made of metal and rather clunky, they weren’t all that comfortable to sit in or shift.

But before we even had the opportunity to really get settled, the waitress came by to deliver our individual bento boxes, which all but one of my coworkers had opted for. As I typically order all-in-one rice bowls, this was my first experience with a bento box. With carefully partitioned food à la a TV dinner, and separate bowls for rice, bean sprouts, and dipping sauce, it was an extremely novel – bordering on OCD – way of consuming a meal. And at $8.95 – it is a great deal. The tempura was light and not greasy while the chicken slightly crispy and tender. The beef, however, left something to be desired – slightly cold, and chewier than I had liked, I suppose it could have been a byproduct of our tardiness. But with the rice and salad, the box was a nicely rounded meal.

Because we had to be in and out in an hour, I didn’t have time to really enjoy the atmosphere of Kyoto. It may be worth a return trip.

Sushi bar
Place setting and Miso soup
Bento Box with beef, chicken, and tempura

Charmingly Urban: Blue Plate Diner

I mention Blue Plate Diner (10145-104 Street) so often that you’d think I’d eat there more frequently, so I was more than happy to return on Friday night for dinner with Mack.

Just stepping into the restaurant makes me happy. Located in the warehouse district, the dining room retains some of the original brick, adorned with contemporary art, and accented with aged windows utilized as table dividers. I love the ambiance in the evenings, with swoony ’50s music, the natural buzz of conversation, and dim, candlelit tables.

The menu isn’t anything spectacular, but it’s like my favorite sweater – comfortable and good for all occasions. Something unique that they do offer is their Friday night dinner specials, with two featured dishes every week (and yes, it does remind me of dinner at the Gilmore residence). I ordered one of the two specials, a winter vegetable pie served with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. Mack chose the beef burger and regular fries.

I forgot my camera (the photos below are from their website), so you’ll have to bear with text, but the pie was huge! Baked in a large dish and topped off with a puff pastry crust, it was teeming with carrots, mushrooms, and fennel root (to me, tasted like a cross between celery and onions). It was a satisfying dish that wasn’t too heavy, and a great choice on a cold night. Mack’s said his from-scratch fries were good, and polished off his burger in no time!

Needless to say, I’ll be back!

Ambiance
Table for two

Delicious and Economical: Lorenzo’s

In search of a late afternoon lunch today, I wandered over to Zuppa Cafe, but was disappointed to find out that they would be closed until January 2. They have one of the most inexpensive meals I have ever encountered in the city centre area – a bowl of hearty, homemade soup of the day and a side of baked pita chips for $3 – perfect for a light lunch.

Thus, I made my way to my reliable backup – Lorenzo’s in Edmonton City Centre West (10025-102A Avenue). Though they recently moved from the City Centre East food court, they haven’t changed the specials they offer. My staple in high school, they were not only affordable (a pizza, pasta, and drink combo for about $5), but also, the service has always been excellent. The woman who is a mainstay at Lorenzo’s is always friendly, efficient, and sprinkles terms of endearment like “honey” in her speech, making me feel welcome and taken care of.

On this day, I ordered the small lasagna, which came to a measly $3. Though there was only one layer of cheese, there was enough pasta layers for a filling midday snack, rounded out with a generous topping of meat and tomato sauce.

Lorenzo’s is a great place to go for a quick bite!

Small Lasagna