OT: Visiting Edmonton

[McShogun99]

no way we have good Indian, Mexican, Korean etc. food in Edmonton

according to @Perfect_Drug ..it's only good when it comes from the country of origin

Obviously the food will always be better in it's country of origin but that doesn't mean that certain places can't make the dishes just as good or in some cases better if they have the proper ingredients. Like someone said earlier about sushi and seafood dishes, they're much better in a city next to the ocean compared to a land locked city. We also develop our taste buds based on where we grew up. I prefer a gringo taco made in Canada over an authentic street taco from Mexico city. I even don't mind Olive Garden even though I'm half Italian but nothing beats my grandma's pasta from when I was growing up.

 

[Oilhawks]

and what happens if he wants pizza?

Then he needs to fly it in from New York or he loses street cred

 

[Drivesaitl]

Obviously the food will always be better in it's country of origin but that doesn't mean that certain places can't make the dishes just as good or in some cases better if they have the proper ingredients. Like someone said earlier about sushi and seafood dishes, they're much better in a city next to the ocean compared to a land locked city. We also develop our taste buds based on where we grew up. I prefer a gringo taco made in Canada over an authentic street taco from Mexico city. I even don't mind Olive Garden even though I'm half Italian but nothing beats my grandma's pasta from when I was growing up.

I prefer Canadian Chinese food over what I'd be getting in China. Like for sure. heh "hey what even is that on the plate staring at me"

But I'm a philistine.

 

[jeffff]

My wife loves lasagna, but she wants it to taste like she thinks it should taste like. Her preconceived idea of lasagna....whatever the hell that is lol. If the lasagna doesn't meet her criteria, she doesn't like it.

I love lasagna as well, But I realize that there are many different takes on lasagna. When I eat it, if it tastes good, I like it....it is that simple. The two of us could eat 10 lasagnas from 10 restaurants and she may like 1/2 of them, if not less. While I would like all of them....while obviously preferring specific ones to others.

My point is: Everyone has their own expectations of what certain food should taste like. I don't compare Uncle Eds to the Ukrainian food I grew up with. Ukrainian food made my Baba and now my mother is 10000 times better than Uncle Eds but I would never tell someone that Uncle Eds has crappy food (because they don't. its delicious)

 

[rangers1314]

Look I’m going to be in Edmonton for like 48 hours….no offense but I doubt I’ll be searching out pizza. I live in NYC and grew up on Long Island…I can get it whenever I want

Was thinking more steakhouses…

 

[rangers1314]

nice avatar

Always wonderful to see a fellow black Philip fan

Then he needs to fly it in from New York or he loses street cred

I just may

 

[harpoon]

My wife loves lasagna, but she wants it to taste like she thinks it should taste like. Her preconceived idea of lasagna....whatever the hell that is lol.

This is a point too many of the connoisseurs in this thread are not allowing for. Many folks are quite dogmatic when it comes to their regional dishes. They may be quite sophisticated and adventurous regarding food in general, but when it comes to their ‘native’ dish, it’s 99% ‘wrong’ unless it’s been prepared the way it ‘should be’.

I’ve spent many many years in Japan and never developed a taste for sushi. I’ll eat the maguro and maybe a couple of pieces of tai. But I’d never choose to go for sushi if it were up to me.

Contrary to what is suggested in this thread, when traveling abroad for business with Japanese clients, they always want to go for sushi wherever we are. Why? Because they want to point out how it’s all being done wrong and doesn’t hold a candle to such and such a place in Tokyo. They seem quite happy to lay out hundreds of dollars for food that they know isn’t going to meet their lofty standards.

To me, raw fish on rice tastes pretty much the same wherever I go (so long as it’s fresh) but it’s been patiently explained to me that my unrefined palate is simply incapable of distinguishing the good from the bad. What a pity.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Look I’m going to be in Edmonton for like 48 hours….no offense but I doubt I’ll be searching out pizza. I live in NYC and grew up on Long Island…I can get it whenever I want

Was thinking more steakhouses…

Hell yeah brutha.


Burger joint on Whyte called the Next Act is great.

I'm out of the loop on steak houses, but LUX was good (nice dry age). DOSC is next on our list.

 

[EchoesoftheEighties]

Hell yeah brutha.


Burger joint on Whyte called the Next Act is great.

I'm out of the loop on steak houses, but LUX was good (nice dry age). DOSC is next on our list.

Honestly for steak houses I like Chop or the Keg. Nothing super fancy but solid and gets the job done.

 

[Fourier]

Hell yeah brutha.


Burger joint on Whyte called the Next Act is great.

I'm out of the loop on steak houses, but LUX was good (nice dry age). DOSC is next on our list.

While I stand by everything I said in our back and forth in the case of our visitor your take was correct. I am happy to acknowledge that.

I also agree that Lux is a good choice near the arena.

 

[Fourier]

Look I’m going to be in Edmonton for like 48 hours….no offense but I doubt I’ll be searching out pizza. I live in NYC and grew up on Long Island…I can get it whenever I want

Was thinking more steakhouses…

If you are looking for beef in Alberta I would not rule out prime rib roast as an option over steak. It's personal taste but a properly cooked prime rib with high quality beef is a treat. But it may be harder to get it done just as you like it since timing of your visit will have an impact while for a steak you should be able to get it anyway you want it.

If you are staying anywhere near downtown there are a some very good choices for steaks in particular. But one place that is probably less likely to be on the radar of the people here is Von's Steakhouse and Oyster Bar. The food at Von's was always very good in the past, though I must say that I have not been there in quite sometime. The recommendation is more about location. It is located on the other side of the river from downtown in a district called Old Strathcona just off of Whyte Avenue which is one of the city's trendier places. In February you may not want to spend a lot of time walking outside if the weather is bad. Whyte Ave is quite compact.

I'd be curious to hear if anyone on here has actually been to Von's recently.

 

[gordonhught]

If you are looking for beef in Alberta I would not rule out prime rib roast as an option over steak. It's personal taste but a properly cooked prime rib with high quality beef is a treat. But it may be harder to get it done just as you like it since timing of your visit will have an impact while for a steak you should be able to get it anyway you want it.

If you are staying anywhere near downtown there are a some very good choices for steaks in particular. But one place that is probably less likely to be on the radar of the people here is Von's Steakhouse and Oyster Bar. The food at Von's was always very good in the past, though I must say that I have not been there in quite sometime. The recommendation is more about location. It is located on the other side of the river from downtown in a district called Old Strathcona just off of Whyte Avenue which is one of the city's trendier places. In February you may not want to spend a lot of time walking outside if the weather is bad. Whyte Ave is quite compact.

I'd be curious to hear if anyone on here has actually been to Von's recently.

Or HYs.

 

[Kepler 186f]

Sorry man that got replaced with a restaurant only serving Borscht as part of a special food operation.

When did that happen? Ate there this summer when we were in Edmonton.

 

[McShogun99]

Look I’m going to be in Edmonton for like 48 hours….no offense but I doubt I’ll be searching out pizza. I live in NYC and grew up on Long Island…I can get it whenever I want

Was thinking more steakhouses…

Go to Lux Steak house. It's close to the arena and much better then chain Steakhouse's like Chop. Keg and Ruth Chris.

If you are looking for beef in Alberta I would not rule out prime rib roast as an option over steak. It's personal taste but a properly cooked prime rib with high quality beef is a treat. But it may be harder to get it done just as you like it since timing of your visit will have an impact while for a steak you should be able to get it anyway you want it.

If you are staying anywhere near downtown there are a some very good choices for steaks in particular. But one place that is probably less likely to be on the radar of the people here is Von's Steakhouse and Oyster Bar. The food at Von's was always very good in the past, though I must say that I have not been there in quite sometime. The recommendation is more about location. It is located on the other side of the river from downtown in a district called Old Strathcona just off of Whyte Avenue which is one of the city's trendier places. In February you may not want to spend a lot of time walking outside if the weather is bad. Whyte Ave is quite compact.

I'd be curious to hear if anyone on here has actually been to Von's recently.

If you're looking for prime rib then I'd go with Chop. Their prime rib is excellent.

 

[Drivesaitl]

If you are looking for beef in Alberta I would not rule out prime rib roast as an option over steak. It's personal taste but a properly cooked prime rib with high quality beef is a treat. But it may be harder to get it done just as you like it since timing of your visit will have an impact while for a steak you should be able to get it anyway you want it.

If you are staying anywhere near downtown there are a some very good choices for steaks in particular. But one place that is probably less likely to be on the radar of the people here is Von's Steakhouse and Oyster Bar. The food at Von's was always very good in the past, though I must say that I have not been there in quite sometime. The recommendation is more about location. It is located on the other side of the river from downtown in a district called Old Strathcona just off of Whyte Avenue which is one of the city's trendier places. In February you may not want to spend a lot of time walking outside if the weather is bad. Whyte Ave is quite compact.

I'd be curious to hear if anyone on here has actually been to Von's recently.

Not as popular as it used to be,. this is either good or bad. TBH their offerings are indistinguishable from easier to get to options like Chop, Lux etc. Somebody also mentioned Braven, right in the Marriot. Obviously easier choices for a person that is only in town for a couple days and isn't going to rent a car or learn the lay of the land. Our one way bridge networks in anycase would be daunting even for somebody renting a car. To say that they are non intuitive is giving credit. A person going to the game DT is going to be staying DT on this short a jaunt. Pretty much a given. Normands use to have the bistro right in the Citadel, which would be another option but no longer there.

I would pass on the Atlantic resto that is right in the Rogers Place Adjacent casino. But Marriot should be an easy option. (Braven fof steak dinner. Alchemy a really nice spot for drinks after the game.

I'll go one better and provide the actual link.

Steakhouse Downtown Edmonton | JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District

Savor delicious dining at JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District, including a sleek fine dining steakhouse, a cocktail lounge and a lobby bar.

www.marriott.com

Marriot website is not properly integrated. This is the Braven website. Its a nice dining spot.

Menus — Steaks, Chops and Seafood in Edmonton | Braven Restaurant

Braven offers a range of high-quality cuts of meat, seafood and more. Browse our lunch, dinner and drink menus.

www.bravenrestaurant.com

Also our pedway system is quite connected. Person doesn't even have to be outside if one doesn't want to. Could even take in a play at the Citadel, or go see some performance at the Winspear, or Art Gallery, without one footstep outside.

@rangers1314 enjoy the game. Rangers vs Oilers is always good entertainment. I could watch a 7 game series with these two clubs.

 

[Stoneman89]

I suspect authentic Chinese food might be far different that what most of us are used to, and might not be exactly what we'd like.

Sabor restaurant has superb Portugese fish dishes and a wonderful intimate atmosphere.

Continental Treat and Range Road are 2 others that are consistently superb.

 

[Fourier]

Not as popular as it used to be,. this is either good or bad. TBH their offerings are indistinguishable from easier to get to options like Chop, Lux etc. Somebody also mentioned Brazen, right in the Marriot. Obviously easier choices for a person that is only in town for a couple days and isn't going to rent a car or learn the lay of the land. Our one way bridge networks in anycase would be daunting even for somebody renting a car. To say that they are non intuitive is giving credit. A person going to the game DT is going to be staying DT on this short a jaunt. Pretty much a given. Normands use to have the bistro right in the Citadel, which would be another option but no longer there.

I would pass on the Atlantic resto that is right in the Rogers Place Adjacent casino. But Marriot should be an easy option. (Braven fof steak dinner. Alchemy a really nice spot for drinks after the game.

I'll go one better and provide the actual link.

Steakhouse Downtown Edmonton | JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District

Savor delicious dining at JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District, including a sleek fine dining steakhouse, a cocktail lounge and a lobby bar.

www.marriott.com

Marriot website is not properly integrated. This is the Braven website. Its a nice dining spot.

Menus — Steaks, Chops and Seafood in Edmonton | Braven Restaurant

Braven offers a range of high-quality cuts of meat, seafood and more. Browse our lunch, dinner and drink menus.

www.bravenrestaurant.com

Also our pedway system is quite connected. Person doesn't even have to be outside if one doesn't want to. Could even take in a play at the Citadel, or go see some performance at the Winspear, or Art Gallery, without one footstep outside.

enjoy the game. Rangers vs Oilers is always good entertainment. I could watch a 7 game series with these two clubs.

Eating in the Arena District would be easier, Tough Whyte Ave does have its attractions. Also for someone from NYC, navigating Edmonton would be a piece of cake compared with the chaos that is driving there.

 

[Stoneman89]

Eating in the Arena District would be easier, Tough Whyte Ave does have its attractions. Also for someone from NYC, navigating Edmonton would be a piece of cake compared with the chaos that is driving there.

I thought most people in NY (especially tourists) take the subway or cabs?

 

[Fourier]

I suspect authentic Chinese food might be far different that what most of us are used to, and might not be exactly what we'd like.

Sabor restaurant has superb Portugese fish dishes and a wonderful intimate atmosphere.

When I went out to restaurants with my supervisor from Hong Kong, he always ordered off the menu. The dishes we got were very different than what I would have been able to get by myself. often I had no idea what it was!

 

[Drivesaitl]

Eating in the Arena District would be easier, Tough Whyte Ave does have its attractions. Also for someone from NYC, navigating Edmonton would be a piece of cake compared with the chaos that is driving there.

Yeah It definitely wouldn't be a piece of cake. People learn the NYC infrastructure and it takes time just to master the intricate subway system. (I far prefer the London England Tube map). The Edmonton bridges are fed by pretty poorly marked roadways and even transport drivers here that drive regularly hate the system. Doesn't help that the Walterdale bridge was obsolete well before it was built. Building only a 3 lane bridge there was planning fail.

But in anycase there would no reason, none, why anybody visiting for two days would necessarily want to be leaving their DT hotel environs. One thing about our DT is theres enough things to do and places to visit there in short walkable vicinity. Whyte Avenue I think would be pretty much a miss for somebody travelling in from NYC.

Finally consider what our rivervalley roads and bridge decks are like here in February. Now add considerable back up traffic demand since you were here and it taking 30mins in rush hour just to go from DT to Strathcona. yeah nobody likes doing that. If I have to go from DT to the southside anywhere anytime between 4-6pm especially in February I don't. You're just going to be sitting there parked in a spot.

 

[Drivesaitl]

no way we have good Indian, Mexican, Korean etc. food in Edmonton

according to @Perfect_Drug ..it's only good when it comes from the country of origin

Places here don't even use Corn Burritos or Corn Tacos. Thats fail from the start. Due to our preponderence here of putting wheat in everything we have primarily wheat instead of Corn Burritos here. If you've tasted pure Corn burritos or Tacos you don't go back. They are vastly superior in taste and help complete any dish.

As a Celiac to its just annoying how hard it is to get a Gluten free corn burrito or taco here. I mean I'm only asking and expecting the legitimate way that they are supposed to be made. But its cheaper to make garbage wheat laden burritos and tacos here and have to add artificial flavoring to them to make them even taste edible.

Even most of the "Corn" burritos sold here are a mix. They contain wheat.

But wheat burritos and Tacos are exhibit A example of bastardizing an ethnic product and makng it far worse. many more cost cutting examples like this exist, but its particularly silly here as we have a shitload of premium taber corn to work with. So this is an example whereby the region specific cuisine is better, because they traditionally respect putting the proper ingredients into it.

and what happens if he wants pizza?

The op literally said, right in the thread he's going to be getting steak.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

The op literally said, right in the thread he's going to be getting steak.

ya, after I posted it

 

[Oilhawks]

I suspect authentic Chinese food might be far different that what most of us are used to, and might not be exactly what we'd like.

Sabor restaurant has superb Portugese fish dishes and a wonderful intimate atmosphere.

Continental Treat and Range Road are 2 others that are consistently superb.

Great recommendations. I forgot to mention RR in my post but it's also a favourite, though I haven't been in a while

There are definitely some places to get more 'authentic' Chinese, but it's definitely not for everyone, particularly those that are used to the Gastown version of Chinese food. Been ages since I've had them so can't vouch for current quality, but Tang Bistro & South Silk Road were both solid and more of a mainland cuisine.

 

[Nostradumbass]

While I stand by everything I said in our back and forth in the case of our visitor your take was correct. I am happy to acknowledge that.

I also agree that Lux is a good choice near the arena.

Thank you for acknowledging that.

For steaks, DOSC is pretty good and the restaurant is really nice.

 

[OfCorsiDid]

When did that happen? Ate there this summer when we were in Edmonton.

Yeah it’s a joke mate

Thanks, did not know. Not surprised. There is so much turn over in restaurants. I’ve often heard it’s not a vocation to get rich, but more of a passion for cooking and socializing with patrons.

This was a joke. I’m sure this restaurant is still open.