Saturday, September 29, 2012

Montana's Steakhouse

Montana's let you draw on your table cloth :)



Multiple locations across Canada

We have eaten here a number of times and enjoyed it each time. We've had the burgers which are good, the kapow shrimp have a bit too much batter and the sides are ok. The real saver here is the meat! Steaks and ribs are delicious. The service can be friendly and fast, but it does depend on the time of day and the server you get. This is a standard steak "joint" and is family friendly. 

Food taste and quality = 6.5 out of 10
Atmosphere and service = 6.5 out of 10

Montana's (Calgary Trail) Cookhouse on Urbanspoon

Ousia - Our favorite restaurant in Edmonton


This is our favorite restaurant in Edmonton. The food is creative, authentic, and DELICIOUS!
We ordered the Saganaki, Lamb, Salad and Desserts and they were all presented in ways we had never seen before. The waitress was just delightful. She was very informative, friendly and fast. The restaurant was a lovely atmosphere and comfortable. I believe it's new, having only been around for a year. We would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes good food and we will definitely go back. It is not the cheapest place, I think it cost approximately $50 for the two of us (however we didn't order any alcoholic drinks). 

Food taste and quality = 10 out of 10
Atmosphere and service = 10 out of 10


Ousia on Urbanspoon

Yianni's Tavern


I am always tougher on greek restaurants then others unfortunately due to my history of working in a greek restaurant and eating a LOT of greek food. We had not been recommended Yiannis but it was always busy whenever I walked past so I hoped for the best. 

The place was empty when we went mid week but service was still very slow. For appetizers we ordered Saganaki and Sausages. Both were nice but not very traditional. The sausages were cold and very fatty. When the Saganaki came out I asked for a side of tomatoes as the best way to eat Saganaki is with fresh tomatoes on pita. The server rudely said she couldn't provide them, and if I wanted to order another salad I could. What?!

For our mains we ordered lamb and beef souvlaki's with greek salad and roast potatoes. The meat was very dry and again not very traditional. We happily ate it but I was disappointed. 

The service was what really turned us off. We decided not to stay for dessert or drinks and went up the road instead. 

Food taste and quality = 7 out of 10
Atmosphere and service = 6 out of 10

Yiannis Taverna & Kasbar on Urbanspoon

Vi's for Pies

Carrot Cake 

Black Forrest Cake 

Baked Brie Cheese 

Lemon Meringue


I've been here twice and it was delicious both times. of course as it is a pie restaurant it would be a sin to not order said pie. The first time I had their infamous Chicken Pot Pie, which is actually a bowl of chicken and vegetables "insides" with a square fluffy piece of pasty placed over the top. They probably cook it all together like that but it was not the traditional pie I am use to seeing. However, it was delicious and the best Chicken Pot Pie I've had, despite being so big two people could have had it for lunch, although I ate it all and regretted it later. The pie came with a side salad, very bland and nothing to write home about, so I wont. 

On the second visit, I skipped the pie to make sure I had room for a full piece of cake. Telling myself a black forest cake is like an apple pie, without the pie. The cake was amazing! yum yum yum. not too sweet, moist and the right amount of cream and jam in it. I hate to tell you but I did eat the whole thing! Shameful considering it was the size of my head. We had coffee and my friends also had cakes and a baked brie which I tried and will be ordering next time! Of course I will eat and have to forget about all the calories or else I will cry. 

The place is always busy, so try and get there before a meal time rush. They have specials all the time and bring a cute chalk board over to your table with the days menu. It is very loud due to the big crowds, so just be prepared for that. I don't think I would take small children here as it's a bit cramp and  you might be asking for trouble once you've hyped them up on all the sugar. 

This is a favorite for home cooked style meals. Parking is easy and the service is friendly and as quick as they can be, despite the crowds. Our server forgot to put an order through but once she realised rushed back to apologies and give us an eta on the meals, that's all you can hope for really :) 

Food Quality and Taste = 9 out of 10
Atmosphere and Service = 8 out of 10


Vi's For Pies on Urbanspoon

Sabu

Sabu Gyoza and Salmon

Sabu Pork Bento Box



This is our favorite Japanese Restaurant in Edmonton. It is local, easy to park, always has a table, food is fresh, authentic and fast! We love the tempura, chicken, pork, sushi here, we've eaten here over six times and enjoyed everything we've ever tried. The family owned staff are so friendly. 

Food Taste = 9.5 out of 10
Atmosphere and Service = 9 out of 10


Sabu Japanese & Korean Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Smokehouse BBQ


Continental Treat Fine Bistro




We came here to celebrate a work milestone and were looking forward to a fancy meal. We loved the food whilst in Germany last year and were hoping for something traditional. We were not disappointed. The wait staff were very professional and efficient, explaining all the meal options and wine choices. As it was very busy it took a bit of time to get our table, despite having booked a week ahead. 

I am obsessed with Spaetzle and was keen to order any main that had that included. Although it was not the beset Spaetzle I've ever eaten it was certainly the best I have had in Edmonton. The meat and sauces tasted very thick and creamy as I had hoped. Blair has put this restaurant in his top three, which means the meal sizes were of a hardy size for a man! 

The intimate and dark surroundings make for a lovely atmosphere, and although being on the expensive size I do feel you get what you pay for. We will definitely be coming here again. 

Food Taste and Quality = 9 out of 10
Atmosphere and Service = 9 out of 10


Continental Treat on Urbanspoon

Dauphine Bakery & Bistro

High Tea

Chocolate Crossant and Merengue


We first tried here to go to the High Tea on Saturday. Blair is an avid High Tea lover and we have sampled them around the world. There are only a handful of places that do High Tea in Edmonton and at $25 a person this is certainly the most reasonably priced. You have to book the high tea in advance and they only service groups of 6 and smaller between the hours of 3-5pm on Friday and Saturday. 

We each got to pick a pot of tea each from a large selection. The first taste was a lovely cool soup which I enjoyed but was too salty for Blair, followed by a selection of faced sandwiches with an interesting mix of flavours and some combinations I had never tried before but loved. The last taste was a mix of their delicious desserts in mini form. A great way to try everything they offer and then get a big one next time your nearby! 

We have since been back four times, which for us is a record. It is one of the best coffees you can get in town and all the salads, desserts and sandwiches we've tried have been lovely. Sometimes the servings are a bit small so don't expect a big hardy meal. 

The service can be a bit touch and go, the waiters are lovely but often very slow and a tad forgetful.

Food taste and quality = 9 out of 10
Atmosphere and service = 8 out of 10



Dauphine Bakery and Bistro on Urbanspoon


Duchess Bake Shop




Duchess Bake Shop on Urbanspoon


Empress Bakery



Empress Bakery on Urbanspoon


Koutouki


This was the first greek food we tried in Edmonton, as we had stayed away from the "Fast Food Donair" style places for pure horror at the "meat" hanging in the windows! 

Koutouki has an interesting decor with a ceiling of fairy lights and vines. It does feel very homey and although I don't know how they do it the vines are not dusty at all. 

There was a belly dancer in the long dining room and she was rattling away with bells on her arms and legs. We strategically sat our selves away from her for fear of her dancing up to our table! 

We ordered the usual suspects of Saganaki, Lamb and veggies, Tzatiki and pita and of course a greek salad. Everything was very tasty although a bit more oily then I would have liked. Coming from Australia we can't be too critical of the lamb as we are in Canada the beef capital, however it was quite nice, if not a bit fatty. 

The wait staff were friendly and very helpful. They suggested a lovely white wine that complimented the meal well and everything was brought out quickly and in the correct order, which is actually kind of rare these days. 

As this is a bit further away from our house and there are a few other good Greek Restaurants near our house (Ousia and Oil Lamp) we probably would only come back here if we were in the neighbourhood. I hear there is another Koutouki down the university end of Whyte Ave, so we might give that one a go one day too. 

All in all a nice meal and good service. If you are nearby and feel like Greek food you won't be disappointment. 

Food Quality and Taste = 7.5 out of 10
Service and Atmosphere = 8.5 out of 10


Koutouki Restaurant (107 Ave/124 St) on Urbanspoon

Milestones Grill & Bar

We have eaten here twice. Once down in Calgary for breakfast and once in Edmonton for dinner. 

The Calgary experience was all in all a bad one. I believe there was a long weekend happening and despite coming on a Sunday brunch time the place was empty. We sat in the lounge area and received terribly slow service as we watched the wait staff gossip and play on their phones. 

We finally ordered from the one waiter who was trying to look after the two rooms. We went for straight breakfast meals, nice and easy. I got bacon, toast and scrambled eggs. Unfortunately the eggs were over cooked and watery, how that is possible is beyond me! I didn't eat half the meal which for me is a big deal! Blair enjoyed his breakfast burrito a bit more, although it did have onions in it despite asking for them to be removed, so he had to eat around them. 

The next time we went we didn't realise it was the same place until we sat down and saw the menus. We shared a main (I apologies I can't remember what it was) as we were keen to each have a dessert! The desserts were delicious. Unfortunately  I can't remember much else about the second time, although no news is good news sometimes when it comes to a bad dining experience. 

Food quality and taste = 6 out of 10
Atmosphere and service = 6 out of 10


Milestone's (SouthEd Common) on Urbanspoon

Elm Cafe


Elm Café on Urbanspoon

Bonjour Bakery


King Noodle House



King Noodle House Pho Hoang (Chinatown) on Urbanspoon

Blue Plate Diner



Blue Plate Diner on Urbanspoon


Mikado Sushi and Grill




Mikado (Southside) on Urbanspoon



Credo Coffee

Credo Coffee




Credo Coffee on Urbanspoon