Whether its a relaxed family meal or romantic dinner for two you’re after, Edmonton has a great range of restaurants to suit every taste and budget. Here’s our pick of the best restaurants in Edmonton to try if you’re looking for a new dinner spot.
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Best Restaurants In Edmonton
1. Winter Salad, Biera
This is one sexy salad—a riot of texture, from the apple pear shavings draped languorously over the goods beneath, and the crunch of sunflower seeds throughout, to the creamy, tangy, cheesy dill dressing. A thing of beauty. Nominators waxed rhapsodic about the grilled chicken, the tartare, the various permutations of the excellent house-made sourdough on the menus; we remember a particularly thrilling mushroom dish last summer. We love chef Christine Sandford’s commitment to local sourcing; the seasonal menus; the love of great cheese. Each dish not only demonstrates fine technique and mastery of flavour and subtlety, each supports and highlights the Blind Enthusiasm and the barrel-aged Monolith beers. We are fortunate people to have Biera.
2. Hardware Grill
A staple on the Edmonton restaurant scene for close to 20 years, Hardware Grill specializes in ‘progressive Canadian cuisine,’ influenced both by the country’s French heritage and the local flavors of the provincial region. Most dishes resemble a modern version of well-loved comfort food, with plenty of classics like Alberta angus beef tenderloin and porcini crusted sea bass. If you’re looking for something a little more unusual, you can request the five course chef’s tasting menu, or opt for the exceptionally good-value ‘before sunset’ early dinner menu.
3. Rge Rd
Because Rge Rd only uses the best ingredients Western Canada has to offer, its menu changes based on availability throughout the season. That variety not only keeps things exciting for regulars, but also ensures first timers a taste of something they’ve never had before (and keeps the friendly, knowledgeable staff on their toes). The Kitchen Board’s selection of tasty bites makes for the perfect appetizer, the Grizzly Gouda & Potato Perogies taste better than home, and you’ll struggle to find better bison within the city limits. With pendant lights hanging from wood beams and woolly sheepskins draped over the chairs, the rustic ambience is part of the charm.
4. Bündok
This downtown spot debuted on our Best Restaurants list last year, in the Best New category (as well as Best Sharing), and the inventive, delicious dishes that chef Ryan Hotchkiss creates have remained amongst our favourites for another year.
The sea bream crudo continues to be one of the best bites in the city, period. There’s just something about the perfectly balanced combination of heat, freshness, and citrus, all highlighting the Effing Seafoods crudo. And, the roasted cauliflower drizzled with crème fraiche, topped with breadcrumbs and capers, is total comfort food — and manages to make vegetables feel positively decadent.
5. Wildflower
The multi-award winning Wildflower restaurant is one of Edmonton’s best known fine-dining spots. The appetizing menu is separated into ‘lighter fare’ and main dishes, meaning it’s easy to find something to suit your appetite. Popular choices often center on the meat options, all of which are deliciously flavorful and tender, especially the pinot noir braised lamb shank.
6. Violino
A contemporary take on the traditional Italian trattoria, Violino is a sophisticated Italian establishment in Edmonton’s central downtown area. The authentic cookery is centered around trusted flavor combinations, such as rack of lamb with a woodland mushroom risotto and goat’s cheese wine reduction. The cozy interior creates a warm, welcoming ambiance but the outdoor patio is also perfect for al-fresco meals during the warmer months.
7. Uccellino
Everything about Uccellino, from layout to menu, is modern and simple. The two-level, bright and open seating — half of which is kept for walk-ins — creates a contemporary chic atmosphere. And the meals — from the Sicilian Anchovy & Butter Crostini, to the Ricotta Gnocchi, to the Icelandic Cod — are straightforward and scrumptious, made from either local or Italian ingredients, with a wine list to match. It’s like eating a meal made from scratch by the supremely talented Italian grandmother you wish you had.
8. Hanjan
If you’re looking for a Korean restaurant with a great atmosphere, look no further. Hanjan has recently expanded to 3 locations this year, each one with its own aesthetic.
The original Hanjan location on 99 Street resembles an indoor patio that you might find in Korea with dozens of string lights on the ceiling. The location off Whyte Ave is part restaurant, part bar on the weekend.
