While it is fun to stay home and have food delivered on the weekends, it is just as fun to go out with your friends, family, or significant other.
Food is one of the best things that draw people together. Enjoying good food doesn’t just fill the belly. It also fills the heart. That’s why finding a restaurant with an extensive menu and signature dishes that delights the tastebuds and the eyes with a play of flavour and presentation can make any date night, family dinner, or casual dining experience spectacular. You also want to go to a place where server, staff, and the rest of the crew give the best service possible.
Thankfully, there are so many great restaurants around downtown Edmonton, Jasper Avenue, the city center, and the surrounding areas as well. We thought we’d make a list. All of the restaurants on this list deserve a visit or two at some point. After all, Edmonton is a big city full of all sorts of cuisines to enjoy, so here we rank some of the best Edmonton restaurants.
1. The Marc
The Marc was named one of the best restaurants Edmonton has to offer, ranking in the top 3 dining experiences and Avenue Magazine’s four-time “Best Steak” winner. So, of course, we would put it on this list too.
The atmosphere is soothing but sophisticated, so it is an excellent place to wind down after a long workday. It is on the pricier side, but the combination of plates and sides makes for a satisfying meal. The Marc may be another French restaurant, but it was too good to leave off the list.
Address: 9940 106 St, Edmonton, AB T5K 2N2, Canada
Phone: +1 780-429-2828
Website: themarc.ca
2. Rge Rd
Now we have something where you can “Eat off the beaten path,” as Rge Rd‘s motto states. Here you can sample a plethora of cuisine from all over Canada.
The restaurant focuses on wood-fire cooking and whole animal butchery. They source all ingredients from local farms and oversee their animals from birth. The chefs combine cooking techniques handed down through the years with modern technology to create a great eating experience. The portions are also great for the price.
A small note: if you go there on your birthday, you might receive a card with a special recipe for cookies.
Address: 10643 123 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 1P2, Canada
Phone: +1 780-447-4577
Website: rgerd.ca
3. Bistro Praha
We have seen a few different cuisines so far, but Bistro Praha, or “the Bistro” to the locals, is all about celebrating Czech food. Diners have even seen celebrities like Kirk Douglas or Joni Mitchell dining at the Bistro. The atmosphere is warm, homey, and all-around inviting, with plenty of European paintings and classical music playing in the background.
The Bistro is best known for its goulash, cabbage soup, fried cheese, wiener schnitzel, and other European dishes. You might also enjoy a raspberry mousse for dessert.
If you are lucky, you might see the owner Milan and his wife Arena out walking among the diners.
Address: 10117 101 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0T4, Canada
Phone: +1 780-424-4218
Website: bistropraha.com
4. Restaurant Yarrow
This is the only restaurant on our list that seats only ten people and offers tickets instead of reservations.
Restaurant Yarrow offers an exclusive eating experience for a single dining party. It costs $180 a person to eat for roughly 3 to 4 hours, beginning at 7:30 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday. The menu changes for every party, so it is a unique experience every day.
However, the Bar is where you can come as you are, with no reservations required. There is also an ever-evolving dinner menu of drinks to enjoy, plus cocktail kits you can purchase.
Address: 10544 114 St NW Unit 101, Edmonton, AB T5H 3J7, Canada
Phone: +1 587-881-8282
Website: restaurantyarrow.com
5. Tzin Wine and Tapas
Wine and tapas might sound like a simple combination for a meal, but Tzin Wine and Tapas takes things up by serving traditional European cuisine.
There are a lot of the favorites in this restaurant, including Canadian bacon and beef. Although, many customers recommend getting the “feed me” menu option, where you get a surprise dinner for two with a 750ml bottle of wine for $140.
The wine bar is a little small, so if you plan to drink some wine, reserve a table in advance just in case.
Address: 10115 104 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0Z9, Canada
Phone: +1 780-428-8946
Website: tzin.ca
6. Uccellino
While traditional Canadian cuisine is excellent, you can never go wrong with classic Italian food at Uccellino.
The restaurant itself is pretty simple and does not come with many frills. In fact, it might look more like a trendy inner-city restaurant than a traditional Italian bistro.
Still, the food comes in great portions and features plenty of flavors. You might even choose to share one of the dishes with someone at your table. Some favorites include veal, bricked chicken, and butternut squash ravioli, with chocolate cake and olive oil cake as favorite desserts.
Address: 10349 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, AB T5J 1Y7, Canada
Phone: +1 780-426-0346
Website: corso32group.com
7. Padmanadi
Padmanadi offers a wholly vegan and vegetarian-friendly menu based on Indonesian cuisine. They also offer Chinese, Thai, and Indian plant-based dishes.
You will often see Kasim, the owner, walking around the customers, so you can always expect friendly conversation while you eat. The restaurant setting is also quiet and friendly, so you always feel at home.
Favorites from the menu include the sweet and sour chicken, the curry chicken, curry mutton, ginger beef, hot and spicy fish, and Nasi Goreng. The soy chai latte is also a great drink choice.
Address: 6925 Gateway Blvd NW #106, Edmonton, AB T6H 2J1, Canada
Phone: +1 780-428-8899
Website: padmanadi.com
8. MEAT
With a name like that, you know exactly what you are getting. MEAT is all about barbecue, with plenty of meat and local sauces to choose from. You can get brisket, ribs, or chicken, but you can also get a sandwich or salad if you are in the mood. The pecan pie is a must for dessert, and the cornbread is a popular side.
The atmosphere is one of the simplest but friendliest you can find. The walls are painted a dark blue with simple white or wooden furniture, and the energy inside is bustling and happy.
Address: 8216 104 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 4E5, Canada
Phone: +1 587-520-6338
Website: meatfordinner.com
9. Cafe Amore Bistro
Here is one more Italian restaurant for this list.
Besides offering delicious Italian cuisine, Cafe Amore Bistro offers live entertainment on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting at 7:15 p.m. Though there are many favorites on their menu, the restaurant specializes in pasta and seafood. Portions run a little high, but it is a great value for the price.
Address: 10807 106 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5H 4A7, Canada
Phone: +1-780-477-7896
Website: cafeamorebistro.ca
10. Normand’s Restaurant
This French-themed restaurant may seem per the course for a Canadian restaurant, but that does not mean that Normand’s Restaurant is not delicious to eat at.
Normand’s pulls out their famous lobster menu to fit alongside their famous wine collection every May and June. They offer their wild game menu in October and November, which includes favorites like wild boar shanks with roasted red peppers and black peppercorns. Of course, you cannot forget to peruse their dessert and dessert wine menu at the end of the meal.
Address: 11639 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, AB T5K 0M9, Canada
Phone: +1 780-482-2600
Website: normands.com
Wrap-up
There are many restaurants to choose from in Edmonton but these are just a few of our favorites. Hopefully, you will get to walk through their doors and enjoy some of the best food Edmonton has to offer on your next night out and possibly find a new favorite to enjoy with your loved ones.
