We are incredibly spoiled by the amount of amazing Vietnamese food that we have here in Edmonton. I…read moredoubt that the Vietnamese population is greater here compared to in other cities but the culinary deliciousness and pure celebration of the cuisine that comes out of this community is second to none. Certainly a point of pride in our city! From the best phở in the country (King Noodle), near-perfect bánh mì (Van Loc), delicious plant-based fare (An Chay), to innovative street food expressions that you've never tasted before (Mãi Mãi)... We've got it all. And it's the best of the best. XO Bistro + Bar throws their name into the ring with a more elevated and modern Vietnamese dining experience, demonstrating that there's a sophisticated side to Viet food that demands representation as well. VUE Weekly loved this restaurant and named them #1 Best Vietnamese, #1 Best Late Night/All Night, and #1 Best Happy Hour in 2018. First opened in 2017 and now with two locations, I visited the original Downtown spot on a Saturday evening, anxiously anticipating the symphony of flavours ahead. XO Bistro is in good company on Edmonton's famous boardwalk street which is lined with a collection of many popular restaurants. The parking is a nightmare and the small handful of street parking spots always seem to be taken. But you'll figure it out. With its proximity to the ICE District you can easily imagine that this restaurant has been able to take advantage of the pre-game dinner crowd and post-game spillover from the Moss Pit. The restaurant is larger than you might imagine, with its soaring second-storey ceiling and filled with dark moody finishes and an impressive bar completing the lounge vibe. However, the real show-stopper is the life-sized cherry blossom tree right in the entranceway, covered in pink blossoms. This tree serves as a major focal point and it's difficult to take your eyes off of it! The servers are cheerful and friendly, and although there were no window tables available we were seated comfortably. Priding themselves on their cocktail program, I knew that an XO Original was a must and soon I found the Good Morning Vietnam (Gin, Soho, hibiscus, lime juice, lychee puree - $15.00) in my hand. A cocktail to match the restaurant perfectly! I loved that this beverage was fresh and fruity and wasn't too strong. Pretty and drinkable, the sweet flavour of lychee took the lead while tart notes from the lime and hibiscus leveled the beverage out. Without a doubt, the correct drink to sip on under the blush-hued blooms! XO Bistro's goal is to serve food that isn't always traditional but is always authentic. Bold, balanced flavours inspired by the everyday energy of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Da Nang. The liveliness and fresh takes are apparent on the menu right away and I was excited to order some dishes that felt new. Starting with appetizers, the Double Trouble (Rice paper, shrimp, lettuce, vermicelli, tangy fish sauce. Choice of pork or veggie spring roll - $11.25) stood out as something fun to try. Can't choose between a spring roll or a fresh roll? Get both! I loved this playful version and especially enjoyed getting to eat two types of rolls instead of just one! We chose the pork spring roll for the inside and I loved the textural crunch and juicy pork that it provided. Meanwhile, the outside was wrapped in rice paper, acting as a window to the shrimp enveloped within. Dunking each bite into the zippy fish sauce added just the right acidity. Wonderfully tasty, so much fun to eat, and striking presentation to boot! Another item that really caught my eye was the Bone Marrow (Roasted bone marrow, panko crust, toasted baguette, pâté - $19.00). A dish that I love but only come across seldomly. Now this was a dish that I certainly did not expect. But boy did I love it! Roasting the marrow topped with a crust of seasoned panko was inspired - a genius way to add texture (and more flavour) to an otherwise fairly gelatinous ingredient. Bread is such a huge component to Vietnamese cuisine (think bánh mì) because of the French colonization in the 1800s. The Viet people then proceeded to transform this bread into a completely new, localized culinary staple. The baguette at XO Bistro was absolute fresh, housemade(?) perfection. Crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. I loved slathering the bread with ample amounts of delicious pâté (another "gift" from the French) and then topping it all off with spoonfuls of rich bone marrow. Each bite exemplified decadence and I reveled in it. This might very well have been the best bone marrow preparation that I've ever had. Vietnamese food might be one of the earlier examples of fusion cuisine, and while colonization sucks the food admittedly does not. XO Bistro provides everything that you know and love in terms of main dishes; from bánh mì to phở (there's even a "phở challenge" where if you eat an obscenely-sized bowl in 45 minutes you get a prize) to bún. On my visit I was in the

This was really good food. We ordered three different appetizers, but they did not provide us with…read moreplates to share initially or utensils. The food was good.

Food here was excellent as usual. We really enjoy the atmosphere, it is really trendy and has more…read moreof a bar/nightlife feel than most Indian restaurants I go to. Our server was friendly but really busy on the night we went, so service was a bit spotty. I had a smoked old fashion which was tasty and delicious. We decided to split a bunch of things. I usually get the tandoori lamb while my husband loves the butter chicken. We also tried the achari paneer tikka which was beautifully spiced and the dahi kabab; made with yogurt, paneer and a masala of delicious spices. This is probably my new favourite dish. Prices are a bit on the high side, however well worth it for the atmosphere and the quality of the dishes. Even my husband, who really is a meatatarian gave a nod to both of the vegetarian dishes that hit the table. The papadums are always welcome as well.

This is my first time here. I actually stayed at the hotel and came in for a cocktail. But my…read moreserver Bader was very helpful in choosing some delicious food. Let me say I was not a fan of Indian food originally but next time I am in Edmonton, I am coming here and asking his recommendation for something else because what he recommended was delicious and I can't wait for my next visit.

Very misleading hours posted we showed up there at 9:41 and were told that they were closing soon…read moreand that they shut their kitchen down at 9:45pm & that they had already done last call for food for the night. They were still willing to serve us food to go though when my friend initially asked for menus they said to go? . Super disappointing we drove a half an hour to make it on time and rushed and everything thinking that an hour and 20 minutes before it closes is more than enough time for a quick Dinner service for two people and obviously we're not a-holes so when the entire staff is ready to just shutter early and leave, we're not gonna be the two people that insist that they stay open. The guy working there was really nice to my friend apparently though. So nothing against the staff personally or anything. Oh, and the gazebo is getting wild. There's some guy out there screaming about cutting some girl named Kristen's head off so if there's any violent crimes tonight, we're audible witnesses lol

A gorgeous early-evening stroll brought me to Pip, my ole stomping grounds for 6 yrs at the OSYS…read moreround the corner next to Varscona and now the city has put the building for sale.. Tonight felt like a true homecoming. I arrived a little early and enjoyed walking through the neighbourhood before settling in. Madeline, our server, was warm, attentive, and absolutely lovely. Harry ordered his usual martini, and when it arrived looking so crisp and elegant, I couldn't resist ordering one myself. Madeline also brought out a purple martini with olives that looked divine and tasted even better -- one of the most beautiful cocktails I've had in Edmonton. We both chose seafood dishes, and every plate was fresh, flavourful, and perfectly done. Pip manages to be elevated yet relaxed, with a real community vibe. It's kid‑friendly, welcoming, and has a great patio for summer evenings. A memorable evening at a neighbourhood gem and with Pals next door it serves the community well with so many cafes closed following #Covid on #Whyte Ave #YEG

I've been there multiple times and every time I had a great experience!…read moreThe place is designed very cool and great for a night out! The customer service has been always fantastic and the food is delicious! I'm very happy that they are close to my house and I highly recommended them!

Came to the Terwilleger location during happy hour and was BLOWN away by the variety of happy hour…read moremenu items and savings. We had visited their location by Roger's Place many times but hadn't been here before. The ambience is lovely - with beautiful lit cherry blossom trees. Our server was friendly, attentive, and recommended the pork Bahn Mi which did not disappoint! We also shared the beef papaya salad and loved LOVED loved every bite of it from the shredded beef and papaya to the spicy peanut vinaigrette. We both agreed that we would order these two items again in a heartbeat. The only disappointment for me was the Vietnamese Iced Coffee which I found bitter and just lacking the depth I've come accustomed to from Golden Bird in Chinatown. I definitely want to bring the teens with us next time so we can try more of the menu! 2 items was not enough!

We went here for dinner before a play. The atmosphere is clean, bright, and refreshing. I enjoy…read morethis. However, seats are not so comfortable and I knew this so I brought a pillow (back injury so I need to think of these things). So that is something to keep in mind. Good menu that has enough choices but not too many so you are not overwhelmed. We chose the oysters which were fresh and lovely with the taste of the sea when you are in landlocked Alberta. The dill mignonette with it brought out the brightness of the Oyster. The broccoli Caesar was amazing and I now need to order this every time when I go. It was green and rich and full of flavour. We also ordered the tagliatelle with short ribs. The meat was hearty, however I felt that the pasta lacked flavour. Service was good. I will be back here for the oysters and the salad for sure!

Wonderful wine bar and restaurant in the south on 82 Ave. Service is great and personable. Sound…read morelevel is good for conversation. Dishes are meant for sharing. We ordered 5 dishes and 2 desserts for 4 people and every dish was a winner. Anchovy toast w pickled lemon sat atop a crunchy toast. The taste profile was perfect. I could have eaten a full plate! Next was carpaccio w hazelnuts and pickled butternut squash and pea shoots. So good we had two plates. Buratta w beets and blood orange was creamy and delicious on chewy bread. Miso cod was cooked well - still fork tender and moist on bok choy w pickles to give a kick. The desserts were wonderful - sorbet was berry w sage and candied almonds. The other was lime meringue served in a cute bowl. Creamy and w crunchy crust. They also had a wine of the day and a good selection of alcohol-free drinks. Try the alcohol free sangria. Yummy. Definitely a place to impress your date or spouse or friends. Just be comfortable w sharing. :) technically, they have the miso cod and steak that could serve as a traditional entree and just order a few apps to start for a more traditional meal if that's your fancy.

It was my first time at this location! I actually loved this location the most! The restaurant is…read moreso cozy and beautifully designed. The customer service is great and consistent with other restaurants. The food was great and delicious as we expected! We tried a couple of new items and we loved them all. Overall the experience was amazing and we will definitely go back there again.

So excited to see a Bodega so close to my house. This is one of my favourite restaurants. Not only…read moredo they have a unique and extensive wine list but they also have the best friendliest and knowledgeable staff, and such talented chefs! They have specials daily, so check their website for those. We went for wine Wednesday which is all wine for 1/2 price. They also have daily chef dishes so of course I ordered one of each to share. They were both absolutely divine!! I always like trying their chef specials because they are always delicious. Also all their tapas are absolutely worth trying too. If you're not sure which wine to try, ask the bartender to recommend something or your waitress to recommend a wine that will pair well with your meal. There are ample tables available and even a small patio outside as well. I highly recommend checking our Bodega if you're looking for a night out, date night, or dinner with your friends.

Great vibe. $5 highball on Sundays. Jake is one of the friendliest bartenders in the city. The…read moreambiance and low lights with Neon works very well. The DJ keep the mood going. Will definitely be back.

Place was 90% full Friday at midnight. We left at 1AM and still 60% full…read more 2 single stall bathrooms. Great decor. We were seated at the bar. Place was not rowdy at all. Music was pretty loud. Honestly, I was a little toasted by now so I am hesitant to give ratings. We tried: Baijiu barbie: 8/10 Strawberry Yum Yum: 7.5/10 Pisco Sour: 9/10 boyfriend thought it was better than at the Alchemy (smoother). Ha Long Bae: 9/10. Boyfriend loved it and gives it a 10/10. Drunken Dumplings: too spicy for me but boyfriend loved them. 7/10 for me. Very small portion, just a small bowl with 6 dumplings in it.

Owner and staff are amazing. Prices are very comparable to others (maybe even better).read more

I was with a bunch of retired guys for our monthly lunch. This is the first time it was held at The…read moreBonnie Neighbourhood Pub. Getting there was easy because it's on the west side of the mall with a big sign and an outside entrance. I ordered the fish and chips. It's normally $23.00 but on Thursdays that dish is reduced to $18.00 or $19.00. It came with two huge pieces of fish which were delicious. The fish didn't have the greasy taste that happens in some places. Several of us ordered the same meal and we all enjoyed our fish. The problem was that the other orders such as sandwiches came quite a while after the fish. In fact I was finishing up when the last order arrived. The service was good and friendly but they have got to get the meals timed so that they can be served closer to the same time. This spot would get five stars but for the fact that four of the guys didn't get their meals on time