My wife and I decided to go to Halley's Club in West Edmonton Mall a few weeks ago. Halley's stands right beside Match Eatery, also run by Starlight Casino.
On the outside, Halley's doesn't look like much as it stands like a blank wall just behind its unremarkable reception/reservation desk. But once you enter, be prepared to be very surprised as you enter an expansive 2 level Nightclub/Dining area!
The evening we were there, a very good jazz trio were playing to the left of the bar. I wanted the trio's contact information for possible consideration to book for private events for the Car Club to which we belong, however the member at the end of their gig that I spoke to re getting a card never returned. Pity.
We were graciously seated and greeted by a very hospitable host and then our friendly and capable waitress who brought us what looked to be (made in house?) bread sticks and crackers with a whipped garlic butter to start. Service throughout was friendly, attentive, and unhurried at just the right pace.
The Charcuterie Board starter was wonderful, filled with a selection of meats, fruit, and cheeses. The candied nuts were a nice touch.
My Beef Carpaccio was outstanding, thinly shaved raw beef slices topped with a complimenting Gorgonzola cream sauce, sprinkled with parmesan and micro greens and accompanied by just the right amount of toast rounds. Even Nancy, who will not normally eat raw meats thought her bite was tasty.
Nancy's Steak au Poivre came out on the rarer side, medium as ordered. Better underdone than over! Still, Nancy seemed happy with her selection which was accompanied by properly cooked potatoes and vegetables.
The only glitch in the meal were my Medium Rare Lamb Chops, 3 pairs of chops nicely presented, which came out decidedly on the low end of rare. Again, better underdone than over and a word with the waitress resulted in the meat quickly returning to the kitchen. The chops came back done to the low end of Medium Rare, accompanied by fresh potatoes and veggies on a new plate. I'd personally go a little heavier on the seasoning, but overall, this was very good and was accompanied by a very good mint sauce.
The Chocolate Mousse and Crème Caramel to finish the meal were good, but unremarkable. But I'm not really a dessert person so it takes an exceptional dessert to impress.
The house band, Million Dollar Dreamers, that played on the stage above the bar entertained us throughout our meal. Current and recent pop tunes were artfully presented with a decidedly jazzy twist. Very enjoyable! We stayed after finishing our meal just to enjoy the band until they went on break.
It's been a while since I've enjoyed an evening out for dinner as much. I was very surprised by the quality of the venue and the food. I really never thought much of this place until we decided to try it. The positive overall experience leaves me to believe that I will return and will recommend Halley's Club to my friends as a "Hidden Gem"(at least for us) in Edmonton. Definitely worth a try for the food, and especially if you enjoy a bit of jazz with your meal.
For a quick video that I cobbled together:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlZbAo1V_LM read more