DoctorTeeth

I went to Friends & Neighbors Cafe for the first time this morning. I wanted breakfast, and decided to stroll down Whyte and see what struck my fancy. I popped in and it was almost dead, but five minutes after I got my seat about eight more parties came in for breakfast/lunch. Their menu could do with a little editing (for layout and spelling), but the food was great. I just ordered pancakes with eggs and bacon, and the pancakes were heavenly. Rich and fluffy, and very filling. The price seemed steep at first, but when I was finished I had definitely gotten what I’d paid for. Friends & Neighbors Cafe is an Old Strathcona institution (open since 1980) and I can see why. Recommended, for breakfast at least.

This is the place to go if you’re looking for deals on good produce, seventeen kinds of mustard, fresh baked goods, home-made perogies, arts and crafts, and above all, delicious sampling treats. Most of the people who wander through the bus barns are a little like distracted sheep on Valium, but if you can maneuver around them and not get too frustrated, it’s an excellent place to spend part of your morning. Today my fiancée and I got fresh yellow tomatoes ($3/lb) and green tomatoes ($2/lb), as well as a jar of Wasabi Pear Mustard ($6) and some pussy willow branches to decorate the apartment with. Definitely worth a visit; you’ll find something you like there.

Every time I go to the Oodle Noodle Box, I leave a happy man. I love noodles, and they serve them up hot, fast, and tasty, with an average price of $6.50 or $7.50 a box. It’s quickly becoming my favourite quick-stop restaurant in the Strathcona area. I try a new dish each time I go, and I haven’t been disappointed yet. The Thousand Year Flavour is lots of garlic with a little ginger sweetness; the Mongolian Stir Fry has just a little heat but you can always add more; and the Penang Laksa was heavenly. I was expecting it to be a little sweeter dish because of the coconut milk, but it was used to mellow the flavours rather than just add sweetness. The surroundings aren’t much to write home about: it’s a fast-food restaurant with only the barest minimum of tables and a few plants, but the atmosphere’s not the reason to go there. The Oodle Noodle Box is batting three-for-three, and now that I live only 2 blocks away, I’m going to have to go more often.

Walking into the Wok Box is a little strange: it’s a fast-food noodle house, but it’s set up like a trendy, yuppie-ish sit down place. It’s dark, with deep coloured wood and chairs, but it’s got the stools and table styles you’d expect from a grab-and-go place. The food is okay, but with an average meal cost of nine dollars, it’s way more than I’m normally willing to pay for a box of noodles. You’re essentially paying for the ambiance, which isn’t really worth it. I’ve only eaten there once, and the food wasn’t necessarily bad, but it was’t as good as what you’d get at the Oodle Noodle Box that is just five blocks away, and it was $3.00 more. The best thing about it was the Bubble Tea: I had black tea with vanilla, and it was delicious. I wouldn’t say anything too strongly against it, but I wouldn’t go back either, not with a superior noodle option so close by.

Went today for a quick lunch. The coffee, as usual, was good, and I tried the butter chicken for a change. Wasn’t a huge fan, but it’s always good to try something new. I mooched some of my friend’s Slayer Dip (5-layer dip, get it?), which is always delicious. With good atmosphere and excellent snacks, Remedy’s a good place to hang out; a quiet place to relax in the afternoon and a busy hangout in the evening.

Went there with my fiancée a few days ago before a concert. I’ve been before and have been very satisfied with both the service and the food. Thursday nights, however, appear to be very busy: we waited about 10 minutes and nobody brought us menus, but they apoligized very profusely when they realized their error, and that was the only glitch in the dinner. We split a 2 person Italian Salad, which was almost too much for both of us but we did our best; I’ve always liked the salad, even if there’s sometimes a little too much dressing. For our entrée we split the platter for two: Rigatoni Primavera, Vitello con Funghi (veal with mushrooms), and Sogiola con Spinachi (sole with spinach). The sole was very nice, and the veal was mostly tender, but I wasn’t a great fan of the rigatoni. However, we wanted to try something new, and the price was right. Not my favourite meal there, but still good. I’ll have to go back on a lazy afternoon and try the Risotto alla Marinara with a glass of wine. It looks delicious!

Went today with my friend N.S., for breakfast again. Kind of busy, but I’m willing to write off the sub-par service due to overwhelmed servers. I had the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon: not as good as my last bennie but still VERY good. I’m apparently going again next Saturday for breakfast, which is awesome, but I should really try the dinner menu again at some point.

My fiancée’s a huge Anglophile, and I’ve got cousins all over Scotland I’ve never met. I really hope to make it to Britain for our honeymoon, but if we can’t make it then, we’re going to have to work something else out. She deserves to walk in Edinburgh, London, and Bath, and I deserve to watch her smiling while she does it.

The New York Bagel Café was one of my favourite Edmonton restaurants at its old location on 104th Street, North of 82nd Avenue. After its destruction in the fire of 2003, I thought I’d never taste their delectable bagel platters again, but I was happily mistaken. They re-opened a few blocks away, and although the decor isn’t quite as quirky, their atmosphere is refreshing and the food is still delicious. It’s a little small but that just makes for an intimate dining experience. It appears to be doing decent business, even if sometimes it seems a little empty when I walk by in the evening.

Breakfast, however, is another story. My fiancée and I had brunch there for the first time this Sunday, and we just snagged the last remaining table. As for the food, it was just as good as I’d expected from their lunch menu. They have a great selection of breakfast dishes, including a half-dozen great Eggs Benedict specials. I had the heavenly eggs benedict with pancetta and asparagus, which came with hash browns and a fruit plate just like all their breakfast platters. With the house coffee (steamed milk on the side), my half of the brunch came to just under $20, a steal for the quality and quantity.

The New York Bagel Café: breakfast, lunch, or dinner, it’s an Edmonton dining treasure.

Not to be confused with the Australian restaurant chain, Hungry Jack’s is a small mom & pop restaurant just south of Whyte Avenue. They sell a number of fast-food items, but in my eyes you can’t beat their burgers. Some people swear by Marco’s, but I would suggest that Hungry Jack’s food is of better quality for your dollar; Hungry Jack’s burgers are less greasy and much tastier, and their fries are crispier. Their Beef Shawarma is fantastic as well.

Sure, it’s more expensive than the McDonalds a couple of blocks away, but if you’re craving a burger with real taste, head to Hungry Jack’s every time. (And for the health-conscious, they also have salads. I’ve never actually HAD one, but they exist.)