The Brewery District in Oliver has been through a lot of development in the last few years. Now joining the roster is Wilfred's, a modern and trendy neighbourhood cafe.
Entering Wilfred's for the first time is almost like opening up a storybook. While the name Wilfred's comes from the father of one of the owners, it's also the namesake of a fictional bear. As the mascot of their brand, he presides over the coastal town painted on the walls of the restaurant, inspired by travels and scenes from Paris. It's these small precious details that's already made it a favourite backdrop for hangouts and cozy dates. (Also, Instagram photos. Lots of Instagram photos.)
The small, 100-year-old brick heritage building, which Wilfred's calls home, is located at the outskirts of the Brewery District, right outside the Loblaws City Market. Walking up the stairs to the door, you'll see outdoor benches with small round tables, almost reminscent of classroom desks. That kind of nostalgia blends itself in with the rest of the decor, a beautiful, whimsical design with watercolor cartoons and newspaper menus.
A coffee counter is immediate to your left, while a wraparound bar takes up the centre of the restaurant. White oak and pink tiles makes the space almost girly, while worn brown leather grounds and matures the space.
Wilfred's is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 8AM-11PM. The day is broken up into breakfast (8-11AM), lunch (11AM-2:30PM), snacks (2:30-5PM), and dinner (5-11PM). It's a versatile space; you could pretty much come in all hours of the day and have completely different experiences.
The menu is small and streamlined. Soft scramble sandwiches are their signature in the morning, while mid-day snacks consists of deviled eggs and olives. Lunch and dinner are a little heartier, with salads, burgers, and grilled cheese. When I first read the menu, nothing really jumped out at me as "I must come here and eat this!" It's a basic menu, but I think it does a pretty good job of checking off the classics and appealing to all levels of appetites.
After much deliberation, SC got the fried chicken and prosciutto cutlet ($24.00). It seemed pricey at first, but the portion size seems to make up for it. Two pieces of pounded chicken breast come wrapped in prosciutto before being deep fried in a crumb coating. It also comes with a side arugula and tomato salad (because health is all about balance), blanketed with freshly grated parmesan (see, balance). We both thought the chicken was okay, nothing special or outstanding about it. SC thought the salad was better.
I was more in a 'snack-y' mood so I decided to get two smaller plates. The cauliflower & potato soup ($9.00), topped with crispy bacon and chives, is a thick, rich, and creamy bowl. The cauliflower does a good job of lightening things up because the texture wasn't as heavy as I thought it would be. Pretty comforting, and would be even better when enjoyed in colder weather.
Heads up: they don't have any take-out containers for the soup! SC and I did our best tag-team effort to finish the bowl, but was ultimately defeated.
I also got the smoked salmon plate ($18.00). A DIY affair with toasted rye bread, six slices of smoked salmon, shaved cucumber and dill salad, capers, lemon, and creme fraiche.
Everything was fresh and it tasted like the sum of its ingredients. It's a good option for lunch, or if you're not feeling overly hungry and wanting something light.
The food did its job, but admittedly, it was the decor that got us through the door. It's a promising space, and I do think it's worth coming back to give their breakfast a try! (Those darn millennials and their brunch...)
Wilfred's
10429 121 St NW
Edmonton, AB
(780) 757-7009
- CT
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