REVIEW | PICCOLINO BISTRO | EDMONTON

** This restaurant is now closed. **

Piccolino Bistro is a beloved neighbourhood institution. Located in an unassuming Parkview strip mall, Piccolino's has been slinging out Italian comfort food to a consistently packed house for years and years.

Because it's so popular, reservations are definitely a must, lest you risk being turned away or waiting for far too long. Bearing that in mind, we made a reservation a week in advance for a 6:00 seating on Friday for four. The only stipulation that they gave us was that we needed to vacate by 8:00 for the next table.

The reason we chose Piccolino's was to celebrate AL's birthday since it's her favourite restaurant. With Christmas and travel plans spreading our group in different directions, we had to celebrate rather early. Nonetheless, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AL!  (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

After about an hour's car journey through rush hour traffic and slick roads, I arrived surprisingly on time, quickly followed by AL who literally lives down the street (lucky her!). We were seated promptly in a booth, with KN and SC sliding in shortly after.

Though the dining area is loud and bustling, the dim lighting and small confines of the restaurant make it a cozy and intimate affair. Our waiter was friendly and personable, often making jokes and teasing us as if we were old friends.
 
(Also, please excuse the photo quality! We made do with lighting from our phones but it was still horrible shooting in such a dark setting. #firstworldproblems)

A plate of olive oil and balsamic vinegar was already set up on the table beforehand. A bread basket soon followed, featuring slices of a crusty French loaf. Since we were quick to polish it off, we were also given a refill of the bread.

AL, the birthday girl, ordered her favourite dish at Piccolino's, the fettuccine alfredo ($19.95). The dish is comprised of homemade fettuccine pasta and smoked chicken served in a cream sauce. I didn't try any, but AL was perfectly happy and content. No complaints here.

SC had a hard time choosing but ultimately ordered the fig pizza (12" for $24.00). The thin crust was topped with mascarpone, prosciutto, figs, shaved grana padano, a drizzle of honey, and lemon dressed arugula. SC really liked the addition of the creamy mascarpone, but thought that the combination of fig and honey made the pizza a bit too sweet for her taste.  

KN decided to get the stuffed chicken ($25.80), which was a chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto  ham, provolone cheese, and spinach, then topped with a green peppercorn demiglace. KN also decided to get a side of pasta in cream sauce in lieu of vegetables and potatoes. Overall, KN thought that the chicken was rich and tender, almost duck-like, with a nice crispy skin. The pasta however was average and a bit too heavy; she said she would have preferred getting the vegetables next time around. 

As for my dish, I ordered the pollo parmigiana ($24.80), which was a breaded chicken breast, topped with ham and mozarella cheese. I also got the side pasta, but with tomato sauce. First impression: holy batman, that's a lot of food! The picture really doesn't do the portion size justice, as I had more than enough leftovers for lunch the next day.

I thought the chicken had good flavour, but I wish the breading retained some crispness as the liberal serving of tomato sauce made things quite soggy. Overall, it was a decent meal, but nothing mind-blowing.

After our plates were quickly cleared away and packed into boxes, we decided on a couple of desserts to share. Although there's a small booklet of frozen gelato options, there's not really a formal dessert menu, as most of the choices were quickly rambled off by our server.

I doubt that any of the desserts are made in-house, except for maybe the tiramisu ($7.00). I'm not a huge fan of tiramisu, so I'm not the best judge, but I can tell with my bite that it was creamy and generously strong on the coffee. SC thought it was nothing special. 

We also decided to share a slice of the red velvet cake ($7.00). The cake was alright, a bit dense but not too sweet. We can't really judge a restaurant based on its restaurant supplier, can we? 


Despite being family-run and serving wholesome Italian comfort food, I didn't feel like Piccolino's is the type of restaurant that you can sit back and relax in. Even though I was notified over the phone that we had until 8:00, the whole dinner felt very rushed, almost like we were cattle being herded through. Before it was even 7:30, we were told that the next table had already arrived and that we would need to vacate. It wasn't that big of an issue as we were finished with our meals, but it just meant having to open birthday gifts and say our goodbyes relatively quickly.

If you're looking to spend quality time and savour your meal, I wouldn't suggest Piccolino's, but if you're just looking to carbo-load (like many an Oiler who are rumoured to frequent the restaurant), then you're definitely at the right place.

Piccolino Bistro

piccolinobistro.ca

9112 142 St NW

Edmonton, AB

(780) 443-2110 

- CT

REVIEW | SWISS 2 GO | EDMONTON

Swiss 2 Go is probably the quintessential definition of "diamond in the rough." The humble sandwich shop first opened in the Beverly neighbourhood before moving across the city to the west end. Flash forward to April of this year, they have teleported again, re-opening in their original stomping grounds on 118 Ave.

The neighbourhood can deter some from making the trek (just put on a brave face), but there's actually a lot of hidden gems to be found! With rave reviews and a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Zomato, expectations for Swiss 2 Go were unexpectedly high.

I actually drive past Swiss 2 Go regularly on my commute home during the week, as my workplace is just a few minutes away. On one Friday after work, I decided to stop by to pick up a late lunch. Unfortunately when I walked in, I was told that they were all out of bread, and that it'd be a 30 minute wait before a new batch of bread was done. Disappointed to say the least, but I made a vow to return.

I decided to try my luck and stopped by again on a Friday. This time, SUCCESS!

The store is quite big, with a large display case and counter where you place your order. There's a few tables and chairs on the perimeter of the restaurant, but I'd say it's more of a grab-and-go type of establishment. '2 Go' is in their name after all.

I decided to order two sandwiches, one for a late lunch and another for lunch the next day. Before I came, I knew I had to get the Italian bride, one of Swiss 2 Go's most popular creations (pictured is the regular for $7.99; a large is $9.99). Deemed one of Avenue Magazine's '25 Best Things to Eat in Edmonton' in 2013, the Italian bride has layers of Italian prosciutto, roasted red pepper, sun dried tomatoes, sliced Bocconcini, and fresh basil, all sandwiched between a homemade pretzel bun. The ingredients are finished off with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.

The ingredients tasted fresh and the flavours indeed worked well together. My favourite inclusion was probably the basil, as it gave the sandwich a fresh, herb-y element amidst all of the other ingredients which were predominantly cured. The homemade pretzel bun, flecked with kosher salt, was also a strong showing, as it was dense and chewy with a nice, hard crust. By the middle of the sandwich, I did have to scrape off some of the kosher salt, as it was overwhelming the rest of the ingredients.

My second sandwich choice was the Thanksgiving (regular $7.99; large $9.99), which had smoked turkey, French Brie, romaine hearts, red pepper, mayonaisse, and mustard, again sandwiched between a homemade pretzel bun. This one was a bit more basic (I couldn't say no to brie!), but it was still well-prepared. I had it the next day and the ingredients still held up well.

I also couldn't leave without trying one of Swiss 2 Go's homemade desserts. There was a decent assortment in the display case, but I ended up choosing the green tea and mint cheesecake.

The cup was hefty and filled to the brim with a green tea cheesecake mousse and what I believe were biscuits, soaked in a mint-flavoured syrup. The green tea flavour was quite subtle, but the cheesecake mousse was creamy and smooth. I wish the biscuits were there to give some contrast in texture, but they softened up while soaking in the mint syrup I presume. 

Expectations were high going in, and I'm happy to say that expectations were met! The Italian bride is probably your best bet, but there's a ton of other sandwiches, soups, and salads to choose from, all crafted and hand-made with care. If you haven't already, go to Swiss 2 Go and get a sandwich (to go)! (A+ dad jokes. I'll be here all week.) ˘◡˘

Swiss 2 Go 

swiss2go.ca

4306 118 Ave

Edmonton, AB

(587) 520-9400

 

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REVIEW | IHOP (NORTH) | EDMONTON

 

International House of Pancakes (more affectionately known as IHOP) is a slice of true Americana. The beloved chain made its way to Edmonton quite a while ago now, but until recently, I had never been. To me, it seemed like an overglorified Denny's, slinging out breakfast classics and simple comfort food.

That it is, only with a longer line to get in.

IHOP has two locations in Edmonton, one in the north and one in the south. The northside location is located in a newer strip mall extension in the Oxford neighbourhood. We went on a lazy Sunday, right after the Santa's Little Helpers Market, mid-afternoon between 3-4. There was no wait for us, but believe me when I say there would've been one if you had arrived a few hours earlier.

The dining room is large and clean, with an even mix of booths and tables. Despite the awkward dining time, there was still quite a number of customers also having "breakfast for dinner."

The menu is expansive, mostly focusing on a variety of breakfast classics and combos. Pancakes, waffles, french toast, you name it. Breakfast is served all day, with some lunch and dinner options to round it out. During the holidays, they're also featuring a seasonal menu with the likes of turkey dinner and pumpkin spice waffles.

My sister had a craving for mozzarella sticks ($7.99) so we got an order to share. Served with a side of marinara sauce for dipping, the mozzarella sticks were most likely frozen and from a package, but they did the trick anyhow.

Despite being in the international house of pancakes, I'm really not a huge fan of them (shock, horror!). I'm team waffle all the way.

As such, KN and I both decided to get one of their limited edition offerings, the chicken and pumpkin spice waffles ($13.99). The waffle is apparently made with real pumpkin, and it comes topped with pumpkin spice sugar, whipped cream, and candied pecans. The pumpkin batter gave the waffle a warm orange hue, but it didn't contribute much to the taste. It was more like a regular waffle with a hint of cinnamon if anything. The waffle also had a slight crisp to the outside, and a fluffy middle.

My plate was given two smaller portions of crispy chicken (as seen above), while KN's plate had one larger piece. The chicken was boneless white meat, and encased in a thick batter before being deep fried. Served with a container of honey mustard, the chicken was very crunchy since it was more batter than meat. Overall a hearty (and very beige...) meal.

KN also added on a side of hashbrowns ($2.99). The potato was shredded and then grilled on a flat-top until it was slightly browned. KN ate them up, but said she prefers hashbrowns of the cubed variety.

LT was apparently really hungry and decided on the  breakfast sampler ($12.99), which came with two eggs (over easy), two bacon strips, two pork sausages, two pieces of ham, hashbrowns, and two buttermilk pancakes. It's a good option if you wanted to try everything on offer. No complaints here.


Overall, IHOP is IHOP. The food is average, prices are okay, and service is friendly enough. Just don't expect too much, and you won't leave too disappointed.

IHOP (North) 

www.ihop.com 

15130 127 St NW

Edmonton, AB

(780) 371-3654

- CT