REVIEW | THE DOWNTOWN DINER | FORT SASKATCHEWAN

** This restaurant is now closed. **

 
I've been wanting to try the Downtown Diner for what seems like forever. Even though my sister has been working in Fort Saskatchewan for a couple of years now, we were never able to make concrete plans to check it out. We were finally able to this past Friday, and were left wondering, why didn't we come sooner?!

The Downtown Diner is a cool little restaurant located in the historic downtown of Fort Saskatchewan, a (very!) small city just 25 km northeast of Edmonton. They have the makings of a classic, old-fashioned diner but their food is kicked up a notch with innovative and unexpected twists. Everything from a meatloaf club to a shepherd's pie burger, expect all of it to be made from scratch (even the ketchup!). 

The outside facade doesn't look like much; only a simple white banner in cursive hangs above the restaurant. Stepping in is a complete 180. Customers are transported to a past decade thanks to the 50's-inspired decor: black and white checkered floors, red vinyl booths, chrome accents, and a lunch counter to boot. It certainly does the diner in its name justice.

Though they had no problems getting by on their own before, the Downtown Diner received a major profile boost when they were featured in one of the episodes of You Gotta Eat Here! on the Food Network. It's worth a watch to see (and drool over) how some of their decadent creations are made. Also, can we just note that John Catucci has the dream job of all dream jobs? Travelling, eating, and wearing plaid? If he ever needs an understudy, I think I could do it.

Thanks to TV fame and word of mouth, I knew the place would be super busy. In order to beat the rush, we planned to get there right at 11 when they opened. Good thinking on our part, as it was full 20 minutes later.

The Downtown Diner is quite famous for their milkshakes so I knew I had to get one despite the inclement weather outside. (Ice cream just doesn't have a seasonal expiration date IMO). There was a decent flavour selection to choose from, and apart from your usual suspects (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, etc.), they also have special features from time to time (eg. smore's, orange creamsicle, lemon meringue, to name a few).

We decided to stick with one of their classic flavours and got an oreo milkshake ($6.00). Our server asked if we were sharing and said she could split it for us. Hold up. This is the milkshake split into TWO portions. Yeah, I know.  ಠ_ಠ The milkshake was super thick and creamy that it rendered the straw pretty much useless. If you weren't planning on sharing it (and I don't blame you), what doesn't fit in the glass comes extra in the metal cup that they used to make it. Good luck trying to finish it!

I like to do a bit of research before going to restaurants, and though sadly there is no online menu for the Diner available, one item that constantly came up in my radar was the Downtowner ($14.00). It's a hefty burger, piled high with brown sugar bacon, smoked cheddar, crispy onions, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and diner sauce. It was incredibly messy and required a lot of smooshing down to eat, but it was just a really tasty burger through and through. The fries were also pretty fantastic, nice and crispy, and soft and fluffy inside.

Kentucky fried chicken, Korean fried chicken... now there's another KFC contender in town, and it's a heavyweight: Karen's fried chicken (1 piece $12.00; 2 pieces $15.00), served with creamy mashed potatoes and a small ear of corn on the side. The chicken is breaded with cornflakes, giving it a wonderfully crispy crust that gives way to an impossibly juicy interior. The drizzle of honey is the perfect finishing touch and it's what seals the deal for me. I don't like to use the word 'best' since the 'best' of anything is incredibly subjective, but this was quite possibly the best fried chicken I've ever had. SO GOOD.


We were stuffed to the gills and found it hilarious when our server came by to ask if we wanted dessert. Trust me, I would have, but I also didn't want to be rolled out of the restaurant on a stretcher, passed out from a food coma. On a related note, our server was incredibly nice and looked after us well. Other staff members would also come around to ensure that coffee cups and water glasses were never half-empty. Just gold stars all around.

I'm a city girl by heart, but I would seriously consider moving to Fort Saskatchewan if it means more regular trips to the Diner. But since we live in the northeast part of town, it's thankfully only a 20 minute drive away. If you live further south, make it a road trip, because you really do have to eat here!

 The Downtown Diner

10209 100 Ave

Fort Saskatchewan, AB

(780) 998-1435

- CT

REVIEW | CAFE MOSAICS | EDMONTON

I used to think a vegan or vegetarian diet was incredibly restrictive, but it's hardly a life sentence. Located near the beginning of Whyte Ave, Cafe Mosaics is one of the handful of restaurants in Edmonton serving strictly vegetarian and vegan fare. Rather than subsisting on nuts and seeds all day long, customers can find comfort in homestyle foods fit for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

On one of my days off, I decided to meet up with MH for lunch and a catch-up. I hadn't realized it had been almost three months since our last hang! Since MH is still following a dairy-free, pescatarian diet (loosely she says), we decided to try out Cafe Mosaics where she could have free range of the entire menu. We previously tried Noorish together (also of the vegetarian/vegan variety), so I was excited to be able to compare the two restaurants, considering their relative proximity to each other.

Since acquiring the neighbouring space a year and a half ago, Cafe Mosaics underwent a major renovation, making it nice, bright, and airy. There's no signage on the exterior, so just look out for their (punny) sandwich board. They're also just a couple doors down from Boston Pizza and directly left from Friends and Neighbours Cafe.

The restaurant is loud and unapologetic, with music blasting and the buzz of conversation filling the room. Its casual atmosphere blends into the service, since you're pretty much free to seat yourself and pay at the counter once you're done. The restaurant was almost full at noon on a Friday, but we managed to score a seat by the window. For parties entering afterwards, it was a short and reasonable wait.

At Cafe Mosaics, most menu items are priced at $15, with appetizers ringing in at $10. It's quite reasonable considering their dedication to using fresh, responsibly-sourced ingredients. 

MH chose the curry dinner ($15.00), a super colorful medley of eggplant, tofu, bell pepper, onion, broccoli, zucchini, potato, and cauliflower sauteed with a yellow coconut curry. It was served with a side of brown rice/quinoa mix, vegan naan, and chutney. MH had to add on another side of rice ($3.00) later just to match the sheer number of vegetables on the plate. The vegan naan tasted more like toast, but she enjoyed the dish a lot and earned a spot in the clean plate club.

Along with the food, there's also an interesting drink menu filled with tea, juices, smoothies, tinctures, cocktails, etc. The blender was constantly whirring in the background so I thought it was a smart idea to try one of their ice blends. Served in the most hipster receptacle imaginable (ie. the mason jar), the tsunami wave ($6.50) is a blend of pineapple, oranges, agave, lemon, hemp hearts, chia seeds, cinnamon, coconut water, and tumeric. It tasted like pineapple mostly, but it wasn't that sweet. It had a strange earthy flavour to it that wasn't necessarily bad, just not what I was expecting.

Breakfast options are served all-day so I went for the Against All Grain Benny ($15.00). Two poached eggs on a bed of shredded hashbrown pancakes made from pumpkin, yam, and golden potatoes. It's served in a hot skillet, drizzled with vegan hollaindaise sauce, and topped with green onions. For vegans, the eggs can be replaced with a tofu crumble. I'm not the biggest fan of poached eggs but I do love tofu, so I decided to make the substitution. The board also came with grilled asparagus and a grilled grapefruit half.

A+ for presentation. Taste-wise though, I thought the dish was just okay. The hashbrowns had nice flavour and sweetness, but I do wish they had cooked it longer to develop a crust, or more crispy edges at least. The shredded potatoes were just a bit too pale and soft for my liking. The tofu crumble resembled scrambled eggs in the looks department, but it was slightly dry and lacking seasoning. I did enjoy the side of grilled asparagus though, as they were tender with nice char. The grilling also extracted more juices from the grapefruit but I think it would be infinitely better (and less bitter) if it was bruléed instead.


Overall, ordering at Cafe Mosaics can be a hit or miss. I can't really judge based on my one dish, but I thought it could've been better especially considering their good reviews and loyal fans. Based on first impressions, I think Noorish wins this one. However, I am genuinely curious about their vegan pho, so I'm not ready to dismiss Cafe Mosaics just yet. I think they're deserving of a second chance.

Cafe Mosaics

www.cafemosaics.com

10844 82 Ave NW

Edmonton, AB

(780) 433-9702

- CT

REVIEW | HUMA MEXICAN COMFORT | EDMONTON

** This restaurant is now closed. **

If you think of tacos in Edmonton (minus the Taco Time's, Taco Bells, and the Taco Del Mar's), no doubt Tres Carnales springs to mind. They definitely have some sort of monopoly on Mexican food in our city. Now this might tarnish my reputation irrevocably, but I've never been to Tres Carnales. Sad right? If it helps, I've been to their more elevated sister restaurant, Rostizado, but I wasn't exactly blown away by their food (except their churros. Their churros are everything.) I guess I'm not too keen on line-ups and crowds or else I'd be knocking on their door... yesterday.

So what's a girl to do when she's craving Mexican food? Enter Huma Mexican Comfort, a humble, family-run restaurant located on the corner of 99th Street and 63rd Avenue.

For a late afternoon on Sunday, they were surprisingly busy. I guess being named one of the best new restaurants by Avenue Magazine is helping drum up business.

The decor is loud, with bright colors painted on the walls, and various art and knick-knacks scattered around the restaurant. Look up and you might just spot a flying (butt-naked) angel.

Our server was especially nice and attentive, handing off the menus which were secured on straw place-mats. The menu was quite extensive, with five pages broken up into various categories: appetizers, soups, tacos, light entrees, street food, main entrees, and desserts.

With an entire menu page dedicated to just tacos, we decided to order a variety of them and share. Most of the taco options cost $16.00 for four, which you can also mix and match (maximum of two choices per order). We decided on the carnitas (tender braised pork topped with diced onion and fresh cilantro) and the fish tacos (breaded and fried mild white fish with shredded lettuce, cucumber, sliced radish, and a drizzle of chipotle mayo).

The carnitas were muy delicioso. Honestly, soooo good. The pork was seasoned well, juicy, and succulent. The onion and cilantro also provided enough freshness and bite to cut through some of the fattier pieces of meat. Just save yourself time and effort looking through the menu and get the carnitas.

Because they were so good, the fish tacos unfortunately paled in comparison. The fish was tender and cooked well, but the flavour was slightly underwhelming. The batter and mayo needed more of a kick, so we definitely helped ourselves to the trio of salsas laid on the table. I just wish the taco itself was better so it didn't need that extra assistance.

From the street food portion of the menu, we stuck to the taco theme and got the tacos de camaron ($16.00): two flour tortillas piled with fried shrimp breaded in a pork rind coating, cebolla en escabeche (a spicy pickled onion salad), fried beans, avocado, and a drizzle of chipotle mayo. Pico de gallo, sliced radishes, and cucumber were served on the side. There's also the option to replace the flour tortillas for a torta bun or three smaller corn tortillas.

These tacos were much more substantial than the previous ones we ordered, with four plump shrimps featured in each large tortilla. The crunch from the fried shrimp paired nicely with the creaminess of the avocado and beans. Surprisingly, my favourite part of the taco was the pickled onions which gave a spicy edge to every bite.

Our table gave us good vantage of the desserts in the display case so we were lured into ordering a couple of them to try after our meal. Coincidentally, our server recommended the two desserts that had caught our eye so we went ahead and ordered them with confidence. The first was the tres leches cake ($5.00), a traditional milk-soaked sponge cake with custard and fruit filling. Huma makes three different varieties (peach, pineapple, and nut-filled) which I assume they rotate. On offer that day was peach.

Tres leches translates to "three milks" and refers to the three kinds of milk (evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream) that the cake is injected with. What you're left with is a soft, creamy bite that is rich but also light at the same time. It felt like eating a cloud until you step away and realize you just ate a whole slice of cake. A delicious cake nevertheless.

My sister (the one who has chocolate coursing through her veins) predictably chose the chocolate molé brownie ($2.50), a glazed cake brownie with hints of coffee, cinnamon, and chili spice. She also got it served à la mode with a scoop of ice cream ($1.50) which was vanilla with a strawberry ripple. Pro tip: always get ice cream if it's offered. 

The brownie was served slightly warm which was an amazing contrast to the cold ice cream. The brownie had a cakey texture and a tiny hint of spice which you could only detect in the aftertaste. The glaze made the brownie veer on the border of being too sweet, but the ice cream also helped to temper it. My sister basically hoovered this. I only got to sneak in a couple of bites before she finished the entire plate. Enough said.


Comfort is not just in Huma's name, they exude it. (Literally. I could smell the food wafting out the door from the parking lot.) It's a bit confusing getting to the restaurant if you're travelling south down 99th street, but it's definitely worth the turns (and *cough* U-turns *cough*) to get there. On our visit, we barely scratched the menu surface so hopefully there will be many a return visit in my future. I'm especially game to try their al Pastor and chorizo. And something called a chicharron de queso which is basically a giant cheese chip?! Say no more; I'm on my way!



- CT

REVIEW | MIKADO (WEST) | EDMONTON

Mikado's claim to fame is that they are Alberta's first Japanese restaurant, having been opened since 1972. Over the years, they have grown into three locations across Edmonton: downtown, South Edmonton Common, and Terra Losa. They obviously must be doing something right to be sticking around for so long.

I've been to Mikado countless times in the past, both at the west and downtown locations. The food is generally pretty good, although priced on the higher end of the spectrum. I know Japanese food has a reputation for being expensive, but the prices at Mikado definitely have more sticker shock. 

My family and I were out shopping at WEM when we decided on sushi for a late lunch/early dinner. (I don't know if there's ever a moment when we're not craving sushi.) Our go-to Japanese restaurant in the west side is usually Kobe, but because they were closed for that awkward time period between lunch and dinner, we headed to Mikado instead. A short drive from WEM, the west-side location is nestled in the middle of the complex with Chapters (my home away from home) at the end.

We made it in time to order off of Mikado's lunch menu. With some items being slightly cheaper as compared to their dinner menu, the lunch menu is probably your best bet, since it still offers an impressive variety and selection.

We decided on bento B1 ($18.50) to share: chicken teriyaki, salmon and tuna sashimi, assorted tempura, rice, and green salad. Prices have definitely increased over the years since I don't remember when their lunch bento was pushing $20. (A similar bento elsewhere would probably be $15 tops.)

Regardless of the price, all of the components of the bento were executed well. The sashimi was fresh, although cut on the thin side. Tempura pieces were crispy and hot, and the chicken had a nice, delicate char flavour.

Off of their appetizer page, we decided on the deep fried squid ($9.50), served with a ginger sauce. It was alright; the squid legs were a bit chewy and the ginger sauce was a tad too chunky to dip the squid with.

Touted as their most popular item, dragon eyes ($13.00) is a deep-fried salmon roll served with a generous amount of spicy mayo. The roll is supposed to mimic the look of an eye, with carefully placed strands of green onion acting as the pupil. The salmon is fully cooked after the trip in the deep fryer, so it's a safe choice for those uninitiated in the world of sushi. I tend to find the salmon gets quite dry, but a dip in the spicy mayo makes up for it.

Another roll we decided on was the red rose roll with unagi (BBQ eel) and avocado. It can be topped off with bluefin tuna ($22.00) or salmon ($18.00), which is what we got. It was all mainly soft textures, so it could've used something to give it crunch. It was good, but it's a pretty basic roll so I'm not sure why it warrants such a high price tag.

Lastly, we got the spider roll ($22.00) with soft shell crab, real crab, cream cheese, asparagus, and lettuce. The plate was intricately decorated with a web of spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce. I'd ask to omit the cream cheese next time since it overpowered and masked the rest of the ingredients. (And yes, that little extra drop of teriyaki sauce on the left is bugging me too.)


Overall, Mikado is pretty good at delivering a consistent experience. Service is friendly, and the restaurant space is nice and clean, with private rooms at the left which makes it great for groups. Food is prepared well for the most part, but the prices are highly inflated and it just doesn't match the quality for me. I know there's better and cheaper, so Mikado is just one of those places that'll do in a pinch, but it's not necessarily my first choice for Japanese.

Mikado (West)

www.mikadorestaurant.com 

 9942 170 St NW

Edmonton, AB

(780) 481-2202

- CT