Spruce Grove doesn't necessarily scream culinary mecca, but Barbacoa is helping the cause in a serious way. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Barbacoa offers an elevated dining experience where live fire cooking is the name of the game.
Situated west of Edmonton, Spruce Grove is an easy 20 minute drive away. Finding the restaurant on the other hand, was a little harder, as it's tucked away in an industrial area in a nondescript building. Once you spot a giant 'B,' you know you're in the right place.
The restaurant is warm and inviting, with dark woods, leather booths, and a wide open view of the kitchen. I love when restaurants do this, because it shows they have nothing to hide.
We came at the tail end of their brunch service, which is only on the weekends between 10am-3pm. It was a quieter dining room at the time, but I would probably recommend making reservations for dinner. The server we had was friendly and personable. He struck the right balance of being attentive but not intrusive.
AL ordered the fried chicken & waffles ($29.00) with maple butter, a fried egg, and bread & butter pickles. The dish usually comes with Nashville hot chicken, but if you're not able to handle heat, the kitchen can accommodate and serve the chicken sans hot oil. I tried a piece of the chicken and it was seasoned well. The meat was juicy and the breading was nice and crispy.
I chose the Barbacoa benny ($24.00). Housemade sourdough English muffins, smoked bacon, bacon marmalade, and hollandaise. The bacon was thick cut and super meaty. It had a sweet, smoky undertone. You would think the bacon marmalade would be overkill but it was surprisingly not too greasy or salty. My only critique was that the poached eggs were overdone, but I wasn't too picky and didn't see a need to have them remade. The hollandaise gave enough creaminess to the dish and I still thought that everything tasted delicious!
Also on the side were some of the best breakfast potatoes I've ever had! They had a satisfying airy crisp to them, shattering with every bite, with lots of addictive flaky bits. I'd be happy with just a giant bowl of them.
We also got Benny's cinnamon bun ($11.00) to share, on the recommendation of our server. I'm not sure if the flavour changes all the time, but ours featured an apple caramel frosting. The bun was a little bit on the stiffer side, but the flavour of the frosting was lovely. It had a caramelized toffee flavour that was surprisingly not too sweet.
Barbacoa is on the pricier end, but I would say the experience is well worth it. If I could describe the restaurant in one word, it would be
thoughtful. From the decor, food, and service, everything is well
thought out and done with purpose. Upon overhearing it was my birthday we were belatedly celebrating, the
server brought over a handwritten card that included a $10 gift voucher
for my next visit. It's a smart move to guarantee repeat customers, but you really don't have to twist my arm when it comes to those breakfast potatoes.
Barbacoa
470 South Ave Unit C
Spruce Grove, AB
(780) 571-1717
- CT
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