Viphalay Laos and Thai Restaurant Edmonton - Gluten Free Heaven!

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Rating Service 10/10, Food 8.0/10 Overall 9.0/10
Its seldom I stumble upon a hidden gem, and when I do, I want to keep it a secret, yet at the same time, I want to tell the world.  Tell the world one today.  Despite its shady location with bars on its windows as a testament to the rough neighbourhood, this well appointed restaurant lavished in rich red, ochre and dark brown woods with gold and black accents is like stepping into a different world. Lovingly renovated by one of the staff's parents, the decor exudes a quiet elegance. Staff are super friendly, knowledgeable and are kept on their toes as this restaurant just a block south of Little Italy is bustling and busy. People suffering from Celiac disease rejoice!! Our waiter informed us that 99% of the menu is gluten free. When we usually hear those words, unpalatable dry cardboard or pasty meals comes to mind, however, Viphalay Laos and Thai Restaurant is probably the best Laos and Thai fare I've had in Edmonton, and definetely the best food disguised as gluten free... ever! Everything is served family style, so its best if you round up some friends so you can eat a larger selection of their menu.

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Charcut Calgary - A cut above the rest

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Rating Service 8.5/10 Food 9.5/10 Overall 9.0/10


On a drippy wet Sunday afternoon, what better way to celebrate Mother's Day inside one of Canada's top 10 new restaurants? Chic black furniture is set against a backdrop of amber and warm red decor. Service is attentive, knowledgeable with menu choices and our waiter had an impressive unerring pronunciation of both French and Italian terms. As we were a fairly large group, and being Mother's day, readers rejoice - we tried almost everything on their menu!

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Mrkt Edmonton - Soup and sandwiches inside a barrel?

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Rating 7.5/10

After opening for a year as a lunch spot downtown for soup and sandwiches, Mrkt recently expanded to do dinner as well, with some of the lunch items expanded into the dinner menu.  So after hearing some positive things about Mrkt, we drop on by for lunch.  After feeding the parking meters as we saw the dreaded yellow vested traffic ticking cop a block away, we head off to search for Mrkt so we could feed our tummies. 

The signage for Mrkt is as understated as its name, so thankfully, they have placed a blackboard with their daily specials on the side walk or we would have missed it entirely.  Set upstairs into what used to be a travel agency, the renovations have transformed it - you feel like you're walking into a sunlit upended oak barrel, or some golden wood interior of a boat, with a wall to ceiling blackboard of specials at the end of the barrel shaped room.  Decor is funky with bright red water glasses, chrome seating, what appears to be a large log glowing with embers disguised as a light on the left side and shiny round brass drop lights on the right.  A tinny blue bar and cash register counter is set into the far left.  Service is polite and minimal during the lunch hour as its cafeteria style - order, pay, grab a ticket and pick up your food when it shows up on the counter with your # affixed to it 10-15min later.

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The Cheese Factory Edmonton - sinfully indulgent cheesey goodness!

Posted by Rating 9/10

Galvaude - poutine with chicken and peas

With a craving for something indulgent, rich and comforting, we eagerly head to the Cheese Factory - can't miss it.. it has a loud bright yellow sign and a cartoon mouse logo just a few blocks east of whyte ave.  The best cheese curds this side of Canada and homemade sausages certainly fit the bill!  The cheese curds are made the traditional way - fresh and yields with a super squeeky tweak when you bite into them.. just like the awesome cheese curds in Quebec. After passing through a small retail/deli section that looks like it hasn't changed since it open decades ago (first run by a French Canadian family, then Ukrainian and now a Serbian family), you step into a large dimly lit dining area flanked by a large viewing windows on the left so if you're lucky, you can see the magic of cheese making while you eat.  Tantalizing scents of grilled sausage, poutine and other savory smells tease you as friendly staff tell everyone to make themselves at home.  Although it has a very casual feel - pick your own table! the service is exceptional and friendly from this family run restaurant, and most of the staff are fluent in french for those who miss Quebec. 

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Emperor's Palace Chinese Cuisine Edmonton- dimsum yumyum!

Posted by Rating 7.0/10

Shrimp and scallop deep fried wonton

On a sorta sunny sunday morning, I had my butt dragged out of my nice warm bed so I could head down to Chinatown and grab a table for dimsum with family - who for the record are early birds, and are way too darn cheerful in the morning, but I love them none the less.  I'm more of a sleeping in species.  Edmonton is known for not having the greatest dimsum places and pale in comparison to Vancouver, Toronto and even our arch rivals Calgary.  Thankfully,  rising out of the ashes from a burnt out grocery store that sat vacant and derelict for years, is Emperor's Palace.  It originally opened with a horrible start - an abysmal number of dimsum carts, short-staffed, and tonnes of attitude from the servers.  It has since recruited a large number of well trained and courteous staff and has ironed out most of its major opening pains.  Owned and operated by the original people from Dynasty down on the southside, its flanked by smaller bustling restaurants and shops, and has slowly revitalized the little part of Chinatown it occupies.  Amber overtones with dark wood, gold accents and warm red notes along with a well lit bar and a floor to ceiling wine rack provide a classy, modern yet distinctively Asian feel.  Replica pieces of art is showcased through out the restaurant with an ostentatious gold throne in the foyer leading into the seating area.

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