Cheap Eats at Old Town Pub

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We were looking for an inexpensive, meat-and-potatoes place to eat on a Saturday night on Whyte Avenue. Old Town Pub was right across the street from where we were, so we walked over. The place was pretty empty for a Saturday night - not that we minded. We went upstairs via the spiral stair case. A server soon followed and took our drink orders. The menu is a collection of pub basics, with a few surprises thrown in, like the perogies and pickle soup. Just about everything is $10. We each ordered a steak sandwich with fries, as well as an order of salt and pepper wings to share, and I had a cup of the pickle soup. It was like a cream of vegetable, with dill pickle slices in in, along with carrot and potato. Very creamy and hearty, and a good portion for the cup size, along with toast. The chicken wings were a bit skimpy on the portion and the size of them, but for $10 I am not really going to complain. Our steak sandwiches were done to perfection and tasted great. All of our food was brought at once, and rather quickly. Drink prices are also reasonable, and service was very friendly. Good location, excellent prices, great service - we will definitely be back. #yeg #yegfood #whyteave #yegeats #yegfoodie #pubs #barfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Dec 6, 2018 at 7:02pm PST

Mezze Platter at Craft (10013 101A Avenue)

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Mezze Platter at Craft. Three shareable, Mediterranean-inspired appetizers. The fresh veggies with red pepper dip were excellent. Avocado toast - yes, please, although I was hoping the toast would be crunchier. The felafel tasted more like veggie fritters than fried chickpea paste, but the tzatziki was refreshing and lightened it up a bit. #yeg #yegfoodie #yegeats #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Oct 17, 2018 at 1:55pm PDT

Mezze Platter at Craft. Three shareable, Mediterranean-inspired appetizers. The fresh veggies with red pepper dip were excellent. Avocado toast - yes, please, although I was hoping the toast would be crunchier. The felafel tasted more like veggie fritters than fried chickpea paste, but the tzatziki was refreshing and lightened it up a bit.

Chicken Tenders at Rose and Crown (10235 101 Street)

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Chicken tenders - small, but plentiful. Excellent coating. #yegfood #yegfoodie #yegeats

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Sep 9, 2018 at 10:49am PDT

Chicken tenders - small, but plentiful. Excellent coating.

Pizza at Sherlock's Campus

Decided to try pizza at @sherlockscampus.yegfood since a large three-topper is only $15 during Happy Hour. It was pretty great! #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #foodporn #sherlockscampus

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Feb 7, 2018 at 4:18pm PST

I would never think to order a pizza at Sherlocks (I tend to visit the Campus location most frequently), but during Happy Hour their large, 14-inch pizza with three toppings was on sale for $15. That is a very good deal. So, I ordered one knowing that leftovers were in the cards. My pizza with black olives, mushrooms, and pineapple was really good. The amount of cheese was good, the sauce was not overpowering, and there was a lot of topping. The crust was thin but held up well. I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely go for the pizza here again.

Black Bean Burger at the Brick and Whiskey

Black bean burger at #brickandwhiskey - likely the best veggie burger I have had lately. #yegfood #yeg #yegeats #foodporn

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Feb 3, 2018 at 3:20pm PST

I arrived at the Brick and Whiskey (8937 82 Ave.) just too late for brunch on a Saturday afternoon, so I had to order off of the regular menu instead. My black bean burger was amazing - one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had. The patty itself is a flavourful blend of black beans and chickpeas, full of protein. The bun had an excellent spread and lots of cilantro - I love cilantro and it added to the burger's flavour profile.

Pizza at Brick and Whiskey

Because pizza. #brickandwhiskey #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #foodporn

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Feb 3, 2018 at 6:24pm PST

I was relaxing at the Brick and Whiskey (8937 Whyte Avenue) on a Saturday evening before heading to an event, and ordered an eight inch pizza to go with my drink. I built my own two-topper with black olives and mushrooms. The pizza was deep, loaded with cheese and toppings, and even though it was only 8 inches, I had to share! I would definitely recommend one of their larger pizzas for a group, and you will all be full and happy.

Brunch, Brisket, and Steak at the Brick and Whiskey

Brisket sandwich, fries, and a highball. #yegfood #yegeats #yeg #foodporn

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Dec 8, 2017 at 9:22am PST

I have been to this location (8937 82 Avenue) in several previous incarnations, most recently reinvented as the Brick and Whiskey. I am happy to say both the food and ambiance have improved. My first meals was the brisket sandwich, which had the meat piled up thick, with a mountain of fries. The meat was a little fattier than I like, but otherwise it tasted great.

Corned beef hash #yegfood #yeg #yegeats #brunch #foodporn #yegbrunch

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Dec 9, 2017 at 2:09pm PST

From opening until 4 p.m. on weekends, Brick and Whiskey has a longer brunch time window than most other establishments in the area, which stop serving at 2 p.m. I went for the corned beef hash, which was almost like a deconstructed reuben - huge chunks of house-cured meat atop seasoned hash browns and sauerkraut, topped with a poached egg (I held the cheese).

Steak for supper. #yegfood #yeg #yegeats #foodporn

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Dec 14, 2017 at 6:41pm PST

On another Thursday evening jam, I tried the steak. At $17 and served with mushrooms, fries, and a grilled tomato, this is an excellent value. My well-done steak was cooked to perfection, still juicy on the inside without being burned on the outside.

Chicken Skewers at Cask and Barrel

Last week’s chicken skewers. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Oct 28, 2017 at 1:48pm PDT

I often go to the Cask and Barrel on Saturday afternoons to enjoy some live music. It's a cozy venue that is often family-friendly. On a recent weekend, I ordered some food off of the menu in addition to my drink. The kebabs come in either beef or chicken. I chose the latter. Four perfectly grilled skewers were served with a That satay sauce. My only beef (joke intended) is that the price point is a little high for something that does not come with a side.

Beef Brisket Sliders at The Alibi Pub

Shaved brisket sliders. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Mar 17, 2017 at 7:16pm PDT

I went to the Alibi on St. Patrick's Day because it was both convenient and I wanted to catch a music act playing there. Kudos to The Alibi for supporting local music. Being both a Friday night and St. Paddy's, the place was understandably packed. I got there around 7 and they were already out of a number of food items because, as my server later explained, they did not expect to be so busy. On a Friday night. On St. Patrick's Day. In a bar. Wow. It took a very long time for me to finally get my drink order in, and even longer to find out that what I ordered was not available. I ended up ordering something I really did not want, and I can't tell you if it was good or not because, honestly, I was so hungry by then it didn't matter. It was the beef brisket sliders, which was served on focaccia and covered in shredded lettuce. Lots and lots of lettuce, most of which I pushed away because it dominated the meat, which was sliced and diced and in a mild sauce. That's all I remember. And taking a cab home.

Turkey Drum at Brewsters

My first trip to the Meadowlark Brewsters in quite some time led me to order something off of the Irish-inspired special menu. It was a turkey drumstick - a whole drumstick grilled with crispy skin, a drizzle of a lemon aioli, and a slightly spicy barbecue sauce on the side. The meat was tender and juicy, coming away from the bone with only the use of a fork. The side of apple fennel slaw was a disappointment, though - it tasted pretty much like run of the mill slaw with a few apple slices thrown in. An additional small side of a starch would have rounded out the meal nicely - perhaps some tater tots?

Breakfast for Lunch: Steak and Eggs at Next Act

Steak and eggs #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Feb 13, 2016 at 12:49pm PST

The peace group with which I am involved decided to get together for lunch after a picket on a recent Saturday afternoon, and The Next Act was nearby and convenient - and, lucky for us, the big table at the back was available. I had steak and eggs, as the brunch menu was still in effect. The steak was tender and juicy, with the eggs perfectly done and a heaping order of the seasoned hash browns. Satisfying, indeed.

Breakfast for Lunch: Huevos Rancheros at The Next Act

I managed to get a seat at The Next Act for brunch this afternoon - a rare feat on a Saturday. I ordered the huevos rancheros, without cheese. Two eggs done sunny-side up were topped with salsa and guacamole, atop a generous bed of refried beans and corm tortillas. An even more generous portion of seasoned hash browns was on the side. I really enjoyed the flavour and texture combination in this filling meal. The salsa was not spicy - hot sauce is served on the side as well for those who like to kick things up a bit more.

Meatloaf at Devaney's

I had supper recently at Devaney's when I had an event to film directly across the street at the Telus Centre a week or so ago. I had the meatloaf: two thick slices of straight-ahead beef and seasonings. It was simple, but flavourful. The carrot and pea vegetable mixture I think was frozen but revived with some butter, and the mashed potatoes were blazingly hot - like, they had been microwaved or something. The meat was definitely the best part of the dish, but the sadder sides would deter me from ordering it again.

Breakfast for Lunch: Chicken and Waffles at Central Social Hall

After walking past it innumerable times, I finally made it into Central Social Hall - for brunch, no less. The chicken and waffles I had were the most decadent ever. The waffles were unmistakably made from scratch, light and fluffy to perfection. Rich red wine gravy was drizzled liberally, as were blobs of cranberry compote. The chicken was lightly coated and consisted of juicy breast meat. This was definitely a brunch to remember.

Smoked Meat Sandwich at Rose and Crown

Another event at City Hall led me to have supper at The Rose and Crown last week. I had the smoked meat sandwich, upon which I have had my eye for a while. The meat was cold deli from Lester's, and it was good quality - I just wish there was more of it. The slices of dill pickle added a nice touch, and the lightly-toasted rye was great. The hot mustard was not to my taste, and I found it bitter, but I was told you can order regular mustard with it instead.

Deep-Fried Pickles at Sherlock's

The Sherlock Holmes Pub on Rice Howard Way is a frequent stop for me after events on Churchill Square. The deep-fries pickle spears are half off after 2 p.m. on Saturdays, so it seemed like a good idea to share some before the meal. Six (two were already consumed by the time the photo was taken) huge spears with ranch dressing and vegetable sticks were presented. The pickles were hot and totally coated in a very thick batter that absorbed the dressing well. The pickles inside were still moist, salty, and briny. This is a great plate to share that won't break the bank.

Breakfast for Lunch: Steak and Eggs at The Pourhouse

While looking around at brunch options while on Whyte Avenue over the weekend, I noticed that The Pourhouse Bier Bistro has a breakfast menu. I went for the steak and eggs, a favourite of mine (especially when I am very hungry). I think that was the largest steak I have ever had with this meal before. The eggs were done to perfection, and the potatoes were roasted with garlic, which got a bit more intense for me the more I ate of them. I would have preferred a smaller steak that was leaner - I found I was getting sidetracked with fat and gristle. However, this is a formidable plate for $17 and a must-try for brunch fans of the non-vegetarian kind. Plus, it is a very spacious place that is much quieter than other brunch places in the area. Definitely a best-kept secret of Whyte - for now.

Steak and Murphy Stew at The Rose and Crown

Another event downtown brought me back to The Rose and Crown where I had the Steak and Murphy Pie. The best thing about this comforting dish is the amount of beef. The carrots and onions sort of got lost int he rich broth. The pie read more like a beef soup rather than stew, but it was hearty. I never had Irish soda bread before: it was dense and salty and went well in the broth, which took some of its flavour from the Murphy's stout.

Prime Rib at the Rose and Crown

Last Thursday I had supper at The Rose and Crown prior to filming a couple of events nearby at City Hall. Thursday, as it turns out, is Prime Rib Special night, and so I ordered that. My rather large slice of meat was cooked to perfection, served with lightly steamed red peppers and cauliflower, a Yorkshire pudding with gravy, and a few potato wedges. I would have preferred mashed potato instead of the wedges, but otherwise this was an economical, satisfying meal for meat-lowers. Seriously: I ran out of sides and still had a substantial amount of meat left.

Chicken Sausages at Hudson's

I am always amazed when I see options for sausages that are not pork-based, so I was happy to see chicken sausages on the menu at Hudson's. I ordered them when I was at the Whyte Avenue location for lunch this week. The Spolumbo's chicken maple sausages were large and had a good texture, although I did not pick up much of the sweetness from the maple. The onion demi-glace was extremely thick and soupy - more like a rich gravy, and that really dominated. Instead of the cheddar mashed potatoes I had fries (I don't like cheese in my mash and it was already all made up). Very filling comfort food, but if I ever had it again I would ask for the demi-glace on the side.