Fionn MacCool's

Fionn MacCool's

4485 Gateway Boulevard

Edmonton, AB T6H 5C2

(780) 431-1100

Fionn MacCool's is found on the south end of the Holiday Inn on Gateway Boulevard. Opening in the spring of 2012, it is a part of the Prime Pubs chain of Irish-style pubs found across the country. The restaurant is decorated in dark wood with glass etched with beer company logos dividing sections. Classic rock hits waft through the atmosphere at a moderate volume.

The establishment is divided into a dining room and a bar, with the elevation of the tables and proximity to the bar being the only differences I noted. Perhaps it's more lively on Fridays and Saturdays, but on my Sunday evening visit the spirit laid-back with many couples out for dinner, and hotel guests working on their laptops over beers.

Mini Yorkshire puddings

I started out with a Guinness, and an order of miniature yorkshire puddings. These were freshly baked, and stuffed with a tender beef short rib. It was braised with an unfortunately salty sauce that masked most of the Alexander Keith's IPA it reportedly contained.

Haddock sandwich (L) & pub salad with chicken (R)

The haddock sandwich was the tasty combination of haddock, fried to a perfect crisp, topped with lobster and slaw. Accompanied by thick-cut fries, my guest was very satisfied with his entree. Though the kitchen initially forgot the asparagus spears for my salad, they arrived quickly after I enquired, and I enjoyed the dish, particularly the oniony zest of the Strongbow Cider dressing.

Spice cake

We visited on the eve of a menu change, and were able to have a sneak preview of their new spice cake dessert. Warm, covered in caramel, and with a tangy cream cheese consort, I'm confident this will be a popular new item.

My guest and I enjoyed our selections that evening, and both of us saw several menu items we'd like to try at future visits. The service was attentive, and I appreciated the easygoing atmosphere and fairly low noise level for our casual dinner. For hearty, comforting food in a decent North American interpretation of an Irish Pub, Fionn MacCool's is worth a visit if you're in the area.

Restaurant website

The Next Act

The Next Act

8224 104 Street NW

Edmonton, AB T6E 4E6

(780) 433-9345

When we arrived at The Next Act on Sunday in the mid-afternoon, we were surprised to find it bustling. They've got a decent beer selection with Alley Kat on tap, and a very impressive menu offering a range of food which something for any palate (from greasy classic pub food to fresh salads and homemade soups).

Hummus

We started off with the hummus appetizer which was served with carrots & celery sticks, as well as some warm naan. The hummus was thick and garlicky with a hint of lemon -- very easy to enjoy. The portion of the hummus was quite generous, and there was still a small amount left when we'd expended our bread and veggies. It was a hearty appetizer for two, but could easily be spread out to serve three to four as well.

The writer

The writer burger comes topped with blue cheese and a tasty pancetta. There is no doubt their patty is homemade; it was hand-formed to a generous thickness, juicy, flavorful, and filled with chunks of onion imparting little bursts of even more flavor. The blue cheese was quite pungent, particularly since it had all been plopped on to the centre of the patty -- next time I'll spread it around for better distribution. The fries were homecut, crispy, salty, and addictive.

Cajun chicken burger

The chicken in my cajun chicken burger was perfectly cooked and very juicy. It was seasoned without much heat, though it could have used a little with the creamy avocado and mayo waiting to counterbalance it. I substituted salad for fries, and while it was beautiful to look at, a only scant amount of their [tasty] dressing was drizzled over top. I hate trying to toss salad myself when it's on a plate as a good portion of it always winds up falling on the table, and this was no exception today.

The Next Act's fresh & updated take on pub food yields delicious results. It's comfortable, lively, and the service is friendly and swift. It's a great place to meet some friends and gab over Aprikats, but the food is much too good to pass over. So get together, have a beer, grab a sandwich, and enjoy!

Restaurant website

The Druid

The Druid
11606 Jasper Avenue

Edmonton, AB T5K 2S7

(780) 454-9928

It was another dreadfully cold night when we arrived at The Druid for dinner & a few drinks. Thankfully, they've got a good-sized parking lot right out back so the car-to-entrance sprint wasn't too long. In their area of town, free, close & plentiful parking is a definite plus. Upon entering, The Druid is warm and inviting with a big main bar located centrally, lots of darkly stained wood and some folkish faux-stained glass dividers. Contrary to other reviews, I did not find the music too loud, even when open mic night was underway later on (though it did get louder). Visitors should keep in mind that this place is definitely a pub first (and is 18+, accordingly). 

Irish potato nachos!

 There was no way we weren't starting with the Irish potato nachos. These "nachos" start off with a foundation of homemade potato chips, and they are heavenly! Oily, salty and crisp all at once, they were the dish. Of course, the onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and cheese they were topped with made things even better. They also came with a side of sour cream and salsa, which I don't think anyone made much use of. They weren't needed, plus the thin potato chips broke off in them more than regular tortilla chips would. 

Irish cheddar melt with fries & Guinness gravy

The Irish cheddar melt brought us down from our potato chip high. All three of us agreed that the baguette was just too much, overwhelming the sandwich. The cheese, onions, & Guinness BBQ sauce were a bit sparse to begin with. The steak fries, on the other hand, were fine, but were particularly good dipped in the Guinness gravy, which did indeed have a notable taste of Guinness to it. 

Steak sandwich & Caesar salad

I was a little disappointed when my steak sandwich came out, because it really didn't look light much on the plate. Unlike the Irish cheddar melt which was overwhelmed with bread, my ciabatta to steak ratio was pretty low. I ordered a side of hunter sauce for an extra $3 with my meal, and it was definitely worth it. It's made to order with the steak drippings, onions, some Guinness, and thickened up. After initially tasting it, I poured it over my steak sandwich and devoured the dish. The Caesar salad was alright, but I missed the croutons. Next time I'll just get the fries. 

Pot o' gold

We finished off with the fresh made mini donuts. They were warm and a little sticky with sugar and came with chocolate sauce and strawberry coulis for dipping. A third dip, caramel, was mentioned on the menu, but was no where to be found. Honestly, we'd polished off the plate before we could have even asked for them -- they were really tasty!

The Druid's got an inviting atmosphere, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the drinks are good. As for food, there are some outstanding hits as well as a few near-misses. They're definitely a pub first, but still give attention to their food, creating unique and homemade dishes. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending The Druid as a place for hanging out, drinking and munching with friends.


Restaurant website

Hawkeye's Too

Hawkeye's Too

10048 102 Street

Edmonton, AB T5J 0V6

(780) 421-9898

Hawkeye's is a pub and restaurant located on 102 Street just south of Jasper. The space is divided into a dive-ish pub side (complete with VLTs, and, apparently, karaoke on weekends), and a restaurant side which is pushed back from the entrance and is a bit dungeon-like with no windows. It's got plenty of booths and the central round tables have comfortable chairs. Minors are not allowed in either part of the establishment.

Wonton soup

I walked from the LRT for lunch so I wanted to start off with something to warm me up. The soup of the day, seafood chowder, was being readily ordered by others, but I opted for the wonton soup, a regular menu item. Within moments, my server reappeared with a really lovely soup filled with wontons, greens, and vegetables. The chicken broth was savory and not-too-salty and the broccoli and carrots were tender-crisp. The wontons were abundant and delicious, filled with pork.

Salami & extra cheese pizza

The pizzas are arguably what Hawkeye's Too is best known for. My salami and extra cheese pizza was ready in about 10 minutes and came out so piping hot I actually burned my tongue on my first bite. The crust is moderately thick and was cooked to a perfect golden brown as was the cheese. The pizza sauce had a nice little zest to it. My only complaint was that, for an extra cheese pizza, more cheese would've been great. Finally, passing the true test of a good pizza, the leftovers were even better than the pizza initially.

Stroganoff with spätzle

One of the lunch specials was prime beef stroganoff with spätzle (a soft German egg noodle). The beef and mushrooms were delicious in the savory & slightly salted brown gravy. I've only ever had stroganoff with the standard flat egg noodles, but the spätzle were a delightful change! They were rustic with a good chewy and soft texture (a few pieces were more dry and flakier, which I actually enjoyed). It was impossible not to hear the others in the restaurant praising this dish and I had to agree.

Hawkeye's Too has a laid back atmosphere that appeals to and attracts all types. It's unpretentious, the prices are very reasonable, and the service is efficient and snappy. During the noon hour, I was in and out in less than 35 minutes. All that on top of the wide variety of tasty homemade food left me really impressed and I'm already looking forward to returning.