- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
The Pourhouse Bier Bistro
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants Gastropubs Pubs, Gastropubs [Edit]
10354 82 Ave NWEdmonton, AB T6E 1Z8
(780) 757-7687
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 11:30 am - 11 pm
Thu 11:30 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Sun
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
37 reviews for The Pourhouse Bier Bistro
Review Highlights
-
"...always great people-watching on whyte ave, and if you are..." In 9 reviews -
"There's also a special section for beers on tap." In 9 reviews -
"...is a long, thin space with brick walls on all sides." In 3 reviews
Loading...
37 reviews in English
-
Review from Edward P.
Edmonton, AB
3/19/2012
I'm coming back, -- ok its with caution now that I've read what is posted here, but the on tap beer was local and delicious and the hot dog was extremely pleasing to the eyes and the mouth.
The smashed potatoes could do with a little more .... something. But the salad looked great.
....but the beer. This is beer that moved mountains. -
Review from Farees K.
Updated - 3/22/2012 3 Check-ins Here
So another 3 visits and I think this place is not getting any better, in fact it may even be sliding a bit.
Beer menu is still very uninspired, service is still only average at best and food is OK.
With all the local bars starting to turn to craft beer and improving, it will not be long before this place lags so far behind that it disappears.Listed in: Edmonton Craft Beer drinkers
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/13/2011
As I stumble home I try and piece together what may be regarded as an informative review. Like so… Read more »
-
-
Review from Mike G.
Edmonton, AB
3/13/2012 1 photo
I went here for lunch around noon one weekday. This place is pretty small but the decor was fairly nice and there was an Audrey Hepburn movie playing on the TVs in the background. Generally really clean from what I could see. Washrooms were single user but modern and clean.
There were only two tables that had anyone sitting down at them so I was expecting some pretty good service. I really dislike when an establishment in understaffed during a peak time. Even if you are a new place or new to serving at that time how do you expect to ever be a popular spot when you have one person hosting, bartending and serving? The food took almost 20 minutes to come out which normally wouldn't be too upsetting but considering how empty the place was I was wondering what was taking so long.
The deal of the day was a BBQ chicken burger and the soup of the moment was "cream of asparagus". I tried both. The chicken was probably the driest chicken I have had in a while. If you can't cook chicken without making it dryer than the whole wheat bun you're serving it on then at least boil it and mask the lack of flavor with too much BBQ sauce. The burger was kind of a mess too. I uploaded a picture of it. Also the bun was too big for the meat that was being served on it. I didn't really know what asparagus tasted like before I ate the lukewarm soup and I still don't know. Unless it tastes like nothing. The soup lacked any distinct flavour.
I gave this place 2/5 stars only because I have been here before and did enjoy my food. The pizza was pretty decent and the pulled pork was alright as well from what I remember. I enjoyed the beer special that they had too. I may go back in the future but I am in no rush. -
Review from Paula K.
3/10/2012 ROTD 4/11/2012
Today was my first experience at The Pourhouse, and based on it I hope to be back soon. I loved the huge selection of beers, including ones offered on special or for a limited time. I tried one - a microbrew from Saskatoon that was smooth and mellow.
I thought the menu was a but limited, but I think The Pourhouse is trying to be more of a specialty kind of place, being better at a few things instead of a soup-to-nuts kind of experience. I was tempted to try a hot dog, but opted for the vegan burger instead. This was one of the biggest, thickest veggie burgers I have ever had. I loved the roasted peppers and caramelized onions on top, and the crispy fresh whole wheat kaiser. One thing if you are a strict vegan - the pesto is not vegan, so you may want to skip it.
I am very impressed with the fact that The Pourhouse does not have a deep fryer. Sides include salad, soup, coleslaw, or smashed potatoes. I opted for the smashed potatoes (not vegan - they have cream). The innards of at least two potatoes were indeed smashed on my plate, topped with green onions. They could have been a bit hotter, and the taste of garlic began to dominate after a while, but again the portion was enormous. I could not finish.
Apparently the desserts here are divine (from what my waitress described) so I may have to head back just for coffee (or beer!) and a treat. Otherwise, I found this a classy pub that, while a bit on the more expensive side, offers a good experience. -
Review from Jeff D.
5/11/2012
A quick review for a quick dinner: Rolled into town with my special lady around 6pm, up from the lower 48 on our way to Alaska. When we got sick of sitting in the Friday night rush hour, we pulled over, parked, and started hoofing it for a casual dinner spot, hoping traffic would subside after a quick supper. Found this hole in the wall, but it really was anything but a hole. Service was welcoming, friendly, and fast. We split an appetizer--a fantastic and tasty hummus and olive spread with pita-- and a thin crust margherita pizza-- also tasty. The pita dip came out quickly, and the timing on the pizza couldn't have been better. The bill came to less than $20 bucks, and we were back on the road, satisfied. I only gave it a four, because, well, damn, a restaurant really has to knock my socks off to get a five, not just impress me. That being said, I think, had I given the extensive beer list a sampling (I didn't, as I was driving), it might just have blown my socks clear off my feet.
-
Review from Trevor C.
Edmonton, AB
1/24/2012
I was really excited about checking this place out considering I love beer and all.
Well, was I ever disappointed...
1. Service was terrible
2. I ordered a pint and received a bottle
3. The place smelled terrible
4. Very rough looking for an establishment that's relatively new
Do yourself a favor, find another spot on Whyte. -
Review from Chris D.
Etobicoke, ON
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cool atmosphere...really bad nacho execution. Just drink beer...
-
Review from Andrew P.
Edmonton, AB
1/14/2012
Alright, I'm back yelping. I got away from it, The holiday season was crazy. But it's a New Year, and my goal is to visit more local restaurants here in Edmonton. Can never have enough great food, and the scene is getting much better.
That being said, I'm writing my first review of the year on The Pourhouse Bistro on Whyte ave. I've been here a few times, and I'm a real big fan. I've brought friends in here as well, and they really enjoyed the experience as well.
When people visit a restaurant, they come for the food and the experience. Every place has the same drinks. The Pourhouse has separated themselves from most and really built a different brand. With a unique beer selection, which I was blown away by. Specially crafted beers just for them, the knowledge Colin had when talking about these brews, were both so impressive.
Being able to serve a menu, without a deep fryer is a challenge in itself. The bistro menu they have is great. They've got some real fresh dishes, fresh ingredients which is amazing. The menu could be more built around the beers they serve though.
Overall, I really like the Pourhouse. The service can get better, but that comes with time. They are still getting their feet wet with being a new establishment. Good on them for opening such a great place. I look forward to eating there more often, and they have a decent patio too! -
Review from Kent M.
Updated - 10/21/2011
I hope these guys aren't circling the drain, but MAN, it has deteriorated in a short amount of time.
I used to love coming here, and always received good service, and good food, as well as good beer.
The other night, I experienced none of these things. The beer selection was off, server was extremely rude, and worst of all, our food order never got put in, despite the fact that the place was not busy.
I'm going to be stepping back from The Pourhouse for a while, and find other Whyte Ave joints to frequent instead.
Very disappointing.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/4/2011
I love this place.
The waitresses here have been exceptionally friendly - when I see them out in… Read more »
-
-
Review from Renee P.
Vancouver, BC
10/8/2011
I had the Pourhouse on my list of places to check out during a recent visit to Edmonton and I was not disappointed.
The only thing I disliked about the place was that they do not seat you, so we ended up getting a sort of weird round table for 5 people and we were a couple. Other tables that were more suitable opened up but because there was no seating order we didn't get to them fast enough. It would probably be to the proprietor's advantage to seat people in order to have capacity maxed. But anyhow...
The rest was great. The atmosphere was comfortable, and I loved that they were playing 'Sunset Boulevard' on closed captioned screens: just enough TV to have something to sort of watch now and then, but not TV in the sense of 'sports bar loudness'.
I love that the food is restaurant style even though it's a sort of casual pub vibe. My boyfriend had an amazing steak special, with these amazing marinated mushrooms. I had the pork loin entree, which came with dirty rice and some sort of blueberry compote (?), and amazingly done asparagus.
So we got the feeling of a slightly upscale dining experience, but in the casual atmosphere of a brewpub. In Vancouver this is sort of the norm, but in Edmonton it's a rarity, so definitely take advantage of this spot if you are interested in beer and food that equates to a dining experience. -
Review from Adam R.
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
They say location is everything, and location is definitely one of the best things the Pourhouse has going for it.
I've been here twice since it turned into the Pourhouse, actually, and have enjoyed each time. Fast service, though not overly friendly, with a great selection of drinks and food.
Even if you can't get a seat on the patio during the summertime, there's usually a good spot right by the front windows for people watching, or just basking in the sun. -
Review from Jamie T.
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Gotta be honest - I only popped in here because I was at another bar a few doors down, and received a text from some friends who were here. I blew in, had a brief conversation, and returned to my other friends.
I was, however, impressed by the ambiance. I am definitely going to make an effort to get back here and do some further "research".;)Listed in: Watering holes
-
Review from Alex P.
11/10/2011
I was really on the fence over whether to give this place three stars or four... so we'll call it 3.5.
The atmosphere is cozy. It was surprisingly not that noisy, everything (even the floors!) was clean, and the place seemed more along the lines of a nicer restaurant than a pub. Kind of surprising given the location.
The service was good. I was in a larger group, and everyone ordered at different times, but the drinks came quickly and the food didn't take too long either. I have some crazy dietary restrictions and upon mentioning this I was told I could be accommodated without issue. I ended up ordering a dish for which that was not necessary, but regardless, the attitude of the staff was excellent.
Prices seemed more or less fair. No different than your average pub or restaurant; some things were on the expensive side by a dollar or two.
Onto the food / menu. I like their take on food -- no deep frier. You won't get nasty bar food here, and this puts it above pretty much every bar / pub I've been to. But I have a rule for restaurants, and that is, "if I can make this dish as tasty or tastier at home, it's not worth the extra money." Most of what I saw at our table looked excellent, but wouldn't be hard to pull off in your own kitchen.
For example, I ordered the mac and cheese, because, well, I love cheese. Maybe it's a personal preference, but mac and cheese sauce should be thicker, comprised mainly of melty cheese with a bit of seasoning and a little milk for consistency. The sauce at the Pourhouse seemed to be primarily comprised of cream, which I personally do not prefer (too heavy for my tummy and too runny), and it wasn't as cheesy as I'd like. By no means was it bad, though, it just wasn't what I expected / craved. The crunchy stuff they put on top of the dish was sooo fantastic, though. I would be happy if I could buy a kilogram of that and put it on everything. Verdict: even though it was good, I've had better at home.
One thing that did not impress me: the pretzel dish, ordered by someone else at our table, looked, well, sad. I don't know how they tasted, but I make pretzels on a regular basis from scratch and mine look and smell a whole lot better. Making bread isn't *that* hard, but these looked like they were sent in frozen.
Overall: Nice atmosphere, good service, decent prices, decent food. I don't know if I'll be back -- the food was good but not worth restaurant prices.Listed in: Dining Near Campus
-
Review from Cory P.
7/13/2011 ROTD 7/27/2011
If your a lover of local and exotic craft beers, then this is the place for you. So many to choose from that you'll either need a ride home or multiple visits to try all that appeals to you.
On the food side they have a creative menu and a kitchen that doesn't have a deep fryer! That's right it is possible to successfully run a kitchen without a deep fryer. Not everything has to come with a side of fries, the options are soup, salad, mashed potato.
The one small issue was that the waitress seemed to go missing for long periods of time, which is odd for such a small venue. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Past the overturned "Corona Slurpees" at Julios, dodging the bros fist bumping, there's the Pourhouse. A beacon of light for a west coast spoiled girl with a penchant for fruity beers.
What I found truly remarkable about The Pourhouse was the layout of the beer menu, not to mention the beers available. Set more like a wine list, the novice or the connoisseur can navigate confidently through ales, lagers, wheats, whites and wits. There's also a special section for beers on tap. I settled on a Yukon Brewery Cranberry Ale - and I was not disappointed.
Thank you Brittany K (Edmonton's Yelp Community Manager) for suggesting this spot. Next time, I'd like to go again, for food this time around!
Oh, and our server was awesome! Funny, knowledgeable, charming and quick on the wit - just the way I like 'em!Listed in: Where to Eat in Edmonton
-
Review from Isabel S.
Edmonton, AB
3/25/2012
Stopped in for a beer today, first time in....thought it is was going to be special, was so very disappointed, when I got the first beer, it was flat....ordered another one, and it was flat too! Pretty sure they were both expired.......also they don't know how to pour a beer, or understand the concept of having the right glass for beer. Think they should take some lessons from "The Suger Bowl" or "Continental Treat"..... or change your name.....not a special "bier" place!
-
Review from Peggy L.
10/9/2011
I've been here twice for lunch, and I will not be going back. The food is nothing special, but the service both times was terrible.
The first time I had the Reuben dog, and it was good, but it didn't compare to Fat Franks at all for taste or price. The second time I had a burger and it was pretty average.
Both of the times I went it was really slow, under five tables for sure. However we had wait over 40 minutes both times for our meals. The waitress the first time was okay (aside from the long wait), but the second time really stood out in atrocity. It took the waitress twenty minutes to get me a glass of water, and then I had to ask repeatedly until she finally refilled it. She was rude, and walked away while I was talking, and acted impatient when we asked why our food was taking so long. In the end it turned out that the chef could not find the chicken patties in the freezer for my boyfriends chicken burger, and by the time it all came out my food was cold.
I really enjoy the casual atmosphere of the restaurant, but the average food and awful service do not warrant a return visit.Listed in: Beware!
-
Review from Keith F.
Edmonton, AB
Updated - 2/11/2012
MGR is Trying new things but still Raw on the inside, Rough all around-but at least the Beers were COLD just like the SERVICE !
WARNING -this review may cause some pourhouse fans to weep openly.
I though I hadn't eaten here for a long time, it seemed like it was way more than 3 months ago-I guessed I really had missed the place-alot. I returned to have a great eating experience and enjoy some February fun on a cold winter evening. It was their potato soup special -that hooked me, and a friend into trying this place again-why NOT! things can change! We were regulars here-would we be again?
The place looked the same, but I thought it was quite slow for the supper hour=not many patrons, and a sea of brown wooden table tops, staring back at us beckon for us to visit them/. We sat at a table near the long bar, and promptly ordered beers from the server eager to please us. A 'Crabbies' beer and a 'bud'-both came quickly iced and cold. A good start to a diner out I thought, I ordered the potato soup special, and it followed shortly with even a spoon -how lucky.
The bar use to served each table with cutlery wrapped with a cloth napkin=, they apparently have stopped using cloth napkins and replaced cloth with thin paper napkins. The soup special arrived and was surprisingly good- half soup order five bucks is a great way to start the supper I thought!.
Service disappeared for a while, but we were able to get in another order of beers, before the main dinners arrived. They brought out cajun chicken nachos that my friend neither ordered or wanted-I guess they still use the same old menus, but changed the food items in the kitchen? His favourite can't screw it up nacho dish was too spicy, and he didn't finish it-he used to want to take his nachos left overs, home to snack on and decided 'to the garbage' they belong 18.00 later:(:
My steak arrived, with mash potatoes and the usual greens, when my server came back to ask how my meal was I asked her if I would get some cutlery PLEASE?? My steak was raw inside I ordered medium steak-and my potatoes were sour. They do use sour cream in their mashed potatoes which can add creamy flavor and texture to the potatoes but NOT today. i didn't know if they were yesterdays potatoes or if the sour cream had gone bad 'to the garbage'!!. I later pointed out to the server the raw steak, and we decided to get the 70 plus bill and go some where else to drink to forget this last experience .
Attention owner and manager; your customers aren't eating your food anyway- my last review focused on the fun ambiance that is now also missing. After 3 months of not spending our money there- the food situation seems worse. Buy a deep fryer, and cook bar food-your kitchen staff must have fast food experience- do salads and bar food and try to get back your lost customer's OR maybe your lease will be up soon and your figuring out it takes a lot more time and effort to run something like this!!-. Bring Derek back from Thailand.
Customers happy to come to drink , or better still come a little drunken and the food might go down easier.
pourhouse +pour food +pour service =pour customers/satisfaction and empty tables-staring back at you1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/17/2011
I have been here alot-mostly for drinks as the food has slid down in consistent quality and… Read more »
-
-
Review from Bee R.
Edmonton, AB
Updated - 1/10/2012
Update to my previous review.
Was there with a buddy on Saturday. We were having a great time, eating and drinking beer. We were there for a while, but kept ordering. We DEFINITELY weren't "taking up space".
As soon as our 3rd round of schooners arrived, so did a "reserved" sign on our table. Huh? This is a bar/pub. Why are you taking "reservations" at a local pub? While the person who said "I'm just going to put this here" didn't explicitly tell us to hurry the hell up, our server stopped by VERY often to ask "if we wanted anything else" while we still had 80% of our double-pints in our glass. Yeah we want to enjoy our beers and food, not get pushed out the damn door.
We left very early. It was super uncomfortable and awkward. Wasn't impressed. Too bad too because we both LOVED the place before.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/25/2011
Never disappointed here. Great food, awesome warm atmosphere, huge selection of rotating beers.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Johnson T.
Edmonton, AB
7/28/2011
Some friends of mine made this their regular Tuesday night haunt. ($2 for half pints of Sleeman's)
Of course, I had to join them. Brick walls, a couple tables, a bar, a lounge seat. I really liked the look of this place except for the tucked away bar. They have a pretty good beer selection. Lots of import and lots of locally crafted things. The food was pretty plain and pricey. Come to think of it, you didn't really get a lot of value for what you ordered.
Not a huge fan of the one server/waitress to take care of everyone in the place. On a busy night, it meant waiting 15 to 20 minutes to get taken care of. -
Review from Sarah J.
Edmonton, AB
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was only my second visit to the Pour house, but probably will be my last.
Atmosphere: nice, nothing flashy, could be any restaurant or bar, but the brick walls are an extra nice accent.
Drinks: everyone in the group should get drinks at the same time... not one at at a time (thought use a tray). Water, is one of my go to point on service, is my water full... NO, did i have to ask for more water... twice, not cool. I didn't drink alcohol at this visit, but at the last one the waitress new nothing about beer and i found that to be pretty sad for a beer house.
Service: The servicer was nice, for the most part she did an ok job, but it was a slow lunch crowd and at time we were the only customers... she could have done better.
Food: For $12, my salad and chicken was good. Nothing over the top to write home about, but good.
This would be a 2 1/2 star for me, mainly for the "shrug my shoulders feeling" i got from the place. -
Review from Brittany K.
Edmonton, AB
This place had been on my mind for a while. I like beer, and I like places that serve lots of different kinds of beer. The average reviews only piqued my interest in visiting.
The Pourhouse is a long, thin space with brick walls on all sides. It reminds me of a big, open downtown loft. A very cool space, and they've done a lot with it. The mirrors really add to the space and the bar very cool indeed.
Pourhouse features 100 (or more?) beers on the menu. Better yet, the waitress brings along a "Beer Bible" with the menu. It contains a paragraph or two about each beer on the menu. Flavours, aromas, hop. It's all there, so you can decide exactly what you want to satisfy your palette. I may have gone a wee bit overboard trying to taste as many beers as possible with my two girlfriends last night, but it was a very enjoyable evening out.
Our waitress was more than happy to bring fresh bottles and fresh glasses with every new brew we sampled. The pretzels were super delicious and I liked the mediterranean dip, too. The waitress told us they don't use a deep fryer at this bar, which is awesome! Definitely added to the experience and made for a fabulous Thursday girls night out. -
Review from Vlad L.
Edmonton, AB
4/7/2012
Went there with my friend for a few beers another night. Service was a bit slow even place wasn't busy. Beer menu is okay but wish for better tap selection. We had nachos and and they defiantly don't worth $18 (we added chicken).
-
Review from Don B.
5/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Pourhouse is not what I expected to find along a street like Whyte. But I don't know much about Whyte other than what I hear in local lore and what I see on the surface, so what the hell do I know?
Anyway, while in Edmonton for a couple of days I was looking for a place to grab a brew - preferably a local brew - and Yelp led me to the Pourhouse. Noting the style of most of the businesses on this block (am I in the Gaslamp in San Diego? Gastown in Vancouver?) I approached with some trepidation, only to have that hesitation melt away in the face of genuinely friendly and welcoming service.
It probably helped that I was there on a Sunday night when it was dead. But that's fine - I didn't care to interact with the crowd that I hear normally graces Whyte on Fridays and Saturdays, I wanted a good beer. And good beer is what I got.
One of the owners took great care of me, offering a huge selection of all sorts of ales I have never seen before (as they're local-ish, they don't make their way across the border). He also noted that they have a cool program where every Friday they stock this little cooler with niche bottles and sell them as specials until they're gone. The cooler this week included a home-town brew (Rogue) as well as this really interesting Japanese IPA that I've never seen before. It was delicious.
A large amount of the beers offered to me (from the local outfits) were fruity - Aprikat, Blackberry Stout, something Blueberry, Cranberry Wheat, etc - and therefore not my style, but it didn't take me long to test out a local IPA, a delicious Coney Island brew on special tap (sure, I can get it any time in the States but it's amazing) and a tasty Big Rock IPA. Along with the Japanese IPA I had myself a good beer drinking session (the Coney Island was a sample - taster pour). The owner also let me sample his shift beer, an oak aged ale from Scotland that's mind-blowingly tasty. I've had oak aged dark beers before, but never a lighter ale like this.
The Pourhouse is not like the beer bars I usually hang out at - full of obscure taps stocked with hoppy bombs and crazy Russian Imperial Stouts, but I gotta remember I'm not in Cascadia anymore. What this bar does offer is a decent selection of brews both local and from around the world, plenty of which I'd normally be happy to drink if I couldn't easily get them at home - in fact, I'd be stoked to find them based on what I'm seeing on tap at other bars around here. What really put Pourhouse over the top for me was the amazing service and welcome I received from the owner and staff.
Would I cruise in here on a packed weekend night? Maybe not. But on a regular old off night, most likely. I love a good beer.Listed in: Alberta On My Mind, Tripping Through Edmonton!
-
Review from Robyn W.
5/27/2011
Thanks to Groupon, my Hubs and I were finally convinced to try the Pourhouse .
We each hunkered down with a couple of fancy-pants beer (they have MANY) - I had maple and he had chocolate - and ordered dinner.
His mac & cheese was a good portion, and even though he was assured by the waitress that it was very creamy and saucy, when it was placed in from of him it was oil & grease that was left coating the bowl rather than a creamy cheese sauce.
He liked it, but it was far too greasy from my liking...
On the other side of the table, I had the chicken brie burger - and it was fantastic! The freshness of the mango salsa and the creaminess of the brie made for a really yummy sandwich.
I also really like that they don't even have a fryer in the place, and our choices for side were salad, coleslaw, soup - which was a nice change of pace from the usual fries. -
Review from M F.
Edmonton, AB
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have had both good and bad experiences at this establishment. Fortunately the good have outweighed the bad ones!
In the case of the bad incident, the owner contacted me voluntarily and we worked toward a resolution. Based on that I continue to recommend the Pourhouse. They have tasty food and an excellent rotating beer selection making this a great stop when shopping on Whyte Ave! -
Review from Karlie M.
2/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went to The Pourhouse a few months ago with my husband and another couple after dinner around the corner. I don't really like to write reviews from memory, but I'm not sure if or when I'll be going back. I remember walking by the place a few times and thinking the name was really clever, so there we went.
The space is long and skinny, with a couple of booths along the wall, some tables and the bar. Mirrors along the wall, dark wood. Didn't really like the TVs they had, but I don't really like TVs in many places except for specific sports bars. Causes too many wandering eyes and distractions from conversation!
Anyways, I can't remember exactly what we each had, and they don't have their menu on their website that I can see, but I remember thinking that for a place that calls itself The Pourhouse, I thought they would have a bigger selection of beer (although their website says they have over 100 beers, so maybe I'm remembering wrong). It was decent, with some interesting beers on there, but I thought there would have been more. They were also out of the first beer my husband chose. And the prices were high, although I'm sure that's because the rent they're paying in this spot is astronomical. A few people around us were eating and everything looked good, so after a bit we order some pub-style pretzels to share. They were totally overcooked and hard. I could barely chew them. Disappointing.
The crowd was cool, a little bit older and calmer than the regular Whyte Ave crowd. Service was fine. The room is kind of small and seems like a nice, intimate setting, BUT, we were there on a Friday night, maybe around 8:30 or 9pm, and the music was way too loud. We were at a tiny table and I could barely hear the guy across from me. What is up with places that aren't dance clubs blasting the music?
I was a little torn between giving a 2 (because I have definitely experienced better) and a 3, so I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and go with the 3. Perhaps I'll check this place out again sometime in the future and have a better experience. I've walked by several times and they do seem to have some good specials on often. I also just saw on their website something called a Bier Buck, which you can print off - as many as you want - and is good for $1 off each seperate menu item. Cool idea. -
Review from Will H.
Edmonton, AB
3/10/2012
Food is pretty good, cocktails are really good, and a great beer selection. Gets busy so be prepared to not get a seat.
-
Review from Kelly L.
Winnipeg, MB
5/21/2011
Meh. I've experienced better... Yelp, I couldn't have put it better.
After having dinner with a couple of friends last night, we decided to head down to Whyte Ave to try something new. When we arrived many of the tables through the long, thin space were occupied. Fortunately, there was only three of us so we gathered around a small table near the front of the bistro - two of us taking the bench, one on a chair.
Excited to dive into a beverage, we anxiously snagged a menu that was laying on the bench next to us and perused the plethora of beer choices. After taking a few minutes decide, we waited a few more minutes for a waitress to take our order. A few more minutes passed with still not so much as a "hello" from one of the three waitresses that had passed our table since we arrived. Finally, after about 15 minutes of waiting, we were able to flag someone down and we were enjoying our drinks after about 20-25 minutes.
I understand that the restaurant was busy but to be walked passed five times by three different waitresses is unacceptable. I will probably give Pourhouse another try as I would like to try their food menu and another exotic beer or two but, I hope the service to be better. As a social media geek, I really did like that they offer a 10% discount off food purchases if a customer posts to Facebook, Foursquare or Yelp - very smart.
The venue itself is great - buzzing atmosphere, superb location on Whyte, exposed brick and the mirrors on the walls help open what would otherwise be a very tight space. However, I do value level of service and the only thing that saved Pourhouse from a 1-Star review is their beer selection... I love beer. For that love of beer, they will see me again. It will be up to them whether a third trip will occur. -
Review from Michael J.
Edmonton, AB
I love how there are a few more of these chill, grown-up bars settling into Whyte ave. If you are looking for a classier joint for a couple of pints as well as a tasty bite, pourhouse is your taphouse.
The sliders were tasty, the beers were cold, and the ambiance and loft-like feel transport you into a brewhouse somewhere in Europe. If you are near the windows there is always great people-watching on whyte ave, and if you are near the back, the red brick and mirrored decor keep your eyes wandering and exploring all night.
I'm a fan of big and exotic beer menu's (If I wanted to drink domestic, I would be sitting on my patio with a box of them) and the pourhouse doesn't disappoint. The beers even are accompanied by a beer book- a guide to the different flavours of the various grains that they serve.
I've only been here in the evenings, so I can't speak to the daytime atmosphere, but its nice to have a chill place to meet before heading out to Whyte or onwards for whatever mischief ensues. -
Review from Brennan W.
Edmonton, AB
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went in for an early supper with a friend after coming into the city. Though I am not a beer drinker, I will not hold any judgment on their prowess for beer. Refer to Brittany K.'s review for the beer. I feel comfortable in saying that the food is above average, but these days that just gets one an average rating. They did not have any Johnnie Walker, I would easily give another star if they did. The service was better than I thought it would be. My friend had an Italian beer (I think Peoria) he liked it very much and I know I can trust him when it comes to taste.
-
Review from Aditya R.
After coming here a couple more times, I've realized that they aren't very well organized. I really, really wish they get their act together. I think a very crucial aspect of being a successful restaurant is having a sense of schedule and planning. You've got to plan things ahead of time! I guess if one were to show up on a weekend night things would be great, but being right on Whyte, they've got stiff competition if they're looking to have lunch goers and passerby-ers come in for a quick meal on a weekday afternoon or so.
I'm not an expert on beer. I was quite impressed with the Alley Kat Aprikat beer that I had once, so I'm guessing that their selection is not too bad.Listed in: Whyte Ave, 3rd Dates
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/31/2011 First to Review
The Pourhouse is a new & cool joint right on Whyte ave. that boasts a modern and sophisticated feel… Read more »
-
-
Review from shawnna p.
Edmonton, AB
5/22/2011 1 photo
Last night the place was hoppin'. We were lucky to grab a table for 4 and add a chair. There are 2 outdoor tables which are highly sought after real estate. Since we'd already eaten, we were just there for the beers.
The first thing I always ask is "...what's on special?.." We enjoyed some Sappporo at a great savings, but later when we checked our bill, we discovered we had been charged full price for some of them. The staff did not apologize, but quickly fixed the error.
Around 11:00pm, my friend asked if we could get a menu to look at. After making a selection, the staff told her that the kitchen was closed. "Why did you bother giving me a menu?"
The bathroom was clean, but they need more than one toilet for the ladies. THEN I caught a dude using the girl's can and he had peed all over the place. I screamed something at him as he scurried away. UGH!
I liked the old black & whites they were showing on the T.V.s.
I use to come here when it was Flavours Bistro, but I'm happier here now that is a good beer bistro. Not cheap, but good.Listed in: Best Happy Hour
-
Review from Melissa C.
Edmonton, AB
1/4/2012
I go to the Pourhouse pretty often, and wish there was a "3.5" rating to give it. The food is pretty good, I find the waitstaff to be generally friendly, and the beer selection is especially great. Nice atmosphere, and the prices are reasonable. I've had some poor experiences, but for the most part, it's become a nice, reliable, relaxing place to go for a quiet drink or a quick dinner. I bumped them up to a 4 star because they usually have Turner Classic Movies playing!!
-
Review from John D.
Edmonton, AB
6/25/2011
The beer selection is quite good. There isn't anything that can't be found elsewhere, but you might have to do some searching. They have a large number of veggie items, but they weren't great. But my wife said the fish was good. And the atmosphere was pretty good. So in general, good but not great.
-
Review from Andre D.
Edmonton, AB
6/2/2011
Why anyone would rate this place below 5 stars is beyond me? I had been asking my friends to find a similar place to the Bier Markt or Beer Bistro in Toronto where they had different types of beers, mainly of the non traditional kind.
One of the managers greeted me right away, introducing me to the various types of beers that they had. He mentioned they changed the beer menu very frequently. The place isn't meant to be a bar but somewhere to relax, enjoy the time with your friends and taste some beers you have never had before.
I had a hot dog with a salad (seen below). I wanted to try their special dog and boy was it delicious. I didn't have to put any condiments on it because it was just that damn good.
The service was great and the manager was very friendly. Probably one of the better places I've visited to this point. I would definitely go back in a heartbeat.
By the way, the 3 pics you see here are from when Aditya and I visited. I gave him props for showing me this place. -
Review from Pamela A.
Edmonton, AB
3/23/2011
Pour house is a joke. They should call it poor service. After waiting an hour for food without apologies, my darling waitress brought me a veggie wrap, however I ordered a veggie burger. After having two bites due to disgust, she had the audacity to charge us for it. The food sucked, and the service was worse. Avoid the poorhouse, subway next door is a better bet.
