- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Wildflower Grill
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
10009 107 St NWEdmonton, AB T5J 1J1
(780) 990-1938
- Hours:
Mon-Fri, Sun 11 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 4:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 4:30 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for Wildflower Grill
Review Highlights
-
"Wildflower's baked brioche came with goat and cow butter." In 3 reviews -
"the extras: amuse bouche and brioche." In 4 reviews -
"...was perfect, from the sweet pea soup to the fresh halibut." In 2 reviews
Loading...
27 reviews in English
-
Review from Cherie K.
4/21/2012
A group of us went to the wildflower grill for the first time last night for my birthday. From the moment we walked in, we were attended to. Our coats were taken and we were seated. The waitress provided details of the specials and took our drink orders and appetizer orders. The whole time she was extremely attentive, checking in our how we were enjoying our meals and provided great service.
Onto the food! We ordered some appetizers, but there was no need, as they serve spoonfuls of a rabbit stew, and amazing bread cooked in a cup with organic butter. The stew was amazing!
Then onto our appies. I ordered a prosciutto appetizer which was very good. The. The entrees. I had the salmon medallions, which were served with a bowl of mussels, scallops and accompanied by the most perfectly cooked green beans and asparagus. It was a very rich dish, so I wasn't able to finish. Others had lamb, Cornish game hen and steak. Everyone remarked how great the food was. Some people then had dessert and coffee and tea. The coffee and tea are served french press style, a pot per person, which is a lot. The tea and coffee had amazing flavour. The creme brûlée was served within little donuts and were to die for!
We dined for about 3 hours, and we were never ignored by the wait staff.
The atmosphere is elegant and very well laid out. One of our friends commented as we were leaving that it mustn't have been very busy because it was so quiet. In fact, the restaurant was almost full when we arrived. That was impressive.
One bit of advice, plan to splurge, as a couple can easily spend over $150 with drinks. A once a year treat for us made a great impression on our group. I would recommend the wildflower grill to anyone looking for a high end dining experience! -
Review from Mike W.
3/13/2012
Our waitress (Sue) was awesome tonight and she made us feel very comfortable. The drinks were quickly poured, menu explained and she was very attentive to all our needs at the table. The mixology of drinks was great but kind of expensive.
. The salads, appetizers and steaks ordered were to perfection. For the most part the meals we ordered were fantastic with exception of the braised ribs I had ordered. I would not recommend these overcooked and dry ribs to anyone. The kitchen did seem a might slow delivering the meals. The desserts were exceptional and nice presentations of all the meals.
Overall a nice atmosphere and relaxing time. Yes, I would give this place another try. -
Review from Violet P.
3/11/2012
Although I've walked by this restaurant many times, I have never really paid attention to it. Looking for a restaurant close to work, we decided on Wildflower Grill as they were a participating restaurant for Downtown Dining Week.
Good thing we made a reservation before 12. The restaurant was abuzz with lots of people and it can definitely get noisy. We were seating by the window which I liked as it seemed more private and a little quieter. The blinds were pulled down we weren't in the view on the walkers.
For $15 I decided to have the signature ice wine and grilled vegetable salad and the braised short rib with yukon mash. The presentation is lovely but the food was just as good. I really enjoyed the combination of the vegetables and the lettuce and it wasn't drenched in dressing. The only complaint I had was the lettuce leaves were a bit big to fit into the mouth so I had to cut or fold it.
The main dish was 2 large pieces of rib and the mashed potatoes. The meat was delicious; tender and not dry. The potatoes were very good as well. It was definitely more food than I was expecting and I had half of it packed. Even the next day, the rib was very good.
The server was attentive with refilling our waters and ensuring everything was fine with our food. The desserts sounded good but I was too full to try anything. I would definitely be back to try the crab cakes. -
Review from Katie F.
1/8/2012
I didn't care for the place and it didn't live up to the current 4 star review on yelp.
We took my sister here for a thank you dinner because of the reviews and it was new since I moved away from Edmonton. Nice decor and central location.
Service needs a ton of work. There was no hostess at the door and I waited for several minutes before anyone came around to seat me. Our server at the table was terrible. She had a hard time handling special requests such as a nut allergy and vegetarian diet, and the timing of the courses was terrible... who brings appetizers when we're still eating the bread course, and then my sister gets her entree while she's still working on her salad!
Drinks ran empty several times during the meal.
The food is average at best. Maybe I came on an off night, but honestly, the best part of the meal was the bread service, which was a popover style bread served in a large measuring cup. Really cute presentation.
However, the items ordered were 'meh'. We had a variety of dishes including salads, ravioli, fish, mushroom risotto, and bison. The risotto was too saucy and the fish was quite bland. Ravioli was decent and the bison was average... Given the price point ($30-$35 an entree), the issues noted should not occur. My sister had a tart for dessert but the rest of us passed given the mediocre food to that point.
I left my e-mail for them to follow-up regarding my comments, and to date, there has been no contact from the restaurant.
Skip this if you need to impress or say thanks. There are much better places in town. -
Review from Sarah W.
12/12/2011
I visited Wildflower Grill recently for my birthday dinner with my S/O and was not disappointed. The restaurant itself is tucked away just south of Jasper and I loved the quiet location and classy, understated exterior.
Walking in, the restaurant is lit nicely with trendy decor and a small but organized layout. The restaurant host, a charming french gentleman, was very polite, took our coats for us and seated us immediately. I loved looking at the menu - unlike some other high end restaurants, it was refreshing to read through it and see many, many options where I thought "Ooh, I'd like that." The menu is small and leans a bit more on the carnivore side of things, but they focus very much on regional Canadian cuisine, which is nice.
We ordered the crab cakes as an appetizer and each chose a steak as our entree. I also treated myself to a glass of champagne, which was very nice and bubbly! Immediately after ordering, we were presented with a small-bite (amuse-bouche, please pardon my terrible spelling of the french language!) of an ahi-tuna dish and it was absolutely amazing. Great way to start off the meal. Next came the complimentary brioche bread, which was presented gorgeously alongside organic butter with black hawaiian sea-salt... very dramatic and DELICIOUS.
I had to admire the care they took in pacing out our meal. The appetizer came shortly after we finished up our bread and our entrees followed right after that. The server we had wasn't the greatest but we got a lot of attention from the restaurant host and he made sure we were taken care of.
The food itself was fantastic - the crab cakes were served next to a small salad and some citrus fruits - perfect for us to share and also a great lunch idea. I have never had a better crab cake!! The steaks were perfectly cooked, seasoned just right and they came with two sides from an abundant list of choices. I had the truffled mac and cheese and the cauliflower/broccoli gratin, and I was not disappointed. Both of us were much too full to order dessert, but we were treated to a small plate of dessert bites with our receipt, very nice touch and delicious!!!
My only complaint about the restaurant is that it is quite small, so it gets quite loud. When we first got there, we were tucked in a corner with several other small tables, and were able to enjoy the romantic atmosphere. But halfway through our meal, a large table of six was seated next to us and they were very loud, being just a foot away, along with several other large holiday parties just around the corner. I know I can't really complain as that's what dining out is all about, but it definitely took away from the overall ambiance of the meal. The restaurant has a bit of "steak house" feel, environment wise. Could just be because of the holidays, though.
Pricing at Wildflower is not outrageous for the quality of food you are getting. We chose the sirloin steaks and they came in at $36 for 8oz of quality meat, as well as two sides and a complimentary sauce. Even if our next date isn't for a special occasion, we will definitely be considering Wildflower Grill. Best meal I've had all year. -
Review from Rosemary R.
Vancouver, BC
11/8/2011
We had dinner with my parents at the Wildflower Grill and really enjoyed it. The service was excellent, the cocktails were good and plentiful and the menu offered several different options, which was particularly good for my mom, who can't have gluten, dairy or hard foods. They accommodated all of her special food needs without a fuss, which was fantastic.
We had made a reservation for 4:30 p.m. (we had an event to get to) and thought we'd be the only ones there, but the place began to fill up almost immediately. It was a Saturday night but still - make a reservation!
We started with the meatball trio, which was a nice nibble. My parents both had the halibut special, which they raved over. I had the beet salad with chicken - very very nice. My wife had a small salad and the mushroom ravioli, which was a big hit with her as well.
We wanted to try dessert but were in a rush and had to give it a pass. Very sad. The creme brulee looked good.
We went back the next day for brunch (we were staying at the Matrix Hotel next door). Again, really excellent service and loved the french press coffee.
My wife really enjoyed the bread pudding French toast - I was hoping for an omelette but the only one they had on offer was chicken with tomato sauce, which didn't sound appealing. I got the Spanish skillet instead, which was lovely and cheesy but was also very heavy on the tomato sauce. The dish also featured a sort of scalloped potato/sweet potato, which didn't really work for me (thought perhaps that's because it was covered in tomato sauce). Not my favourite breakfast. It's worth noting that they had a few eggs benedict options that sounded great if you like eggs benedict (sadly, I don't).
Would definitely come here again for dinner but the brunch menu (for me!) wasn't as delightful. -
Review from Jenna-Marie L.
Edmonton, AB
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum, yum, yum! I am definitely a fan of Wildflower Grill, I have been here a couple times for brunch and have had the fruit crepes, which were to die for, and the spanish skillet (I can't remember the exact name but it was along those lines) and it too was delicious! I recently ventured here for lunch, and was definitely not disappointed! I had the risotto, and have been craving it ever since. If you are planning of coming for lunch I would recommend making a reservation as it was packed and seems like a popular place for the downtown core. As a note it does close at 2pm, which was surprising considering our reservation was at 1pm so we did feel a little awkward being the last ones left but the staff was great and by no means were we rushed out or made to feel like we had to leave.
Next up is to try the dinner menu! -
Review from Lauren N.
12/16/2011
Recently came here for a friend's birthday lunch. I heard about the restaurant's name in passing but never knew it was located downtown, 107th Street isn't exactly the street you pass by everyday in the downtown area.
The restaurant features a modern design with an intimate feel at each table. It's definitely a different vibe from its sister establishment, Lazia, the latter being more modern and trendy. I think I prefer Wildflower ... it feels like it's not trying too hard, if that makes any sense!
Lunch is served around 11am-2pm and we arrived around noon. To be precise, the lunch menu consists of both brunch and lunch dishes. I adore breakfast food and went with the French toast, while both my friends had the chicken panini with homecut fries. The French toast was good, not too sweet and piled with various fruit (mangos, berries, melons and pears) but I made the classic mistake of ordering a gourmet twist on comfort food. Comfort food is good because it's simple (and hence why it's comforting). This French toast definitely lacked that aspect for me. The potato gratin on the side was delicious though, and I had no problem finishing that!
My lunch companions enjoyed their paninis, although I don't think they would say it was the best they've ever had. The paninis were quite filling though, with each unable to eat more than half.
Service was fair and cordial, nothing to complain about but nothing that stood out either. My friend was kind of upset when the waitress did not include her untouched fries in her packed-up meal to go. If you still have a full side dish, does that not get packed up as well? I don't know ...
Tried it, liked it, but not sure if I liked it enough to be back. -
Review from Andrew H.
8/18/2011
A friend of mine took me to Wildflower Grill for lunch with instructions to pre-eat first because the portion sizes were small. It seems like I'm already penalizing Wildflower before I even step in there!
Upon entering, I was promptly greeted by the host which brought me to the table. The decor is very trendy with comfy booths, stone brick-like walls and see through drape partitions. The seating seemed quite spacious considering the small square footage. It looks like they used up every square foot efficiently.
Looking at the menu was a bit disheartening. I was treated to sophisticated ingredients for things I take for granted like salads and soup.
Our waiter explained the soup of the day very descriptively but I decided to take a stab at Salmon Halibut dish.
Lunch wasn't too busy which I didn't mind as we gabbed as we waited for our food (it didn't take long for it to come out). I have to commend Wildflower for the presentation of my meal. The halibut salmon combination was artistically displayed; both fishes were compacted into two thick rolls that resembled a California roll. The interesting thing to note is the design looked like a ying yang symbol!
The potatoe salad that accompanied it was shaped like a small cylinder and the salad was presented like a blooming flower in the bowl. Very cool indeed.
My friend was right, the sizes were a little small upon first glance. Whenever I see such things, I realize this must be "fine dining" and adjust my devouring methods. I begin to take smaller bites and try to focus on the taste. The fish on its own was moist and with the subtle pineapple and peppers, it was quite the one-two punch. The potatoe salad wasn't your usual potatoe salad, hints of citrus (I think?) gave it an interesting aftertaste making me wonder what exactly was added to make it sweet and sour.
My only complaint would be the salad. The leaves were quite wild so it wasn't very easy to simply stab and eat. I would have rather have functionality over looks but it still tasted light and tangy.
The dish clocked in at about $16.00 but I do realize more and more restaurants are opting for local ingredients. Although the portion sizes were smaller than what I usually see, I actually felt somewhat full and didn't feel like eating afterwards so portion wise was almost on point.
Definitely recommend if you need something different downtown and can appreciate the smaller things.Listed in: 30 Days of Summer
-
Review from Bert V.
3/11/2012 1 photo
The food at this place is absolutely fantastic. All the dishes that we had at our table were extremely rich in complex flavours and with excellent ingredients. Our dinner was led off with a complimentary gazpacho palette cleanser, served in a shotglass. As innocent as it looked, we were really impressed. This got the meal off to a very positive start and surely it will be one of the most memorable aspects when we look back. Next we were served brioche bread served in a little stainless steel pot. The brioche bread, while large in size, is very airy inside and melts in your mouth as you eat it. Phenominal! After, I was served the Albertan rack of lamb with Yorkshire pudding and fondue. The lamb was cooked just right and had a delicious pomegranate glaze. I was very satisfied with this impressive meal, especially since I don't usually eat American (or Canadian) style food in general due to lack of originality. The food was top notch.
The only thing stopping me from giving a 5-star rating was the service. It was a little rough around the edges, however I won't hold it strongly against the restaurant since I generally found service at many Edmonton restaurants and businesses not to be one of their strong suits. -
Review from Nathalie L.
Edmonton, AB
7/22/2011
This is one of the most over-rated restaurants in my opinion. My husband and I went there to have brunch, for which it is famous for. We took a look at the menu and asked the waitress about one of the items on the menu. She answered arrogantly. It took her so long to come to the table to get our orders and when she did, she was unfriendly.
I do not understand why this is also considered one of the top brunches in Edmonton. I expected a place like that to serve at least FRESH juices. When we asked about it, we were told heir orange juice is the Tropicana brand you buy from grocery stores.
When our orders came out, the quality of the food wasn't there. It is hot, but the cheese, mushrooms, veggies, etc. were not fresh. They looked like they have been sitting in the kitchen for ages. Even the free cornmeal they gave was very oily.
I will definitely never come back. Bad food, bad service. Good thing it wasn't terribly expensive. There are much better food elsewhere in the city like Da Capo, Culina, High Level or Sugar Bowl. -
Review from Crystal E.
Edmonton, AB
4/19/2011
I went to Wildflower Grill not to long ago for dinner and it was fantastic! The carpaccio was the best I've ever had!
The beautiful lay out of food and table settings was elegant and set the mood.
Reasonably priced for a nice dinner out plus a unique type of food to boot.
I will be going back! -
Review from Hans Kristian L.
Sherwood Park, AB
4/3/2011 8 photos
I can honestly say that the meal I had here was one of the best I've ever had. I went here for my graduation supper and was lucky enough to experience a custom menu. Everything was perfect, from the sweet pea soup to the fresh halibut.
I've only ate there once but this is by far one of my most favourite places to eat. -
Review from Doug G.
12/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
Wow! What a find!
Easy to miss, this restaurant is a hidden gem. Definitely pricey, but Wildflower Grill delivers some amazing food. Everything from the baked brioche to start the meal, to the Peppercorn Herb-Crusted Bison Tenderloin served with a chanterelle, fig & smoked cheddar bread pudding was amazing! I figured bread pudding should be a desert but this was an excellent addition to the main course. So tasty!
I loved Wildflower. Not cheap, but definitely treat yourself!Listed in: Buried Treasures
-
Review from David W.
Edmonton, AB
2/20/2012
I have dined at Wildflower Grill many times but mostly at lunch. I love the atmosphere and my experience with the food has been quite positive. I dined last night with a friend prior to attending the Citadel. Our reservation was for 5:15, what I thought was allowing ample time to eat and get to the theatre. We were on time. Our server was quick to take our orders and was helpful picking out a good wine but we ended up rushing out at 7:05 after having literally 12 minutes to wolf our food. The appetizers came out in good time and were delicious, however main course took over 75 - 80 minutes to arrive after we ordered. The food was wonderful when it did come but the enjoyment was lost as we ate very fast. The restaurant is a wonderful place for lunch and dinner. A downside is the booths could have a little more lighting so you can read the menus. I love the "amuse bouche" they bring and the homemade brioche. Give yourself 2-1/2 hrs if you go for dinner or make sure they know you have timelines to meet. Last evening made dinner overall not so pleasant as I like to take my time with a good meal. Overall I still like Wildflower Grill and I give it 5 stars I just have learned a lesson
-
Review from Adam K.
8/17/2010 ROTD 3/5/2011
WIldflower Grill was one of the first restaurants I visited in Edmonton. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food, the wine list, and the service. I was with a medium sized group of people and I have to say that the food presentation was perfectly timed between our appetizers and entrees.
We ordered the seared tuna dish for an appetizer and that was quite superb. For my entree, I enjoyed the lamb and it was perfectly prepared. The only thing about the restaurant that I did not like was the wine suggestion. I feel like our server was just spouting off random facts about wine in general....instead of facts about the wine he is suggesting. I suppose this is pretty common but it is OK to just say, "I don't know."
WildFlower Grill is a great date place and I will return when I get a date. -
Review from Kelly Z.
2/9/2010
Everytime I visit Wildflower, I look across the street at the former location of Il Portico and mourn my favourite Edmonton restaurant. However, once I pop a piece of brioche in my mouth, all is forgotten.
Wildflower is all about execution. I have dined here under both Chef Chubachi and Chef Nathin Bye, and the level of cuisine and consistency have not changed.
Highlights:
- brunch. If you haven't eaten brunch here and prefer to fight the crowds at New York Bagel Cafe, Cora's or Cafe de Ville you are foolish. Most brunch sets cost $12-15 here, and are high quality and well done. They are served as sort of bento boxes, with your main dish alongside cornbread, custard and fruit and rich creamy potatoes gratin.
- the extras: amuse bouche and brioche. My only complaint: the slivers of butter could be larger. I always end up fighting with my dining partner over the goat milk butter!
- pastries. Desserts to die for. They're beautiful to the eye and tasty to the mouth.
I enjoy lunch and brunch here when times are lean, and dinner when I can. I'm always welcomed with a warm greeting and solid service. Il Porti-what? -
Review from Sierra C.
Edmonton, AB
1/23/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We went here for my husband's birthday and we will definitely be coming back for future special occasions! Our first impression of the place was rather disappointing. Our place mats were frayed, service took forever (we waited 20 minutes before even seeing our server), and the atmosphere was too posh for our liking. Once we got our food, though, we fell in love. The food can best be described as country/redneck that has been made classy through high quality ingredients and beautiful plating. I had the bison steak and my husband had stuffed salmon rounds. Both were delicious. We had a lemon tart for desert, which was also fantastic. Our server was very knowledgeable and provided us with complementary salmon crepes, fresh baked French bread, and a desert sampler. I would enthusiastically recommend this restaurant to all family and friends.
-
Review from Lasha T.
1/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
In celebrating our one year anniversary my boyfriend decided to take me to Wildflower Grill. It has been on my list of places that I have wanted to check out since I moved to Edmonton. It is inside the Matrix Hotel which looks similar to a hotel you would find in New York, sleek and modern design.
When we arrived I was surprised to see that the restaurant was fairly empty for dinner and on a weekend. Regardless they still sat us at a table that was as close to the kitchen as you could get, how romantic. We figured that the other tables might be reserved for other diners, but an hour into the meal we discovered this was not the case.
I usually am not a fan of regional Canadian cuisine, but the menu looked fairly creative and I was excited to see what it had to offer. My favorite part was that they had an in house sommelier so I could try something new. His pick was quite good with the dishes we decided to order.
The food was good, but for the price I wasn't extremely impressed. I had the filet with lobster and the lobster was overcooked. I really enjoyed the side dish that came with my boyfriend's meal. It was a simple mac and cheese, and I couldn't quite put my finger on what kind of cheese they used, but it was rich and delicious.
I would go back to the Wildflower Grill, but there are quite a few other places I would rather try before giving dinner here another chance. However, after reading some of the other reviewers I would like to try their brunch. This is where all the rave reviews consistently seem to come from.Listed in: Favourite Upscale Joints
-
Review from Josh N.
Edmonton, AB
8/26/2009
After viewing the menu from outside, we thought this place would be super pretentious and snobby. We entered to a modest decor with dark wood tones and chainmail hanging from the ceiling?.. kinda cool.
Well we ordered some decently priced dishes for around $50 each. Surprisingly the server came out with an Amuse Bouche. From that point I knew that this restaurant wasn't joking round. This is serious food. The stuff you only see on Food Network. The care and detail that went into the food was outstanding. Service was great. definitely take someone REALLY REALLY special here... cuz its quite pricey. but well worth it.
I recommend this place for foodies, people that appreciate the art and passion that goes into the food. Otherwise it would just seem over priced and pretentious.
Anyways. Ill be back.. once ive saved up enough. -
Review from Andre D.
Edmonton, AB
10/18/2010
Now who woulda thunk Wildflower Grill and Lazia were a tandem. I sure as hell wouldn't have. This was suggested by Jenn as a dinner option for my belated birthday. Instead we went for brunch. It is located as part of the Matrix hotel complex and very easy to get to whether you live downtown or close by. Parking is accessible on street or in a lot. Transit is also within walking distance.
As we walked in Carolina and I were taken aback by the lovely decor. It is well kept with an excellent seating arrangement. Although it is considered a grille, you would never know it by the way it is set up. We were greeted by the restuarant manager - a short very friendly Quebecois gentleman. He offered to take my jacket - something most restaurants won't do. Our table had a very classy arrangement with modern looking cutlery and placemat setting.
Our server was prompt but very inviting and friendly. I ordered an orange juice and Carolina ordered a coffee. We were both impressed by the coffee. Not like someone came over and gave her a cup of coffee or gave a carafe of coffee a la Perkins or Denny's. It came in coffee press with brown sugar and warm milk on the side. Carolina said it reminded her of Italy or even in Mexico. To start we with given corn bread muffin to share with a side of butter.
I ordered the Spanish Skillet and Carolina had the eggs benedict. They both came out with excellent presentations. It wasn't plastered all over the plate but rather they were separated by their own dishes. Carolina's "eggs benny" came with a side order of mashed potatoes. Both of our dishes came with a side order of fruit. What I found interesting was that the fruit dishes was solidified by what looked like a smidgen of mashed potatoes. An excellent idea to prevent plates from shifting.
Next time Carolina is in town, we will definitely visit here for dinner. I would strongly suggest this place for a romantic evening. It is worth the 5 stars.Listed in: Wine, Dine and... coffee?
-
Review from Liv V.
Edmonton, AB
4/12/2011 1 photo
Wildflower Grill impresses with a clever and innovative menu that is divided into 'small bites', 'lighter fare' and 'mains.' The beef shortrib is a trip to carnivore heaven, the fritto misto puts traditional deep-fried seafood to shame, and the Ahi tuna tower is a marvel to behold. This dish is comprised of a bottom layer of minced Ahi tuna, a middle stratum of tangy-sweet bruschetta jam, and a top layer of zippy pineapple. These are not flavours that traditionally go hand-in-hand, but here they work so beautifully. The decor is the icing on the proverbial cake.
-
Review from Antonella C.
Edmonton, AB
4/18/2011
The last time I was at the WG was about a year ago. This time around, I went with my companion the first Friday of April.
As I remember it, the people that work there are very personable and we were seated quickly as per our reservation at 7pm.
On this night, we decided to share an appetizer, the Baked Camembert and Aged Alberta White Cheddar. Each one is prepared in a phylo dough pastry and looks quite nice....however, it was a bit more oily than I had hoped. Nonetheless, my main entree' made up for it in spades :-]
First off, our waiter was kind enough to ask the kitchen to substitute the orzo served with my Roasted Chilean Sea Bass and King Crab with the mushroom risotto which was the feature starch of the evening. Very nice of him to do this for me since I was VERY curious about the risotto (plus on a chilly night, risotto was just what was needed :-]). With the exception of it being just a wee bit too salty, it was very nice and the saltiness did not override the taste of the porcini mushrooms with which it was prepared. As well, my fish was quite good and not overcooked in the least. The root vegetables were beets and zucchine (ALWAYS a nice change from the usual carrots and potatoes). Happily satisfied with the meal, I was excited to take on dessert. It must have been "book end" night since this too was a bit of a disappointment....I had the Apple Spice Cake. Hard as clay and no flavour :-[ I didn't even bother to finish it since there was no point and at least I wanted to keep the wonderful flavour of my entree.
We had a nice champagne as they do have a nice little wine list :-]....
As I said before, this is a nice spot to come for a quiet dinner as well as with a small group as I noticed a table of 4 women sitting not far from us who were enjoying appetizers and a nice bottle of wine together :-] -
Review from Lauren S.
Edmonton, AB
2/22/2011
This is the best restaurant in Edmonton. Enough said. I've been about 5 times in the last couple of years.
My fiance and I used to frequent il Portico before it was suddenly shut down. As an alternative, we decided to try Wildflower across the street one night for my birthday.
I LOVE this place. It's modern inside, but still has a very cozy and initmate feel.
They also have a great wine and drink list, so I suggest trying a little bit of everything if you can. Ask the waiters, as they are VERY well versed in what wines pair well with what menu item, and what to suggest if you like a type of grape, but want to try something new.
Every meal begins with an amuse bouche to tease the palette. Next you are served freshly baked brioche with an accompaniment of a couple of different handmade butters.
I highly recommend getting a full meal (appetizer, main course, dessert), to get the full experience. I order different things every time I'm there (I've had the lamb, the chicken, and the bison tenderloin so far), and have yet to have a bad meal. My fiance always orders their salmon cakes entree, which comes with lobster, scallops, gnocchi and more. It's always amazing and never disappoints.
The best part is, is you don't feel like you've eaten a ton of food. Compared to the Hardware Grill (which was good, but there was WAY too much food), this is perfectly portion controlled so you don't feel like you need to be rolled out of the restaurant. -
Review from M N.
Edmonton, AB
11/14/2009 6 photos
It's been a while since I dined at Chef Yoshi Chubachi's Wildflower Grill, but my fond memories of my experience have not yet escaped my grasp.
First thing you'll notice is the restaurant's snazzy decor. The flower theme is repeated throughout the establishment. We were seated by friendly wait-staff, and the restaurant had great atmosphere, a buzz of excitement could be felt inthe dining room.
But onwards with the food!
Amuse Bouche:
What an unexpected and pleasant surprise! Our amuse of the day was a poached salmon with white balsamic. The fish was tender and moist; balanced well as the vinegar perched atop gave it a nice light kick.
Bread:
Surprise #2. Wildflower's baked brioche came with goat and cow butter. Their brioche was hot, fresh, and steamy. When pulled open, gave off a beautiful eggy aroma. I enjoyed the goat butter the most as it's goat-y tanginess went well with the rich bread.
After our bread, chef Chubachi made his rounds around the restaurant to greet his patrons and asked us how we were enjoying our meal. It was a pleasure to see the interaction and to connect with the chef behind the food.
Appetizer:
Hot Potato & Leek Vichyssoise - with roast corn, butternut squash and lobster
The soup was garnished with basil and red pepper oils; their flavours were subtle but added deeper, fuller tones to the dish. Creamy and tasted of autumn and thanksgiving. Cockles were warmed.
Crab cake - with atlantic blue crab,spicy togarashi mayo, orange and avocado salad
Absolutely moist and tasted of the sea. Unlike most "cakes" you get at other places, you can actually identify clearly chunks and pieces of fresh crab. Lightly battered and fried, the exterior was nice and crisp; did I mention the wonderfully moist interior? The spicy mayo was alright, the crab cakes would have been perfect, as Guy Fieri would say, eaten with a flip-flop.
Entree:
Citrus Semolina Crusted Sea Bass - with northern Bay scallops, prawns, chorizo, saffron broth and a side of potato gnocchi with sweet pea and serrano ham
Mmmm! Perfectly cooked and moist seafood that sat on a very flavourful broth that packed a ton of body for it's deceivingly light appearance. Gnocchi was light and chewy, lightened with sparks of green peas and balanced with the salty ham.
Grilled 'Kurobuta' Pork Loin - sugar chilli cured served with creamy polenta 'dauphine', a white bean cassoulet, scampi provencal, and roasted pepper & sweet corn reduction
This was a life-changing dish. I was never a fan of pork but this dish set me straight and now look to try it everywhere. I have yet to find a dish that impresses me more than this. I have never had anything so moist, tender, juicy, and flavourful. My first bite of the pork and I couldn't keep the big smile off my face. The sugar chilli marinade was a match made by Eros himself, the sweet and spicy - perfect. On top of the pork were two pieces of shrimp which were out of this world. It would have won the supporting actor oscar. Were it not for the pork, the shrimp could have easily been the tastiest thing I have eaten. Despite it's diminuative size, these little jewels of goodness packed so much shrimp flavour, I was thinking it was lobster. The beans and polenta were great too, as was the duo of very tasty sauces that went with the pork. But man oh man, I would have been happy with just that piece of loin and shrimp. I am having fond memories as I type this.
Dessert:
White Chocolate Blackberry Creme Brule - with gianduja chocolate ganache and fruit confit and bushberry sorbet
Great end to a great meal. Citrusy fruit and cold sorbet paired with rich chocolate and my girlfriend's favourite, creme brulee, delish.
But wait, there's more!
Upon receiving our bill, we were given two more morsels to tantalize our tastebuds. From what I remember the white chocolate truffle was flavoured with coconut and the dark chocolate with some sort of rum. But regardless, they were very delectable and pleasant surprise (there were many of those on the night) to end a most memorable meal.
What I would describe as the ultimate dining experience punctuated with many bits of unexpected goodness interspersed throughout. Every dish was very thoughtful and one could appreciate the consideration that went into each aspect, every part coming together to be greater than the whole. As a customer you definitely feel like your wishes and needs were catered to personally.
I can't help compare Wildflower to the Blue Pear which I dined at recently. As perfect, memorable, and well considered Wildflower was, leaving our minds and tastebuds yearning for more to this day, it was contrasted by The Blue Pear, a poorly thought out and executed menu, a restaurant that clearly doesn't have its customers in mind that left us with a sour experience.
To Wildflower - Bravo -
Review from Monika S.
Edmonton, AB
6/4/2011
We came here for brunch on Sunday and it was truly a lovely meal, from the plate presentation, to the flavour of the food, to the waitress. This is an upscale place with a creative chef and very reasonable brunch prices in the $15 range. The traditional eggs benedict were great and were served with scalloped potatoes and a small cup of mixed fresh fruit. The roast beef was served in a yorkshire pudding and covered in cheese and served with some fabulously crispy and tasty fries and a bbq aoli. Before brunch was served, we enjoyed a complimentary corn bread muffin that was delicous. For the price, you really can't beat it and it will give you an idea of what you can expect if you return for dinner.
-
Review from Cameron M.
9/20/2010
This is a place that has pretensions of being serious food, including serious prices, but actually it is not very good. I had two different glasses of wine, at $10 each, and each was lousy (I know something about wine.) The mixed salad was decent, and I had some warm tiny-portion plate that was OK, but the food seemed like it was prepared by auto-pilot, with no real cook in the kitchen. I come from Los Angeles, and a place like this would not be able to stay in business there, it is just too expensive but falling too far short.
