Recent Reviews

76 Reviews

Filter by: Location   Category
#2, 10011 82 Ave
Edmonton, AB T6E 1Z2
(780) 429-4242

The Beauty Parlour  

Category: Hair Salons

5.0 star rating
2/16/2012
Due to the massively good Yelp reviews and also recommendations from friends that aren't on Yelp, my sister and I decided to go to the Beauty Parlour to get our locks lopped off. For me, it was about time, as my overly long hair had become unmanageable and relegated to a pony-tail status on a regular basis.

It's a little hard to find because they are situated on the second floor above a Vespa dealership. Kind of like Harry Potter's 1/2 station, you just magically find a door smooshed between businesses. However, just like magic, you open the door and the concrete behind you melts away to reveal a warm, wooden staircase.

I call the interior design "grandma chic" -- kinda like visiting a really really stylish old lady's house with antique detailing, wood, and flowers. Very cool and inviting! Seating area is also very stylish, and reminded me more of a restaurant lounge area rather than just a seating area to wait for your stylist.

I had Stephanie, who I essentially gave vague instructions about wanting the majority of my length cut off, and that I was thinking of side bangs, maybe layers. Somehow, despite the vagueness of that, Stephanie was able to expertly shape my hair into something super stylish!

Another thing I LOVED was the fact that she suggested a new part for my hair -- normally, other stylists just kind of use my natural part or if they ask about it, I shrug (I'm not an expert) and then they don't assert their opinion. When my shrug eventually came, instead of cowing, Stephanie made a part where she thought would be attractive and suggested it to me -- which was the right choice! It looks so much better with my bangs there!

I also have to say, I was super super impressed with how she blended my layers.

They also have a complimentary 15 minute touch up to your bangs/hair edges 3-4 weeks after your hair cut to help fix anything or just touch it up! Awesome.

I will be back AND recommending the Beauty Parlour to many more soon.

Was this review …?

8813 92 St NW
Edmonton, AB T6C 3P9
(780) 466-2330

Bul Go Gi House  

Category: Korean

3.0 star rating
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's not my fave Korean restaurant in town, but it's okay. I like it, but I don't love it.

I think their general Korean fare is pretty decent, but not for the prices they offer -- for example, for equivalent price, Bi-Bim-Baab further south has a MUCH much nicer interior, and more fanciful presentation of dishes, while Bul Go Gi House is a lot more stripped down. Which, as you should know based on my reviews, I don't mind at all (my fave places can be dives), but then the taste should blow me away.

I think if you are here, you have to go for the BBQ, and order the kalbi and the bul go gi, the restaurant namesake. I wasn't impressed with their fish stew as, ironically, it tasted too fishy to me.

And despite being into "authentic" Asian food, I have to say my FAVE in the entire restaurant is their unearthly red, deep fried and battered, spicy and sweet chicken! I don't know what it's called on the menu, but the description is there. It's my husband's fave, too, and he will hoard it all to himself.

Bul Go Gi House is an institution in Edmonton, as I believe it's one of the oldest Korean restaurants in town, but for equivalent price, I would head over to Bi Bim Baab.

Listed in: Asian Sensations

Was this review …?

12730 82 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5E 2T1
(780) 478-9797

Wok N Roll Restaurant  

Categories: Chinese, Filipino

3.0 star rating
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars.

This place ain't half bad. Despite being in the north side, the taste equivalent is that of Chinatown! I'm always impressed when you have options like this available to you in the burbier parts of town and it still remains authentic.

I've eaten here a couple times with my parents because besides Chinese food, they also serve Filipino food! This is where my parents order if they wanted something Filipino but were too lazy to cook themselves.

They serve a pretty decent 3 course peking duck (I think $45?) -- this Monday we chose the option where we could have it with some jelly fish (you could also get lettuce wrap and something else, I think). We also ordered a "buddha's feast" of stir fried veggies and mushrooms, which was tasty, but I have to say, I was mostly impressed with their shrimp and peaches. It was a crispy batter with the right amount of sauce. Better than the last one I had at Lingnan.

Anyway, it's not my favourite Chinese place by any means, but if you're in the north side and want to have some authentic Chinese (and Filipino!) food, this is a good place to pop in!

Listed in: Asian Sensations

Was this review …?

112 Smith St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
USA
(718) 858-3880

Wild Ginger  

Categories: Asian Fusion, Vegetarian
Neighbourhoods: Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill

4.0 star rating
12/15/2011 6 photos 1 Check-in Here
I'm a carnivore. I love my meat. But, after attending a conference with a couple of staunch vegetarians, they convinced my husband and I to have dinner with them at Wild Ginger. Now, I had really zero (maybe even borderline low) expectations as my experience with vegetarian food has been minimal or just "meh" at best.

However, Wild Ginger provided one of the best meals I've had in New York! What a surprise!

Our friends and I shared some dumplings and fried tofu: they were divine, and the dipping sauces were super tasty. My hubby and I both ordered a bowl of their version of "bi bim baab" which is basically a rice bowl with everything but the kitchen sink on it -- it was incredibly tasty. I enjoyed my entire bowl and it felt hearty and flavourful!

However, what blew my mind almost more than the mains were the desserts. We shared a vegan pumpkin "cheese"cake that was essentially indistinguishable from the real thing. If I hadn't known we were in a vegan restaurant, I would've thought this was a genuine, rich cheesecake! Then we had some peanut butter "bomb" -- it was huge! Actually, the cheesecake was, too, so keep in mind that they don't skimp on the dessert portions.

If I were in the Brooklyn area again, Wild Ginger would be something on my radar. I encourage everyone to try it out, veggie fiend or not!

Listed in: Asian Sensations, Concrete Jungle

Was this review …?

10582 104 St NW
Edmonton, AB T5H 2W1
(780) 426-3975

The Lingnan  

Category: Chinese

3.0 star rating
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
You're paying for the ambiance more than the food. Don't get me wrong, the food was fine -- Chinese-Canadian fare, which I find nothing wrong with, as long as it's tasty (how can you resist deep fried whatever?). What was great was the fact that they had hot plates which the plates were set on so that the food remained warm -- that was good.

So why only three stars? As an Asian, I've had my share of Chinese cuisine, so I know exactly where to get similar dishes for much less price (though you "pay" for it in lack of ambiance -- but I find dives charming, haha) or even better taste. If you're a Chinese food connoisseur like me, be prepared to pay sometimes DOUBLE the price compared to another place ($12-14 vs $6-7).

The highlight of the meal was the hot and spicy chicken, but the "yang chow fried rice" just tasted like regular Chinese "special fried rice" to me, and the shrimp with peaches in mayo, my non-authentic guilty pleasure, was just bland to me. I've had better.

Still, good service, was a bit fun to see "the Quon Dynasty" in action, and the place is gorgeous. My sister says her Asian friends go there for birthdays and I think it's mostly because of the beautiful (though stereotypical) decor. They also serve very good local beer -- AlleyKat's "Pi Jiu." ($5 or so)

I'll continue watching the TV show, I think the Quons are great, but it'll probably take an event or something to get me to return.

Listed in: Asian Sensations

Was this review …?

1316 9 Ave SE
Calgary, AB T2G 0T3
(403) 514-0577

Knifewear  

Category: Kitchen & Bath

5.0 star rating
11/27/2011 1 photo 1 Check-in Here
Ollivanders is to wands as Knifewear is to knives. Walking into the narrow interior of mounted and glass-encased knives, it's not a far comparison to make: Knifewear is magical and the hand-forged knives made by master craftsmen call to you, like a personal wand from Harry Potter lore.

"You don't choose the knife," says Rob, the robust moustachioed man who helped me from introduction to final sale, "The knife chooses you."

Pardon me if this review seems over-the-top, but frankly, that's what an over-the-top shop deserves. Knifewear is a specialty knife shop that is proud to showcase its fanaticism and knowledgeability about knives.

The wand -- er, knife -- shop is strategically organized based on performance. The farther back the shop you go, the higher performance the knife (and price) will be.

That was also where I met Kevin, the owner of the shop, who shook my hand enthusiastically and despite the rush of a Saturday afternoon crowd still seemed to have time to make sure that everyone felt welcomed.

Everyone there is a "knife nerd" and it shows. When Rob reached me a few moments later to talk shop, he explained in grave detail about the knives in the store from the materials it's made from and why one would be considered "more performance" (aka sharp as hell) to handle shape affecting grip. He asked me questions if I had a knife shape preference and also explained why one would prefer a specific blade shape over another. It made choosing a knife more informed and secure.

I think it's smart to enter with a budget in mind, as the plethora of options can be wallet emptying as well as intimidating. Speaking of nerd, when I finally narrowed my option to a gorgeous nakiri, because of the hand-forged nature, each knife has a slightly different finish and make -- Rob was the one who made the Harry Potter reference, so I can't really take the creative credit for that. Albeit a tad cheesy, I loved that little comparison, and I finally chose a knife that "spoke to me."

If you're on the hunt for an incomparable knife that's gorgeous and functional to use, I cannot recommend Knifewear more!

Listed in: Drop A Pretty Penny

Was this review …?

11802 - 124 St NW
Edmonton, AB T5L 0M5
(780) 451-1390

NOLA  

Categories: Cajun/Creole, Music Venues

4.0 star rating
Update - 11/6/2011 3 photos 2 Check-ins Here
Updating this with a "conditional additional" 1 star -- go go go for the live music and atmosphere later in the eve. That alone deserves a star. The acts they have are fantastic.

My suggestion is also to go between 8:30-9pm so you'll be able to catch the first band of the evening and the switch to the second. We were sat at the VERY front of the resto even though we had no reservation, so we had a great view of the bands but we were still able to converse. My friends and I really enjoyed the atmosphere and place.

Also, their appetizers are MUCH better than their mains. My friends and I only ordered appetizers this time. I had the fried oysters (simple but yum), and I tasted their crab cakes which were also good.

It looks like they switch up their menu, because this was a slightly tweaked/different menu than the last time. This is a good thing, as I believe they need to further enhance their meals, but it looks like a step in the right direction.

Edit: Oh, I also forgot... I love their complimentary cornbread muffins with soft honey butter. Great snack.

Was this review …?

1 Previous Review: Hide »

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/9/2011 First to Review

    On the way to Duchess, my hubby and I often pass by the new looking Nola restaurant. It stands out as it's situated in a not-so-shiny part of town, and the look-and-feel from the outside indicates that it might have a nice interior. So, when Groupon had a deal for Nola, it gave us incentive to try the place out. Creole and Cajun cuisine? Live music? intriguing!

    Walking in, the interior is very nice. Lots of dark colors, but peppered with colorful hard chairs. The inside did live up to the outside: kinda classic and quirky. We had an early dinner, so it looked like we walked in during some training session and was one of the few people in the restaurant.

    Apparently, they have live music on a regular basis with two acts per night: the first starting at 6pm and the next at 9pm. We had the AB jazz band trio (drums, bass, and sax) play for us, and it's always a delight to see those passionate about their craft perform. This was the highlight of the evening.

    The food, however, was just "okay." I wouldn't say I'm a connoisseur of Cajun cuisine, but I expected more kick. My husband's jambalaya, we ordered "hot" and it was just middling. Kinda mushy, but they were generous with the jumbo prawns. I ordered a crawfish salad, the first time I ever had crawfish -- and while the salad tasted good, they should have named the salad "sausage and potato salad" and in small letter "with crawfish." It was smothered in a tasty mustard sauce and was more of a MEAL than it was a side salad, so keep that in mind when ordering. We also ordered the beef brisket, and again, while tasty it was just "okay" and the speed the meal came out for us made me wonder if it was just simply reheated. Parts of the meat were slightly cool as opposed to warm throughout. Hm.

    Still, my husband and I plan to go back for the entertainment and possibly limit ourselves to the appetizers (i'd like to try their cajun nachos) and on-tap local brews (They have Alley Kat and Yellowhead).

    I'd still try it out, but mostly come for the nice atmosphere and live music.

    Was this review …?

9940 -106 St NW
Edmonton, AB T5K 2V1
(780) 429-2828

The Marc  

Category: French

5.0 star rating
11/1/2011 3 photos 1 Check-in Here
Fabulous. I've heard a lot of good things about The Marc and finally, for my mom's birthday, I attended. From the moment I saw the owner greeting everyone at the door, I knew I was in for a good evening.

From appetizers, to mains, to even desserts, The Marc really hit it all the right notes. Our server was perfectly nice and cordial.

Execution was flawless! I had the veal cheek to start, which almost felt like a main because it was a meaty slab of goodness. For my actual main, I had the pork confit which was swimming in tomato sauce and veggies -- also perfect. I had a taste of my grandma's arctic char which was quite tasty, but I have to say, the scallop appetizer on beet sauce? SO GOOD. I had nibbles of the mussel appetizer in cream sauce, and that was also great.

Top it off with tasty and simple, freshly made beignets (aka doughnuts) it was a night to remember.

Highly recommended. Will be back. Just bring your wallet.

Listed in: Drop A Pretty Penny

Was this review …?

220 W 23rd St
New York, NY 10011
USA
(212) 675-9100

Doughnut Plant  

Category: Doughnuts
Neighbourhood: Chelsea

4.0 star rating
10/28/2011
Go! Grab a creme brulee yeast donut and feel like you've died and gone to heaven. So yummy! Honestly, if I hadn't already stuffed my face with BBQ and macarons previously, I would've ordered more -- still, the creme brulee doughnut delivered and I would recommend this for anyone in the neighborhood with a doughnut craving!

Listed in: Concrete Jungle

Was this review …?

132 W 23rd St
New York, NY 10011
USA
(212) 243-2757

La Maison du Macaron  

Category: Bakeries
Neighbourhood: Chelsea

3.0 star rating
10/27/2011 2 photos
4-star flavour, 3-star price. So this is 3.5 star review...

I'm a macaron addict, and while I enjoyed the flavours I had -- Praline, Passion Fruit, Baileys, and I forgot the last one but it was pink and had nougat flavour on the inside -- I can't get over the price! $2.50/macaron for something that tiny.

Mind you, it tasted good, but I simply can't get over the price knowing I can get similar quality locally (here in Edmonton) for less. I'd still recommend to stop by and try 'em out but if I weren't a tourist, I'd probably get my macaron fix elsewhere.

Listed in: Concrete Jungle

Was this review …?


More »

34 Friends

 
 
 
 
More »

130 Compliments

  • Just a Note

    Yes, seriously! I'm craving a meatball calzone today :)

  • You're Cool

    Fab review featured in the Weekly Yelp today, Lea! Congrats!

  • Good Writer

    Any suggestions for tasty cheaper Chinese food in Edmonton? When I want to… More »

More »

9 Lists

Asian Sensations

Like eating food from the other side of the world?…
1.  Pho Tau Bay
I'm biased. I run the…
2.  Double Greeting Won Ton House
I don't care what people…
3.  Ludy's Cake Shop
Are you Filipino? Have…
See Full List »

Concrete Jungle

... where dreams are made of -- there's nothing…
1.  Doughnut Plant
Go! Grab a creme brulee…
2.  La Maison du Macaron
4-star flavour, 3-star…
3.  Wild Ginger
I'm a carnivore. I love…
See Full List »

View All Lists »

1 Event

"Design with sass and class"

Review votes:
146 Useful, 40 Funny, and 81 Cool

Location

Edmonton, AB

Yelping Since

April 2011

Things I Love

ethnic food, seafood, salsa, singing, design, web, musicals, animals, kittens, art, theatre, apple, tech, cooking, reading, movies, photography, fitness, celebrity gossip

Find Me In

front of a computer

My Blog Or Website

http://xox.lealea.net/

When I'm Not Yelping...

I design websites

Why You Should Read My Reviews

Because I have great taste

My Second Favourite Website

http://dlisted.com/

The Last Great Book I Read

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

My Last Meal On Earth

hawaiian luau. how can you say no to roast pig?

Don't Tell Anyone Else But...

I don't hate the Kardashians

Most Recent Discovery

Theatre Sports!

Current Crush

mindy kaling, my husband