Cactus Club (Edmonton, AB, Canada)

Date of Visit: August 5, 2009
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Website: www.cactusclubcafe.com


The Menu: LOTS of selection with many signature dishes by Rob Feenie. The appetizers are probably the most worthwhile feature of the menu. Mostly Western meals with Asian inspired dishes.

Service: Quick. They were kind and pleasant but Tim and I felt rushed through our meal. Biased opinions on which items to choose from, rather than explaining the expected taste of some dishes. Only a short period allotted for giving an order. The moment we sat down, the waitress came to ask if we were ready to decide. Not the best service I've experienced.

I certainly did not leave happy with the service.

Food: Appetizers - SO GOOD! I would recommend the Beef Carpaccio - a thinly sliced peppercorn-crusted tenderloin with grainy dijon aioli, pickled shallots, fried capers, paresan, and five-heab crostini on the side. Excellent dish with a combination of flavors that would be best paired with a spicy caesar (perhaps the burger or bison caesar). Tim's personal favorite thus far is the Tuna Tataki - a seared albacore tuna, green papaya slaw, orange, avocado, pine nuts, and yuza vinaigrette. Great portions for appetizers!

However, the main entree goes downhill. So far, I have tried the cedar-roasted salmon, sablefish, and pistacchio-crusted halibut. Tim has ordered the peppercorn sirloin and the chicken. I found the sablefish was unnecessarily overdone with soy sauce, which increased the sodium content. The salmon and halibut were not over cooked, but the halibut had a twist in flavor! The mashed potatoes and thai red curry sauce was infused with LOTS of ginger. The two dishes Tim has experienced were good but the chicken was deemed a little bit salty.

The best dessert hands down is the Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bar. It's delicious - the end.

Beef Carpaccio with Crostini

Tuna Tataki

Pistachio-crusted Halibut

Chicken

Environment:
-The style is similar to many restaurants, i.e. CHOP, Earl's, Joey's, etc. - the interior is posh, clean-cut, with some unique details. For instance, in the lounge, Tim and I were drawn to the centre piece of the bar - the cube television.


-Lighting is dimly lit to simulate an feeling of intimancy, romance, and warmth. I just love the lighting design! It reminds me of a modern take of a blooming lotus flower.

-Spacious lounge, dining area, and patio. The patio has a glass roof and heating lamps to protect customers from all the elements. Unfortunately, due to the weather and timing - Tim and I have yet to experience the patio setting.

Tim - Patio = Sadness.

Drinks:
-Cactus Club is always trying to invent new signature drinks. One being a shot I saw being made but have not yet tried it.
-Cocktails and martinis = YUM! My favorite signature cocktails include the bellini and the brazilian. The brazilian are made with fresh kiwi, limie, and sugar cane (among with other things) - such a fresh delight! (Pictures of both are shown below)
-The only beer Tim had tried was the longboard lager, which was a pale beer with a surprisingly sweet flavor.


Overall Experience: Though the appetizers and drinks are worth while coming for, the main entrees require much needed attention and tweaking. At best, Tim and I both agree that the entrees are mediocre to good. Pricing was decent. However, the rushed service stimulated a feeling of anxiety and essentially a bitter feeling.

Photos from: Cactus Club website, Erika from urbanspoon.com, Mastermaq from flickr.com

The Blue Pear (Edmonton, AB, Canada)

Date of Visit: July 29, 2009
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Website: www.thebluepear.com


The Menu: Simplistic and unique. We visited the Blue Pear for Forkfest. A set menu was provided and included: (Appetizer) Smoked Poultry and Shrimp Salad, (Entree) Baked Pacific Wild Salmon Fillet, and (Dessert) Rhubarb with Whipped cream (the actual name escapes me). Worth a visit every few months as the menu changes seasonally. Small portions, yet filling. The appetizer was tangy, different, and light. We both enjoyed the entree as it was cooked just right. The dessert was a tad bit tarte for me but Tim prefers a tarty taste.


Service: Timely service without any lag time. The food arrived promptly, which was most likely due to the set menu. However, despite the prompt catering, we did not feel rushed with our meal. Cultery was changed prior to dessert and tables were cleaned as necessary.

Food: Lovely and interesting combination of certain items. They truly accentuated the flavors of the items used. Not overly spiced, but light, fresh, and flavorful.

Environment:
-Situated in a very small and shady area. Entering into the small restaurant was not expected. I found it amusing that you were required to ring a bell to enter.
-Inside was intimate and beautiful. Tim was not sold on the design but it was elegant. On one side of the wall (near the kitchen), there was a glass encased with water falling from the ceiling down.
-The downside would be the lack of a view or patio. However, I doubt anyone would want to sit on a patio in that area.


Drinks:
-Conducive to wine drinkers, the Blue Pears provides various delicious wines.
-Beer list is limited but Tim always finds something to drink!
-The caesar was decent and spicy but as per usual, overfilled with too much ice in too small of a glass.

Overall Experience: Intimate and romantic. Loved the service and the idea of having a new menu every few months. We cannot wait to try it again!