Great dining experience. This restaurant really works to provide great quality food and provide the atmosphere to go with. Incredible bar menu as well and lots of subtle flair. Have been there a few times now and will definitely be a place I frequent with friends/guests looking for a cool dining experience.
Great dining experience, very attentive staff without uncomfortable hovering, also very accommodating and knowledgeable regarding gluten sensitivity.
The steak was delicious and didn’t last long. A critique would be that it was a small serving for the price. The broccoli side had a nice Smokey taste. Starter duck fat frites were scrumptious as well. My wife had the Halibut and starter fried cauliflower and enjoyed both so much she said it was among her top 3 restaurants in Edmonton.
Very good meal, highly recommend.
The duck fat fries are the best I’ve ever had and the cocktails are inventive and well executed! The food and service are generally excellent!
As you walk in the atmosphere is an r&b style of romantic. The mood lighting is on point and I noticed that the music level was always appropriate for the noise level. We were seated near the kitchen, which I wasn't a fan of, but when I asked to be reseated they did so without a struggle (and we got to keep our waitress). My husband is particular about drinks, he can pretty much only drink vodka sodas, but they made him one that was refreshing and original. We ordered the charcuterie platter, and the one they delivered was varied and plentiful (and they refilled our bread halfway). It was surprising because it had items I'd never seen before like Lamb belly, spicy pickled carrot and house made pickles (along with some great classic fermented meats and cheeses). The best part of the night was when I gave them an unusual request of a rainbow colored drink. They have it a few attempts (because they wanted it not only to look like a rainbow but also taste good), and eventually they brought me a delightful cocktail of flavors and textures. Disclaimer: not your classic rainbow, but A for effort, because it tasted delicious. Photo included*
Atmosphere was casual and romantic. Service was good, drinks and food were more of fine dining although portions were more than you generally get when fine dining. Lots of unique drinks to choose from that were delicious. The lamb shank fell off the bone and was incredible! I will be back.
Hii! I'm Anita~ I'm from/living in Edmonton, AB, Canada. I love to eat, eat, & eat, & travel, Kpop/Kdramas, & art~ This is a personal blog about my food & travel stories~ I hope you'll enjoy reading my posts, & visit some of the places I post about. Pls give me some feedback, or other comments/questions: missguomeiyun@gmail.com. Thankyouu :)
We went here for a spontaneous date night, on the recommendation of friends. The cocktails were just as delicious as we were promised, and the staff were knowledgeable about all of them! We split the chickpea fritters to start, which were wonderfully spiced and moist. My partner ordered the bison rib, which they said was tender and flavorful. It came with beans, which my partner also loved. I had the house made pasta, which was okay, though it was the sticky toffee pudding that is worth a trip alone! Somehow it was salty and sweet and warm and the best we've ever had. You MUST try this! The pavlova was so tough we couldn't get our cutlery through it, so we sent it back. Our server said it was a little on the "crunchy" side but it was chewy - something which has happened to me when I leave the fruit on pavlova too long before serving. Our server took it off our bill though, which was very kind! The atmosphere is also great, very cozy.
It has been exactly a year from the last time I visited Woodwork. Since I started my blog a couple weeks ago, I can't say much about my previous experience. The restaurant itself is quite small with a hipster vibe. I'm wasn't a fan of any entrées on my first visit, but the appetizers and smaller plates are worth coming for.
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I was looking forward to going to Woodwork for the longest time. Woodwork was hot on our radar. I believe the location for Woodwork is where the old old Japanese Village used to be. Parking is a pain in the butt, you essentially have to get lucky. The restaurant itself is very nice looking, of course lots of wood. The place is narrow in size but still very spacious. Our server was beyond delightful and very patient as we were a table of 9.
But of course, food was the main focus for the night and I had my expectations. They have a small but focused menu. Highlighting the use of fresh, local & available ingredients. Everyone at the table got assortment of food and luckily I got to sample a little of each. Their Hickory Frites were nice & crunchy, with a nice subtle hickory smoke flavour. On the other hand I was not fond of the curried ketchup. Someone got their smoked chicken drumsticks with honey mustard I believe. And that was decent, nothing mind blowing that's for sure. Their caramelized Brussels sprouts with house cured bacon was scrumptious. They have this weird obsession with plating, where everything is too one side. Leaves too much negative space on the plate if you ask me and that's a bad apple in my book. I also had a taste of their Fall Risotto w/ seasonal veg and that was very nice & creamy, rice cooked wonderfully. But if I ordered that I would like to see actual "vegetables" and not a light sprinkling of mushrooms and micro greens. No one wants to eat just straight Risotto for their main/entree.
That aside onto me and my girlfriends food. We got their Steak Tartare to start and that was delicious. The flavours were super super clean which I adore in any Tartare. Texture of the beef was to my liking, coarse but not too fine. It makes for a wonderful texture experience when you have a crunchy chip with soft bits of steak tartare. To the mains, my girlfriend got their Alberta Pork Shoulder w/ pork confit and lentils. The pork shoulder just falls apart as soon as your fork goes into it. Cooked perfectly and moist throughout. But for most people, lentils aren't really a favourite. And they were sort of bland and didn't really work well with the pork. Lentils need to be done up in some fashion if you want to bring any life to them. There's no veg or anything so all you get is beautiful pork and some bland lentils and garnish really. I got their Steak Frites and was truly disappointed. What I got on my plate was roughly 70% fries, 15% pea shoots, 15% flank steak and some of their curried ketchup. The "Frites" were the same as their Hickory Frites so nothing new here. But what I got was probably the tiniest portion of meat I have ever seen for a entree. Maybe less then 5oz of flank steak, already sliced & topped with their marinated mushrooms and red wine jus. The steak itself was tender but didn't have much flavour even with the jus. I didn't even care for the pea shoots. Overall I was really disappointed with this dish, not much to rave about for $29. Unsatisfied I had to bury my hunger so I got their Sticky Toffee Pudding and thank god for that. It was f**ken delicious. Not too sweet but the texture was like butter, slightly warm & that toffee sauce is to die for. I pretty much inhaled it with a few moments of savouring it.
Overall my experience I would say is just average. Woodwork did some dishes that were spot on amazing. Then the others were a complete miss. For just me and my girlfriend with 18% gratuity already added, it was a grand total of $115 (w/ one drink). For a beautiful opening, a dull and neutral middle and a delightful end, I would only go back for that Sticky Toffee Pudding.
The food here is definitely different from most restaurants. Priding themselves with local ingredients you won't find a humungous menu with lots to choose from. A small menu featuring a few small plates, a few entrees and a few desserts. I had the brisket and chose to have fries instead of grits (no offence, I'm just not a fan of grits). The brisket was DEADLY!!! I will likely have it again if it's on the menu during my next visit.
Service here is top notch! If you're in a hurry I wouldn't suggest visiting on a busy night as the cocktails can take a little while. They are all hand crafted with attention to detail and well worth the wait.
I will most certainly be back!
The restaurant has a nice atmosphere to it, abit romantic and classy. We had the assorted meat andcheese platter with their in house made meats. Honestly i dont like this very much and i thought it was overpriced at 27$. It seems to taste the same everywhere. Their Brussel sprouts were the best i ever had, seemed to be fire grilled to taste like the wok. If i were to ever go back i would probably just get this one dish.
The charcuterie plate was very tasty, and big. We had the duck confit salad and that but we're too full to finish it off.
Great ambience and the staff was very friendly. Andre, our bartender, was an absolute gem!!! I would definitely recommend this place for a date night, girls night out or just for after work drinks.
This place is tucked in nicely in downtown Edmonton and definitely worthwhile to try out! I especially enjoyed their charcuterie and the place had an amazing atmosphere. They've got a great beer selection to boot! Food had good portions and fantastic quality, and service was fair!
I ordered the duck confit salad and it was delicious. However, if you’re not a huge fan of the bitter taste (like me) that came from the raddichio, maybe try something else. Nonetheless, the duck meat was very tender and salty which was necessary to balance out the bitter leaves. I just wish there was more duck meat. The one piece of duck skin was something to die for. It was crispy to the bite and just melted in your mouth afterwards. Service was great and I really enjoyed the rustic/hip atmosphere of the interior. Price is a little bit a on the higher end but it's something worth giving a try.
Industrial Vibe. I picked Woodwork when my friend asked me where I want to go for my pre-birthday dinner. I knew I had to give this place a try since I heard a lot of good things and read positive reviews about it.
I always love coming to Woodwork for drinks, especially for a special occasion with friends. It is a cozy atmosphere, and can get a bit noisy, but its great for a few close friends having a pomander fizz. I can't say enough about the drinks! Expert mixologists on staff! The charcuterie is a great share, and the steak frites is amazing! My one gripe, the last time I came in, was that our waitress wasn't particularly friendly and kept running off before we could finish our sentence or get our order in, maybe she was too busy to be attentive, and she also did not know anything about the drink menu when I asked for her recommendation. When it came time to pay she took our payment and fled without so much as a smile or thanks for coming in. I felt like an unwelcome guest last time. Everyone has a bad day though, I will return. :)
Impressive. The food was delicious. Loved the homemade pickled vegetables. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable and almost offered more information than one necessarily needs about their food, but this comment is not to be taken as a complaint. I also appreciated the extensive bourbon list at Woodwork. The menu was a little confusing as it is apparent that they are trying to go out of the box at this establishment. Overall a great place for a night out. I will return and try to decipher their menu again another day.
I love everything about this place.
The atmosphere, the people, and the FOOD!
I love their beef tartare the most but everything else I've tried are also amazing. One of my Favorite restaurants in Edmonton!
The service here was wonderful and inviting. For the restaurant being a smaller space the tables were still positioned further enough away from each there that you could have a private conversation.
I highly recommend anyone dinning here and the food was amazing!
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Wonderfull!
Finally had a chance to check this place out with my wife.
First impression upon entering and being greated by a young, bearded gentleman wearing a touque...casual! Excellent! I won't be asked to remove my ball cap here!
Second impression as we were lead to our table...cramped.
The tables along the wall are, at best, 2' appart. Certainly not a romantic or private place. Quite the opposite infact. Quite loud. As the waitress manuevered between these seats, it felt, and looked as though she was preparing to sit on our table as she served the people next us. Thankfully she was very pleasant and the service was indeed fantastic!
Anyway...
The food!
Because this is what it's all about!
Excellent!
We decided to make the most of our opportunity here and shared four offerings.
1st up was a delicious Steak tar tar, and House Meatballs. Both were very good.
Next we had Barley Rissoto, and Drumsticks. Again, excellent!
In terms of value, we were very pleased. We took it easy in the drink department. I only had water while my wife enjoyed an interesting Ginger soda concoction.
The bill was a easy-to-stomach ~$65 before tip which we felt was very fair for such well delivered dishes.
Long story short...
I would certainly recommend Woodwork.
Just don't expect any amount of intimacy or privacy! If romance is on the menu...this is not the spot...but I'm quite sure that is not what the management is after!
Located downtown in a beautiful, historic building, Woodwork describes itself as a "contemporary kitchen," offering elevated, yet approachable fare. The food menu is notably small, emphasizing quality over quantity, with a distinct focus on wood-fired meats. Probably more impressive is their drinks menu which boasts a large variety of unique, handcrafted cocktails. Hand in hand, the philosophy behind Woodwork sounds like it would deliver the perfect recipe for a night out.
I love the vibe here. Great place for after work snacks and drinks which keeps me coming back. I am so happy that this place is so close to home and work.
I love this place so much! The meatball and pork were so delicious! I definitely recommend the pork dish which has yummy sweet potato puree on it. The drink here was great as well. Good atmosphere for chatting at a weekend night~
Really great service and tasty food. I found this place to be a neat combo of modern and edgy without being pretentious. The sticky toffee pudding was INCREDIBLE.
This was probably one of my favourite meals of all time. Everything was cooking to perfection. We had the steak, Brussels sprouts and beat salad. I'm so impressed. It was pricy but very worth it! I will definitely come back.
my experience at Woodwork was excellent. the staff are a courteous and hospitable bunch and i greatly appreciated the service and dining experience. i would definitely recommend the steak tartare and the caramelized brussel sprouts for lighter fare. the or&ange cider was delicious as well.
thank you, woodwork crew!
Quick summary: It's a great place to hang out and have a few cocktails. A few of the dishes were too salty for my taste.
Favorite dish: Steak Tartare
Don't forget to check out our blog for the full review! :)
Love it every time! Great atmosphere, great drinks, great flavours! Bring a date or friends it feels like a night out! Get the chicken drumsticks and the Brussels sprouts!
Heard about this place in a free magazine I picked up. Wholly what a nice find! The first thing that caught me was the fact that someone contacted me about my special allergy request, by phone!!! Who does that these days, eh? Greater at the door and they knew all about our allergy request. The food was outstanding and our hostess was great. Excellent relaxing atmosphere and no rush to finish the meal. Great scotch selection from the bar and a great fun feeling to it overall. We will be back!!
So far totally impressed! I have allergies and we were contacted prior to to discuss and confirm allergies. Even the staff greeting is at the door knew. Excellent!
I don't really understand the hype & vibe about this place. I wanted to check it out while strolling nearby. Always noisy and overcrowded, Woodwork seems to be an iconic and trendy spot. Unfortunately, first impression surprised with mediocre food at best. Tried their late menu: frites were bitter, showing how long the oil was used and drumettes were lacking natural chicken flavour but expressing sauce and seasoning. Pickled carrot dip for frites and strawberry shrub were the best part of experience. Table service was average, neither good nor poor, which I can forgive considering number of guests. Update after a couple of more visits: bartenders are charismatic, full of stories and know mixology! Overall, I can clearly see Woodwork as a decent spot to enjoy occasional craft drinks, and I will be coming back for that only reason.
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It's always such a joy to eat at Hardware. I love the fun and exciting atmosphere. Watching the bartenders working their magic at the bar while waiting for your food is always fun. It's amazing how a little twist of orange rind or the flaming of a liquor can bring a smile and curiosity like no other? What drink is that? Shall I try that next? 😉 Although drinks are always a load of fun, their food is like no other at this time. It's innovative and the challenges the chefs have endeavoured have been noticed. To cure your own meats for the charcuterie? It just has to be commended. It's one of my favourite appetizers on their menu. Love their homemade pickles! Let's not forget their kale salad. A perfectly poached egg yolk at the top to tie it altogether. Need I say more? Yes, I will. Their flank steak! Go, enjoy the bar show and taste the scrumptious food for yourself. The only unfortunate thing is that you wouldn't be able to go with a load of people as the establishment is a bit on the smaller side. You sure could try making a reservation. But you'll need one even with just 2 people heading in. But well worth the wait. Yum yum!😋
An entertaining place if you sit at the bar and watch the experienced & talented Bartenders make the cool expensive quality drinks. I don't drink and I still enjoyed watching them make my friends' drinks. The food is "interesting" not somewhere you'd want to go hungry. It's more directed to drinking with light midnight snacks. Cool place to bring an out of town guest. Everyone keeps to themselves so it's not a "bar scene". Cool ambiance though. It's not loud so you can hear the people around you.
Love this place.
Unique in Edmonton.
The drinks are delicious and probably the best in Edmonton.
Food will take a while to come out but will make you fall in love.
Clara Cecilia Photography
+4.5
I went with a bunch of friends (group of 8 altogether) and Woodwork did not disappoint! Friendly service, great ambiance with their modern rustic feel, fun cocktails, and great food. If you're going with a bigger group, you'll want to book at least a week in advance.
The menu at first glance may seem a little intimidating for some, but the dishes themselves are far from. By supporting local farms, their dishes are fresh, high in flavour, and are perfectly proportioned. At our table some of our favourite dishes were: the caramelized brussel sprouts, wood-fired meatballs (these had the most delicious tomato sauce!), chuck steak, risotto, pork shoulder (cooked to perfection!), and of course we tried both desserts, which were both excellent. The drink menu was also excellent with their impressive library of liquors. Some of the best combinations of smoky, sweet, and spice I've had.
Overall, this was one of the best dining experiences I've had in awhile, and we are happily going back soon!
Woodwork quickly became one of my favorite, go-to spots in the city. The drinks are always expertly made (at their gorgeous bar, totally worth mentioning), the food is fresh and delicious, my servers have always been attentive and friendly (especially when sitting at the bar). I have yet to have a bad experience in the dozen of times I've been. Highly recommend!
Amazing Cocktails. The House Sour is almost too good.. And the menu is wonderful as well, especially the kale salad! It's usually full, so it's a good idea to book ahead.
Good Food. Food was great. Server Knowledgeable. Trendy atmosphere.
So delicious and great service!!. I was enthusiastic to try this restaurant after reading all the positive reviews. It did not disappoint. The ambience is great for a date, casual appetizers with friends or just a drink at the bar. My server was very friendly and attentive, occasionally glancing over to refill my water and check up on my meal.
I ordered the steak tartare with an egg yolk over it and homemade crinkle cut chips. Steak quality was incredible - texture was not at all slimy, super fresh and creamy with the yolk. The chips were crispy and thin, the perfect accompaniment to the tartare.
I also ordered the clams in a tomato broth. The broth was so flavorful that I didn't even want to drink my wine until the end of the meal. Bread with grill marks came with the clams to sop the juices. Heavenly.
I will definitely be back here - easily one of the best meals I have had in a long time.
The Pretentious Food Snob
+4.5
I’ve walked by this place hundreds of times without going in. Recently, some co-workers have been saying positive things, and I just happen to work 5 minutes away, so why not?
Unlike most restaurants here, Woodwork seems to be fairly busy during the weekdays, and choice dining times are quite hard to obtain even 3-4 days beforehand. This would be partially due to its great location (intersection of downtown, city center, and the “arts district”), and partially due to the fact that they serve good, uncomplicated food.
Unreal service, food and presentation!. Went here with a group of friends for drinks and food and had a exceptional time. The restaurant is very nice and seems trendy. The service was extremely good and had awesome recommendations. Had the steak tar tar and steak and frites and it was delicious. Also tried the chocolate and peanut butter thang it thought it was good but very sweet for my liking. I recommend this place to anyone.
Excellent Dinner!!!. I had pretty high expectations coming into this place as quite a few friends of mine have been here before and said it was good. I started with the smoked chicken appetizer and it was full of flavor and was very moist. I ordered the Beef Brisket and my buddy ordered the Pork Shoulder. Both were absolutely excellent and would definitely recommend people come here. My only sore point about woodwork is they don't serve coke or pepsi products and they make their own pop, which was the only thing I found disappointing. However, overall, this was a delicious dining experience.
Meal was lovely. Dessert (sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel sauce) was divine. Wine was great although the selection is fairly pricy. Service was superb. We'll be back!
Fantastic dinner after work!. We had never been here before, but it was highly recommended by friends. We were delighted by the mixology expertise, local suppliers, interesting menu and excellent service. The small plate brussel sprouts were caramelized and amazing! The large plates were delish, and the peanut butter dessert is my new favorite food, ever! Will return soon to try some of the specialty cocktails.
Woodwork, overall, delivered solid contemporary food that struck a fine balance of flavours and was not afraid to use bold ingredients (successfully) to advance each dish. Although we were more impressed by their smaller plates, Woodwork still offers excellent cuisine at fair prices that should cater to anyone with any taste buds. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
Great date night meal.. Two of us went to Woodwork on a Friday evening. Not being big eaters we opted to share one entree and two appetizers and that was a good choice. The portions were good sized and this amount of food left us just hungry enough for a dessert.
Our server was very knowledgeable about their products and was prompt courteous and friendly. We went with her recommendations and had the caramelized Brussels sprouts, west cost clams and maple glazed pork shoulder. All the food was excellent. For dessert we had sticky toffee pudding and add in a bottle of wine the total cost was just over $100.00 Quite reasonable for a very nice meal at a popular restaurant.
Ambiance is nice, the tables are close enough together that you can exchange a few words with other diners if you so chose or have time to yourselves.
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Just Try and Keep Me Away. You walk in to a comforting place with a warm buzz and a hint of smoke, and it just gets better from there.
We've been a few time for cocktails, and it really can't be beat. The level of care and prep they put into a good cocktail is hard to match in Edmonton. The bartenders seem to enjoy it if you give them the reigns and let them whip something creative up for you as well. Cocktails so tasty you could decimate your bank account before you knew you've had too much. The selection of spirits is top notch. They always have a good wine or two on the menu, and although it's not the cheapest, it's good. They have a couple selections of beer, but you don't go here for a beer.
Only eaten there once so far, and we both really enjoyed it. They cook as much as they can on the open flame, and who doesn't appreciate that wonderful smokey taste?
Sometimes I try not to walk Woodwork, because to me it's a treat, and I doubt I could afford to be there as much as I'd like.
Great everything: atmoshpere, service, drinks, and food.
Come and thoroughly enjoy yourself here. Don't cheap out. It's safe to spend your money here.. I enjoyed my stay here - despite having water. What was I thinking anyways? I think a glass of red wine and intoxication would have fulfilled my stay here better. Don't be shy. Go and spend your money because the appetizers here are excellent. I didn't try any entrees last time but that is on my to-do list for next visit.
I especially liked the steak tartar - comparing to continental treat this was quite a bit fresher. This was complemented very well with the chips on the side. The atmosphere is great here and the server was amazing. I didn't feel like I was treated like an alien when I didn't want to get drinks.
I invited a group of my friends there for drinks. The atmosphere was great, my friends loved the variety of specialty drinks that they offered
the only downside was that their food portions were small and the taste was a bit leaning toward the salty side
My favourite place to go for food and sometimes just drinks. Love everything about this place. Amazing drinks and bar tenders.
Outstanding! The service wa.... Outstanding!
The service was second to none - yet it still felt down to earth. Not pretentious.
The food ...was fantastic - best steak frites we've had in years.
Delicious drinks.
Everything we ordered was tasty, hot, and well seasoned with great flavors.
Definitely a new favorite.
Pork shoulder is amazing. Had the pork shoulder and my girlfriend had the salmon salad with drumsticks to start. Drumsticks and our cocktails where spot on. The pork shoulder was so delicious, the cider gastrique was exquisite and gave it a perfect sweetness. My girlfriend was not impressed with the salad and hadn't eaten much of it, when the waitress came to clean the plates she asked if the salad was fine and without hesitation got it taken off the bill. Great service and lively atmosphere everytime we go.
Second time's a charm.. My first experience at woodwork was a quick lunch consisting of an Omelett and a kale salad. To be honest I was somewhat underwhelmed it was altogether fine but nothing beckoning me back.
however, last night I was asked to fill accompany a few friends and decided to give it another go.
I'll say that I am so happy I did. The cocktails were phenomenal. The violet fizz was beautiful to look at and a delight to drink. The pork shoulder has perfectly cooked and even though I was not crazy about the greens that came with it altogether it was lovely.
very happy I went back.
My husband and I finally got out to Woodwork tonight. Amazing meal. Excellent service. Negroni to start...smooth and delish, but a little pricey. Shared the steak tartar and smoked salmon. Both we're excellent. The house smoked salmon was suuuuuper good. I had the brisket and grits....to die for! My partner had the steak and frites with chimichurri. Super tender steak. Shared the peanut butter chocolate raspberry dessert. The perfect ending. Our server Kelsey was great. Very knowledgable, quick, and personable. Didn't see any of the pretention that some previous reviewers mentioned. Great little place. We'll be back for sure.
The food was amazing and the cocktails were even better. If you're staying in downtown Edmonton, you must try Woodwork.
Great food and drinks. Great service. Worth a visit.
We aren't sure where to start. We loved everything! Delicious and fun cocktails (the bartender was a shaking machine) and the food was spectacular. I am a kale salad fiend and am always trying to find the best one. This is it. Best kale salad ever. Brisket was moist, sticky and delicious. Fried olives were also surprisingly good. Waitress was lovely and sweet and quick! Only complaint- it was really really hot in there. So come dressed accordingly! We would drive the three hours from home just to come back here.
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Fantastic food and cocktails!. I took my sweetie to Woodwork last night for an early birthday dinner. When we arrived we were seated at the table closest to the kitchen, which was a bit loud and high-traffic. I was somewhat nonplussed that we weren't seated in one of the empty 2-tops a bit further down, but a request to be moved had us quickly relocated. Our young waitress offered cocktails and we both elected to start with the featured cocktail, a surprisingly dry, herby and refreshing watermelon fizz that was a perfect start to the meal. We asked for the charcouterie platter and the fried green olives while my lady considered the main courses ("larger plates" in Woodwork-lingo), having not studied the online menu beforehand as I had.
I opted for a 5oz glass of a french malbec to accompany the charcouterie and olives. The pairing was splendid and the charcouterie was the best I've had in Edmonton, the generous assortment of home-made and locally sourced meats and cheeses were all excellent, even the rather nicely spiced headcheese of which I was initially a bit leery. Wonderful garlic toast points and aoli accompanied, along with the utterly splendid house-made dill pickle, which I raved over. The olives were nice, tasty and hot, although I found them somewhat forgettable compared to the outstanding charcouterie (I'm not a huge fan of green olives, and ordered them mostly for my partner, who devoured them).
As we were munching, the restaurant was beginning to fill up, and although we weren't in a hurry I noted that our server hadn't returned in some time to take our main course order. Perhaps sensing my concern that the timing of our meal would be affected, she appeared at our tableside to rectify the situation. As it would take a few minutes for the next course to be prepared, she opined, why not pass the time with another cocktail? Splendid idea, I said, and I do believe that I will introduce the mid-meal cocktail gap into more of my dining experiences. I opted for the Woodwork house sour as I had heard that the bartender knew his bourbons and had a special ice machine tucked away in the back. My date opted for a glass of fine champagne as befits a birthday girl. The whiskey sour that arrived was the most bizarre, cloudy, frothy and delicious whisky sour I've ever tasted. Made with buffalo trace, lapsang souchong honey cordial, egg white, angosturra bitters and flamed 151 proof rum, it had a wonderful fruity, woody flavour and a pink beer-like head. Utterly amazing and a serious incentive to pop in on the way home from work for a quick one at the bar.
Our mains arrived quickly considering our late order placement, I elected the steak frites and my partner went for the brisket with a side of baked beans. Everything was top notch. My flank steak was the most tender steak I've ever tried, cooked sous-vide to a medium and garnished with a marvelous chimichurri that paired perfectly to my surprise. A mountain of thin-cut, well salted and perfectly crispy fries spilled off the plate. A glass of beaujolais paired and was very good. My date's brisket was a bit fatty for her, although I found it perfect, but the barbeque sauce that enveloped it was absolutely delicious. The creamy grits were an excellent side and went splendidly with the fantastic baked beans topped with a spiced creme fraiche. Charred broccoli crowns rounded out the dish and I scarfed them as my sweetie didn't care overly for the taste, but I found it delightful.
I'm running out of superlatives to describe the meal. Suffice to say it was a superlative meal. Instead of dessert I went to the extended bar menu to peruse the extensive whiskey selection, and opted for a Colonel EH Taylor single barrel bourbon i'd not tried. It was incredible. Served neat with 2 of the specialty ice cubes on the side, I tried half without and then let a single cube sit in the whiskey for a few seconds to melt before removing it again. One of the best bourbons I've ever tried. My date went for the "Peanut Butter Thang" and another champagne, because she's fancy. The PBthang looked quite good but I couldn't bring myself to try it for fear I'd ruin whatever magic pixie dust had been sprinkled on my tongue by the bourbon.
We indicated we were finished and the process of payment went smooth and fast, which, combined with the bourbon still lingering on my lips, dulled the sting of the $300+ price tag. To be fair, the prices at Woodwork are actually extremely reasonable, especially compared to other Edmonton restos at this level, and we definitely got our money's worth. A quick trip to the pleasant if spartan washroom and we were past the well-dressed, packed crowd and out the door. Overall one of the best dining experiences in recent memory, and certainly one of the best I've ever had in the River City. Excellent work everyone.
Great!. Food and service is always fantastic! Great little place that is something fresh!
A Truly Great Meal. Based on the recommendations of many others, I decided to give Woodwork a try and am very glad I did. The food was great, the service was friendly and personable and the cocktails were amazing. If they have it, get the foie gras--literally melts in your mouth.
Finally got a chance to visit Edmonton and drop in to Woodwork to see what all the buzz was about. As we didn't have a reservation, it was necessary to sit at the bar.
Very entertaining!
Being a non-drinker,I enjoyed a House Pomegranate Soda. A very good choice.
My wife, daughter & I shared potions of each other selections. The Brassica Salad lived up to expectations, as did the Steak Tartare. My decision to try the Beef Brisket was a good one, and the grits really paired well.
My daughter suggested I try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Thang and the only disappointment was I ate it all with no help from the others.
Will I be back?
You bet. I making a reservation for Sunday afternoon to return before heading back to Vancouver on Monday morning.
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Pretty close to great. I went for lunch this winter, and I went for dinner this week. I adore their cocktail menu. Service was okay, but would have liked them to do a better job of my request for a non-alcoholic cocktail. I know, it's not cool to not drink... when you are pregnant...
I snacked on corn bread which would have been yummy but I swear I could taste refrigerator.
I was pleased to see an old-school culinary technique on the menu- the pork confit is wrapped in caul fat before finishing in the oven. The dish, however was so rich and lacked a gutsy balance (though, a hoppy beer or a white wine would have helped).
My companion had the mac and cheese but not much to say about it (I think she may have been overwhelmed by the non-chaininess of Woodwork).
The dessert - toffee pudding - was share-sized, but lucky for me I didn't have to.
It seemed like they were still on a winter menu, now that I think about it. Everything was really rich. Good thing it was rainy, dark and a little chilly outside. Let's see if they lighten things up for the end of spring.
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Ups and Mehs. We had the Charcuterie, steak frits, brisket, tiger tiger ice cream, peanut "thang".
Ups:
- Nice decor, clean but classic design, love the deep blues
- Great top shelf liquor, pappy scotch is a rare sight on a menu, bartender really knew his stuff.
- Charcuterie was fantastic, the head cheeses was very good.
- Both desserts where great, the tiger tiger ice cream showed true skill
Mehs:
- our waiter seamed to only be able to do one thing at a time, he would bring out a dish, then go to the back, take orders from one table, then go to the back, clean one table then go to the back, refill water for one table, then go to the back. etc. multitasking is key to good service.
- The lead waiter/host spent most of the time staring onto the computer instead of looking after the room.
- Charcuterie really needed a bit of fruit, pear or apple slices, a few grapes or even a strawberry.
- Mains were was generally pretty plain. the sides where down right boring. slaw and baked beans
While it seems like the chef really knows how to handle the meat, they really needs some refinement and excitement to bring it up the next level.
Great Dining. We have been to woodwork once before with friends and throughly enjoyed it. Better than a lot of the "New" restaurants in town. The food is good value for the money the drinks are pricey but well made. The serving staff are very knowledgeable and accommodating.
We will go back and try more of the menu items.
I can't say enough great things about Woodwork! The decor is fabulous, the servers are well educated and the cocktails are always a sure way to start a great night! The steak tartar is very well seasoned and beautifully prepared although I don't love the chips they are serve with I do understand the appeal. The vibe sets a great mood as its even busy on a Tuesday evening. Fresh healthy herbs decorate the bar as well as your cocktail. I will continue to frequent this venu
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Hit or Miss?. Everything is very modern looking with an open kitchen concept. There is a smell of firewood and can irritate ones eyes.
Smoked Chicken Drumsticks- $8.00
You get 3 of them. They are cooked well, nice, tender and juicy on the inside. The only thing I didnt like was that thier BBQ sauce was very tangy and not balanced.
Steak Tartare - $13.00
Fresh, delicious and comes with an egg yolk on top. The homemade thin waffle style chips are excellent.
Streak Frites - $26.00
This dish was only sub par. The fries were over done and too crispy. The steak was only ok. Not to mention that the sauce on the plate from the steak made some of the fries a bit soggy and wet. Overall, I would not get this dish; for the amount of food and how it was put together. it was not worth it.
Dill Sausage- $22.00
There are two nice sized sausages on the plate itself, though they are a little bland for my liking. In the middle of the plate is a cold potato salad which didnt compliemtn the sausage very well.
Bone Marrow & Farm Vegetables- $15.00
I love bone marrow, and there never seems to be enough of it on the plate. But overall,t his dish was a success, the carrots and parsnips were cooked perfectly. The flavor was very nice.
Mac & Cheese - $14.00
I probably could have done without the bread crumbs on this but it was quite enjoyable. Not too overly, cheesey but just the right amount.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Thang- $9.00
This overall was pretty tasty but if you break down the ingridients themselves, it doesnt seem too difficult to make on your own. The falvors blended really nicely together. The only complaint I would have is that they do not prepare it on the spot so the peanuts that are mixed in at the bottom of the jar become soggy.
I would probably come back here again as the service was good but the food was only okayin my books.
Always a treat to dine at Madison's Grill, but we where thrilled to learn Chef Chris Hrynyk is behind these great creations and a new menu! I had to dig in to a few of the dishes before taking a picture, breakfast & evening dinning where equally excellent. Attentive and courteous service by Kevin rounded the culinary experience and we look forward to returning!
Absolutely amazing experience at this restaurant. Went for our anniversary and had an incredible dinner with above and beyond service. We were then pleasantly surprised with a beautiful personalized dessert and some cherries on top ❤ would definitely reccomend this restaurant for anyone celebrating or looking for an overall wonderful experience.
Our experience was fantastic, loved the ambiance and decor. It was a special night as it was our 30th anniversary. We had the 3 course meal with wine parings and it was great. Our server, Solomon, was attentive, friendly and courteous. He was knowledgeable about the food and wine and made the night very enjoyable. Is it pricey, yes but that been said we had a great time. We stayed in the hotel so took our time close to 3 hours, we were never rushed obviously, we were given the only window seats in the restaurant. I have looked at other reviews and most are excellent but for those that had a bad experience I can only say that there are mostly good times but you cannot please everyone all the time, for us it was great and a meal to remember especially the rack of lamb.
Another incredible lunch at Madison's today! We had their turkey lunch special, with these amazing desserts! The peppermint ice cream is made in house, and everything was crusted with candied awesomeness! So delicious!
Had a excellent breakfast here. Eggs Benedict were very tasty and coffee was passable. Expresso was a touch overpriced. Staff was super and friendly. My lady enjoyed her eggs very much. Was a great start to the day.
Good service with good food. Went here for dinner when they had this weekly special going on. So it was a little cheaper than what it would normally be. Had a good experience of what that restaurant was all about. Can get pricey.
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