Has anyone tried Noon on Edmonton Trail?

[feuerzeug]

I noticed there's a new restaurant on Edmonton Trail called Noon. It's across from Diner Deluxe and Urban Baker in what I believe is the old ABC Chinese restaurants building - 2 storey brick. Has anyone tried it yet? I walked by and the menu looks OK.

[feuerzeug]

We finally got the chance to have dinner at Noon last week. The decor is nice, modern and clean. The menu was not extensive - a handful of appetizers, some rice bowls, and a few entrees.

We started with the chicken satay, which consisted of 3 skewers of chicken, and a choice of 3 dipping sauces: chipotle peanut, orange ginger, and sweet chili. Our server suggested we try all three, so we did. The chicken was very well-prepared, and not at all overcooked. I expected it to have been marinated, but it seemed like it was simply grilled chicken breast on a skewer, perhaps seasoned with a little salt and pepper. The chipotle peanut sauce was not very good; the combination didn't seem to work, and I missed the sweetness I expected to taste. The sweet chili tasted like a standard sauce out of a bottle. The orange ginger was heavy on the ginger, but the favourite of the three.

Our second started was the R n' R: ribs and ravioli. It's an odd combination of cheese and spinach ravioli in stock with greens, topped with four pork back ribs. The ravioli were not very flavourful, and the stock had the taste of green tea, perhaps a result of the warm greens. The ribs were very tender, and topped with a tomato-based barbecue sauce. The combo didn't work for me. I'd rather have the ribs on their own, with the barbecue sauce glazed on to make a nice crust.

We both chose rice bowls for our main; she had the curry chicken, and I had the adobo pork. Her chicken was bland and yellow. Honestly, I wish I could find a positive thing to say about it, but it was truly bad. My pork was a bit better, stewed and peppery, but nothing to write home about. Overall, the rice bowls seemed thrown together and ill-conceived.

The definite bright spot was the service, which was excellent. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. When my companion complained about the rice bowl, he immediately offered to take it off the bill, and to bring her a complimentary dessert. Actually, the dessert was the other bright spot. It was a well-made and delicious tiramisu, which nearly erased the memory of the curry bowl from our minds.

We didn't have a drink, but the drink menu looks good, with a small but interesting selection of martinis, cocktails, wines and beers. The place has a cool atmosphere, and I can see us coming back here for drinks with friends some night, but not specifically for food. Maybe one night while we're here drinking we'll try something else and find something we like. Or maybe we'll give it a shot at lunch - I hear they do paninis.

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AKA Winebar & Bistro
709 Edmonton Trail NE, Calgary, AB T2E 3J5, CA

[pants]

it's open?
will have to check it out? noticed the sign driving by but wasn't sure if it was a restaurant or not.

[cmanten]

My friend is eating there as we speak and bringing me back a panini.....will report soon.

[cmanten]

Panini was pretty good (turkey, cranberry mayo, bean sprouts and not sure what type of cheese). Menu apparently centers around paninis and typical lunch fare. I'll have to go check it out.

[feuerzeug]

Thanks for the preliminary report. I want to check it out soon. Was your friend there in the day or evening?

[cmanten]

Noon :)

[Gobstopper]

It's not open consistently yet it seems. Personally I wish it was a bar rather then a restaurant.

[feuerzeug]

Me too, as my neighbourhood really needs a good one. Although Noon looks like it might be lounge-y in the evening, just from looking through the window.

[John Manzo]

Checked it out on a LONG walk home from the Bridges yesterday- it's definitely "lounge-y" but the food menu looks like a great addition to Bridgeland- creative paninni and rice bowls, and nothing on the menu is over $16. Beautiful design, cool window treatment (t's sort of embossed with- birds, I think?), and though I didn't eat, what I saw looked nice. It's not pub food and it's not upscale, and it's not a chain. Something Calgary needs more of.

[feuerzeug]

I really have no excuse for not having tried it yet, as I live very close to it. If the food is as well put together as the decor, it should be good. And if it's a good place to linger for drinks, even better, because we need places like that around here. The more high-quality and cool places within walking distance, the better. This neighbourhood could totally be like that: pedestrian-friendly, hip, fun...

[shortysho]

Just a sidebar on your bar in the neighbourhood comment - I heard a rumour that FATS is coming to the main floor of one of the condo buildings on 1st Ave. Not my favorite hangout but it'll be nice to have a place within walking distance.

[John Manzo]

FATS is going into that new building in Marda Loop too, the one under construction next to the Belmont Diner.

[Hart50]

What is FATS?

[John Manzo]

A pub north of Kensington- Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street=F.A.T.S.

[Hart50]

Thanks! How odd.

[feuerzeug]

Amen to that.