Recent resto closures - Edmonton

[kazzy]

Sad to say that in the past week I've noticed two restaurant closures in Edmonton: Grandma D's in the west end (they expanded just last year, but when we visited tonight there was a sign stating they closed for good in early January).

Also: La Tapa downtown closed in late December. Only noticed this this week when driving past. Perhaps due to constant staff shortages? On a visit earlier in the year, the owner/manager mentioned he had to turn people away because he didn't have staff to cater to them.

It is a little bit farther back (November?), but Jewel of Kashmir on Calgary Trail South has also been lost. There was some non descript looking chinese place in there now.

On the other hand, some recent openings include Sabor Divino ("european") downtown and Sabzy (health/Persian) on Whyte Avenue. Seems to be more closing than opening in this town lately though. :-(

[ihatepickyeaters]

I drove by Tasty Tom's two nights ago and it was packed full of people. I don't think they've closed.
Also, last week I found myself starving and on Jasper and 103 St with about 15 minutes to spare before my night class began at the U of A extension. I went to Sankyu to go and got two rolls to go - and they were very good. The guy I talked to said he closed the west side one because it was a bad location. There are some seats in there, and they seemed quite busy, so hopefully he'll open up a "real" restaurant soon. Anyway, I would recommend it for a quick lunch or dinner if you're in the area.

[fuzzyjay]

I went to Tasty Tom's on Friday, April 3rd, so they're alive and kickin'. The burgers were excellent too.

[The Chowhound Team]

Hi Everyone. Please keep the focus on places where we can all eat today. Posts that focus on remembering old, no longer open, places is fun, but they won't help anyone eat better. Thanks!

[chewy_bakah]

True except in the case where another resturant replaces another one.

Just been to Unforgetable Resturant for dim sum and noodles. This place used to be an Indian resturant. The owners used to own the large Silver Palace on 109 st. Now they've moved to the smaller location across from Scona high school. The dim sum dishes that we tried were quite good and the prices are not bad.

We're not crazy about the name but the food is worth going back to. Just chalk it up to one of those crazy Chinese translations that didn't quite make it.

[felix the hound]

The Silver Palace dim sum was not bad. Unfortunately they were reduced to serving chinese steam table buffet at lunch time...

[Sylv F]

I don't know if it's been mentioned before but Sanku over on Stony Plain is gone. I was heartbroken - along with Mikado's downtown and Ichiban on 149th, they were the only Japanese restaurant I really frequented. (I loved their Tuna Dice! And their house salad!) There's another Japanese restaurant there now, I forget the name Has anyone tried it?

The downtown Sankyu is still there, I think, but I've never visited that location. Are they any good?

[MrsCris]

Sylv F: I agree that it's a shame that Sankyu is gone. We ate there for the last time about a week before it closed a few months ago, and I too will miss the tuna dice, and the Alberta Rose salmon. Their website said they were closing due to staff shortages.
The downtown location is a different menu and caters to the lunchtime crowd. Bento boxes and combos dominate, with some rolls and nigiri. It's okay, but definitely not in the same league as their west end location was. A couple of times I have found their sushi rice to be way overseasoned. But the hand rolls are very good and full of fish - the spicy tuna has nice chunks of good tuna, and the chopped scallop roll is rich and yummy.

[felix the hound]

The Sankyu downtown location is a "fast sushi" counter , a completely different concept and menu. The Stony Plain location was my favourite Japanese restaurant because of the quality of the ingredients and their innovative approach. Service was their Achilles heel, and the owner told me that difficulties in hiring had a lot to do with them switching to the downtown format ( as well as the schedule being easier for her family)

[cleopatra999]

the place that replaced Sankyu on Stoney is serving the exact same menu as the Sankyu. cannot comment on the execution of the food as I was not a fan of Sankyu so have not been, but this may comfort some of the fans...

[felix the hound]

Thanks for the info. The execution and quality of ingredients is what made Sankyu unique, probably because it was owner operated rather than a bunch of instant "sushi chefs" on minimum wage. Hope the new owner comes close, as chowhounds we must give it a try and report.

In the meantime I ve found the sushi combo at Miso in the same strip to be an acceptable option for lunch . Miso is a Kyoto clone but the sushi quality is better , probably because it is ...owner operated.

[KayceeK]

I've always heard good things of Tasty Tom's on this board, but driving by a couple of times now, it looks like there is paper up in the windows...is it closed? Sorry if this has been resolved long ago, but fairly new to the area and making a list of places I'd like to try...

[kashirat]

Fantastic for their fries and garlic mushroom burger. I've never tried anything else there because every time I go, I can't resist ordering the burger.

As far as I know they are still open... closed on Mondays, but they always look like they're closed. Sure hope they are not closed.

[Bob Mac]

Another "casualty" in the Edmonton culinary scene appears to have been MOR out on 95 Ave in the Sandy Lane Shopping Centre in the West End.

We were only there the one time in the Fall and had enjoyed the Turkish food and decided tonite to try it again.

Unfortunately, when we got out to its "former" location, it had been replaced by an Italian spot, Bella Vista or something to that effect which we were not interested in having tonight.

Too bad as a quick glance at a related web-site suggested that it was open

http://wwwmorrestaurantcom.foodpages.ca/

Maybe we'll have to get our "Turkish fix" back downtown at Sofra instead.

[cleopatra999]

did you get a look at the Italian place? does it look promising?

[Bob Mac]

cleopatra999:

Did not go in. No menu outside which I would have looked at it had one been there. Just one of those portable signs in the parking lot advising now open.

Sorry, cannot say much more as a result. With Sorrentino's in Wolf Willow, Allegro and Piccolino's on the way home was not interested in Italian up on 95th Ave.

Mind you, we ended up in Ric's Grill which quite frankly apart from the charming staff was just, ok at best.

[pennystock]

used to go to Tasty Tom's religously and send everyone I know there. A year or 2 ago, it seemed to a few of us that the quality was starting to slip. The burgers seemed to be frozen patties instead of their usual great homemade ones. The portions seemed to get smaller, and the prices much bigger. It wasnt the deal it once was. It didnt look like Tom was there in the kitchen too much anymore. I really hope someone can tell me all this has changed, and that Tom's is back on track, because we miss that place!

[cleopatra999]

my favorite health food cafe (Whole Earth Cafe on 109st) is closing as of April 1st. They say that the rising costs of labour and organic food has made the restaurant unsustainable. Very sad, I love their quinoa tabouleh. That leaves very little for option for organic healthy eat in or take out especially with vegetarian/vegan options

[MrsCris]

I just noticed today that Four Rooms (Edmonton Centre) has closed. Not a big loss for me, but I hope that SushYa in the adjoining space stays - they are a frequent lunch fix for me.

[Bob Mac]

Yes MrsCris, it has been closed since early November.

[kazzy]

Looks like La Tapa is being turned into an Indian resto.

[anonymoose]

Walked past it yesterday and signs were up.

Karma Indian Bistro - Indian cuisine and wine bar
Lunch buffets Mon - Sat
Opening April 9

[Miss_Scarlett]

Churros King on Whyte avenue seems to have closed as well...sad to see it go!

[chewy_bakah]

what oh no!

[Bellavino]

I was wondering if anyone knows anything about Sweet Mango (across the street from Charles Smart). The parking lot was always full when ever I drove by and the last couple of times it has been completely empty? I kept intending to go but havnt had a chance yet....did I miss the boat??

[cleopatra999]

don't know about whether it is still open, but we went there when it first opened and were not impressed by anything other than a 'hipper' atmosphere. They were trying to be trendy, but with the same old vietnamese food and crappy service. We did not intend on going back. Maybe others felt this way and it is finally showing.

[raidar]

I was wondering what 'modern fusion Vietnamese' was. Not wondering enough to go I guess, so it's nice to hear it isn't anything I've been missing.

[foodiesnorth]

We had the same experience, nice atmosphere, poor food. No loss if it is gone.

[CourtJ]

Anyone know if Le Table de Renior is closed for good or still planning on opening? I know when it first shut people said it would be back, but I haven't heard anything since. I loved that place....

[Bob Mac]

CourtJ:

I suspect we may be out of luck. The last time I spoke with Monsieur Renoir there was an intention to re-open but that was back before Xmas. I see that his framing shop has since closed as well.

Tough time to raise cash to finance a restaurant I suspect.

[egirlwonder]

Another closure that I had forgotten about - Jewel of Kashmir on Calgary Trail closed down and is now a lame-sounding "unforgettable dim sum restaurant" (or something like that).

[egirlwonder]

Yikes - and another... Charles Smart Donnair seems totally closed. Some kind of board up on the front window, no one working there at any time of day.
Not sure if they'll be tearing down the building given that the other tenant has been vacant for years.
I've always hoped for a Timmies in this part of town - would make my morning commute much more enjoyable ;)

[cdnprairiedog]

Do you mean the one at the corner of Whyte Ave and 91 st ? That place was an institution...wow. I think they were making the donair meat for themselves and others in the adjacent suite.

[raidar]

I was surprised a couple of weeks back when I drove by and noticed it boarded up. I don't think I've visited CS in a decade or more, but I thought it was a favorite for enough people..enough to survive this long. Who knows.

[kashirat]

Unforgettable opened up in January and is actually a FANTASTIC new Chinese restaurant with many modern dishes straight from Hong Kong... I would thoroughly recommend it if you want to try some more modernized Chinese food!

[cleopatra999]

where is it Kashirat?

[kashirat]

I'm not exactly sure the address but it is on Calgary Trail south and approx. 72 or 73 ave. Their sign is small so it's easy to miss, but it's on the left hand side of the road.

[felix the hound]

According to the Yellow Pages on the web:

Unforgettable Chinese Restaurant
7219 104 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 4B8
Telephone : [phone]

[chewy_bakah]

right across from Strathcona High school ...limited parking.

[Anomay]

What's the price like in Unforgettable? Closer to Golden Rice Bowl or Buddy Seafood restaurant?

[chewy_bakah]

I haven't eaten there but my mom's ping poing group go there. if its good enough for the old foggies it's good enough for me. ( I haven't tried it yet)

as for the lame sounding name.... Chinese translations never go well. If anything, you remember it because it's so lame sounding LOL

[egirlwonder]

I've noticed other closures/transfer too.

The Mill (off Whyte) which I really loved turned into some 'all you can eat' sushi place. Very sad.

Dawaat on 34th Ave has changed names again - not sure how different the new incarnation is.

[cleopatra999]

don't forget Il Portico closed down too....

openings: Bisteca, 100

[chewy_bakah]

What's the new name of the sushi place?

[raidar]

Maki Maki

[raidar]

I'm pretty sure if my memory serves me right from my drive by, The old Dawaat spot is now called Little India.