This past Tuesday November 26, we both had the afternoon off and decided to get together for a quick, casual lunch at the Highlevel Diner. Steph had never been, but Jackie recommended it highly and the vegetarian options looked promising so off we went. The diner boasts a great location just off the west end of Whyte Ave near the University of Alberta with a view of downtown, and is proud of its local cuisine, daily specials and 29 year history.
Friday 29 November 2013
Wednesday 27 November 2013
Mini Review: A Veggie Visits The Keg
This past weekend I celebrated my younger brother's birthday with my family. As per tradition, he got to choose the restaurant and out of all the restaurants in Edmonton, he chose The Keg in South Common. Now I have nothing against the Keg, it's a lovely establishment, but as a vegetarian I took one look at the menu and inwardly groaned. There are no vegetarian entrees, as could be expected, but even the salads and appetizers were a challenge. As everyone in my party excitedly picked their cut of beef, I mulled over the few choices available to me.
For salads, the Caesar is out (anchovies in the sauce) as well as the Iceberg Wedge, which if I removed the bacon would just be a slice of lettuce sprinkled with tomatoes. I ended up choosing the Mixed Greens salad ($6.95) to start, which was surprisingly tasty despite the bland description. The house vinaigrette had a lovely, complex flavour and there were plenty of veggies hiding under the lettuce. The soft, warm complimentary bread they brought out was also quite welcome.
For my entree I wanted protein and for that my only choices were in the Starter menu: Baked Goat Cheese ($8.95) or the Garlic Cheese Toast ($5.95). Deciding I didn't need any more white bread this evening, I opted for the goat cheese despite not being a big fan of goat's milk products in general. I also asked for a side of garlic mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables to round out my meal.
The small pat of goat cheese was crusted with sliced almonds and served with tiny toast crisps (so much for no more white bread!) and a "tomato basil salsa" which was more bruschetta than salsa. The cheese was hot and creamy and didn't have the strong flavour I associate with most goat cheeses so I was pleased but could only finish half as it was so rich. The mashed potatoes and veggies were standard but tasty.
Overall I was happy with the food I received, but unless you go there willing to eat a steak, The Keg's menu makes it a poor choice for vegetarians.
~Steph
For salads, the Caesar is out (anchovies in the sauce) as well as the Iceberg Wedge, which if I removed the bacon would just be a slice of lettuce sprinkled with tomatoes. I ended up choosing the Mixed Greens salad ($6.95) to start, which was surprisingly tasty despite the bland description. The house vinaigrette had a lovely, complex flavour and there were plenty of veggies hiding under the lettuce. The soft, warm complimentary bread they brought out was also quite welcome.
For my entree I wanted protein and for that my only choices were in the Starter menu: Baked Goat Cheese ($8.95) or the Garlic Cheese Toast ($5.95). Deciding I didn't need any more white bread this evening, I opted for the goat cheese despite not being a big fan of goat's milk products in general. I also asked for a side of garlic mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables to round out my meal.
The small pat of goat cheese was crusted with sliced almonds and served with tiny toast crisps (so much for no more white bread!) and a "tomato basil salsa" which was more bruschetta than salsa. The cheese was hot and creamy and didn't have the strong flavour I associate with most goat cheeses so I was pleased but could only finish half as it was so rich. The mashed potatoes and veggies were standard but tasty.
Overall I was happy with the food I received, but unless you go there willing to eat a steak, The Keg's menu makes it a poor choice for vegetarians.
~Steph
Hello Edmonton and welcome to our new blog!
In the posts to come, follow us as we trek around Edmonton and Alberta reviewing the best (and worst) restaurants from the perspective of a vegetarian and an omnivore.
We met over 13 years ago in Grade 7, and have been friends ever since. Since so many social interactions revolve around food and eating out, and we have been college students for the past few years, we've tried our share of Edmonton eateries. However we've both grown tired of the same mediocre dishes at the same chain restaurants, so when Steph decided to transition into vegetarianism, we decided to branch out and make it our mission to find great, local food that would satisfy both of our eating styles.
There are so many different diets out there, from vegan to all-fast-food-all-the-time and everything in between, but we wanted to focus on the two most common and share our personal experiences. Finding restaurants we both can and want to eat at while enjoying unique dishes and discovering hidden gems around Edmonton is the challenge, and we are ready to take it on!
Happy eating!
Jackie and Steph
In the posts to come, follow us as we trek around Edmonton and Alberta reviewing the best (and worst) restaurants from the perspective of a vegetarian and an omnivore.
We met over 13 years ago in Grade 7, and have been friends ever since. Since so many social interactions revolve around food and eating out, and we have been college students for the past few years, we've tried our share of Edmonton eateries. However we've both grown tired of the same mediocre dishes at the same chain restaurants, so when Steph decided to transition into vegetarianism, we decided to branch out and make it our mission to find great, local food that would satisfy both of our eating styles.
There are so many different diets out there, from vegan to all-fast-food-all-the-time and everything in between, but we wanted to focus on the two most common and share our personal experiences. Finding restaurants we both can and want to eat at while enjoying unique dishes and discovering hidden gems around Edmonton is the challenge, and we are ready to take it on!
Happy eating!
Jackie and Steph
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