Saturday Brunch at Creole Envie

After almost a year of wanting to visit Creole Envie without actually getting there, we finally made our way to this great little spot on 112 Avenue. What started out as a catering service has blossomed into a sweet little 40-seat cafe serving up traditional Cajun and Creole food, with an emphasis on local, organic fare. They offer everything from ribs, fried chicken, and grits to gluten free options and a full vegan dinner menu. Since the menu appealed to both of us, we knew this had to be one of our first reviews!

Note: This will be the first blog where our name Meat VS Veg comes into full effect; at the end we will determine which meal was the winner!

Ambiance and Service

Jackie: On this frigid winter day, Steph and I walked through the front door of this small older building wondering what to expect. I was immediately shocked by the decor and beautiful purple paint that adorned the walls. Though it is a little on the small side, the walls are covered in beautiful artwork that is Louisiana themed. After being promptly greeted by the owner Daniella, we were seated and had the place to ourselves for most of our brunch. We were served by Daniella as well, who was extremely attentive! The only downside is that the food came out a tad on the slow side, but it was made fresh so I can't complain!
Rating 4.5/5

The sign reads "There is nothing a po-boy can't fix"

Steph: I adore the decor in this little place, and the first few minutes after being seated were spent admiring the bright and inviting colors and decorations. The soft draperies, mismatched chairs, and New Orleans art created an ambiance that was both fun and tasteful. My favorite touch was how the bathrooms were labeled, instead of the typical Men and Women signs, the signs said Po'boys and Po'girls. How cute is that? It's obvious that Daniella takes pride in her restaurant, its food, and her love of the South and it shows in every corner of this place.
Rating 4.5/5

Taste and Presentation

Steph: We went for Saturday brunch, which has a unique menu and certain dishes which are exclusive to brunch. I ordered one such dish, the Pain Perdu ($7) and added a scrambled egg ($1). Jackie started with a coffee and ordered the special of the day, Fried Chicken and Waffles ($14). Since we felt we hadn't eaten nearly enough carbs yet, we finished our meal with a shared plate of Beignets ($5). 

The Pain Perdu was delicious: three small pieces of French toast served with honey rum syrup, pecans, blackberries and home fries on the side. It was the perfect serving size for brunch and I would certainly order it again.

The beignets, tasty little parcels of fried dough smothered in powdered sugar, were to die for. The texture was ideal: not to heavy or too light. Daniella warned us that we should tuck our napkins into our collars to protect our shirts from a shower of sugar. Looking at this picture, I think you'll agree with her!

I really have very little to complain about, it was that good!

Rating 4.5/5

Jackie:  My first foray into Chicken & Waffles was a fantastic success! As I cut into the fried chicken, I began to salivate as the the crunch of the batter was audible. I have never had better fried chicken anywhere! The portion was generation, 3 pieces of chicken and 2 waffles. 

I thought at this point I would need to be rolled out the door...and then we ordered beignets. These little fried pastries were covered in icing sugar and piping hot! Once again, I've never had better beignets anywhere! This meal was fantastic.
Rating 5/5

Value for Money

Steph: For a small, exclusive place such as this, I was pleasantly surprised by the prices. The serving sizes were excellent and our bill was very reasonable. I love that everyone from meat lovers to strict vegans will find something to enjoy at every meal.
Rating 5/5

Jackie:  $14.00 for this exceptional entree and $5.00 for dessert is one of the best values I have seen in an Edmonton restaurant. I really appreciate that Creole Envie has a diverse menu that ranges in price from $10.00 to $40.00 making it affordable for all.

Rating 5/5

Overall Rating: 28.5/30
Verdict: Make a reservation right away! We are already planning our next meal at Creole Envie and can't wait to go back!

 And finally, the winner is ... Meat! By a small margin. Although we both loved our meals, the portion size of the fried chicken and the fact that Steph (happily vegetarian) was slightly jealous of Jackie's meal makes Meat the winner of this review!