Central

Chicken for Lunch

10060 jasper avenue nw downtown, lower level scotia place. good cheap chicken stir-fry served with a smile by amy who will remember your name and your order the next time. get there at least by 11:30am, as the lines easily reach 50 people at peak. there are other empty kiosks if you run out of waiting time.

Garage Burger Bar

10242 106 street nw. although aficianados argue about the best burger in town, this little restaurant has been appearing as one of the top two or three in city-wide reviews for years. it has a full liquor license and a good variety of inexpensive, high-quality burger meals. the prices are low and the staff friendly.

Free Press Bistro

10014 104 street nw, mon thurs 11am – 10pm; fri 11am – 11pm; sat sun 10am – 9pm,just south of jasper avenue. the free press serves hot, grilled panini with fresh i.e. not processed ingredients, a modern twist on traditional panini. they also have some great pastas, salads and grilled items, but the sandwiches steal the show.

For more than sixty years, the Lingnan has been serving a loyal clientele with excellent food, ambiance, and service, making it an institution. Recently, it was featured on the Food Network Canada show "Family Restaurant - The Quons" (http://www.foodtv.ca/ontv...). Hosts Kinman and Amy will seat you to your favourite table and bring you your regular order without having to ask. Eldest son Miles joined in running the family business in 2004 and has brought new challenges to bring the restaurant into the 21st century.

Blue Plate is a nice casual/formal eating establishment in a nice heritage building. The food here mostly comprises of burgers, chicken, steak, and a small section of TexMex. The place is very cozy and the place is full of neat,unique, interesting modern art.

The Hat

The place just opened very recently and occupies the once Silk Hat location on Jasper Ave. They mostly cater to the adult crowd with many drinks available. The place serves delicious burgers and fries, hence it being a burger bar.

Italian Bakery

This place has gourmet Italian food for purchase. Basically a Italian grocery store. THINK ABOUT IT-It's something you can tell your grandchildren!

Bistro Praha

10168 100a street, 424-4218. the bistro is one of the longest-established restaurants in edmonton. its menu and ambience have remained as they were when it opened in the mid-1970's: really - why change? business people in the lunch hour, and the arts crowd from local theatres and concert spots in the evening, fill this wood-paneled room enjoying crisp wiener schnitzel, roast goose, terrific steak tartare, and other eastern-european treats. the liquor markup is reasonable, beer selection features hard-to-find european brews, service is cool but professional, and food is consistently excellent. $8-$12 lunch, $15-$25dinner.

It's All Greek To Me

Its All Greek offers some very authentic, yummy Greek cuisine. The pita bread is very fresh and moist-but not too moist. The food is very good and original.

Bua Thai

Located across the street from St. Joseph's Basilica, Bua Thai serves up high-quality Thai food at competitive prices. Particularly good is their Beef with Basil, but nothing disappoints.

Pazzo Pazzo

Large portions of argueably Edmonton's best pasta come served by excellent staff in a charming Little Italy location.

The Creperie

Edmonton's only authentic French cuisine place. The place is a warm and cozy French-style eatery specializing in crepes with a beautiful romantic setting. The crepes come with interesting and tasty fillings such as seafood Americane, jambalaya, beef stroganoff, and salmon. Other fine foods can also be had there, such as filet mignon and cedar baked salmon. It also has several vegetarian options on the menu.

Koutouki

10704 124th street. overpriced, but good greek food and a pleasant atmosphere. belly dancer friday and saturday evenings.

This restaurant is housed in the refurbished shell of the W. W. Arcade. a venerable Edmonton hardware store, hence the name. The interior is contemporary and tables are well-spaced, enhancing privacy and lending a sense of intimacy to evening dining. The food is among the most expensive in Edmonton, but may not seem so to diners from other large cities. Food quality is high, the wine list is extensive, and service is good, although not as consistent and well-trained as for example the Harvest Room's service. It's definitely one of the ten top restaurants in the city, although its exact placement depends - as always - on your tastes and expectations.

Harvest Room

This is one of the finest places to dine in Edmonton. Expect orange juice with champagne, and the best brunch you've ever had. You might just yell, "Yummy Yummy" and everyone will hear you. Hey, at least you told everyone what you thought!

Character's

Character's is full of delicious, high quality meals, although portions are on the small side. And for those looking to watch their weight, there are a lot of healthy options.

The original, now lamentably closed, was the first Japanese restaurant in Alberta. The location has modern decor, sushi bar, chairs and tables, and tatami rooms. The food style is a mix of traditional Japanese Tempura, Donburi, Udon/Soba, Nigiri Sushi, BBQ Fish and some offerings of nouveau Japanese cuisine try the Dragon Eyes, Mango Tango Roll, Sushi Pizza. Reservations are the way to go on key nights, or be prepared to wait. The atmosphere is pleasant and the food is excellent. While their sushi is comparable to other more affordable places, Mikado's hot food is in a league of its own.

Violino Gastronomia

formerly La Spiga Upscale Italian in a historic Edmonton residence. Outstanding food and service and is ideal for celebratory dinners or business lunches as well as just to enjoy good food. Private function space available. Reservations recommended.

Whether it is iced or hot coffee, 3 Banana's has some yummy coffees of different flavours. Aside from that they have good blended smoothies and offer regular drinks. For food, they have the best mini-pizzas around and some very good panini's sometimes they run out. They also have muffins, cookies and goodies. Nice for a lunch or snack.

Java Express

(http://www.javaexpress.ca...), 10355 jasper avenue nw. right near the central business district on the "downtown coffee block" is this neat coffee shop that originated in vancouver. the experience is very casual and a mid-price.