Late night noshing doesn’t have to take place in a dingy shop with limited seating. These spots serve up some of the best fare in Edmonton, in lovely surroundings — and they’re all open late.
Late night food service is available from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The menu is broken down into bar snacks, small plates, larger plates and desserts. They put a fun twist on bar snacks, such as smoked chicken drumsticks (smoked on the premises), hickory frites and pickles and crudités with dill goat yogurt. Small plates range from kale salads to steak tartare, with wood-fired meatballs and West Coast clams in between. If you’re famished, the bourbon honey pork shoulder or steak frites will do nicely.
This place starts out as a chill evening spot, then transitions into a nightclub as the evening goes on. But no matter what time you arrive, it’s always a great time to enjoy a meal here. The menu is casual but cool, with items such as lamb popsicles, umami burgers, chicken and waffles, and rabbit carbonara. The appetizer menu is also full of good stuff, such as truffle popcorn and tandoori calamari. For dessert, the Earl Grey crème brulee always hits the spot.
Owned by the same chef as Bar Bricco, Corso 32, is one of the fanciest, most beloved restaurants in Edmonton. The 32-seat restaurant is always booked but, if you’re savvy, you could get a late night spot to enjoy a meal after the usual evening rush. The handmade pasta is exquisite, as is the Antipasto. The fried short rib with shaved pear and arugula salad is particularly divine but the fennel and arugula salad with roasted hazelnuts and parmigiano is also delightful.
Open Tuesday to Saturday, from 5 p.m. till late, this is the kind of spot that really gets hopping the later it gets. It’s a spuntini bar, so everything is served in bite-sized portions. You can build a charcuterie plate or choose a tasting plate from the salumi or formaggi lists or try some one-bite ravioli (the egg yolk ravioli is very popular). Their condiments, such as the heavenly truffle and black pepper honey, are made in-house. For dessert — chocolate truffles, of course.
This country-chic restaurant has a fantastic menu that changes seasonally. The meat, including bison, goose, beef and pork, is all locally sourced from Alberta farms. The restaurant opens at 5 p.m. and stays open late, Monday to Saturday. While it can be tough to get a reservation at this popular spot, it’s definitely worth the wait — and a late night table will be easier to book than a prime time table.