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    Ampersand 27

    3.7 (189 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

    Ampersand 27 Photos

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    AMPERSAND 27 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Ampersand 27

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    Shared the breakfast charcuterie board highly recommend more than enough food for three people had a great price
    Jason C.

    Went here for brunch, shared the charcuterie board. It was excellent service was outstanding, highly recommend.

    Arnold Palmer all dressed up!
    Monica I.

    Ordered a very refreshing Arnold Palmer. Unsweetened iced tea was a welcome surprise in this cocktail. Topped with a few super fresh berries that had an intoxicating aroma. We had to visit again and hear live music at the beginning of Fringe... such an enjoyable venue. Ordered a Poke bowl - the menu listed a vegetarian dish... no protein, and it doesn't need it, but should you feel the urge, you can add one. The dish is able to be made gluten free...with slices of cucumber instead of the wontons - perfect! So very refreshing served this way. It has every thing I love in a Japanese inspired poke bowl. Even the seaweed salad... absolutely perfect and filling. I needed no additional protein did not miss it a bit. Service was nicely attentive, and Happy Hour is definitely a good time to visit. We do like the menu options, and it is a go-to for a lovely date night. We keep sitting in the bar/lounge area, but I have attended two staff appreciation afternoon luncheon gatherings here that did not disappoint and would recommend them for any event/party/catering function.

    Special dessert!
    Jessie O.

    &27 - a sweet high class joint with down-to-earth people As I usually don't venture around Whyte Ave I wouldn't have found out about this place if they didn't partake in the Ice on Whyte Beer Stew Off. Thank god they did! After chatting with the 3 people that came to the stew off to represent &27, one of them invited me to come see the restaurant and try some amazing things Once again, thank goodness I went! The hostess Lauren was super welcoming and invited me to chill at the bar where the bartender Jules gave me some great suggestions and a quick rundown of their gin partners and good mixes with their in-house homemade tonics And by gosh this unique, fantastic, Uber-tasty dessert made by chef Trevor was unbelievably delicious! Gold flakes even!! (although I was extremely tempted to lick the pretty wood platter it came on, I opted not to for the sake of avoiding public mischief lol) The interior decoration and design of the space made me think of being in an underwater pond but also looking at the world upside down tree/heavy wood motifs everywhere, bubbly chandeliers, cool wired-flower designs Gorgeous! *hint - also heard avocado fries are amazing! Gotta try those next!

    Beautiful light instalment
    Teresa S.

    We went here for my 40th birthday celebration and I loved everything about it. The food, ambiance and service was all excellent. Thursday nights oysters are on special. They were perfect oysters. My friends had the juiciest chicken ever as her entree. A couple of girlfriends and I shared the charcuterie. It was amazing to pick and choose what you wanted. The selection of cheese, meats, spreads and accompaniments were amazing.the smoked bison and drunken goat were so good. I'll think about this board for a long time! Cocktails were unique and fun. The ambiance is beautiful and our server was funny, friendly but also gave us the right amount of space. It was not too busy which was a shame since I definitely think it is a gem in our city. Can't wait to return!

    Loco Contigo  such a delicious drink and a beautiful presentation!
    Diane R.

    Excellent atmosphere, wonderful service, delicious food and drinks! Not pictured but we also got the oysters that were on special and they were AMAZING! Definitely will be coming back for a date night or another ladies night out

    Pumpkin Tykva (14.00)
    Erika G.

    Ampersand 27 (also known as &27) is an upper mid-range restaurant located right in the heart of the action in Old Strathcona. I've seen this location change hands (and businesses) a few times but Ampersand has been holding strong for the last six years. They're a hotel restaurant found in the Varscona Hotel, which surely comes along with its own unique challenges. When I heard that VUE Weekly had awarded them the #1 Best Charcuterie Board/Plate 2018 I was very interested in giving them a try. I visited on a Saturday evening and it's difficult not to be impressed upon entering the expansive space. The restaurant is very large with several different dining areas and gorgeous décor. From soaring ceilings adorned with stunningly modern flight fixtures, to pops of teal and rock, to beautifully rustic touches like twinkling twigs and an entire tree trunk in the middle of the room, no element has been overlooked. We were seated near the roaring fireplace, which was perfectly ideal on an exceedingly chilly fall day. Our server was very helpful and friendly, prompt in taking our order, and delivered food and drinks in a timely fashion. In the mood for a cocktail (the atmosphere demands one!) I was pleased to see an interesting list to select from. However, I had to try the Pumpkin Tykva (Espresso vodka, Kahlua, pumpkin spice creamer - $14.00) given the season. (By the way, the word tykva is Russian for "pumpkin." So yes, this drink is essentially called a "pumpkin pumpkin.") I loved this! This drink tasted like a pumpkin spice latte in boozy beverage form - and if that isn't what you want at this time of year... I mean, it's what I want. The drink was sweet, tasted like pumpkin, and I especially enjoyed the cinnamon around the rim. Simple and creamy, I was very happy with this beverage and wanted to curl up by the fire with it. Since Ampersand's highest accolade is for their charcuterie board, I naturally decided to invest the majority of my interests there. The menu used to feature a board that included two meats, two cheeses, pickles, olives, preserves, mustard, and flatbread for $25, all chosen by the chef. This is what I had hoped to order. However on our visit we were informed that they had changed the charcuterie board system that day and now the customers were required to build their own board from a list of options. While I somewhat enjoy the idea of getting to choose everything to my exact specifications, I actually believe that I prefer having the chef create the board for me, taking the "work" out of my hands. I compiled my board. From the Charcuterie section there were five choices and I selected Genoa Salami ($6.00) and Housemade Salmon Pate ($7.00). (The word "charcuterie" refers to the meat, specifically.) From the Cheese section there were five choices and I selected Double Cream Brie ($6.25) and Smoked Gouda ($6.00). From the Pickles, Etc. section there were four choices and I selected Chili Olives ($3.50). From the Spreads section there were three choices and I selected Strawberry Balsamic Jam ($2.50). And lastly, from the Fresh Bread section there were two choices and I selected Full Garlic Parmesan Flatbread ($4.00). The total cost of the board came to $35.25. It was more expensive than the old system and I think that I was actually getting less things?? I'm always impressed when a board of delicious meats and cheeses gets set down in front of me. It might very well be one of my favourite things. I love the idea of grazing over the selection of items and tasting different little things here and there. This board certainly offered that experience and there were many aspects that I enjoyed about it. I liked that the salami was shaved paper-thin, making it easy to pile into delicious heaps. The salmon pate was quite good, maybe even better than I expected, adding a different flavour twist to the board. The smoked gouda was very creamy, delicious and full of flavour. I liked the garlicky flatbread that worked as a great base for everything. All in all, I liked this board because everything on it tasted good... Although I couldn't help but notice that there wasn't anything inherently special about it either. None of the ingredients were all that high-end and I'm sure that I could buy each item at a regular grocery store. For the price, I was expecting a board that was more "exclusive," in a sense. To add some greens to the meal, we also ordered the Sundried Tomato Caesar (Creamy anchovy sundried tomato dressing, croutons, crispy prosciutto, fried capers, grated Grana Padano, romaine hearts - $9.00 for small). This salad was good. I was immediately drawn to the fact that they are using real anchovies in the dressing, which is a key component to a good (and real) caesar salad for me. The execution of all of the flavours and textures was pleasing. The crispy prosciutto and fried capers were some of the best parts, adding a salty crunch respectively. I loved the use of Grana Padano over a typical parme

    Watermelon caprese
    Bonnie A.

    Lively location, beautiful decor, excellent service, and a menu that has something for everyone. I had the chicken with mushroom risotto and I thought it was a perfect portion. I just found it so pleasant. Perfect experience.

    Nice bar
    Tavis P.

    Another great new find for us. Off Whyte ave so yes parking is awful. But it is worth a few block walk. First the atmosphere is chill, hip or trendy I guess is a good description. But not pretentious, which I like. The service was good, the waitress was knowledgable. At first I thought she might be not the most friendly but did warm up. The wine is $$$ but the drink list is massive. The mozza appy is insanely good! But it could use more bread. The spaghetti and meatballs also very good. We had creme brule for dessert, also loved that. Now again this place is $$$$ so bring lots.

    Carmella L.

    I can't believe it took me so long to get here since I live just down the street. I have been walking past it for years...but it was one Sunday brunch that actually got me in. I brought my Dad and he liked it too. The decor is modern and classy...lots of glass and neat textures. I really liked the layout of the place. Service was ok, I liked our server but the hostess was not the one with the mostest. She could possibly pay a bit more attn to customers...we were waiting at the door for quite a while she chatted with other staff. The food was ok. I had the waffles and chicken...I don't think I would get it again because the chicken was fried in a way that was not special at all. There was no spices or flavor, just maybe some panko slapped on some dry chicken breast? Come on, with the quality of everything else, I was slightly embarrassed for the chefs who let almost burnt chicken onto my plate. The potatoes were the star of the show. My Dad loved them too. I would go back just for those. Steer clear of the coffee, as it was pretty much undrinkable. It got better when I asked for an Americano...but their regular brew is a no go.

    Kristin K.

    I came to Ampersand 27 (where Murietta's uesd to be and inside/attached to the Varscona Hotel) yesterday with a group of Yelpers to try out their newly created signature cocktail in honour of the Edmonton Opera's upcoming opening of Lucia. Ampersand 27 created a fabulous dark and mirky drink, reminiscent of Scotland, called Lucia's Loch ($13) by bartender Janice Bochon: 1 oz. Kahlua 1 oz. Bowmore 12 year 1 oz. Lavender Simple Syrup 2 oz. Milk And let me tell you, it was the perfect mix of sweet and dark! The hubs and I ordered the Maple Pork Belly off the Share & Syhare Alike menu for $17. Four small pieces of perfectly cooked maple butter pork belly came alongside southwestern mequite corn, baked beans, green pea & fritters. The flavour combinations and presentation could not have been any more perfect. We also tried the Arctic Char Crudo ($18) with fried avocado, sesame crisp, asaparagus, truffle & soy. I had never seen avocado with a light tempura before but it was delish. I wouldn't hesitate to order any of the above again! Their menu itself, is absolutely adorable, and I love the layout. The inside of &27 is just gorgeous with numerous seating options ranging from tables, to booths, to barstools around the bar. I adore the variety of lighting fixtures here in the clean and modern and bright atmosphere - everything from an array of twinking lights above nestled/intertwined in almost a bramble bush like fixture hanging above the dinine area to the funky chandeliers in the bar. Near the bar, there is a funk white marbled and unusually shaped table with tall chairs around it that easily seats 8 and low backed white couches for relaxing. There is a small room to the side, separted by a frosted glass wall perfect for entertaining a gathering of 30ish people. P.S. Have you checked out their website yet? If not, you NEED to. Whoever designed/runs their site, knows what they are doing! It is G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S-! http://ampersand27.com/

    Avocado Fries
    Shannon S.

    Brought my husband to Ampersand 27 after a great night out with the girls a few months ago. We arrived around 830pm on Saturday evening, requested first available for indoor or outdoor seating and waited around 10 minutes for a table on the patio. The service went majorly downhill from the moment we sat down. We were ignored for about 20 minutes while waiting patiently for water. Two other groups were seated during that time and also were not served. A woman who appeared to be the manager on duty stood inside staring at the tables and tried to grab a server. When she finally found someone, it took another 5 minutes for them to come outside. Why didn't she just stop by the tables and explain that they were short staffed? When a server finally came over we ordered a cheese board. We received the cheese board, savoured the entire thing and waited another 15 minutes before anyone came to check on us, take our dirty plates or take our order for appetizers/mains. I could go on. We 'dined' for 2.5 hours and nearly got up and left multiple times. It was almost humourous how poor the service was. When our mains came I asked if the kitchen was backed up and the server said no not really. Like what? The price does not match the service at Ampersand 27. We won't be going back after a really poor experience.

    Roasted cauliflower
    Romus L.

    It had been quite some time since the last time I came here, but everything was just as good as I remembered. Starting things off with a couple of signature gin and tonics, they have a nice diverse drinks menu with something for everyone. We only had one option for the daily oysters but they came out nicely shucked, with no cracked shells and tasted as fresh as one could expect in Edmonton. Not sure what to expect the roasted cauliflower came out with Romesco, lentils, raisins (which I'm not a personal fan of but didn't seem to overpower the taste of the dish), and hazelnuts. Nicely roasted with a little browning and cooked through just right this was surprisingly better than I expected for a veggie dish. (I do wish the timing could have had this come out with our steak so we could have had this as a side to our main). The ribeye although at first I was lead to believe it was dry aged 45 days, was only 30. The staff made up for the mistake. 30 days felt fairly standard and would have loved to see a steak with more age on it if they are going to feature it. With a fairly extensive wine list, there were good options to pair with our main. I would recommend this place with its concise menu of unique dishes from what I was able to experience at least and overall good service.

    Michael U.

    Items Selected: Nibbles Board - Rabbit Rillettes / Foie Gras Torchon with Pistachio and Grape Gastrique / Bison Tongue / Elk Terrine with Cherries and Walnuts / Brie Cendre Des Pres / Cherry Moustarda / Cendre de Lune / Rainbow Carrots / Curry Cauliflower and Onions / House Rye Sourdough with Olive Oil Gnocchi - 5 Meat Bolognese Sauce, Roasted Bone Marrow French Press - House Blend Light Roast White Chocolate Cheesecake - Pistachio, Poached Pear, Sponge Toffee, Oreo Warm Apple Raisin Cake - Apple, Raisin, Salted Caramel, Sage Chantilly Cream Toqued by Fan Zhang, the departure of Gold Medal Plates Award winner Nathan Bye for greener pastures apparently a theme on a Friday in Edmonton that featured lunch at Wildflower, it was just prior to five o'clock that I sat down in the spacious confines of Ampersand 27, the high ceilings decorated with twinkling lights, a fireplace and voluptuous furniture adding an organic element to a room designed to be sexy, particularly at night. Attached to a hotel, and thus featuring a well-appointed bar where several gathered to chat and watch hockey games already underway out East, it was at a cozy table near the hearth that seating was offered as the dining room was as-yet quite empty, the service charming and casual, yet attentive, with a menu that offers plenty of choices whether the diner is interested in a full meal or just a few bites. Breaking things down to Nibbles, Pizzas and Shared Dishes, the priciest item a $45CAD 12-oz Sirloin, most sitting down at Ampersand 27 will find eyes drawn to the central section offering a pick 'em of Cheese, Charcuterie, Pickles and Bread listed by price and portion, an easy way to rack up costs though everything is housemade or well-sourced, the smooth Rabbit Rillettes and Elk Terrine studded with Nuts and Berries particularly noteworthy as items not seen often while the Canadian Triple-Cream Cheese was smooth and a bit more funky than versions from France with the light yellow Cauliflower also quite great. Enticed by a Charcuterie topped Pie, Buttered Eggplant and Poutine, but unable to resist tender Potato Dumplings intermingling with roasted Bone Marrow topped in a rich Ragu made from Veal, Boar, Bison and more, it was with slow bites that I indulged slowly while debating more savories versus dessert, the three sweets offered and limited time before a game at Roger's Place eventually leading to two of the latter alongside a French Press of Coffee that was brightly acidic with a linger of Stone Fruit. Deconstructing one dish and veering surprisingly simple with the other, the round of Cheesecake a Choose-your-own adventure experience highlighted by warm Pears and Toffee that eats like Honeycomb Candy, those looking for a restaurant-worthy Quickbread will feel justified in dropping $11CAD on an Apple Raisin Cake that is nearly as moist as a steamed Pudding, the addition of fragrant Chantilly and a pool of Salted Caramel working nicely together to really make the flavors pop.

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    $15 for a margarita with no alcohol in it. The food wasn't bad, just very salty. I wouldn't go back.

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    Arbour

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    I went here with a girlfriend for supper. It is sweet but minimal inside. The Ambiance was clean…read moreand trendy. Menu is interesting. Our server was good but busy. This menu is meant for sharing. We decided to split some dishes - the tuna crudo, the meatballs with grilled foccacia, and the cauliflower. There was some hits and some misses. The hits first - tuna crudo was great with fermented mango, coconut milk and sesame crackers. Fresh and exciting. The second one I loved was the meatballs. The sauce was amazing and meatballs were full of flavour. Make sure you order the bread to soak up all the sauce.These two I would totally recomend. The two that were disappointing was the cauliflower. It comes as a whole head and the idea is that you cut it into pieces. So the sauce doesn't really penetrate the cauliflower and the sauce was okay but seemed to berry forward. The pizza was worse. Barely any toppings except an obsene amount of arugla which didn't add anything to the dish. I had three peices and there was only two measly small peices of chicken. It also lacked flavour. Skip these. Saying that I would come here again to try some other things. But save your stomach and don't order the pizza.

    Visited this place out of spite and got the Carnita Bowl and to my surprise it was actually really…read moregood. The presentation was interesting but the taste made up for it. Service was top notch and the ambiance of the place was also great. No complaints.

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    Pip - Classic Eggs Benedict with breakfast hash and Pip's hot sauce on the side

    Pip

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    Very misleading hours posted we showed up there at 9:41 and were told that they were closing soon…read moreand that they shut their kitchen down at 9:45pm & that they had already done last call for food for the night. They were still willing to serve us food to go though when my friend initially asked for menus they said to go? . Super disappointing we drove a half an hour to make it on time and rushed and everything thinking that an hour and 20 minutes before it closes is more than enough time for a quick Dinner service for two people and obviously we're not a-holes so when the entire staff is ready to just shutter early and leave, we're not gonna be the two people that insist that they stay open. The guy working there was really nice to my friend apparently though. So nothing against the staff personally or anything. Oh, and the gazebo is getting wild. There's some guy out there screaming about cutting some girl named Kristen's head off so if there's any violent crimes tonight, we're audible witnesses lol

    Pip is absolutely delicious for brunch and for dinner. I ate there twice in one day because my…read moredinner reservation elsewhere was cancelled. The interior is beautiful exposed brick, warm grey chairs and banquets. Very comfortable and chic. The hostess and wait staff are friendly and extremely helpful with suggestions. For brunch I had the short rib benedict, atomic blond cocktail, and coffee. All were very good. For dinner I had the focaccia with whipped ricotta, a sazerac, the gnoochi, and an affogato for dessert. The whipped ricotta was the suggested appetizer by my server and of my goodness I could have crawled right into it--absolutely get that! If I went back to Edmonton for a visit I was definitely go back.

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    Pals Sandwiches

    Pals Sandwiches

    4.3(19 reviews)
    0.5 km
    $$

    PALS!!! I have been a huge fan since their opening day in 2022 and it's about time that I finally…read morewrite about them! Part of the venerable Strathcona restaurant monopoly of The Next Act (the OG), Meat (the meaty one), Pip (the brunchy one), and Marlo (the taco one), Pals holds their own as the sandwich one. This five-restaurant stronghold wouldn't work if each and every one of them wasn't so dang good. But they are. Pals showed up on the scene after Pip moved across the street and there was enough room in the building to fit a delightful little sandwich shop in there as well. Pals to the left and Pip to the right - and one (beautiful) shared washroom downstairs for both. It's a pretty harmonious arrangement as far as I can tell! Pals might be a small little sandwich guy but it boasts a beautiful outdoor patio in the summertime that just about doubles the space. Named Favourite Handheld on the Edmonton Food Faves We Crave 2024 list and most recently awarded Best Sandwich 2025 in EDify Magazine, you'll also find them on the Worldwide Faves section of this very website. The interior is somewhat small but very bright and fresh. Casual light wood high-tops, counter seating, a few bench seats near the back, and the aforementioned patio. You'll also note pops of their signature yellow, especially on their unmistakable brick facade outside. The restaurant feels breezy and gives off a comfortable vibe that makes you want to "stop in to grab a quick sandwich." And maybe people-watch out the window for a few minutes. The staff is also super friendly which makes you feel like you're hanging out with your pals. (Ha! See what I did there?) Situated at a table on a Saturday evening, I was looking for the maximum Pals experience! Pals is all about the drinks and offers an impressive array of cocktails and beer, especially for such a small shop. The Winter Sangria sounded like a seasonally appropriate delight while their Caesar made with pepperoncini brine is an ideal compliment to their use of pepperoncini elsewhere on the menu. On this visit I opted for the Strathcona Sling (Gin, cherry liqueurs, orange & pineapple juice, bitters - $15.00) which not only sounded delicious but also might be the signature beverage of the entire neighbourhood. This drink sounds like it might be pretty sweet but I didn't find that about it. It's very refreshing and the grown-up flavours from the gin and bitters hold their own. What sounds like a kid's shirley temple actually tastes quite adult. This would absolutely be the quintessential patio beverage on a hot summer day during the Fringe - a cocktail that lives up to it's name. The Pals food menu is an extravaganza of sandwiches! There are fourteen different sandwiches in two categories; made hot or served fresh. There's usually a feature sandwich as well. Be prepared for sandwiches like you've never seen them before! But the snacks, soups, and salads are incredible as well and the quality certainly doesn't stop with the sandwiches alone. In an effort to dig into this part of the menu a bit more I thought it prudent to order the Soup & Salad Combo (Choice of soup & salad with house focaccia - $19.00). A great option if maybe you don't want a sandwich. Pals usually has two different soups and salads on the go so you're able to customize this dish with whatever combo you like. I chose the House Soup (dill pickle & spicy pepperoncini) and The Other House Salad (iceberg lettuce, tomato, green onion, blue cheese, bacon, buttermilk ranch). Let's start with the soup. How unique!! You've never tasted a zingy little bowl of soup like this before! I don't know about you, but I love a dill pickle soup very much (maybe it's my Eastern European ancestry) but the addition of pepperoncini totally changes the game. This soup packs a punch but in the most interesting and delicious way. And then the salad! I ordered this one because it sounded like a wedge salad (one of my favourites) without the wedge. A deconstructed wedge salad, if you will. And boy did it deliver! The flavours of tomato and bacon together are so classic and the generous chunks of crumbled blue cheese were perfection. I loved how well-dressed everything was - not a dry leaf in the house. A salad may sound like a boring thing to order but certainly not in this case. Let's not forget the focaccia which cannot be treated as an afterthought because it was incredible. This bread was impossibly light while still possessing the unctuous and oily quality that you want from a focaccia. The crust was impossibly crispy and dusted in salt. What a dream! Honestly, I know that you need to order a sandwich... But maybe you don't? I'm going to have an existential crisis about this. But yes, I obviously ordered a sandwich. This might be an unpopular opinion but I highly favour the "served fresh" sandwiches at Pals by a lot. The BLT is the best in the entire city, I swear. The Burrata is completely insane - I've never seen a stack of prosciutto so high.

    The sandwiches were good, the service was perfect, the ambiance was sandwich restaurant. Clean,…read moreSwedish style decor. Our server seemed too charismatic to be just a server and seemed to enjoy the job. She was careful to ask relevant questions when I requested gf bread. She didn't mind bringing me hot water and lemon. I wanted to adopt her as my daughter by the time we were ready to leave.

    Photos
    Pals Sandwiches
    Pals Sandwiches
    Pals Sandwiches

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    Dolly's Cocktail Bar

    Dolly's Cocktail Bar

    3.8(13 reviews)
    2.2 km

    Street parking limited. Make sure you make a reservation as…read moreplace is 100% full and there is a line to get in. Gender-neutral single stall bathrooms available. Our table was ready at our reservation time and we were reminded we have 2 hours to dine as they need the table for another group. Drink + food menu was slightly different from what was online but I ordered a drink that was on the online menu and not the paper menu and it was still accommodated. Chips and Guac - good, chips were a little different - like dehydrated pita. Mac and Cheese - a little dry for me but everyone loved the flavor of the chicken we added. Bend and Snap shot - I give it a 5/10, did not like but boyfriend said it was fine. Pornstar martini - I give 7/10 boyfriend gave 9/10. Bubbleicious - I give 9/10 boyfriend gives 8/10. Pisco Smash - I give 8.5/10, boyfriend gave 7/10. Strawberry Sweethart - 8/10 from us both Seasonal coffee cocktail (forget the name): 9/10 Overall cocktails were fun to try, atmosphere is great, staff are fine.

    Searching for someplace to go for a girls night out on the town? Look no further than Dolly's…read moreCocktail Bar! Slap on your sparkly dress and a pair of heels (or wear whatever the heck you want) and make your way to Downtown's pink palace! You'll remember this location as the former home of Fu's Repair Shop and Prairie Fish & Chips before that. The Edmonton Food Faves We Crave 2024 list named Dolly's as Favourite Patio and the pictures that I've seen of the back terrace look completely adorable, complete with colourful lanterns. Unfortunately, my visit was in October and it wasn't quite patio weather anymore. I turned up on a Friday evening with one of my best girlfriends in tow and we were ready for the biggest Barbiecore night of our lives! Imagine our surprise when we discovered that Dolly's had been transformed into the "Black Lagoon" for the month of October in the spirit of Halloween. (I probably should have looked into this in advance but I was unaware!) I was expecting Cyndi Lauper and Aqua but instead I got Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson. The whole restaurant was draped in the most spider webs that I've ever seen. There were giant spiders hanging from the ceiling and spooky skeletons in every corner. It was a vibe, that's for sure!! But certainly not the one that I had been anticipating. Bits of pink paint and sparkly chandeliers peeked through in some areas and the neon "Dolly's" sign on the wall allowed me to imagine what the Barbie dreamhouse-esque space normally looks like just a little bit. Otherwise, Dolly's was fully transformed into the moody Black Lagoon. I should've worn fishnets instead of glitter. The servers were all very friendly and we were quickly seated at a comfortable table along the hot pink velour banquette. Dolly's invites you to sip, snack, and stay in their minor-free glamorous escape. The house cocktails and mocktails are a major part of the experience (it is a cocktail bar after all) and I was excited to get a cute pink beverage into my hand! There was also a menu of Black Lagoon-themed cocktails that were all served in fun tiki-style vessels. This menu included themed foods as well. I personally had my eye on the Pink Palace Royale cocktail which I saw on the menu online. Made with a special collab gin with Strathcona Spirits and Licor 43 (one of my favourite liqueurs), this sounded like everything that I wanted in a cocktail and more! Other drinks had names like Dolly's Dreamhouse, Bubbilicious, and the house shot was called the Bend & Snap - exactly the sort of drinks that I had come for! However, I was sorely disappointed when the server told me that the drink I wanted was no longer on the menu. It seemed that I could only order a Halloween beverage. I fumbled to find anything that Elle Woods would approve of and settled on a mocktail called Pretty in Pink (Strawberry, cream of coconut, lime, soda, mint - $9.00) and the server suggested that the bar could add vanilla vodka to turn it into a proper cocktail. I agreed. Honestly, I was just relieved to get something pink onto the table! I enjoyed this icy-fresh cocktail a lot and it delivered most of what I had been hoping for. The sweetness of the strawberry and coconut was really fun! The lime and mint added a mojito flair. A very cute and well-composed beverage but I was sad that most of the girly drinks didn't seem to be available. When it comes to eats at Dolly's the food is what you would expect to see at a party, with the idea of sharing at the heart. I loved the idea of Dolly's Funhouse (which is an epic plate of nachos), and dishes like wings, tacos, and mac & cheese. However, the dish to order at Dolly's has gotta be the Girl Dinner (Truffle tots, chickie tendies, aji verde, aji rocoto, pineapple sweet & sour, Dolly's salad - $50.00 for two). It's a must-share so grab your girlies and prepare to chow down! They had me at tots. The Girl Dinner platter arrived looking extremely appetizing and somehow exactly what I wanted to be eating in a place that looked like this. The portion was exactly right for two people and I loved the pretty floral printed plates that we were given to dish our tots and tendies onto. As previously mentioned, I enjoy a tot. (I have a suspicion that Napoleon Dynamite really imprinted on me.) But truffle tots? Now that's just a home run! Topped with sea salt, truffle oil, and parmesan cheese, these golden potato nuggets were fried to perfection with a crispy outside and a soft and fluffy inside. I could have eaten them all. They were awesome to dunk into each of the sauces and when the rest of the food was gone we were still popping tots into our mouths. We couldn't even finish them all because the portion was so generous! The star of the meal were the chickie tendies; two giant chicken tenders, of which we each got our own. I loved this chicken! The batter was really flavourful and unique, and oh so crispy-crunchy. The chicken within was very tender and juicy, proving that an elevated chicke

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    Dolly's Cocktail Bar - Front door

    Front door

    Dolly's Cocktail Bar - The best panna cotta in the city. So so good.

    The best panna cotta in the city. So so good.

    Dolly's Cocktail Bar

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    Ampersand 27 - newcanadian - Updated May 2026

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