The jury is still out on the newest pizza joint in east Edmonton that isn't total franchise garbage. Birch & Bear offers good beer, but average and overpriced pizza (by the pie or by the slice).
Feels like this place is still in beta testing mode, having opened fairly recently in the space formerly occupied by the distinctly haughty and thus misplaced Fleisch. The neighbourhood has been looking forward to finally having a down-to-earth, cool date night spot to occupy this scenic location across from the discount gas station.
My spouse and I have been twice, once for weekday lunch and once for Saturday supper. Plenty of local beer to choose from, just cans, but that's OK. Edmonton has a fabulous craft beer scene, and several brewers are represented including the now ubiquitous Sea Change.
We've tried two pizzas, first the soppressata and pesto, then the capicola and sambal pineapple. The first pizza was not bad, but despite the pesto not being overwhelming, the meat flavour was surprisingly muted. The second pizza was just bland, the pineapple had little fruit flavour nevermind sambal. Very disappointing - not a ham & pineapple fail, that's unCanadian! It was a bit better the next day eaten cold for breakfast, but we still would not order it again.
I feel part of the problem is the cheese, perhaps it is not good quality. Even though this style of pizza is not overwhelmed with cheese, which is great, the cheese is simply there, not adding much flavour, and honestly it just dulls out everything else.
Why are the flavours so lacklustre? I can only assume the ingredients are as well, because it's made fresh and with obvious care right in front of you. What a shame! Perhaps the "Birch" (vegetarian) pizza offerings are better, because the flavour combos sound amazing.
Others reviewers have dislike for the crust. Again it is not particularly flavourful, but it is thin, hand tossed and cooked nicely so that it is soft without being soggy but solid enough to hold up well. I like it fine, but my spouse was not terribly enthused, it's just "OK" to him.
I look forward to trying some other things, like their salads. They also offer Yelo'd ice cream by the scoop. With a high school nearby, this place should have a license to print money. A small pack of students stopped by for a slice and a scoop during our lunch hour visit.
We had the same server both visits, and she was attentive and efficient without being imposing or interrupting at bad times. She was also dressed sports casual, awesome, I hate getting an unwanted side order of tits with my beer. It's not a sports pub, there's no TVs, and no dafties in skimpy outfits pretending to flirt with old dudes. How refreshing!
On the Saturday night, they were a bit overstaffed/training newbies, and I got to watch for some time as two young men (prep cook and dishwasher) horsed around, pulled off each others hairnets, and took selfies. Noobs - everyone knows this happens, but you have an open kitchen dummies! This is a neighbourhood full of cranky old white people, that kind of display is not going to go over well.
Harrumph!
As an aside, I gotta say I am kinda over the cartoon art in these YEG local beer/pizza/burger/ramen joints. It's getting Fritz the Cat level creepy, and we ain't paying kiddie prices here!
Anyhow, I'm keeping my hopes up, will visit again, but so far it's only 3 stars for the newest branch of B&B. Maybe lunch time is the best time to visit. read more
