I absolutely recommend this place! It was my coworker's suggestion and my first time there. The staff were all happy and friendly and we received the best possible service. My coworker suggested their favourite sandwich and I picked that. It was delicious. I absolutely loved every piece of my experience and I will definitely go back to this cozy and friendly restaurant! Highly recommended! :) read more

See all

We went here after a stressful day at the hospital for a break. Everything was good. Service was good, atmosphere was decent, and food was amazing. The burgers are excellent. Probably the best i had in the city. The Next Act is non descript with the decor. It does have a nice patio if you are able to snag a spot. Our server was prompt and attentive. Food came out quickly despite the full restaurant. This time I tried The Pyro with habanero cream cheese, bacon, crispy onions, jalapeños, and chipotle mayo. Hubby ordered The Critic - smoked cheddar, bacon, caramelized onions, and bbq sauce Our friend ordered The Scout - jack cheese, chimichurri, crispy onions, avocado, and roasted garlic mayo We all chose the fries as a side. It was delicous. And this time the fries were great and not soggy. My burger was delicious. If you like heat, this one is for you. Both other people at the table enjoyed their burger as well. I saw someone have the mac and cheese, and that looked delicous. However I don't think I can skip the burger and order something else. read more

Went for fish and chips this afternoon as part of the Fringe experience. Three of us ordered Fish and Chip and they were grossly overcooked. We brought it to the attention of the server, another fellow who we understand is part of management and then it was taken to the kitchen. The server said they agreed and they did nothing other than agree. I who paid the bill mentioned it as I was walking out and I was told we should have told her. We told her and the read more

Sometimes are just in need of a greasy cheeseburger near midnight and the burger gods lead you to places like The Next Act to satisfy your hunger pangs. We were luck to slide through the front door 15 minutes before the kitchen closed for the night and order a burger to go. We got the Critic with a side of poutine and scurried back to our hotel room with our secured goods. The burger was amazing and exactly what we needed. The patty was substantial with a great crust against the sweetness of the caramelized onions, all between two pillowy soft buns. The burger was also huge, as it was double the size of what you would get an the golden arches. We got back fast enough that the poutine fries were still crunchy with a curds melted into the thick gravy. So happy that The Next Act was open at our moment of need. Forever grateful. read more

The Next Act - Poutine and the Critic to go - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Food is always good and lots of it. The server's are good and friendly. Place was clean as well as the washroom.

I've been to the Next Act several times over the years. They have a very enjoyable atmosphere, although it can get quite loud. The burger is something that always stood out and a must try. Other than that, their breakfast menu is quite good as well. I'd rate them 8.5/10. read more

The Next Act - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

See all

Great beer - local brews on tap Great food - Brunch and Lunch Options Great service Great atmosphere read more

Cool place. Good service with an interesting menu. The burger I had was tasty and the mushroom soup was amazing.

Everything was excellent, service, food and atmosphere, they make you feel comfortable, would highly recommend

Wow what a change! I came to the next act a few years ago. I decided to come and try it again. Let me say The Next Act wins the most improved. I came and ordered the falafel wrap with fries. Without a doubt the best falafel I have ever had. Delicious citrus tones of the wrap was perfectly matched with delicious hummus. The fries were also great and perfectly seasoned. Service was very friendly and the meal came at timely manner. Definely recommend trying it out. read more

The Next Act - Falafel wrap. - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

I recently tried out @nextactpub on Whyte Ave for the first time during lunch on a Friday. I had heard great things... so I was looking forward to this spot. We literally had the place to ourselves- so I can't really speak to the service on a busy day. The waitress only had us to look after. Water was re-filled frequently, and she checked on us a few too many times. Pictured: Tequila Lime Chicken Sandwich $19 ... tequila lime glazed chicken breast, jack, bacon, guac, lettuce & tomato w/ jalapeño garlic mayo on brioche. Food was hot and fresh, however my meat was questionably cooked. I was sketchy about the chicken, and I removed the bacon which was limp and rubbery. The flavour combinations could have otherwise been good. Overall I'd give this spot a 3 out of 5- but it could have been an off day. read more

The Next Act - Tequila lime chicken burger - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

See all

Always great service. Love the staff here. Great for hangovers, fun friend stops, the food is always delicious.

5/5 burger 3/5 fries 4/5 service I came with a group on a Sunday night and the patio was packed. The server asked us all for IDs (and they had to be physical copies) which I thought was a bit weird given that we were not ordering any alcohol out on the patio. They have a moderate selection of craft beers and some canned cocktails that weren't too impressive. Food took a little bit longer than expected. I had the Critic which was one of the best burgers Ive had in Edmonton. The fries though I was less impressed with -- the grease to starch and salt ratio was a little off. Would go back and try another burger! read more

The Next Act - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Really great location next to whyte ave main drag Loved the food it was well made and the waitress really took her time to treat me well read more

We heard about the poutine being famous sow anted to come here for brunch. It wasn't too packed on a Sunday afternoon so we were seated right away. The BLT was fresh and portion was big so I was able to Pack it home. For the steak n eggs, the steak was cooked to a medium when we ordered a medium rare. The pouting was was a bit salty and didn't get the squeeky cheese curds but not too terrible read more

See all

A true Old Strathcona staple. Whether you're in the mood for some libations or a hearty burger, The Next Act has you covered. A south of the river institution, The Next Act has been around for probably close to 25 years. My most recent visit I opted for my personal favourite, the Brisket Donair! Tender smoked brisket from their sister restaurant Meat, topped with homemade sweet sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and salty feta cheese hugged in a warm naan. With an array of sides to choose from, I stayed classic and went with their fresh cut fries. With loads of local beers to choose from if that's your jam, you're sure to stay hydrated if you prefer something a little softer. The service here is always predictable. Warm conversation that is attentive but not overbearing and while you may wait a little for your food because this place is busy, I assure you it's worth it! The establishment itself is kinda kitschy and the walls are decorated with local artists work. It's very cozy and inviting, it doesn't matter who you are or where you're from, you will feel right at home. read more

Not the wonderful place that it was in the past. Food was okay, but not awesome like it once was. Serving staff was dismissive, not wonderful like in times past. Clearly they are no longer interested in customers. read more

The wings and the cocktail were so nice. I would definitely go again for that! The lady who served me was so friendly! If you are a lover of wings that's definitely your place! read more

I did takeout today and ordered the dill pickle wings and the vegetarian burger - Drama Queen with fries. The wings were crispy and had great flavour. The burger was also delicious and juicy. I normally don't like fries, but they were pretty tasty with the coarse sea salt. The pick up process during COVID was pretty smooth. They were a little behind and I had to wait an extra 10 mins for my food, but pretty good overall. read more

The Next Act - Drama Queen burger - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

See all

I like their food and their services. I had a good time when I was there. Their ambience is a little noisy but I think it should be fine read more

Always great, fresh food. Good service and wonderful burgers. Highly recommend for a lunch or a fun eve out. read more

Cozy size and good use for the space, the Next Act was the perfect place to catch up with family I haven't seen since the beginning of the pandemic while visiting Edmonton for a week. The staff were all terrific and helpful with getting our evening off to a good start. Our server was willing to recommend when we had questions and didn't just say everything is good which is a pet peeve of mine. Most importantly, he was right about the poutine! It is good here and worth ordering. I had that as a side with my "Cameo Burger." That also had an interesting twist with the blue cheese and hot sauce combo. I totally recommend this place for North American pub food . There were several things on the menu I wanted to try so the next time I'm in Edmonton, I will give another item a shot (with that poutine on the side) read more

I'm not sure if there is any other restaurant that epitomizes the Edmonton experience the way that The Next Act does. It's truly a local hotspot that is beloved by its community. They've been around for over 25 years and they are literally the heart of Old Strathcona. I've been a major fan for many, many years. The restaurant isn't flashy and it doesn't need to be. They never seem to change much of anything and they don't need to. Everyone loves them just the way that they are and it's probably because they haven't wavered from the comfortable experience and delicious food that we all know and crave. The Next Act usually lands on just about every list; VUE Weekly named them #1 Best Hamburgers 2018, #1 Best French Fries 2018, #1 Best Pub Food 2018 & #1 Best Favourite Mainstay 2018. CBC Edmonton's Best Restaurants 2019 cautions that you Don't Skip the Dishes Here. And Avenue Magazine calls them the Best Pub 2020. What more do you need to know? Because it's all true. You'll also find them in the Worldwide Faves section of this website! I visited on a Sunday afternoon and was ready to crush some serious eats. The restaurant, right in the center of the action, is located in the theatre district and has always been known as a theatre hangout - hence the restaurant's name. Now flanked on either side by their sister restaurants; MEAT and pip (and a new sandwich shop opening soon across the street), The Act has gone full monopoly on their little corner, but in the most humble way that you could imagine. The inside of the restaurant never seems to change and you are always greeted by the comfortable and familiar green-wrapped booths and chairs. There's usually a selection of rotating local art on the walls but otherwise it's always the way that you remembered it. The space isn't that big, it's always lively and noisy, and the staff is always friendly. We grabbed a booth by the window and looked around, noting how good it felt to be there. My first visit was likely around 17 years ago and the space is just as easy-going and welcoming today as it ever was. Gazing over the menu, there is obviously a large emphasis on liquor, from beer on tap (they even have their very own brew called Next Act Black) to cans, many from local breweries. If you're more of a cocktail person such as myself, they've got you. You'll find several boozy mixed drinks on the menu and I couldn't resist the Siren's Cup (Hot chocolate with coconut rum and salted caramel & coffee liqueurs - $13.00) because it sounded perfectly seasonal. I mean, what more do you want on a snowy day in Edmonton?? I'll wait... I liked this drink a lot because a warm hot chocolate on a cold day is always ideal and this one was nicely boozy (2oz) and tasted great. I especially loved the flavour of coconut. Dessert in a glass! When it comes to the food, the selection and quality is always much better than you would expect from a place like this. It might be a pretty low-key pub but the food is very special. The highlight are the burgers to be sure, but there are lots of other items to choose from as well. On this visit I decided to try the Classic Nachos (Double layered cheese topped with black olives, diced tomatoes and jalapeños, served with fresh guac, salsa & sour cream - $18.00) with pulled pork added ($5.00). I'd never had them before and I heard that they were quite good. They arrived in a scalding hot pan and we immediately dug in! I liked that the coverage of the toppings on the chips was very good and every bite was filled with flavour. There were hidden layers of cheesy goodness to be discovered, salty strands of delicious pork, and juicy tomatoes sprinkled throughout. I really enjoyed the spicy kick from the jalapeños as well. The sides of homemade guacamole and salsa were also delightful because they tasted incredibly fresh. I liked these a lot. They may not have been the best nachos that I've ever had but they were certainly solid. Next, I obviously needed to try a burger because that's what The Next Act is the most famous for. I was very dazzled by the Buffalo Fried Chicken Sandwich (will definitely be ordering this next time!!) but was sure to stick to my burger guns on this particular visit. It had to be The PB&J (Crunchy peanut butter, housemade bacon jam & cheddar - $19.00). Although the Pyrotechnic sounds very good as well. All of the burgers come with housemade fries and the fries are amazing. Which always makes things super difficult because they've also got the best House Salad of all-time which you can substitute for $1. This salad includes mixed greens, pea shoots, almonds, grapes and strawberries with housemade white balsamic honey vinaigrette. The salad always comes well-dressed and it's been the exact same for years. Never change a thing! As incredible as the fries are, I almost always sub the salad because it's so special. The crunch from the almonds and the sweet juiciness from the strawberries and grapes are always perfect. Onto the burger! read more

See all

I don't eat burgers on daily, weekly or monthly basis. Only eat once in the blue moon. My boyfriend dislikes most burgers. I told him that I craved a burger but promised him that we went to a decent one. Through the reviews on the internet, I picked this place. It's worth a drive to Whyte ave from Southwest area. Yeah... it was one of the best burgers I've ever had. Every week that place has a different Cameo Burger which you have to ask to the server as it's their special burger of the week. Great server and burgers! read more

The Next Act - Cameo Burger. Beef patty, chimichurri, jack cheese, spring mix, sweet sour onions, mayo, & smashed corn nuts on Brioche Buns.⁣ - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

This place never disappoints. No wonder it's always jam packed. The brisket donair is a must. The burgers are all scrumptious. Each month they feature a new one. The salads are second to none. Great beer selection. Rotating taps. Friendly servers. The game is always on as well as old Hollywood classics. Bathroom is a little cramped, but clean. Outdoor seating in Summer. One of our all time favorites. read more

The Next Act - That's all that's left of the delicious Cameo burger and salad. Good grub. - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Best burger in town! Really nice atmosphere and the service was really good. Our service was superset nice read more

The Next Act used to be our favourite and we were regulars. Today was the first time in about two years that we visited and was disappointed. The service used to be outstanding and now it was just okay. I recall their fries being the best but today they were somehow both burnt and soggy. The burger was good, as I remembered. To be fair our experience was mediocre, not bad. The Next Act does not allow children after 4pm and dinner is what we're usually interested in. Since starting a family we frequent other restaurants and pubs around Whyte Ave that are more welcoming. After today's visit I no longer feel like we're missing out. read more

Some of Edmonton's best burgers and always a great selection of craft beers. The service is always friendly and being close to Whyte ave always makes for a memorable experience. read more

The Next Act has new owners who re-did the entire interior. The place is a lot more spacious and bright. Same cramped washrooms, however. The menu is also new, and focuses on different kinds of signature burgers. I had the basic burger, The Act, and it was incredible - a huge patty that tasted homemade, on a toasted brioche bun which added an interesting sweetness. The fries are home cut of the string variety, and I am already eagerly looking forward to my next burger there. Of course, The Next Act would not be The Next Act without a full line of draft and bottled beers and just about every other kind of drink. Highballs, my drink of choice, are $5 during Happy Hour. There is also a new brunch menu on Saturdays until 3 p.m. I had a breakfast burrito (holding the cheese) and it was OK - kind of like a Southwestern omelette in a tortilla. The hashbrowns were strange though. I could swear I smelled and tasted cheese on the, yet I could not see it. As someone who does not like cheese, this concerned me. The regular menu was also available before 3 p.m. so if I am there that early again, I think I am going to go for another burger. read more

Feeling lunchy and casual, we dropped into The Next Act. It has a small patio and lots of seating inside. It was bright and had friendly staff. My dad was there so, you know it's going to be an adventure for the staff. Heehee. We ordered drinks and their beer selection was great! It had, not only local and imported brews, but brews from across Canada! I get so tempted when I see my fav's, but I went with the local Yellowhead lager. MmmmMmmm. Although, I realized quickly that being insanely hungry, awake since 5am and flying with no food was a bad idea. I was glad the service was quick or I would've been a little tipsy! It wasn't even noon there! The Pulled Pork Sandwich was chosen by 3 out of 5 of my group. My man got the Steak Sandwich and I chose The Critic Burger(No, I was not trying to be ironic). The house side salad was a hit. The dressing went perfectly with the leafy greens and strawberries. The fries were also fantastic....especially with their pesto sauce. Mmmmm. Everyone who chose the pork thought it was ok, no complaints. My man's steak sandwich was exactly that, a full steak on a bun. In Ontario, we're used to steak sandwiches being smaller, more sandwichy. He had to eat it with a knife and fork! My Critic Burger was messy and so worth it. Smoked cheddar, caramelized onions, BBQ sauce and bacon was a winning combination. If you're going to the Next Act, go with a burger! They're fantastic. So beefy, so juicy, so yum. read more

The Next Act - Critic Burger - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

See all

This may have been our favorite place while visiting Edmonton. It has a pub vibe with great food and beer. Always busy and for good reason, it's great. We stopped in on two different occasions, and are hoping for another before our work trip leaves. The Meat smoked brisket donair with the house salad was the most amazing meal we had on our trip. The donair was quite unique with the smoked brisket on it, sweet sauce, and crumbled cheese. After I finished it, all I could think was how much I wanted to take one home and have it for breakfast as well. The house salad that accompanied it was great too. The sweet balsamic honey dressing withe the fruited salad was very tasty and had nicely contrasting flavors. On our second stop by, we had to try the burgers. I had the critic. It was quite good, but not being able to order it medium rare was quite disappointing. It did not take away from the flavor in the least, but we are used to eating burgers that are more moist. The only thing this meal was lacking was enough napkins to clean up with. Poutine was pretty tasty as well. On both of our visits, the service was great and quite prompt, even when busy. Wait times on food were not bad at all given how busy they were. Overall, we had a great experience and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great pub and food. read more

See all

A good spot on Whyte Ave for drinks and pub food. We went as a party of four people based on the recommendation of one of our colleagues. Both of our guests had a PB&J burger to eat with fries. They both really enjoyed the burger and said it was delicious. My wife and I skipped dinner, and instead munched on the cast iron cooked cookie with Pinocchio ice cream - I had a few bites of it and it was great. The cookie was crunchy and a good size for two people to share, the cookie had a lemony zing to it, and went very well with the one scoop of ice cream. To drink, I had a Sea Change Prairie Fairy - which had a blackberry twist to a Wheat Ale. It was sweet, smooth and not too hoppy, and light and easy to drink. Good spot to relax with friends. read more

See all

One of my favorite places on whyte ave. The best diner. Food is incredible. The service is hit or miss. The drinks are good from a beer perspective, nothing special but delicious. read more

I searched Yelp under the keyword "veggie burger" and this popular modern diner spot came up. Parking was an extreme challenge in the area on a busy Thursday night and I ended up having to do quite a hike, but no matter--a delicious veggie burger called the Drama Queen awaited. The patty tasted a lot like an original Gardenburger (more grain-based, as opposed to beans), but it was nicely dressed with good cheese, fresh lettuce, avocado and a tasty bun. The accompanying fries were hot and plentiful. The place can get a little loud when it's at full dinner hour tilt, but I'd happily return for another crack at this burger. Staff were pleasant, and food was delivered in good time. read more

The Next Act - Veggie burger, "the drama queen" - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

So where do you eat when you have a Fringe play to go to afterwards? The Next Act had great reviews but so did MEAT, so we were debating back and forth which one we should try (yes, I know they are sister restaurants in case you were wondering. You weren't? Good, I was being rhetorical. Now keep reading. Please). The restaurant was packed when we got there (especially considering it was a Monday night) so I made the executive decision to check it out. We put our names down and ended up with a nice corner booth for four. The wait was quick and easier than I expected. I will say the staff here is great, especially our waitress who was genuinely a real sweetheart (I don't think I even call anyone that in real life). But seriously, she was great. Our friends were running late so I ordered a pint of Magners pear cider ($8.50). Wasn't too shabby but I JUST missed out on happy hour (3-6pm, $1 off draft drinks). Curse you late friends (only kidding). Check out the drinks menu (thank goodness someone is keeping gender stereotypes alive). Anyways, when our friends finally arrived, we ordered: - 2x Pulled pork sandwich ($14 + $3 substitute poutine fries) - slow cooked BBQ pork with housemade slaw. The pulled pork was tasty and moist but was seriously lacking on the slaw. We both agreed that they could have been more generous, it's just slaw! The poutine wasn't very good either - very salty and not up to Montreal standards. - Tequila lime chicken sandwich ($15) - tequila lime glazed chicken breast with bacon, guacamole, jack cheese and jalapeno garlic mayo. Didn't taste this but our friend seemed to enjoy it. - Cajun fish sandwich ($15 + $1 substitute for soup) - their special sandwich of the day. The fish was halibut and it came with lemon dill coleslaw and pickles. I took my first bite and memories of my childhood came flooding back. You won't believe what it reminded me of. You ready? McDonald's Filet-O-Fish. That's right, McDicks. Are you kidding me?!? I wasn't impressed, especially not at $15 and with a 90% rating on Urbanspoon flashing in the back of my mind. At least the soup lived up to it's name (spicy roasted vegetables and white bean). I could have ate a whole bowl of that! Anyways, perhaps we ordered wrong and should have just gone with their speciality burgers and stuck with drinks. I was just expecting more awesomeness. Clearly, I should listen to myself more and keep expectations low. Lesson learned. Sit out on cool patio and people watch the cute girls, er, I mean fellow Fringers/Whyte Ave hipsters pass by. read more

See all

fave restaurant in edmonton! unreal burgers. they've always got a revolving special as well which is always something worth trying. patio is nice in the summer. service is solid! read more

I am honestly quite surprised by the amount of good reviews. My boyfriend and I have wanted to come here for a long time and although the experience wasn't horrible we were both pretty disappointed. If you're looking for a place at a decent noise level this is not it, it is very loud. Granted, it may have been just the day we went but looking at the other reviews the noise level seems to be a trend. I could barely hear my boyfriend and the waitress. However our server was very nice and friendly and did a decent job at checking in on us. It was busy so she didn't get to come around to our table too often, which is fine. As well, the food took a while to come out, again which is fine - just a little longer than usual. We started with the spinach dip which was absolutely amazing. For our main meals my boyfriend got the steak sandwhich (which we found out later isn't actually a sandwhich - our bad) and I got the pulled chicken sandwhich. His meal was fine, a little underdone. But both of our fries were incredibly dry and burnt, it was slightly disappointing. He was able to finish it because they're fries , of course, but they certainly were some of the worst I've had. As far as the chicken sandwhich - it looks pretty but the taste is not executed. The idea of the sandwhich is great but there was barely any chicken on it and way too much Brie. It was sort of like eating a Brie cheese sandwhich with hints of chicken and spinach. All in all, the entire experience was a great idea but poorly done. Ridiculously tiny washrooms, too many tables shoved into one place and extremely loud with bad expensive food. Sorry to say I wouldn't recommend, not for the price. read more

The Next Act - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

I have been coming to this place for 20 years.... Love the food. If I want an awesome burger this is the place

Came to The Next Act on a very nice summer evening, and tried to get onto the very small patio, but it was not going to be. So we settled on a table inside. We were greeted by a very friendly host and she seated us immediately and shortly there after we had our server taking our drink order. We went with a Jerk Chicken Wrap and a Haddock Sandwich. Both come with fries and we decided to go with gravy as well. In a few mins the food was on the table. The first bites in the Jerk Chicken Wrap was very good and had a good amount of spice to it. The fries were also nicely done. After gobbling down our meals, we got our bill and we were out the door. Overall, This was my first visit to The Next Act. I like the food and it is definitely a diner/comfort food type place. We had good service and everyone that we interacted with was very pleasant. I'll definitely go back ! read more

The Next Act - MEAT™ Brisket Donair - Fries and gravy - Pubs Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Some of the best burgers in town... and the staff is always friendly and accommodating, which I appreciate with small kids.