After the corner unit in the de Waal building in Bridgeland switched from Il Sogno to Whitehall to Elwood and The Rabbit in a relatively short time span, it became clear that the space was no longer suited to fine-dining. This past spring, the room got a more casual makeover and opened up as Waalflower Kitchen & Cocktails, a new spot that aims to be community-minded and family-friendly, while still serving thoughtful chef-driven food and killer cocktails.
Chef Jason Chen created a menu that makes use of local and sustainable ingredients without being too precious. He uses the restaurant’s hefty forno oven to make pizzas dressed with gourmet-esque toppings like beef merguez and halloumi, or white anchovies and onion jam. Chen’s menu also offers a selection of pastas, a burger and some Mediterranean-inspired small plates, all of which pair nicely with the gardener’s tonic, a fresh vodka and gin cocktail that changes colour right before your eyes. It’s just one of the many surprisingly creative cocktails you can try from the Waalflower bar.
24 4 St. N.E., 587-349-9008, waalflower.ca
