Eating Edmonton: Wishbone

Walking into Wishbone, the ambience of this small restaurant on Jasper avenue was almost like a haven from the bitter winter cold. 

With low lighting, wood panelling stretching all the way to the ceiling, and a shelf of beautiful plants greeting you as soon as you walk in, this sister restaurant to Farrow and Three Boars is worth the visit purely for the atmosphere. It’s definitely a cosier spot that seats about 40 people, but there is an enjoyable intimacy to the space which is only built upon by the fact that you can watch the chefs prepare your food in an open kitchen.

Food-wise, it was quite a good dinner with decent portion sizes. I ordered the Quebec Cassoulet, which consisted of a mixture of duck confit, baked beans, and lardon (fatty bacon), a maple sausage, and a mixture of greens. My companion got the lobster roll which came with a side of homemade chips. 

The Cassoulet definitely reminded me of Quebec — one of my favourite foods to eat when I visit is duck confit. Combining it with the beans was definitely a new approach to the dish for me, switching from the more traditional crispy approach to bathing it in the creamy sauce that usually accompanies beans. It was still good and the duck meat was smoky and moist and if you know duck, moisture is a huge accomplishment. However, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get that crispy skin I anticipated when I ordered.

The maple sausage was delicious and in combination with the beans, was quite reminiscent of a Quebec meal. The greens were tossed in a light lemon vinaigrette, creating a very bright palate that contrasted the other half of the meal. Due to the lardon added to the concoction of beans, duck, and sausage, the greens were a necessary component to accompany the fattiness of the lardon. 

The lobster roll came out basically bursting with lobster, creating a pretty large serving for a sandwich. The hokkadio roll was light, fluffy, and buttery, making it a great vessel to deliver the lobster. The lobster itself was good and was covered in a buttery sauce. The homemade chips were quite tasty, but fell on the saltier side. Overall, my companion said it was an average experience: not necessarily bad but not necessarily amazing. 

Wishbone also serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday and I would definitely return to try it. The dinner menu was on the pricer side, but it was well worth the food, atmosphere, and service. The brunch menu looks more in the budget of a university student and has some pretty enticing options such as bananas foster french toast and breakfast poutine. 

All in all, Wishbone made for a great night out and my companion and I had a great time catching up in this intimate space. What it lacks in food — which isn’t that much — it definitely makes up for with ambience. The minimalistic decor is pleasing to the eye and the service was quite friendly, giving us enough space to converse without losing attentiveness. If you’re looking for a romantic night out or a cozy catch-up with a friend, I would definitely recommend Wishbone.