On a snowy February night a group of colleagues and I trekked through downtown Edmonton in search of Bündok – one of the cities top rated restaurants. Located only a stones throw from beautiful Rogers Arena in the newly created “Ice District“, Bündok has received a lot of great hype since opening it’s doors in 2017 and is ranked at #93 on Canada’s Top 100 list for 2019. As a result, we were excited to see what all the fuss was about.
Inspired by the vision of Chef Ryan Hotchkiss, this 38-seat gem features a seasonally-inspired share plate menu that changes regularly and offers up some of the best ingredients the region has to offer. Recently recognized as one of the 100 Most Romantic list of restaurant in Canada by OpenTable, the space is stylish and relaxed and has the feel of a quaint neighbourhood pub – all anchored by an impressive floor to ceiling bar.
Once my co-workers and I got over the novel idea (and slight anxiousness) of both ordering and sharing plates with a bunch of relative strangers (at least as far as eating habits are concerned), we were delighted by the impressive mixtures of ingredients and menu choices that we were able to sample.
Our group selections for the evening started out with the sea bream crudo with Thai basil, chili, olive oil and apple. This one was so good – light, fresh, crisp, and flavourful – that we actually ordered a second round later in the evening. This was followed by a cold plate of beets, goat cheese, quince, and honey (always a perfect mix), and hot plate of crispy fried chicken skins with honey mustard – both of which hit the spot and left big smiles on our faces.
From there, it was on to bigger, bolder flavours including a house-made gnocchi Parisienne with roasted mushrooms, and a grilled Alberta striploin with black garlic butter. These dishes completely melted in your mouth and offered incredible flavour profiles. Not to be outdone, our next courses featuring grilled broccoli with deep fried egg and cured egg yolk, as well as a roasted cauliflower with breadcrumbs, tarragon, mustard, and creme fraiche. These dishes were light and delightful (helping us prepare for the finale), and still packed an amazing punch in terms of both flavour and originality.
We finished the evening with another round of sea bream and then went big with the cassoulet, interestingly named for the serving dish as opposed to the food itself. This one featured a mixture of Toulouse sausage together with duck confit and quince, all served atop rich and tender white beans. It was simply delicious and was the perfect “comfort food” to finish off the night.
I am happy to say that Bündok really does live up to the hype. It offers up a creative, dynamic, and locally inspired menu that is wrapped in a cozy and inviting space. It will definitely be a top contender for best Edmonton restaurant for many years to come.
On a side note, I can say that although experiencing tapas-style dining can be a bit intimidating at first – even with your closest friends or family members – it can be a lot of fun and can lead to a very memorable dining experience. Just dive in there and enjoy! You might be surprised what you learn about your co-diners!!
