XIX Nineteen

While visiting our daughter and son-​in-​law this past week we were given a gift certificate for XIX. We went on Friday night and had the most amazing meal ever, we were seated at a table that enabled us to watch all the magic that happens in the kitchen, my husband loves to cook so was totally captivated by the chef and all the sous chefs at work. I had the lobster ravioli, while my husband ordered the braised beef short ribs. Presentation was a wow factor, so pretty I had to take a picture and post it on FB. The beef ribs melted in your mouth and my ravioli was scrumptious, we took turns trying each other’s meals and enjoyed each mouthful. The chef took time to come out to say hi and shake our hands and ask if we were enjoying our meals, such a sweet man. Our server and all that work there were very kind and attentive, thank you for such an enjoyable evening. I will dream of those short ribs and can hardly wait for our next visit. Maybe you could open a XIX in Nanaimo BC

Amazing. I have heard about this restaurant for sometime now. We decided last minute to go later on a Friday night. The ladies at the front were sweet and very personable. Our waiter was fantastic. And the food was amazing. Three people for dinner, three different orders, and we each samples each other’s and none were better than the other, all three were amazing. And as I have food allergies our waiter didn’t even bat an eye when I gave him a strange request. I will be back here 100%!

Tuna twists with spicy Thai noodles are to die for! They have really great drinks and the main courses are pretty good!

When I booked the Valentine’s dinner on Friday evening, a deposit was required. The front desk didn’t confirm the credit card information with me but I am sure that my cell number was confirmed. When we showed up, we were surprised to learn that the reservation was cancelled because both credit card and phone numbers were wrong. They still took our business but moved us to the lounge. No appologies from the front desk.
The service was great and worth the gratitude pre charged on the final bill. The food in general was mediocre. My confit duck could be tender.
Overall, we were disappointed as we were hoping to have a nice Valentine’s evening.

A couple of weeks ago, I finally had the chance to go to XIX. I don’t have many occasions where I have to go to the south side of Edmonton, and what with the new St. Albert location of XIX opening up, I thought it was finally time to give it a try.
It’s located right off of Rabbit Hill Road south of Edmonton. It has an ample amount of parking. This restaurant reminds me a bit of Hardware Grill because of their interior, menu option, and price point. The kitchen has a huge window so that everything in visible, which is something I always enjoy. We came right before the dinner rush, so it wasn’t too bad. I recommend making reservations because it can get a little bit busy there!
For food, we decided on getting two appetizers and two entrées: The Spicy Miso Albacore Tuna Tartar, the double-​smoked bacon-​wrapped scallops, the Chimichurri rack of lamb, and the dungeness crab crusted grouper. Because we came a little bit before the dinner rush, things were going really quickly and smoothly, and we had pretty good service.
The Tuna tartar is served on top of avocado, red onion, and topped with sunchoke chips and spicy miso dressing. This was definitely a winner at the table! There’s a generous amount of tuna and all of the flavours went really well together. The sunchoke chips gave the dish a nice crunch and texture. I definitely recommend getting this to start!
The other appetizer we got was the double-​smoked bacon wrapped scallops. This, too was a relatively good dish. The scallop itself was cooked perfectly an was very tender. The cauliflower purée had really good flavour and went well with the scallop. Even though this dish was good, it was so small for its price. Overall, I liked the tuna tartar much more.
The Chimchichurri rack of lamb was cooked perfectly. The lamb was incredibly tender and easy to eat. I would say that it was hands down cooked better than the rack of lamb that we had from Hardware Grill. The brioche bread pudding was really nice and went well with the vegetables and lamb. Definitely a good dish to get if you’re a lamb-​lover!
Our second entrée was the Dungeness crab crusted grouper. Seems like the theme of our night was seafood, what with ¾ of our dishes having some sort of seafood in it! I don’t usually order fish at a restaurant, but something about this appealed to me, and it definitely did not disappoint. The crab crust was nice and crunchy and gave nice texture to the dish. The grouper was maybe a tad overcooked, but everything else about this dish was great. The tarragon-​honey cream really added to the dish…

I went here for happy hour with some girlfriends and was quite impressed with the service and the happy hour menu. The $ 5 wine is actually really tasty and I ordered a few things off the menu and enjoyed every one.
I recommend the ginger beef off the happy hour menu, definitely one of my favs! It’s not like your regular ginger beef, it’s actually big pieces that are juicy and very flavourful! The ahi tuna that is set on these individually noodle wrapped forks is not only aesthetically pleasing but delicious as well! I also tried the cheesecake and loved it!
Glancing at their other menus there was actually quite a wide variety of things that I’m looking forward to coming back and trying!
I don’t often venture south — I usually make my friends come to me haha, but with more and more restaurants like this opening I don’t mind crossing the river one bit! :)

Excellent food. Our party of 8 was very satisfied with the presentation and quality of the dishes.
Service was attentive and friendly.
It was a busy night, but the food came out in a very reasonable amount of time.
This place has got it down!
Only problem was the reservations. Would recommend that you call them to reconfirm your reservation a few times before the date as they have «lost» our reservations a few times.

Culinary masterpieces. That’s what comes to mind when I think of the dishes I’ve enjoyed at XIX Nineteen. For the most part…
The appetizers were the highlight of the night. Next time I’d be tempted to order a couple of appetizers instead of an entrée. The Dungeness crab cakes ($ 18) were absolutely fricken delicious. The salsa served with them was out of this world. My SO had a half salad with ahi tuna ($ 13) and he said it was the best salad he’s ever had in a restaurant.
For entrees, I was less impressed, but not to the point where I wouldn’t recommend what we ordered. I went with the short rib based on server’s recommendation. The onion rings served on top was a unique touch, but what really made the dish for me was the Bernaise sauce. Probably the best bernaise sauce I’ve ever tasted. This was the most generous portion or short rib I’ve had in a restaurant, which was nice to see. But it wasn’t the most moist I’ve had. Still good though! Amazing sauces. The SO had the truffle linguine with a perfectly cooked chicken breast. This was a fairly small portion dish compared to the short rib. Both these entrees were between $ 35-​$ 40 each (can’t remember exactly). We did find the food to be a bit more salty than we are used to or would prefer, to the point where they lose a star.
We passed on dessert, but given it was my SO’s b-​day, they brought out a cute sparkler candle with a piece of chocolate and fruit. That was a really nice touch.
If you’re a picky eater, or dine with a picky eater, fear not! They are more than willing to make accommodations here.
I noticed some other reviewers don’t care much for the service here, but I thought our server was very professional, and kept with the fine dining atmosphere they seem to be going for here. The dress code… looks like you can get away with jeans or dressing up here.
If you’re not up for a higher end dining atmosphere (or prices), there’s a lounge, where you can order from both the lounge menu and dining room menu. I’m told there are great lounge specials during happy hour from 3pm — 6pm, so I’ll definitely have to check that out. They also have a really nice cocktail menu.

Friendly people, nice and cozy environment.
I tried rack of lamb and the chimichurri sauce was amazing. Small portion and a bit pricy.
We tried pizookie for dessert and it was AMAZING! best dessert I’ve ever had! Highly recommended.

5 stars for their food (lunch!) and 4 stars for service.
My fiancé and I came here on a whim yesterday afternoon (Sunday). We were wanting to go for lunch and since we were heading to the Southside, I thought we should go to a place near our final destination (Terwillegar Rec Center). I perused Open Table and lo and behold Nineteen was available. So we booked a reservation for 1:30 pm and headed over.
We were surprised to be the only guests there when we arrived. We decided to sit in the dining room area (vs. the lounge). And were seated at a nice sized table in the far back corner with views of the most of the dining room and the open-​style kitchen.
I ordered the beef burger which was made with freshly ground beef tenderloin and topped with caramelized onions, smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and a tomato — basil mayo. Oh it was excellent! I haven’t had such a yummy burger in a very long time. The patty was moist and seasoned well and all the toppings made for a messy but well-​rounded burger. My fiancé totally agreed. It came with thick-​cut seasoned fries and ketchup which was also good.
My fiancé ordered the soup and sandwich special of the day: Loaded baked potato soup with a pork belly torpedo sandwich. Our server neglected to describe in any detail about the sandiwch itself but my fiancé loves anything pork belly that he ordered it anyways. I had a bite of the sandwich and it was really enjoyable too. I think it came with cucumber and some sort of pickled vegetable topping (which gave it some brightness and freshness). He poilished that off fast and really enjoyed his soup as well which he said was rich and full of flavor.
Overall, we were both happy customers as the food left us satisfied and we will be sure to be back again, especially if we’re craving a burger!

Absolutely amazing food with a good wine selection. Menu is not extensive but great selections. Slightly expensive but the food is worth it. Very nice atmosphere with comfortable seating. Service is wonderful and very attentive. Be sure to make a reservation.

Easy online reservations. Delicious sauces. French japanese fusion dishes. Great appetizers. Innovative cocktails.
Easy access from the anthony henday highway. Its pretty easy to find despite the ever changing landscape. Ample parking. There is online reservations available via opentable. I found it difficult to get a reservation as there was only several time slots available. But upon arrival the restaurant was not even half full.
Seating is a bit cramped and you are seated really close to other diners in in every direction. Which was a bit uncomfortable bc if i wanted to eavesdrop i could of listened to 3 tables conversations. One on both sides of me and behind me. It was a tad awkward and for a fancy restaurant which was a bummer bc when you spend a few hundred on a meal you want a little privacy. So minus a star for the cramped seating arrangement (literally to get out of the booth other patrons had to say excuse me bc i had to shuffle a bit so they could get out!)
The food though was superb. Fresh fish and game was cooked to perfection. But the sauces which accompanied each dish were flavourful and delicious. All of the dishes were asian dishes influenced by french cooking styles. Two of my favourite cooking styles.
The irving farm kakuni was fabulous. A crispy but extremely tender and juicy piece of pork belly. It was drowning in an amazing brown sauce which was tangy and sweet. So delicious i mopped up every drop with my spoon. The portion was small gone in a few bites. but pretty satisfying.
The lamb shank was tender and seasoned well. The meat just fell off the bone. The sauce served with it was tangy and sweet with a lovely wine aftertaste.
The halibut was extremely fresh. Memorably fresh that it flaked off easily with a fork and had a sweet mild taste that proved its freshness. The lemon dijon crusted pasta served with it was truly an asian fusion dish. At first it was quite odd. But the dish grew on me. It was not an amazing flavour but it was uniquely intriguing. Every bite was definetly tantalizing the tastebuds. The sourness and kick of the mustard gave it a unigue spiceness which was truly unexpected. The dish was good.
For dessert I tried 2 things because I couldnt choose one. The crème brûlée was very good. An average crème brûlée. Done right with a crisp sugar coated topping. it was smooth and overly sweet for my tastes but there was really nothing wrong with it.
I was excited for the lemon soufflé. But when I recieved it was a just a lemon gelato/​ice cream. It looked nicer than it tasted and was somewhat boring. it was definetly not as good as it was described. Overall the desserts i tried were lacking. They were described deliciously but tasted plain and boring. If you are into super simple desserts that look delicious. Then go for it, For me I will skip dessert next time.
Overall the food was good. The freshness of the food is what appeals to me and the fusion cooking is very different to other restaurants in the edmonton area. It was not as intimate as I thoought it would be. This disappointed me as I was on a birthday dinner and it just seemed crowded for my liking despite many other tables being empty. They squished everyone together in one area??? Odd when theres tons of epty tables. Price wise. Its expensive. Not cheap although portions are large for the mains. Overall if I want to eat french/​japanese food. Ill be coming here again. But for me its more of a special occasion dining establishment. Due to the high prices it was one of the priciest restaurants I have been to in Edmonton.

So delicious. Can’t say a negative thing.
You can tell the food is very high quality because you feel good after. The beef short ribs are the best I’ve ever tasted. I LOVE that they have filtered water and use organic ingredients!

This restaurant only gets 3 stars and it’s mostly due to service. The food and cocktails while a tad overpriced are very delicious.
The problem lies with our stuck up server who treated me and my tattooed friends/​family like delinquents. We may have stood out but were not any different than any other patron that was sitting on the patio. It’s rare that I go out and feel uncomfortable at a restaurant in Edmonton. It’s unfortunate that this restaurant’s staff caters to the sheep of the world because it’s food is fit for royalty. Regardless of how we were treated I would try it again because it’s in my neighbourhood.

Just had lunch at the delicious XIX for the first time, what a treat!
I had the San Mateo salad with chicken and it may have been one of the best salads I’ve ever had. My girlfriend, who was celebrating her bday, had the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich with salad and said it was very tasty as well. I would suggest the Pizookie for desert if you like warm, fresh cookies. I had the Signature Warm Butter Cake and it was exactly the right size for a lunch desert. Our server was absolutely fantastic – he made suggestions, talked food with us and checked on us regularly. He told us that they are opening another location in St. Albert, where he will manage. Get ready St. Albert, you’ve got an incredibly great restaurant coming your way!!! I would definitely recommend and will be back for my own birthday!

Servers were very nice, beef tataki is soooo good!
Escargot had what I think was currie in it?
Id prefer it more traditional.

Hubby-​to-​be (boyfriend at the time) & I were looking for a new place to try for a late lunch that was not only romantic but something more fancy. (We wanted to dress up a bit).
I found this restaurant thanks to Unilocal & we opted to give it a try; worst decision of our lives.
Upon entering, it’s a beautiful setting, but the staff seemed to be very uppity & snobbish. We had a reservation & were immediately seated (it seemed to be empty except for a set of two other customers); our waitress was prompt in arriving & providing a one page menu (with literally, nothing I could eat). I was in the mood for wine & asked for a suggestion, the one she suggested, I did fall in love with (& did buy a bottle a few days later).
We asked if there were any other options for the menu, and her response was that the menu provided was only what they served during that time. Which was a huge disappointment as I literally could eat nothing on the menu (other than dessert). We opted to have dessert & go elsewhere for real food.
I wouldn’t return; their lack of variety in choice for foods was disappointing. The service from the waitress was okay, the other staff not so much.

Fantastic restaurant! Been there only once so far but it was a great experience. The server was friendly, and the food was delicious from start to finish. Although it’s a bit far and a little too expensive to enjoy often, I would definitely go there again and would recommend it to friends and family.

Excellent restaurant. Clean and very busy. A little on the pricey side but worth it. The chef is also the owner and you can tell as the attention to detail on all the dishes is there.
The waiters are relaxed which is nice. They aren’t stuck up like you see in other expensive restaurants
We told him we didn’t want to rush and he worked with that. We ordered the next course as each course came out.
Will for sure be back!

Well worth the wait. We waited a couple of weeks for a reservation on the weekend. The experience was absolutely outstanding. From the décor and ambiance to the service. Absolutely first class.
It was a pleasure to sample Head Chef Andrew Fung’s creations. His culinary team does not disappoint.
Definitely worth having the Pearjito Martini before dinner.
So many great starters and salads to try we had a hard time. My wife and I tried the following;
Double smoked bacon wrapped Scallop — absolutely amazing;
Gull Valley Tomato and Bocconcini Salad — excellent flavours with the addition of prosciutto;
Beet and Quebec Goat Cheese — great twist with torched goat cheese and walnut beet coulis;
New Belgium Ale Chicken — the Irving farm bacon hash is great with the chicken;
Alberta AAA Beef Tenderloin — no steak knife needed here. You could use a spoon.
No room for dessert.
Everything we sampled was excellent from the presentation to the compilation of flavours.
We will definitely be back.