Atlantic Kitchen St Albert
Overview
Everyone has a go to place for a favorite meal or special craving. The Atlantic Kitchen in St Albert is one of my go to places for fresh fish and fries. They don’t serve traditional chips, they serve homemade fresh fries with skin on Russet potatoes. Monica and I traditionally try to go once a month as we both enjoy fresh Fish . My parents were down for a visit recently and we decided to take them out for Fish at the Atlantic Kitchen.
My Dad is not a culinary expert but he knows fish. Dad was born and raised in Newfoundland and his father was a fisherman who fished the Labrador Coast and fished inshore for years. I consider Dad an expert on fish; he has eaten more fish is his lifetime than most people have had McDonalds. We headed out on a Friday night and arrived about 6 pm, we were sat down at a table and our waitress grabbed our drink orders. Our Drinks came quickly and we all ordered 2 piece fish and fries with Cod of course. I added dressing to my order. For those who don’t know what dressing is, ” Newfoundland Bread Dressing” It’s Summer Savory, Sautéed Onions, Butter and Fine Fresh Bread Crumbs. It’s one of my favourites.
The menu is a traditional Maritime restaurant menu that you would find out the bay at any out-port in Newfoundland or Nova Scotia . The Atlantic Kitchen caters to the traditional foods of all 4 Atlantic Provinces by using local fresh ingredients that can only be found in the Maritimes. Most Albertans wouldn’t know what a Jiggs Dinner was or a Cold Plate because it is not on the weekly menu at home. However, for a Maritimer a Jiggs Dinner is a taste of Moms or Nan’s Sunday Dinner, it’s a taste of home. Fish cakes and Toutons are on the Menu also with a Newfoundland staple… Maple Leaf Fried Bologna; you can almost smell the salt air as you eat here.
I have only eaten fish here, but talking to some of the other diners the Jiggs Dinner and cold plate are always a hit, diners seen to love it.
The Friday night we were there you could tell that the restaurant was about 75% full of Maritimers; you could hear the Cape Breton Rasp and Newfoundland Baymen accents throughout the restaurant.
Review
The Fish came out quickly, within 15 min, the French fries were cooked single stage( no blanching) they were piping hot. They make a traditional Homemade Dark Gravy at the Atlantic Kitchen. This is made by adding gravy browning to the beef and turkey stock they use for Gravy and gives it a dark texture and color. The Coleslaw is a mayonnaise vinegar based dressing; the cabbage is finely grated and carrots and fresh green onions are added to the coleslaw with a slight touch of sugar. This allows you get the sweet and sour flavor yet creamy, this a very good coleslaw. The fish batter is crispy not greasy and the fish was perfectly cooked. My Fries and Dressing were how Fries and Dressing is suppose to be served. I turned around to my dad and he said” Pretty Good Fish for Alberta” and I knew then he was happy. Both Monica and my Mom enjoyed their Fish. In the Edmonton Area this is the place for Fish and Fries, Its Maritime comfort food at its best.
Final Thoughts
Atlantic Kitchen is the best local Maritime restaurant in the Edmonton area. The fish is hot, the batter is crispy, it’s everything you would expect from a Fish Shop. With locations in St Albert and Fort Saskatchewan it’s worth the drive. Atlantic Kitchen gets 8.3 bites out of 10. Also they have a wonderful gift store , with many traditional Maritime Confections, Biscuits and other goodies.
