Parlour Italian Kitchen & Bar
June 21, 2015
I remember when Parlour had just opened last winter, I would go there every week. Unfortunately during my recent visit, I found out that they no longer served my favorite potato pizza. I was pretty sad because it’s hard to find potatoes on pizza anywhere. I did find a different pizza on the menu with potatoes but was it just as good?
Parlour Italian Kitchen & Bar is a mix between casual and fine dining Italian fare. It’s owned by Century Hospitality, the same group who owns many restaurants in Edmonton (Lux Steakhouse, Delux Burger Bar, and MKT to name some). The interior and decor is quite spacious and modern, with brick covered walls and a big sign that says EAT on one of the walls to remind you why you’re there. Pizza and pasta appear to be their main focus but it’s not your typical Italian food. Parlour has put a unique twist in flavour on each item to ensure that it stands out from your regular Italian restaurant. The prices are a bit higher than they should be, though.
I’m normally not the biggest fan of vegetables but our server recommended the cauliflower fritto ($12). It was actually pretty interesting and I really enjoyed it. I felt healthy while eating it hahah. The cauliflower was covered in a tempura-like batter that wasn’t too greasy. It had a nice crisp to it as well and the seasoning gave it flavour. The mayo-like dipping sauce wasn’t too creamy but was almost refreshing. The portion of the cauliflower fritto was huge for two people. It doesn’t look like there’s a lot but I felt like it was never ending when my friend and I were eating.
I ordered The Hangover pizza for myself which is usually $16. We went during happy hour (between 4-6 pm) so all pizzas were only $10! The pizzas at Parlour are meant to serve 2-3 people but I guess you can eat it all to yourself if you’re super hungry. All the pizzas are thin crusted and baked in a stone encased wood burning oven. My pizza was topped with pancetta, fior di latte mozzarella, green onion, fried egg, potato fritto, cherry tomatoes, and green onions. I was disappointed with the pizza I had ordered. It didn’t compare to The Knucklehead, which is the potato pizza that I had always ordered. The taste was bland and none of the ingredients stood out. The fried egg looked like it was thrown on top of the pizza after it had been baked. I would’ve much preferred an egg that was cooked into the toppings. The potato pieces could’ve been presented more nicely as it looked like random french fries all around. The only thing that saved this pizza was the fact that I only paid $10 for it and it was somewhat filling.
For dessert, we shared a lemon tart ($8). I had already tried this before on a previous visit, along with the tiramisu and chocolate torta. The lemon tart was my favorite out of the three so I knew I had to eat it again. The lemon tart was tangy and sweet but it wasn’t overwhelming. It was topped with fluffy Italian meringue and fresh blueberries. The crust was a bit hard and made me question the freshness of the dessert. A sweet ending to a mediocre meal.
I’m not sure if I would return to Parlour anytime soon but if I did, I would order a pasta instead of a pizza. I’ve had the Twenty Layer Lasagna on more than one occasion and that usually leaves me satisfied. Better luck next time, Parlour.
Address: 10334 108 Street
