In Edmonton, the heart of Alberta, Canada, when night falls, many couples and their families choose to have a romantic dinner together at this important moment. Although the city is famous for its oil sands and ice and snow, it hides a number of specialty restaurants with both artistic atmosphere and delicious food.
When the afterglow falls on the river valley, when the lights come on, the candlelight and fine wine interweave into a warm atmosphere, making people want to make the best promise to the “her” or “him” in their lives at this moment.
1. The Butternut Tree: A poem of lights overlooking the city valley
Restaurant history and overview
The Butternut Tree was founded in 2017 by local celebrity chef Scott Downey, who has traveled to many places in New York and Scandinavia, bringing together modern North American cooking techniques and Alberta local ingredients. This boutique restaurant located on the upper floors of the downtown government building takes “Gifts of the Land” as its core concept, emphasizes sustainable, seasonal and local procurement, and insists on establishing long-term partnerships with local farms and fisheries. Thanks to the wide floor-to-ceiling windows, the indoor space has a bird’s eye view of the magnificent Edmonton River Valley and the Legislative Building, and becomes the most moving background of the city at night.
Food Features and Taste
The tasting menu, which is updated every season, is the restaurant’s signature dish. This season’s “Winter Forest” theme includes many unique dishes:
Grilled Arctic char: The skin is slightly charred but tender, and the fish meat is rich in fat. It is paired with local vanilla cream sauce. The layered dish design makes the taste both refreshing and deep;
Black garlic beef rib eye: The beef rib eye is slow-cooked at low temperature to keep the meat juicy, and then the black garlic puree is used to enhance the flavor, bringing a hint of sweetness; paired with creamy carrot puree and roasted chicory, it balances the fat;
Sour maple syrup mousse: The mousse seasoned with sour maple syrup is light and soft, with a slightly bitter aftertaste, and interweaves with hazelnut crisps to create a delicate aftertaste.
The ingredients follow the “from field to table” principle, presenting the original scenery of the winter woodland. The accompanying wine list is also from local wineries and selected European brands, perfectly matching each chef’s ingenuity.
Dining experience
When booking, please note special holidays or proposal occasions, and the restaurant will arrange roses and candlesticks in advance. After sitting by the window, the cool river breeze and warm light interweave, rendering the space atmosphere like a dream. Before the appetizers are served, the sommelier will introduce the origin and year of each wine in detail; the service team will adjust the serving rhythm and lighting to the right pace of the meal. The whole dining process is like a carefully choreographed ceremony, creating an excellent atmosphere for the proposal ceremony.
Location and Reservation
Address: 9707 110 St NW, Edmonton, AB
Reservation Platform: OpenTable, Tock (supports online seat selection and notes)
Budget: Tasting set menu for two is about CAD 220 (excluding drinks), about CAD 260 after tip
2. Rge Rd: Dialogue between the original forest and the flavor of the land
Restaurant History and Background
Founded in 2013, Rge Rd (meaning “Range Road”) was led by chef Blair Lebsack and was deeply influenced by the local “food first” movement. The restaurant has its own Northwoods Farm, where meat and fruits and vegetables go directly from the field to the kitchen. It pursues the concept of “Whole Animal Cuisine”, advocates not wasting ingredients and respecting the value of each part. The dining space is mainly made of logs and red bricks, as if you are in a forest cabin, and the natural simplicity echoes the wild elements in the menu.
Food Features and Taste
The daily menu is based on the day’s harvest from the farm and local fisheries. Here is a typical experience:
Wagyu Beef Heart Tartare: Diced beef heart is combined with tender raw meat, supplemented with slightly sour kimchi and roasted seeds, with a clear taste layer;
The Questionable Bits: It includes roasted bone marrow, beef tongue, wild boar sausage and other parts, bringing a strong wildness and chewiness;
Roasted duck breast with walnut sauce: The duck breast has a crispy skin and juicy meat, and the nutty aroma of walnut sauce is perfectly combined with duck fat;
Seasonal wild mushroom soup: Selected from local forests, it has a dense taste and a fragrant aroma.
The dishes are known for bold seasoning and innovative use of parts, which not only retains the authenticity of the ingredients, but also challenges the diners’ perception of taste buds.
Dining experience
The long table seats in front of the open kitchen, the kitchen team cooks on the spot, and diners can interact directly with the chef to understand the source of ingredients and cooking techniques. The dining rhythm is free and there is no need to be restrained; each dish is served with a short story, telling the journey from farm to table. The overall atmosphere is down-to-earth but not without refinement, especially suitable for couples who seek “primitive wildness” but pay attention to quality.
Location and reservation method
Address: 10643 123 St NW, Edmonton, AB
Reservation suggestion: OpenTable or phone reservation; reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance on holidays and weekends
Budget: CAD 100–150 per person, including drinks, about CAD 250 for two people
3. La Ronde: Romance of the city skyline in a revolving restaurant
Restaurant history and charm
Located on the top floor of Chateau Lacombe Hotel, La Ronde has been the only revolving restaurant in Edmonton since its opening in 1967. After several renovations and upgrades, it still retains the classic panoramic sightseeing structure: the restaurant slowly rotates once every 90 minutes, just so that diners can enjoy the charming scenery of the city changing day and night during the meal. The fusion of French classics and modern Canadian cuisine gives this high-altitude restaurant a unique romantic gene.
Food Features and Taste
This experience features three classic menus:
French foie gras with apple jelly: foie gras that melts in your mouth is paired with slightly sour jelly, and the refreshing taste after balancing the oil;
Pan-fried sea bass with bean curd cream sauce: the fish skin is crispy, the fish meat is tender, and the bean curd and cream blend to create a unique flavor;
Belgian 70% cocoa lava chocolate cake: the outer layer is light and crispy, the inner core is flowing, and the chocolate is moderately bitter and sweet.
Each dish strikes a delicate balance between classic and innovation, satisfying the taste buds and full of visual beauty.
Dining atmosphere
When the evening starts to rotate, the city is coated with a layer of gentleness by the golden afterglow; after night falls, the lights of thousands of homes slowly pass by the window, creating a beautiful atmosphere like under the starry sky. The service team will confirm the special occasion when booking, and give champagne and handwritten greeting cards during the dessert session. Whether whispering or kneeling on one knee, the revolving high-altitude restaurant is like a live version of a romantic movie.
Location and reservation suggestions
Address: 10111 Bellamy Hill NW, Edmonton, AB (top floor of Chateau Lacombe Hotel)
Reservation platform: OpenTable, reservations must be made at least three weeks in advance for Valentine’s Day and major festivals
Budget: Three-course set menu for two + champagne is about CAD 300
4. Uccellino: The encounter between Italian home-style and urban fashion
Restaurant history
In 2016, Uccellino was launched by the team at the helm of Edmonton’s high-end restaurant group Corso 32. It means “little bird”, symbolizing the free, light and passionate Italian life. The open kitchen design seamlessly connects the cooking scene with the dining space, and the simple but exquisite style perfectly matches the urban atmosphere.
Food Features and Taste
Focus on modern Italian home cooking, with precise ingredients and seasoning to bring authentic flavors:
Handmade Tagliatelle al Ragu: The noodles are chewy and elastic, and the meat sauce uses slow-cooked tomatoes and spices, which is fragrant but not greasy;
Seared octopus with mustard leaf mashed potatoes: The octopus has a slightly crispy skin and is tender and juicy inside. The mustard leaves bring a slightly spicy stimulation, which complements the dense mashed potatoes;
Classic Tiramisu: Mascarpone cheese is light and fluffy, and the coffee aroma and cocoa powder complement each other, with just the right sweetness;
Homemade olive oil and sea salt bread: The crust is slightly crispy and the inside is soft, served with high-quality extra virgin olive oil and sea salt, which is the perfect prelude to the meal.
The wine list is a selection of Italian fine wines, from Prosecco to Barolo.
Dining atmosphere
Under the soft lighting, the space is quiet and stylish. The bar seats in front of the open kitchen give you a panoramic view of the chef’s operation, so you can watch the production process and communicate with the chef. The music in the restaurant complements the rhythm of the meal. The waiters are enthusiastic but not noisy. They take care of the needs of each table of diners just right, making the whole meal experience warm and ceremonial.
Location and reservation method
Address: 10349 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, AB
Reservation platform: OpenTable or phone reservation; reservations must be made more than one week in advance on weekends
Budget: Three courses for two + red wine, about CAD 120 per person
Edmonton, a northern city, hides a unique romantic experience in the alternation of cold wind and sunshine.
Accompanied by food, fine wine and lights, every careful reservation will become the most moving picture in each other’s memory, and will also provide the most romantic answer to the question “Will you marry me?” May every love shine in the night of Edmonton.
