St. Albert Pub: The Ridge Social Eatery

Commuting out to St. Albert used to be easy. You’d head up Mark Messier Trail, to St. Albert Trail, and go into the heart of the city and figure it out from there. But St. Albert has spread east, west and north — and it feels like every time I go there, I find out about new neighbourhoods and spots to try.

On the rapidly developing western edge of the city, out by Ray Gibbon Drive, homes and businesses are replacing what used to be field after field. And while it’s not brand new, my latest St. Albert trek took me to The Ridge Social Eatery, where I met a friend for lunch. It’s an airy spot at the end of a strip mall, with booths for quiet conversations and some open bar and table spaces for group conversations.

The menu varies from fried mashed potatoes (hello, Chicago) to gyoza to burgers, tacos to rice bowls. So, the approach is everything—and-the-kitchen-sink menu. But, because fish-and-chips reviews tend to do very well when it comes to readership numbers, I opt for that. And, I order an Old Fashioned, just because it was the kind of afternoon that screamed “you could use a drink.” And, the Old Fashioned is the simplest test of a bar — kind of like cooking an egg properly is a test for young chefs. I’ve been to too many pubs where it’s whiskey and a cherry and crushed ice and what the hell is this. But, the drink is lovely, served with a swizzle stick with sugar at the end, and a nice dark cherry. It’s a great way to start the meal.

My friend gets the Chicken Quesadillas. And while we expect these things to be served pancake-thin, hers are stuffed with a mix of chicken, peppers, green onion and cheese. These look more like slices of pie. So, give this place credit for not making Quesadillas feel like a throwaway from the children’s menu.

My East Coast Fish and Chips feature two pieces of haddock fried in beer batter. The chips are nicely done, not too soggy, not too crispy, and the fish batter has a really good crunch. It holds up well even when doused in tartar sauce.