In an era where we’ve seen the rise of quick-but-good eateries and a rush towards casual dining, Braven is a throwback. It’s the kind of place that dares you to toss your credit card onto the table with devil-may-care abandon, with a menu that’s, dare I say it, masculine in a 1970s kind of way. From giant steaks to a wonderful short rib dish to iceberg lettuce in the salad — and don’t forget the big pair of longhorns on the wall — the Oliver & Bonacini group has gone wonderfully retro in reimagining what a hotel restaurant can be. Finish the night off with maybe the most ridiculous dessert in Edmonton: The Black Forest Eton Mess Sundae, which is messy, with chocolate shards sticking out of it at impossible angles; it’s meant to be shared by the table.
