9 Eateries with Great Vibes in Alberta’s Lakeland
Sometimes, you just need a place to grab a quick pizza or burger and carry on with your day, whatever that looks like.
Other times, you seek an experience—a vibe—beyond the food; where the ambience is also phenomenal, the people running the place are creative, or the venue exudes a great ‘we can’t believe this is here’ vibe.
Each of these 9 special eateries in Alberta’s Lakeland, a few hours from Edmonton, oozes a vibe we can’t describe. But, we’ll try, and then tell you why.
Visit them all and fuel up with scrumptious fare in these 9 super ambient places.
- The Gathering Place Co-op, Waskatenau, Alberta
- The Old School Cheesery, Vermilion, Alberta
- Beantrees Café, Cold Lake, Alberta
- Jennie’s Diner & Bakery, Bonnyville, Alberta
- Emma’s Convenience Store, Cold Lake, Alberta
- Twisted Fork, St. Paul, Alberta
- Fat Unicorn Brewery Tap & Grill, Lac La Biche, Alberta
- CJ’s Café, Myrnam, Alberta
- Loco Burro Asian Fresh Mexican and Asian Grill, Vegreville, Alberta
The Gathering Place Co-op, Waskatenau, Alberta
Why Go? Ukrainian Plate!
It’s a co-op, but not THE Co-op, if you know what we mean. Here, you can buy locally grown farm products, pre made and frozen meals, from a cooperative of small farmers and neighbours with a vision to “gather and grow together.”
The newly renovated building, just south of Long Lake Provincial Park and north of Waskatenau, also has a cozy country restaurant serving a massive Ukrainian Plate. The plate comes with 10 perogies fried with butter, onions & bacon lardons, as well as garlic sausage, sour cabbage rolls and a garnish of sour cream & green onions. Bring friends!
The menu has all kinds of appetizers, and main dishes, such as Schnitzel and Cottage Pie. When a bacon topped cheese smokie with fries appears under lighter fare on this menu, you know the main entrees are going to be big.
Old School Cheesery, Vermilion
Why Go? Cheese, duh
The Old School Cheesery in Vermilion is a small family run cheesery, whose products are used by chefs at Jennie’s Diner in Bonnyville and Twisted Fork in St. Paul, also included in this vibing list. It has an in house shop and restaurant in Vermilion, however, where you can buy or taste excellent cheese curds; dill, chipotle and other kinds of cheddar; and on Tuesdays, Brie Mac and Cheese. Eclipse—a creamy Canadian style brie covered in vegetable ash—has a smoky nutty flavor.
Beantrees Café, Cold Lake, Alberta
Why Go? Excellent Coffee and Occasional Live Music
If you like great coffee and an atmospheric venue, head here. View the work of local artists and artisans while you sip your FroCo (frozen hot chocolate, of course) and grilled panini. Save room for a sweet dessert. Coffees include caramel macchiato and Vietnamese coffee and tea lattes include Arctic and Bombay fogs. Check out the Facebook page as there is often live music going on here, such as a Lakeland Songwriters Night.
Jennie’s Diner & Bakery, Bonnyville, Alberta
Why Go? Retro vibe with your milkshake
Jukebox central. Give the kids a lark and show them how to work a jukebox, the way we used to listen to music. Jennie’s Diner & Bakery is nostalgia central, with retro red chairs and black and white tiles from the 1950s. Besides all day breakfast, there are burgers and fries with gluten free options. And nothing goes better with burgers and fries than a traditional milkshake—vanilla please—or a cherry coke. If you have room after that, cupcakes, pies, and other treats close the deal.
@Emma’s Convenience StoreEmma’s Convenience Store, Cold Lake, Alberta
Why Go? Dessert eye candy and real candy
Need a six pack to go? We’re talking six packs of gorgeous and gorgeously sweet double chocolate cupcakes. It sounds like a convenience store, yes, but Emma’s Convenience Store is a trove of delicious food and desserts you can pick up from the togo cooler. Stunning birthday cakes, the nuttiest of sticky buns, as well as unusual candy and treats—very convenient if you want a sugar buzz or need a cake that awes. But, that cooler also comes stocked with ready to heat meals such as meat loaf, chicken enchiladas, chicken parmesan, as well as ready to eat Caesar salads and wraps.
Twisted Fork, St. Paul, Alberta
Why Go? Chef creations with local products
Red Seal chef Debra Poulin and her team at The Twisted Fork know how to take product from local farmers and make it shine in house with everything from Cowboy Pulled Pork to Beef Ravioli. Besides seasonal, regular and kids’ menus, Poulin comes up with a daily chef’s creation with even more local incredibleness. This family friendly restaurant on St. Paul’s Main Street is filled with local art, too, and artisan condiments that make great gifts.
Fat Unicorn Brewing Company, Lac La Biche, Alberta
Why Go? Pair your fare with local brews
Lac La Biche`s Fat Unicorn Brewery Tap & Grill brews six branded beers and a couple of seasonals with great flavour and a clean crisp finish, using only natural ingredients with no additional sugars or flavouring chemicals. And, yes, there’s food. Good food. The grill is in a big, warm space filled with dark wooden chairs and tables anchored around a polished antique car that takes the stage. An expansive menu is divvied into beers (natch!), ribs and mains, burgers and sandwiches, casual favourites and salads. You must try the smoked bacon bites and breaded pickle chips. Beers include blonde lagers, session IPAs and wheat ales.
CJ’s Café, Myrnam, AB
Why Go? Blast from the past and loaded perogies
You can also pick up a six pack here – a six pack of cinnamon buns, that is, made fresh daily here. Driving through Myrnam is like driving through a movie set from the 1930s. Classic old gas station or what used to be. Quiet streets. Prices from the 30s too – where else can you get a meal for $9.95? Stop in for a truly rural vibe. Besides homemade sandwiches, burgers and more, you’ll find some of the best Ukrainian cooking in the land here. Here, you can dine on platters of perogies and sausage with all, and we mean, all the fixings – sour cream, fried onions, bacon bits, and cole slaw.
Loco Burro Asian Fresh Mexican and Asian Grill, Vegreville, Alberta
Why Go? Mexican AND Asian
For when you can’t decide between Mexican or Asian, we bring you Loco Burro. Enjoy a perfect grilled quesadilla or burrito bowl if you feel like Mexican fare. Or, order up a spring roll or delish vermicelli bowl with your choice of protein topped with pickled carrots, cucumber, lettuce, peanuts and cilantro. Douse that with house made fish sauce. Mmm. Watch for hot beef pho and crispy ginger beef burrito specials on their Facebook page . Pickup or quick service only at this locally owned and operated licensed restaurant specializing in fresh Mexican style cuisine. With some Asian.