The Pourhouse 14/20

Reviewed by Bryce Zimmerman

It's always nice to be surprised. I recently went to The Pourhouse on Whyte Avenue for dinner with a couple friends, and it was not even remotely my first choice, but it was two to one so I begrudgingly accepted my fate. It turned out to be far less of a yuppie bar, and actually had a surprising depth to the food and drinks. Most Edmonton establishments have an interesting name, but don't stick to the theme of it, however The Pourhouse does have an extensive beer collection, and offers limited runs of exotic beers that stay on the menu until they run out of stock, then it's on to something new.

On the Caesar front, they definitely did not overlook the drink. In fact, they had their own version of it. It's called The Pourhouse Caesar on the menu and for 9 bucks it has two ounces of Skyy vodka. Now compared to most, I think that is a pretty good deal in terms of alcohol for dollars. Now to make it their own they added a bit of horseradish, and rimmed the glass with Montreal Steak Spice. The montreal steak spice is always a nice touch. It has a bit more of a pronounced flavor with less of a salt kick. This means it isn't quite as bright of a finish. The horseradish adds some good flavor, and makes it taste similar to cocktail sauce. I liked the variety, but I wouldn't want to drink it all the time. The overall taste of the Caesar was nice and spicy without being overpowering, and the garnish was fairly usual, but I will always take the bean over the celery since I loved pickled things.

Price $9 (two ounces of vodka)

Taste: 4/5
Creativity: 3.5/5
Garnish: 3/5
Bang for your buck: 3.5/5

Total: 14/20

Verdict: A Caesar with a twist that isn't a miss.

http://www.pourhouseonwhyte.com/