Daravara

Went here on a Saturday night. Loved the atmosphere the doors were like clear big garage doors that completely open up in the summer giving you that patio feel. We had these steak tortillas and they were delicious. The chicken hearts were also pretty good. Only downfall was the service was aweful. Our server looked stoned out of her mind and kept forgetting to check on us and our drinks were empty often. Also our food took almost an hour and she never acknowledged that or apologized or said the food will be right out etc. Now we did go here again as we do like the place and when we had the same server we thought forget it. She definitely drives people away, atleast us anyway.

My first Daravara experience was during brunch, and it was so good, I actually came back that same night for dinner. Yes, I am that type of person.
Let’s talk brunch first — great menu — a lot of very ‘heavy’ foods without lighter options, but let’s be real, this is a pub/​bar and if you’re watching your calories, you’re asking for trouble here! I had the turkey sausage on a biscuit and it was amazing — flavorful lean turkey (not dry) on top of a GRILLED homemade biscuit, which was pleasantly moist, slightly chewy and decadently buttery. All of that overtop super crispy hashbrowns with some creamy gravy… it was pretty heavenly.
My table mate and I also split some of the waffles with the fruit on top. They were good — crispy and hot and sweet but not too sweet. As far as waffles go, I’m not really mad at them in any shape of form so it’s hard for me to be objective here.
Speaking of waffles, when I came back that evening for dinner, I had waffles again. This time, I had the BLT chicken sandwich on waffles. It was actually an «LT» sandwich because unfortunately, I don’t eat bacon, but it was still super delicious and very creative. The grilled chicken inside was very moist and flavorful and the cheddar waffles didn’t taste that cheddar-​y, but still tasted really good.
My dining partner had the hotdog and fries — it was gone in a few bites so it must have been good, but you can’t really mess up a hot dog, can you? Fries were nice and crispy and a little salty but not offensively so.
Third time I came back, I brought my parents. It was a weekday evening and the place was fairly busy (garage doors open to let in the nice evening sun) and super loud. My dad had the steak and my mom and I split some appetizers. My boyfriend ate the brisket po’boy sandwich (I stole some brisket off it, it was rubbed in coffee and ancho and SUPER tender!). My dad’s steak was cooked perfectly to a medium rare. I had the nachos and the chicken wings. Wings were good but they weren’t «split,» so you really feel like you’re getting a true carnivore experience — I think they were a little crispier than they should have been and borderline dry, but not horrible. Nachos were doused in a homemade white cheddar sauce, so they were definitely «different» but very lacklustre in presentation and pretty small in portion size. I liked the idea (black beans and cheese sauce) but they were literally just chips dumped on a dinner plate, so it wasn’t all that impressive.
Service at Daravara is no-​frills but good. I found the best service I had out of my visits was during my brunch and when I came one morning to order take out.
Décor is interesting but the bathrooms have a weird sewery smell and I imagine it gets pretty damn hot in the summer (especially with those big garage doors and all the sunshine in your face). I’m not a big fan of the seating situation (lots of chairs where you’re sitting up high off the ground) and it’s a confusing «do I seat myself or wait to be seated» scenario when you arrive, but the food is good and it’s a relaxing (albiet loud) environment.
My wishes for Daravara — a few more «healthy» food options (ok maybe just one?), an improvement on the nachos and for the place to not be so loud and echoey and hot. I’ll keep coming back, but probably not during the peak hours, just because I’m old and don’t like shouting to my table mate.

I have never had a bad meal here. Their brunch is *incredible* — the biscuit and gravy is a must, no matter what you get. The tofu scramble was spicy and smokey and vinegary and salty and sweet and delicious. It’s a little on the heavy side because the potatoes and the tofu I think are fried — it could use maybe one more veggie? But it’s basically perfect. Service is great, friendly and quick. The specials are also fantastic — I don’t think I’ve ever been offered a vegan donair before. $ mimosas at brunch, pints start at about six bucks. +++ Would recommend.

Daravara is for better words, a gastropub, tucked away in a corner of a mini strip mall area along 124 Street. We were stuck working during the end of December so two co-​workers and I decided to celebrate an empty office by going out for lunch Wednesday afternoon.
Daravara reminds me of a hybrid between the Empress, Next Act and Dadeo’s (specifically their po boy on the menu and style of fries). The inside is decorated in an open air, industrial style with Jameson bottles doubling as lights, exposed brick painted red and two dartboards unexpectedly set up along one side of the restaurant.
Didn’t realize that they have such late hours (midnight from Tuesday-​Thursday and 2am Friday-​Saturday!) so I’ll keep them in mind next time we’re on the lookout for a late hangout spot. Their music was good — there’s even a DJ booth!
The service was okay but our waitress didn’t tell us what the special of the day was (it was Mexican corn chowder) until she wrote it on the blackboard. By then, we’d already ordered. She gave us some excuse about not knowing if there was any left which had one of my co-​workers questioning if it was scraps from yesterday. Guess that might have been the case because we were there right at noon and they open at 11:30am. My co-​worker asked a few other questions but she got short, tight lipped replies. Either the waitress doesn’t know or care about informing customers about details.
The menu is split into appetizers, fries, boards, tacos and mains.
— Brisket po boy ($ 14.00) — coffee and ancho rubbed smoked brisket with jalapeño and onion jam. The brisket was moist and tender but there was quite a bit of fat on it. Big enough that I took a couple pieces out of my po boy. I didn’t get much, if any, coffee flavour but it was still pretty tasty. The jalapeño added a nice little zing. The fries were pretty average as they weren’t crispy enough but one co-​worked loved them. The whiskey ketchup is homemade but I found it lacked any real punch. It tasted almost watered down.
— Southern fried chicken burger ($ 16.00) — crispy fried chicken, tomato and purple cabbage slaw. We shared so I was able to taste all three of the dishes we ordered. I think the fried chicken burger was my favourite. Great crunch, crispy texture without any greasiness to the chicken. The purple cabbage gave a nice contrast and freshness to the burger. Yum.
— Waffle club house ($ 15.00) — grilled chicken, house bacon, «made to order» cheddar cheese waffles, lettuce and tomato. I’m not a huge chicken and waffle type of guy but the cheddar cheese waffle had me intrigued. I liked how they added lettuce and tomato to give it a sort of BLT twist. I’ll say I enjoyed this waffle way more than Sugarbowl’s concoction.
Apparently, they open up the storefront (garage style) in the summer so it’s a perfect place to chill and enjoy a beer on those warm sunny nights. If you’re a bruncher, it runs on the weekends till 3pm. Their style reminds me of Canteen but Daravara is going more for a chill, late night neighbourhood pub vibe. You won’t be blown away by the food but you’ll leave satisfied.

Interesting open layout was the first thing I noticed. There’s no sign declaring «Seat yourself» or «please wait to be seated» so there was some confusion there. So we sat our selves and nobody seemed to mind. Service seemed a bit slow, as they appeared to be understaffed for the full-​house Saturday afternoon brunch. Ceasars on special, and they weren’t bad. I continued on my quest to find Edmonton’s best chicken and waffles. I did not find them here. The chicken was great, the batter was light and crispy and the perfect texture, the chicken was moist, tender and juicy and the sauce was the right mixture of smoky, sweet and spicy — everything worked perfect. Except for the waffles. Just kind of soggy and bland. Just not as fluffy or as crisp as you might want.
Girlfriend had the brisket and hash. Brisket was cubed rather than sliced which seemed odd, and the dish tasted a bit dry to me.
It was a decent experience. I would be willing to give Daravara another shot

Daravara is definitely a good bar and a nice place to hang out on 124 St. I like their food selection and their tofu tacos are particularly awesome. And they have a real dart board!

Daravara is super close to home for me, so I wish I liked it more than I did. On the few occasions that I’ve been here, I didn’t find anything particularly special about it. The proximity to my home is really the only thing that keeps me coming back. It doesn’t stay open too late, so it isn’t the kind of place that I would go to drink with my friends late into the evening, it’s really more of a place that I would go for food– but the food isn’t THAT great. I don’t care for going to a pub where there’s a family with small children sitting close-​by either… it just doesn’t feel right.
I’ve tried a few menu items and have never been particularly wow-​ed by any of them. The food is decent but but I would describe it as, ‘not anything I would write home about’. The beer cheese (a dip) was surprisingly unappetizing– resembling Cheez Whiz. And I actually love Cheez Whiz so I technically should have loved this, but nope! The tacos are good, but also not the best tacos in Edmonton either!
My favourite thing here is the Dart board… which is fun when you get a chance to use it!

This is probably my absolute favorite brunch spot in Edmonton! The atmosphere is blues-​hipster-​down home, the staff is friendly and attentive and the food is always delicious! They use locally sourced and in-​house made ingredients which shows in the quality of their dishes. The chicken and waffles is on point, the buttermilk biscuit Benny is delicious and the ancho-​coffee rubbed smoked brisket hash is amazing! They have a bluegrass bands on Sundays as well which makes the experience a perfect one. Now I’ve just gotta make it one night for dinner!

I really enjoy this place. The mood is relaxed, the service is great and the food is delicious. The décor is simple yet cozy. The folk/​blues rock music playing in the background sets the tone for a very welcoming vibe.
I only have ever had brunch here and it is very good. They use locally sourced goods and you can really taste that in the food. Today I had the Eggs & Hash and a coffee. I asked for my eggs to be poached medium and chose bacon as my protein. The eggs were great. Just a little runny for my toast to dip in — the way I like it. The bacon was fried to a perfect crunch and it was plentiful. The hash browns were probably my favorite and I really liked the homemade ketchup to dip them in. It was a satisfying meal and a great way to start my day.

The décor inside of Daravara is very minimalistic. On first impression it can seem very cold and uninviting. Give it a chance, sit down and let the Server take care of you. After a few minutes you will start to notice that neighborhood pub vibe. Everyone there is friendly and wanting to make sure you have a great experience! There are huge garage type doors that open the front of the restaurant to the fresh air and sunshine in the warmer months.
They have some lovely craft brews on tap, with one seasonal rotation. The menu is smaller and from what the staff says, rotates a couple of times per year. It is listed as «BBQ» in a couple of the apps that you would use to find the location, and of course that intrigues me.
I am the first person that is going to try the weirdest thing on the menu. I am just adventurous like that. My first taste adventure at Daravara was the «Popcorn Chicken Hearts». I am a fan of Curried Chicken Hearts that a friend makes, so I was looking forward to these. My Husband decided to try the
«Beef Brisket Po’Boy».
You can really make a mess of Chicken Hearts very easily. They cook like Calamari. Very easy to turn into a rubbery, unedible mess. I am happy to report that these were tender and juicy and full of awesome!
The Beef Brisket here is truly low and slow style BBQ. It is rubbed in coffee and then put in the smoker for 5 hours. I loved the Chicken Hearts, but was now regretting my menu choice. The Brisket is tender, the flavour isn’t competition style, but more subtle and slightly smoky. It was on my wishlist for my next visit.
The first visit was meant to scope out the venue for a larger group that needed a meeting location. Daravara doesn’t take reservations. I did want to call them though and let them know that we had a group of 15 coming and we wanted to be able to find a seat. They were very accommodating and actually set aside an area for us. (Thank you!!) Everyone really enjoyed their food.
This visit I was able to try the «Burnt Honey and Garlic Roasted Cauliflower» which I am completely in love with. It has a crispy outside and a tender, juicy inside. The flavour of the burnt honey and garlic is so good together, it is just delicious. I was able to have the Brisket Po’ Boy as well, all to myself.
Daravara utilizes Irving Farms and Wild Game Meats. All meats and sausages are cured, smoked, brined and prepared in house. My husband tells me that I need to try the wings next. They are smoked and then sauced.
I am very much looking forward to going back for my next visit.

Daravara has become my go-​to for «gastopub» fare. (Hate that term. It sounds like the stomach condition that follows a night of bad draft…)
Excellent selection of beer, great staff, and a highly original menu full of big winners.
The menu, while small, is friendly to both the vegetarian and hard core carnivore.
My personal favourite is the Popcorn Chicken Hearts, which are to die for, if not from. They are a decadent indulgence I allow myself on occasion.
I understand they do a weekend brunch, which is something I have yet to check out, though I expect that will happen soon.

The food is mouthwatering. I had a Brisket Po Boy and my tastebuds started dancing after the first bite. A brisket is easy to fuck up but not these guys. Each cube was tender, juicy and delicious. You got to try this place.

This review is solely of their brunch menu, which they have until 3pm on weekends (who knew?).
It wasn’t packed or anything (though parking was), but it was super dark inside. With the bright light from outside streaming in the window wall, it make it hard to see my friend who I was sitting across from. It had a neat atmosphere to it, but it really felt like an empty bar at that time of day… (which, yes, it is, but some places transform themselves for different meal-​times better)
In terms of food, most of the brunch items were a) really expensive (like $ 15 – 17) and b) not things I really liked (lots of benedict and biscuits).
I went with the ½ Waffle w/​Fruit — for $ 6 I really didn’t expect much. But the waffle was quite good — more than enough to fill me up and it had some good flavour. I just wish it came with a better topping than syrup… something to jazz it up. The fruit it came with tasted like those fruit cocktail cans. it was overly sweet and so cold that it really really hurt my sensitive teeth. All around, not recommended.
I tried a bite of my friends chicken & waffles — it looked SO good… but I honestly didn’t love the chicken. It had too much breading or whatever on it and was kind of dry and flavourless.
Oh well. Next time, Daravara, next time (because I still want to check out their main menu).

Well I’ve driven by a few times and always wondered about this little gem.
I’ll start by saying excellent. I love the décor and the very clean look.
So a business associate and I decide to get a bite and a pint after work on Friday.
I live close to this place so I thought, hey now would be the perfect time to check it out.
My friend ordered the waffle club house sandwich. And I had to have hot chicken wings.
Well he was very happy with his sandwich and the chicken wings or some of the best that I’ve had in the city. All made in house and fresh to order. Even the ketchup is made from scratch in house.
Stevan then ordered the desert it was some kind of an apple strudel pastry thing. All I’ll say is it didn’t take him long to finish that either.
So if you’re up for a nice room great service (Denise with a great smile) and great food, head down to the Daravara for a bite and a bevy.
I will most definitely be back with my appetite and looking to quench my thirst with more friends in tow.
Oh By the way the owner is from Ireland and the name comes from a lake by where she grew up. Daravara, This is the English way of saying.
Hi highly recommend it.
Cheers

Daravara is spectacular for brunch. One of the best spots in the city without contention. Tried a wide variety of the menu including the French toast, cornmeal pancakes, dirty burger, and the chicken & waffles. Everything was really good, but between the four the French toast was the best. Taste for all four was unreal. The design of the restaurant was really cool and have Daravara it’s own unique touch. Would recommend to all.

If you haven’t had brunch at Daravara, you are doing yourself a disservice.
Why are you waiting in line for an hour at Cora? Come here instead, walk right in, have a $ 5 mimosa and whatever is on special– it won’t disappoint you.
I had the smoked pastrami special. I guess Daravara bought the smoker from the Petroleum Club and they are putting that bad boy to work. The pastrami was smokier than bacon, served on a potato hash, and was one of the most incredible meats I’ve ever had.
Boyfriend had the dirty burger which I can only assume he loved since he inhaled it before I could even ask for a bite.
They have great coffee, awesome service, and we will absolutely be back.

Great atmosphere, good to great food, great service. I love having it in the area which is rich in good food and fun people. Lots of selection of beer and wine.
We were there for a Thursday night and found just what we were looking for. And there is parking in front, always a bonus on 124.

Don’t get down to this neighborhood all that often but had heard good stuff about Daravara. We went after work on one of those strange July afternoons where it was super sunny and hot but interrupted by two short but strong rainstorms that last about 5 minutes each. The wide open storefront provided the perfect vantage to enjoy this strange weather.
The food was excellent. I had the special which was loaded with bacon (and included some kind of secret bacon jam) and was one of the better burgers I’ve had in quite some time. My wife ordered the Werewolf fries with her chicken and it was also quite tasty.
The beer was priced about what you’d expect from this type of joint.
The server was quite friendly and the service was quick and attentive.
When we got there — around 5pm on a thursday, it was empty, but was filled to capacity when we left at about 7:30.
I’m more of a southside kind of guy, so I’d peg this place as a kind of Next Act meets Empress vibe. Next time I’m back on 124^th, I’ll be hitting the Daravara again for sure.

Daravara is a cool establishment. It’s a bar, but they don’t have TVs. And best of all, they don’t have VLTs. We went for brunch after we saw a crazy lineup at Urban Diner. There was another baby at another table, so we didn’t feel too awkward about bringing our 6 month old daughter there.
But then I underestimated my daughter’s ability to reach across the table and knock over a water glass, but my daughter did exactly that. And the staff cleaned up the mess with grace and aplomb.
And the food tasted pretty good. my chicken and waffles were not exactly large or traditional, but didn’t leave me feeling gross.
I look forward to giving Daravara another try.

My friend had his birthday celebration here recently. It’s located in a strange strip mall (it also houses a college of mystical studies… no joke) but it’s a clean space with exposed brick walls that gives it a trendy feel. There is a dartboard in the corner as well, always a fun time!
We were there for the better part of the Saturday evening, and it got busier as the night went on. It was still warm enough for them to have the garage door-​like windows open to the parking lot which was nice.
The service was decent for our large group, and the food was really good! I had to order the popcorn chicken hears — I just love weird bits — and they were really tender on the inside, and crisp on the outside, though I found the batter on the heavy side. But they were good enough that even non-​offal eaters were trying them out :) I had the special of the day, which was mussels with delicious cream sauce and boar bacon — a large, satisfying portion, mussels clean and fresh. My husband ordered the burger (don’t recall which one) and he said it was one of the best burgers he’s ever had — cooked the right way and juicy, beefy delicious flavour.
They have a decent drinks list and unique cocktails. However, don’t hold out hope of getting a negroni here (my current favourite cocktail) — they don’t stock campari (or maybe it was vermouth — they definitely had gin).
Overall, it is on the pricey side, but I think it’s appropriate for the quality of the food. I would definitely come back.