A Culinary Tour of Riversdale
“There’s something good cooking in Riversdale.”
Whether you are enjoying a breakfast bowl of oatmeal in your kitchen or tacos in a Mexican village, every meal created and savoured is, at heart, a local experience. It's also no secret that enjoying good, local food is common ground for many of us, probably because it's a direct way we can connect and experience the culture of any community, and its surrounding region.
Enter Riversdale’s food scene. Once you start looking at the list of restaurants in this neighborhood it quickly becomes clear that there is a satisfying amount of choice at hand. And thanks to the passionate people behind the scenes, there is also a variety of food philosophies and bold flavours to experience. Riversdale is truly one culinary adventure after another.
We may not be gastronomes here at Shift Development, but we definitely know what we like. We've stitched together a short list of some of our favourite spots to eat in Riversdale to share with you. Enjoy!
Lunch & Supper
This place is top of the list because, well, we eat here at lot. Andy and Rachel always make us feel so welcome and each dish is a knockout. A favourite place for meetings and getting together with family and friends paired with great food.
Step off the sidewalk on Avenue A and into Drift Vista Lounge, a confidently relaxed and comfortable space. Drift is a unique experience from top to bottom, and the menu boasts plenty of local and seasonal ingredients. The food is delicious. The staff are fun. The vibes are great.
Thin-crust wood fired Italian pizza. Curated wine and beer list. Deli Ingredients. These are the words you need to know. The rest you need to experience. A crowd pleaser every time!
You have to meet owner Aman Saleh and his wife Sora - of Eritrean and Japanese heritages - to appreciate the rich ethnic influences of The Goat's menu. The curried cashews are pretty addictive, and the falafel is a must-have. The dinners are delicious but the swanky interior also makes the the perfect place for drinks and appetizers when you're out on the town.
Kyle Michael and Christie Peters - the owners of The Hollows - have recently introduced the newest talk of the town - Primal, a unique mashup of Italian cooking traditions and prairie gardens. Their menu is an education in food, but at the heart of it all is handmade pasta using Saskatchewan heritage grains and whole animal butchery. You'll get a meal worth writing home about.
Great beverages
This is the heart of The Two Twenty - a coworking and office space for creative industries that is fueled by Collective's exceptional espresso. When it's warm outside, the garage door opens and coffee drinkers spill onto an animated sidewalk scene. The baristas have a near-religious reverence for crafting good coffee. Be sure to say hi to Leonard, Collective's favourite regular.
Owners Shawn Moen and Garrett Pederson left their day jobs as a lawyer and geosientist to start a brewery, much to the applause of Riversdale locals. They've been serving up small batch beers with options like Bocephus White IPA, or the 9 Mile Ale - a crowd favourite. Grab your growler, or pick one up there. Cheers!
There's always a stash of Thrive bottles somewhere in the office because many of us can't resist Thrive's cold-pressed juice. The smoothies they offer are also unique, and if you're looking for quick and healthy lunch they have salads and snacks to go. Though on a warm day, you'll want to eat-in beside the wide-open windows and soak up the sun, and the scene.
You'll have a hard time deciding on which amazing sandwich creation to order. Furthermore, their soups are full of flavour and award winning! That being said, it's hard to lose sight of the fact that they serve one of the best cups of coffee in the neighbourhood.The word is out about Underground.
Brunch
You really can't find a more uniquely Saskatchewan flavour than what's being cooked up here and their brunch is a local legend. The Hollows uses traditional techniques - smoking, canning, and brining - and local ingredients to create knockout dishes. A simple approach to food wrapped in a vintage space.
FEATURE DISH
Death by Grilled Cheese
One of the original fixtures of Riversdale, and a bit of a cultural institution in Saskatoon, this classic 1950's-style diner is a favourite for brunch. Kids and kids-at-heart can get crayons and chefs hats, and you can peruse classic photographs of Saskatoon back in the day while you wait for your Eggs Benny, sure to satisfy your taste buds and belly.
If you like eating healthy, Leyda's mantra - let food by thy medicine - makes this café perfect for you. And if you don't care one bit about health, Leyda's whole food, gluten and nut free menu will still delight you with amazing flavours. Leyda's is a (much-anticipated) newcomer to the brunch scene but an absolute staple of Riversdale. Check them out. You'll be impressed.
Making their second appearance on the list is the crew at Drift. They're a pretty versatile bunch, and they do brunch right. Known for their crepe menu, arguably the best in Saskatoon, having brunch here is a winning combo of kick-ass flavour in the warm and welcoming environment of the Vista Lounge.
Want to live in Riversdale?
We've been working and living in Riversdale for years, with the intent of building great spaces for others to do the same. Check out our latest project!
Wait - there's more!
This list above is just scratching the surface. Riversdale is packed with interesting shops, restaurants and more. To showcase it all, we partnered with the Riversdale Business Improvement District and made a booklet about it!
2017 update: A new version of the Riversdale Booklet updated for summer 2017 and designed by Crystal Bueckert of BLDG Studio is now available! You can grab a copy at Collective Coffee, Hardpressed, Odd Couple, and many more Riversdale locations.