Restaurant Review: DaDeO
DADEO NEW ORLEANS DINER & BAR 10548A Whyte Avenue ~ dadeo.ca Instagram: @dadeorestaurant ~ Twitter: @dadeorestaurant Co-Diners: The Husband + The Coxes
One of the true Edmonton and Old Strathcona institutions, DaDeO has been around for nearly 30 years. It would be difficult to picture Whyte Ave without them. Not only have they been serving up awesome Cajun cooking all of these years but they've been doing it in an amazing 50s-style diner that is brimming with a rockabilly vibe. Edmonton Journal named DaDeO the Best Cajun/Creole Restaurant 2020 and after many years away, it was time for me to make a glorious return. The location is quite small from the outside, indicative of the long and narrow restaurant on the inside. However, you will instantly recognize them by their purple neon lettering. The outdoor signage also advertises oysters and gumbos, both of which are readily available once you pass through the doors. One of the most interesting things to note is that DaDeO is an adult-only restaurant. Kids are not allowed even during daytime hours. I'm not sure that I can think of any other restaurant that implements the same policy. However, if you're looking for a night away from the kids, this is the right place! The space is very interesting and exciting, boasting an atmosphere that goes full-on into a clear theme. There's a blue checkerboard floor, tiny jukeboxes on every table, and kitsch as far as the eye can see. A combination of booths, tables, and bar seating, the space is incredibly cozy. It feels like a restaurant that has truly settled into their space. They've been around forever and they aren't going anywhere. Music is an important element and a slightly raucous environment can always be expected at DaDeO. The best part? Amidst the strong identity of the restaurant itself, the food is also wonderful. I visited on a Saturday evening and spilled myself into our assigned booth. In the mood for fun, I quickly ordered a Hurricane ($8.00 for 1oz) off of the Louisiana Libations menu.
I found this cocktail to be a pleasant surprise. I was expecting that it would be really strong and boozy, however to the contrary, it was sweet and enjoyable to drink. The balance was ideal. The tart sweetness from the passion fruit evened out the booziness from the rum really well. These might be a little dangerous because you could easily drink several of them. Given that it had been many years since my last visit, I had forgotten about the lovely little extras that DaDeO includes. Little biscuits served with jalapeno jelly are delivered to your table every time and I was so happy to see them once again.
Perfect little biscuit cylinders that break apart easily, allowing for liberal use of the neon green jelly. This is the stuff of legend, in fact I think that they sell it in jars. Sweet and spicy, it's just the happiest beginning to any meal. On this visit my intention was to dig into all of my very favourite dishes. Time for all of the greatest hits! This meant starting with Fritters ($12.00) as an appetizer.
The fritters come in four different flavours; Andouille Sausage, Jalapeno & Cheddar, Crab & Parmesan, or Corn. You can order a "Four-tune" which gets you one of each. This is clearly the way to go! I had forgotten how magical these things are. Golden and perfectly crispy on the outside, yet pillowy-soft and warm on the inside. The texture of these fritters is insane - to the point where I've been dreaming of them. I love the punchy dipping sauce that compliments each type of fritter very well. Each different flavour was wonderful in it's own way, however I may say that the corn was my favourite! (Surprising, because it seemed like the most "basic" of the four.) Something about the sweet corn just created a perfect overall fritter in my opinion. However, each one was excellent and I think that having the variety is key. I was so excited about my entrée because I have been ordering the exact same thing at DaDeO for years. Maybe it's time to branch out? I love the Combo Ya-Ya ($24.00) so much that I doubt I'll ever stray. However, the menu boasts TONS of options; from jambalayas, to fried chicken, to ribs, and of course to a wide selection of their famous po'boy sandwiches.
This combo wins my heart because it includes the perfect selection of everything that I'd want to eat. You get seafood in there but also a jambalaya (which you definitely want). I also really like that oysters are included since they're one of the restaurant's signature items. Honestly, this combo has it all! I dove in, excited to discover if everything was as good as I remembered it. First, the veggie jambalaya, which is a long grain rice simmered in a seasoned tomato sauce along with the Cajun holy trinity: bell peppers, celery and onions. The veggie version is packed with fresh chunks of sweet peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, spinach and fried eggplant. My favourite part is the creamy sauce that they pour overtop that binds the whole dish together. Delicious. Next were the fried oysters which are breaded, fried and served with cocktail sauce. They've got a golden crunchy batter on the outside but on the inside the (large!) oysters still taste like the sea. A delight for any oyster fan! Lastly, the blackened shrimp and scallops were wonderful because they weren't overcooked and were absolutely packed with flavour. I loved the tender pieces of meat and was so pleased by the delicious seasoning. Plus the coleslaw is great to freshen things up and to cool things down. This is the ideal combo in my opinion and I will likely continue to order it time and time again. DaDeO is not a restaurant where you should skip dessert. Make sure that you save some room because there is one extra special item that must be experienced: Bananas Foster ($18.00). This dessert is prepared tableside and there are huge flames involved! The whole spectacle really adds to the overall atmosphere that is synonymous with DaDeO.
Our server (who was wonderful and personable and friendly throughout our entire visit) wheeled a cart with a stove on top over to our table. She then proceeded to mix a ton of butter, sugar and bananas together. The pièce de résistance, of course, is the addition of rum over the open flame which creates a huge and impressive fireball! It's like dessert with a show. Then the mixture is served over ice cream and topped with cinnamon. It's warm but also cool, sinfully sweet, and just to die for. The whole production serves 2-4 people and I highly recommend going for it. It adds an extra special ending to the meal every time! I'll admit that I was a little bit worried that maybe my memories of DaDeO would be better than the food that I would experience upon visiting once again. However, this was not the case. If anything, the food was somehow better than I remembered. They've been around for so long and instead of getting lazy they have managed to refine the dishes that they were already famous for. DaDeO has staying power. If you're like me and you haven't stopped in in a while, now is the time!