Culina is a restaurant located inside the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton, Alberta. The Muttart Conservatory itself is made up of four glass pyramids, where guests can experience four distinct climates. In the center of these pyramids, is Culina, the conservatory café.
All of the herbs used in Culina are grown right inside the conservatory itself, which is a great way to point to the freshness of the food. Culina serves a collection of soups, salads, sandwiches and fresh baked goods along with craft beer and wine by the glass. Get there early though, because Culina opens and closes with the conservatory.
This is a good place for a weekday lunch. They take reservations. Parking is plentiful and free. I think their menu has recently changed and there were lots of choices that appealed. Servings are generous and nicely presented. My only complaint is that when you arrive you are often totally - even studiously - ignored for what seems like forever. Meanwhile, at least from appearances, there are any number of people who could acknowledge your presence - even if their job is to fold napkins or refill ketchup bottles. This has happened the last three visits and most recently I was sorely tempted to just leave. Just a friendly "hi - we'll be with you in a minute" would go a long way.
Some friends and I got together for brunch at the restaurant and then were going to check out the Muttart gardens. The brunch was very good (food and service) and I'm already thinking about doing it again soon with some other friends.
The three of us have been trying different venues for Sunday brunch. The food was good, the service was OK but slow to start with. We are big eaters and the portions were small for us. It was quiet and we could have a good conversation without raising our voices. It was the tail end of winter so there was no opportunity to eat in the great outdoors. Maybe next time.
Always amazing! The food is outstanding and the service is wonderful.
Perfect place to have Saturday brunch. we had the huevos rancheros and Ukrainian platter — both were delicious and had perfectly poached eggs. The grainy curried mustard on the Ukrainian platter was amazing!
As always the food was very good. the service was smiley. No big rush to get us out. Thanks again Culina
I have been here before and usually the food is excellent. This time it was a little disappointing - both of us had the green onion cake with shredded pork, kimchi, and greens on top and it was way too salty. The presentation was beautiful however. Someone was simply a little too heavy handed with the salt in the kitchen this night. I will come back because I have had other excellent meals here.
This was a 'pop up' to showcase local creator of condiments and jams - Fruits of Sherbrooke.
Brad (chef) did a great job particularly in the baked brie with quince and walnuts. Just superb.
Our first visit here and we will certainly return, soon.
We've dined at Culina Muttart a few times over the years, both as a date night and with our kids. It's always a concise, but creative and original menu with quality local ingredients and thoughtful friendly service. In particular I've always appreciated how well they cater to the vegetarian members of my family. As I meat eater there's always lots to choose from but it's unusual for the vegetarian options to also be so enjoyable. We'd definitely go back and recommend for a uniquely Edmonton experience!
The food was really great and the salad especially was fantastic - wish there was a vegetarian soup option for lunch though - the vegetarian selection was good but minimal. Great coffee, though!!!
Easter Sunday is a busy noisy time to go. The food and service was great. The restaurant was cold from the front always being open from people coming and going.
We had been to this restaurant before and liked it, however, this time it was severely disappointing. Greasy wrap, cold chicken sausages, and undercooked eggs. We like this venue, but don't plan to eat there again.
Disappointed that the kitchen wasn't fully functional so my friend with dietary restrictions wasn't given very many options but coffee was fabulous and ambience was great like always@
Server was attentive but could have been more knowledgable. Food was tasty but very salty. Drink selection was small but broad- liked my options! Super ambiance
Heard great things. Very disappointed with the service. Did not refill coffee regularly and was rude and rough with the cups when asked if she could refill at her next moment. Threw the bill on the table when she noted a 10% tip. I hope she was just having a bad day. Would probably not go back. Food was solid. They did forget the bacon on a dish and gave us a grudging discount which was appreciated.
Nice place. Sweet potatoe coconut soup was very good. Veggie flatbread very tasty and the coffee is excellent. A little pricey but they use good local products . Waitress was very friendly and attentive
We brought our granddaughter for lunch/brunch after her first gymnastics competition - not her first visit here. We were, as always, impressed with the food and how welcoming it is to children.
Service was very good and accommodating.
I eat at this venue about once a month, and although each time, I reserve through Open Table, I receive points about 1/10 times. This does not prevent me from always enjoying the fare, however.
I've always loved Culina's food, and our brunch did not disappoint.
The only negative is that the shakshuka that was offered at the other location did not make it to this menu!
Thanks, I'll be back.
Good cafe. This is not a Restuarant. Do not come here expecting this we did unfortunately. Limited menu. Not fish or chicken avail.
Staff were friendly but not able to handle complex orders. Food is always good...Culina...need I say more
Quite disorganized. Despite having a reservation we were kept waiting ten minutes or more even though there were empty tables. Limited menu and kind of eclectic - leaning to vegan but then some meat choices. Soups are always good. Nice neighbourhood feeling. No pressure to leave. I think we just caught them at a bad time. Will definitely go back. Nice that you can make reservations.
We came for family day lunch with my 3 kids Restaurant opened at 10. Our reservation was 11;15. No apples left with the p&j sandwich and no perogies. Poor planning for family day as kids menu items should have been available.
I have sung the praises of Culina for many, many years. After today’s brunch (for my MIL’s 75th Birthday), my husband stated that he’d never had a bad meal here... until now. We had all decided on perogies but were told on ordering that the perogies were being replaced by potatoes today. We reconsidered our orders and sadly my daughter’s grilled cheese was the best of the bunch. My eggs Benedict was served on a dry piece of toast with warm wilted lettuce, the cornbread (which I’ve ordered 20+ times) was undercooked to the point of being inedible, my husband’s chicken & egg tortilla were dry and bland. We weren’t actually given a chance to comment on the state of the food & admittedly would have nodded politely given the occasion. No dessert was offered despite indicating we were here to celebrate a birthday; the cake & candle given to the table beside us more covertly arranged perhaps?! The bill was placed at the birthday girl’s seat before our dishes had even been cleared. I am very sad to say that I likely won’t be back after many years of declaring Culina as the best brunch in town.
Cold due to opening main doors every time some one entered the building. Food was ok but nothing different.
Limited menu. Did not have one of the items available.
We frequent Culina at the Muttart often and like to wander through the pyramids while we are there. The food is always fresh and inventive. They also have a good selection of wine and beer. Great atmosphere for a date. The lobster bisque on their feature menu for Valentine's Day was the most delicious soup I've eaten to date. I hope to see it in their line up again.
Lunch at Muttart is always a good and delicious treat for ladies going out. We always tour the pyramids after dining. Winter salad is awesome and the soups are always different from usual fare, particularly the spicing and flavors the chefs choose to blend.
With such a limited brunch menu, you would think that the food would come out hot and within 15 minutes. Unfortunately such was not the case. Lukewarm food has been an ongoing problem with this eating establishment. Even the coffee was only warm. Not sure that we’ll be coming back again.
Other than the following, our experience was pleasant: Portions were small. Green onion cake was hard as rock. Salad was drowning in dressing. Server didn’t know the features or how to say them.
Daily special was excellent. Service is good. Good dollar value. Enjoy combining lunch with seeing the pyramids especially the feature pyramid
Please see below for my comments. Because of previous positive experiences, I will assume that my last experience was due to very extenuating circumstances at the restaurant.
Definitely a place to go and enjoy locally sourced foods. I will say their palate is risky but that is part of the adventure as they take interpret "classics" in a way that highlights local products.
We had a wonderful lunch with three friends together at Culina Muttart. The service was very good and the food delicious. The only disappointment is that they seem to have dropped many of the more interesting and tasty dishes from the menu and now seem to have more standard fare that you can find anywhere.
This is a favorite of mine, small restaurant attached to the Muttart museum. Food is good, service great, I would suggest reservations at lunch.
This is a nice little restaurant, which should be advertised better. The specials are delicious.
Culina did a beautiful job of accommodating my food allergies; the server was both knowledgeable and attentive; the food presentation was lovely and the food tastes great. I really like this location because we can also visit the Muttart after we eat.
Comforting food that pleases the eye as well as the palate. Inventive presentations of carefully prepared items. Pleasant and professional serving staff who listen well, are well versed in the restaurant's offerings and able to make good suggestions. Welcoming to children and their parents.
Food is consisently enjoyable and the menu is well developed with options for all diners. It’s Always a pleasant experience
The breakfast bowl is my new favourite