Where to Eat in Saskatoon – and Drink, Too!

Having visited Saskatoon twice in the past few years, Henk and I have been more than pleasantly surprised by the food scene here, and although we aren’t ‘foodies’ per se, we do like to eat! Here are some of the best restaurants we’ve found (several of which we’ve been to twice, they were that good).

Hometown Diner: Breakfast with a Saskatchewan Twist

Don’t let the name fool you, Saskatoon’s Hometown Diner may sound like the place where you’ll find vinyl-covered booths and bacon-and-egg specials, but it is anything but. Its modern decor and high-top tables attract more hipsters than truckers and its menu is both creative and locally-focused – meaning if you are looking for a fresh, Mediterranean breakfast bowl with falafel and couscous, you’ve got it. But if you want that taste of home (and in Saskatoon, that means pierogies!), you can find that too: their Ukrainian brekkie serves up these favourite potato dumplings with all the fixings, topped with an egg cooked to your liking. Not to worry though, there are plenty of bacon, eggs, sausages and pancakes on the menu for those who like to keep the best meal of the day a traditional one.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention: specialty donuts! Yes, you can have dessert after breakfast, and donuts are how they do dessert at the Hometown.

Poached/Flint for Breakfast, Brunch and….Martinis?

This venue does double-duty like some kind of super hero of restaurants. By day it is known as Poached Breakfast Bistro, an absolute must-do if you are a fan of either sweet or savoury brunch foods, and especially if you are a fan of both. Because Poached not only offers some unique bites (like their amazing pecan and maple bacon rollups and potato croquettes), but guests can mix and match and build the perfect breakfast plate with a little of this and a little of that.

Then, by night, long after the breakfast/brunch crowd has gone on with their day and evening starts to fall, Poached transforms into its alter ego, Flint Saloon, a cocktail bar and grownup lounge that serves up some of Saskatoon’s best martinis.

It’s a smart move: not only do the owners bring in business for the entire day instead of just the morning, they’ve turned their patrons into repeat customers too – by indulging them with boozy treats the night before, and providing a decadent hangover fix for them the following morning. Absolutely brilliant.

For a Crafty Lunch – Prairie Sun Brewery

By ‘crafty lunch’ we of course mean craft brews, and Prairie Sun Brewery on Broadway is a great place to enjoy some of that namesake sunshine on its patio, accompanied by a casual meal and some local beers. The food is casual pub-style fare and you can’t really ever go wrong with truffle fries, but the real draw here are the local small-batch brews. I like a wheat beer in the summer, and their Urban Wheat certainly hit the spot. And Henk kept to the city theme with his Urban Brown Ale.

The interior is pretty stylish too, so if the weather isn’t perfect for people-watching on the pet-friendly patio, skip that tongue twister and enjoy the cool vibe and a cool brew inside instead.

For a Locavore Lunch: Calories

This modern art-filled restaurant places a focus on local, including not just the art on the walls, but the in-season ingredients that determine their menu selections. Apparently, Calories is known for their quiches, and I loved their deliciously fluffy and flavourful fiddlehead quiche that was on their lunch menu the day we visited. Their frites were just as good, and if their lunch items aren’t enough to fill you up, check out their selection of desserts which is just as impressive (and definitely worth every calorie!)

Need a Mid-Afternoon Sugar Fix? Hit up Crave Cupcakes.

This Broadway bakery named itself well, because when you are craving a hit of sweet decadence in the middle of the afternoon, (or at any time of day for that matter – yes, cupcakes ARE breakfast food, the same way donuts are), Crave serves up some delicious goodies, especially their oversized cupcakes. Go for a crowd favourite and mine as well, the red velvet with cream cheese icing, because, well, cream cheese icing. You won’t be disappointed.

Asian Fusion and Fun Cocktails at Loqui

If you love high-end fare that fuses the best of several countries’ flavours and ingredients, then you will definitely want to check out Loqui, a new addition to Saskatoon’s food scene in 2024. Located on the fringe of the edgy Riversdale district, Loqui’s open kitchen serves up dishes that highlight local ingredients but with a global flair. Think Italy meets India meets Japan meets Hawaii meets the prairies.

And it’s not just their entrees that impress with their sophisticated and adventurous flavour combinations – cocktails are creative and inventive, too like their herbacious, complex ‘Fog Cutter”, which is served up in a quirky parrot glass, just for fun – which is another reason why I liked this place. A lot.

For a Sophisticated Saskatoon Supper: Head to Hearth

Normally I take all the hype that you read in restaurant reviews with a grain of salt, but in the case of Hearth, the upscale dining establishment in the Remai Modern Museum, their top marks are well-deserved. The owners first started out with a small hidden gem of a neighbourhood restaurant, but their reputation grew and in 2023 they partnered with the Remai and moved their restaurant and catering service to the banks of the Saskatoon river.

The menu here is unique and thoughtful, leaning heavily into locally-sourced seasonal ingredients and the presentation is as creative as you would expect from a restaurant located in a modern art museum. I also love that they re-purpose vintage china so that the plates are as colourful and unique as the food that is served on them.

Italian with a Local Accent: Primal

We’ve been to Primal twice, and each time the menu has impressed us with its creative yet simple interpretations of Italian fare. The full name of the restaurant is Primal Pasta, so not surprisingly there is a good selection of pastas, but these come with local twists or ingredients that make them uniquely their own –  without trying too hard. The result is food that tastes fresh, local and delicious.

Some of those local ingredients include pickerel or northern pike, and being on the prairies, one of the must-do’s here is the bison carpaccio appetizer, which packs huge flavour into micro-thin slices of meat that literally melt in your mouth.

Our Pick of Pizza Places

Right in the heart of downtown Saskatoon you’ll find Thirteen Pies, a funky name for a pizza place, for sure, but the funk doesn’t stop there. With names like the Midnight Meat Train, Killer Cheese from Outer Space and Mars Attacks, you know these pizzas are going to be as creative as the interior of this very un-pizzeria-like pizzeria.

There are 13 pies to choose from (hence the name), plus a few appetizers and salads for those who want something to go with their gothic pies. And speaking of which, definitely check out their crafted cocktail menu: it’s as interesting as the decor!

Give My Regards to Una on Broadway

For those you don’t know what to make of horror-movie-themed pizzas, there’s a more traditional option at Una Pizza & Wine. This is actually an Alberta-based mini-chain of restaurants with 5 locations in Calgary and one in Edmonton. This location on Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon is the only one outside of Alberta, so this is your chance to try one of their pizzas, pastas or salads without having to cross the border. And this will make you even happier: their Happy Hour menu offers a selection of all of the above at half price between 2-5pm and after 9pm.

Whisky That’s Worth Going the Extra Mile – Black Fox Distillery

Although you can find their craft gins and whiskies in retail venues, it’s definitely worth visiting Black Fox Farm & Distillery in person if you are anywhere near Saskatoon. Black Fox is a Canadian success story run by two fifth-generation farmers who took their expertise with growing grain to an entirely new level. Recognizing the importance of terroir, a concept once reserved only for the wine industry, they have embraced Saskatchewan’s unique topography, geography and hardy grain species to craft award-winning spirits that are rooted to this place. They even age their whiskies in casks stored outside all year long including during the winter, making these spirits about as Canadian as you can get.

The farm itself is a mini-escape from the city, too, with gorgeous flower gardens where you can wander the rows and pick your own blooms in season.

Personal tastings can be reserved inside the distillery or outside in their tented pavilion. And to complete the experience, order a Prairie Grazer charcuterie board and pair your spirits with more local products for a true taste of Saskatchewan. (it comes in fun mason jars and you build your own plate!)

This is not your typical swirl-and-sip, and definitely worth the 15 minute drive from downtown Saskatoon.

Double Scoops from a Double Decker Bus

A bright red double-decker British bus is not something you expect to see in Saskatoon, parked just opposite the city’s historic Delta Bessborough Hotel, and you certainly wouldn’t expect this to be a place where celebrities have come to enjoy a ‘riverbank frank’ hot dog or a scoop of ice cream. Yet these nostalgic treats (think cotton candy minus the carnies) are what Bus Stop Refreshments has been serving up to locals and visitors since 1989 and why we’ve included this as a must-do stop for anyone who might be in downtown Saskatoon. It’s not gourmet, it’s not artisan-made, locavore-certified or famous for its fusion, but it is quirky, fun, and who doesn’t love a good hot dog every once in a while? I know I do.

Where do You Sip, Savour or Snack in Saskatoon?

These are some of the places Henk and I personally loved in Saskatoon…but do you have any favourite suggestions for where to eat in Saskatoon – or drink? Let us know and we will add it to the list! Because you can never have too many options when it comes to restaurant reco’s.