The Varsity

Brings back old memories when this was a Red Robyn’s restaurant. The menu has a lot of variety and the burgers were overall, very good. Nice to have the large cut bottomless fries option, but the burgers were quite filling, so no one was able to go for a second round of fries. While the food did come quick, overall staff responsiveness was a bit slow. Nothing to really complain about as when they did get to us, they were very helpful and got the order correct, even with our numerous adjustments to the order. Overall, a great replacement for Red Robyn’s and will definitely be coming back.

YUM...if you loved Red Robin, then you will LOVE this place. We went because I saw they had the Big Kahuna translates to the delicious teriyaki chicken burger - with pineapple. It tastes the exact same and it was DELICIOUS!! Our server Linda was very nice. They got very busy before we left, so depending on what time you go, you may need to wait. But you won't be disappointed!! We will be going back much sooner than later. So excited this is here now. Kid-friendliness: There was a good kids menu and there were quite a few families there.

Really great burger. Ordered the spicy pepper jack, and it does have a slight kick to it. Toppings were fresh and delicious. Good bacon for the burgers as it doesn't overpower the flavor, and the beef patty was grilled with a nice, crispy crust that made it stand out in the burger. Also had a strawberry milkshake, and greatly enjoyed that as well!

Overall I had a good experience! I found the food better than what I remember having at Red Robins before they closed. Food is not salty, everything was fresh and I had good service! I had the turkey burger and it was a good portion for the price. Patty was thick and lean. Buns were better than what I remember having at Red Robins. Red Robins burgers were getting to processed and greasy towards the end. I feel Varsity is revitalizing the burger joint experience. The decor is an upgrade from the nostalgic Red Robins theme prior. I definitely felt more comfortable in the Varsity. Certainly coming back again. Only suggestion for Varsity is to add some seasoning on the tables for the fries like Red Robins did. I'd rather have my fries plain like they are, but have the option of adding some salt and seasoning.

Alrighty so I’m giving this a 3 star rating and will probably go back and give it another shot but it’ll be when someone else wants to try it so that I can try a few other items. Pros: Flavor in burgers was good slightly dry tbh but flavor was there and the fries were spot on amazing with refills. The atmosphere in the place is good since it seemed like kids were separated from older kids or families without kids. The place was clean and parking is plenty. I used to come to Red Robin’s a lot so I missed this location the most. The wings came in a good amount even though they were pretty skinny for the price I’d say but still they were wings and the amount of wings I guess made up for it. Service was good and we didn’t have to wait long for food like in other comments. Ate at around 6:45pm on a Wednesday Cons: Onion ring tower was oily and not good. These onion rings are nothing close to the original Red Robin onion rings I know it’s not Red Robin for those reading this but the quality of these onion rings don’t belong on a tower they belong on a oil soaking tray like you’d get at a ice rink food court. The sauces were good though I give it that. As mentioned above the wings are more like skinny wings so depending on how you like your wings choose accordingly. Also dry ribs were sold out which was unfortunate. Overall: I’d like to come back and try the shakes they have and see how traditional they are. Looked good seeing other tables having them. Choice of burger would change next time and hopefully they’ll have the dry ribs. But for now it’s a 3/5 for me

We arrived at noon and were greeted promptly. We were originally sat down in a very bright area but I asked to be relocated. I ordered the Blue Moon burger and some hot sauce to dip my fries in. My wife had the Big Kahuna, and my son the kids meal Varsity burger. They allowed him to choose any topping he wanted, including cheese for no increase in price. Note: the kids meal comes with drink and a sundae, but this wasn't noted on the menu. The burger was good. At first I couldn't taste the blue cheese, but as I ate, the tart flavor emerged. The unlimited fries were very filling. My wife said her burger was very good. Charred just right and juicy. The server was great and really amped up my son's sundae, asking if he liked whipped cream and sprinkles. A loaded sundae! We left very full and satisfied.

Edmonton has been missing a great family restaurant like The Varsity. Food is very reasonably priced, the service is friendly and food came out super fast. The Burgers and the Cheesecake are worth the trip alone, FOREVER FRIES are an added bonus!Food: 5/5

My boyfriend and I went for lunch on opening day. We sat in the lounge area, so we could watch the hockey game on one of the many TV’s. Our server was great and came by often to see if we needed more water, drinks, and fries! I had the Golden fish burger and Cesar salad. I had 3 choices for what kind of “bun” I wanted. I could have gluten free, lettuce, or a regular burger bun. The fish was crispy, not too much batter, and the salad had real bacon bits. The prices are really affordable too. The “forever fries” means you’ll never leave still hungry. The variety of food choices will make this restaurant a regular go to for us. This place is great for families, seniors, and adults looking for a lounge. I also did look at the accessibility for getting in & out of the restaurant as my mom is in a wheelchair. There is a good ramp to enter, but I will need to run into the restaurant to have the hostess staff open the doors for me while I push the wheelchair. The tables inside are a perfect height to accommodate the wheelchair.

I know its been said but its not exactly Red Robin and I believe The Varsity stands on its own as it should! My party of 4 enjoyed our dinner despite a few hiccups we had an issue and it was dealt with promptly, thank you!. Our servers were kind and courteous and attentive. Surprisingly, i enjoyed the forever fries. I am not a huge fan of steak fries but these were perfectly fried and seasoned. When we ordered the mozza sticks it came with a lot of santa fe ranch which was delicious. We ended up asking for a side of the santa fe ranch to dip the fries in which we highly recommend. I ordered the bacon and cheese burger and it was good, almost on the verge of being overcooked but if you like a little char you would have loved it. The atmosphere is family friendly. Plenty of parking. It might be a tight squeeze if you have mobility devices or strollers so just be mindful of that. I’m glad i had put in a reservation as it was quite busy on a Tuesday evening around 6pm. Price per portion were excellent! Who doesn’t love bottomless delicious fries! Overall, recommend this place for your group or family dinner! Kid-friendliness: Family friendly atmosphere Parking: Plenty of parking Wheelchair accessibility: Could have better accessibility ie wider aisles for different mobility devices

We came on the second day after opening and while we did have to wait a bit it was definitely worth it. The burgers are mouth wateringly delicious, the fries both the steak and yam are scrumptious the fries are bottomless btw. If you liked Red Robins you are going to love The varsity! Half of my family is celiac and they had a good choice of options for them. While not everything is GF they will do lettuce raps or a gf bun for burgers. Also a huge shoutout to all the staff, in particular waitstaff, even though things were hectic they were very friendly, helpful and took the time to check in on us. We will definitely be coming back soon. Kid-friendliness: A great kids menu with lots of options! Parking: Bi parking lot, can be a bit slippery in winter. Dietary restrictions: Great range of options for celiacs, GF buns/lettuce raps for burgers, GF meals, drinks etc. And no outrageous upcharges for gf either.

Directions to The Varsity with public transportation

---