Press

“Bringing old-school vibes and Italian-inspired meals, Coliseum Steak & Pizza opened in 1976. Steak, ribs, and pizza are the Coliseum’s specialty, but the restaurant also dishes up salads, seafood, burgers, and more.”

Written by Elle McLean for Dished Edmonton/Daily Hive and published on March 3, 2021. Read the full article, 11 of the oldest restaurants in Edmonton you can still visit, at Daily Hive.

“But even though the team has moved downtown, Coliseum Pizza & Steak still draws customers, proving that the old-school steak dinners, giant rib racks and big pizza pies were the real attractions for those who packed this place back then, and those who eat there now.”

“Coliseum Steak & Pizza hasn’t refreshed its décor in four decades, but, price per ounce, it makes the best steak in town.”

“The increased interest in keeping things local has been a benefit to Coliseum, but the restaurant has also been building relationships in the city over its four decades of business. ‘They’re authentic,’ Lauder said. ‘I think that a place like Coliseum has built a super loyal clientele.’ ‘We’ve had a lot of people ask us to open other locations,’ said Scordas. ‘But… we’re very stuck in our ways, and we just want to stay here, hands-on, and look after this place.’”

Written by Allison Bench for Global News and published on October 22, 2019. Read the full article, Restaurant experts say big-chain closures in Edmonton not surprising as consumers push local, at Global News.

“When you get there, you can choose from a well-seasoned steak, with lovely diamond-shaped grill marks. Get a baked potato in the foil, and the servers will bring the fixings to the table. They’ll load it up with sour cream and butter and bacon bits. But, darn, if this isn’t still one of the best steaks in town — this is why this restaurant is still busy for dinner service, though the Oilers have moved downtown.”

“The steaks really were outstanding. Perfectly seasoned, flame-grilled and cooked exactly as ordered, this is what 40-plus years of practice produces.”

“‘We were so busy that there weren’t enough chairs for people to use, so we took out pails and flipped them over so people could sit down on them.’”

“For decades it has banked, at least in part, on nostalgia to sell steak and pizza. Every wall in the place is covered with Oilers' memorabilia, including a painting of Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey and Dave Lumley hoisting the Stanley Cup over their heads. ‘There's a lot of nostalgia here, so I think a lot of people will come back,’ Scordas said during a recent lunch-time rush, the parking lot and restaurant packed with regulars.”

Written by Trisha Estabrooks for CBC News and published on October 3, 2016. Read the full article, Oilers’ move downtown leaves hole in Edmonton neighbourhood at CBC News.

“The family-run Coliseum Steaks & Pizza restaurant opened its doors on 118th Avenue in 1976, just two years after Rexall Place — then Northlands Coliseum — was completed. In the Oilers’ glory days, the players, sometimes with the Stanley Cup in tow, frequented the restaurant.”

Written by Paige Parsons for Edmonton Journal and published on December 26, 2015. Read the full article, Rexall After the Oilers: Neighbours weigh in with hopes for the area, at Edmonton Journal.

“The thick steak itself was superb, trimmed to just the necessary fat, grilled to an exacting rare, deftly dusted with seasonings so that it required no further tarting-up and obviously delivered with no delay.”

“At Coliseum, pizza is more than a food. It’s a symbol — of success, of something good that never changes, of a family business with deep roots in the community.”

“The food is delicious and the staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful.”

“The tradition for making great food is not only reflected in their ribs and steaks, but in all the items they serve.”

“Varvis has run a restaurant at the corner of 118th Avenue and 80th Street for 45 years. If you do the math, that’s going all the way back to 1956, when Chevys were sprouting fins and Elvis’s swivelling hips were not allowed on TV.”

“As for the famous Coliseum restaurant, the traditional steak dinner was ‘absolutely outstanding. Possibly the best steak I’ve ever eaten.’ High praise!”

“Still, if this was a popularity contest, the Coliseum Steak and Pizza would be the hands-down winner. At least 20 patrons of the venerable 118 Ave steakhouse have recommended it as their favourite place to chew the fat.”

“It is a restaurant that celebrates the good old days — of service, quality, and hockey.”

“‘We don’t have a real wide variety of food’, Bill allows. ‘And it hasn’t changed much over the years. We work to keep the quality up; if you go to too many things, it’s hard to keep everything fresh and consistent.’”

“But the story of the Nite-N-Day cafe spans generations of north Edmontonians, from hungry Depression youth, street car drivers, zootsuiters, air force rowdies, the jukebox crowd and neighbourhood gangs to sports fans and Grant MacEwan College students drinking coffee between classes.”