After a trail run and climbing Norquay's Via Ferrata, I was ready to sit down and have something to eat. My running group that I was traveling with brought our party to the Elk & Oarsman for a quick dinner. This place is a lodge-style sports bar that is located in the heart of the Town of Banff. There are TV screens all around that show live sports and a large fireplace. You can see the beautiful mountain scenery from the rooftop patio. It was nice of Elk & Oarsman to accommodate our large party. The service was great here. Elk & Oarsman is a sports bar that serves good food. The menu has a variety of pub fare favorites like bar snacks, sharables, salads, flatbreads, elk dishes and burgers. I was starving and ordered the Buck Hunter because I wanted to try something with elk in it. This elk & bacon burger patty comes loaded with condiments on a brioche bun. I really liked the tasted of the smoked mayo on my burger. I also got a Broccoli Cheddar Soup on the side. Banded Peak Brewing is a popular beer made in Alberta that is named after a mountain in the Canadian Rockies. I grabbed their Amber Lager to pair with my dinner. There is a fun lively atmosphere here at Elk & Oarsman. I was only here for brief time, but enjoyed it. This is a solid place to check out if you like sports and good food. read more

Elk & Oarsman - Branded Peak Approach Amber Lager - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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The weather was so great we sat roof top. The staff super friendly and service amazing. The views while you were eating amazing. You will not be disappointed. Highly recommend read more

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Came here for a group event. Large restaurant on second floor has front and back sections with dart boards good for groups. Lively and busy atmosphere. When we were there had it to ourselves. Had fried cauliflowers, nachos and fries all quite tasty. Cauliflower interesting shaped like chicken nuggets. Can reserve dartboards with fun video displays. read more

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Came for dinner and bites. Make sure to check out daily specials! It's on the second level so it was a little cramped to go up the stairs at busy times. Lots of room around the bar indoors and some more space upstairs on the roof deck. We enjoyed some elk poutine and the elk burger and got some wings with our meal. The poutine could use a bit more gravy and curds but the elk was well seasoned and flavorful. We got dry rub wings which paired well with blue cheese. read more

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If you're looking for somewhere to watch NFL football in Banff, this is the place. When we arrived, it took us a minute to find because the sign in front just said the Elk. There is a steep flight of stairs up to the restaurant, which made it a little awkward to carry our stroller but we managed. Once we got upstairs, all of the staff were very friendly. It was 11am, so the restaurant was not very busy. They had cool sports memorabilia and jerseys on the walls and lots of TVs. We were able to find a table where our stroller would fit, and they put the game we wanted on the tv closest to our table. At one point, there was an issue with the video stream and they fixed it right away. I really liked the elk poutine, elk tacos, and bruschetta, as well as the juniper juice cocktail. I also liked that they had a whole section of different flavored ranch waters on the cocktail menu. Whenever we ordered another appetizer or drink, they came out quickly. At one point, my husband ordered a beer flight and they subbed one beer they were out of for another, and came over to check how we liked them. The one they subbed in was definitely my favorite. I would recommend this spot if you're looking for good drinks and a casual sports bar atmosphere, as long as you don't mind stairs. read more

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Service was quick and friendly. The rooftop patio was amazing with a great view of Banff. The elk taco was a little gamey and dry but to be fair they warned about that read more

Elk & Oarsman - Elk taco - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Good for watching sports on TV. Food and drinks are ok, the Elk seems more like marketing... nobody could explain where the elk came from, if they were hunted or farmed.... read more

Great food. Great atmosphere Great service Great prices Four of us just ate here and had a fantastic experience. Food was great. We all had different things and were all happy. I highly recommend the vegan burger. The prices are reasonable. Service was great. The roof top patio was lovely. Highly recommend read more

Everything I like in a bar/grill. Flights of good local beer, check. Friendly staff, check. Balcony to look at mountains, check. Food that is good and feeling after a long day of hiking, check. read more

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The elk poutine was very addicting... I could not stop snacking on them. The elk had a nice clean taste to it and the gravy sauce was delicious. I got to try some of their beers and they were solid as well. I believe my favorite was the pale ale. read more

Elk & Oarsman - Elk Poutine - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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good food large space for large groups great service beautiful little town large portions to share read more

Excellent service & food from 2nd floor venue with scenic views of Banff. We had steak sandwich that came with mushrooms, onion strings & fries. - highly recommend read more

Elk & Oarsman - Steak sandwich with mushrooms, onion strings, French fries & small salad - Yum! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Service was fine. It happened to be super windy up top. Nice views. Food was mediocre. Pizza with elk had a poor crust and sauce. Elk dip was fine and poutine fries were ok. Nothing stood out. We had other dinners in town for similar price with far better quality food and ambiance. read more

Found out about this spot in an article all about outdoor dining in Banff. I'm so thankful to whoever wrote it for the fabulous recommendation. This was our dinner spot on first night in Banff, and it was an absolutely perfect spot to take in the beauty of our surroundings. We basically had a 360° view looking out to all the mountains surrounding the town. Every time I looked up I was in awe. Arrived and was told it would be about a 30 minute wait for the rooftop, sat at the bar to order drinks while we passed the time, within 5 minutes our table was ready! Our drinks weren't out yet but we were taken up to our table and our server, Francisco - who was amazing btw, brought them up to us a few short moments later. For food we ordered the tempura shrimp and mushroom flatbread to share. Shrimp came with 6 pieces and the flatbread had about 8-10 pieces, we didn't leave stuffed and probably could've gotten one more shareable, but we wanted to save room for dessert. Both items were really good, but that tempura shrimp stole the show for both of us. We were warned when we got there that the kitchen might be slow as they were prepping for a party but the food still seemed to come out pretty quickly! To drink I got an Aperol spritz and my mom the stoney sour, we both enjoyed what we got and would order them again. Aside from a rowdy table behind us our whole experience here was an absolute delight! 10/10 would come back here and would recommend it to anyone in Banff that wants to dine with a view. And if you get the chance to have Francisco as your server, he is so friendly awesome to talk to! read more

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You cannot beat the view from the roof top. Food was excellent and service was fantastic. If you are looking for a restaurant with great atmosphere and view I would certainly recommend dining here. read more

Neat rooftop bar in Banff, nice view with a lot of seating! The service was very nice and welcoming. My table came for cocktails and everyone enjoyed it read more

Elk & Oarsman - Hot chocolate - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Can't speak for the food but I can speak for the views- awesome rooftop views! Mountains all around. Go grab some drinks on the rooftop. You will love it read more

Had lunch there today after a 2hr canoe trip. Was able to get a table on the rooftop patio and enjoyed great weather and service. Staff were all attentive and friendly during our visit. Ordered the elk tacos and elk poutine along with a caesar side salad. Poutine and salad were 5/5. Tacos we wish the salsa would had been a bit more forward in flavor to balance. Had a couple cold beers to top it off. Great experience overall read more

Elk & Oarsman - Elk poutine, elk tacos, caesar side salad - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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When I say this place is a 10/10, ITS A 10 OUT OF 10! In literally all aspects, the food, the environment, the patio, the workers, and did I say Food?!?! It was well worth every dollar. I got the Elk dip and let me tell you, I've had hundreds of dip sandwiches in my lifetime and this just took over my number 1 spot. The dip itself is literally perfect! Not bland, and especially not too salty. The best part is, you get 2 SIDES!!! Like what??? And they're good portions too. I got the mash potato (soft, flavourful, yummy) & the broccoli soup (Sooooooo yummy, perfect, & hearty). Will be back here again, and again, and again! You should too! PS I do not work here lol, the food just really amazed me plus the great service. Also, it's renamed to "The Elk", a must visit when you're in town! read more

Went here for a week straight and had so many things. The rooftop bar is amazing! I have officially had all of the shafts on the menu including: original, peanut butter and jam or PB & J, Irish, etc. I have also officially had pitchers of all of the sangrias including the white, the red and the rose. Giving them 4 stars specifically because they put too much ice in the sangria so make sure you ask for less ice! read more

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Perfect place to eat when staying in banff food is delicious great menu with many options and great service, with a nice view of the street and mountains read more

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Reserved a table to watch a World Cup game during our visit in early December. Glad we reserved a table online because it filled up very quickly right after we were seating. It was a ton of fun to watch both the US and England matches with a bunch of people from all over, while in Canada. Our server was new but so lovely and absolutely did her best even though the bar was out of many things and not fulfilling the orders she was putting through. My husband really enjoyed the cider he had which was on tap. The elk queso was fantastic and honestly could've fed 4+ as an app or been enough for a meal. My steak sandwich was on special and so tasty. Overall a fun environment and pleasant lunch. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place for a casual lunch place to watch a sporting event. read more

Elk & Oarsman - Steak sandwich - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Awesome rooftop patio. Great service. The best weekday specials in banff. Great prices with everything less than $20 a person. A must visit in banff. I love this place, I go here at least once every time I visit banff. My fave rooftop patio with a casual feel. A great place for a good drink after a day of hiking or snowboarding. Located right on the middle of banff Avenue the location is perfect for a stroll after stuffing your face. I love the weekday specials. Ussually they have 1 or 2 drinks for just $5 and a heavily discounted option which changes daily. The steak sandwich on Tuesdays is a must. The food is cooked to perfection with fresh ingredients. They offer a bunch of specials with elk which is a nice change from the typical pubs in banff. Elk tacos and elk burgers are tasty and so filling. The sweet potato fries and fire roasted soup are delicious. The frose is sooooo good on a hot summer day. Tip: they have a one time yelp check in offer for a free dessert! I personally like the cheesecake best but the chocolate cake will satisfy any sweet tooth. Everything tasted hot fresh and delicious, seasoned perfectly. I love it here and keep coming back! Low key casual eats, with a beautiful rooftop patio overlooking banff Avenue. They also take covid precautions seriously with sanitizing stations, online menus and separate entrances and exits to promote physical distancing. I felt safe during my visit! Added bonus. read more

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Service and cocktail/beer were excellent. Ordered a few cold beers to enjoy around the bar, staff were friendly and attentive. Ordered the chicken wings, probably won't order those again, I have never had a soggy chicken wings before but the afternoon was not ruined. Place was really busy being a Saturday, weather was great so many people hoping for the roof top patio. read more

Casual place for dinner and drinks, solid spot to watch hockey games or other sports. Want to try elk? This is the spot! Come by anytime for dinner or on Elk Wednesdays when they've got specials going on. The elk queso was absolutely delicious! Piping hot cheese with elk meat and the perfect veggies mixed in, served with chips. Sooo good I would have gone back for more if I had more time! Elk burger was solid - did you know elk is leaner, higher in protein, and lower in grams of fat vs. beef? A guilt-free burger! Onion rings and cookie skillet ice cream were tasty too. Stop by this place if you're in Banff and looking for a casual meal. Solid Moscow mules to sip on with your meal. read more

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I'm not sure if I came on an excellent day but I just feel like the reviews didn't do the place justice! Probably my favorite poutine I've had even though I don't really care for poutine. The nice server sold me on it! The coffee and 2 shots in a city like banff was totally worth $13 Canadians. And they were delicious. The mystic express spiked with Jameson coffee was really good! Anyways I hope this estabilishment stays open next time I'm banff. Also I shared the poutine with someone else the portions I've seen here are ginagantic all over. read more

Elk & Oarsman - Elk Poutine - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

The food and sangria were FANTASTIC but what was even better was the service! Very good ambience in the bar area as well. read more

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The food was just average. Poutine was cold. The soup was runny. The elk burger was ok but nothing amazing. read more

Elk & Oarsman - elk burger - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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We had a great meal here! Elk ravioli, Elk Dip, Elk burger and Garden Flatbread...yum! We had a few great mocktails and beer, too. Hubs really enjoyed the Georgetown Brown. The Strawberry Lemonade Spritz was great, but the Sunrise (Blood Orange) was amazing. Service was on the slow side, but we weren't in a hurry. Stop by if you're in town! Loved the view from the rooftop patio. read more

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Food was very underwhelming. Service was not great. The sauce on the elk pizza was not good and flavorless. Had the elk dip as well and I think the "elk au jus" was just the poutine gravy. We would give this place a pass if we were to return to the area. read more

Elk & Oarsman - Elk Dip with "elk au jus" fries and salad - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Nice place to grab lunch with a view! I got the steak sandwich which was open faced. It was great. Paired with fries and a salad + beer = perfect combo. Service was also good. Definitely worth checking out! My friend got the ribs and I was lucky to try one - it was fall off the bone good. read more

Elk & Oarsman - Steak Sandwich - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Rooftop ambiance wasn't the greatest but the service was great and the food was good. The Elk poutine was satisfying. I think if you can get a street view closer to the main street that would be nicer. Also, it did seem like a locals hangout with a good vibe and not touristy. read more

This place was absolutely perfect for lunch! The weather and vibes on the rooftop were Immaculate! Such amazing views and it felt great! The drinks were delicious and the food was so yummy! Everyone loved the broccoli and cheddar soup! The poutine was also really good. My drink (the fancy milk) was by far the biggest hit! The staff was super friendly, had great conversation and spent time giving us great recommendations for local activities! read more

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Had the best Eggs Benny I've ever had in my life! Breakfast was delicious and fresh! The drinks were meh... aside from the Caesars, those were awesome. Servers were all friendly and welcoming. Covid protocols in place and followed. read more

Elk & Oarsman - Mermaid Mimosas - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

We asked a local guy working at a sports store for a lunch recommendation. He said he was going to Elk & Oarsman for the Tuesday $12 steak sandwich special. So we took his advice and had the best sandwich, hands down I may have ever had. It was a generous piece of steak on one piece of (sourdough?) bread topped with grilled mushrooms and some half-fried onions (so they were still sweet inside but crispy). It came with fries and a salad as well. What a deal! The flavor was soooo good. I gobbled it up without thinking to take a pic-sorry!! You'll have to experience it for yourself if you're lucky enough to be there for lunch on a Tuesday! read more

We came here in search of a bison burger. We tried both the bison and elk burger. The bison burger was really good but the elk burger was bland at best. I did enjoy the poutine. The service was spotty. The hostess was rude and our waitress was MIA half the time. Of course I could not get a straw for my drink because the restaurant banned them...eye roll. read more

Scenic mountain view dine-in!!! For beer lovers, Elk-lager... must try! Great options for vegetarians!!! read more

Elk & Oarsman - Wheat ale!!! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Ambience and view were great- food was very underwhelming. We had the chicken sandwich and elk tacos. The tacos were very bland and lacked flavor. The chicken sandwich was very dry and over cooked. Have a beer, enjoy the view but skip the food. read more

Ummm.....why are these reviews so poor? This place was fairly empty on a Friday night, I assume because of the reviews or maybe it was just too early for their busy time. We popped in for some drinks and appies and got exactly what we were looking for. The drinks were solid, nothing super crazy craft cocktail, but just right for the scene there. What surprised me though was how good the food was. I'm a big believer in ordering what you think a place is going to be really good at - if you're in a nice steakhouse, order the steak. A Jewish deli? Get the pastrami on rye. And if you're in a bar - get bar food. We ordered the elk poutine because...duh. The elk was braised, the fries were crunchy, and we definitely put down the whole order of them between 3 of us. Next came the nachos (with elk, obviously) and they killed that too. Real shredded cheese, none of that "from a can" stuff. The music was great (just right for bopping your head at the table) - I only wish this place was at the base of one of the mountains for a nice Apres! read more

Elk & Oarsman - Nachos + elk! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Banff, Alberta, Canada. When you eat cold food for a handful of days and come up on some hot food... It's really really really good. Service: A Service, hospitality, politeness, etc. is common in Central Canada. This wasn't shocking since it's a reputation thingy and i've been to canada plenty times. Food: B It's hard to isolate genuine flavors from the body being accustomed to travel meal prep with a broken grill/stove. I couldn't really tell if the food was commercialized or home grown. Canadian government has different rules to define "food." Actually, the world holds different standards than corporate USA. Elk burger was juicy, tasty and beefy. Alternative game meat tends to be overly processed/salted/preserved, leaner aka drier... I requested no seasoning so that distinct "elk" flavor I experienced in Southern Idaho was there. Nachos is not what us Los Angelenos would expect. It's basically chips with dry stuff on top. I was happy that they didn't use liquid cheese but it was different w/out the manteca filled refried beans. What a difference manteca makes =P BBQ Pizza was unique. The bbq sauce was zestier than the thicker US flavors, and the dark meat chicken complimented well with the cheese. Something about this Canadian cheese I can't put my finger on... It's different than the Cali cheese and not in a bad way. Maybe it's the water or the fact that the dairy used to make the cheese might be grass fed versus California's assembly line of cows. Water... Sooooo refreshing. This might have to do with the overall ethos, scenery, fresh air, cleanliness and the mountainous beauty of Banff. Location: ? In regards to Banff.... It's in the middle of town. Banff in itself is the boonies. Banff is appx 1,700 miles (2,700 KM) from Los Angeles, CA. Decor/Interior: A Different. How to explain? Trendy Outdoorsie? Overall: B It was good but not one of those places where you would go back to until one explores the rest of Banff restaurants including the baller eateries at the Fairmont. The restaurants in the hotel has some funky sushi hours. Happy eatings. Travel safely. and don't forget to peek outside of the small balcony. It's a priceless view. Consolidated photo gallery: https://www.facebook.com/SiRTurbo/media_set?set=a.10157275237682324&type=3 IG @cigarcpa www.cleeshyun.com read more

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