Located along the Sturgeon River in a gorgeous Victorian-style house in St. Albert sits Riverbank Bistro. Known for classic Canadian fare with a modern twist, this restaurant has been around since 2017 and has been St. Albert's most coveted date night spot ever since. Chef and owner Dan Ducharme has been in the game for a long time and his culinary vision is allowed to shine within Riverbank's historic walls. Using ingredients from the best local producers; such as seafood from Effing Seafoods (Rob is everyone's favourite fishmonger), whatever sparks inspiration at the St. Albert Farmers' Market, and of course beef and cheese from a producer that requires no introduction; Lakeside Farmstead, the plates at Riverbank Bistro promise fresh comfort food with an elevated air. In fact, it was Jeff Nonay (a name synonymous with quality) of Lakeside Farmstead who arranged for my dinner and I couldn't have been more excited to taste his famed products, prepared under Chef Ducharme's expertise. I visited on a Saturday evening and you certainly cannot miss the iconic building that Riverbank Bistro resides in. With its burgundy exterior and dramatic spires, this converted estate now contains several businesses, one of them being the restaurant. Perched along the river, you will be treated to idyllic views to accompany your meal. The inside of the dining room is refreshed and modern while carefully maintaining the original character that makes the building so special. Expect charcoal-wrapped banquettes, rustic wood, and statement lighting. Whisked to our comfortable table, it wasn't long before each and every other seat within view was occupied and the room was filled with the din of happy diners. Our server was exceedingly prompt and professional, revealing that we would be treated to a special five-course chef's table experience. I absolutely could not wait to get started. Chef Ducharme himself made the time to greet us at our table, narrowly escaping the intensity of his busy kitchen. He managed to personally deliver our dishes, describing each one and its ingredients with care. What a unique privilege! I'm a cocktail girl and had to begin my adventure with a Strawberry Vanilla Mojito (Fresh strawberries, Bumbu rum, vanilla liqueur, mint, lime - $16.00), prepared by the skilled barstaff. Perfect to sip on while reminiscing on the summer that just was, I enjoyed this fresh and fruity take on a classic. Muddled strawberries and mint leaves mixed playfully with the flavours of vanilla and lime. Just my kind of drink! The first course to arrive was a showstopper; Quahog Clams sourced by St. Albert's own Effing Seafoods. Served in a kimchi broth that was made with sun-dried tomato and saffron then dotted with emerald-coloured chive oil, this dish was bursting with big umami flavour! The portion consisted of a generous number of clams, each one large and juicy. However, it was the perfectly executed broth that I could have lived in. The provided triangles of sourdough were necessary for sopping up every last delicious drop. Next to arrive was a beautiful Fall Risotto, showcasing the best ingredients of the season. This unique risotto was made with a grain similar to barley or farro instead of traditional Arborio rice. Not only did this create an innovative and Canadian twist on a classic dish but the larger grains delivered a rustic plate. Each bite was chewy and nutty which was highlighted perfectly by the bright orange pieces of tender kabocha squash throughout. Mustard and sunflower seed added texture, while the housemade chicken jus (inspired!) brought decadence. The pickled components went a far way to achieve balance. Delicate curls of greens sat atop it all along with a sprinkling of Alpine cheese from Lakeside Farmstead. Each bite was rich and delicious, taking the concept of a warm fall comfort dish and elevating it to something thoughtful and elegant. Truly autumn in Alberta on a plate. The third course consisted of a Strawberry Sorbet palate cleanser which was a great way to pause and refresh the meal after the starter courses. Served with lemon zest and basil, the perfectly spherical scoop was sitting in a small pool of extra virgin olive oil. Beautifully fragrant, this sorbet was ultra creamy with very few ice crystals. A perfect match to my Strawberry Vanilla Mojito cocktail as well! Then it was time for the main dishes and they were more than what we could have wished for! Two gorgeous, high-quality, well-marbled, Nonay Strip Loin Steaks, each cooked to a medium-rare perfection. Each plate was accompanied by Lakeside Farmstead Fromage Blanc mash (their beef and cheese on one plate - chef's kiss!), sautéed spinach and mushrooms, and a black garlic jus. The really cool part was that each steak had been dry-aged for a different amount of time and it was very neat to taste and compare the difference that 40 days makes. First up is the 80 Day Dry-Aged Strip Loin Steak. Visually, it was very evident that this read more

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Great service, I had the garlic shrimp, and he chose the soup of the day- butternut squash. Both were enjoyable, although he found the soup a tad on the sweet side. My shrimp was excellent, flavourful and perfectly cooked. Amanda was an excellent hostess to us, giving us our space, yet being there when we needed her. My guy's duck was very tasty, not dry, and perfectly cooked. My beef rib, was melt-in-the-mouth delicious. Our espresso and late were unimpressive, slightly watery, and with somewhat stale or pre-ground beans. My latte was made with 2%. We had crème brûlée for dessert, and our special occasion was recognized. This place is rather pricey, but worth it for a special occasion. read more

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Was so excited to have my birthday dinner here! I made a reservation just to be sure but place was only 10% full at 5:30PM and only 60% full at 7:30PM so we definitely could have just walked in. I love that you can see this place from the main road in St. Albert but it was kind of roundabout to get to. And the front doors do not clearly say Riverbank Bistro but once you go in there are separate doors for the Bistro, Riverbank Lounge, and some fancy spa. We had no trouble using the limited parking right out front the front doors but I do wonder if there would be enough if it was a busy night. Place is fancy but you could wear nice jeans and a polo and still fit in. You Could also dress up a touch and make it a fancy night! 1 waitress working the whole night which made for slow service but on a night when we were just relaxing this was acceptable. She asked if I needed water Before my glass was empty which was all I could ask for. When the restaurant was empty ( around 5:30PM) she came over multiple times in a small amount of time. 2 gender-neutral single-person bathrooms. Menu is not exactly like the online menu but very very similar. We had no problems finding what we wanted and the prices were the same. Waitress said the menu is going to change at the end of the week to keep it fresh and seasonal. We started with alcohol - I asked for the sweetest wine which was the Kung Fu Girl Riesling, 5oz, $13, 8/10 was good. Boyfriend got a $7 sleeve of one of the rotating draught beers and was happy with same. We started with Potato soup (RBB Soup Creation) $10 and the Slow Roasted Stone Fruit salad (online menu says peaches) $18. Soup was good but I think needed more bacon or cheese as was Just potato, but was very nice 8/10. Peach salad was 12/10 delicious! Boyfriend said best salad he has Ever had. Highly highly recommend. Cheese on bottom was smooth, creamy, and light (flavor), peaches were soft but not much, greens were fresh and not bitter, they put the balsamic on the side which I appreciate as it's not really my preference, love the cashew crunch. Again it was WOW. Entrees boyfriend got the Ancho Dusted Chicken Pasta $25. He gave it a 12/10 best pasta he has ever eaten (really he is comparing it to Boston Pizza), he thought the pasta was so perfectly cooked, chicken was moist, but sauce was 12/10 the greatest thing he has eaten. Lets just say no leftovers. I got the Schnitzel $32. Not only was the size IMPRESSIVE (in caps) it was delicious. Definitely one of the Best I have ever had. Mushroom sauce was such a good compliment to it I wish there was more! Cabbage was good, pickled onion is just not my think. French fries were tasty at first but cooled too quickly. Salad as good, dressing was spot on but arugula is not my thing. Overall could forgo the fries and salad and still 10/10 would get again in a heartbeat. It was so big I took 30% of the schnitzel and 50% of the fries home. At the end of the meal we asked if they offered complimentary birthday dessert but waitress said no - they would write happy birthday on the plate of the dessert you bought though. This to me is sad. We spend over $100 and they can't throw in a $10 dessert when I chose to spend my special day here. Overall highly recommend this place for a special night out and I am sure we will be back. read more

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We booked a reservation for 10, right when brunch was available. It started to get more busy closer to 11 but glad to have booked a reso! It is quiet, warm, and friendly staff! We got 2 original eggs benny. It was delicious but even the potatoes that it came with were so seasoned #doubleyum read more

Riverbank Bistro - Original eggs Benedict - Canadian (New) Near Me - St. Albert, Alberta

The Best of the Best! Had the pleasure of dining at Riverbank Bistro and having Ammanda as our server. First, the building and the location are absolutely stunning. Excellent atmosphere for friends, family or an intimate date. Second, the food. Unique food choices and flavours all cooked absolutely to perfection, and a great drink and wine menu. Third, and no means by last, the service. The best we have ever had. Ammanda was perfect. She anticipated our needs, checked in at just the right times, and made sure that we felt like we were her only table when in fact the place was full. Just based on the service alone, this place deserves 6 stars at least. Add that to the food and building and this is a guaranteed win. If you haven't been here, go soon and go often. If you have been here before, hurry back, you won't be disappointed! read more

Second time eating at this amazing Bistro. The first time was great and the second time was just as amazing. Wonderful atmosphere and staff. Such a warm and welcoming venue. The food is out of this world and down to earth. The avocado bruschetta is my ultimate favourite appetizer. We also tried the crispy cauliflower and it lives up to its name (crispy capers elevate this dish so much). When you are at a place like this you have to order a bottle of wine, and so we did. Great selection. Our entrees were all delicious. Absolutely beautiful presentation and the staff are able to explain all the ingredients and make great recommendations. My favourite dessert has to be the homemade key lime pie, close second was the berry crisp. On an evening like tonight with temperatures below 25 the berry crisp warms you up. The chef came out to visit the tables which was a nice perk. We will be returning here many more times. Great way to spend an evening with friends and enjoy the most amazing food. read more

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I'm surprised by the lack of reviews... this was by far my best dinning experience in the area in quite a while! We've already planning out our next few visits because we can't wait to try MORE on the menu. And as I was enjoying my meal, I was so excited to write my review and share my experience with you all. I was worried they would be busy on a Friday evening, so I made a reservation via OpenTable. That wasn't necessary, as there really wasn't many people there. But there were a few tables occupied in the dinning room. We were greeted promptly as we entered and shown to our table right away. I'll be honest.... I expected the interior to be kind of stuck up or snobby or something, but it was incredibly warm and welcoming. The tables have high back chairs that are very comfortable. And I was happy when the hostess offered to take my jacket and hang it for me. As we started looking through the menu, our server stopped by to make some suggestions. She was incredibly knowledgeable and thanks to her recommendations, I ordered something that I never would have otherwise. My Arctic Char was delicious and the warm potato and asparagus salad went with it perfectly. The star of the meal was definitely the avocado bruschetta appetizer. It was so fresh and just delicious... I debated skipping dinner and just ordering more of that. Our main reason for visiting was the Creme Brulee that we saw on facebook. We're suckers for a good creme brulee, and this one was at the top of our list to try for a long time. The raspberry is incredibly subtle, which is great because it didn't overpower the rest of the dish. We also went for a slice of Key Lime pie which was so smooth and creamy. The coconut in the crust made it really stand out. I can't wait to go back. read more

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Just an fyi, it's usually cold in here and the sound the last two times I've been in is not what you'd want for a romantic dinner night. Turn the lights low, lower the random speaker/music volume and turn the heat up. My date was cold and put off by the noise. Your food is too good to ruin it with the atmosphere. Would go again for the food. Recommend you update the decor and ambiance as this place should be everyone's go to location in at St. Albert for date night if the ambiance was fixed. read more

The epitome of luxury in St. Albert. Each time I've been here the food has been perfectly prepared, absolutely delicious, and the service is phenomenal. I cannot recommend the Riverbank enough for a special night out, and my fiance and I can't wait to try brunch one day! read more

Ate there last night with family. A great environment, helpful service, variety of drinks, and really excellent unique food. The chef came out to meet us after which was a nice personal touch. Try the coconut chicken, it's great. read more

We were a group of 4 recently for dinner. Upon entry there was a strong sewage smell in the vestibule, which I am sure happens occasionally out of their control. The shy host who looked 15 and wouldn't/couldn't speak, only smiled, and possibly an employee's daughter helping out. Our sever was cordial, however not engaged or professional, and dressed in what looked like ill fitted gym attire. Throughout the evening, we asked her 3 times for water, whereby she was more occupied spraying clean tables than attending to the few customers. With only two tables total in attendance, we waited 50 minutes for appetizers, and another 53 minutes for our entries, with everyone at the table commenting on the slowness, and our invisible disengaged server. The schnitzel was a chewy dry slab of pork, and the overcooked Bison was accompanied by rancid acidic Chimichurri. Typically we would have returned our meals, however we simply wanted to leave, as it was a brutal experience for such an expensive location. If only the food was high end as expected, and not at the level of a Tutti Fruti, we would have been ok with the evening. read more

Food is very good . Would like to see a little more choices on the dinner menu. Service was very good and waiteris was very pleasant

Absolutely delicious, quality food, with great presentation. Friendly, prompt staff. Got to meet the chef. Great to have an option like this in town. read more

I had the pleasure of being invited to dine here for a weekend brunch. There were 5 of us at the table. I believe we all ordered something different. Tasty, fresh, unique. Home run on all counts. Not one thing not looking divine. Smells - amazing. I ordered the steak and eggs. The sauce on the steak simple but super tasty. Over hard eggs done perfectly, exactly as I like.... never found done well, until now. Looking forward the returning for an evening repas. Dylan, keep up the excellent work. You were destined to do this. (To my nephew, thanks for your generosity- paying for our calories) read more

We have dined at the Riverbank Bistro several times and always enjoyed their innovative cuisine. Dinner on May 19th was a disappointment. As the Sunday special was roast prime rib we decided to go for it. I ordered mine medium rare. When the dish arrived I was shocked to see a pile of thinly sliced well done beef. It looked like it had been sliced and reheated - much like you would expect in a cafeteria setting rather than a fine dining restaurant. When I commented to the wait staff that I had ordered mine medium rare, I received a nonchalant response indicating that is the way it is served. The redeeming feature was the vegetables were correctly cooked and well presented. I certainly hope it was just an off night, or maybe the chef owner was away for the weekend read more

I was treated to a birthday dinner at Riverbank Bistro recently and it was a delightful experience. This was the first time I dined at this restaurant, that sits on the banks of the Sturgeon River. Apart from the great company, the meal and service was of high quality. I believe it is possible to sit outside with a view over looking the river however we dined inside. The atmosphere of the dining room with its bright windows and rustic ambiance is low key with contemporary music playing softly in the background. There are several menus to choose from including a Snowbird menu for those over 60 available on Tuesdays to Thursdays between 4pm and 6pm. The Snowbird menu offers two course meals that include an entree and either soup or caesar salad. The price is $24.00. The entree choices include fire grilled strip-loin, fire grilled salmon, herb roasted chicken and a vegetarian wellington. The main menu has an array of choices including seared salmon, Arctic Char, ancho dusted chicken pasta, venison flank steak, braised lamb, butter basted chicken, short ribs, and a number of other meat lover fav's. Each entree is serve with uniquely prepared vegetables and sauces. The price range is between $24 and $33. Appetizers range from avocado bruschetta to crispy pork belly with prices between $9 and $17. They also have a brunch menu and a bar menu. You can order off the bar menu also, if you are in the dining room. They have a wine list with something for everyone. We had the seared salmon and a Cesar salad. The salad was made from the the heart of the romaine and the dressing was delicious. The salmon came laid atop a tasty dollop of creamy and flavorful mashed potatoes bordered with sprigs of broccoli. The salmon was baked to perfection, hot, not too dry and not uncooked. The herbs used accentuated the flavor of the food without over powering it. I really enjoyed it. We had the Wente cabernet sauvignon. It went down so easily we had to have two. To summarize, this restaurant serves high quality food at a reasonable price while providing a relaxing atmosphere with pleasant and attentive service. read more

Perfect summer spot to kick back after a stroll through the picturesque neighborhood.

Great new restaurant with amazing food. Everything we ate was delicious and I Strongly recommend the beef tenderloin!! Also I wouldn't skip out without trying the dessert too. read more

This is my favourite place for a romantic date night and the brunch is fantastic too. The steak is perfect and so flavourful and I love their seasonal offerings. The service is incredible too. read more

Pretty crappy experience. Right off the bat we were seated at the lounge (even with a reservation) and were tucked into a corner. The seating was so awkward and cramped that we had to move chairs to get in and out to use the bathroom. The concept of a lounge wouldn't have been an issue if the music wasn't blaring-- and it wasn't even good music; it was weird indie depressing stuff that played on a loop. It took about 15 minutes for our drink order to be taken, then when we placed our food order we realized a bit later that we weren't asked how we wanted our steaks done. However... the food was fantastic. For paying 30+ dollars a plate, the atmosphere was awful and the service was terrible. I wish they did skip the dishes, because I never want to step foot in that building again. I recommend going to Ernest or 19 if you're looking for a fine dinning experience worth the price. read more

The food here is absolutely amazing. I ordered the 6oz tenderloin and it was cooked to perfection, it was melt in your mouth almost like eating a piece of butter every bite. Definitely the best steak I have ever had. We ordered the Crispy Duck Confit, Bison Carpaccio and the Cauliflower to start and each one was absolute perfection. I would recommend this place to anybody on a nice date night or family night out. read more

Bad first impression. Not rushing back any time soon. Perhaps they would benefit from some staff training.

This restaurant has a fabulous location along the sturgeon river in a beautiful building and the food is excellent and well priced. Fantastic service as well. read more

Amazing food. Wines were a good selection with reasonable pricing. Three of us had dinner and we would have changed anything. Great restaurant. read more

I heard from a few friends that the new Chef Daniel was excellent. It's true. The meals were very generous and super tasty. This is my new favourite restaurant in St. Albert. You MUST try it!! Will try and make a monthly visit. Prices are very reasonable and the food is delish! read more