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I'd say this is probably one of the must-try restaurant in downtown Banff! The hamachi crisp, bison short rib and cucumber salad are all 10/10!! The warm vibe with snowing sightseeing were very welcoming!
What a great experience! Today was our first day in Banff and we are so happy we picked The Bison to be our first meal here. The restaurant is a modern vibe with gorgeous Mountain View's. The food here was elevated - beautiful presentation but also tasted as good as it looked! We had the roasted duck and the pistachio crusted bison short rib. The Ricotta toast - oh my goodness so good. Service was so friendly and attentive, we never had to wait for anything we needed. The drinks were also incredible. Highly recommend the Wild Rose Sour! We're here all week, there's a high chance we come back again!
The dishes were good, but it wasn't mind blowing amazing. We had the beet salad, bison, duck and beef tartare.
The Bison was, far and away, the best meal we had in the Banff area. Every dish we ordered was superb, but the bison tartare was for sure the standout. The grapefruit cocktail also was one of the better cocktails we've had in a really long time. The tomato tarts were perfect, and so was the burrata. The staff were super friendly and charming, and made the whole experience wonderful. Couldn't recommend enough!
I have had bison before but when in Alberta, why not? Reservations were not too hard as we made one right after we finished hiking one of the trails of Lake Louise, for a reservation 2 hrs later, for Saturday dinner. It is interesting they close at 9 but they have reservations at 9, so maybe the last seating is at 9. In any case, we snagged a spot at the counter for the ambience and space to take pictures, while some of the standard table seating offers some views of Banff town, depending on availability. We got the bison tomahawk for 2 which was MP but they said it was 210 CAD which is fairly pricy. We also got a large glass of wine to share (which they willingly split the large glass into 2 smaller ones) to pair with the tomahawk. The bison tomahawk was huge, with a good amount of fat in some parts and there were some tendons in other parts. We got the tomahawk medium rare but it was too rare so they went back to recook it a bit more, making it less chewy. The chimichurri is delicious and the fixings (potatoes and broccolini) make this a complete meal. We were stuffed from just that so that is all we got. Service is okay - water refills were present and they check up on us, though it is not stellar for the caliber of the restaurant.
Hands down the BEST dinner we had in banff. We ended up starting with the scallops and getting the wood fired duck and venison tenderloin for our main courses. We were so impressed we also got the butternut squash gnocchi so we could try more dishes haha. Our waiter was laughing with us at how much we were ordering, but it was so good! Honestly, for the quality, it's definitely worth the price. Would come back 10/10. I would recommend getting a reservation as it was pretty packed when we got there
Top 10 Canadian fine dining. Wow. I came in with so much expectation. Unfortunately, every dish I order was mid. - The tartare was surprisingly oily for such a lean meat like bison. - The beet salad was strangely salty, as if the salt sprinkle was only for half of the plate. - The duck confit was a lesson on a bad combination of textures. The shredded duck was again so salty and oily. The duck breast was tough. The worst of all, the bed of crispy rice hurts my gum. The beautiful presentation and the fine dining look cannot explain why no dish makes sense. The drinks were great, I will give them that. Maybe I didn't like the food at all because I am not from the region. But the flavors here were, at best, a premium American restaurant, not top 10 in my opinion.
Made a reservation here after we e biked from Canmore to Banff. Great overall experience and we're very satisfied with what we ordered. Pricier cocktails, but all very good. We were in between the tomahawk for two meal and getting a few things and settled on this.... Venison tenderloin (5/5) -- perfectly cooked, not gamey, 4 pieces, we loved the carrot puree and farro it came with. Bison Tartare (5/5)- I will always and forever order a tartare and this was delicious. It comes with bread pieces. Bison Caesar (5/5)-- lovvvvvved this. Not too anchovy despite this chunks on top. One of the better Caesar salads I've had in a while. I will say the tomahawk meal is pricier (210 at this time) but it comes with a good amount of food and large portion. I have read nothing but good things. I wish we had an additional night to go back and get this bc "When in Banff..." They have a somewhat covered patio but not covered enough if it rains so keep in mind when making a reservation. Great atmosphere upstairs with the bar and had a friendly and informative waitress.
The service is impeccable! We decided to share appetizers such as the Bison Tartare, Hamachi Crudo, and more! All were fantastic! The Alberta Bison Tomahawk stole the show with a whopping 30oz steak meant to feed two! Cooked to a perfect medium rare as ordered- we all couldn't resist a bite.
4.5/5 stars. We made a reservation here for dinner. For appetizers, we got the bison tartare ($31) and the tomato tartlet ($11.50). The bison tartare came with four pieces of bread and a good amount of tartare. The tartare was soft and flavorful. The tomato tartlets were so cute and yummy - crispy and lightly cheesy. For entrees, we got the venison tenderloin ($64) and bison short rib ($72). The venison was so tender and wasn't too gamey. The short ribs were flavorful and mostly tender, although some parts were drier. The pasta that came with the short ribs were tasty. Overall, a nice ambiance for dinner with enjoyable food, although on the pricey side
Loved the energy and open kitchen, but I felt the food and some aspect of the service was lacking since the restaurant says they're fine dining and proud to be farm to table. Out of the three dishes we ordered, I liked the escargot the best. The shell was already removed and was cooked nicely with the rest of the ingredients. At first I did like the fried garlic on top of the dish, but the gnocci also had fried garlic on top which I felt made the dishes lazy. You can't go wrong with fried garlic and it makes me wonder how many other dishes are topped the same. The gnocci had inconsistent texture, some being chewy and others pillowy soft. The duck dish was delicious. It had duck breast and some shredded crispy duck leg. With a bit of everything, the eggplant, duck, crispy rice, and broth, it made for the perfect bite. Our waitress was friendly and was well versed on the menu and specials. The staff was attentive, stopping by to ask how we are and filling up our cups, but when food was delivered to our table I was expecting them to describe the dishes and where the ingredients come from. For the escargot, the staff did a bit by saying what's in the dish but nothing for the mains. I understand they have a map on the first page of the menu that says where they get their ingredients but it would be nice to connect it with the orders in front of us.
Let just say this experience was phenomenal. Their accolades are well deserved as the food is amazing, drinks tastes great, and they have the amazing view of the Canadian Rockies. It's on the pricy side, but I guarantee you it's worth the splurge, especially since you're on vacation right?!? I tried their Maple Old Fashioned ($19 CAD). Made with park maple rye, lot 40 rye, black walnut bitters. Seems like the Canadians really do like their flavored maple everything. We started off with the Cucumber Herb Salad ($19 CAD), which consist of baby cucumbers, tahini, miso, and herbs. A refreshing dish to balance out all of the meat dishes. For appetizer, we got the Escargot ($26 CAD) comes without the shell, so makes eating this a lot easier. It's soaked in bone marrow, which gives it a unique flavor compared to typical butter. It comes with mushrooms, gruyère cheese on top, and sourdough. For entrees, we ordered the Wood Fired Duck ($49 CAD). Very well prepared with crispy fat rice, carnitas, thai curry sauce, eggplant, peppers. The main star of the show was of course the Alberta Bison Tomahawk ($199 CAD). This comes with chef's selection of garnishes. Needless to say, this was devoured.
The food was great. Orders 2 glasses of a Merlot. The special Bison ribeye with accompanying sides. The service even better
2 years ago
Exceptional meal with family. Among us we had the bison burger, bison short ribs, and two of us split the signature tomahawk. Great wine selection. They had a nice treat available wuth a side of morel mush. Yum! read more
2 years ago
Looking for game meats? Look no further! If you love game meats or even want to try it, Bison is a good start. Make sure to make resos as it gets packed. The meal started off great with some good appetizers. The bison tataki was flavorful and worth it. The bone marrow escargot was pretty good. The bone marrow was good and escargot could have used a bit more flavor but that mix is interesting! Entrees- I got the bison, tasted like regular steak, I liked it however I had to add a bit more salt to bring out some flavors. My friend got the short ribs and she liked it. It's the most affordable and flavorful. My other friend got the venison sirloin and it was the most disgusting thing I've tasted. I had my fair share of game meats from antelope, boar, bear, and elk... and some version of venison and enjoy the gamey taste, but this venison steak cooked medium rare (more of rare), I could not stomach. It tasted waaaaaay too gamey. It was severely metallic. Even adding salt couldn't help it. I feel maybe a medium would be better. Something about that venison that we didn't like... dunno. Service was stellar. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. Dinner isn't exactly the cheapest. I would say it's more of a 3.5 stars, closer to 4 though. read more
3 years ago
Wow. An incredible dining experience that was lovely from beginning to end. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and our table for 8 was spacious and didn't feel cramped in the slightest. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, for food and drinks, and was happy to offer suggestions and opinions, which we appreciated. For example as we ordered wine he recommended a different bottle for the same price that was not actually in the menu but that was his favorite. We went with his suggestion and did not regret it. The food itself was amazing as well. The appetizer beet salad was vibrant and fresh and stole the show. The grilled octopus ordered by our friends was also great. Our main entrees were all amazing as well, and the dessert was the perfect ending to a great meal. Overall a can't miss dining experience in Banff, we would love to return. read more
3 years ago
Definitely a must in Banff! My husband and I both ordered the striplion and it was perfection. It was cooked perfectly with caramelized onions and delicious potatoes on the side. The service was great and we even enjoyed some lovely non alcoholic drinks. So so yummy!! Nice date spot. read more
3 years ago
A bit noisy inside, but the bison short ribs and the beef sirloin strip were superb. The caesar salad was unique and over the top in taste and creativity. Outstanding experience. read more
Hidden off famed Banff Street is a wonderful restaurant that meets all your fine and casual dining needs. The scallop and pork belly app was to die for, followed up with a buffalo ribeye my wife and I split capped off with a great Canadian Cab... yes you read right.. a great Canadian Cab! This is our new Banff addiction, great service too! read more
3 years ago
My husband and I came here for dinner during our weekend trip in Banff. We had the bison ragu gnocchi, burrata, and bison. Our favorites were the bison ragu gnocchi and the burrata! The gnocchi was cooked perfectly and the ragu sauce with the bison was amazing! The burrata came with a green sauce and pistachios and everything blended together so well. The ambiance of the restaurant was lively and fun. When we come back to Banff next year, this will be a must-have again! read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
They should have an inflatable chef doll at the exit so you can SLAP IT hard on the way out...this is THE BEST dining experience I've had in my last 14 months of travel, including 49 states and 3 Canadian Providence's. Banff- Do it read more
5 years ago
The Bison Trio was cooked to perfection. All the flavors were smooth & savory. Chris K. Was attentive, friendly & went out of his way for our comfort bringing us a blanket for warmth sitting on the outside terrace and starting the fire. read more
3 years ago
We made a reservation here for right when they opened their dinner but had to wait quite a bit to get seated as it didn't seem like the restaurant was ready for diners. The ambience is great inside the restaurant and they had a nice patio too. I knocked off a star solely for the fact that this is not vegetarian friendly and the dishes are quite expensive for the quantity and the wait we had. That said, the quality is amazing and you can tell it's fresh. I ordered the Burrata as the menu was very limited. My friend got the bison gnocchi and raved about it, however, so if you are someone who eats meat, you will likely enjoy what they have! Just note it's more fine dining so prices will be a bit more expensive. Overall had a good experience though! read more
4 years ago
Incredible meal all around! Such interesting menu items that were perfectly executed without being too complicated or unapproachable. Delicious food, great service, cozy and homey environment. Highly recommend this spot for a special meal! read more
4 years ago
We had a reservation for a Sunday evening around 8;15 pm and it was busy. There was a Bison tomahawk special with potatoes and vegetables. There were 2 of us so we shared this special. It was cooked perfectly and was perfectly seasoned. The vegetables were really good as well. This was an amazing dish and would highly recommend. The dessert of peach sticky pudding with Yuzu sorbet was excellent as well. This was an excellent dinner and highly recommend this restaurant. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
Definitely worth the experience. The tomahawk steak is perfect to share. They say 2 servings but if you're not a big eater it's good for three. Steak is best serve medium rare. You know a good steak when you don't need any additional seasoning. The bartenders were wonderful. Nick & Nick made you feel welcome to the neighborhood. Let's just say there was no discounting the alcohol read more
3 years ago
2 stars feels a little harsh. I mean, the service was great, the atmosphere was great, the plating was nice, but if the actual taste isn't on point I can't recommend a spot. Disclaimer- my husband is a chef, we lived in San Francisco for 4 years, and we've eaten at some amazing restaurants in Canada, the US & Europe. We are in no way food snobs, but we expect the flavor to support the cost and the plating. That wasn't the case here. It wasn't BAD, just wasn't what we expected based on all the visual clues. We ordered 2 apps & 2 entrees and they all fell short on the flavor meter. Order the flatbread- that's what the table beside us had and they seemed to love it read more
4 years ago
Definitely a gem at Banff! We ordered the chef special of the day and it came with tons of stuff! The picture says it all! Not only did it look amazing each individual dish tasted great! Definitely recommend ordering it and sharing it with the table! Salad- well dressed and refreshing to the mouth Fried cauliflower- honestly never had a better cauliflower Seared Tuna- well seasoned that each bit was filled with flavor Pasta- lightly seasoned, yummy chewy and had lamb sausages Bison Short Rib- a gem for visitors that never tried bison well braised and very soft and easy to bite through! read more
4 years ago
Great food, good service. Liked beef tenderloin better than bison ribeye. Liked golden beets very much. Next time will order more from plants and things. Try to get a seat on the patio! Server was very helpful. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
So many restaurants in Banff but this one caught our attention. I wanted bison! We ordered two mains and that was it. Bison short ribs and the ribeye. YUM YUM YUM. Service was friendly and informative. It's great when the server recommends the dishes I already wanted to order! Portions were solid. After a day of snowboarding, we still couldn't finish our meals. I like the fact that they print on their receipts that gratuity is 15-20% so tourists know what is customary in Canada. read more
3 years ago
The food at the bison was delicious. The octopus was very tender. The bison short rib is slightly more dry than a beef short rib but rich in favour. The potato that came with the shirt rib was so creamy. There was not enough cauliflower. The pasta in the bolognese was cooked perfectly. The sauce was slightly salty for my taste but still very good. I enjoyed the open kitchen to view as your meal is prepared. The restaurant was nicely decorated giving a casual yet classy feel. The servers were friendly. However I feel the service could have been better for the price of the food. The server did not clean up the spill he made after pouring me some water. It also took a while for us to pay out bill. The food is delicious but I'm not sure if the food and service are worth the price. read more
EXCELLENT DRINKS, DELICIOUS FOOD, & GREAT SERVICE! What more is there to ask for?! The bison strip loin was my dish of choice, and it was incredible! The panko crust was not overpowering, and the meat was ever so tender with the best flavor! Not gamey at all for those of you wondering.... also shared the gnocchi poutine, which was DECADENT in only the best way. The service was outstanding. Our server made the BEST recommendation for a good Canadian wine! I'm glad she broadened our Californian eyes to wines from our northern neighbors. So friendly, informative and accommodating. I highly recommend eating here during your stay in Banff! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
We had a Sunday brunch at the Bison and everything was impeccable. Our party of 4 ordered the moroccan bison ragu (AMAZING), 2 different bennies and the mountain breakfast plate with poached eggs. We also tried the ceasars, which were very tasty as well. We were one of the last table seatings for brunch that day, and the staff was friendly and accommodating. The interior is chic and rustic, very comfortable and cozy. Would dine again! read more
7 years ago
We came here specifically for the Elk Poutine so we were very disappointed that they didn't have it available that evening. The dishes we did have were still very good. The bone marrow was my favorite of what we had. Service wasn't the best we've ever had but it was fine overall. The atmosphere was nice and we generally had a nice dinner here. read more
3 years ago
I enjoyed the food and service. A bit expensive but delicious grass fed bison! Will definitely return when in the area. read more
5 years ago
This restaurant should not be missed if in Banff. The duck was outstanding but the bison ribeye was absolutely wonderful. The waiter was knowledgeable and introduced me to an excellent Syrah from Okanagan Valley that fit perfectly with the bison. A true farm to table experience. read more
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