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Price:
$$$$ 35- 45 per person Would I go Back: Yes NOTE: Fine Dining
This restaurant is in the Delta Banff Royal Canadian Lodge in Banff. It's not really big restaurant but despite that it's not very busy both times I went. Once on a weekend in November and once during the summer during the weekday. So no reservations is required. As it's a ski resort style hotel their dress code is really lax so you can wear whatever you want really but I don't think they appreciate ripped jeans.
It is a pricy restaurant but what isn't in Banff. I always suggest to tourists if they can afford it to go to the fancier restaurants and not the usual large chain restaurants all glammed up. Mainly because they're so busy so I sometimes find the price is still the same but the food might not meet your expectation as well as the service. (see Banff - Food and Service)
The service at this restaurant is quite consistant, both times I've been there I had good service and the staff was very friendly. The staff knows what they're doing and have knowledge of the menu, specials, and can make recommendations. One of the waitresses I've spoken was from Australia and have been there for three years now. That's some working holiday! I gave them a 5 star as far as service goes in Banff their staff are quite good. The restaurant is really clean, the table settings are appropriately placed and the silver ware are really clean. Hint: Those that are scared of more than one fork or knife work your way in from the outside. The bread knife is sometimes placed above the plate though. I can't comment on the washroom as it's in the hotel and not in the restaurant.
What I like most about this restaurant is that you can see the chefs at work as the kitchen is in full view for the diners. When you sit down they provide you some fresh made bread along with oil and vinegar and a paste that's really good (can't remember what it is) If you can't decide what to have for appetizers because everything looks good they have Chef Sampling for Two in the appetizer section which consists of Chilled spicy prawns, Albacore tuna, marinated bocconcini, air cured bison, prosciutto,garnished with kalamata olives & marinated artichoke hearts which are all really yummy. When I went the first time they also had a main course sampling dinner but since they do change their menu slowly the dinner sampling platter no longer exists. I would recommend the Paddle River Elk Medallions which is marinated in espresso & maple syrup, dauphine potato & chanterelle mushroom, seasonal vegetables with sage & port jus. It's really good and I would suggest to take the chef's recommendation to have it on the rare side as the more the elk meat the tougher it gets. Their raviolis are amazing as well. They are fresh made pasta by the chef. Something that is becoming rare with fine dining that this restaurant still do is between course they serve a palate cleansing home made sorbet. They have a really nice dessert menu as well or if you're like me and is absolutely in love with their sorbet you can ask if you can their sorbet as a dessert. The chef will be happy to accommodate your request and he'll even top it off with some spun sugar decorations. The chefs really put alot of effort in making the food good along with good presentations. Don't expect to be in and out really quick either, the chef paces the food coming out. This is definitely not a dine and dash restaurant.
I really like the atmosphere of this restaurant it's not big but well decorated and not too stuffy. As mentioned previously I love the open concept kitchen. One thing you'll notice and I did mention earlier is that it's not busy even during the peak season. Reason being is that it's of higher price range so the students that spent all their money to get on the hill usually won't be able to afford to come here. So no loud teenagers. Another reason this restaurant is not as well known as the Waldhaus and along the strip of where all the hotels are and most visitors head into the core of Banff to find food, it is a hidden gem in plain view.
The restaurant indicates their dining experience as "Dine in an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere, and enjoy an inspired menu highlighting the best of Canada." pretty much sums it up. The chefs take pride in their culinary skills and do their best to make everything perfect. A truly enjoyable Canadian Rocky Mountain cuisine.
