The Bison Restaurant & Patio

4.7

2589 Reviews

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Canadian

Top Tags:

Named in Trip Advisor's top 10 Canadian fine dining restaurants and OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in Canada, we proudly feature regional, seasonal, Canadian cuisine. Watch the show as a line of talented chefs prepare your meal in our open concept copper kitchen. Specializing in forno creations, fresh plant based dishes and of course Alberta bison. Enjoy your meal from our mountain view dining room, or escape to our rooftop terrace. Sip away on a signature cocktail, local craft beer or choose from our carefully selected wine list.

.
Bison offers group & private dining options accommodating 8-100 guests.
Mountain-view dining room / Open-air terrace cocktail receptions / Total venue experience
.
Learn more/connect about group dining:
www.banffcollective.com/groups
.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 3, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 27 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
Canadian, Farm-to-table, Contemporary Canadian
Hours of operation
Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(403) 762-5550
Website
http://www.thebison.ca/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Private party facilities
The Bison offers group & private dining options accommodating 8-120 guests. Mountain views / Total venue experiences. Learn more/connect about group dining: www.banffcollective.com/groups

Location
Box 3959 #213, 211 Bear Street, Banff, AB T1L 1E4
Neighborhood
Banff
Cross street
Caribou
Parking details
We are located across the street from the open air parking lot on Bear St. You can also find street parking on Bear Street as well as a secondary parkade located beside the Nester's Grocery Store, one block South of Caribou Street. <br /><br />
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

🎉Bison Early NYE Dinner
CA$25.00 per person
Prepaid
Dec 31, 2023 only
4:30 - 7:30 pm: If you have little ones or a late-night party to attend why not join us for an early dinner. Full menu available, reservations recommended. > Terms & Conditions: The booking deposit will be applied to the final bill the night of the event, and is non-refundable in the event of cancellation or no-show. Tax (5%) and auto-gratuity (18%) not included.
🥂Bison NYE Celebration
CA$50.00 per person
Prepaid
Dec 31, 2023 only
Starting at 8:00 pm: Step out for an elegant grand finale to the year complete with live acoustic music and candlelight. Enjoy our 4-course chef-driven menu highlighting the best of our region. Oh yes, there will be bison. Regular and children's menu not available, $149/person, reservations required. > Terms & Conditions: The booking deposit will be applied to the final bill the night of the event, and is non-refundable in the event of cancellation or no-show. Tax (5%) and auto-gratuity (18%) not included.

Offers

🎶Live Acoustic Music at The Bison Restaurant🎶
Multiple dates available
Thu - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The Bison pairs fresh seasonal cuisine with live music every Thursday from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Featuring a rotating variety of the Bow Valley's most talented acoustic artists.

What 2,589 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Calgary / Southern Alberta
Canadian
Banff / Canmore
Best Food
Banff / Canmore
Best Service
Banff / Canmore
Innovative
Banff / Canmore
Hot spot
Banff / Canmore
Canadian
Banff / Canmore
Most Booked

2,589 Reviews

j
jdmm
Calgary
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
An excellent meal and an excellent experience! Will go back for sure.
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TH
TeshaH
Calgary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service and even better food. Love the open kitchen concept. We had the bison tomahawk and it was an experience to remember. Would definitely recommend this restaurant.
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B
Brian
Calgary
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall3food3service5ambience5
Surprised by lack of vegetables on fairly expensive meal. Just meat and too nany roasted potatoes
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DD
DeeDee
Calgary
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall4food3service5ambience5
Was very excited to try the Bison and left with mixed reviews. All the dinner options sounded delicious so we opted to share two mains; the Striploin and the Braised Beef & Dumplings. While the Striploin was one of the best flavoured and cooked cuts of beef we’ve had in a long time, the braised beef and dumplings fell short of flavor. Service was great.
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R
Rica
Orange County
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
If you’ve never had Bison, good place to try. Good food overall. Kids enjoyed it as well. We didn’t order off the kids menu since there was so much good stuff on the adult menu. Everyone enjoyed their food. We had friends who also dined there and couldn’t say enough good things. If you’re in the area, it’s a must go to restaurant.
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MP
MonicaP
Calgary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, service and a great evening. Will definitely go back again.
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V
Vincet
Calgary
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I really like the cozy design and lighting of the restaurant, combined with really good food and great service I would recommend this to anyone.
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m
michaelk
Calgary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, thoughtfully presented. Outstanding service. Good wine list. The food is well worth the price! The wine list could be broadened for the price(s) Great experience overall Have been there several times, & shall go again DV!
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JH
JohnH
Calgary
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall4food5service2ambience5
Food was fantastic but the service was sub par. Once our food arrived, our drinks were already empty and stayed empty for another 20 minutes. The server never did come back, we had to ask another employee for help.
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MB
MichelleB
Toronto
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing food and outstanding service! The Bison is highly recommended.
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JS
JohnS
Montreal
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Overall pretty good food. I may have had higher expectations based on other reviews I read before going, and also based on price. Didn’t think the food was spectacular, but the prices approached that level. Liberal dose of cilantro, with also some in a sauce. No note on the menu, no warning from the server. Which is a big problem for at least 15% of people. Most restaurants charging these prices the server offers a full description when plates are delivered… these were just dropped on the table. The server was obviously quite new to the game, she was trying hard but 30$ appies and 65 dollar plates should be served by someone that has a bit more experience imho. Limited menu. Expected more bison options… but beef burger, beef tenderloin, the only bison was a short rib (63$) and a 30oz tomahawk for two . Id guess it part of the Banff hospitality cartel. It’s too bad there is not more competition in this market. Overall the restaurants seem to be the same thing, same drinks, same flavours…. Overall they do a pretty good job, but it like the stores…how many stores selling a china made sweatshirt with “Banff” embroidery on it does the town really need?
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EP
EPvisit
Las Vegas
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience3
Nice venue. Good priced too high for quality of the taste. Drinks overpriced. If the restraint wants to cater to more than tourist dollar, it needs to deliver more. Server was very good.
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CL
CassidyL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Fantastic ambiance and meal for our last night in town. Was hard to get a decent time, but understandable why they book up fast! Drinks and food equally great 👌
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K
Kelmo
Calgary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely phenomenal food and customer service! Will be back again :)
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on November 6, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience4
The bison short rib was dry and had a strong salty taste, the Alberta 12 oz steak was okay. Overall, was not a meal I would expect at this price point.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Edmonton
3 reviews
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 6, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience4
The waiter was rushed… he barley had time to answer our questions. We ordered the strip loin both of us and had the beef tartare to start. They didn’t mention that we could of done the adventure meal which was exactly what we ordered but included a salad and dessert for much cheaper. When we asked the waiter why he didn’t suggest we just get the adventure he said I think you can only do that online… but actually I don’t know. We did not enjoy our experience there at all.
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EM
EdwardM
Greater Boston
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What an amazing meal. The hardest part was choosing what to eat. The menu was very unique and the service was impeccable. I can’t want to return to Banff and eat at the Bison again!
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L
Leah
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Back for the third time because the food is so incredible. Atmosphere is really nice too, range of people and dress, casual to dressy.
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CM
CharlaM
Calgary
67 reviews
vip
4.0
67 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
We started with cocktails and then moved to a lovely red to go with the tomahawk for two. Steve and Chris took great care of us. Delicious food and atmosphere.
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G
Gpr92
Calgary
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Bison is always worth a visit, some of the best fine dining in Banff.
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SM
SheilaM
Calgary
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such a great way to spend a snowy night inside. ❄️ A friend and I cozied up to the bar and were attentively served by Steve, Drew and Antoine. We enjoyed the super tasty warm beet salad, and fire roasted octopus, followed by the delicious Aloha crispy fried chicken. All yummy & shareable. Bonus - live music Thursday! Always love a night at the Bison! ☺️
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CC
ClaytonC
Exclusive
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
First time eating here and can’t wait to go back. Already looking at the calendar for next dining experience at The Bison. Service was top notch-learned a couple ingredients to mix some bevy’s when friends come to visit. Ambience was very nice but the food was the star of the evening-absolutely delicious!
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KB
KeeB
Calgary
38 reviews
2.0
38 reviews
Dined on October 28, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience4
Stars were earned by the lovely fellow at the check in desk who made an excellent first and last impression and the butternut squash soup which was expensive but tasty. Stars taken away because: 1. The child’s burgers for a few reasons. First, they were served bloody; Maybe adults are ok with more-rare burgers but to think a 5-year-old will be ok with a blood-soaked bun is a bit much. Secondly, one piece of cheddar cheese on the burger cost $4! 2. The service was ok at best - our server returned to our table once after the food was brought and this was quickly enough that the kids had only eaten a few fries and we had a few mouthfuls of soup. I had to go to the bartender to ask what was in the dip for the croquettes after sitting there for 5 minutes watching her chat with other staff by the kitchen. When she came back at the end of the meal, she didn’t even ask why the burger hadn’t been touched or why I hadn’t eaten more than half of one croquette or if we wanted to take them with us (which obviously we didn’t but to not even ask?!?). At that point I was feeling too sick to argue anything and just needed to get out. The highly-recommended croquettes were greasy and flavourless. We had to put them in the soup to make them palatable. 3. Beyond overpriced. I paid $80 for soup, croquettes, a kids burger, a kids apple juice ($4 for about half a cup), and cider; most of which went uneaten. Won’t return, don’t recommend.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 28, 2023
overall5food4service4ambience4
We had an amazing meal and really good wine menu. It’s not cheap but it’s worth the lovely meal and experience.
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PS
PavelS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The bison short rib was amazing! Highly recommend.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Austin
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful staff , we loved Rose and Steve, and the food was excellent
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K
Kprovencher79
Greater Boston
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Très belle découverte!!! J’adore les concepts Farm to table 💛
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KC
KaleighC
Coastal Georgia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great drinks and presentation. Wide range of food options including gluten free, dairy free and vegan if needed. Nicer place, but they still let us in with our hiking clothes on from the day without question. We had a group of 8 people and every single person RAVED about this place. 10/10 recommend.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Halibut and stroganoff were out of this world!! The broccoli appetizer was nice as well.
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DT
DaveT
Montreal
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great suggestion from Chantale our waitress & great wine selection.
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JP
JosephP
Vancouver
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food was excellent and the service was very good. A bit noisy, but tolerable.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Calgary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of the best meals I have ever had. Service was impeccable.
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J
Jayne
New York Area
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Bartenders and management were amazing. Drinks made with care. Aloha fried chicken and Buffalo short ribs were both delicious! A definite stop when in Banff!
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MJ
MickaelJ
Vancouver
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic restaurant! A dining experience! I would go again!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Incredible service, Kyle was great, we have to come back!
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J
Jenae
Oklahoma City
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Classy but welcoming atmosphere, amazing food, and excellent service (thank you, Chelsea!). The 24h Alberta beef + dumplings was outstanding... This was our favorite meal of the trip.
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l
lpma
Montreal
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 6, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience3
Restaurant surévalué. Le service est ordinaire, la nourriture est correcte et les prix élevés.
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j
josea
Monterrey
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 6, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience4
Muy buena cocina, buena mezcla de ingredientes , nos gustó mucho
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RM
RayMark
Calgary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We like the enrgy and the upscale vibe of the Bison. This place is not laid back ! We had the Bison short ribs and were not disappointed. The wine list has a lot of Canadian options. All in all, highly recommended
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i
italianexpert
Greater Boston
35 reviews
vip
5.0
35 reviews
Dined on October 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. Top to bottom appetizers, entrees, service, ambiance and value was top notch and compared to any restaurant I’ve eaten in any of the top US cities - NOLA, NYC, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, LV, ATL … this place was that good!
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FAQs

The Bison Restaurant & Patio offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (403) 762-5550.

The Bison Restaurant & Patio is rated 4.7 stars by 2589 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 3, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 27 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Bison Restaurant & Patio

Box 3959 #213, 211 Bear Street, Banff, AB T1L 1E4

Additional information

Cross street
Caribou
Neighborhood
Banff
Hours of operation
Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
Canadian, Farm-to-table, Contemporary Canadian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
We are located across the street from the open air parking lot on Bear St. You can also find street parking on Bear Street as well as a secondary parkade located beside the Nester's Grocery Store, one block South of Caribou Street. <br /><br />
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.thebison.ca/
Phone number
(403) 762-5550
Private party facilities
The Bison offers group & private dining options accommodating 8-120 guests. Mountain views / Total venue experiences. Learn more/connect about group dining: www.banffcollective.com/groups

The Bison Restaurant & Patio

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Experiences

🎉Bison Early NYE Dinner

🥂Bison NYE Celebration

Offers

🎶Live Acoustic Music at The Bison Restaurant🎶

Menu

What 2,589 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

Does The Bison Restaurant & Patio offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is The Bison Restaurant & Patio restaurant rated?

Is The Bison Restaurant & Patio currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information