We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.
Reserve a table
2
Tue, 3/19
8:00 PM

Ratings and reviews

Travelers' Choice2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Special offer
The Bison pairs fresh seasonal cuisine with live music every Thursday from 6-9pm. Featuring a rotating variety of the Bow Valley's most talented acoustic artists.
Read more

Food and ambience

Sponsored by: The Bison Restaurant & Terrace

Top 3 Reasons to Eat Here

1. Award Winning Menu
1. Award Winning Menu
"It's culinary awards are well deserved."
Olizzy
See reviews that mention Award
2. Regional Seasonal Cuisine
2. Regional Seasonal Cuisine
"Their creative menu focuses on fresh, locally sourced ingredients"
volcanogirl
See reviews that mention seasonal
3. Stunning Rooftop Terrace
3. Stunning Rooftop Terrace
"Great views from the upstairs dining area and a great roof terrace"
Grahm-PW
See reviews that mention Views
About
Named in Trip Advisor's top 10 Canadian fine dining restaurants, 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.
PRICE RANGE
$10 - $33
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Dinner, Drinks
CUISINES
Canadian, Contemporary, Dining bars
FEATURES
Wheelchair Accessible, Free Wifi, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Reviews (1,514)
Filter reviews
1,376 results
Traveler rating
805
364
121
59
27
Traveler type
Time of year
LanguageEnglish
More languages
Traveler rating
805
364
121
59
27
Show reviews that mention
All reviews bison ribeye scallops duck salad potatoes pizza wine list cooked perfectly an appetizer appetizers tender trio medium alberta bear canadian
Sort and selected filters
Sort FilterEnglish
Updating list...
Reviewed 5 days ago via mobile

The best of the very best in Banff. Top class restaurant and service. Food and wine are superb. The signature dish, Bison short rib is to die for. We have visited twice this holiday and many times before over the last 15 years and the...Bison never fails to deliver. Would highly recommendMore

Date of visit: March 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Restaurant's Favorite
Reviewed November 16, 2022 via mobile

Our family booked the Bison Restaurant for a wedding reception. We had the whole top floor. What a superb evening. The staff were fantastic. The food was delicious and the service was polite and fast. Thank you.

Date of visit: November 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile

Chose tonight's restaurant primarily on the wine list, though a free table at my first choice could have changed the evening. Restaurant makes something of their focus on local suppliers and when handed the menu I was asked if I'd tried bison before (I have),...though it was limited to ribs or Bolognese I believe. Despite the menu being tightly controlled I'd describe the Bison as lacking in direction/conviction and trying to appeal to the broader audience ... Which in Banff means those who love basic piles of meat with a couple of kilos of fries. I started with a corn and jalapeno pancake. Must admit I was picturing the more traditional Asian variant rather than it being literally pancake mix with added corn and potentially (couldn't taste any) jalapenos. Next up was duck with crispy rice (i.e the way that rice can get if left to cook too long) and a red Thai sauce. The duck itself was a pleasant change from most of the options in Banff and was nicely cooked, however the Thai sauce was largely lacking in flavour. I could have cooked a better sauce myself and my Thai ex would have been horrified at the lack of flavour/spice. Despite sitting at the bar (a theme for this trip), service was at times lacking, so my exploration of the extensive wine list was limited largely to a Small Lots Sandhills wine (I've enjoyed their wines before). Would I return? Hmm... Maybe. Was nice to visit a restaurant I've not been to in Banff in the last 20 years, but I'd likely only go if in the mood for the local staples and a desire to try more of the wine listMore

Date of visit: March 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 3 weeks ago

We had a great evening. The Restaurant has a great vibe and the service was good. We were a group of 5 adults. Two of us ordered the Bison Bolognese and I have to say for $33 this meal was pretty poor. It tasted very...bland and I would certainly not order this. The rest of the food was good. The wine was Canadian and expensive. We had mediocre Red. We ordered 3 glasses of BC wine for $84.More

Date of visit: February 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed January 6, 2024

Cannot recommend this restaurant enough!!! The staff were amazing, we went for Christmas Day dinner and had Chris as our waiter - he was absolutely amazing, so friendly, knowledgeable and attentive! He really looked after us! Food was spot on! We went for an off...menu turkey dinner given it was Xmas day, which was so so good - but other menu items coming out looked incredible too! Cocktails were also so tasty! The restaurant itself is in an excellent location, very central. We’ll be sure to send any of our friends visiting Banff here in the future! Thanks again Chris for a wonderful experience!More

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed December 29, 2023 via mobile

I had the tomahawk ribeye and it was great. Another great steak in Canada. But this was the best. Can’t wait to come back here and eat again.

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed December 26, 2023 via mobile

Excellent food and service. Chris looked after us well and took us through the menu. I fully recommend the bison rib, I think the chefs deserve a standing ovation for that - it’s simply one of the best meals I’ve had. We’ll be back :)

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed December 23, 2023

The kids burger is great so is the Biden short ribs definitely recommend a good place to go as a family the waitresses are nice and overall a good place to eat

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed December 23, 2023 via mobile

Excellent meal and great to watch the chefs at work. We had a lovely family dinner here. I tried the crispy fried chicken and the Bolognese, both of which were fantastic. They’ve managed the acoustics here very well so unlike many restaurants, you aren’t overwhelmed...by noise from the neighbouring tables! The bar is beautiful and we all agreed a great meal. Recommended.More

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed December 22, 2023

The staff was very attentive and welcoming. As soon as we walked in the host greeted us warmly and was genuinely just friendly. The Maître d' / manager walked us to the table promptly and offered and hung up our coats a nice touch. The...server came over promptly and was friendly and attentive. She (Meagan) answered all of our questions and had the perfect balanced demeanor between knowing when to come to the table and leave to give us more time. She handled our food allergy information with care as well did the rest of the staff. The expo/food runner who brought the dishes to the table explained again what they were and made sure to confirm no allergy ingredients were used. The maitre d/ manager even came back over after a bit and checked on us with grace. The kitchen staff did a phenomenal job on the dishes they were cooked perfectly and met the menu descriptions with accuracy. Overall a very enjoyable dining experience to remember, will recommend and returnMore

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Bison Restaurant, General Manager at The Bison Restaurant & Terrace, responded to this reviewResponded January 11, 2024

Dear 371philliph, Thank you for sharing your recent dining experience with us! We are delighted to hear that you had a great time, and we appreciate your kind words about our staff and the overall dining atmosphere. Thank you once again for choosing The Bison,...More

Reviewed December 9, 2023

Amazing food, tastes are indescribable, ambiance and atmosphere are perfect for an intimate dinner with your sweetheart. We masticated on the evening special Tomahawk bison rib eye dinner for two. The freshest flavours from the home made chimichurri sauce and perfectly prepared medium rare steak....The special cocktails were equally delicious! The views of the snowy roads and Mtn peaks are picturesque. You are perfect in every way. See you next year 🥰More

Date of visit: November 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Bison Restaurant, General Manager at The Bison Restaurant & Terrace, responded to this reviewResponded January 11, 2024

Dear deniselA8149LL, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that your evening at our restaurant was nothing short of perfection. It warms our hearts to know that you found the food's tastes indescribable...More

Reviewed December 3, 2023 via mobile

Recently visited this restaurant after a recommendation from a friend who said they knew the Sous Chef here. It did not disappoint! The food was amazing as was the hospitality! I found out later that the Sous Chef goes by the name of Brendan Joy,...so make sure to ask if he is working when you next visit! Thank you so much for an amazing evening!More

Date of visit: November 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Bison Restaurant, General Manager at The Bison Restaurant & Terrace, responded to this reviewResponded January 11, 2024

Dear Callum W, Thank you for choosing our restaurant and taking the time to share your delightful experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed both the food and hospitality during your recent visit. We're glad your friend's recommendation led you to us,...More

Reviewed November 19, 2023

Brilliant meal, unusual menu and lovely staff. Particularly enjoyed great cocktails and bison steak. Not the cheapest place in town but a bit special.

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Bison Restaurant, General Manager at The Bison Restaurant & Terrace, responded to this reviewResponded November 21, 2023

Hi Nja29, We are really happy to hear about your experience at the restaurant and glad that you had a great experience! Thank you very much for your review. We hope to see you again in the future!

Reviewed November 8, 2023 via mobile

Incredible food and service, Sandra was our server and did an incredible job, we had a fabulous family reunion, with an excellent wine selection from BC Okanagan. They provide a map with all the wineries. I was thoroughly impressed

Date of visit: November 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Bison Restaurant, General Manager at The Bison Restaurant & Terrace, responded to this reviewResponded November 14, 2023

Hi MDCalgary, Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Feedbacks are very important to us and we are glad that you had a wonderful time at our restaurant. Thank you for sharing!

Reviewed October 17, 2023

Nice food but we got unlucky with our server, Chelsea. She was extremely unfriendly and forgetful. She missed a few things from our order including b-day candle which I specifically asked for while ordering the cake. Bday celebration was also noted on my reservation so...I don’t quite understand how one can miss it twice. We had hard time getting her attention. So the service (or no service for this instance) made this dinner much less enjoyable that we expected. Good food but no personal touch.More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
View more reviews
Best nearby
Best nearby hotelsSee all
Peaks Hotel and Suites
567 reviews
.04 miles away
Brewster's Mountain Lodge
1,307 reviews
.05 miles away
Banff Park Lodge Resort Hotel & Conference Centre
3,868 reviews
.08 miles away
Mount Royal Hotel
1,314 reviews
.13 miles away
Best nearby restaurantsSee all
Zyka Elevated Indian Restaurant
353 reviews
.05 miles away
Bluebird Wood-Fired Steakhouse
569 reviews
.04 miles away
Una Pizza + Wine - Banff
203 reviews
.04 miles away
Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant
408 reviews
.03 miles away
Best nearby attractionsSee all
Canada House Art Gallery
80 reviews
.05 miles away
Banff Adventures
225 reviews
.02 miles away
Lux Cinema Banff
41 reviews
.02 miles away
Snowtips-Bactrax
77 reviews
.02 miles away
Questions & Answers
Ask a question
CalgarySkye
September 19, 2018|
AnswerShow all 5 answers
Response from TonyandKatya | Reviewed this property |
I don't remember a specific kids menu but there were children there when we ate there and there didn't seem to be any issue. I am sure that even if there isn't a kid's menu the staff will sort something out without any... More
0
Votes
Kathy S
May 8, 2018|
AnswerShow all 4 answers
Response from robinmM3768XT | Reviewed this property |
Nope. Ski gear, sweat, and exhaustion are the formal attire of this establishment.
0
Votes
DebS523
September 13, 2017|
AnswerShow all 5 answers
Response from kayvee9 | Reviewed this property |
The table beside us was GF and they made adjustments to every item they ordered to accommodate their dietary needs!
0
Votes
Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing

THE BISON RESTAURANT & TERRACE, Banff - Menu, Prices, Restaurant Reviews & Reservations - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about The Bison Restaurant & Terrace

Yes, The Bison Restaurant & Terrace is taking precautions against COVID-19. A full list is available within the "safety precautions" section of this page.

The Bison Restaurant & Terrace is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travelers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4