The Bison Restaurant and The Bear Street Tavern - Banff, AB

The Bison Restaurant and The Bear Street Tavern

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

Neighborhood:
Banff

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Cuisine:
Northwest

Price: CAN$31 to CAN$50

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The Bison Restaurant and The Bear Street Tavern Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.thebison.ca
Email: info@thebison.ca
Phone: (403) 762-5550
Hours of Operation: Bison Restaurant: open daily for dinner service from 5pm. Brunch served Sunday's from 10:00am until 2:00pm.

The Bear street Tavern: open daily from 11:30am until late. Please note we do take reservations in The Bear Street Tavern after 5pm.
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Northwest, Comfort Food, Steak
Executive Chef: Liz Gagnon
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
Catering:
Private Party Facilities: The Bison is available for private functions for up to 100 people seated or 150 people reception style.
Private Party Contact: Jessica Pacheco (403) 760-5088
Entertainment: Keep an eye on our website for our feature menu's

Getting there

Cross Street: Caribou
Parking: Public Lot
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.

A word from The Bison Restaurant and The Bear Street Tavern

Our venue hosts 2 different restaurants... Reservations made after 5pm are in The Bison Restaurant. Please note we do not take reservations in The Bear Street Tavern in the evenings after 5pm.…
Upstairs, 'The Bison Restaurant & Terrace' is committed to using regional, seasonal and Canadian ingredients. Our intimate dining room has windows on all sides, with Banff's best mountain views, and large sunny terrace. Watch as a brigade of chef's prepare your meal in our open concept kitchen led by executive chef Liz Gagnon.
Our main level houses the 'Bear Street Tavern', a Banff National Park inspired hot spot serving up Banff's best pizza and cast iron specialties. Our courtyard patio is perfect for cocktail sipping or enjoying a local pint.
The Bison is open daily from 5pm with brunch served on Sunday's from 10am until 2pm.
The Bear St Tavern is open daily from 11:30am until late
Children welcome in both of our venues. Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerFit for Foodies
Diners' Choice WinnerGood for Groups
Diners' Choice WinnerNotable Wine List

Diner Reviews

"We tried the Bison for the first time for a special birthday dinner and we were not disappointed. Excellent service combined with creative and delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere. Our almost 1 year old infant was welcomed and treated wonderfully by the staff. Truly a remarkable addition to the Banff cuisine scene."
Dined on 3/2/2014
"We went for my daugheter's 18th birthday ! The food was great as always. We left confirming to ourselves that this is still our favorite restuarant in Banff. It is always great food and service and thie is why we return every single time we are in Banff."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"We had booked a reso for lunch...thinking we were booking at the Bison. Apparently there is a disclaimer that if it's outside certain hours, your reso gets booked for Bear Street Tavern instead (as Bison isn't open). We did not see that and thought we were going to the Bison until we got to the restaurant. Unfortunately the food and ambience isn't the same, so my advice is to make sure you see the disclaimer and know that you are booking for the Bison or Bear Street."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"I hate to give them a bad review but the service was only adequate and the food wasn't pleasant to my foodie pallet in the least. My husband's steak and lobster combo was overcooked; he ordered medium rare and got medium and the lobster was rubbery. Our Hors D'Oeuvres was bitter and rubbery as well. Altogether a big disappointment....should have booked The Fairmont Banff Springs or Buffalo Mountain Lodge on Tunnel Mountain instead! My husband and I have been a regular patrons of this restaurant for the past 5 years, booking,entertaining and bringing business associates, family and friends for dinner whenever we come to Banff spending thousands ($$$$$) of dollars for what I had expected to be the best of the best food and services in Banff."
Dined on 2/20/2014
"This was the 2nd open table reservation in the last 2 weeks that we found our table to be the poorest in the house. In both cases they were small, in the centre, in the midst of high traffic areas (not conducive to a romantic meal). The bison was able to provide us with a more suitable table, teatro was not. The food and service were great, but there appears to be a bias against using open table ?"
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Chef Liz and the team always wow the palate and this time was no exception! Great service! Thank you"
Dined on 2/16/2014
"The food was absolutely delicious. The server was friendly and informative. Really enjoyable meal."
Dined on 2/1/2014
"This was the second time we have been to the Bison, the food was fantastic and the service was great. Simple requests were taken and they did exactly what we asked. My Girlfriend wanted a sangria but with more lemon than usual. They did it for her and she has since said that it was the best drink she has had. We will be back again!!"
Dined on 9/14/2013
"Good food. Pleasant, attentive staff. Overall nice place"
Dined on 1/24/2014
"We arrived at 6:20, 10 mins. before our reservation and the hostess made a comment about us being early, which I felt was rude and unnecessary. There was a private event going on at the same time. It was very large and loud group. Needless to say, it was very loud. I wasn't happy with the harvest salad or the cauliflower appetizer (both too bland) and the salad was a very small portion. My spouse was pleased with his food, however. The server was good. Their brunch menu looks excellent, but not sure if I'd return."
Dined on 1/10/2014
"The Bison is one of my all tie favourite restaurants and my go-to for a romantic dinner with my fiancé in Banff, however this visit was not as good as previous visits due to the attitude of the hostess. After a long day of skiing I was so looking forward to a glass of my favourite port and a relaxing meal however the hostess and was incredibly pretentious (something this restaurant usually is not!). Amazing food as usual but we were really put off by the terrible welcome we received at the door."
Dined on 1/10/2014
"By far the best restaraunt in banff ! Never disappoints. Amazing food ! The charcuterie board never disappoints- its fantastic ! Fresh food - menu is constantly changing to accommodate seasons and freshness ! Delicious. Wish I could go all the time ! The duck was amazing- highly recommend !"
Dined on 1/4/2014
"We were too late for a reservation on the 30th of December to get a table at the usual dinner time and had to settle for a 21:30 seating. Nonetheless, we had a great time with beautiful food and ambiance. My daughter who lives now in NYC after spending a few years in HongKong and Shanghai said: "it doesn't get better than this" which is a huge compliment coming from her. The food was so tasty with many nuances , very interesting combinations and easy to digest even at the late hour. We will definitely be back!! The meals were worth the money we spent, especially knowing how carefully the ingredients are being sourced!"
Dined on 12/30/2013
"The food was "average" at best. The kid's cheese pizza was overdone and their chocolate milk was sour. There was not enough staff on and the wait was long. The staff seemed less than friendly and warm,….bumping into the patrons and shoving the food in front of them. My husband and I shared a salad which did not taste remotely like the caesar salad we ordered. We also shared the wild mushroom pizza and asked to have smoked bison added to it. The pizza was very good BUT they forgot the smoked bison. :( "All-in-all" an experience that we won't run back to repeat."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"Love both the pub and the restaurant. Have never had a bad experience. The food is always great."
Dined on 11/16/2013
"Food was great but they need a better fume hood. The open kitchen smoked us out. We couldn't wait to get out into the fresh air"
Dined on 12/14/2013
"We let the restaurant know this was a birthday dinner for two and still got the table next to the cold window and 11 person party beside us. Our server ignored saying hello and we waiting between 5-10 minutes. Entree's took an hour and half. A menu item was unavailable but we only were informed half an hour after ordering. We spent a lot of money on drinks just to keep ourselves happy. The duck was overly fatty, the vegetables also very oily/buttery. The lamb at $43 has only two single chops at barely a twoonie medallion of meat on them. It's got a good cocktail menu and Canadian inspired cuisine but just doesn't have good value. I've heard worse from others, but had enjoyed it before. I'd try elsewhere before getting excited!"
Dined on 12/6/2013
"The Bison is a nice room and the service was very good . My tenderloin was unacceptably small(2 one inch slices)$33 dollars it was the size of an appetizer. ."
Dined on 12/8/2013
"The food was excellent (a bit too much sauce on my steak) and the service was great in that the waiter promptly moved us to a window table as soon as one became available."
Dined on 10/19/2013
"We were there for brunch and as recommended by friends ordered French toast and eggs Benedict. French toast was great. Eggs Benedict was tasty. Decor of the restaurant is quite informal. Service was great. My inlaws had a hard time hearing because it is quite loud."
Dined on 11/24/2013
"Food was fantastic (yes I took a photo of it on my phone), our server was very attentive. I always enjoy going to The Bison when the mood strikes for a less commercial and local restaurant. Will be going back in the near future for something just as exquisite!"
Dined on 11/18/2013
"My boyfriend and I went on November 16th for Bon Appetit. We thought the food was delicious, but the server seemed incredibly busy and impatient. We also didn't like our seat in the middle of the dining room with people pushing past us to go to the washroom all of the time. However, we do think this restaurant has one of the better atmospheres in Banff and would return."
Dined on 11/16/2013
"A knowledgeable waiter serve us an excellent meal with patience and good humour. Overall a very enjoyable evening.....the next night, we came for a quick meal downstairs and were also impressed. I had theFish Tacos. My husnad chose the Bon Appetut option ...disappointing. We were glad that we had chosen a la carte when we went to Bison's."
Dined on 11/14/2013
"Not only was the food amazing but the atmosphere was romantic and cozy! Our server was very helpful and even recommended something for us to do after our dinner! All in all we will be coming to the bison everytime we come to banff :)"
Dined on 11/17/2013
"The entrees and appetizers were amazing! Desserts failed a little, but it was still good!"
Dined on 11/16/2013
"We've gone here a number of times, both upstairs at Bison and downstairs at Bear Street Tavern. Both are highly recommended, both are kid friendly, both have great food items. I'd go to Bear Street for pizza, beer and salad (grilled vegetable salad is outstanding and a meal by itself, and pizzas seem to be their specialty here because every kind has been fantastic, and good selection of beers). I'd go to Bison for a bottle of wine and a longer, more relaxed dining experience (soups, Bison Ravioli & Seared Scallop appetizer, their Butternut Squash gnocchi, practically any meat dish, and their Creme Brûlée have all been delicious. They also have a great meat & cheese plate for sharing, and an impressive wine list as well."
Dined on 11/15/2013
"I chose The Bison Restaurant for my husband & I, for our first year wedding anniversary. I called ahead and requested a tasting menu + wine pairing. They said the kitchen would confirm & I'd recieve a call back. No one called, but when we arrived for our reservation the notes for the request was already in the books- good sign? Interestingly, we overheard the host whisper to our server that he introduced him to us as the restaurant Sommelier which he either was or was not. Nonetheless, our server was pleasant and tasted us on a few neat wine pairings. The food was average and lacked the creativity a tasting menu normally offers. Not quite the dining adventure we expected."
Dined on 11/10/2013
"Really neat appetizer to try is the roasted artichoke!"
Dined on 11/9/2013
"Bit late on rating this but that's not because it wasn't one of the best experiences in a long time... this restaurant is fabulous and a real gem. Everything, and I mean everything, was spectacular. Can't wait to go back!"
Dined on 9/15/2013
"Slowish service. Loud old rock playing during brunch. Mimosa was on the weak side. Menu had the word "sparkling" without the follow up word "wine" which seems suspicious. All guests enjoyed meals of Bison burgers and duck confit eggs Benny. However my Smoked Salmon Hash was bad. Raw potato halves, minuscule salmon, lots of onions all looking more like an odd stir fry with an egg on top. I've dined here many times. This is the first so so experience."
Dined on 11/3/2013
"The server treated us like an afterthought. The bison short ribs were good, but the bison burger was dry and lacked flavor. Overall the experience was unremarkable."
Dined on 10/27/2013
"We have been to Banff many times and had somehow missed a meal at the Bison. We won't again in future visits. The food was of the highest quality and very creative. The chef makes great use of local and wild selections transforming them into high end presentations with great technique. The wait staff was good and knowledgeable, providing excellent suggestions with confidence. Being on the second floor, there are some great views. If I was to cite any negative it would be that the space is a bit too densely seated. A large group came in after us and they seemed to be stuffed in a corner that was way too close to us, especially considering the noise level that always comes with bigger groups. Regardless, we will definitely go again!"
Dined on 10/4/2013
"It was our wedding anniversary and we wanted to go somewhere nice, had heard the bison was good so we tried it. We had a great table, fabulous friendly service and the food was fantastic! They even bought us dessert! Will definitely go back!"
Dined on 10/25/2013
"The experience was not as good as our previous attendances. Service was very good but food took an hour to arrive even though the dining room was not busy ( this was notices by the manager and server and discounted). The food I have to say was not as good as previous times, the rib eye was definitely tougher and overall not as good as we have had with chef Liz ( she was not there on this occasion, might have something to do with it). Would re-attend hopefully for a better experience like our previous times."
Dined on 10/21/2013
"We really enjoyed the Bison restaurant for dinner. A little pricey for what you get, but still a spot for dining."
Dined on 10/20/2013
"This was our second time to the Bison (same group) and once again we thought every bite of the appetizers, mains and sides was better than the one before. Service was also excellent. We'll be back for sure and will recommend it to others."
Dined on 10/15/2013
"My wife and I visited this restaurant largely due to the opportunity to enjoy Bison. Prices are on the high side with less choice for Bison than I would have expected. But food was very good and service efficient."
Dined on 10/14/2013
"Staff is very attentive and friendly. Food is creative and delicious!"
Dined on 10/13/2013
"Pizza fish tacos and tuna sandwich were all fantastic."
Dined on 10/5/2013
"The same night we went, there is a big group of people (50+) and it was very noisy. We were sitting beside them before they arrived. I wish they would have told us in advance. My friend ordered the Bison short ribs and while the portion was generous, the whole dish is overcooked. The meat was so tough it was hard to chew on. My friend has to send back the order and ordered a bison burger. There is nothing one can screw with a burger. I ordered the venison and osso bucco. The osso bucco was one of the worst I have tasted. The osso bucco was overcooked and it was hard. Considering the price of that dish, I would have expected much high quality. Overall, I would not recommend. Service is typical. The caesar I ordered was pretty lousy too."
Dined on 10/5/2013

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