In operation since 1967, The Grizzly House is a landmark destination for thousands of visitors and locals in Banff National Park. The fondue menu at The Grizzly House ranges from beef, buffalo and chicken to rattlesnake, shark and wild game. The Grizzly House is a fully licensed establishment. Reservations are highly recommended.more...See more text
You have to visit the Grizzly House if you are visiting or staying in Banff. This is a cozy, hole-in-the-wall restaurant off of Banff Ave that looks like little log house but when you enter, it is vast and very comfortable. My favorite is the bison on the hot rock.
This is definitely the best dinner experience I...
This is definitely the best dinner experience I had while I was in Alberta. Banff has a lot of good restaurants, but the Grizzly House is worth going to!
Let me start by saying that it's a bit hard to find. Its entrance is quite far from the sidewalk and it's sandwiched between two taller buildings. We just sort of happened to walk by and see this very inviting restaurant that looked something like a medieval tavern from the outside.
We were very pleasantly surprised by the entire experience. First of all the decor inside was amazing; there is a lot of flare.. from moose heads to hunting gear. It's quite dark in there.. I don't think there are any windows.. but the lighting makes the experience that much better.
The waiter was very polite and helpful; we needed help because their menu is a little less conventional than most typical restaurants. They have all kinds of meats: shark, alligator, ostrich, snake.. you name it they'll have it. They also do cheese fondues and appetizers which were tempting but trust me you won't need them! The meal is very filling on its own.. actually, can be a bit heavy so you've been warned!
We both ordered hot rocks fondue, which are these special stone tablets that get heated up for 6 hours before you arrive, then they arrive on the center of your tabke and you have 20 minutes to cook your own food before the hot rocks get to room temperature. We had marinated chicken.. it comes completely raw. The idea is to melt garlic butter on the hot rock surface and then cook your marinated meat on it.. and then dip it in an assortment of dipping sauces.
This place is totally worth the price you pay. You not only get a good meal.. the ambiance is fantastic. Because of this, it is very often completely packed and on popular nights good luck getting a seat without a reservation.. so prepare in advance. Also: make sure you're hungry because the meal is bulky, especially if you're mixing meats!
If you're going to this place make sure you have...
If you're going to this place make sure you have reservations!! The place is always packed whenever I have gone there and its obvious why..the experience. The fondue experience, where you cook your own meats either in the hot rocks or oil fondues. I'd recommend using the hot rocks. Watch what you wear or where your going afterwards because when you leave you'll be smelling like your food. The food was great, I was into trying some different meats. In terms of portions there's not much to eat so if you just order fondue be sure to get an appetizer with it. The servers were ok. Because its so busy there getting their attention to change the rock or to place an order can take a bit of patience. Overall a good experience though.
