Calgary’s Top 1 Restaurant — Hit or Miss?

Finally tried the famous River Café 🏆 🏆 It’s consistently ranked among the World’s Top 1000 Restaurants, #23 on Canada’s Top 100 Restaurants in 2024, Best Overall Restaurant in Calgary, Best Wedding Venue 2024… The list of awards goes on and on since opening 33 years ago. 🏡 The restaurant is a charming little cabin located right in Prince’s Island Park, nestled beside the Bow River. It offers a peaceful escape with a romantic and beautiful atmosphere — perfect for dates 💑 🍽️ The menu focuses on seasonal Canadian cuisine. They serve lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Reservations are essential — I managed to snag a dinner booking. Starters: 🫕【Benchmark Beef Tartare】Rich beef tartare paired with flaxseed crackers — delicious and not gamey at all. 🫕【Wild BC Octopus】Crispy fried octopus with a light vinaigrette — refreshing and tasty. Mains: 【Rangeland Bison Striploin】🌟🌟🌟🌟 A blend of ranch bison, ginger puree, Alberta wheat, and valley hazelnuts. The bison was firm and flavorful. 【Hog Wild Boar Belly】🌟🌟🌟🌟 Tender wild boar belly with bok choy, mushroom puree, and XO sauce — rich and savory. 【Farming Worx Duck Breast】🌟🌟🌟🌟 Smoked duck and bacon paired with red cabbage, apple, and Ontario black walnuts — well-balanced. 【Haida Gwaii Halibut】🌟🌟🌟🌟 Halibut with potato, turnip broth, butter lettuce, and butter — one of my favorites. 【Lambtastic Farm Lamb Sirloin】🌟 A bit bland according to my friend — mostly just lamb flavor without much else. Not recommended. 👏 Overall, most dishes were noteworthy and tasty. Service was excellent. When my friend didn’t enjoy the lamb, the staff noticed and kindly comped it 👍︎ Has anyone tried their brunch? If it’s good, I’m going back! 🏠: River Café 📍: 25 Prince’s Island Park, SW 💰: Dinner approx. $80 per person #Calgary #CalgaryFood #CalgaryExplore #CalgaryBrunch #PeaceBridge #PrincesIsland #YYCFood #AlbertaFood #CanadianCuisine