4296 — Restaurant in Alberta

I’m quite perplexed by the high praise this restaurant has received. I’ve read claims that this was the best dining experience some people have ever had, and that it meets—or even exceeds—Michelin-level standards.

I’ll start with the positives. The patio was spacious, cozy, and well-equipped with heaters and blankets for a chilly evening. The staff were very friendly, attentive, and welcoming, and the chef was charismatic. The entire team seemed like genuinely great people. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives end.

The food was basic and lacked complexity. For people to describe it as Michelin-level dining left me scratching my head. A quote from John Gilchrist mentions “I don’t know what it’s going to taste like, but I know I want to try it,” but that didn’t ring true for me—every dish felt straightforward and uninspired. A fried egg with a jammy yolk, caviar, and spicy mayo. Olives and cheddar. Tenderloin with brown butter and miso sauce. The list goes on. They use a lot of fancy words on the menu to dress up the dishes, but the execution felt like home cooking at best. The glowing reviews made me wonder if some of them were paid.

The tenderloin was served cold. The olives and cheddar didn’t fit the tasting menu at all. As for the “char siu” and “Sichuan” dishes—they were so far removed from authentic char siu and Sichuan cuisine that I wouldn’t even consider them an homage.

The restaurant states that dishes are served as they’re prepared, and that’s true. However, the irregular timing between courses made for an awkward and unpleasant dining experience. Sometimes you had to rush through a dish, and other times you were left waiting too long. One of the benefits of a tasting menu is the consistent flow of food, allowing you to relax and enjoy the experience. Unfortunately, that rhythm was missing here.

The asking price of $129 CAD is quite steep for what’s offered. For that price, I expect either quantity, quality, or—on rare occasions—both. Unfortunately, I found neither here.

I was quite disappointed, despite being influenced by positive Google reviews and a nearby party that convinced us to go with the tasting menu. As much as I appreciated the people and the service, I came for the food—and it simply didn’t meet...

We went for the tasting menu on our first visit, hoping to get a full sense of the chef’s skills. The menu was promising, with lots of creativity and variety. And overall, the food was quite good, with some great ideas and well-executed.

Highlights included the lamb chops, which were absolutely delicious. The fried eggs with chipotle sauce were also a standout, super tasty and perfectly balanced.

One dish that didn’t quite hit the mark was the halloumi with pineapple. They suggested combining the sauce, halloumi, and pineapple in one bite, but honestly it tasted much better without the pineapple. With it, the whole thing got way too sweet. That said, I was impressed by how perfectly ripe the pineapple was, just right.

But… the pacing. Oh boy. It completely ruined the experience. The first four courses came out way too fast, we barely had time to enjoy one before the next hit the table. Then suddenly, everything stopped. We waited forever between the next dishes. At one point, we had to wait about 45 to 50 minutes for the main course. It was so bad that we even asked the server if we could just leave. We were bored out of our minds. Of course, as soon as we said that, the main dish arrived. Classic.

The main course, a Chateaubriand, was excellent, tender and flavorful. It came with a double-baked potato, which I personally found inedible (bad texture, weird taste), but my partner liked it.

The dessert was a major fail. It was some sort of layered thing in a jar, chocolate mousse, caramel, whipped cream. But it all tasted the same: just sugar. No complexity, no balance, just sweet. Like eating a brick of sugar with a hint of chocolate. I couldn’t finish it. Honestly, I didn’t even want to try.

The portions were also way too big for a tasting menu. By the end, we just weren’t hungry anymore, which kind of killed the vibe.

On the plus side, the cocktails were great. We tried several, and the Sea Wolf was our favorite, lightly spicy, super refreshing, really well done.

Small but weird detail: the napkins were awful. Like old rags. Not a huge deal, but still, what the hell?

Would I go back? Maybe, if I hear they’ve fixed the pacing issues. There’s real potential here, but the experience we had felt like a missed...

4296 is Brilliant! A must during your stay in Canmore or on your way to Banff. We enjoyed 13 dishes in this warm, welcoming, laid-back restaurant that offers elegantly presented and delicious plates to be shared, but you may not want to!!! The presentation is visually stunning, artistic, and with combinations of flavours that provided a mind-blowing taste experience. The evening began with cocktails. A standout was the martini with caviar stuffed olives served in a well chilled glass and accompanied by an extra pour in a sweet looking iced bottle on the side...genius on hot days! We started with the "off the charts" Bar Snacks which were new to the menu, paired with the Smashed Cucumber and Radish Salad that really got our taste buds going. The Peach Burrata with gold flakes was not only visually stunning, but so light and refreshing. The broccoli in the Thai Broccoli salad was beautifully chilled and a great contrast to the spice of the dressing. Tomahawk Steak was perfectly done and a rich partner to the crisp Caesar salad and other veg. Another two stand outs were the delicious vegan Hand Crab Rolls and the Brulé Halloumi with pineapple. A quick crack of the brulé revealed a well-balanced cheese that was not too salty and a totally new flavour combination for us. It was beautifully seasoned, presented and prepared. We felt that way about every dish. Desert was had in their Speakeasy, a quiet fun little bar in the back, followed by Espresso martinis to cap off the evening. During our stay the wait staff was engaging, accommodating and knew the menu well. They presented clean plates along with luxurious warm fingertip towels, an elegant touch one sees in the best of restaurants. All of this, tucked away in Canmore. 4296 is a destination we will return to, recommend and have very fond memories of . Thank you to Kale and Blake for a fabulous evening, one where we came as strangers and...