BLAKE Restaurant Brewhouse and Distillery — Restaurant in Alberta

A group of 12 friends and I are locals in Canmore and have been for around 3 months now. We all work in the hospitality sector across a variety of businesses in the area. We recently decided to have a farewell meal out to say goodbye to a couple of us that were leaving Canmore in the coming weeks. We perused several different menus before deciding on The Blake. As servers in the industry, we knew requesting a table of 13 can be a big ask and often comes with an auto-gratuity, so we agreed ahead of time if it needed to be broken down into two smaller tables, that would be OK. On arrival to the restaurant, despite the fact there were very few other people currently dining, the server still requested we be split in half; although disappointed, we obliged and sat as a 6 and a 7. Throughout the evening, we were well looked after and impressed with the food. When it came to settling up, we all asked for individual bills and everyone paid. I was the last to leave with a friend, who was told as we were about to head out the door, that the payment had failed and she needed to make it again. Not to worry - these things happen, however the next morning in transpired she had in fact paid twice. As minimum wage workers in the same industry, understandably she couldn’t afford to pay 120$+ for a meal that should have cost around 60$, so she contacted The Blake to see if the second transaction could be reversed. She was told by another server that the reason she was charged twice isn’t because the first one failed, it’s because “someone in the party walked out without paying”. This is completely false, we all checked our bank accounts and have all got the correct transaction showing on our bank statements. It appears now the team is aware of the overpayment error but is refusing to refund my friend. In addition to this, several of my friends that dined with me that night were recognised by other servers at The Blake and have been described as “rude, difficult, reluctant to tip and ignoring of staff” during our meal. In a town as small as Canmore, I would just like to reiterate how upsetting defamation of character is and how in the future, I would ask the staff to think twice before citing such slander about customers they have served. We were polite and courteous to our servers, happily ordered at the bar to save their coming over to our table when other customers arrived & all tipped what we deemed appropriate for the level of service we received.

On reflection of the overall experience we had at The Blake, I will not be recommending this restaurant to other...

I'm not sure if we went on a bad day, but unfortunately our experience wasn't as fantastic as the reviews of the previous people.

We went on Saturday February 11th and waited 15 mins outside because it was quite crowded inside. I did, however, enjoy their wait time program (that arrives in a text) to see where your placement in line is with the approximate wait time.

After 15 mins, we were shown to our table and drinks and appetizers came right away. Their oak gin is amazing- I am considering buying a bottle. The "oil spill" appetizer was a bit disappointing for amount it cost versus the amount that came. It was still very delicious though! We also had the poke bowl, which we found was a bit hard to eat and quite messy to share. It took a while to get our dumplings, but when they arrived, they were warm and very delicious. Our favourite part was desert - the farmer crumble ice cream.

The main reason for the poor review is that we felt forgotten. We had someone come to our table and ask if we needed anything (after waiting for quite sometime) and tried to ordered drinks, but she said she would send our server over to help us. It was a long wait time before he showed up to take our drink order. It was busy and he apologized, but in the meantime the exit door was being opened by children and at one point the door was wide open blowing in the wind because someone forgot to close it. It was very chilly and we were getting a bit irritated. We found it also very loud and had to practically yell our orders out to the server.

I'm hoping it was just an off day and I would like to come back and give it another chance and a better review. I've heard such nice things about this place and would like to try some of their other menu options. Blake was highly recommended...

BLAKE Restaurant Brewhouse and Distillery in Alberta (near the BC border). It is one of those rare places that gets the balance just right, stylish without being showy, creative without being complicated, and welcoming without losing its polish.

From the moment I walked in, the space felt intentional. The industrial design high ceilings, large windows, and exposed details—gives it a modern edge, but it’s softened by the natural light and the incredible mountain views. It’s spacious without feeling cold, and ideal for everything from a casual dinner to a more meaningful night out with friends or colleagues.

The food is where BLAKE really shines. Every dish I tried was thoughtful and full of flavor. The peppercorn short ribs were especially memorable, rich, and perfectly balanced with crisp sides. Even the bread and butter stood out, which is saying something warm, house made focaccia paired with a whipped citrus butter that was unexpectedly addictive.

Drinks are equally impressive. The beers are brewed in-house, and you can really taste the freshness. I tried a few and found each one distinct, well-balanced, and easy to pair with food. Their cocktails, especially the ones made with their own distilled spirits, were beautifully crafted—refreshing, clean, and clearly made with intention.

One small note: they don’t take reservations for smaller groups, so depending on when you go, there might be a bit of a wait.

All in all, BLAKE is the kind of place I’d go back to again and again, whether for a relaxed dinner, a special gathering, or just a quiet evening with good food and...