Sky Bistro — Restaurant in Alberta

We came here for a celebratory birthday dinner and paid a whopping $200+ a person (including the gondola) for the chefs tasting menu. When we arrived they didn't have our reservation despite our having paid for it on the combined experience ticket. They had no notice of the birthday despite having asked when you sign up. We found out later that this is because of us buying the gondola tickets plus dinner as a package. First off, the gondola people didn't pass along our reservation to the restaurant which was not the restaurant's fault. It says on the sign up page that the last gondola was at 8:30pm and the only reservation time left was 7pm. We made other plans for later based on that. However, because the gondola sales people don't pass along any information our dietary restrictions were not passed along and that meant we didn't see any food for 50 minutes after arrival and seating. Because we had plans, we asked them to serve our food post haste. When the issue was explained, we found out the last gondola is actually at 10pm something not fixed on all areas of the gondola website. The wait staff and kitchen staff stepped up the pace and delivery of our group's meal and delivered excellent dishes on all courses, which was really amazing and wonderful service.

The kitchen staff works in a small space and does an exceptionally good job given that they're basically housed in a hallway behind a curtain. 5 stars to the wait staff and the kitchen. It's management that ought to be given 1 star.

They say on the website the window tables are first come first served.There was a window table open and we requested it. They refused for another reservation clearly not obeying their own first come first served policy. Instead the winter dinner time seating issue is that you can't see the menu. Again, frustrating experience.

However, the food makes up for it. All of our party's dishes were really very good. The bisque had peppercorns or grains of paradise in it that were just the right hint of citrus and spice. The pistachio pate is really lovely albeit perhaps given The dark lighting ought to be plated on a white plate. The one thing to note is that the demi glace for the short rib is very very salty so watch out those of you with high blood pressure. Otherwise it is soft and just flakes like it should. Truffle mashed potatoes and creamed spinach are just beautifully done. Vegetarians should beware there is only one entree for you. It's tasty, but if you don't like celery - go someplace else. Finally the pumpkin cake is a surprise. It really grows on you as you eat it and it's fantastic and engages your sense of taste and flavors all the way to the last bite. If you love flavors and fine dining this is an excellent choice. If you are cold and hungry, not so much. All in all, the meal is fantastic and the wait staff is extremely accommodating, responsive, friendly, and helpful. You should book on open table and stop by when you arrive to make sure they are ready and have your reservation and have it correct if you have any dietary restrictions, then go see the sights. The wait staff are worth the gratuity on open table. Do not book using the Jasper Experience gondola tickets plus dinner package. The gondola people are just there to make...

Sky Bistro is a tourist hot spot and it has certainly become a little run down in the last few years. I visited when it was first open and was super impressed with the quality, however it has decreased significantly since then, as it seems they cater to a tourist crowd, focusing on quick turnovers to get as many people in and out, as quickly as possible. It really feels like they are rushing service, as our main courses came out around 5 minutes after we ordered. We visited for lunch and the restaurant was full to capacity and bustling, so it wasn’t the most relaxing experience.

The food for lunch wasn't great. We ordered the short rib sandwich and the tagliatelle. The short rib had really good flavour (good recommendation by our server) but the salad came with barely any dressing on it - it tasted just like leaves. The pasta was terrible - it was overcooked and I’m pretty sure the chef forgot to add any salt to it. I swear I used almost the entire salt dispenser on the dish, in an attempt to make it better. The only saving grace was that I ordered shrimp to go with it and those were delicious and cooked well. A little ridiculous to pay $14 to add shrimp to a pasta though. The restaurant did bring a complimentary dessert with a birthday candle at the end of dinner, which was nice of them and unexpected. While we do appreciate the gesture, unfortunately, the dessert wasn’t very good - it seemed like it was dried out and kept in the fridge for quite a while. To be honest, we would have preferred to order a dessert from the menu, as they looked pretty enticing, instead of receiving one that felt like it was almost expired.

With regards to the seating, we requested a table with an excellent view, as we were celebrating a special occasion and I did book a month in advance. While we got a table by the window, it was overlooking the roof, so it wasn’t the best view. I know it’s not a guarantee - at least we weren’t sat in the middle of the room, I guess - but I wouldn’t have minded waiting a little longer to get a nicer table.

That being said, even though the restaurant is subpar, 5 giant stars go to our server Bhaneesh - who was really fantastic. He was so personable, kind, and helpful. He said Happy Birthday multiple times to our guest of honour and was really trying to make our experience wonderful. I appreciate that he read the notes I left on the reservation before greeting our table - he even sang us a little happy birthday song at the end and offered multiple times to take photos of us during our meal. Somebody give the man a giant raise please!

Overall, at least for lunch service (maybe dinner is better?), it’s best to go with lowered expectations. But please do request Bhaneesh as your server if you find yourself at Sky...

My recent visit to Sky Bistro left me with mixed feelings. The restaurant, known for its breathtaking views and fine dining experience, unfortunately, fell short in the execution of its culinary offerings.

To start with the positives, the ambiance at Sky Bistro is undeniably spectacular. The panoramic views of the cityscape create an enchanting atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for a special evening. The staff, though faced with some challenges during my visit, were courteous and accommodating.

However, the main letdown of the evening was the repeated issue with the quality of the food. To my disappointment, my order was served burned not once, but twice. This was a clear indication of a lapse in the kitchen's attention to detail and quality control. The flavors were compromised, and the dishes did not live up to the reputation I had heard about Sky Bistro.

Despite the culinary mishaps, the restaurant made a commendable effort to rectify the situation. The management not only apologized sincerely but also took the initiative to offer a complimentary dessert as a gesture of goodwill. I appreciated their responsiveness in addressing the issue promptly.

Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised when the final bill arrived. To my satisfaction, they did not charge me for my order, acknowledging the inconvenience caused. This level of accountability and customer service does speak volumes about their commitment to customer satisfaction.

In conclusion, while my dining experience at Sky Bistro was marred by the unfortunate incident of burned food, the restaurant's efforts to make amends were noteworthy. The breathtaking views, coupled with a sincere apology, a free dessert, and the omission of charges for my main course, salvaged the overall experience to some extent. I believe the establishment has the potential to provide an exceptional dining experience, and I hope they address the issues in their kitchen to ensure a consistently positive visit for...