Where The Buffalo Roam Saloon — Restaurant in Alberta

Overview: good food, HORRIBLE service

FYI before my review: I waitressed for many years, sometimes working understaffed, serving 32 tables solo. I was never rude to my customers despite incredibly difficult circumstances. This restaurant only has about 8 or 9 tables (each seating 2-4 people). Pretty small.

When we arrived at Where the Buffalo Roam, the waitress pointed out our table and did not walk us over to it. It took ten minutes before she stopped by and asked if anyone had helped us. We politely said no and that we would like to order drinks and food right away. She told us that's "not how her brain works" and she would just only take our drink order at that point. After another ten minutes, those drinks arrived and she returned to get our food order. (She used a notepad this time; I don't understand why she couldn't do that before.) She notified us that paninis could not be ready for 30 minutes. I asked if that meant that the meatball sandwich would take a long time too. She acted irritated and like my question was stupid. I explained I thought perhaps since both are sandwiches served on a baguette, that perhaps the bread was the problem. She rudely repeated to me that she said the PANINI wouldn't be ready.

Anyway, we ordered our food. In about 20 minutes, one person in my party received the duck wings instead of the duck crepes he ordered. She apologized without really taking responsibility for her mistake and did not offer any discount for his order. (She said they could make the crepes for him instead, but since the food was already taking a long time, that wasn't an option for us.) 5 minutes later, they brought another person's soup. 5-10 minutes after that, they brought out that same person's main course. We then saw someone come in and bring baguettes back to the kitchen (so maybe that WAS the holdup with the panini?)

At this point, we asked to get the check early (because we were cramped for time).

When she brought the bill, she explained that we needed to tip her on the total amount even though we were partially paying cash. (Yes, she dared to say this despite the HORRIBLE service.) The rest of us (3 more people) waited another 15-20 minutes to get our food. In this time, we saw our waitress get her purse and leave. (For home? For break? Who knows-- she didn't tell us.) We stopped her on her way out to inquire about the rest of our food and she said "it takes a while." Then she walked out. She did not introduce us to a new server, nor at any point did she update us on our order, explain why it was taking so long, or apologize. When our meatballs arrived, they were served in a bowl with sauce with 3 tiny pieces of baguette on the side. Not at any point did she tell us that we were mistaken when we kept referring to it as a sandwich.

So overall, the food was good, but the service is the worst I ever received and it took forever.

Regarding the food/drink: I liked the meatballs (tho they needed much more bread.) The other person who ordered them thought they were dry. My other friend liked the duck wings (tho they were not what he ordered). He also really liked the deviled eggs and the Moscow mule. (Our other friends did not comment on the quality of their food. They could only balk at the...

My first review did not entail exactly what happened so I'll paint the picture for the unsuspecting customers that may come here. The day was a beautiful Saturday. May 28! Around 1 o'clock pm. I arrived with 6-7 women. It was my bachelorette party. Some of my friends sat down and ordered drinks and tried to order appetizers. There was a shockingly small selection. And they had these little red dots over a bunch of things on the menu. The service was surprisingly terrible when we expressed our frustration about this. Usually when something is out of stock the server apologizes and offers something else, this did not happen. The waitress was immediately rude to me when I sat down. All I wanted was a glass of water and that did not happen. I suggested I can't eat anything here upon hearing my friends try to order and be denied a side of fries. They could only eat fries if there was a steak with them as well..... For vegans that's not appealing at all. So you would think there are fries on the premises for customers to be able to order... Once we were denied the sides and drinks we ordered, and a few of the ladies were given their drinks and food, one of the servers asked to take the plate in front of me away. An empty plate that was in front of me for no reason. I commented that I have heard there isn't much food to be had here anyway, and the manager called me sassy. Usually, I like being called sassy but she derogatorally called me sassy and repeated it to my friends and asked us to leave. So I was recording this ordeal and if there was a place to upload videos I would upload it so we could all hear and see the manager being so unreasonable and rude. Luckily we all went somewhere else and we heard from the waitresses at this other place that Where the Buffalo Roam has a reputation that is horrible. I regret even sitting on the patio, it was a disgusting experience. The manager is unbelievably rude and childish and has been calling my phone since I called to let her know how terrible that afternoon at this establishment was.

To top it all off, she told me to go to McDonald's if I want fries 🤣 I could not believe it. Luckily there are dozens of restaurants in Canmore that will serve you fries if that's what you'd like to order. Go anywhere else, literally anywhere else would treat you better. Don't give this...

Since I lived in Canmore 15 years ago, I wanted to try a new restaurant and I asked some locals what their current favourite was, and this place was highly recommended (thanks to the guys over at Mixed Culture Beer shop which I also highly recommend for craft beer and wine!). Extremely grateful for this insight and wisdom to find this gem of a place!

Walking into Where the Buffalo Roam was already enticing as the atmosphere was cozy, inviting, and friendly. Since I was traveling solo, I sat at the bar and got acquainted with Bryce the bartender, who was a major facilitator of the warm experience, and who I found out was also a co-creator of some of the elaborate and unique cocktails… and I joked he was likened to a cocktail chemist.. and before you know it, one of the cocktails he was making looked like a science experiment with smoke and cloche involved… and for even that simple reason, I highly recommend ordering the applewood smoked manhattan.

His recommendations for food and cocktails was gained with trust the first night that I had to go back for seconds the next night. The Short Rib pasta was flavourful and satisfying, and the beachfire cocktail impressed on both levels of taste and visual presentation (get your camera ready before you blow it out like a cancle!). And I can’t say enough about the calamari… let’s just say BEST OF MY LIFE!

I feel this place brings you into an Alice-in-Wonderland type of experience with both decor and delicious flavour.. everything is an exhilarating adventure! This is definitely a place I will frequent when I’m in town.

Shout out to the incredible chefs (which are sometimes the unseen and under appreciated creators of the overall experience), and all the other staff, bartenders, and owner whom I would love to one day meet to thank in person! I can tell you know how to run a place with cohesive collaboration where everyone takes pride in their part.

This place deserves 7 stars, not just 5! This places feel like home.. or even a comforting haven,.. I will surely return.. it is...