The Boss Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Banff

The boss must have been on vacation and let the intern run the kitchen.

Bathrooms are upstairs but that’s whatever. They were clean so I was hopeful. As you know I visit them first. My son and I always say, “the bathroom is a good indication on how they keep the kitchen”. He actually made this rule up and it makes a ton of sense to me. Pretty insightful for a 9 year old!

We chose to sit outside because we wanted to enjoy our last full day in Banff outside as much as possible. The server took a while to get to us all around. Even when the bill came. It was 2:30 pm. So it was after the lunch rush and not that crowded.

We both ordered the burgers because we figured that’s a boss meal, and we were hungry! She got the Boss burger and I got the Banff burger.

I typical refrain from leaving reviews when I am extremely hungry because it usually skews the review very much in their favor. My hunger sometimes makes things much more tasty, kinda like a late night drunk meal. You know those ones that taste extremely good going down, but you wake up the next morning and you’re like why did I eat Krauszer’s last night?

I did have high expectations for this place considering it’s named after a local legend “The Boss Grizzly Bear.” Fun fact that I learned from Banff Everyday Tour: the boss grizzly bear sired over 70% of all grizzly bears in Banff National Park. He’s also been hit by a freight train twice and he’s still alive and remains the alpha bear in the region.

So you can see why my expectations were so high because if you’re gonna name your restaurant after a local legend like this, you need to come correct.

Anyway, the burgers were patties. I usually ask about that before I even order them, but I was so hungry this time I didn’t. My girlfriend told me later that it did say on the menu that they were patties. Either way, They were a let down. Both my girlfriend and I agreed they had very little flavor. The only thing saving my burger was that it was smothered in some type of Jam. However, the garlic fries and the waffle fries pretty much saved this place. That’s why It got it two star and not a one.

I think another thing that pretty much saves this place is it’s location. I gave the atmosphere a five because I really like the art on the wall and how they Premier local artists and offer to sell their paintings for them. The art is very expensive but they are pretty cool. I may look into buying one one day. I like the stand alone tree art peace,...

My partner and I recently enjoyed a truly outstanding meal at The Boss Kitchen in Banff, and we're already looking forward to our next visit. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed with the inviting atmosphere—warm, sophisticated, and with those incredible mountain views everyone talks about. The restaurant's lively-but-not-too-loud vibe was perfect for a relaxed dinner after a day of hiking. The food was, in a word, spectacular. We started with the Poached Pear Prosciutto Pizza, a recommendation from our server, and it was the perfect mix of sweet and savory. For our mains, I had the legendary Banff burger with its unique berry sauce, and my partner had the perfectly cooked Alberta beef steak. Everything was fresh, masterfully prepared, and highlighted the best of local ingredients. While the food was a highlight, it was our server, Mariah, who made the experience truly exceptional. She was attentive, knowledgeable, and had a genuine warmth that made us feel right at home. She expertly guided us through the menu and even offered great recommendations for local beers to pair with our meal. What impressed us most was her friendly and patient nature, and her knack for anticipating our needs without ever being intrusive. She struck that perfect balance between professional and personal. Thanks to Mariah and the fantastic kitchen staff, our dinner at The Boss was more than just a meal; it was a genuine dining experience. We can't wait to return and highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for top-notch food and...

We also had the same feeling as another review. I had read the reviews expecting this place to be WOW. But it didn’t live up to expectations.

It was nice, and it is “wheelchair accessible” for my grandmother. But the elevator wasn’t easily accessible or clearly marked. Restaurant is UPSTAIRS. Bar style is on the main floor. Washrooms were somewhat dirty and dingy. And air flow was hot and cold and hot and cold, so coats were on and off and on again.

Our SERVER was very nice and did their best, but either the restaurant itself was greatly understaffed or just not very organized. Our appetizers took what felt like 40 min to arrive. Our mains following shortly but my family member said her steak had been sitting under a warming lamp for too long; waiting for the other foods to prep and be served at the same time.

FOOD did taste amazing. I truly enjoyed the Elk bolognese pasta. And the rest of my family enjoyed all their meals. The ribs were good, bison steak was good, chicken tenders were different than anywhere else I’ve ever seen before. Beef carpaccio good, and scallop and pork belly app too.

We were here to celebrate my parents 40th anniversary, but I don’t think it was so amazing I would bring my friends and family back raving good things about it. But I did like the back story of our local bear “the boss”. I wanted to give this place full 5 stars… but I’m going to say it was worth...