Water Tower Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Lethbridge

I’m going to start by saying that the premise of us going was to have a cool experience eating in a water tower. We had zero expectations about the food we were going to eat, even though I’d glanced at the menu beforehand, and we didn’t really know what kind of cuisine we were getting into. Was it going to be fancy like The Keg, or family style like Denny’s? We didn’t know what to expect. We went to the casual level. Our reservation was made about an hour and a half before we were due to arrive, on a Friday night. We were seated quickly and drinks were attended to efficiently. We began to read the menu, (2 adults, 3 kids) and it soon became apparent that we would have some problems… picking what to eat. Everyone liked what the menu had to offer, and EVERYTHING looked good. We started with Calamari, which was amazing and so tender it almost felt like it melted in your mouth. The tzatziki had the right amount of tang to it to compliment the calamari. My husband ordered the Chicken Cordon Bleu, which was clearly house made and served with vegetables over a pea puree and potatoes on the side. He cleared his plate, including the pea puree; and this is a man who refuses to eat restaurant vegetables because ‘they are never done correctly.” I had the lasagna, which is topped in a bechemel sauce with cheese, and it was perfect. Served with a side Caesar and garlic toast, the lasagna is cooked in a cast iron pan which keeps it piping hot the whole time you are eating. I was impressed with that! Youngest child had a Chicken Mushroom Alfredo he very much enjoyed, it was the first meal he’s finished in a month after a bout of pneumonia so I am grateful for that! It must have been good! Middle child procured the fish and chips- HOLY MOLY. Those portions were huge! She loved the fries so much she opened her takeout box as we were walking out to the vehicle after dinner; “as a snack.” My oldest had the blackened salmon with the same sides that came with the Cordon Bleu and also cleared his plate- the only person who didn’t was my middle child because there were larger portions of fish and a massive pile of fries. I think her dad might have had trouble finishing it even! Something that stands out to me about this restaurant and this experience is this- My family almost never shares food. Usually I’ll eat my husband’s ‘Gross restaurant vegetables’ or hand off what I can’t finish to my teenage son, but with this experience; there was almost no leftovers, but we were left satiated. Further to that, every dish was shared if we thought people would enjoy it. My husband tried the lasagna and said he’d order that next time. I tried my daughter’s fish after she put some on my plate and I can tell you you’ll never have better fish and chips at a restaurant because of that. The pea puree was a wonderful compliment to the perfectly cooked baby potato my husband placed on my plate. We all sampled several elements of what the table ordered. Literally the only “complaint” I have is the coleslaw (middle child refused to eat it) is too plain. It needs seasoning or some sort of “zing.” We didn’t have room for dessert so I can’t speak to that but overall, we were impressed with the entire meal. My husband is a man of few words and hasn’t stopped talking about it.

Price wise, not overly expensive for a nicer meal. I fed 5 people meals, 4 iced teas and 2 beers for $191 before the tip, and $33.50 of that was beverages. Not bad for a really cool experience with excellent food...

In the culinary wasteland that is Lethbridge, Alberta, the Water Tower Grill and Bar stands like a beacon of hope for the gastronomically deprived. Or so the locals would have you believe. As I approached this alleged oasis of fine dining, my expectations were as inflated as a soufflé fresh from the oven. Alas, like many a poorly executed soufflé, those expectations were destined to collapse. The ambiance, I must concede, was pleasant enough. The warm lighting and inviting decor created an atmosphere that whispered of potential culinary delights. However, this whisper was quickly drowned out by the cacophony of mediocrity that followed. Our server, bless her heart, seemed to be on a journey of discovery herself. Perhaps she was a method actor, immersing herself in the role of a novice waitress to truly capture the essence of inexperience. Her fumbling attempts at service were almost endearing, in the way that watching a newborn foal struggle to its feet can be. Almost. Now, to the main event: the food. The locals had spoken of it in hushed, reverent tones, as if describing a religious experience. What arrived at our table, however, was less divine revelation and more culinary purgatory. The Chicken Cordon Bleu was... adequate. It didn't offend, but neither did it inspire. It was the culinary equivalent of a firm handshake - polite, expected, and utterly forgettable. The Traditional Lasagne, meanwhile, seemed to have gotten lost on its way from Italy, arriving at our table as a pale imitation of its authentic self. One wonders if the chef has ever actually tasted real lasagne, or if their knowledge of Italian cuisine comes solely from the back of a Chef Boyardee can.

The Chimichanga, interestingly, showed a glimmer of promise. It was like finding a semi-precious stone in a quarry of mundanity - not quite a gem, but at least it caught the eye. Perhaps the kitchen staff had accidentally stumbled upon a flavor combination that worked, much like a monkey with a typewriter occasionally producing a coherent sentence.

Salvation came in the form of dessert. The Haskap Cheesecake was a revelation, a culinary phoenix rising from the ashes of our dashed hopes. It was as if the pastry chef, realizing the mediocrity of the preceding courses, had poured all their skill and passion into this final offering. It was, without doubt, the high point of the meal - though, given what had come before, that's rather like being the tallest molehill.

In the end, the Water Tower Grill and Bar is to fine dining what a kiddie pool is to Olympic swimming. It's wet, it's vaguely pool-shaped, but you're not going to see any record-breaking performances. For the locals of Lethbridge, starved as they are for culinary excitement, it may indeed seem like a gastronomic paradise. But for those of us who have tasted true culinary greatness, it's merely a mirage in the desert of Prairie cuisine. If you find yourself in Lethbridge, by all means, visit the Water Tower Grill and Bar. But do so with the understanding that you're not so much dining out as you are participating in a charming local delusion. And whatever you do, save room for the cheesecake. It's the closest thing to redemption you'll find...

Went last night for a meal with my husband. He had a Caesar salad to start and I had a bour-schetta (apologies if I butchered the word). His salad was crisp with a good amount of parmesan and a lemon wedge: mine was very tasty- I love a combination of balsamic glaze with fresh herbed tomatoes on a bread and the taste of these was awesome. Our appetizers went in hand with a beer, and a chocolate martini.

He had fish and chips, and I had chicken cordon bleu. His was very tasty, good tarter, good crisp to the batter. His only complaint was the fish was bordering on rubbery which, is easy to happen to battered fish. The flavor however, was good. The cordon bleu was excellent: the chicken was hot, tender, juicy, with a crisp crumb surrounding it. The truffle mushroom sauce had excellent savory flavor, and the veggies were perfectly al dente, and hot. My only complaint on my dish were the potatoes were bordering towards cold, so I feel they were likely plated prematurely. What saved them was the hot sauce poured over. But again, the flavor of the potatoes was still good.

As far as atmosphere goes, our server was quick, pleasant, and very mannerly. (Serving myself over my husband first, for example.) He was not loud or implementing too much of himself when he came around, which I personally really like in wait staff. I wish I could remember his name to give him due credit but I know it started with a B, and he was serving us on the casual floor, around 5:30 pm on 5/18/25. Hopefully this positive credit finds him!

The music was kept at a more quiet level, which I like, and although they were popular songs, they were lounge covers. So I wasn't wanting to leave from the music.

Seating in there is not the greatest. The chairs are mismatched, oversized, and don't feel great to sit in. They're not chairs you expect to dine in. At first we requested a high bar table, which we then asked to move after about 45 seconds of sitting to a regular height table, because the high bar table sat at armpit level. And all the tables are round and come across kind of small. A focus on more functional, comfortable and solid seating should be considered and then there would likely be room for adequately sized tables. (Keep in mind this is a review for the casual floor).

Temperature-wise, it did feel a little drafty and cool, so neither of us shed off our jackets. I would not have been comfortable in less than what I was wearing, (jeans and a light jacket) but the case might be different when it's not a cool and rainy day.

Overall out visit to the Water Tower was pleasant enough, and I will...