Flame & Barrel Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Windermere

My wife and I brought our kids here based upon Google reviews, and the fact that it's locally owned and operated.

This was a Friday evening at 6:30pm. Place was very busy, but we'd made a reservation less than an hour prior and were immediately seated. The host and waitress were super friendly, got beverage orders in quickly, got our food orders reasonably quick too. The only non alcoholic beer they had was Corona which was disappointing.

My kids had the pepperoni pizza and the chicken nuggets/fries. The portions were typically child sized. The pizza was a big meh, the chicken nuggets were dinosaur shaped, but not particularly enticing to my kids. I won't ding them on my kids palette as they are horrible eaters.

My wife and I shared the Peruvian beef skewers to start. These are supposed to be marinated, but in what I have no idea. This was literally the blandest beef I've ever had. It was tender and cooked perfectly, the veggies were nicely grilled, the sauce was nice, but would never order this again. There is a Peruvian burger or something like that on the menu, I'd probably be sus of that.

My wife ordered the Cajun chicken carbonara. The chicken was a bit dry, she didn't finish it. The pasta was excellent, with a generous portion.

I was less hungry so ordered the bruschetta and the French onion soup. I love a rich French onion soup, this was not that, I'm sure it was food service soup. The bruschetta was delicious, but was literally only 6 small and thin slices of baguette. All I could think of was how this was not worth over $2.50/bite.

I'd bet GFS or similar is their prime supplier which is too bad. I've had the opportunity to eat a lot in Calgary and Edmonton over the past several months and there are some real local gems out there. Food wise, this is not one of them.

If I was to rescue this review at all, the place was packed, but most patrons seemed to be drinking a lot, and some of the wine and cocktails that went by looked great. But I've reviewed this as a restaurant with a license, not a...

This place is awesome. From the manger who is not only super kind and accommodating he really, really cares and it shows. We opted to sit in the lounge as it was empty and we wanted to talk our loud selves out. With out disturbing others.

The restaurant was a steady flow with many tables already occupied on the restaurant side at 6:20. Our server (I feel so bad that I am terrible with names) she was absolutely wonderful. The value for the quality of food, portion size and the level of service is so suprising and reminiscent of pre covid that I almost hate to review it so well and compete with others to come back.

I have seen a few other reviews in which the steaks or at least one was a bit overdone. I want to make it clear that I am a hard core medium rare. My companion a well. They both came well to well done. So I hope that is something they can address. That being said the ribeye and seafood meadly even overdone was better than most places done right. Also it didn't dissuade me one bit from attending again this evening. Trying a bunch of appies at their 25% discount night. I was not disappointed. The steak bites (which I am not usually a fan) were top notch. I had no intention of eating any of them. After being coaxed to try, I ate half the plate. The drunken mussles, I mean it's Edmonton. Seafood is never fresh. But they were really, really great. The chicken salad wraps had a bit of a kick but well balanced and filling. Thanks again for another great meal and don't stop doing what you do. It's rare and refreshing. Usually I begrudge going out to eat and I'm sure many feel the same way. With shrinkflation and crap service. The constant expectation of the consumer to fulfill a large tip quota. Shamed into overpaying to supplement poor service workers' incomes. This place is different it makes me happy to spend my money. I look forward to the next excuse to...

I recently visited Flame and Barrel, and I was thoroughly impressed by the entire experience. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was welcoming, with a cozy yet modern vibe that sets the perfect tone for a great evening.

Our server, Tristan, was nothing short of amazing. From the beginning, her attention to detail and genuine warmth made us feel completely at home. She was attentive without being intrusive, always ensuring our glasses were full and checking in at the right moments. Tristan’s knowledge of the menu was impressive, and her recommendations were spot on she guided us through our choices effortlessly, and we couldn’t have been happier with her suggestions.

The food was delicious, it was cooked to perfection, crispy, flavorful, and beautifully presented. For the main course, I had steak which was incredibly delicious, with bold flavors and tender meat that melted in your mouth. Each dish was clearly prepared with care and attention to detail.

Tristan’s service was the highlight of the evening. She made us feel like we were the most important table in the restaurant, always with a smile and a friendly demeanor that made the experience feel personalized. She even recommended a perfect wine pairing that complemented our meal perfectly. It’s rare to find a server who combines professionalism with such warmth and friendliness, and Tristan nailed it.

Overall, Flame and Barrel exceeded my expectations in every way. The food was fantastic, the ambiance was spot-on, and Tristan’s service made our evening truly special. We will absolutely be back, and I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience. If you want great food paired with excellent service, ask for Tristan you won’t be...