As Alberta’s other signature meat, bison is more popular than ever in grocery meat aisles, and city restaurants make beautiful use of this lean and delectable red meat. Take a walk on the wild side at these notable Calgary restaurants serving bison dishes from tartare to slow-braised short ribs and grilled striploin.
After taking in the incredible historic village at Heritage Park, there is no better way to finish your day than with a meal at Selkirk Grille. Named after the steam engine that greets you on your way into the park, the restaurant is located just outside its main gate. The Selkirk Grille menu offerings reflect both seasonal and local ingredients, including a grilled bison striploin with farro succotash, chimichurri and Big Rock wheat ale jus.
As part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts group, The Lake House offers a menu that showcases the flavours of Western Canada. In addition to the brunch menu’s hearty bison brisket and game meat chorizo hash, this cottage-chic hideaway offers a mouth-watering grilled bison ribeye with a provolone and caramelized onion tart accompanied by peas and fava beans and grainy mustard jus. In the summer, enjoy your meal on the patio overlooking Lake Bonavista or take in the serene view year round from the dining room. The Lake House also offers a beautiful setting for weddings, anniversaries and corporate events.
Located on the west side of Calgary’s Beltline district, Bonterra Trattoria offers a uniquely contemporary spin on Italian cuisine including a prosciutto-wrapped bison striploin entree. Also recommended is bison carpaccio served with fingerling potatoes. Enjoy your bisonte (who knew there was an Italian word for bison?) in the casual but elegantly styled dining room or out on the Tuscan terrace – weather permitting.
Tucked down in the southeast corner of Calgary in beautiful Fish Creek Park, Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy an elegant dinner date. The beauty of this 90-year-old ranch house conveys the quiet elegance of a bygone era and the quality of the food speaks for itself. The restaurant serves Carmen Creek bison tenderloin exclusively. Paired with potato yam mille feuille, rainbow carrots, red cabbage marmalade and fig bacon jus, it's wildly delicious.
Murrieta’s is a perennial Stephen Avenue Walk favourite for business lunches, but if you’re working late or have an after-work client to wine and dine, you can’t go wrong at this casually elegant spot in the historic Alberta Hotel Building. Score big bison brownie points by treating your client or date to a succulent marinated Alberta bison sirloin served with roasted fingerling potatoes, apple and herb emulsion, arugula and a shaved-Parmesan salad.
This New York-style chop house and whisky bar just a hop south of the Peace Bridge features white table linens and an extensive steak menu featuring (but not limited to) top-quality cuts of Alberta beef. Seafood, pasta dishes and a wicked Scotch whisky menu are also featured. This fixture of the inner-city food scene also serves a skilfully grilled bison short rib entree with braised vegetables and a bone marrow bordelaise.
When you enter bright and airy Starbelly, you know you’ve hit upon something good. Take a seat at the large table in the private dining room or at the large bar area surrounding the wood-fired grill and order dishes to share, or enjoy all by yourself. The house-made pappardelle pasta with slowly simmered bison and tomato ragu is comfort in a bowl. Don’t forget to end your evening with Starbelly’s famous root beer doughnut with bourbon vanilla gelato.