2. Bow Valley Grill

Outstanding Food-A special experience
Okay, you gotta wonder if any brunch is worth $40.00 per person, or if your wallet wouldn't be poking your conscience throughout the meal making you doubt the value; but put all the mental wrestling aside. This is a treat for all your senses and your sensibility! I quess we tend to think breakfast or brunch is casual and therefore ought to be priced accordingly---even in a fancy hotel. Well just tell yourself to linger and enjoy this meal as if it were a special dinner or a first date. From the crisp white tablecloths, 8-piece place setting and comfortable chairs to the richly decorated surroundings, you'll feel special and the service will make you feel like celebrity. This is a BIG long dining room and one full wall is devoted to the buffet. Just the other side of the serving stations is the bustling kitchen. Now for the food. The selection is vast and you'll want to try it all---but if you do you'd better have a wheelchair standing by to get you out of the place. Nothing is ordinary except perhaps the dry cereals available. All the dishes are served with a little (sometimes alot) of flair. There are international assortments of meats fish, pastas, and assorted accompaniments. From tacos and spring rolls to beef bourgignone...smoked salmon and cream cheese to pork loin and apple mint chutney. Everything was delicious and fresh. Even for some of the typical steam table failures, like scrambled eggs which tend to be watery or overcooked, were perfect. You'll see that they are frequently changing out and refreshing dishes. (although toward the end of the brunch it looked like the effort was waning---so I recommend EARLY reservations) Some of the desserts were spectacular, others less so but still better than average. And again a selection that will set your diet back by months if you sample it all. Banff is a crowded touristy spot that we generally avoid, but will definitely plan a stop here just for this brunch...it's that good. Don't let the $40 price tag scare you off--it's worth every penny. Again, reservations are recommended and arrive early and linger to fully enjoy this special brunch.

My husband and I were staying at the Fairmont for three days. We ate here twice. Much better than I thought it would be. Since they are feeding children, adults, business people, etc. I thought the food would be mediocre - but not so. Dinner was wonderful (and we ate at many fine restaurants throughout our trip) and offered an all-you-can dessert bar. Breakfast was a buffet and the offerings were plenty, including poached eggs, made-to-order omelets, and much more.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner were PERFECT here. My husband and I just LOVED the food, the service and the view from the windows. We plan to eat here many, many times when we return!!