The Grizzly House, Banff

We give these comments to travelers and management. First, we need to mention that we travel frequently to high-end quality resorts and restaurants, and usually do research before we travel to new places. Moreover this was not our honeymoon, we have been married 41 years and gone to many places, so this is a fair and balanced assessment.

I know that the Grizzly House has had both positive and negative reviews. Yet, we would like all who read this review to forget about the negative ones. My wife and I had a wonderful time there, the atmosphere was like a cozy lodge, the service was great and the food was as expected in a fondue house. Yes, we consider this a terrific place for fondues (if you haven’t ever had them before). Some may visit the restaurant for other dishes like steak, but that’s not why you eat at Grizzlys, it’s the fondues. And the service? Well, we had just finished snowmobiling (my first time – three hours) and a long ride 2 ½ hour car ride in the snow back from Toby Creek BC. I was a little on the edgy side to say the least, yet the waiter was thoughtful and calmed me down by allowing us plenty of time to chose our dinner. Then he was polite and helpful as we shared experiences over the menu.

So as in many good restaurant, the food was very good, the atmosphere was terrific, yet it was the service that made the experience.

One suggestion: Take the word “hedionist” off the website and menu, the word “For Friends and Lovers” would be much better. Some may avoid the restaurant because of that term.

Favorite Dish: Complete Fondue Dinners
Four Courses - Minimum Two Persons

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The Grizzly house is almost as much of a Banff landmark as Cascade Mountain or the Upper Hot Springs. I've been to Banff several times and walked by this restaurant, so decided to check it out this last time, not exactly sure what to expect. We walked in to a restaurant much larger than it appears from the outside, walls dark and wooden, and bustling with people. We didn't have a reservation, but the waiter managed to get us in. There are telephones at every table and in the bathroom, so you can call from table to table if you choose. I thought this was really neat, even though I didn't try it out.

The restaurant has very interesting hand drawn place mats with cool saying throughout, which you can buy a laminated copy of for $1 )I did!), along with other Grizzly House merchandise to commemorate your visit, like t-shirts, hats and even underwear.

Our waitress was just awesome. She was super friendly and outgoing, very genuine and helpful. She explained everything in a great manner, came by often enough, and let us linger even though the restaurant was packed.

The Grizzly House is a little bit on the expensive side, but there are other restaurants in Banff at comparable prices, or higher, that don't quite have the full package that this restaurant does. Going for a meal at The Grizzly House is an experience, and one that everyone should try. I find it almost hard to describe, so check it out for yourself! Definitely worth it!

Reservations recommended.

Favorite Dish: The menu is varied and interesting, with some traditional options as well as their famed fondue. They offer everything from soups and salads, steak and escargot to different meat options for the fondue like beef, pork and chicken, to local fare like elk and buffalo, to more exotic fare like ostrich, shark, alligator and frog legs.

We ordered the Original Fondue Dinner (beef and chicken - $43.95) and the Hunter Fondue Dinner (buffalo, wild boar and venison - $52.95), which each come with a starter (soup or salad, we got one of each), and an appetizer of Bagna Cauda (vegetable fondue). The main course comes raw on a plate. You get an extremely hot rock with garlic butter and cook the pieces right on your table yourself. The meat is served with four different dipping sauces. Just make sure you don't use the same fork on the raw meat and cooked meat! The vegetable fondue was full of carrots, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms and more in an incredibly delicious, buttery sauce.

Our dinner consisted of shark, alligator, rattle snake, frog legs, ostrich, buffalo and venison!
As you can see we were living on the edge. We can't get this stuff back home, so why not try it? No chicken or beef for us. Although we did see many people eating chicken and beef and it looked really good.

For the fondue dinners, you start out with a soup or salad. You're then given a basket of bread to dip in melted cheese. The main dish is brought out and you have your choice of cooking your meats in oil or on a hot rock with garlic butter. We would definitely recommend the hot rock. The dessert consists of fresh fruits to be dipped in melted cholocate.

Favorite Dish: Definitely try the Exotic Fondue Dinner. It's a little pricey, but was a once in a lifetime dinner.

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This has been my favorite restaurant all of my life. I'm told I was first brought here at the age of 3. Now that I’m slightly more grown up, my tab is considerably larger that it used to be!
I usually sit at table 26, check the chart find your table and call from the `loo. All the tables have a phone.

Favorite Dish: I go "all out" and have the steak and lobster dinner. And ALWAYS with the house salad and cheese fondue to start, ALWAYS.
I actually bought a cookbook on Banff Ave once simply because it had the salad dressing recipe from the Grizzly House.

If you like quirky, eclectic little restaurants, then this is the place for you. From the decor to the menu to the telephones on each table, you'll find yourself constantly chuckling and saying "hey, did you see this...".
Like many Banff restaurants, dinner requires a reservation, but we simply walked in at lunchtime, and had all the same menu choices. We had to try one of their "hot rock" dishes -- where you cook your meat at your table on a very hot rock that's delivered with it -- so we simply shared one, accompanying it with bowls of their very excellent french onion soup. The result was a very satisfying meal, appropriate in size and cost for mid-day.

A bit expensive but well worth the visit. The Grizzly House is one of the towns foundation resteraunts with not only an eclectic menu but also owners. A great time and great place for Fondues and Hot Rock cooking. Fantastic rich dark and romantic in nature. Well worth the extra cash.

Favorite Dish: Hot rocks with exotic meats. Also a fantastic fondue.

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OK - NOT a vegetarian restaurant - however, my friend is vegan and was able to enjoy a veggie wrap. Still the highlight here is the meat.
TGH has any kind of meat that you want! REALLY! They serve beef, chicken, lobster, crab, fish, ostrich, snake, crocodile (?), elk, buffalo - all kinds of meat.
Also - TGH is known for it's fondue dishes.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT!! I've been to Banff MANY times and always passed this by. DO NOT MISS IT!!
PLUS - the hot rock lunches are only about $15 and you cook your meat yourself at the table. It's GREAT! They also have GREAT BEER.... Bon apetit!

Favorite Dish: I recommend the Hot Rock Lunch.
Most meals run about $40 - but, the hot rock lunches are only about $15! AWESOME meal!!
They bring a hot rock (about 450 degrees Fahrenheit). You cook your meat yourself right at your table!! It's GREAT! We enjoyed the Sea and Land meal - lobster, scallops, beef, and shrimp.
TGH also specializes in fondue dishes. Haven't tried it myself, however, my friends highly recommend it.