canmore – Page 3 – Elsie Hui

December 24, 2014

Mine Side Diner – Canmore, Alberta

We always go by Canmore and any festive occassion in Camore – the place is packed! This time, we came for a parade and afterwards, the entire town was looking for lunch. We went to the first place we could find that didn’t have a line and that was how we ended up at the Canmore Hotel at Mine Side Diner which was more a burger and fry place than a diner!

We basically just ordered our 2 meals, ate there and left. There’s not too much going on in this place, but the food is made fresh – so it’s quite tasty!

I ordered their version of the Philly Beefsteak with fries and it was really surprisingly quite good! The meat was tender, the bread was nice – so there’s nothing bad about it at all!

I also got their BLT Burger with onion rings and it too was really good! With a perfectly melted cheese on the patty, fresh vegetables and a nice bun that holds up to the burger (and not crumbles) it was a delightful meal!

So, next time you’re in the area and just looking for a decent little place – consider Mine Side Diner! Sure, it’s not fancy or large, but it’s all you need!

Mine Side Diner – Canmore Hotel

738 8 Street
Canmore, AB
(403) 678-5181

October 17, 2014November 10, 2014

The Wandering Elk – Canmore, Alberta

During our stay in Canmore at the Windtower Hotel and Suites we ate at the restaurant inside the hotel called The Wandering Elk. It was a large space, with some tables on the patio which you would pass going into the hotel. It’s a nice space that offers meals many times a day!

We started off with some wings as we felt like it and went for their Maple Bacon Wings and the portions are huge. The wings are plump and juicy – and they taste great! Maple and Bacon is such a nice combination, I’m shocked it isn’t more popular.

I ordered their Elk Dip which is like a beef dip but with elk striploin on a toasted ciabatta bun with caramelized onions and cheese. The elk jus is delicious as I found myself dipping my fries into it as well! It’s quite a different meal and I did find it to be on the lean/dry side – which made me adore the elk jus! Overall, it was a great plate, with a generous amount of elk and fries!

My husband enjoyed their BBQ Whiskey Full Rack of Ribs and that was really nicely done. There was tons of ribs and the first half was really good, smothered in delicious bbq sauce, but the other rack was significantly drier. I am not sure if it was just us taking so long, or if it is just that inconsistent as it was on the same order. Regardless, the first half was awesome and the second half was alright.

Overall dining experience was pretty awesome. The atmosphere was phenomial, the service was quick and friendly. Portion size are ginormous and quality was average. Not a bad place to wind down and relax with drinks and apps!

The Wandering Elk – Windtower Lodge & Suites

160 Kananaskis Way
Canmore, Alberta
403-961-2608

October 14, 2014

Windtower Lodge and Suites – Canmore, Alberta

We had a luxurious opportunity to stay in Canmore’s Windtower Lodge and Suites and fortunate enough to have their One Bedroom Suite which was absolutely amazing! It was like staying in an apartment for our stay! The location isn’t hard to find and they have a small underground parkade which is really handy for cold winter days.

Once we checked into our suite, we looked around. Through the entrance way was closet space and a stackable washer and dryer – which makes this place amazing for long term stay or if you have kids or anything! The suite then opens up into the kitchen area, which was a bright gallery kitchen that the balcony opens right off of. The kitchen is stocked for your use and they do provide you with dish detergent and dishwasher soap for you to clean up after yourself.

The suite even has a nice dining room table that seats for guests which is perfect for a 1 bedroom suite!

From the dining room would the the lovely seating area with a DVD player and an electric fireplace. Although the fireplace wasn’t working, it was still nice to cuddle up on the couch and watch TV to wind down the evening. The couches were really comfortable and quite large for you to sink into.

The bedroom was in a separate room with the bathroom ensuite. So, if you did have family/friends or guests over, they would be going through the room to access the bathroom. The bed offered a nice king bed with a ceiling fan which I love. It wasn’t the biggest room, but it had enough space.

The bathroom/ensuite was a nice little bathroom that had a stand up shower and your basic bathroom amenities. It was lovely regardless of size. We did find the water doesn’t really get hot, but that was the least of our concerns.

Our overall stay was fantastic. We dined in the restaurant located in the lobby the Wandering Elk and the portions were really big and delicious. We also utilized their hot tub which was really nice – so our trip here was fantastic and we can’t wait to return!

Windtower Lodge and Suites – Resort

160 Kananaskis Way
Canmore, Alberta
403.609.6600

July 25, 2014

Crazyweed Kitchen – Canmore, Alberta

I’ve heard many great thing about Crazyweed Kitchen so we recently went there to try them out! We made a reservation which turned out to be a good idea as they were very busy! We got seated right away and the staff was extremely friendly!

We started with their Soup de jour which was a curried butternut squash soup which was a little bowl of tons of flavour! The soup was excellent and we weren’t sure why they bothered giving us some bread with the soup as it was paper thin, we couldn’t even get butter on it and if it touched the soup, it just disintegrated. So, we just enjoyed the soup as is.

I ordered the Albacore Tuna Sandwich which was an openface sandwich made on crispy ciabatta with garlic aioli, arugula topped with green olive tapenade served with duck fat potato skins. The sandwich itself was absolutely delicious while the duck fat potato skins sounds awesome, it was soggy and too greasy. I would’ve devoured the entire plate if it was crispy!

My husband ordered the Chicken Pot Pie which was really hearty, more like a chicken stew which was absolutely delicious and warming to the soul! The pie was made with mushrooms, carrots, potatoes, peas, truffle, tarragon, thyme, topped with buttery crust served with greens!

Overall, we loved Crazyweed as much as everyone else! The price was about the same for any dining option in Canmore. It was an absolutely amazing dining experience and I am sure we will be returning one day soon again!

Crazyweed Kitchen

1600 Railway Ave
Canmore, AB
(403) 609-2530

July 8, 2014

Beamers Coffee Bar – Canmore, AB

I really enjoy doing nothing with a cup of caffeine or hot drink and this time was no exception while in Canmore, Alberta. We stopped in Beamers Coffee Bar as it was recommended by a good friend. Although just off Main Ave, this little establishment is very popular!

The menu is very extensive and delicious. The prices are quite reasonable as it is competitive with many coffee shops in the area. There is lots of hot food as well as drinks and snacks available.

At the end of the day, we enjoyed a delicious flavoured latte and it was brewed really nicely. I hate it when my coffee is burnt or overly sweet, but they have managed to make my latte the way I like it!

I am sure I will be back and relaxing here again as the experience was right up my alley, plus the coffee was amazing!

Beamers Coffee Bar

737 7 Ave
Canmore, AB
(403) 609-0111