BANFF NATIONAL PARK - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 99

platter of seasonal vegetables. Entrées are priced comparable to a city steakhouse, but the
cost creeps up as you add side dishes.
Casually Canadian
Of the many Banff drinking holes that offer pub-style menus, Wild Bill's (201 Banff Ave.,
403/762-0333, 11am-after midnight daily, $14-31) is a standout. It's named for one of Ban-
ff's most famed mountain men, and the decor is suitably Western, with a menu to match.
The nachos grande ($12.50) with a side of guacamole is perfect to share. Later in the day,
flame-grilled T-bone steaks and spit-roasted chicken are traditional favorites. Plan on din-
ing before 9pm to miss the crowd that arrives for the live music.
A town favorite that has faithfully served locals for many years is Melissa's (218 Lynx
St., 403/762-5511, 7:30am-9:30pm daily, $14-28), housed in a log building that dates from
1928. Lunch and dinner are old-fashioned, casual affairs. Choose from a wide variety of
generously sized burgers, freshly prepared salads, and Alberta beef.
Bruno's Café & Grill (304 Caribou St., 403/762-8115, 7am-10pm daily, $12-25),
named for Bruno Engler, locally renowned photographer, ski instructor, and mountain
man, is a cozy little café with a great mountain ambience and comfortable couches.
Classically Canadian
Sleeping Buffalo Restaurant (Buffalo Mountain Lodge, Tunnel Mountain Rd., 403/
762-2400, 7am-10pm daily, $24-37) offers the perfect setting for a moderate splurge.
It features a distinctive interior of hand-hewn cedar beams and old-world eleg-
ance—complete with stone fireplace and a chandelier made entirely from elk
antlers—along with large windows that frame the surrounding forest. The featured cuisine
is referred to as Rocky Mountain, reflecting an abundance of Canadian game and seafood
combined with native berries and fruits. The least-expensive way to dine on this uniquely
Canadian fare is by visiting at lunch and ordering the Rocky Mountain Game Platter, $24
for two people. Dinner entrées include fare like elk sirloin that's given an exotic touch with
accompanying quince compote.
The food at M Storm Mountain Lodge (Hwy. 93, 403/762-4155, 7:30am-9pm daily
May-mid-Oct., 5pm-9pm Fri.-Sun. early Dec.-Apr., $25-39) is excellent, but it's the am-
bience you'll remember long after leaving—an intoxicating blend of historic appeal and
rustic mountain charm. The chef uses mostly organic produce with seasonally available
game and seafood—bison, venison, wild salmon, and the like—to create tasty and inter-
esting dishes well suited to the I-must-be-in-the-Canadian-wilderness surroundings. Storm