Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant

The food is excellent, ambience lovely and service is extraordinary! I will definitely be coming back!

Great food. Beautiful quiet venue. Good value. However it was freezing!! Bring a sweater!!!

The waitress the day before said we didn't need reservations for lunch the next day. But the hostess said oh really and asked for her name. Then said we do take walkins, in an off put voice. 😕

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Awesome place! Love it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Dec 4th. Booked the restaurant many weeks prior to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday with a romantic dinner. We looked forward to classic dinning and the rich historic atmosphere of the building with a cozy and intimate ambiance

The food was superb. 5/5. We were at Gordon Ramsey’s last year and our meal at The Ranche was equal to if not better. We loved the food.

The service was great. 5/5. Attentive and patient as we worked through the menu and made our choices. Very kind and enjoyable service.

So why the 3/5 rating?

We were not made aware the we would be denied access to most of the venue because of large Xmas parties taking over the premises. We were divided off from the main space with all the ambiance, fireplace and large windows. We were placed into a much smaller area upfront. It was literally closed off by a divider and had a closed in box vibe. Not only were we placed in the more closed in dinning space but in that space the entire center of the room was filled by yet another Xmas party of 20 people with their table taking up almost all of the available space. Our table was in the corner but only a couple feet from the large table of people. We were so close the back of my chair was constantly being bumped by servers and other patrons. We were so close and the Xmas party so loud that it made it difficult to have our own private conversation. As a bonus the Xmas party got so loud during their gift exchange it was like we were a part of it as we knew exactly what each person got as a present (said with sarcasm with a smile). So overall we feel we didn’t get a birthday dinner at the ranche because while we were physical there we were denied almost the whole venue and the vibe that comes with being in such as historic place. Then to be squished into the corner next to another large loud table of people having a Christmas party left us feeling like a bit of an after thought as it would be obvious that we and the other stranglers placed in that area would not have a good dinning experience.

The venue should have either made it known upon booking that you would be denied access to most of the venue and it’s ambience because of Xmas parties or they should have just declined to accept single bookings like ours because they were serving the large Xmas events. It wasn’t fair to our dinning experience especially on a birthday celebration and romantic dinner.

So yes the food was excellent. The service was excellent. But how our dinning experience was managed was a major misstep and it would have been obvious that we or others would not have gotten the experience that guests expect when they come here. This is as important as the food and service as this is supposed to be a “dinning experience”. The venue lost sight of this.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 5

Service: 5

I recently had the chance to dine at Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant, and the experience honestly felt like stepping into a completely different world. The moment you drive into Fish Creek Park and walk up to the historic house, you can already tell the evening is going to be special. The setting alone is worth the visit — quiet, scenic, and uniquely Calgary.

We made a reservation for dinner, and the staff greeted us right at the door with a warm welcome. They were attentive without being overbearing, which is something I really appreciate. Our server took the time to go through the menu, explain how the dishes were prepared, and even made a couple of recommendations based on what we told him we liked.

The food was the highlight of the night. Every dish looked like something out of a magazine — super clean presentation, fresh ingredients, and the flavours were balanced without trying too hard. The bison carpaccio and the seafood dish stood out the most for me; both felt like they were made with a lot of attention to detail rather than being rushed in a busy kitchen. Even the bread and butter were noticeably better than what you get at most places.

What makes the Bow Valley Ranche different, though, is the atmosphere. It’s peaceful, romantic, and has that rustic-luxury feel you can’t fake. We took a short walk after dinner, and even that added to the whole experience. It’s the kind of place you can bring someone for a special occasion — anniversary, birthday, or even just to treat yourself to something outside the usual restaurant scene.

Pricing is on the higher side, but completely fair for what you get — excellent food, thoughtful service, and a setting that feels like a getaway without having to leave the city. Everything felt intentional, from the layout of the dining rooms to the pacing of the courses.

Overall, Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant absolutely lived up to the reputation. It’s not somewhere I’d go every week, but for a memorable evening or a celebration, I would recommend it without hesitation. I left feeling like I got exactly the experience I hoped for — relaxed, well taken care of, and genuinely impressed.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A truly magical experience with outstanding food and service. All 4 of us were blown away. Right from entering we were made to feel welcome in the Christmas decor. Excellent and friendly waitress. Wonderful meals with amazing presentation. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a special evening. It was my first time there and it did not disappoint!!!

The place is very cozy and you feel like home, food is good, but can improve, all staff is very friendly and enjoy celebrating there my friend birthday, drinks need to improve

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Every time I get the chance to eat here, I take it. I’ve come for brunch and lunch, and everything has been super delicious and made with fresh ingredients. I’ve honestly enjoyed every single thing I’ve tried. I’m even thinking of getting a quote for a small wedding reception - that’s how much I love this place!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I was disappointed with the current state of the restaurant and that the food way too salty and unfortunately reflected sub-par quality and presentation. As well, the menu as it stands has no culinary cohesion or appeal. The restaurant could do with a new beginning--I cannot recommend it at this time.

Service was phenomenal. Food was great tasting and fresh. Definitely recommend for any occasion.

Quaint spot. The restaurant feels like a country club. Food and service were both very good.

Stopped in for coffee/tea and dessert in early afternoon. Wonderful service and excellent quality of loose earl grey tea. Not rushed, lots of time before dinner service started.

We’ve been here twice now, once for brunch for my birthday in July & tonight for our anniversary dinner. Both times the atmosphere was nice, quiet & easy to have a conversation. The house is amazingly restored and beautiful. Food presentation was great & everything tasted delicious. Both times our waiter was Jensen, he was super friendly and nice. I’d highly recommend this place & can’t wait to go back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Fantastic food and service. Wonderful atmosphere and restaurant. Great tasting food and really friendly and helpful staff. Really enjoyed dinning there and checking out the area.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5