Review Block Kitchen And Bar - Banff

Super cool vibe. This small yet mighty place is great for intimate experiences and I guarantee you won’t leave without making a new friend or two. The highlight of this place by far is the drinks, they are sophisticated and a fair price. The food was good but a bit over priced, yet still tasty. Our bartender Reese was friendly and courteous. Highly recommend this place but be ready to spend money.

Such a cool little restaurant in the heart of banff. Would highly recommend it. It’s Asian fusion flavors . Everything from the hostess to our server Kaz was awesome. We loved the two dishes we ordered. Loved the risotto especially.. It was so flavorful. They have gluten free options and also clearly marked on the menu, which is always so helpful. We did have to wait like 40 minutes for a table as they are a small restaurant. If you can try and make reservations.

Restaurant is busy, staff are friendly. Food tastes OK overall. - pulled duck poutine: meat is tender and flavorful, though the sauce is a bit too salty. - katsu curry bowl: bread coated deep fried pork cutlet with curry sauce, on top of rice. The rice is a bit soft and sticky.

I’ve attempted going to this place for dinner about twice and it had about 30-40min waiting list for indoor seating. However for patio seating on a chilly day? We got to sit immediately! If you follow this strategy make sure you wear warm clothes. I’d say after trying the food and service it was well worth it. We ordered the Asian lettuce wraps, one with pulled duck and the other with pork belly. They arrived with a spicy sauce, a peanut sauce, lettuce, kimchi, and the chosen meat. Crafting your lettuce wrap was simple and delicious. We also tried the karaage and it was very crisp, but it def needed some sauce which it thankfully came with. Also don’t be shy to ask for a straw if you order a cocktail! Overall my favorite place to eat in Banff and I’m glad we gave it a try.

Had a great time here and loved all the food we ordered! It’s easy to miss this spot if you don’t know about it, and I will be recommending this place to anyone heading to Banff. The highlight for me was Korean BBQ Saikoro Steak; it was soo tender and juicy. My mouth is watering just thinking about it and I’d come back just for that alone! As for drinks, I had a passionfruit mojito - slightly disappointed as it wasn’t minty or limey to me at all and was really just like a passionfruit soda. Tasty, nonetheless! I’d like to try their beet cocktail next time.

Nice cosy place. Food is very flavorful and well presented. I have had most of the small plates and they are excellent for sharing. The curry ramen was full of flavor and had a hint of heat. The "UnBeetable" cocktail was excellent. The server was polite and answered any questions we had in regards to the dishes. Will be back again

We didn’t quite think through dinner plans and ended up at Block. I’m so glad we did! The drinks were amazing, the food was flavorful and well executed. We had the truffle fries, bao buns, karaage chicken skewers, and calamari. The food was tapas style so you get a little bit of everything. We devoured all of it, me and my family of four. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was fun. I thought Block was wonderfully different from the other food options in downtown Banff. (Pictured are the passion fruit mojito, the before and after, and the truffle fries)

100% must try while you're here in Banff! I will fly back out here for the mountain ranges, beautiful lakes, and then stop by here for a great meal. I got the pork belly lettuce wraps and the pork belly bao buns, both deserve high praise. The pork was so tender and flavorful, the sauce in the buns and sauce for the wraps were incredible. The kimchi... I don't like kimchi but I actually finished it all, my wife was baffled that I actually liked it. This restaurant will be on my mind when I fly back to the states, will be back to try more of the menu when I come back.

Food was decent but service was none. We ordered 3 very simple dishes. The first dish that came out was beef tataki rolls and it took 20 mins, 4 tiny rolls and it costs $14, definitely not worth the price. The second dish that took another 25 mins to come was the salad wrap; I mean it was litterally lettuce, some prepreped meat and sauces; did they go to the market to buy the lettuce that took 45 mins for a dish to come? During our stay several people who came after us, ordered after us got their food before us. Non of the server came to check up to see how we were doing. I mean after 45 mins of waiting, we decided to cancel and leave the last dish. Even McDonald's has better service than this place.

The last time I was in Banff, Block was not around. That's too bad because it would have made my stay better. This visit we enjoyed the cheese and charcuterie board with its 4 meats, 4 cheeses, tapenade, and various nuts. It was fantastic and enough for two. We also tried the fried chicken skewers with the spicy mayo dip. These were a flavor explosion. If you like a little spice with your cocktail, try their margarita with the chopped chili pepper. The heat was perfect. But the cocktail to be topped is the mezquito which is like a mojito, but made with the smoky richness of mezcal. It was amazing! Ryan and the staff at the restaurant made our visit enjoyable and we look forward to our next trip. These two foodies will definitely be back!

After being unable to get a table the night before for dinner, we went back for lunch. Had a bunch of appetizers, 3 dips with Naan (Hummus, Edamame/Ava ado, and a third sauce which I forget what was in it), had 4 Oysters with a Maple Rye Mingonette, and then had the Red Devil Humboldt Calamari... All 3 appetizers were out of this world good! Some of the best Calamari I've ever had, the Oysters were unreal, perfect balance of flavour, and the dips were awesome. Could use a bit more Naan for the dips, but all in all, my wife and I had an absolutely stellar experience. I highly recommend trying this place! Thank you!

Block: Kitchen and Bar (that’s how it’s phrased) has a novelty wine rack where bottles poke out of the wall. The light fixtures are either copper bowls or wireframe models of wormholes (at least I think). The name of the restaurant in branded into the serving boards. The drinks menu is glued to a slab of wood. The menu sits on a podium at the entrance. To put it simply, Block is cool, but in that annoying, trendy cool, the kind you both love and hate. The kind you like to hang around with and glean some attention from, but when away, begin to loathe and begrudge. That guy that both plays video games and goes to the gym. That girl that has a baby and regains her figure inside of a week. I bet the owners all smell like jasmine and say words like “urban” and “rustic” in casual conversation. One of them probably has an epic and perfectly groomed hipster beard. I’m not heading towards a negative review. I love Block…like I love Samuel L. Jackson or Christopher Walken, amazing actors, though you suspect are probably a little weird. I mean read that description above; it works. The food is absolutely stunning, let’s get that out of the way, but let’s also not deny some of the issues one could find with this restaurant. For one, its bar takes up more real estate than the anything else in the entire establishment. It’s obtrusive the way West Edmonton Mall is. Block’s menu differentiates food by vegetarian, gluten free or vegan…because apparently that has to be a thing now. Block’s website opens with the words “Urban Rustic” (I knew it!), stealing my most common descriptors, though I admit ones that don’t indicate anything about what kind of food to expect. There’s another issue with the menu. It commits a sin that I admit personally gets my hackles up: it lists appetizers as tapas. For those who need clarification, tapas should be presented as dozens of small offerings at cheap prices, meant to encourage numerous dishes shared among friends. It is not a synonym for “starters”. An 18$ cheese board is not tapas, neither is a $29 charcuterie. Asian lettuce wraps for $14? No. About the only thing that could qualify are the $5 fries (served with sumac and spicy mayo). A restaurant in my hometown committed that same transgression, and the public never let them forget it. Okay, so it’s established, you cannot rename appetizers as tapas unless you wish to invite ridicule. That pushed aside, what’s left is truly impressive. The menu options, even the ones under the tapas banner, are all tempting. We ended up settling on the 16$ Block burger (Angus beef, pork belly, roasted tomatoes, onion compote, mayo, and smoked cheddar) and the smoked pepper sausage & cheese sandwich (asiago, smoked mozzarella, leafy greens, onion compote, and grainy mustard), both served with the aforementioned side of fries. Although it took a while for our meal to arrive, the delivered wooden planks were topped with two of the best looking and tasting sandwiches I’ve ever had. These are the types of meals reputations are built on. They can be forgiven for the whole tapas thing; maybe I’m just working out issues. Here’s the thing: there’s a restaurant in my hometown that mimics many of the themes Block succeeds at. Where it differs is that Block’s “urban” and “rustic” ideology didn’t impede my enjoyment of the meal. With our local place, it did—chairs were oddly shaped, the bathrooms were labeled like Picasso-prints—I felt like I had to solve Lemarchand's box each time I ate there (a Hellraiser reference…yeah, no one got it on my review of that place either). Clarification through comparison—Block is a Lancer Evolution with proper ground effects and a stage 2 turbo tune while this local place is a Subaru WRX with an STI body kit and an 80 lbs. metal wing (wow, damning) The Block is cool in ways that enhanced my experience, like the small reeds tied with a knot rather than large toothpicks to keep sandwiches together. Yes, it’s a tad more expensive than your average lunch, but there’s value with the delivered meal. If I lived in Banff—and seriously, why would I—I could imagine Block being my regular spot. I’d imagine having a reserved stool by the bar where I would enjoy a meal while chatting it up with the owners…because I might, just might, come off a little cooler by just hanging out with them. They’d call me by my first name. I’d ask for a sandwich, and they’d just make me sandwich. I wouldn’t care what was in it. They’d serve me wine and we’d talk about the cool people they had in their establishment that day. They’d introduce me, say I was cool…sigh…dreamy—I-I…mean…sorry. They got good burgers. Food: 5/5 Service: 3.5/5 Presentation: 4/5 Value: 4.5/5 Recommendation: 4.5/5

Unique menu full of flavor. Awesome wait staff! We ate here twice during our stay in Banff. Bison flatbread and pulled duck lettuce wraps. Great beer as well!

Dropped in between the lunch and dinner crowds and relied on the server (great service BTW) for recommendations. After Irish Point oysters as an appetizer, I settled on the BBQ pork belly Bao buns for my entree. Mixed with spicy kimchi and toped with micro greens, this we one of the greatest things I have ever tasted. If you leave Banff without eating here, your trip will be incomplete.

This is our new favourite place to eat in Banff!!!! Stopped in yesterday for lunch and we were pleasantly surprised! Loved the small quiet atmosphere and the food was amazing! Everything on the menu sounded fantastic. The waitress was very friendly and recommended the pork belly Asian lettuce wraps..hands down the best I have had.. we will definitely be back on our next visit!

BEST place in Banff to hang out with friends and girlfriends with delicious tapas that have had a lot of thought put into them along with the cocktail selection; all fresh and flavourful. The best vibe with amazing atmosphere and music! Best bartenders, mainly Andy and Jonno! Not only is their service on point but they are such cool guys to chat with and catch the vibe of this amazing lounge. Absolutely love this place.

My mom and I ate lunch here. We had a few appetizers and a salad which the server recommended. All were excellent. Great selection of unique food and drinks. A must visit!!

Fantastic!! First night in Banff, celebrating our 10th anniversary. Popped in here and couldn't be happier...everything we tried was delicious and staff were friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend!

My husband and I chose Block for its urban and modern atmosphere, and were so impressed by the food! The calamari was cooked perfectly, and the charcuterie board was delicious. Our server was very knowledgeable and helpful! Definitely worth a visit if you're in Banff!

Great service. Food was rocking. These guys tHe simple ingredients and make mouth watering small plates. Great place for a quick nosh. Suggested beverage - reverse old fashioned. Keep it up.

LOVE this place! The food is outstanding, the atmosphere is cozy & inviting, the staff is friendly and efficient. My friend and I stopped in for lunch and went back for dinner the same day!

Absolutely the best food in Banff. I've been in Banff skiing for 25 years and enjoyed this little gem more than any other restaurant during that time. Jessica - waitress-hostess-wonder women made our meal even better with her warmth and friendliness. Go!!!

If I were a Banff resident I'd LIVE at this place. (As it was, we ate here for lunch AND dinner one day of our visit.) Atmosphere, cocktails, food, service — all stellar. Will definitely be back next time I'm in Banff!

I've been traveling America and Canada for the last couple of weeks and this is the best food I have had on my entire vacation. The food is off the hook; fresh, delicious and perfect for sharing. The cocktails are perfect too.

I had the most amazing thai cod curry !Im very impressed with your food !Yummy �Wish we had your resteuruant in Toronto �

Great food and good service, I highly recommend trying this place.

This is a “must visit” when you come to Banff!! We stumbled upon this gem and so happy we did! It’s small and quaint and the food was killer. We visited twice and both times were memorable and delish. Don’t skip it! If you are a true foodie you will appreciate the cuisine

Me and my party had 6 dishes here. Food was good but not really worth the price tag. Menu was a bit all over the place and was kind of hit or miss. I think they really need to focus on what makes each cuisine memorable before fusing them. The naan with dips was a bit sad especially portion wise.

Called to make reservation. Learned they don’t take reservations, but come over-lots of space (5:30 pm on a Wednesday). Walk over -less than five minutes-we ask for a table for two. Sorry we are full and have a 45 min wait! Huh? 4 tables for two sat open at front of house. I say ” what about those tables?”. Oh they are reserved!!! Huh-again? “I thought you didn’t take reservations?” Well they booked over a year ago. Note to Banff dinners, get it together early if you want to eat at The Block!

Food was decent but service was none. We ordered 3 very simple dishes. The first dish that came out was beef tataki rolls and it took 20 mins, 4 tiny rolls and it costs $14, definitely not worth the price. The second dish that took another 25 mins to come was the salad wrap; I mean it was litterally lettuce, some prepreped meat and sauces; did they go to the market to buy the lettuce that took 45 mins for a dish to come? During our stay several people who came after us, ordered after us got their food before us. Non of the server came to check up to see how we were doing. I mean after 45 mins of waiting, we decided to cancel and leave the last dish. Even McDonald's has better service than this place.

I was in Banff a while back and on the whim Block Kitchen and Bar was the restaurant my girlfriend and I chose to eat with some friends. First thing is that this place is tiny, like my master bedroom is bigger then the whole restaurant. Little claustrophobic to be honest when it’s full when you’re literally sitting elbow to elbow with a stranger. But the place is cute with a homey vibe. You couldn’t tell from the outside but they got a Asian fusion vibe going on and that’s quite unique in a place like Banff. The menu is small but focused. <br/><br/>The Pork & Kimchi Gyozas were pretty bomb, with a decent amount of filling. Handmade too which is a bonus. My girlfriend got their Poke Bowl and she said it was pretty decent. Good ratio of salmon and rice. Just lose the pickled ginger, my personal opinion; pickled ginger should stay far away from Poke. I got their Block Burger with fries. Their fries are pretty good, nice and thin the way I like it. The burger was great as it came with a nice slab of pork belly to compliment the juicy patty. <br/><br/>A teeny bit small but this place delivered a quick and satisfying lunch!

I was very unhappy with my experience at this establishment. It is cramped, not cozy. The waitress brought all of the food out (drinks, appetizers, and main) at once on a VERY small table and it was difficult to eat without hitting something or someone. It did not fit. When this was twice congenially mentioned to the staff, they said that is the way they do it. This is a fast food joint pretending to be a cute, kitchy restaurant. They rush you in and out. I had the bison burger and fries. The burger was above average, but the sauce for the fries was saltilicious. My wife did not particularly like the Thai cod either. I was stressed during the meal and just wanted out of there. I felt exploited after the four of us dropped $175.00 on an average meal with horrible service. They know this and just do not care.

Good restaurant. The three dips and naan appetizer was excellent. The burger and chicken sandwich were decent. The cold ramen soup was really good. <br/><br/>The service was prompt and friendly. <br/><br/>Overall, a good restaurant (as my first sentence states).

It was amazing experience. The food and service were great. The menu seemed a little confusing but the food food so good I'll remember forever that tuna that was melting in my mouth.

Walked in and was surprised of how small and cozy the place was. The staff was very pleasant and helpful. The food was delicious, very flavourful and the presentation was awesome. The rum selection top notch. Definitely will be back!!!!

Luckily the food was actually delicious, because the service kinda sucked. Server Never really checked back on us too see how the food was tasting. Usually I don't care but I wanted to order another drink, but the server seemed as if she did not want to come back to our table. She would literally put the food down then leave so quickly I couldn't get a word in....<br/><br/>The interior is very loud and cramped. You literally are eating with the table next to you so it's pretty awkward. <br/><br/>They also have a good selection of vegan/vegetarian options. However this place is quite expensive, but worth it in my opinion. Usually tapas restaraunts are quite pricey. For two of us our bill was about 60 bucks. <br/><br/>I would definitely come back the next time I'm in Banff!

Wow. Speechless. Original. Fusion. Classy. We ate the calamari, chicken on a skewer, shrimp, duck rolls, lettuce wraps. We might have been a bit inebriated and really hungry but the food was excellent. There's only a few hidden gems in Banff and I put this one at the top of my list for creativity and passion. Every dish was great and I can't wait to go back to make sure it wasn't a one off. No wonder it was so busy when we went there!

Modern restaurant fare, local owners serving food and pouring drinks. Small plates to share, good wine and cocktail menu, fun atmosphere. Limited seating, so make reservations.

I loved this place ! The menu is great with lots of good choices, reasonable prices and perfect for sharing. However the drink menu is quite pricey, so I will not be drinking here - $12.50-$13 for cocktails. <br/>The restaurant is very small but they have some outdoor seating which was really nice !! We shared the pork belly lettuce wraps and beef tataki rolls. They were both so flavourful I would order them again in a heartbeat. The table next to us ordered the calamari and it looked fantastic too. I definitely have a few more items I would like to try. So I will be back !!! <br/><br/>

I came here with friends for a Saturday night dinner. We made reservations in advance, and it is a good thing we did as this place had limited seating. The food and drinks were pretty good (nothing groundbreaking), although for how cramped it was, I do not think I would come back with a large group. <br/><br/>Definitely better for a date night. I don't mind the hipster vibe, and the bottom line is that this is one of a shrinking bunch of non-chain restaurants in Banff. I will go back and give them another try, and recommend that if it isn't too busy, you check them out as well.

Far better than I thought based on the reviews. Definitely a Westernized Tapas-style bar. We ended up ordering about six dishes total plus a dessert to share. Expensive bill for the amount of food, but the sauces were to die for so we were not too upset. Definitely a "hipster" small bar, and with really friendly service. Perfect for evening snacking too as the kitchen didn't stop serving until 10:30pm, unlike a few other food places around town.

Well I like the atmosphere. Food good. Drinks are awesome. <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

I think people come to this restaurant because they expect it to be 'different' from the rest. The fact is, the food wasn't that great. And you pay a premium for the hipster vibe they are going for. Our server was pretty good, but there was nothing outstanding about this place. The menu is relatively small and so are the table and chairs, so we were crammed up against our pretentious neighbors.

I have eaten their a few times and always have a good experience! It is a bit expensive, but I don't mind paying for good quality food and service. Being a local in Banff I have found it hard to find places that are consistent and places that I would like to go back to over and over again, especially being in the hospitality industry myself. They always change up their menu, and it's always good. Would definitely recommend it!

I was told that The Block was the place to eat in Banff. Tried to eat there in the fall, but from outside it looked packed. We decide to try somewhere else. <br/><br/>But today we are back and decided to give it a try. I know why it appeared so packed. It is one of the smallest restaurant I have been in. 5 tables with a bar. I felt claustrophobic and we were one of two occupied tables. <br/><br/>The food was good. Not superduperfragalistic awesome, but good. It seems they are trying really hard to make everything super trendy when there really is no need to try that hard. That combined with no room to move makes this likely my last visit.

We went there based on the "good" reviews online, but man were we disappointed! At first glance it looked like a promising little place. We ordered the lettuce wraps and there was a bug in the lettuce! Obviously it wasn't washed, which makes me question the handling of the rest of the food. We very politely told the waitress thinking she would just take the plate away and suggest we order another item off the menu. Instead, she was not friendly about the whole situation, and just brought us a couple of small pieces of lettuce to finish the dish! Needless to say, we did not finish it and asked her to take it away. The flatbreads were extremely oily - the crust was almost translucent. When we asked for the cheque we were surprised to see that the lettuce wraps were left on the bill! Now we know where not to go in Banff

Lovely little gem in the center of town. Great flavours and textures on all of the dishes we ordered. Artfully served. We sat and stared at them for awhile. Wonderful service from an Aussie hipster.  Just all around great experience.

Block was phenomenal in taste and atmosphere. Cozy little place with a few tables inside and out as well as space at the bar.<br/><br/>The food was great and fused western fair with traditional Indian flavours for the dishes we had.<br/><br/>Lastly, our server and host, Katie, did an amazing job. Due to some scheduling conflicts, she was the only person working a swamped dining room and patio. Despite all of this, she was still an excellent host and did a wonderful job catering to our needs.<br/><br/>Will definitely be back in the future.

Amazing calamari... Which was on special. Best I have ever had! The staff was amazing! I love feeling welcome at places :) the scallops were to die for! Everything about this place is fabulous, the atmosphere was great and I love when the chef came out before and after our meal to talk to us 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 defiantly will be back next time I am in banff!

Excellent food and atmosphere. Unique flavours tastefully done. We had the block salad which was loaded with goods and a lovely mild dressing, the chicken skewers had a perfect batter with a fantastic sauce, and the lettuce wraps were different with amazing flavours. Bear in mind they are tapas, so smaller dish sizes but so much fun to be able to mix up different dishes.

Block: Kitchen and Bar (that’s how it’s phrased) has a novelty wine rack where bottles poke out of the wall. The light fixtures are either copper bowls or wireframe models of wormholes (at least I think). The name of the restaurant in branded into the serving boards. The drinks menu is glued to a slab of wood. The menu sits on a podium at the entrance. To put it simply, Block is cool, but in that annoying, trendy cool, the kind you both love and hate. The kind you like to hang around with and glean some attention from, but when away, begin to loathe and begrudge. That guy that both plays video games and goes to the gym. That girl that has a baby and regains her figure inside of a week. I bet the owners all smell like jasmine and say words like “urban” and “rustic” in casual conversation. One of them probably has an epic and perfectly groomed hipster beard. <br/><br/>I’m not heading towards a negative review. I love Block…like I love Samuel L. Jackson or Christopher Walken, amazing actors, though you suspect are probably a little weird. I mean read that description above; it works. The food is absolutely stunning, let’s get that out of the way, but let’s also not deny some of the issues one could find with this restaurant. For one, its bar takes up more real estate than the anything else in the entire establishment. It’s obtrusive the way West Edmonton Mall is. Block’s menu differentiates food by vegetarian, gluten free or vegan…because apparently that has to be a thing now. Block’s website opens with the words “Urban Rustic” (I knew it!), stealing my most common descriptors, though I admit ones that don’t indicate anything about what kind of food to expect. <br/><br/>There’s another issue with the menu. It commits a sin that I admit personally gets my hackles up: it lists appetizers as tapas. For those who need clarification, tapas should be presented as dozens of small offerings at cheap prices, meant to encourage numerous dishes shared among friends. It is not a synonym for “starters”. An 18$ cheese board is not tapas, neither is a $29 charcuterie. Asian lettuce wraps for $14? No. About the only thing that could qualify are the $5 fries (served with sumac and spicy mayo). A restaurant in my hometown committed that same transgression, and the public never let them forget it. Okay, so it’s established, you cannot rename appetizers as tapas unless you wish to invite ridicule.<br/><br/>That pushed aside, what’s left is truly impressive. The menu options, even the ones under the tapas banner, are all tempting. We ended up settling on the 16$ Block burger (Angus beef, pork belly, roasted tomatoes, onion compote, mayo, and smoked cheddar) and the smoked pepper sausage & cheese sandwich (asiago, smoked mozzarella, leafy greens, onion compote, and grainy mustard), both served with the aforementioned side of fries. Although it took a while for our meal to arrive, the delivered wooden planks were topped with two of the best looking and tasting sandwiches I’ve ever had. These are the types of meals reputations are built on. <br/><br/>They can be forgiven for the whole tapas thing; maybe I’m just working out issues. Here’s the thing: there’s a restaurant in my hometown that mimics many of the themes Block succeeds at. Where it differs is that Block’s “urban” and “rustic” ideology didn’t impede my enjoyment of the meal. With our local place, it did—chairs were oddly shaped, the bathrooms were labeled like Picasso-prints—I felt like I had to solve Lemarchand's box each time I ate there (a Hellraiser reference…yeah, no one got it on my review of that place either). Clarification through comparison—Block is a Lancer Evolution with proper ground effects and a stage 2 turbo tune while this local place is a Subaru WRX with an STI body kit and an 80 lbs. metal wing (wow, damning)<br/><br/>The Block is cool in ways that enhanced my experience, like the small reeds tied with a knot rather than large toothpicks to keep sandwiches together. Yes, it’s a tad more expensive than your average lunch, but there’s value with the delivered meal. If I lived in Banff—and seriously, why would I—I could imagine Block being my regular spot. I’d imagine having a reserved stool by the bar where I would enjoy a meal while chatting it up with the owners…because I might, just might, come off a little cooler by just hanging out with them. They’d call me by my first name. I’d ask for a sandwich, and they’d just make me sandwich. I wouldn’t care what was in it. They’d serve me wine and we’d talk about the cool people they had in their establishment that day. They’d introduce me, say I was cool…sigh…dreamy—I-I…mean…sorry. <br/><br/>They got good burgers.<br/><br/>Food: 5/5<br/><br/>Service: 3.5/5<br/><br/>Presentation: 4/5<br/><br/>Value: 4.5/5<br/><br/>Recommendation: 4.5/5

Fantastic!. I love everything about this restaurant. The small, but stylish interior with a great vibe, the friendly service, but most of all the deliciousness of their menu. Perfect portions at a great price, and thoughtful flavors in all the dishes. Also, a great cocktail menu. The kiwi G&T is so good, I'm going to try and duplicate it at home. Excellent place to enjoy food and drinks with a partner.

Absolutely wonderful meal!. We managed to snag a table for dinner without a reservation, and what luck as this was hands down one of the best meals we have had in months. The place is small and a bit tight but the atmosphere was good and the food and cocktails even better. It was impossible to choose a favourite dish between the chicken skewers, prawns, duck spring rolls (we vow to try and recreate this amazing side sauce at home!), and hanger steak. As for cocktails, the honey bear, kiwi G&T and orange mojito were fantastic! Service was friendly and helpful. We were also very pleased to see how reasonable our bill was. Thinking back on our various meals out over the last year this was likely one of the best quality for such good value. All around two very thrilled diners. Alas, our only regret was not returning for lunch the next day to try the flat bread and another honey bear! This place will remain on our must visit list each time we are in Banff.

Block Kitchen and Bar. If you like tapas served in the ambiance of a busy bus station with unusually uncomfortable seating combined with the ambiance of a sports bar filled with cheering yabbos this is your place. Maybe the worst restaurant I have ever been. Possibly the right place for you if you are HDD afflicted and your Ritalin prescription has been delayed.

The duck poutine? Spectacular. <br/>The curry lamb? Outta sight yo

Fantastic!!. So happy that we discovered this hidden gem. The Chef really has a talent. The gal working in the front of house was fab too. She was on the ball and doing it all...hostess, server, bartender,etc. I had the scallops and WOW! The best I have ever tried. They had this lovely orange drizzle, and the cocktail was great too. Served with a smile, which is rare now a days. I will be recommending this place to anyone I know visiting Banff. Hats off to the staff and chef. Don't change a single thing.

Best in Banff. My favorite dining experience while in Banff. Interior is cozy, trendy and very comfortable. Food is original, with menu items you will never find anywhere else, and beyond delicious. Drink menu is diverse, with lots of refreshing options. And service is friendly and spot on. Everything makes for a great dining experience, and I will be sure to stop by the Block everytime i'm in banff.

Great service, cosy little place. Not touristy at all! Very share-able food, and fun cocktails. Go to there!

Best meal out I've had in a while and for a great price. Boyfriend and I split an order of duck spring rolls, lamb meatballs and split the lamb vindaloo entree. Probably the best vindaloo to ever grace my palate. Small, cozy resto - the kind where you end up chatting with your neighbours. Andy's service was great. Same with bearded Aussie on the bar and the kitchen wizard in the back of house who whipped up a dairy free lava cake with caramel ice cream and raspberry ganache on the very strict dessert demand of "surprise us."

Great atmosphere, fantastic food, beer and cocktails!!! One of our best meals out by far!!!

Amazing Food, Not Over Priced. This restaurant is small in size but the food and cocktails were awesome! I will definitely be back!

Great restuarant. Great food<br/>Great service<br/>Great atmosphere<br/>10/10! <br/>wish this restaurant was in my neighborhood.<br/>Just one thing, if you are looking to eat large amount of food I would not recommend this place.<br/>Their servings aren't for a full meal.<br/>I really liked the twist they put on each menu.

Small and modern place in Banff. The food was really good. The service was great. The server made a special drink and it was awesome. Had a really good experience here. I love this place.

By far my favourite restaurant in Banff. Delicious, hip, cozy, and reasonably priced. Best for groups of two.

Delicious and unique. Great food. Super for sharing -- meant could try more than one dish. Buffalo flatbread was absolutely delicious. My husband enjoyed the scallops and we shared the sticky pudding. Lots of options for vegetarians and others. <br/><br/>We would Definitely recommend this place to others. And we will be back.

Great joint for a couple beers in a start up atmosphere. Foods easy and good. Really glad this place is in Banff!

Very pleasant and knowledgable server and friendly assistant chef. All items we selected were wonderful and unique. Reasonable prices.

Best place in Banff!. Found this little gem in Banff while browsing Urbanspoon, and it's exactly the place I was looking for! It's a small restaurant with a nice interior, and excellent food! Everything I tried was so unique yet so delicious. I always end off the meal with the tiramisu creme brulee! I come here everytime I'm in Banff!

Although very small, this restaurant did not disappoint in service and quality of food. I had the pork belly lettuce wraps and my partner had the bison flatbread. We were both very satisfied with the flavor and presentation of our dishes. The price point for the quality of the food was very reasonable. We'll be back or sure.

My husband and I went to this restaurant only knowing that the reviews on Urban Spoon were pretty good. We had read about their bison burgers and how good they were. When we got there we were told it was on their lunch menu but not their dinner menu. But then our waiter said "no problem, we will do it for you". We are thankful because it was delicious. A delicious bison patty, not overcook, with a blueberry compote, grainy mustard, caramelized onions, brie and more on a ciabatta bun. The fries were great with just a touch of summac (spelling?). A good pint with it and that is all we needed! We loved it and will come back!

Block Caters to food sensitivities. I recently went to Block Kitchen and Bar with my daughters. My foodie daughter did some research beforehand ensuring that they would come up with something tasty for me. As I have some major food sensitivities (gluten, dairy, egg and corn), I was pleasantly surprised with the full course meal that they came up with, including a tasty dessert which I rarely get when eating out. They really surprised me and I have already booked them again. As a holistic nutritionist my standards are high and I prefer good quality foods. If you have food sensitivities, do give them a try although book in advance as it is a new with little seating.

Yummy. I went with a group of friends from work and we all agreed we would definitely return. The quality of the food was excellent and the atmosphere was trendy and cozy. The server was very enthusiastic and genuinely wanted us to have a good experience. Duck spring rolls and lamb are a must try!!

Awesome service, along with great lettuce wraps and a refreshing watermelon splash cocktail! Will recommend this to everyone!

Totally worth checking out!! Great burger and fries, very unique taste. It's a small place that has everything!!

Great tapas place. Just came into banff and found this place that apparently opened just two months ago. Ordered the chicken skewers, lamb kabob, and lettuce wraps. We absolutely loved it.

AMAZING. The food here is on a one way ticket to Flavourville!!!! I ate here three days in a row when I was on vacation and had the burger, the pork belly sandwich and the crispy chicken. All were very tasty and unique, they are all served on delicious multi-grain chiabatta buns, and I found out they are baked locally! This is a great little spot to have a bite to eat, or a few drinks, or both, their sandwiches are excellent.

Hidden Gem. We frequent banff a few times a year and we were surprised to see Block in the old Shakes space on Caribou. Intrigued, we tried them out for a late lunch. Block did not disappoint. I had the crispy chicken sandwich and my wife at the flatbread. The food was outstanding. I had the beer of the week - apparently they cycle their beers which I got a kick out of. Heather had the Watermelon Splash. I drank half of it. Really a great place. It wasnt that busy at the time so our server explained a little bit about the idea and the menu. We will definitely be back and wish them great success!

Fabulous Meal. Loved the Block. Went with my husband and son on our trip in July. We ate about 1/2 the menu and all the food was delicious. Even the lamb kabobs that we didn't order (which we ate anyway)!! Service was fantastic. Great ambiance. Good pricing. Would love to go there again some time. Called ahead and was told it wasn't too busy.

I have been to The block about 5-6 times since they've opened. I've waited until today to write a review because now I can say they are very consistent. <br/><br/>What pulled me in was some familiar faces but what won me over was the watermelon splash cocktail. It's a refreshing drink that isn't too sweet but allows the watermelon and cucumber to compliment each other. <br/>The renovations and decor are simple but well executed. It gives a vibe that appeals to everyone. From their organic beer to their also popular beers on tap. <br/>Another huge element to their constant rising success is their menu options for lunch and dinner. In the bottom right hand corner, it has a list of symbols that indicate which is vegetarian, vegan, ocean sustainable and glutton free. Again, making it easy for just anybody to come in and enjoy. <br/>So far I have tried the lamb skewer. The tzasiki was spot on and the meat was juicy and was not dry like I found it to be at many local locations. We also tried the Thai pork belly lettuce wraps. Again, the peanut sauce was amazing. All their sauces are made in house, right down to their sweet and fluffy techured ketchup. <br/>I went for lunch today and had the crispy chicken sandwich with fries. The fries were nicely seasoned. Normally I prefer them plain but they added some sweetness to it that I enjoyed. I asked to add avocado to the sandwich and it was an excellent decision. The sandwich would have been fine but in my opinion, it was needed.<br/>Having had worked with one of the cooks before, he was friendly and very happy. Ryan is and always has been very passionate about what he does and you can see that in the food he puts out. <br/>The main chef also came out to ask me what I thought and thanked me for returning as often as I have been with new people all the time. It is a great feeling to be appreciated by staff especially when you enjoy the great atmosphere and food. I plan to try everything on the menu at some point and hopefully they keep up this consistency with food and service! Check it out

Great little bar, excellent food! Im in love with the spicy mayo!!

Vacationers. We have been in Banff for a week and a bit now, and so far this was our favorite place we've been to. It wasn't open when we arrived in Banff but were lucky enough to experience this lovely place before we left. The menu had some amazing original items. I think we tried almost everything they had to offer. The gentleman taking care of us was wonderful. Even for a small place it was very busy. We watched him make our numerous amount of delicious cocktails, I think we tried everyone as well. Even when he was busy the other the other lovely ladies working stopped to see how we were doing and have a talk with us. I think the chef even brought us one of our dishes and we were thrilled to talk to the man behind the amazing creations. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and fantastic serves. Don't miss the gem if you're in Banff.

Banff's Newest Restaurant & Bar. The Block is the newest restaurant in town, so I was very excited to try it out. It did not disappoint! <br/>The food is amazing! I tried the Lettuce Wraps with Pork Belly and the Chicken Skewers, my boyfriend tried the Lamb Kebabs, Scallops, and the Tandoori Prawns. So much flavour throughout! The sauces compliment each dish very nicely. <br/>The cocktails are delicious too! The Watermelon Splash and the Prickly Pear were awesome... very refreshing! Such good value for 2oz drinks. <br/>Service was very good, the staff seem very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The food comes out scattered, which is to be expected with tapas style dining, but very timely. <br/>Overall a very enjoyable experience... I will definitely be back! Can't wait to try more items on the menu!

INCREDIBLE!. My husband and I have been in Banff for 6 days and this was by far the best dining experience. Our waitress was an exceptional young girl who knew her way around the menu and gave us a good laugh. She recommended the Steak tartar and scallops, both were absolute perfection. We finished the meal off with a deep fried banana roll, no question that this was one of the best deserts I've ever had. We must not look any further, the block will be a regular stop for the rest of our trip.

Visitor from Asia. I have been in Canada for only 2 weeks this trip, love Banff and was lucky to discover The Block. Delicious steak and wonderful service.

Wonderful discovery. Great food, good atmosphere, friendly service but not pretentious! We were told that they had just opened - we're thrilled to talk about this new restaurant! Worth coming to the BLOCK if you are in the area.

A new favorite. Amazing food, great service, intimate atmosphere. definitely recommend dessert and the fries are to die for

Really good food. Second day open! Very well organized, the waiter who served me was prompt and produced my food in under 10 minutes, the steak was done up quite nice in a peanut butter oil that brought out the smooth flavours in the dish. I had a side order of salad, my only complaint is that the bowl that the salad came in could have been larger. I mentioned this too them and they said that this would be taken under advisement. <br/><br/>Over all I'd give this restaurant a shot, amazing staff, great fusion food, affordable prices, great drink selection. Open late!

Block kitchen and bar. Great late night spot! Amazing food and drinks, friendly staff! Just an all around amazing experience! Definitely will be returning!

Food is excellent although I haven't tried much of it. The cocktail menu is tremendous I highly recommend the B&B. the service can be a little slow at times but it's worth the wait. Happy to have a new restaurant/bar in our little mountain town.

Checked out this new place sat on the patio great for people watching tried there spicy devil margaritas was told by the owner that the cocktail list was created by a bartender oversea s that won a world class bartender award the cocktail menu was very unique inside was cozy with lots tv s next time I go I wana try the pork belly sand

Gluten free options, Intimate and trendy atmosphere!. Block is a new restaurant in Banff offering an intimate, trendy atmosphere. The decor, menus and signage is awesome! <br/><br/>The drinks menu included cocktails, beers, wine and hard liquor. The only drink missing was Cider, but the owner assures me this will be there shortly!<br/><br/>The food menu had lots to offer including appetizers from $4! As a coeliac, eating out can be difficult, but this restaurant has many options, which is always a pleasant surprise!<br/><br/>After our dinner, we headed out to the other bars, ending up back at Block for the relaxed atmosphere.

I recently visited Banff and decided to try the Block kitchen and wine bar as it recently just opened! The burger was AMAZING and our server was so attentive, thorough, and knew so much about the wines! This is definitely my new favourite restaurant in Banff and I will be back every time I come for a visit! XO

Have been waiting in anticipation for the opening of this gorgeous wine and tapas bar. Let's just say we were not disappointed. If you want to quench your thirst on a hot day the watermelon splash is just the ticket, comes w an awesome wedge of fresh watermelon. Food was amazing, very impressed with the sauces! The block is absolutely nailing it, a must when in Banff

What service?. Great concept was really excited about arriving in banff. Food was good but over priced in comparison to quality and quantity you can receive at other great local spots in the bow valley. Wouldn't have been as disappointed at that factor had we received any level of service. Our server was only looking after two other couples and yet we waited for menus, to order a drink, again for food order even though we were ready by the time he finally came around for our drink order. <br/>The food came out in a timely manner and he did a quality check. Which was great but that was the last we saw of him. No follow up, no offer for anything further, no eye contact for a chance to get his attention, no bill. Waited at an empty table for 20 min before finally walking out (we did calculate our bill and leave cash) right past him actually without him even batting an eye that one of his unbilled tables just left. <br/>Will not be returning. Rather, supporting the other local businesses. <br/>New is no excuse for an unattentive server.

I managed to secure a reservation for 8 pm and we sat at the wood and enjoyed some really good tapas together. So glad that we ended up securing a good spot since it was too cold to wander around looking for a restaurant that would accommodate us.  This was EXACTLY what we felt like eating instead of a big entree.. Sharing is the best! Here is what we had... P.S. Can't wait for a drink soon... Christmas and New Years was definitely the hardest part of being pregnant and not drinking thus far surprisingly: Cocktail menu displayed on a "block" of wood It was a super tiny restaurant with a bar that could fit about six people and the capacity to fit around 20-25 people seated. Meat and cheese board to start with a really great aged cheddar, creamy blue cheese, brie and a German cheese that was really flavorful. There were caramelized onions for the sweet component and in the far right an olive and sundried tomato tapanade with a selection of salami, prosciutto and a rilllete. There was a separate bowl of crostini that they even replenished for us. I loved the gorgeous presentation of this charcuterie board and that there were exactly two/four pieces of cheese or meat so there was no need to have a food fight.  We were on the fence about a few dishes to share a