Review River Cafe - Calgary

One of our favorite brunch places when we are in town. The menu is seasonal, so choices remain fresh. Food was delicious. Just be aware that they charge $1 per person for either sparkling or still water, so come thirsty my friends!

The best decision we made for our wedding was booking with River cafe. The planning process with them even during the covid19 pandemic was fantastic! June and the team went above and beyond, and helped us with some of our personal requests which they carried out perfectly. The venue is a beautiful location for any private and intimate event. The staff & experience at river cafe on the night of the wedding was amazing. Everything was on time & handled expectionally. They had more than enough staff to make sure a full venue with plated dinner was served within a few minutes after the head table. They kept in constant communication with us throughout the night and went above and beyond to make sure we were having a night we could never forget. The quality of food and drinks were fantastic! Everything was truly perfect. Even now we still have our family and friends rave about how amazing and how much they enjoyed the food, staff and atmosphere of river cafe. If we could give above 5 stars for our review we would. Thank you to the team at River cafe for making the most important day of our lives so special to us!!

Delicious food, impeccable service, wonderful all round experience. Cozy and inviting atmosphere, waitress was attentive without being overbearing. The oysters were some of the best I've ever had, octopus salad was delicious though I would have liked it a little lighter on the sauce to be able to taste the octopus more. Meat dishes were cooked perfectly with well though out accompaniments. Left feeling warm, satisfied and relaxed.

Location is beautiful and the service was quite quick. They sit 3 people at a 2 person table which is tight. Ordered the pastry trio but they forgot to bring out the jam and butter. Unfortunately my cutlery had lip stick stains on it. Presentation of the food is not impressive; however, the eggs Benedict was delicious. Overall, I feel like River Cafe is a hit or miss based on the season.

We went for Sunday brunch . We ordered smoked salmon sandwiches and several other dishes . Everything fast great . All dishes were presented well and taste great . We also tried dessert . It was tasty to. The menu has variety Great staff and amazing ambience . A perfect place to enjoy some nature while dining . Its located perfectly in the Prince Island Park. There is quite a distance to walk. So.for.those who have mobility issues , visiting here will be challenging . The closest entrance to the restaurant is the Eue Clair Market

Food was good. Service was not up to expectations at all.The server we had was slow and inattentive. One example, we ordered desserts to share. She didn’t bring side plates and we have to request twice😱 also she made an unfriendly comments at the end. It made all of us very uncomfortable. Dining experience not just about food quality, atmosphere, it should be a full package to make it a great night——service plays a big part of it.

Had a great experience at River Cafe! It is a place definitely worth considering especially when looking to celebrate an important event or occasion. We had the tasting menu ($110 per person) and they did an excellent job with the flavors of each of the 6 courses. Some aspects such as the broccoli puree with the arctic char were on the slightly saltier side. Presentations/plating was pretty and pleasing to look at. The patio views are beautiful and the ambience is just relaxing! It is a place to come back for a drink to just chat and enjoy the sights on another day!

We enjoyed the experience in River Café, the food was delicious (a bit costly), but for the celebration or some occasion you would pay for it, cause it is really worth it. We had lamb and tenderloin and it was phenomenal, staff was attentive and friendly and the atmosphere was also great and Iike the location of this restaurant. Not that busy for Friday evening, so not too much busy and the server paid attention to us just nicely. 🍗🥩🍽🍸

Love the ambiance of this restaurant. The food was amazing and the staff was fantastic. It was a bit of a walk but very romantic with all of the christmas lights. This is location great for romantic dates, friends and business meals. Highly recommend checking it out!

Went here for our wedding anniversary. To be honest, the place did not live up to our expectations or to its reputation. It might’ve been great a decade ago, but these days there are simply too many much better options in Calgary. The food presentation is beautiful, but the flavours are absolutely nothing to write home about. I am not 100% sure what my beautiful halibut was crusted in, but it tasted like cheap cornmeal which ruined the flavour of the whole dish.

I've the views and the ambiance of having a Sunday brunch here on a good day in the park. Service is excellent. The food was good just a bit on the pricey side for it's worth.

Been wanting to come here for quite some time, and finally had the chance! Such a great spot, and the perfect little walk to get there. I had the duck, which was absolutely divine! Along with a glass of prosecco. Others had the burger and pies. Really lovely atmosphere, with big windows to let in the sun. Can't wait to be back for some more amazing food.

Considering the price, the food is not that great, but good. Food presentation is not up to my expectation for an upscale restaurant. My husband had "hog wild boar" and I had halibut, I prefer his dish to mine. Service was good.

The food is consistently amazing at this restaurant but the servers seem robotic. And I've experienced this on more than one occasion and have heard it from other friends. The servers need to be more friendly, more engaging, get to know the people eating (if that's the vibe they're putting out) and generally just create a whole experience beyond just the food. I have not seen anyone capable of doing this at the River Cafe. It's unfortunate.

Came here with a coupe buddy for an early dinner I have never been here before & it is a beautiful spot on princess island park. I got the early dinner special for $31 this weekends was red lentil hummus with canola seed flat bread & duck confit with oyster mushrooms, beets & barley. The hummus was delicious great flavour & when you add the roasted garlic with it on the flat bread was amazing. The duck confit was good but could have been better but the beets were delicious & the barley was amazing I so wish I had the recipe was so good.

We went to River Cafe for Big Taste Gourmet menu and it was really good. The dishes are well thought out. The fusion of sauces, vegetable and protein was very smart. Some dishes I enjoyed more than others but none were terrible. I particularly enjoyed <br/>Course 3:<br/>Pacific Ling Cod, Fairwinds Goat Feta, Apple, Endive, Spruce & Herb Emulsion, Walnut<br/>COURSE 4<br/>Naturally Raised Beef, Wood Grilled Delicata Squash, Stone-Ground Cornmeal, Buttermilk<br/>COURSE 5<br/>Preserved Okanagan Cherry Parfait, Crystallized Cocoa Nib, Lemon Balm<br/><br/>These were well infused dishes so I commend the creative chef(s).<br/><br/>Atmosphere is beautiful, you feel like you are in the mountains. You get a blanket to cozy up with. The place is clean, washrooms are nice, service was good, coat check gal was great...I'd go back!

My fiance took me here for our anniversary (02/17/2017), and it was flawless. Our server, Ethan, was polite, animated and engaging while maintaining a professional, knowledgable presence. He really made our night. We'd been before just for a snack and drink, but the whole experience was more than worth the price.<br/><br/>We started with the fish and game board, plus six east coast oysters. My fiance got the duck (which he loved) and I got the daily feature (hand harvested clams with an amazing broth and baguette) which was succulent! We ended the experience with the pavlova which we had so much fun busting up and enjoying together.  They also end every experience with amazing little chocolate logs (if you've been before, they are reminiscent of the chocolate balls they used to sell as a feature dessert) which were rich and flavourful.<br/> <br/>Such a magical night, elevated by the beautiful scenery,  the calming atmosphere and our server's brilliants. <br/>Thank you, River Cafe!

If Michelin rated Canadian restaurants, River Cafe would surely be considered for a star or two. Their consistency, service, and inventive dishes always makes this a treat for Calgarians and visitors to Alberta. They always have staple menu dishes like bison and boar, and they know how to do it right every time!

I love everything about River Cafe - the food, service, environment, and cool factor. If you haven't tried it, try it! It is on the expensive side, but that's what a good restaurant is all about.

This is a really beautiful restaurant with a calm and warm atmosphere. Looking out at the snow incased wonderland of Princes Island Park added to the peaceful ambience. We shared the appetizer of beef tar tar atop some freshly made artisan bread. It was really delicious, with combined layers of flavour of the radish, mustard seed and Saskatoon berries. <br/><br/>For our main we both decided on the wild boar with vegetables. When I first tasted the potato mash I found it a tad salty, but quickly found that having this as a base to combine in mouthfuls of your other items was quite tasteful. I never needed to add salt to the meat and veg because the salty mash counteracted that. The veggies were lovely - squash and a carrot medley. I LOVED the squash. It was roasted to perfection so that you could eat the skin as well. The boar was good, but could have been more "melt in your mouth". <br/><br/>Service was wonderful. The host that seated us was very gracious and our waitress was the perfect balance of attentive and professional. <br/><br/>

Our friend who lives in Calgary was really excited to bring us to this special restaurant. We wanted to go for lunch so I could try a bison burger (bison isn't available in South Africa), but we ended up going for dinner instead and sadly the dinner menu was totally different to the lunch menu. The options were quite limited but there were a few options that looked lovely. My mom and I had the wild boar and our friends had the trout and the sharing board. To be honest the food was pleasant, but not mind blowing and definitely not worth the crazy expensive prices. $45 for a pork loin with vegetables is really exorbitant. <br/>The setting is gorgeous though - stunning decor, views of the river and island. And the service is very good. I'd recommend coming here for a light lunch and I'd come back for that.

I am born and raised in Calgary and travelled extensively in Europe, United States, China, Japan, Taiwan, etc. sampling different type of restaurant and cuisines.  <br/>Going to the River cafe was the biggest disappointment in my life.  I went into the restaurant at lunch, hungry and ready to dine on some fine local cuisine.  Instead, the waitress told me that there was a two hour wait time and there would be no room for 1.  She didn't offer to waitlist me or ask me if I wanted take-out, she pointed me to the door.  <br/><br/>If you go there, prepare to be as disappointed as I was.  Worst service experience ever.  I have left feedback with management on facebook a year ago - no response.  Calgary Tower, Catch, Saltlik, Anju, etc. are all restaurants where I've received better service.  Can't rate the food because I didn't get in the door.

It wasn't bad! service was a little lacking the food was presented well but needed more flavour. Great dishes on the menu! The atmosphere was cluttered and we weren't quite sure what it was they were going for with the decor.

I have been here twice now. Once for lunch and then once for dinner. The service was slow both times, so if you were in a rush I wouldn't recommend it but if you had time and wanted a meal to catch up with someone with this is the place to go. The food they make is absolutely amazing. I have had entrees and desserts both amazing. Their wine list is great as well. Also their food presentation is incredible too!

Went here for the first time during Big Taste YYC 2016 and the experience was okay... nothing too stellar. Also, our server was a bit arrogant or snotty and that's a big no-no. Food was great and at that time I thought of coming back to try their regular menu someday.<br/><br/>Went back here tonight to celebrate my parents' anniversary.. and I am not too happy with the experience and the food. We were seated on the patio and I must say it had a nice atmosphere. I ordered the Halibut & Pork Belly. The fish was cooked very well, even the pork, but overall the dish was a bit salty. I had the Rice Pudding for dessert and it wasn't as good as I thought. This place is very hyped up (kudos to your marketing team) but it didn't meet my expectations.

River Cafe is currently my favourite restaurants in Calgary. I have dined here a few times, and every time has been an experience I have savoured. The flavour pairings are impeccable. The ambiance is quaint and romantic- rustic and dimly lit as though you have stumbled upon an enchanted garden. Incredible dining experience!

We came to the river cafe yesterday after hearing many great reviews of the food, service, and ambience. The location is beautiful and the restaurant itself is lovely and inviting. However, that was the only selling feature for us. Even though the restaurant was not close to being full service was incredibly slow. Our waiter never asked how the food was until we finished, and we waited 45 minutes before being offered the bill after our desert was cleared. Unfortunately, my food left little to be desired. I ordered the halibut and had to sub for the pork belly as I don't eat pork. The staff was accommodating and replaced the pork with salmon roe. Sadly, the dish was extremely salty and the vegetables felt very under cooked. I left more than half of my food and there was no effort to determine why I didn't enjoy my meal, or how this could be rectified. My boyfriend had the pork loin and enjoyed it very much. It looked very tasty. We then had dessert. I was thrilled to see rice pudding on the menu (one of my favourites). However, it was cold, covered in a hard sugar crust and the best part was the uncooked blue berries. <br/><br/>Finally, the ladies bathroom was a mess. There was soapy water all over the counter and the paper towels were over flowing from the bin. It looked like no one had checked on it in quite some time. <br/><br/>Great views, mediocre food, poor service, high price tag.

You cannot get a better location for fine dinning in Calgary. Right next to the turquoise Bow River on Prince's Island Park, you are nestled right in beautiful picturesque Calgary landscape - and Calgary is not the prettiest of cities to visit in Canada. So come here if you are a tourist if you're wanting to experience the best of Calgary!<br/><br/>I've dined here a couple times now. After perusing Instagram for the best brunch spots in Calgary, I decided to come here for their weekend brunch this time. I ordered their hog wild boar ham, which is a poached duck egg dish accompanied by asparagus, and a large portion of boar ham. A nice exotic twist on a traditional dish. The cuisine here is generally pretty creative. <br/><br/>Everything I have tried here is yummy. If you're a foodie definitely bookmark this place and visit for on a nice snowy or sunny day (sit on their patio). You'll feel super outdoorsy and fancy at the same time.

Continue to believe that this little gem is one of Calgary's finest place to eat. Amazing ambience, great menu & beautifully presented / prepared food. <br/>

So, we're walking in Princess Island Park...sunny day. "Hey, isn't that the River Cafe?" So, we get the last table on the patio. "I hope the food's good." Then some rose`. "Let's try the red lentil humus." Then the halibut arrived. Waiter asks how the food was. "Is spiritual too strong?" "Perhaps replies the waiter." And so it went. My tan improved. The food was fantastic, and the wine was like drinking summer. We will be back.

I was looking forward to a nice dinner with my daughter last night at the River Cafe, it was a special occasion.  She was taking me to dinner.  Beautiful evening by the river in downtown Calgary.  We ordered the lamb dish for our main course.  Sadly the lamb was disgusting, it was a lump of fat covered up with brown coloured sauce.  I literally had nightmares about the dish, it didn't even taste like lamb.  Of course we sent it back and explained that it was terrible to pass this off as lamb.  Thankfully they did not charge us for the dish.  But really what were they thinking?  I have eaten there many times before and loved the restaurant, that is why I am writing this review, please never pass this garbage off on customers again or you will loose all of them. -0 rating for that experience.

Part of the Big Taste Foodie Festival held by the Calgary Downtown Association, River Cafe offered a $15 three-course lunch!. Located by the river on Prince's Island Park, River Cafe cooks up Canadian cuisine using fresh local ingredients. It has a rustic interior and it a great spot to catch up with a friend over brunch.

I’ve been wanting to try River Café for a looooooong time. Located right in the middle of Prince’s Island Park, it’s the perfect spot to drop by after a nice, leisurely walk around the park. When I saw their menu on Big Taste, I was even more intrigued and knew I had to try them out.

We dined at River Cafe for Big Taste. The restaurant offered an exquisite fine dining experience with exceptional food, service and hospitality. The $15 prix fixe lunch featured ground lamb, seared tuna and oatmeal cookies. Each was prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The meal was not only a great deal but also the perfect introduction to seasonal Canadian cuisine. We loved it and no doubt we will be back to River Cafe in no time!

We all love brunch. An excuse for us to sleep in a little bit and enjoy delicious food afterwards. As part of the Big Taste Festival, the 5th stop is River Cafe. I always loved River Cafe. A quaint little cottage-looking building on Prince’s Island. Q and I had our first date in Calgary at River Cafe so going back each time is always nostalgic and reminiscing.

Finally got to visit river cafe!<br/>To be honest expected more then what it really was.<br/>Service was good but the food was ok.<br/>Its a place i would want to try again but for now its an ok restaurant

I have always enjoyed my visits at River Café. A major part of the experience is the short walk through Prince’s Island Park just to get to the restaurant, enjoying the view of downtown and the river (or the bright lights strung at night). In this case, it was a late evening (8pm) on a Thursday night, and the restaurant was in full swing. The restaurant was packed, exactly what I expect a popular restaurant in Calgary to be like during Big Taste YYC week. I came for dinner with my family, and the service was exceptional, our server was attentive, and the food was great! Though the portions may be smaller and the regular prices are on the higher end, River Café is great about sourcing seasonal and local ingredients of great quality.

At last!  John and I finally made our way to River Cafe for the first time!  It was Valentine’s Day and John wanted to take me out for Brunch. River Cafe always has a new menu as the seasons change, so get these while they’re still there!. House Cured Duck Prosciutto and Beets- Cheesiry Pecorino, Highwood Crossing Oat

My wife and I had an early Valentines dinner on the 13th and had always wanted to try the River, we were greeted promptly and seated, the back drop is really nice and the place has a very rustic feel to it, the waiter while kind of polite had an arrogant air about him and he came across kind of snotty throughout the dinner, my wife had a butter lettuce salad and she said it was good, I had the Leek and Grain soup, it was very sub par and Luke warm, for 18 bucks I expected at least a hot product, My wife had the Ling Cod on Risotto and I had the Trout on stewed Beans, overall my wife thought it was OK and I thought my trout was disgusting and flavourless, it had the consistency of a Luke warm wet fishy smelling sponge,the bean stew was okay but the whole works was quite tasteless, the apple desert was OK but the overall impression wasn't good, I may wait anther 15 years to go back

Located at Prince's Island Park, beautiful backdrop for this unique treasure in Calgary. No matter the season you are surrounded by nature & it is hard to believe you so close to the downtown core. The lay out gives you a nearly 360° view of the island park. Highly recommend choosing a cold winter day to experience brunch at this gem. You'll be bundled up, walking through the park in can't feel your face kind of cold to be greeted with warmth & excellent service. As you sip delicious coffee to thaw your lips & hands, take in the silent snowy landscape. They can make adjustments for allergies or preferences. You will leave satisfied & filled, no food coma here as the quality of food is just so spot on. Why not give a try!

We were there around Christmas time and honestly the place had a magical fairytale feel to it. It is located right in the park, so be prepared for a short walk from your car.<br/>Once you are inside you are treated to the atmosphere of the cosiest kind with stone and wood walls and beams and real wood burning fireplaces.<br/><br/>The service was impeccable and the waiter told us that they make everything from scratch right there on the premises.<br/><br/>This is a real Calgary gem, and everyone should have the privilege to experience it.

Delicious!! Best calamari I have ever had. Great wine menu. Beautiful interior! I want to get married at River Cafe! Absolutely loved everything about it!

Came here for a staff Christmas dinner last night and I can surely say that I left there very very happy. <br/>I had the tuna and pork belly, to be honest it had some odd flavors but tasted well. <br/>The tuna was the best part of that dish, it was cooked rare and done so well I don't think I can have tuna any other way now.<br/>To be honest the apple cobbler was only okay, the ice cream served with it was really good.<br/>At the end we all have coffee, hot chocolate and cappuccinos, I normally don't like cappuccinos but this one was just so perfect. <br/>The only bad thing about this restaurant I can say is that my partner thinks the portion sizes are too small, and during winter it becomes a cold adventure to get to the restaurant. <br/>Ita a beautiful walk on the way there if the weather isn't

I have now been here 4 times. EVERY SINGLE time i have disgusting, snotty service by some short tempered waiter who complains about being over worked. Find a new restaurant to work at. The food today...again putrid. I had the sirloin with a potato puree that tasted like dirty dish water with about the same consistency. Get it together River Cafe...I cannot believe how many people were also complaining at surrounding tables. Brutal food and service. An absolute joke for such a great atmosphere. Lipstick on a pig....period.

A very mediocre restaurant in a beautiful location. Having twice dined at The River Cafe, we have been disappointed twice. The first time in July of 2014 the service was awful. The second time was September 2015 when some of the food was burnt and spoiled the taste. Such a waste of a lovely setting. They need better restaurant management.

Exceptional service, amazing food. We had a business dinner here and they treated us like kings. The staff are so professional and courteous. Beautiful rustic decor inside and out on the patio. I had the chicken and veg and it was truly one of the most balanced best tasting meals I have had in Calgary. A perfect evening, sitting out on the patio with amazing views of downtown.

nice place to spend time with girls in the afternoon!! the food was good! and services was great! i recommended the fruit sorbet. it  was so refreshing!

Situated on Prince's Island, this is a treat! Beer on the patio on the afternoon between a bike ride. Or lunch and dinner if you can afford to drop a pretty penny- my favorite is the candied trout.

I love how this place looks in the middle of the park. Perfect for walking around before or after your meal. <br/><br/>I've only been for brunch and the food was pretty good. The little pastry basket was good for sharing. The eggs benedict was good, except that I asked for my egg to be soft and one came out completely hard. The server apologized though and service was amazing. Tiramisu was good but nothing amazing that I would go back for. The chocolate tart was good, and the fruit sorbet was so refreshing, I would recommend. The drinks were refreshing and nice on the patio, but nothing to write home about. Mixed feelings about the food depending on the dish, but I would definitely be willing to go back and try for dinner.

Love starting off with a small walk to the restaurant. It's a beautiful restaurant in a middle of a park. They have wonderful specials. I don't come here often but when I do, I'm always reminded why I enjoy it there. The servers are happy and informative. Food quality is superb. The decor is traditional cabin yet modern. And to finish off dinner with a walk along the bow! Great place for a date guys!

Really nice place to visit, the service was great, the location is unique, and the food was good, definitely will visit again, specially when the weather is great to sit outside

The interior and the atmosphere of river Cafe is superb. However, the brunch that I ordered was lacking tremendously. It was nothing special. I have heard different things about their dinner menu though. I will have to try and come back for that one day.

I hate to give this review but this place is about a 50/50 and not on the good side. Location, menu and ambiance, amazing. Service, wine and water service, execution of food, terrible. Service was 4/10, she had too large a section and took forever for everything. Burger had a big piece of plastic so we sent it back and asked for a to-go, what we got was a box with a sticker. The sticker was well placed as we didn't open the box until we got home.. Much to our surprise finding the same half eaten burger patty with chucks of others. Disgusting and a disgrace.

I have only been here once and it was for Big Taste. I have always walked by river cafe when i'm down at Princes Island Park. I love that it has the rustic look and the inside feels like you are in banff. The only thing that deterred me from trying this place before was the price. It is on the expensive side, but during Big Taste, it was definitely worth it. One of my favourite dishes for the big taste was the Octopus dish. I love grilled octopus so i had to try this dish. It was sooo tasty and it came with crispy pork belly as well. <br/>I enjoyed my experience here and will go back again, probably during big taste :)

Great night out!<br/>Went for my girlfriends birthday dinner and we did the chefs menu... Every course was amazing! The wine pairing were excellent and the staff were helpful, friendly and knowledgeable when ever course came. <br/>It's such a great location and such a wonderful place to have a special evening out.<br/>Will be going back there for the regular menu soon!

Set in the middle of Prince’s Island Park, this little restaurant has a rustic setting, surrounded by large trees and flower bushes. Our reservation was quite late, and as we walked down the path to our destination, the sun was setting and the antique-like pathway lights were beginning to turn on.

Very rustic and romantic ambience. I went on a warm day, and sat outside on the patio and could hear the sound of the river and the birds. Great view and amazing food.

Always enjoy my experience with River Cafe, great food, great service! One of a kind in Calgary. I will definitely come back for another great meal!

Beautiful and divine ambiance and surrounding but.... The food is bad. Service is great. This place is a great place to impress your date because the ambiance is very romantic and you'll forgive The River Cafe for bad food.

Romantic, Romantic, Romantic.... What more can be said about about the Cafe?<br/><br/>I suppose that if you ever wanted to define what fine Canadian cuisine, as many Canadian's do, this will be your best start on your journey.<br/><br/>My wife and I of ten years spent one of our first Valentine's day supper there. I still remember the warm service and fabulous food as vibrantly as I do the short lamplit stroll to and from this quaint rustic Canadienne cottage on the bow. Fresh game and fish - perfectly seared. Lovely people and ambiance. Forget an anniversary? Make a reservation at the Cafe.

Since you do not respond to my inquiries via e-mail.. Diners beware - horrific experience for the price I paid. They have not responded to my emails I hve sent them regarding this experience so hopefully they will see it here.<br/><br/>I recently took my mother and grandma to your restaurant to celebrate a belated birthday and early mothers day. They are new to western cuisine and typically stay within their realm of comfort when it comes to restaurants and they recently told me they feel intimidated and afraid to try new places with limited proficiency in english. I promised to take them to a restaurant with impeccable service and great food which is what I thought I was getting when I suggested to visit your restaurant. I was wrong, very very wrong. We sat at our table on the patio for 35 minutes with dirty dishes and not ONE visit from our server (the table beside us was visited frequently by their server and they even turned on the heat lamp for them and offered them blankets which was unfortunately not offered to us as it was getting cold.) My guests inquired as to why we were not waited on or offered such services and felt simply ignored, neglected, and ultimately forgotten about. When I inquired with the manager he simply said he will bring dessert menus over immediately which he did but with no follow up. We sat a while again in the cold awaiting once again for curt service from our server. What infuriates me most is that my guests felt ignored and treated unfairly and ultimately self concious of the fact their english is poor and that is why they are receiving such poor service. I am writing this not to accuse our server but in hopes your management are aware of the service you are providing to people and the guests persepcitve in such situations. To treat all guests the same and ensure their experience is consistent with what your brand and restaurant stands for. I for one will now stop bringing family, friends, or clients of my business to your establishment in fear that they will be treated poorly due to their appearance or what you perceive them to be.

Had a great lunch. The food was delicious, the service was superb, the environment was rustic and beautiful!

One of the best meals I've ever had was at River Cafe. Expensive menu, yes, but definitely worth the splurge. I decided to give it a try during Big Taste 2014 and was SO impressed. I went again this year for Big Taste 2015 and it was just as memorable. My friends have recommended going for brunch so that will be my next thing!

My hubby and I prefer to celebrate Valentine’s a few days in advance to avoid the busyness of restaurants and the set menus. This year we chose River Cafe, because we always have enjoyed its cozy and romantic charm. We surprised ourselves by ordering from the Valentines set menu, as they were serving this before the festive day began... This was such an enjoyable and special evening for us at River Cafe, always a place we will return to when craving the warm and wholesome offerings.

Was not worth it. We took our daughter and her boyfriend for dinner at 6:30. One of the specials was already gone, and the service was mediocre. Over priced for what we got. We had dinner for $600.00 (with 2 bottles of wine). They have a nice wine list but wanted to serve my nice red wine in the same small glass for the white. My filet was tasty and COLD. The server was to bring back butter and we waited and waited and waited and finally had to ask her for it, as my daughter's boyfriend's piece of bread sat lonely on his plate.<br/>The presentation is nice, but overall for the cost I will not go back. Wonder how it made it on the top 10 list.

Outstanding. I can't say a bad thing about this place. They source out local and fresh food. Provide excellent service and the ambiance is top notch. It's a little pricey, but considering that you get healthy, stellar cooked food with great views, this place is a total gem and worth visiting, again and again.

It was a Fancy lunch for five people!. Good choice menu! Each dish arrangement on a plate was beautiful and unique! Unforgettable taste! What a talented chef!

I love the atmosphere of this place. I love how they decorated their restaurant with boats, and mason jars. However the food was really bad. The soup was gross. The seafood plate was not good - it was too creamy and bland. The steak was okay but not outstanding. It made me want fountain pop as I was eating there. The drinks were good though. Coffe was good and the apple cider was really good.

Nice place for a summerdays. I enjoy walking to the island on a summer's day and sitting on this restaurant's patio. great way to spend a warm sunny day. food is good as is the service.

Great date spot. Went there for dinner on the weekend and loved it!

Not trying to be a hater...but.... We went in for a date night on a Sunday and had a less than desirable experience. Being two individuals who work in the industry we had heard nothing but high praise whenever the River Cafe was brought up. We had had a great brunch experience, which fuelled the desire to try out the acclaimed dinner menu. Upon arrival the hostess was short and unmotivated. The server came in hot, and with a lack of introduction, tried to get the ball rolling. We let her know we were not in a rush and wanted to make a night out of it. She was extremely persistent on us getting our orders in even though it was not busy, we had specifically made an early reservation and communicated we were in no hurry. Placed our orders (beef striploin), 10 minutes later food came out, visually stunning but seriously lacking in the flavour department. At the end of the day it comes down to bang for your buck. At $50 an entree we should not be walking out wanting more and we unfortunately experienced this feeling on all fronts. However, the wine and setting were stellar! In a nutshell, the server and the meal did not live up to the reputation. Spending $300+ on a night out, you should hit all the bases and head home.

Food was average and so was the service!!!. Went into today for the weekend brunch. Young hostess took a few minutes to seat us down outside. Waitress came with short blonde bob. Offered us still or sparkling water and the menu. She came back with the water and told us the specials. We ordered the classic with maple bacon, potato roast, toast and eggs. The food came and it was average even with their special made sauces-strawberry jam and tomato ketchup. My potatoes some were so crispy I could of broke a tooth on it and the eggs were bland and more runny than I like and the bacon had a weird after taste. Once we got our food, waitress came back once to check and once we finished. 10 minutes go by. No one. Then a guy cam and cleared our plates. Another 10 min for the bill. Everything was very average from food to service. For this price go to Teatro or Sheraton buffet downtown.

Wonderful Meal today. Went for lunch today and had the feature which was hog wild boar loin, ancient grain porchini risoto, hazelnut gremolata, pickled currants, forno roasted radish, cornbread. It was very good, particularly enjoyed the currents and the radish as I have never had them before. It was warm and sunny and a pleasure to eat at the River café. Service was good, perfect pace not rushed. Also enjoyed deserts. Tried Milk Chocolate Pot de Crème, Almond Florentine, with BC Cherries which was luscious. Also had Highwood Crossing Canola Cake, Poached Rhubarb, Ginger Ice Cream. It was a wonderful combination. Home made ice cream was very good. Have been many times in the past for business lunches and River Café is still one of the best restaurants in Calgary.

Artful, locally-sourced food in a beautiful setting. I've been to the River Cafe a few times now and never been disappointed with my food, beverage, or service. That said, I knew what to expect in terms of portion sizes. This is not your corner diner. The River Cafe beautifully presents the dishes, and quite frankly, I find the portion sizes just perfect (I'm female). On a nice sunny day, the patio at the River Cafe under an umbrella is as good as it gets!

Best restaurant in Calgary. Hands down, a personal favourite. Although expensive the food is always amazing and the service is second to none. I also appreciate the wine selection at River Cafe as it is the only restaurant in town I know of that has the Okanagan Tantalus Riesling on the menu (an amazing wine). With free corkage on sundays it is a great spot to enjoy a bottle of wine and an early afternoon dinner on the beautiful patio in the summer.

Lovely all around. We made reservations here for our 1st wedding anniversary. <br/>When we arrived we were greeted with "congratulations" and Prosecco on the house. They staff were so kind and attentive and the food was gorgeous and delicious.<br/>Yes, the price is a bit higher- but you're paying for the whole overall experience too.<br/><br/>Loved it. Will go again and again.

River cafe. Asian inspired dishes in a cabin-like environment. Soy or miso based dishes. great presentation yet not the greatest taste for its price. I do like the fresh oysters! lots of dessert menu choices as well. Their house coffee was horrible!

Lovely Atmosphere, But not the Food.... The location, decor, and whole atmosphere of River Cafe is so inviting, cozy, and beautiful which I really loved. <br/><br/>Unfortunately the food, was extremely lacking. I ordered the pork chop and my friend ordered the striploin. However the pork was extremely undercooked to the point where it was pink and wet in some places, while the striploin was very overcooked and resembled beef jerky; they were garnished with similar salads with a few pieces of arugula, few pieces of fruit or something, and drizzle of sauce. The food also took a long time to come out. I don't mind paying more money for good food, but when the pork dish was $40 and the striploin $50, I expected so much more... A lady came over (I'm presuming the manager or owner) and she saw that I barely touched my pork and asked what was wrong, and she acknowledged that the pork was very rare too; I was offered another dish and the pork was taken off the bill. <br/><br/>Another negative was that when I first stepped into the restaurant, probably 3-4 servers and even the hostess saw me and made eye contact, but nobody even acknowledged me. I waited about 2-3 minutes before the hostess even came over, and greeted me in an apathetic and disinterested manner. <br/><br/>All in all, I would love to come back, but don't know if I can give them another chance with the prices.

Great Evening on the Patio. Had a fantastic evening on River Cafe's patio. Highly recommend the Fish and Game Board.

My fiancee and I stopped by the river cafe while on a walk through beautiful princes island park. We decided on the fish and game board and the Jolie farm rose wine. The board came in good enough time, 15-20 min, and looked delicious, but our wine hadn't arrived yet so we waited to try anything. The waitress came to our table 5-10 minutes later (so now we are nearly the 30 minute mark) to tell us they were still looking for our bottle in their cellars. We were still staring at this platter, not having a bite until we had our wine. 5-10 minutes after that the waitress told us they couldn't find it. We asked her to have the manager suggest something similar that they did have while we looked again at the wine menu. When she returned (were now talking 45-60min) my fiancee had chose a different bottle and she promised it right away. Still staring at our food... <br/>when the waitress came back another 5 or 10 minutes later she promised the wine was coming. We discussed the possibility that this one would not bw found as well and were hoping to see a manager approach us with some kind of substitute/compensation. The third and final time the waitress came back regarding our second bottle of wine, she told us they still couldn't find the bottle and they were calling the sommelier. <br/>At this point we had been sitting there with only water, and an untouched platter of food on our tbale for over an hour and a half. We told her not to bother and we were going to leave and try somewhere else. We assured her thjs was not her fault, at which point she asked if we would like to see the manager. I had to laugh, and my fiancee politely declined. We expected to see a manager over an hour ago.<br/>so we cant speak to the food, the water was fine. The server was polite, but the management seems non-existent and the wine selection is obviously a total disaster. <br/>We will never waste our time at the river cafe again and would never recommend it to anyone.

River Cafe is Super. Great food, service, drinks, and views!

Good start to any day. Wanted to try this place out for the location. Great decision. Maybe not the biggest breakfast in teems of portion size but an exceptionally tau meal. perfectly cooked poached eggs. tasty elk bacon. creamy hollandaise sauce. A few more potatoes and this dish would be perfect

Lovely spot for brunch. Nice brunch in the park, service was great food was even better and can't beat the ambience. Will be back for more!

A Perfect Spot. I have wanted to eat here for years now but never quite made it.<br/>The decor is kind of old, upscale fishing lodge. The foods is prepared with a great deal of skill and imagination.<br/>It was a perfect spot for our Easter Sunday meal.<br/>No question, I will be back.

Spectacular. Words cannot describe my amazing experience here! My boyfriend and I came here for The Big Taste, since we've heard great things and wanted to give it a try. I was so surprised at how great the quality of food was, and it was easily the best meal we've ever had in Calgary. Since the set menu didn't have dessert included, we opted to order the sticky toffee pudding on their regular menu. Needless to say, it was superb as well.<br/><br/>Regular menu seem to be pretty $$$$, but will definitely come back for a special occasion.

Everything was perfect. The location, the decor, the service but most importantly..the FOOD! I got the BISON BURGER (Quince, Chive Aioli, Brie, House Cured Bacon) which was perfect... My partner ordered the MOUNTAIN VIEW CHICKEN & FRISÉE (Fairwinds Feta, Pear, Ginger & Cedar Vinaigrette.) I could go on and on and on. A MUST CHECK-OUT. We only tried the lunch menu. Looking forward to going back for dinner.

Went there yesterday, Thursday March 13. Experienced the RUDEST service I've ever seen. As we were served our deserts, te hostess appeared with card machines and said that someone was waiting for this table and we need to pay and go. We paid, we were rushed to eat our deserts, mine was taken away from me before I was done and they didn't even ask. As we were going to leave the hostess appeared again to ask us to leave at once as people were waiting and were unhappy. When we were leaving, no one gave us our coats back, we had to look for them ourselves. And as we were putting them on, the hostess welcomed a couple waiting by saying, "They finally left, we are ready for you now, I'm so sorry". <br/>This has been the worst dinning out experience ever. The food was ok, but the service was unbelievably bad. I would strongly recommend everyone to say away from this place.

Amazing Place, Amazing Food. I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. The ambiance in this place is just unbeatable - it's quaint, romantic, pleasant, serene.. you get the idea. <br/><br/>We had amazing service and the food was great too. They have a great wine selection, and their bar makes a great cocktail too. We were able to find some great wine to pair with each course - and our waitress was actually able to help us navigate the menus. <br/><br/>I can't wait to go back here!

Worst service ever, all 6 of us had no feed room under the table, 5 meals got served cold..... This was the first and the last time for all of is .... another lesson learned.

This Was my second time at the river cafe and I have to say I love it! <br/>Went there for a romantic date night on Saturday just after it snowed. It looks amazing during the winter months. It's not too expensive for such a nice restaurant and the food is great. The service was fast, polite and professional. Only turn off was the 3 year old at the table next to us but that is really not the managements fault. not sure why a parent would pick a place like the river cafe at 8 o'clock on a Saturday for a 3 year olds birthday.

What a beautiful fall day in YYC!! After a lovely walk to the River Cafe, we were greeted by the smell of a wood burning fire. So happy to see this gem reopened and returned to her former glory after the floods of 2013. 5 of us sat down to an amazing lunch. I had the lamb, delish. Appies to desert were perfect. Food, presentation and atmosphere were amazing! If only our server had some personality and a smile!

The worst brunch experience I have ever had. Management clearly doesn't care about their guests. Cold food, foreign objects in food, very slow drink service. The only good thing about this place is the atmosphere. Will not return or recommend and won't give Boxwood a chance either. Pure disappointment.

Pleasant. Went there for a casual business lunch. Very pleasant atmosphere away from busy downtown with nice views of the fall colours outside. Homemade bread with butter was tasty. The bison burger was delicious and served with roasted beets. So it was relatively light. The home-made ice-cream was equally delicious. We rinsed it down with tasty lightly carbonated water, a hard find in North America. Yes, a burger was $19, and the desert was $10, but the overall package including quality of the food, ambience, and the attentive service were well worth it. A very pleasant lunch experience.<br/><br/>Service was attentive.

Late summer evenings. We've been planning a trip to River Cafe for a while and it did not disappoint. Great food and great service. I like to eat where the food is beyond what I can cook and the standards here are excellent. The staff were knowledgeable, friendly and well paced. We started with the game board to share and cleared everything. For main courses one of us had the bison and the other the wild boar, all great quality food, well presented. We were able to eat outside in September which is always a pleasure. A place to go back to and palace to take friends.

So hard to resist!. We thought it would be a great day to have lunch on the river -- and it was! The meal started began with fresh bread and real butter, its so hard to resist! We began our lunch with the Fish & Game board. Every taste was unique and enjoyable but I must admit the crackers were really good! Our guest ordered the Bison burger which she only managed to each half of -- it will be a nice lunch another day. My husband had the rare albacore tuna (cold plate) and quickly polished it off without any leftovers. I chose and thoroughly enjoyed the Wild Board Peameal Bacon. Not surprisingly I was unable to finish it (into the doggy bag). Next time I think I would skip the appetizer so I can try the dessert menu!

Nice location. The location is great and so is the view. I enjoyed the beef tartare. Although I'm not vegetarian, I got the vegetarian main at the time because it sounded great. To be honest, it wasn't that memorable, but the rest of my party enjoyed their main dishes. Dessert was great. I had a peach tart that was amazing. The crust was fantastic.

Impressive!. I really enjoyed this restaurant! Casual, comfortable atmosphere, very well presented food, from amazing quality products!<br/><br/>Enjoyed reading the menu too... some very BIG words used for very ordinary things (ie. wild boar = bacon lol)<br/><br/>Can't wait to go bak!

Very good food, long wait time for food. Our family dined at River Cafe on May 11 to celebrate my father-in-law's 75th birthday. We had 430pm dinner reservations. Shortly after arriving we were told that we could only order from the limited selection "early bird dinner menu" unless we wanted to wait until 5 pm. So we ordered drinks to pass the time and our food order was finally taken at 5:15 pm.<br/><br/>Although the food was very good, we weren't served our main courses until 6:30 pm. Our server indicated that the kitchen was busy with a full patio but the interior of the restaurant where we were seated was perhaps one-third full at best. One would expect the restaurant to properly staff up to deal with the dinner rush.<br/><br/>It was very disappointing to have to wait a full 1hr15min for our meals, especially when we had tried to get there early to avoid the dinner rush. When taking reservations, it would be great if the staff could advise customers that there would be limitations on what could be ordered if our dinner reservation fell within their "early bird" time.<br/><br/>We had two young children in our dinner party of 8 and long wait times for food can make or break a dinner experience.<br/><br/>Our dinner bill was north of $500 and for this amount of money we would expect better service.

Good but not great. I've gone to River Cafe a few times and went again last week. You know, the food is good, no doubt, but I've yet to have a meal that really wows me. Last week I had duck breast and was disappointed with quantity - four medallions half a cm thick each. There was a bread thing along with it to help fill me up, but the value didn't cut it for me. Oh, and they brought out salads and got the placements wrong. No biggie and they of course fixed that quick, but then quickly took them back as they were missing an ingredient. Expensive places mean lots more for tips based on percentage, and should command exceptional service. I think people say this place is great because they are supposed to say it is great. I'm not convinced.

The food was good but not great. The service was horrible. The servers have total snotty attitudes as though they are some upscale gourmet New York restaurant and not a cafe in Calgary. Your food is not all that folks! All you really have going is a beautiful location and creative, cozy decor. Throw some decent service in there and you might even get more repeat customers and better tips. Who knows?

I will say that the food here is really good. I had the tuna scramble at a brunch I went to, along with their juice selection and pastry selection. Though that was a bit dry. <br/>What shocked me was the service and the nagging of a tip. The service was terrible. We were there two and a half hours and that wasn't because we enjoyed the scenery. My glass never got refilled and our dirty plates were still sitting there when we left. <br/>When we went to pay my husband was ticked at the service but when our waiter scoffed at seeing the bill and asked if he forgot to tip, I think he wanted to smack the guy...

Big 3. Service, food, ambience (and of course my date) were fantastic! Love this place. Great job!

Impressed again. I went to the river cafe a few years ago and just went again last month. The food was spectacular from appetizers to entrees. If I am going to pay the price of good food, I want something I can't make at home and that is exactly what you get. The presentation was perfect and the sides served with the meal complimented the main so perfectly. It was the kind of meal where everyone has to share a bite with everyone else at the table it's so good. The service was professional yet not pretentious, the server and hostess helped keep my son occupied and the kitchen even made him a special meal that was not on the menu so he would eat it. I can't wait to go again, this time I won't wait so long

Disappointing indeed. This restaurant came up in conversation the other day and it reminded me to post something on urbanspoon. We went for my birthday in September and were quite disappointed with the overall experience. Our server was nice enough, but the food was awful. There was nothing exceptional with the food whatsoever and the portion size was small (read: eat before going). One dish ordered was a steak - which was something like a 4oz?? it was very small, and not a great cut. Alongside this came a very dry and tasteless quinoa frittata. The chicken dish apparently was tasty and tender. For the cost, you're really only paying for the location and the impression that makes. I picked it because Prince's Island is one of my favorite places but would never go back. There is something to be said for paying $$$ for impressive food and experience but there was neither here. I wouldn't go back if someone treated me.<br/><br/>One note: the appies we got were nice, I recall a hummus dish and meat/cheese platter? It was the main dishes that were disappointing.

Disappointing. Went here a while back for my birthday dinner. My food-o-phile son from Vancouver was visiting & I'd waited to go to this restaurant, thinking he'd really enjoy it. <br/>Result: very slow service of everything/ drinks, wine, food. He ordered bison & was so disappointed- it's served cool according to our waiter. Very cool-cold & sinewy ! My chicken dish was just okay & the others' meals were not memorable. For the extremely expensive prices, we really had much higher expectations. We could have stayed home, bought organic meats & had a great time cooking together -the results would have been better. And I also have a garden with fresh veggies & herbs all summer.<br/>P.S. The menu is quite pretentious !

Location. They are blessed with such an amazing location. They are not cheap but its a real neat place to take out of towners (and they know it)<br/>My biggest gripe is the menu and does it have to be so pretentious?<br/>I don't care where the butter was churned. There is a limit to the amount of that I can handle. While the food is good there are often strange additions that I am not sure about. I don't need to feel a level of discomfort with everything on a menu. (And I like most things, I'm not that picky really) Ease it up, make the menu a little less on the sourcing and the nonsense, give me good honest food.

Great Atmosphere, Mediocre Food. Amazing Atmosphere...its true. Had lamb shanks...was cold, uninspired and really small. Also WAY overpriced. Service was ok, but certainly not memorable. Won"t go back...

Amazing food! Great service ! A bit pricey but worth it!!! Love the atmosphere A+++ can not wait to go again