My wife and I had our wedding here. The moment we saw The Lake House, we knew it would be the place we tied the knot. The staff was very accommodating, especially Kirsten. And you'd be hard pressed to find a more beautiful venue (both on the inside and the outside).
More importantly, our guests were incredibly impressed and raved about The Lake House. Some even commented that the steak dinner was better than the steak dinner we had the night prior to the wedding at another restaurant, which is widely regarded as being the best steakhouse in Calgary...So quite impressive for The Lake House.
Outstanding food and service. And the only place I've been that has Pappy Van Winkle at the bar. We would highly recommend The Lake House to anyone tying the knot. Thank you Kirsten, Scott, Rob, kitchen, bar, and wait staff, and CRMR for a great experience.
Kathleen Melissa Stirling
+5
My husband and I originally experienced the quality and oustanding restaurant experience, implemented by the owners of The Lake House, when they had previously owned a different restaurant. After the owners left, we found the previously owned restaurant to be greatly lacking. We were ecstatic to find that the owners had purchased The Lake House, and we were glad to receive that same outstanding quality services that we had enjoyed so much. I don't know the owners personally, but it says a great deal about them, when no matter where they choose to go, you know you will alway receive that 5 star restaurant experience.
Owners can't give that top quality, without hiring top quality staff. To all of the Lake House staff, thanks for making our nights at your restaurant a night to remember! We appreciate your immpecible service!
I recommended The Lake House as a dinner option to get together with some old friends.
When we arrived we were given the option of being seated in front of the fireplace. On a cold and snowy night it was wonderful. Our group of 6 all ordered the price fixe menu. All three courses were exceptional, as was the service! We’ll be returning!
CHEERS
Our favorite place for brunch in Calgary. Rare Waterfront venue with excellent food and service. Good value too.
Monica Stewart-Bittner
+5
Super, we have dined several times and even attended a wedding at this location, food is wonderful, wine fantastic and service is great, thank you being our go to special place !!!
Our wedding at the Lake House was everything and more! First of all the venue is gorgeous on it's own, it doesn't take much decor to compliment the space. Kirsten, the events coordinator, was so easy to work with and answered all emails promptly. We received so many compliments on the food and service. Everything ran so smoothly on the day and the staff went above and beyond our expectations.
Great food, service was excellent, views are fantastic, rustic atmosphere, but a little noisy when it gets busy.
Gorgeous setting, amazing food and wine and service was first class!
Amazing setting, service and the best food... what a gem in the SE....so glad we found you!!
Our son was married at The Lake House a year ago. It was a wonderful venue, the atmosphere perfect and the staff went beyond with terrific service. Service and food both over the top!! Thank you to all of them.
My husband made a last minute reservation and we still got the best table by the window, overlooking the lake. Food was superb and most of all, me and my husband had a great time. It's pricey but all worth it.
Had a nice dinner with family. Service was great and the food was amazing. The mussels and the home made ice cream were to die for!😍I strongly recommend this place!
Nice atmosphere, good service. I’d love to come back during the summer and sit in the patio. We were here for brunch, I had the duck croquettes and it was pretty good however my husband didn’t enjoy his French toast much.
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Located on beautiful Lake Bonavista, in mid-January a pond hockey dream with more leisurely skaters making a path around the perimeter, The Lake House has long been considered one of the most picturesque dining rooms in all of Alberta, their Sunday Brunch a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
Managed by Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts, a space previously titled “The Ranche” rebranded to focus more on the scenery visible through large windows around the back, those visiting The Lake House will immediately be stuck by the grand dining room featuring a large stone mantle and chandeliers made of elk antlers, the all-glass Wine cellar near the bar a curiosity to oenophiles while the menu features no shortage of local, seasonal ingredients.
Built on the idea of “Rocky Mountain cuisine,” Chef Thomas Neukom changing the menu frequently to feature the best of Western Canada’s ranches and farms, it is after pleasant greeting from the hostess and a youthful server that guests are led to wood tables, the Brunch menu following a formula of Benedicts, Omelets and Hash with more lunch-like options including fried Chicken, Oysters and even a smoked Fish tray.
Taking an extensive dining agenda into account, a total of four plates selected and coursed out one at a time, brunch got started with a Bamboo tray of housemade and locally sourced Charcuterie, the cold-cured Duck, Wild Boar Mortadella and warm Elk Sausage all outperforming the Meats at highly-regarded Rouge or RGE RD in Edmonton with a portion far more appropriate to the portions as well as the quality.
Intrigued by the Sous-Vide Apple dish, essentially a DIY Granola Parfait with local Yogurt and a great balance of flavor, Chef Neukom’s French Toast set a high standard for creativity by quickly searing both sides of Banana Quick-Bread before pairing it with light Mousse and a slick of housemade Strawberry Preserves plus Peanut Brittle for textural variability.
Not realizing that the full Dessert menu is offered at Brunch, a fact that *may* have swayed the rest of the order more savory – though probably not – it was on the recommendation of the server that a Saskatoon Berry Tart was set aside in favor of the warm Spice-Cake topped in stewed Apples beside crumbled Streusel forming a bed for a ball of Sweet Potato Ice Cream.
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We made reservations and upon arrival I noticed that the servers/waitresses were not smiling. I specifically requested to seat near the lake view and I was satisfied with that. The lunch menu wasn't too intimidating in sheer quantities to choose from. We tried an appetizer called Steamed PEI Mussels, and it was delicious, strong seafood taste with a dill after taste that makes you crave for more. I wish there was a bowl of rice to go with it as I would be happy just eating that.
For the main, we ordered Lake House Made Egg Pappardelle, Bison & Caribou Game Burger, Grilled Beef Top Sirloin Escalope, and a lunch of the day, baked ham sandwich with melted cheese and soup of the day (I can't remember, but it had caramelized onions, fennel, and potatoes). I highly recommend them all, but due to our stomach sizes, you can share one with another person. The one that stood out the most would be the bison & caribou game burger as it was juicy all throughout upon biting and the blueberry added into it didn't make me get sick of eating the burger, but made me crave for more. The pappardelle had more meat to pasta ratio which was a plus for me. The baked ham sandwich was done perfectly with the melted cheese, saltiness and the selection and softness of the bread complimented the dish as a whole. As for the Grilled Beef Top Sirloin, you can't go wrong with that if you are craving for steak.
Overall, the price was well priced for lunch and I would go back again in different season.
Outstanding service and the interior of this place is beautiful!
Amazing view of Bonavista lake!!! They even have a patio! The food was amazing and the service was very good. They had a very good selection of wines. The decor is very well done. We will be visiting this location often.
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My siblings and I decided to take our Mom here for a Mothers Day surprise, and it was a huge hit!
We grew up in Lake Bonavista, basically our entire childhood was spent on that beach in the summer and on the frozen lake or hill in the winter. The restaurant has a great space inside, but we spent the bulk of our evening staring out the window telling stories from back in the day... but I digress.
I haven't been here since I was a small kid and it was the Inn on Lake Bonavista. I have, however, been to The Ranche when it was down in Fish Creek many times. The Lake House has the great views of the first, and the great character of the second. Antler chandeliers, massive fireplace, high back upholstered chairs everywhere, what a great space to have an intimate meal in. The service only added to the ambience, we really enjoyed the whole experience.
Food wise - this is one of the best meals I have had in a long time. All 4 of us thoroughly enjoyed our choices. We started with the Charcuterie plate for 4 - which had a great selection. The favourites were the Rabbit terrine and the Elk Sausage but nothing was left when we were through with it.
The wine and main courses were a tough choice for all of us, great options in both. We settled on a really good bottle of Cab Sav (which I of course cannot remember the name of) and we each had a different main. I ordered the diver scallops, which were cooked perfectly and just all around fantastic, I honestly could have easily had double the portion and just kept eating - the dijon mustard sauce and fingerling potatoes were a very nice accompaniment. My brother had the boar, which he enjoyed very much. My sister had the seared ahi tuna and loved it - she and I had ordered similar dishes last weekend in Banff and the Lake House blew it out of the water. Mom went for the Tenderloin and stated it was the best steak she had had in ages.
Dessert was also delicious, we settled on the coconut cheesecake, ice cream and the baked alaska to try - all were great, but my favourite was personally the cheesecake. I'm a sucker for coconut anything.
Bottom line here, we had a fantastic night, everything about this place was lovely, and the food was terrific. Would absolutely return, it would be a great place for a romantic meal or a special event!
Love this place. Upscale but with a casual approach. Killer wine list. Even sitting at the bar for some appies and a glass of wine is completely satisfying. One of my favorites.
I’ve always enjoyed the food from CRMR and was less than happy when they vacated The Ranche. I finally made it to The Lake House where they have set up shop. I really wanted to see the view of the lake, but having dinner in late fall means none of that. The dining room is decorated in Rocky Mountain style, complete with the antler chandeliers. The dining room has a nice, romantic ambience, complete with a wood burning fireplace.
Have always been a fan of this company and was happy to find this gem nearby. Knowledgable staff, high quality service, delicious food and beautiful setting.
No complaints here!
Great service and great food. Atmosphere is excellent. Desserts aren't their forte but everything else made up for it. Highly recommend this spot.
Excellent food, the service and the environment is great, I've been there a few times and never been disappointed. The brunch is great and if you want a quiet and romantic dinner is the perfect place.
Downtown Dining in the Burbs. Great spot for a special occasion and so nice not to have the expensive cab ride home that is typically required if you want to get away from eating in the chain restaurants that dominate the suburbs. Great setting, very good food, nice wine selection and good service.
Nice. I use to dine here years ago when it was called the Inn on the Lake.. glad to see that it reopened. lovely restaurant with good food and service.
Second visit to the lake house...yum! Beautiful fresh oysters to start. My husband's favourite dish on the planet is their caribou dish. I had the the scallops, which were very good but the truffle gnocchi and oyster mushrooms stole the show for me. Service is good but the noise level is quite high. Don't let that deter you
Melt in my mouth delicious.. What a pleasant change since the last time we visited this facility, new management and staff. Our waiter was very attentive, always keeping our glasses filled and remembering who had still and who had sparkling water. My husband and I began our meal by sharing the Winter Squash and Pear Salad. I am not sure what I was expecting but this was a pleasant surprise. The gentle tastes of the ingredients meshed together well and made for a very pleasant taste. I had the Atlantic Scallops which were melt in your mouth delicious and so was the accompanying pork cheek. Each was beautifully cooked. My husband's meal was the caribou which quickly disappeared off his plate! The meal concluded with Sticky Toffee Pudding. It was light and just the right size to end the meal.
First time to this restaurant and we loved it! Huge wine list, crab cakes were excellent, our mains were cooked perfectly. Great job!
Yes "I like it" well sort of. The food was delicious however, the server was clumsy at best. At a Resturant of this level I would expect the staff to be trained. The reservation process and the hostesses were great. The decor was fantastic, the only complaint was how hard the chairs were after a few hours.
Great setting for a Special Get Together. We enjoyed a very nice dinner/evening with special friends in a great setting. Left all the work and effort to the staff so that we could catch up on what has been happening in each other's lives. Great company, food, wine, setting, service and didn't have to work about the prep or clean up. Does it get better than that!
Stunning space!. When we got to the Lake House, unfortunately we could only order from the limited menu, however everything we tried was amazing! We had the charcuterie board, the fish plank and the muscles. All were amazing, I'd highly recommend this place for everyone to try atleast once!
Its nice to have restaurants in the south were you can go and enjoy from scratch type food and a local pint (except the Grolsch on tap?). I like having an option thats not Earls, vietnamese or indian.
Just having the fish plank with house made escabeche and candied salmon with some drinks is worth it. The view is great, the restaurant space itself is inviting, and the staff is freindly and informed. Calgary should have more restarants in the south like the Lake House.
A fabulous evening at a wonderful restaurant. A cozy and welcoming environment awaits each guest at the top of the stairs. A beautiful rustic environment set by a large fireplace overlooking the lake. The service was incredible. We were greeted and seated promptly (with a reservation). We enjoyed a lovely selection of meats and cheeses to start. Followed with a succulent bison tenderloin. We finished our meal with a selection of home made ice creams. Overall the food and service were fantastic! We will definitely be back.
We has dinner there last Saturday and we found the restaurant, the good and the service to be excellent. Not sure what the other reviewer experienced but it is polar opposite to our wonderful evening. The restaurant was for sure super crowded but that is to be expected in a highly anticipated re opening in a great location.
HistoricRomance. History mixed with warm lighting and great service - along a beautiful field lit by gaslamp.... It's worth booking a table regardless of the meal (food here is unique and of good quality). If you are looking for a warm romantic dinner/dessert or to get together with old friends, this is an amazing location! If you haven't been, it's a must!
Superb!. We don't usually splurge on fine dining like this, but WORTH EVERY PENNY! We loved everything, and if you're not sure what to get, ask the servers for recommendations. Phenomenal food and service.
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EXCELLENT!!!. The Ranche will be moving to Lake Bonavista early 2014, their last time open will be December 31st. My boyfriend and I wanted to celebrate our one year anniversary there. We went on a weekday at 7:30pm there were a few people there, just enough to feel comfortable. Our waiter was extremely helpful and attentive, he also had a great sense of humor and a good ear. We hadn't actually told the restaurant that it was our anniversary, but we had clinked our wine classes together cheering ourselves on our one year. when our desserts came there was an extra special piece of chocolate that read happy anniversary. I was touched and very impressed. The food is exquisite! we started with a small appy of meats, fruit and pickled items. The manager himself explained what each type of meat was before we dug in. I have to say all the meat was divine, but the melon infused with mustard left me speechless; in a good way. (They own a store somewhere that sells these items, and they farm all their animals including the elk, and boar.) For dinner I had the duck breast that included a light smokey orange after taste. It was the best mix of sweet, salty and citrus ever! My boyfriend had the boar shoulder that practically fell apart on the fork it was so tender. We decided to squeeze in dessert as well, i had the sticky toffee cake and my boyfriend had the...well i cant remember because i was quite focused on my dessert. Finally we rested our bellies and sipped on tea and coffee. It was a night to remember. Quite expensive, but for the quality of the food and the service it is worth the price. It came to just under $200, but that included a bottle of wine, a glass of rum and coke, and a glass of Cesar, the most expensive appy, two main dishes, a side of extra veggies (that had meted cheese and bacon on it), two desserts and coffee and tea. So I really don't think the cost is too bad.
Excellent. Had dinner here 3 times the past several months, had superior service, and excellent food every time. This place is a gem in South Calgary if you want fine dining, several steps up from an Earls type place - this is for you.
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A MUST for Brunch lovers!. I've been to The Ranche for Brunch, Lunch, and dinner now, and by FAR my favourite is their brunch offerings. I've had dinner there three times now, and all three times both my partner and I found our dinner to be salty. We figured may be the dishes are dusted with salt before they leave the kitchen? Who knows.
Brunch is always consistently amazing. The menu is seasonal and changes. They used to have cinnamon buns on the menu which were always a delightful way to start the brunch, however, I believe they've been replaced with pear fritters which are also amazing, but not quite as awesome as the cinnamon buns. We always get the charcuterie board for the table as well.
The atmosphere is tres romantique and it's nice to have the park just outside the restaurant to burn off some calories.
The service is consistently great. It's a great date spot, special occasion spot, and their events coordinator & Maitre D' are a pleasure to deal with if you ever have to plan a private event.
Food was very authentic Calgarian with a lovely setting. Not kiddy friendly though.
Consistently Excellent. Having been to the Ranche several times for both brunch and dinner, the service is great each time and the food even better! Most recently, I was daring enough to try the scallops at a restaurant known for its wild game. I was very impressed with the dish, my scallops were cooked to perfection and very nicely flavoured.
The Ranche remains at the top of my list of restaurants for special occasions, and I have yet to be disappointed with an experience there.
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Wow! Phenomenal food!. A bit hard to find, we almost gave up, but it was totally worth the detour and some disoriented roaming around the parking lot. I feel that a restaurant located this far off the beaten bath could only survive if they served truly exceptional food, and they definitely did!
Restaurant was practically empty on a weeknight; we had very attentive service from who appeared to be the manager of the restaurant, he checked up on us after every food or drink delivery and a few more times.
For drinks, we ordered a bottle of wine and a smoked bison caesar. I wasn't too sure about ordering the caesar, but it ended up amazing! All natural flavors, perfect amount of spice, and the slice of smoked bison was delicious.
For appetizers, we had a small charcuterie board - perfect for two people. Six varieties of meats, all great, and six varieties of pickled vegetables. The pickled melon was amazing! Pickled onions were also delicious. Elk salami, smoked bison, and candied salmon were my favorite meats from the charcuterie board.
For the entrees, we had the duck breast and the caribou. The duck breast was delicious; the sauce was not overly sweet and very tasty. The best part was the orange-infused gnocchi - I'm not a big pasta/potato person, but I almost feel that they stole the spotlight from the duck. I had never tried caribou before, but this meat was mind-blowingly good. Apparently, it's aged four weeks and then cooked sous vide, then seared before being served, which ensures very soft, tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture which you wouldn't normally expect from a lean game meat. It also has a nice smokey taste to it.
Incidentally, we had eaten at a fancy French place the night before; it was much more pretentious and there was a lot more crispy white shirts and "monsieur" comments, but the food lacked something special and you could tell that the chef did not quite know what s/he was doing (e.g. the fois gras had ligaments still in it!). But at this place, you had truly exceptional food without the added pathos. Everything was just right - the chef must have a true gift for his/her skill in addition to proper training. My companion has eaten at the best European restaurants on many occasions, including many Michelin-starred establishments, and said the meal was on par, and even better than some of those.
Nice place. Romantic. Great place for special dinner or lunch. Prices were reasonable. Food was delicious. Looking forward to returning.
Great place for a special dinner. Was not completely blown away with my meal, but it was solid and the atmosphere was spectacular with professional level service. Will be back for sure.
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Doesn't get the accolades it deserves. Maybe it's the out-of-the-way location or the reputation as a place you go for weddings but The Ranche is rarely talked about as a top dining option in Calgary. Whatever the case, it's unfortunate as the kitchen consistently puts out solid, tasty, Alberta food with enough flair to make it worth your money.
We hadn't been back to The Ranche since our wedding. As a sidenote, they did a terrific job. It was the best food I've had at a wedding and the service was execptional. Back to last weekend.
We all know The Ranche is gorgeous and is a 5/5 in terms of atmosphere. How's the food? Well, it's a step below local high watermarks like Rouge or Chef's Table but it certainly slots into the top of the next tier. Bison, caribou, beef, salmon, pheasant.... what more could you ask for in terms of great prairie foods? My wife's scallop and salmon cakes were tasty, though I preferred their old crab and salmon cakes. The bison brisket was the best I've tasted this side of Texas and my carbiou was perfectly cooked with a sweet mash garnish that was ridiculously good. Desserts were standard fare but the rum butter ice cream and coconut sorbet (both made in-house) were terrific touches. On the downside, no in-house bread? No bread at all? For the price, an amouse bouche and/or complimentary dessert would add tremendous value.
Service was solid and friendly but not particularly attentive. A few little touches could add a lot of value to a fairly pricey meal.
Still, the quality of the food speaks volumes and the other criticisms are largely nits on what is one of the better dining destinations in town. 4/5.
Anniversary Dinner. Every year we go to a different resturant for our anniversary. We keep coming back, the experience here is amazing, awesome atmosphere and amaing service. Will definitly be back. Maybe a birthday in the future.
Thank you
Thank You. Thank you to The Ranche Restaurant and all the staff for a fantastic dinning experience saturday evening. The food the wine the desert which they personalized to me, wow. You will not be disappointed in anyway by choosing The Ranche Restaurant, this was the third time dinning at The Ranche Restaurant and surpassed all expectations. Guaranteed I will be returning hopefully to try the Sunday brunch very soon.
Romance is in the air. My hubby and I moved to the area and knew of the Ranche so we decided to go one night. We sat on the veeranda under the plants and surrounded by flowers. The atmosphere was romantic and the food was amazing! I love full of flavor foods that have to be done right and the Ranche did it! Thanks Ranche we will be back in summer time
A good experience. This restaurant is always fun to go to. I like sitting by the window, deer or something is bound to show up and eat in the garden right below. Only once did I have an off experience and it wasn't the day I showed up in my cycling gear. They food is top rate and lunch is my favourite time to go.
Wedding Reception. I had my wedding reception there a few months ago. My guests had a wonderful experience. I thought the food was definitely up to expectations. Would definitely visit again for special occasions.
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Very good. This restaurant is much like The Sleeping Buffalo in Banff. Both in decor and similarities in the menu. They are both owned by CRMR. We shared the charcuterie plate and saved some for our cross country ski the next day.
The food was exquisite, I had the Bison for my main course. I don't like hoity toity fine dining. This is fine dining in a more rustic and western atmosphere. Will definitely return.
Awesome!. Located wayyyy down south in Fish Creek Park The Ranche will be worth your trip. Their seasonal menu rotations are always spot on. My last meal (Nov. '08) featured appetizers of roasted beet and endive salad with Shropshire blue cheese and pistachio vinaigrette and blue corn meal crusted salmon and Dungeness crab cakes. Both were superb, excellent dishes. Our mains consisted of seared rainbow trout with shrimp and chive risotto and the ranch raised bison ribeye with horseradish spaetzle, carmelized pear/fig compote and green beans. Fabulous execution and consistency are the hallmarks of this restaurant's food. Good service and a nice wine list compliment the rustic feeling of dining here. Ph: 403-225-3939.
It was absolutely delicious and I want to eat this again. And again. And again!
a wonderful place to eat for any occasion - whether it's for a romantic night out, a party or gathering, it's just a nice place! It's great for families and entertainment! The best part is, they always seem to serve excellent food!
Located wayyyy down south in Fish Creek Park The Ranche will be worth your trip. Their seasonal menu rotations are always spot on. My last meal (Nov. '08) featured appetizers of roasted beet and endive salad with Shropshire blue cheese and pistachio vinai
Came for dinner for our Anniversary. The food was excellent. I think the flavours and combinations are very creative and hats off to the chef. Our server was very friendly. They did forget our appetizer but the desert was free to make up for it. The view on the patio rivals the quality of the food. I would definitely return again. Would be 5 stars if not for the app.
It's a bit of a weird feeling driving towards a fine dining restaurant located beside a Safeway and questioning whether you're being directed to the right place.
I went to this restaurant with a few others to try out their NYE 5 course meal. The meal was $100/person but it was worth every dollar. Everyone was almost full by the time the fourth course was brought out, so it was really high value for what you pay for. Each dish was nicely balanced and nicely plated.
The restaurant atmosphere is nice and cozy with warm lighting. Unfortunately you don't get the nice view of the lake when you dine in the middle of winter. Will definitely be coming back in the summer to enjoy both the wonderful food and the scenery!
The meals were great. Portion for the chicken Supreme was great, the flavors excellent. The Bisson was tasty and the ribeye was well done and tender. I give the place a 6 star on flavour, 4 star on portion size, 5 for plating and 5 for service. The dessert was exceptional. Taste was great, black forest cake was so moist and tasty with the crunch, the ice-cream was excellent. The place and taste spot on. Please give my compliments to the chef who worked the evening of Father's day.
High end dining without the pretentiousness. The Lake House is a classic establishment that has kept up with the times. Both of our meals were incredible, and the service was fantastic. Our waiter even gave us a little tasting glass of wine to pair with our dinner without us even saying anything. Really enjoyed our time and will certainly be back.
Very pleasant atmosphere, not very busy at lunch. Nice setting at table, safe distanced. Attentiveness and polite service.
Delicious meals, surprisingly big portions, balanced menu choices, huge selection of wines. Latte tasty and good pairing with deserts.
Surprising water served European style- at cost. That includes hot water resquested!😁.
Loved it!!! The food was amazing our waiter was always topping up our drinks I didn't have to ask for one thing!!! I will recommend this place to anyone who is into fine dining!!!
We had our wedding here April 2022 and it was amazing! Beautiful venue, great service, good vibes- an overall memorable night, 10/10!
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