The happy hour is unusual -- 1pm to 4pm which I've never seen before, but it's a great lunch. The prices are very fair and the food is really excellent... When I come back to Banff next winter for skiing I will be definite to stop by, though obviously the hours are a little problematic for skiers! I had the venison meatball, the mortadella skewers, focaccia and a beer... Also some kind of blueberry lemonade drink, which was also very good. read more

Here to rave about the steak! Very delicious and a generous portion that can be shared between 2-3 people. My family got numerous other dishes: including the salmon, elk meatballs, and caprese. All enjoyed and service was very friendly. read more

The Fat Ox - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Came here I late May on a rainy day with no reservations for happy hour. There was plenty of seating and we were seated quickly. Very cute restaurant that also has outside seating if the weather permits. We chose a few things to share for two. Unfortunately they were sold out on oysters but we ordered plenty. We loved the prosciutto with the melon. The happy hour portions of the pasta were perfect and delicious. I enjoyed the Cucumber Melon Refresher. I'm not much of a drinker but my friend and I shared the margarita. It was a bit too strong for me and I could barely taste any lychee. But my friend enjoyed it. I'd love to come back to try more of their menu. read more

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We arrived early on a Monday evening w/o a reservation, and they kindly seated us. Our server Matteo was great: knowledgeable and personable. We started with the focaccia (served with tasty olive oil) and the snap peas/ricotta/mint. Both excellent. One of us had the rigatoni carbonara that was rich and tasty - relatively small portion which was fine given how rich it was. The salmon was okay. Dessert: chocolate gelato was delicious as was the caramel "pudding" (really a cake) with vanilla gelato. Overall wonderful experience. read more

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This is the closest restaurant to the far end of the free parking lot. And it's good! Service was good, food was tasty, and the patio seating is fabulous when the weather is nice. Ambiance indoors seemed nice too, though we didn't sit there. Our server told us about Ink Pots when we told him we were camping in Johnston Canyon. On the one hand it was a tough hike for us, short (3.75 miles each way according to my watch) but 1800ft elevation gain. On the other hand it was absolutely beautiful up there, not for the ink pots but the view in that valley. It made our trip worthwhile, unlike the canyon falls views where there were lines for the best place to see (get selfies at) both the upper and lower falls. read more

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Got in for the happy hour lunch. Delicious small plates of pasta, a meatball, focaccia and a salad. Friendly service and a great atmosphere, off the beaten tourist path. A nice break. read more

We made a reservation and were seated immediately upon arriving on the patio. It was a great place to people watch, plus chances were good there would be a pup enjoying dinner with her owners. We started with bruschetta which was great. Two large pieces of bread with lots of tomatoes and fresh cheese. For my entree, I chose the rigatoni carbonara. It was the perfect portion and the eggy sauce was rich and tasty but not filling and overwhelming. Husband had the halibut which was so good as well. The pea pods with that meal was a great combo of color and textures. Our server was great. He was fun and had lots of good menu suggestions. He never made us feel rushed. So good. read more

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Walked in around 4 pm for a drink and quick bite. Staff was accommodating and attentive. Enjoyed our chat with the server. Ordered a few items from the happy hour menu. Foccocia and olive oil, meat balls, and bison tagliatelle. Everything was excellent! Will recommend and be back. read more

The Fat Ox - bison Tagliatelle - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Great food and ambiance. Go for the late lunch happy hour if you can, but any time is good!

The Fat Ox combines modern Italian with mountain-town charm, located in downtown Banff, next to Kenrick hotel. There is free street parking besides the Fat Ox (pay attention to the street signs), which is not on the main street. Otherwise, parking in downtown Banff is hourly. I highly recommend making reservations for the restaurant. You have the option on the Open Table app or calling the restaurant directly. Once you enter, the main dining area is behind the hostess with the bar at the back. I love the decor of the restaurant, as the colors and pieces were meticulously picked. Regarding the food here, Chef Glen Manzer used local ingredients to create Italian flavors with an alpine twist. The pastas are all handmade here, by the way. FOOD: 1. East Coast Oysters (4/5, horseradish, lemon, Calabrian chili, classic mignonette): These briny, clean oysters were fresh and a great way to kick off the meal. A solid start that paired nicely with a glass of bubbly (get a discount). 2. Veal Meatballs (5/5, pomodoro, parmigiana, focaccia): These were the star of the show. Tender, juicy, and packed with flavor--everything you want in a meatball. I'd come back just for these alone.. maybe try the elk meatballs and spaghetti? 3. Chopped Salad (4/5, arugula, Tuscan salami, ceci, peperoncino, artichoke, asiago, tomato): The crisp veggies and a zingy vinaigrette made this a refreshing contrast to the richer courses. The ingredients made this more of a winter salad. 4. Rigatoni Carbonara (3/5, pancetta, egg yolk, parmigiana): The pasta was well-cooked, but the sauce felt flat and lacked that creamy, peppery punch you'd expect. 5. Penne Norma (3/5, burrata, eggplant, basil, spicy pomodoro): The flavors didn't quite pop. Honestly, it was not memorable. I did not taste the spice. 6. Slow Braised Pork and Scallops (4/5, roasted winter squash, pumpkin seeds): An unexpected combo, but it worked! The richness of the pork paired well with the delicate scallops. The scallops offered a light, refreshing balance, though I found myself wishing for some greens to round out the dish. 7. The 16 oz Ribeye (4/5, porcini mushroom ragu, truffle butter): Beautifully seared with a great crust, this steak was hearty and flavorful. This is shareable between 4, maybe 5 people. 8. Olive Oil Cake (4/5, lemon curd, blueberries, roasted pistachio): Moist, citrusy, and not too sweet. It was light enough to enjoy after a big meal without feeling overstuffed. The service was fantastic. They came by often to assist and provide recommendations. Our water and drinks never touched the bottom. We enjoyed our time. Would I come back? Absolutely! read more

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The service is outstanding and attentive! They really make your experience go smoothly. Bf thought his steak was probably one of the juiciest he's ever had. The flavor had hints of spice, some he found surprising, and of sun dried tomato. He also an expresso martini, which he thought was very well balanced. I had the bolognese, it was alright. The pasta belts just felt hard, like it had been left out for too long which was off putting. The flavor was great, but nothing to rave about. Come here for the steaks! read more

The Fat Ox - Bison Steak - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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We drove by this place and my 10 year old son starts laughing uncontrollably... "DAD! Can we eat at the FAT OX, LOL"? I really wanted to say no... since I have been burned by tourist town restaurants, but seeing how much delight the name "Fat Ox" brought him I reluctantly agreed. My squad walked in after a day of skiing at Norquay and looking quite beat up. We were definitely under dressed, but Canadians being Canadian, the hostess allowed us to enter. Not only that, but the hostess sat us right by the corner window with the best views of the snowy mountains. The server greeted us and recommended a couple appetizers. We ordered the following items: 1. House-made Focaccia 2. Venison Carpaccio 3. Shrimp Fazzoletti 4. Spaghetti & Elk Meatballs 5. Arctic Char 6. 14oz Bison Striploin 7. Olive Oil Cake for dessert 8. Two glasses of wine Everything was absolutely delicious. I was a little nervous about the Elk, Bison, and Venison, but it was prepared so well. The Focaccia and Spaghetti were a hit with my two younger girls. The focaccia was fresh baked, soft, and aromatic from the fresh herbs. The spaghetti pasta was fresh made, cooked al dente and lightly dressed with fresh tomato sauce. The elk meatballs had a small kicked to it, so they didn't eat much of it, but I enjoyed it. As for the "adult" food. The venison was tender and served with a generous helping of arugula, capers, and freshly grated parmigiana cheese. The shrimp fazzoletti had fresh made ribbon pasta, with a light sauce and perfectly cooked shrimp and veggies. The Arctic Char was delicately cooked and served on a light seafood broth. As for the bison, it was the star of the show. Well grilled to a medium rare and served with some of the best fingering potatoes I've ever had. Me, my wife, and my son destroyed the food. Being the meals were so good, we determined to throw down a dessert. We went with the olive oil cake, since the server said they took it off the menu, but the regulars demanded they put it back on. Moist, dense, "buttery" cake with fresh berries. I barely got a taste as my family pounced on the dessert like a herd of geese fighting over a piece of bread. I'm not sure any of the chewed, as the plate with licked clean before the server was able to set it on the table. This was definitely the most memorable meal of our Banff vacation and I'm glad they named it "Fat Ox" to entice my immature son. The bill came out very reasonable. All that food, we paid about 208 USD or approximately 295 CAD. I would recommend getting reservations here, as I can see this place being super popular in the future. Will be back! read more

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One of the better spots from our trip to Banff. Really enjoyed it. The location is great, with nice views from the restaurant but not too far into town. The pasta dishes were excellent, especially the gnocchi, which was light and full of flavor. The salad was fresh and well-balanced. For dessert, the panna cotta was interesting with the granola topping, would try sometime else from the dessert menu next time. Overall, a great spot for a cozy, flavorful meal. read more

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Call and get a reservation at 6:30 pm in the most busiest week in Banff for Fall foliage peeper. Got greeted and seated right away with the nicest hostess. Nice table setting looking out the fluffiest Aspen in the evening breeze chugging Calgary trolley 5 draft beer. Cannot hold candle to San Diego beer nice plate setting and extensive drink menu as well as food with dessert. Ox Caesar salad with kale and calamari with Humboldt squid are really good. The beet insalata Thursday market special is nice. We ordered the beef ravioli market special and bison tagliatelle, elk spaghetti, each came with each own flavor. The pasta is thick and textured so our party has split opinions on how good they are. Service is quick, efficient and professional. Price is on par with the setting. Brando is our nice server and quickly resolved the billing mistake with a big smile. Just make sure you check the bill. Recommended read more

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Service is a five food is a 4 very good but my wife said it didn't knock her socks offthat's my job anyway read more

The Fat Ox - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Upon visiting Banff, trying Alberta beef was one of my priorities and The Fat Ox's 42oz bistecca caught my eye! Our group of 4 was running late for our 7:30pm reservation and when I asked if we could push our reservation to 8, the restaurant graciously accommodated our request. We were seated quickly when we arrived and our waiter (Unfortunately, I forgot his name but he was awesome!) started off by letting us know what was out of stock and asking if we had any food allergies. Seeing as it was pretty late in the evening, our party decided to get the calamari appetizer and to share the bistecca. I initially wanted to add a pasta since I'm a huge fan of Italian food but I didn't want to risk ordering too much food as we couldn't take leftovers with us. One member of our group decided to forgo partaking in the steak and opted for the black linguine vongole. Our waiter asked if we wanted the food to come out all at once or to have it staggered. We initially asked for all at once but when he came by again, he suggested we have the calamari and pasta first as the steak was quite thick and would take some time to cook. We decided to go with his suggestion and the calamari and pasta came out first. Calamari: 5/5. We initially thought this would be a fried appetizer so it was a bit of a surprise to see strips of unfried squid in a tomato sauce. This was of a relief though, as we had wanted something lighter but dietary restrictions prevented a member of our party to have raw food such as a salad. The squid was tender and the tomato sauce was delicious- not too acidic or sour. It would have gone great with some bread. I would have liked more pieces of squid but I wouldn't hesitate to order this again. Black linguine vongole: Squid ink linguine with clams and lamb sausage. I only had a one clam so I can't attest to the overall taste of the dish but it looked great! Our group member ate all of it and said she enjoyed it. There was a mention of a slight kick from the sausage but no gaminess. 42oz bistecca: 5/5. This was undoubtedly the star of the show. The MP was $216 which felt very fair (I had an $80 18oz ribeye from Three Bears Brewery the previous night). I always order my steaks medium rare and I've often had to send back steaks to be cooked further. Knowing this was a thick cut of beef, I was a little scared it would be undercooked but it came out a perfect medium rare. The meat was incredibly tender and had great beef flavor. I appreciated how light the steak was seasoned and the inclusion of a container of coarse salt on the side. The steak I had at Three Bears had been cooked perfectly but the crust and seasoning on the steak was too salty. At the Fat Ox, we were able to salt our individual pieces as we liked and adding a few crystals really enhanced the flavor of the meat. The fat was easily trimmed off and three of us devoured it with ease. I think it could easily be shared between 2 people. This was one of the best steaks I've had in my life and rivals bistecca I've had in Florence. Overall, it was an incredible meal and the best one I've had in Banff. The atmosphere was inviting and at 8pm at night, the restaurant was pretty full. We never felt rushed and the food came out at a good pace. Our waiter was attentive and checked in several times to let us know about the status of our meal and to make sure we were enjoying everything. He even brought over more postcards (a souvenior included with the bill) when I mentioned liking them. I wish I had more stomach space to order a pasta! They all sounded incredible. The Fat Ox exceeded my expectations of having Alberta beef and will be on my restaurants to revisit next time I'm back. read more

The Fat Ox - 42oz bistecca- cooked perfectly! (medium rare) - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Service was good, host/GM found us a table inside after a brief wait. Our waiter gave us some cool insights into each dish. Inside was cozy with somewhat dim lighting and gave off a more intimate vibe. I liked the shrimp fazoletti the best. The sauce was really rich and flavorful and the shrimp flavor really stood out. The dish was exactly what I'd look for in a pasta. The carbonara was also really rich and tasty. I think the pancetta in it was a little salty initially but good when eaten all together. The rigatoni had a perfect texture (not floppy but not too hard). The halibut while the most expensive felt like it was missing something starchy or carby to round out the plate, but the fish itself was cooked perfectly. We also had a bruschetta for appetizer which was delicious. I did not care for the chopped salad we ordered. read more

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The Fat Ox was next to our hotel (The Kenrick) so we stopped in here the first night and decided to sit at the bar. The bar staff was by far the most friendly we'd experienced while staying in Banff. We even ended up sitting next to a local who grew up there and gave us great advice that made our trip much more memorable. The food and wine here was amazing! We ordered the bison tagliatelle and the focaccia; the focaccia was so good, we ate it for breakfast the next morning! Highly recommend for a beautiful location for happy hour and/or dinner! read more

The Fat Ox - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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My favorite place in Banff!!! The wine selection was kinda weak but they had some good bold Italian reds. My girlfriend got an old fashion and a couple of Manhattans and they were very good. Started off with the elk meat balls and they were epic. Moved over to the Ox Caesar salad which was different but very tasty (especially the potato croutons), I got the ribeye and it was delicious. For desert we got the olive lemon cake which was the perfect blend of sweet and tart. We sat outside on a beautiful Banff summer evening. Also, Brando, our waiter was so cool. He took great care of us and treated us like long lost family. I hate that I saved this place for last during my stay in Banff because I would have eaten here two or three times!!! read more

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Enjoyed dining outdoors with their fire pit to keep us warm in late may. The appetizers were to die for! Especially loved the calamari. The service was kind and attentive. I would Go back! read more

Delicious, delightful, I will be back. First of all, the service was incredibly quick and the waitresses have the cutest outfits. I loved the beets appetizer, the special Easter margarita, and the shrimp pasta! The elk meatballs and spaghetti were also great. I was too full to try dessert, but would've loved to try the gelato as well! I'm not sure if everyone else ordered focaccia or if there is a complementary bread that comes with dinner that we missed out on, but the bread looked tasty and fluffy! I'm not usually a shrimp gal but our waitress at The Keg recommended the pasta and I could not have been more grateful for her recommendation - divine!! read more

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Had dinner at The Fat Ox in Banff. The atmosphere was cozy and lively, though the tables were a bit too close together. Music could've been slightly louder to match the vibe. The menu looked great and the food was very enjoyable. We started with carpaccio and bruschetta, then had the bison rigatoni and carbonara for mains. All dishes were full of flavor and nicely presented. Service was a bit slow, but it was a busy evening so understandable. Still a nice spot for a night out with good Italian-inspired dishes. read more

The Fat Ox - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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this place was really good! the waitress was so sweet and gave us recommendations for where to go after. rigatoni carbonara pasta: 10/10 - i usually feel really heavy and disgusting after carbonara but this one wasn't too creamy and the bacon added the best flavor to it. next time, i'd try the shrimp fazzoletti bc it tasted really good when i tried my friend's. the atmosphere was nice and slightly fancy and was right down the street to the place we were staying. read more

The Fat Ox - rigatoni carbonara - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

This is a new restaurant, they just opened up earlier this year in this spot, so don't even look at the old reviews. They're not applicable. It's a shame because this place was FANTASTIC. It's a little further off the strip so I don't think as many people have found it, but we highly recommend it. We went at happy hour and their menu was great. You could get a few things off the happy hour menu and be good for the night. They have some great wine options, I was a huge fan. We got their classic Caesar salad which was traditional, one of their pasta dishes, and their bread and olive oil. Everything was so fantastic but the bread was SO GOOD. The place is beautifully redone and looks so clean. The service was fantastic and our waitress was so sweet and helpful. Such a cool spot to come across, I'm sad it didn't get as much hype when we were there but hope it grows in popularity! read more

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We went to the Fat Ox for dinner. We ordered the spaghetti with elk meatballs, and the tagliatelle with bison ragu. The tagliatelle was our favourite part of the meal. The pasta was al dente and the bison meat had a nice flavour to it. However, the spaghetti was less enjoyable; I found it over cooked and the tomato sauce was bland. The elk meatballs had a kick to them and were a good size. The service at the Fat Ox was top notch; each and every member of the wait staff was so kind and friendly. The inside of the restaurant was newly renovated, with a beautiful bar at the back. There is plenty of seating around the restaurant and it looks like they have a patio for warmer weather. read more

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Enjoyed a satisfying breakfast in the morning before our drive on the icefields parkway to Jasper read more

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Everything was great: food, drinks, and service! The focaccia bread and bruschetta for starters were both so good. I got the pesto pasta for my entree, it was pretty basic but yummy. My espresso martini was also great and had tasty foam. Our server was very nice and attentive, constantly checking in and answering questions. Definitely the best service we had in Banff. read more

The Fat Ox - Pesto pasta, spaghetti and meatballs, bolognese - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Very (very) loud when full!! Great food check your dressing on the chop salads!! Way too powerful for the delicate flavors. Wines were great, service top notch. Decor is the best in the strip. Enjoy! read more

I visited this restaurant recently and unfortunately it didn't meet expectations. The biggest issue was the kids' menu. The portions were extremely small, even for a child. It felt like the meals were more like snacks, and definitely not enough to satisfy a normal appetite. For the price, it didn't feel fair or worth it at all. The food itself was also pretty average. Nothing really stood out in terms of taste or freshness, and everything felt a bit rushed. Service was okay, but not very attentive when we mentioned the portion size issue. Overall, it's not a place I would go back to, especially with kids. There are definitely better options nearby that offer more food and better value for the money. read more

Everything was excellent! The pasta hit the spot, hubby enjoyed the short rib. I was introduced to new liquor - amaro! I would go back for sure for their pasta. The only thing I could nitpick is their meatball...lol...some bites has a heat to it that takes you by surprise. read more

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Logan- server/bartender was amazing- so fun, friendly and professional. Order from the Happy Hour Menu and get the Espresso martini!!!

BEST MEAL WE ATE IN BANFF! Absolutely delicious food, excellent service, and beautiful ambiance. Cannot recommend this place enough! Delicious!! read more

We arrived shortly after the skijoring event finished and glad we got there when we did. It had a lovely (and warm!) ambience. We were seated right away and ordered the haystack burger and the world famous chili fries. The presentation of the burger was nothing special. On first look it didn't look enticing. It was a smaller size burger that looked like it had just been slapped down on the plate with some of the toppings falling off. The flavor made up for it though. Good chargrilled flavor on the meat. Somehow the fries came out 20 min after the burger which was annoying. They weren't anything special. We actually enjoyed them more in the garlic aioli sauce better than with the "famous chili". Service was very friendly but slow. read more

The food was amazing our server also great ! Thanks for making our stay in Banff memorable read more

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Don't sleep on this place! First of all you have to get the elk meatballs. Perfectly seasoned, slightly spicy and super flavorful. The pomodoro sauce suits it perfectly. Everything we ordered was phenomenal! The beet salad was delicious. The chopped salad was phenomenal, the pepperoncini was thinly sliced and paired very well with everything else. Every entree was equally as good. We ordered the black linguini vongole and it was delicious. Tons of clams and sausage. The bison tagliatelle was amazing, well seasoned. Our friends also got the ravioli and carbonara. The carbonara had tons of pancetta and the ravioli, although smelled like too much truffle oil was balanced very well with the flavor of the dish. I can't speak enough about the meatballs, and with the spaghetti gave a home cooked meal from your grandmother feel. So glad we made a last minute reservation and were able to come. read more

The Fat Ox - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Food was great and the ambiance was nice. Just that our server is not doing her job well.

Amazing attention and atmosphere . The food was very good. I suggest to make reservations

Such a nice dinner and great service. Everything was seasoned well and balanced. Flavors were on point. My favorite was the Shrimp Scampi dish and my wife loved the Black Linguine. Even our 5yr old daughter loved the Polenta "Fries". read more

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Comfortable atmosphere, well prepared food with fresh ingredients. The service was first class. If you're in Banff, this is a must.

What an incredible meal. What an incredible experience! Booked a reservation here for my husbands birthday and we both left so happy and satisfied. The cocktails were superb, I recommend the Bicycle Thief. My husband ordered the elk meatballs and spaghetti and it was incredible. The meatballs were large, so tender and spiced perfectly. I ordered the black linguine vongole and it was easily the best pasta dish I've ever had. Tons of clams, the ground lamb was so tasty and the pasta itself was perfect. We were so impressed with the pasta noodles that we had to ask our server if they were made in house or not. Overall just a lovely experience and we can't wait to visit again to try more dishes! read more

The Fat Ox - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta