Cannot recommend more! It was safe for celiacs and even made a carnivore say he could become vegetarian. Really beautiful and tasty food! The staff is so polite and kind.
We loved this place. Best burger I’ve had in a very long time (bison burger), plus the waiter was first class. They catered really well for my coeliac wife and the beers they had from the 3 Bears local brewery were excellent too.
We had breakfast here and came back the next day for again breakfast and lunch take out. Pancakes delicious!! They have separate glutenfree menu, all options i had where amazing. Kind service.
The service was decent and the atmosphere is great, but the pizza has definitely changed. It was disappointing to learn that the gluten free crust is different. The crust is more crunchy and doesn’t taste as nice; the previous option was soft and could hardly tell it was gluten free. It also seems they are very inconsistent with topping amounts. Ordered the exact same pizza on the regular crust as well and it had about half the toppings as the gluten free one.
Rob gave us excellent service and the food was to die for. My mom and I both have celiac and the strawberry French toast was fire. They were accommodating and fast!
We had a delicious meal last night. Our server Cate, was very helpful as I am gluten intolerant and she made sure everything I ate was safe. I could eat most things on the menu so if you’re gluten free, I highly recommend this restaurant!!! It was soo nice to be able to enjoy most of the foods and to also enjoy the ginger beef, that they light on fire with brandy at your table! I never get to eat cool things like that so thank you so much Brazen, for all the gluten free options!!
Came for supper, love that they offer gluten free options as we have a Celiac family member. Super busy, prime time to eat and was Family Day. Our waitress was super busy but still had a smile on her face and was very pleasant. Food was really good. Only drawback is the tight quarters, tables and people are packed in every tightly.
My 16 year old daughter has had celiac disease for 11 years and can not have gluten. We know we take chances when we eat out, but almost always it has been fine. In past 11 years we have had 3 incidents and a few tummy aches. But the reactions from those last about half a day.
She ordered a Caesar salad with chicken and no croutons. Talked to waitress why. Waitress was excellent. We got our food and as my daughter was eating she found bits of croutons in it!! It was like they put croutons in it and picked them out. Our waitress wisked it away with many many apologies and a good dose of being horrified. The manager gave us a vague apology without even looking at us. My daughter got very very sick for days.
Edit: I edited my above review. Although I was very angry about my daughters meal, Sean the general manager reached out to us. He took some time to talk to us and was very very kind and apologetic. Which ment a lot to us. He just started in his position the day before our time there and he says he plans on improving allergy awareness. So one star for Banff Ave on night we went. 5 ⭐️ for Sean’s follow up. Thank you.
This was a great experience. The ambiance and the chandeliers in restaurant and lobby are amazing. The food was good -tea was great. There are gluten free options. But what really made the experience was the staff. Our knowledgeable waiter made some great suggestions for local activities.
As always, great food, great steaks great service. Will adapt the menu and servings to your needs and there are glutenfree options availble - although gluten free bun with the burger would be nice!
Wow stumbled across this place and went in. Wife is celiac and so many options including beer. Had the bison ribs wings and cauliflower left us wanting more. Definitely a must stop and upstairs is so nice
As a family with celiac disease, finding a safe and truly delicious dining experience can be a challenge—but Lupo exceeded all our expectations! From the moment we walked in, the staff was knowledgeable, kind, and completely accommodating to our gluten-free needs. This was one of the best meals I have ever experienced!
We enjoyed the chicken parmigiana, which was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—completely gluten-free and absolutely amazing. The pesto pasta was fresh and flavorful, with a sauce that tasted homemade and rich without being heavy. And the chocolate cake? Decadent, moist, and hands-down one of the best gluten-free desserts we’ve ever had.
Lupo is a must-visit for anyone looking for safe, delicious, and thoughtfully prepared gluten-free food. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit!
Dined here on the weekend, I have mixed feelings about our experience. First, I want to say our servers were very polite and attentive, did everything right, so no issues there. The atmosphere was also really great; we are locals to the area and this was our first time visiting Banff Springs.
Before booking our reservation, I communicated with staff to ensure I would be able to order from the Castello menu, as I cannot have gluten, dairy, or raw tomato. Staff assured me that they took note of my dietary restrictions and that they would be able to accommodate me - awesome, we were really looking forward to our meal.
Fast forward, I was choosing my dish, and asked if the risotto could be made dairy free - the kind waitress checked with the kitchen and confirmed that yes, no dairy would be added, but that pistachio oil could be used as a substitute to not lose the creaminess of the dish; so that's what I went with as my safe option.
I received the plate and confirmed with the server "it's gluten and dairy free right?" to which he replied "yes, all of the above" (I've learned to always double check, because mistakes happen). Anyway, let me tell you, this risotto tasted incredible.. we were so hungry after quite a busy day, and it was really hitting the spot - so much flavour, very creamy and cooked just right - wonderful, until I realised there was something on top that looked like a shaved cheese. We immediately got the attention of the waitress, and asked her if it was dairy free, and if that was cheese on top. She looked at it, and said she wasn't sure, that it shouldn't be cheese because she told the kitchen about my allergies, but that she would check. The chef came out a few moments later and when he asked me how it was, I told him it was delicious, but that I was concerned that the dish contained dairy. He proceeded to tell me that the dish was dairy free, and that the cheese on top was a certain kind of "sheep cheese, not cow cheese", and therefore safe for me to eat because there is no lactose or anything dairy in it. I tried to explain to him that I can't have any kind of dairy - dairy is not just from cow... if it's made from any sort of animal milk, it is dairy and I expected a chef, especially at a fine dining restaurant of all places, to know this information, especially if the menu claims to have gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options as this one did.
The chef didn't seem to pleased with what I was telling him, but he did offer to remake my dish or suggested "eat it and find out that maybe sheep cheese is something you can have" after I told him I had eaten goat cheese before and not reacted as badly as I do with cow dairy products - feeling a little awkward at this point and not wanting to wait another half hour for a new dish while my partner enjoyed his meal, I did turn down his offer to remake the dish, so that's on me, I understand that. I ended up scraping the visible cheese off the top and gave it to my boyfriend to eat, but am now unfortunately experiencing a breakout because of it (thankful my allergy is not a severe one).
I'm really not one to complain, but after thinking about this, I felt the need to say something as allergies should be taken seriously - what if somebody with a more severe reaction was to experience the same service I did. Mistakes happen, that's understandable, but to not really understand what "dairy" means when working at a high-class restaurant is what I don't get. The fact that I confirmed my allergies on the phone, then upon first interaction with staff after being seated, again when inquiring about the specific dish, and finally when it arrived at the table, and I still got served dairy, is just sad. For the price we paid to dine here, I guess we had higher expectations.
3/5 because I want to at least credit the waitress, server, and bartender for their job well done.
I'm not sure if we will give the restaurants here another chance out of fear of a similar experience. Waldhaus seems to have more allergy-friendly options so maybe will try in the future.
Amidst the burgers, pizzas and other comfort foods dominating this area, Bison offers some genuinely interesting dishes.
Octopus, bison bolognese, halibut and, if you insist, they even have a burger.
Plenty of gluten free options, and if you’re with a friend, there’s a massive tomahawk to share.
Food and service was excellent, and if you’re lucky enough to sit out on the terrace on a balmy summer’s evening, it’s the perfect spot for dinner in Banff.
Very cute cafe inside of the Banff Aspen Lodge. Very good coffee and they also have some gluten and dairy free items. They have an outdoor patio with heated seating as well!
We stayed at the Banff Springs Fairmont for 5 days and had breakfast in the vermillion room 4 times (breakfast came with our package!) and dinner once. I am symptomatic celiac so much of my review centers on those aspects.
All of the staff members we encountered were knowledgeable and helpful. As of April 25, 2024 they had a dedicated GF frier. They did not mark my GF meal separate from my husband’s non-GF but every time my food was delivered it was specified that it was the GF celiac safe dish.
Breakfast - for the first 3 days I ordered off the a la carte menu (had the vermillion breakfast twice and the french omelette once). I had been eyeing the buffet because there were so many options but wasn’t sure it was safe for me (as a sensitive, symptomatic celiac). On the last day I mentioned that to the server and she let me know I was welcome to get the buffet, and they would prepare everything in the back and bring it out. So I went up to the buffet, picked out what I wanted and gave that list to my server. Not on the menu, but they can do GF toast, pancakes, made to order omlettes, etc.
Dinner - we ate dinner here on a busy evening. There was a bit of an issue with timing but overall it was a great experience. The crème brûlée is to die for, and many dishes are GF or can be made GF with modifications.
*cross posted to FindMeGF
Our server Kiersten was amazing! So friendly, knowledgeable and attentive! Took a while for us to get our food but it was so worth it! They also substituted some gluten free options for me.
Absolutely phenomenal. Came during happy hour for a snack and beverage, left having had several small plates, two large plates, and two cocktails. Cate and the kitchen were beyond accommodating to our very annoying food intolerances. She is a top notch professional, as is the rest of the Block team. 10/10 try the duck croquettes (they're gluten free!!)
The first time I came here I had a great experience. Food was awesome and the service was somehow even better. Second time around not so great.
My server was quite rude and difficult to deal with. I went to order a drink I had the time prior and he was quick to shut me down and tell me that that wasn’t possible and they couldn’t do that. The server was quite pushy and made it clear he wanted me out of there as he missed apart of my order and didn’t try to fix it. I’m celiac and the time prior I wasn’t able to have the cubed hashbrowns due to cross contamination and today there was no issue with it or I should say the server didn’t care. Regardless the potatoes used weren’t washed prior to deep frying as I had two bites and each one I had gotten grit/sand in my teeth when chewing.
I had previously thought this place was a top tier Banff restaurant but now I don’t know what to think.
Absolutely stunning experience! My husband and I celebrated our honeymoon-birthday-anniversary here, so we wanted to go all out. We got the package that includes a ticket on the gondola and a dinner option included. Ashley was incredibly helpful in pointing out her personal favourite dishes so we got the best experience. Many options for gluten free, dairy free, vegan and vegetarian. Our recommendation is the bison main. We hope to come back someday!
Fantastic! I couldn’t say more positive things about this spot! I am vegan and gluten free and don’t have issues when I eat here! Thanks! My partner eats meat and we can eat out together here!
Overall, it's a great place to eat in Banff. Friendly staff, great food, gluten-free options and affordable prices. The only thing that disappointed us was the salmon. We paid $30 and got a kid-size meal with one tiny piece of salmon tail!
We made an impromptu stop for a late lunch. Thought they would have the lunch menu, but it was a buffet.
I asked if it were possible to order off the menu as I have dietary restrictions. Informed them of celiac. The hostess was very helpful and inquired from the chef if it was possible to eat safely.
They made a separate gf meal for me, which was absolutely delicious! Our waitress was super nice and even brought a gf chocolate cake for me. Holy moly, I never get to eat cake in a restaurant, always only crème brûlée. What a TREAT!!!
Thank you for a safe and wonderful dining experience!
The food was phenomenal, and it accommodated a celiac diet. However, the bathrooms were absolutely disgusting for a restaurant with such a lovely ambiance.
Had the most amazing dinner tonight at The Fat Ox Banff. What a treasure to experience.
Mathieu our server made our night one to remember. His food and wine recommendations were perfect and ensure us an incredible gastronomy experience!!
- 30 month Prosciutto, mustard melon, aged balsamic, arugula
- Venison Carpaccio, evoo, parmigiana, capers, arugula, sea salt
- Shrimp “Scampi”, Calabrian chili garlic butter, focaccia
- Bison Tagliatelle, gluten free, classic meat bolognese
- Rigatoni Carbonara, pancetta, egg yolk, parmigiana
- Freeman’s Abbey Merlot
Best part for me is that they put in the same care and attention to my gluten free substitute that they did to the other dishes we had. I cannot always say that.
Thank you Mathieu and Fat Ox Banff. Totally recommend a visit - mouth watering meal.
My partner and I stayed at the resort during the summer for our honeymoon. The lounge has a great atmosphere, great dinner/breakfast food, and a decent selection of gluten free options. It also feels reasonably priced, especially for being halfway up a mountain!
Celiac friendly
Accommodating Gluten-Free