Alberta’s West Country offers a feast for the eyes and any number of places that serve up home cooking to feast on. These off-the-beaten-path joints are great places to take care of your hunger during an Alberta getaway.
Find Great Eats and Good Times in Alberta’s West Country
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Exploring the highways and byways of the foothills is a great way to work up an appetite. There’s lots to see and do. Luckily, there are also plenty of places that will satisfy your hunger. Check out these gems:
- A diner that salutes the 1950s.
- A café that elevates homemade pie.
- A small-town saloon that offers big fun.
Get breakfast or lunch with a twist in Drayton Valley
The White Bull Café is a rare beast—a diner that looks like it was created in the 1950s because it was. The White Bull has been a Drayton Valley fixture since 1956, so it comes by its decor honestly.
Grab a booth, put some money in the jukebox and sit back for a good, solid meal. Breakfast features bacon and eggs as well as pan scramblers and pancakes. At lunch, choose from a long list of classic diner sandwiches and contemporary items like quesadillas and wraps. Just be aware that there’s one more thing that adds to the White Bull’s rarity: it’s closed on Sundays.
Grab a little slice of heaven
Pie is the star of the show at Miners’ Cafe in Nordegg. That sounds simple, but it’s not. The pies come in sweet and savoury versions. They can be eaten at the cafe or taken home (or to your campsite).
In other words, you’re going to have to make some choices. But what a delicious dilemma. The pecan pie is justifiably famous, while the fruit pies are packed with nine cups of fruit. Miners’ Cafe also serves up specialty coffee, homemade sandwiches and hearty soups.
Grab a burger in the big heart of a small town
Burgers, beer, spirits and high-spirited customers—it’s a formula that has worked for the Bearberry Saloon for more than 80 years.
The saloon is a local institution whose fame extends well beyond the tiny community of Bearberry, which is 20 km (12 mi) west of Sundre. The saloon occupies a log cabin that was built in the early 1920s. The burgers alone are worth the drive. So grab a stool at the bar and wait for the dancing to begin.
Sample the best of two worlds
Cucina is one of those small-town restaurants that does it all. In this case, that means serving up delicious Italian and Korean cuisine. That’s not a combination you see too often, but Cucina pulls it off with aplomb (and the occasional plum tomato) in Rocky Mountain House.
The kitchen handles beef and seafood beautifully. The restaurant is cozy and kid-friendly. So whether you go for the rigatoni or the bulgogi, you’ll get a great meal and have a good time.
