If you came for the views alone, you’d not be disappointed in this bright and airy second-floor dining room on Canmore’s Main Street. But while your eyes drink in the beauty of the Bow Valley, you’ll want to save room in your belly for a meal just as memorable.
Murrieta’s mixology team has assembled an impressive, colourful and delicious menu of cocktails that make the perfect start to your date night. From sweet and pretty to dark and smokey, there’s something for every taste. We enjoyed the gorgeous lavender sour made with the delightfully purple Empress gin as well as the Bright and Sunny which marries spiced rum, Disaronno, Lexaradomaraschino cherry liquor, lime juice and ginger beer for the cocktail version of a sunny day on the slopes.
The small plates menu at Murrieta’s is ideal for sharing with your sweetie. Start with an order of the tenderloin steak tartare, which features alberta angus beef, cured egg yolk and tarragon aioli served with fry bread (a nod to the bannock made by the area’s indigenous peoples). We also loved the bright and fresh grilled broccolini topped with grana padano, lemon and chili aioli.
Vegetarians and meat eaters alike will love the house-made ricotta gnocchi with grana padano, mushroom, snap peas and brown butter. The silky dumplings will satisfy any hunger while the snap peas offer a sweet contrast to the savoury sauce topped with delightfully salty grana padanocheese for a beautifully balanced plate.
We equally enjoyed the tender and flaky pan-seared steelhead trout. This delicate dish sets off the fresh fish with a salty, chewy prosciutto bacon, caramelized cipollini onions and a sweet pea puree all on a bed of crispy, roasted baby potatoes. This dish is complex in its combination of texture and beautifully simple in a composition that lets the flavours of its fresh ingredients take centre stage.
Date night wouldn’t be complete without a sweet finish. We went with a classic cheesecake. Murrietas’ burnt strawberry cheesecake marries roasted strawberries in a thick and hearty cake over a graham cracker base and is topped with a crispy, house-made sponge toffee garnish that lends a bit of whimsy to the end of your meal.
Treat your favourite person to a meal at Murrieta’s 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12-9 p.m. on Sunday.
Camie Leard
Camie has a passion for music, food and the people who make them. A lifelong Calgarian, Camie brings 20+ years of experience telling stories about the area as an editor, communications professional and blogger. In her spare time, Camie is a painter and musician who is always looking for the next great meal.
