Elk & Oarsman Banff Review: Elk Burger, Poutine and Beer

After a long day exploring the Canadian Rockies, there comes a point when scenic viewpoints lose the battle with your stomach. That was more or less how Audrey and I ended up at Elk & Oarsman in Banff.

We had just returned from a full Columbia Icefield day, where September had temporarily decided to impersonate winter, and by the time we made it back into town we were properly hungry. A lodge-style sports pub serving burgers, poutine and beer sounded considerably more appealing than anything involving tiny plates, careful presentation or a lengthy discussion about tasting notes.

It turned out to be exactly the meal we needed. I tried my first elk burger, we ordered a poutine that had apparently misunderstood the meaning of the word “appetizer,” and we shared a four-glass beer flight so we could sample a few different styles. Although, for the sake of historical accuracy, I drank more of the beer than Audrey did.

The menu has evolved since our visit, but Elk & Oarsman still occupies much the same food territory today: hearty pub dishes, beer and a noticeable enthusiasm for putting elk on the menu.

Elk & Oarsman at a Glance

Before getting into what we actually ate, here are the current details that matter most if you’re considering a visit.

Those current menu prices are useful reference points rather than eternal truths. Restaurant menus have a habit of changing the minute somebody publishes them on the internet, and the dishes available today aren’t necessarily identical to the versions Audrey and I ate.

My First Elk Burger Was Better Than I Expected

The elk burger is what I remember most clearly because I’d never eaten one before. I went into it expecting something noticeably gamey, as though every bite would be determined to remind me that this was not a normal beef burger.

Instead, mine was juicy, tender and genuinely flavourful without having the strong gamey character I had imagined. Bacon worked particularly well with it, adding some extra richness, and the plate came with sweet potato fries and Caesar salad. After the day we’d had, this was not the moment when I was going to complain about having too much food in front of me.

The elk-burger idea is still very much alive at Elk & Oarsman, although the current version shouldn’t be confused with the one I ate. On the Summer 2026 menu, the Buck Hunter costs $28 and uses an elk-and-bacon blended patty with aged white cheddar, lettuce, tomato-onion jam, pickles and smoky mayo on a sesame bun. Sweet potato fries and Caesar salad are still available as premium side options.

I haven’t eaten that current version, so my verdict belongs to my burger: it was excellent, far less gamey than expected and something I would happily order again. What the present menu does tell you is that Elk & Oarsman hasn’t quietly abandoned elk and become another interchangeable burger joint.

The Poutine That Was Supposed to Be an Appetizer

Then there was the poutine. We ordered it as an appetizer, which turned out to be a fairly heroic misreading of how much food was going to arrive.

It was the classic combination we wanted—fries, gravy and cheese curds—and the portion looked closer to another complete meal than a warm-up for the burger. We’d already eaten several poutines during that trip, and this one ended up being declared the best of the bunch.

That’s a verdict I’m perfectly happy to preserve at its actual size: best poutine of our trip. I haven’t eaten enough poutine at enough Banff restaurants to though to start handing out municipal gravy championships.

This is another place where today’s menu has changed. The Summer 2026 standalone version is now an Elk Poutine for $19, adding 10-hour braised elk shoulder to the fries, gravy and cheese curds. Classic poutine hasn’t disappeared entirely—it can still be ordered as a premium side with handheld dishes—but the current elk-topped version isn’t the same poutine we ate.

In other words, if you arrive because you saw our giant classic poutine, don’t assume you’re ordering an exact historical reenactment.

Sharing a Beer Flight at Elk & Oarsman

We also shared a four-glass beer flight, which was a good match for the rest of the meal. We’d reached the stage of the day where beer sounded like a very sensible idea, and trying several styles seemed preferable to spending precious hungry-person energy choosing only one.

Our tasting included a raspberry beer, an IPA and an ale among the flight, with the ale coming out particularly well. Audrey and I were technically sharing, although I apparently interpreted “sharing” somewhat generously and drank more of it than she did.

I wouldn’t elevate the experience into some sophisticated craft-beer seminar. We were eating burgers and poutine in a sports pub after a long day outside, and sampling several beers alongside that meal was precisely the point.

Beer remains a major part of Elk & Oarsman’s current pub identity, although I couldn’t verify that the same flight format is still offered. Beer lists are particularly prone to change, so I’d treat our flight as part of our experience rather than something you’re guaranteed to replicate glass for glass.

What Kind of Restaurant Is Elk & Oarsman?

What I liked about Elk & Oarsman was that it didn’t require much from us beyond arriving hungry. During our visit it felt like a casual lodge-style sports bar, and the current restaurant still leans heavily into that identity, with timber and river-rock interiors, a stone fireplace, live sports and a seasonal rooftop patio.

The food remains similarly hearty. The current menu runs through burgers, wings, ribs, fish and chips, steak sandwiches, poutine and multiple elk dishes, including tacos, elk dip and the Buck Hunter burger. I haven’t returned to test those newer dishes, but the menu makes the restaurant’s lane pretty clear.

If you’re after an elaborate special-occasion dinner, I’d probably choose somewhere with a different personality. Elk & Oarsman makes more sense to me when you’ve been hiking, sightseeing or touring all day and want somewhere informal where ordering a burger, a mountain of poutine and a few beers feels completely appropriate.

Reservations and the Rooftop Patio

Indoor tables can currently be reserved, but the rooftop patio works differently: patio seating is walk-in only. If the rooftop is specifically what you’re after, don’t assume an indoor reservation automatically puts you upstairs.

I wouldn’t build an elaborate dining strategy around this restaurant, but during Banff’s busier periods I’d reserve an indoor table if eating here at a particular time mattered to me. If you’re flexible, the equation changes, especially if you’re happy to wait or sit wherever space is available.

I’d also check the restaurant’s live menu and operating information shortly before visiting. The current pages show conflicting opening hours, which is a good enough reason not to immortalize one set of times here and pretend they’ll remain correct.

Is Elk & Oarsman Worth It?

Based on the meal Audrey and I actually had, I’d gladly eat at Elk & Oarsman again. The elk burger was the biggest surprise because I expected something far gamier and instead got a juicy, tender burger I thoroughly enjoyed; the poutine was enormous and the best we tried on that trip; and sharing the beer flight—or, in Audrey’s case, sharing it with someone who drank more than his half—fitted the whole pub meal nicely.

More than anything, I liked how well the restaurant matched the moment. We’d spent the day exploring, returned to Banff cold and hungry, and wanted something substantial without turning dinner into another event requiring planning and ceremony.

For that kind of Banff meal, Elk & Oarsman worked extremely well for us. I’d happily come back hungry, order the elk burger again, make another questionable decision involving the size of the poutine, and possibly negotiate the beer-sharing terms a little more carefully next time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elk & Oarsman worth it?

Based on the meal Audrey and I had, I’d gladly eat there again. My elk burger was juicy, tender and much less gamey than I expected, while the poutine was the best we tried on that trip.

What did you eat at Elk & Oarsman?

I had an elk burger with sweet potato fries and Caesar salad, and Audrey and I shared a classic poutine and a four-glass beer flight. I ended up drinking more than my half of the beer.

Is the current Elk & Oarsman elk burger the same one you ate?

Not necessarily. The Summer 2026 Buck Hunter uses an elk-and-bacon blended patty with aged white cheddar, tomato-onion jam, pickles and smoky mayo, so I keep my firsthand verdict limited to the burger I actually ate.

Does Elk & Oarsman take reservations?

Indoor tables can currently be reserved, while the rooftop patio is walk-in only. If the rooftop specifically matters to you, an indoor reservation does not guarantee patio seating.

Does Elk & Oarsman still serve poutine?

Yes, but the current standalone version is an Elk Poutine with braised elk shoulder. Classic poutine is still listed as a premium side, so today’s menu is not identical to the classic poutine we ate.

Can you still order a beer flight at Elk & Oarsman?

We shared a four-glass beer flight during our meal, but I could not confirm that the same flight format is currently offered. I would treat our tasting as part of our visit rather than a guaranteed current option.

This article is also available in Spanish. [Leé la versión en castellano: Reseña de Elk & Oarsman en Banff: hamburguesa de elk, poutine y cerveza]