Head to Rural Alberta for Your Perfect Meal at an Eclectic Eatery

With menus ranging from homestyle meals to elevated classics to fine dining, some of Canada’s best restaurants can be found in rural Alberta. Farm to fork isn’t a buzz word here, it’s a way of life. These four restaurants are taking taste buds to new heights.

Last Chance Saloon: A good old-fashioned saloon in a ghost town

"History should always have a place where it can be seen. Otherwise, it's forgotten," says Paula Sutherland, Co-owner of the Last Chance Saloon in Wayne, Alberta. "Not only do we serve great food, but we embrace the history of Alberta."

If you've never visited a real ghost town, consider this your cue to visit Wayne. This tiny hamlet (current population a whopping 25 souls) was once a booming coal mining town at the start of the 20th century. Encircled by the otherworldly sandstone spires of the hoodoos, it's only a 15-minute drive from Drumheller, the Dinosaur Capital of the World.

The saloon stands proudly attached to the Rosedeer Hotel—Alberta's oldest continuously running hotel, established in 1913. Coal miners, it turns out, were thirsty people, so the saloon was added shortly after the hotel opened its doors. Since those early days, only cosmetic changes have touched this historic watering hole.

History you can feel first-hand

It's the kind of spot where you can literally saddle up at the bar. Leather cowboy saddles, some over 100 years old, replace conventional stools on the outdoor patio. Repurposing history and making it tangible is a passion for Sutherland.

"Nothing against the dinosaurs that roamed around here, but this is the kind of history you can touch," notes Sutherland.

With hundreds of remnants from Alberta's Wild West days, the saloon feels like a living museum that serves drinks. Beyond the coal mining memorabilia, you'll spot actual bullet holes in the wall—courtesy of a 1970s bartender who took a rather direct approach with non-paying customers. From signed dollar bills plastering the ceiling to mounted fish and wall autographs, the saloon is an eclectic living testament to anyone who's ever clinked glasses here.

"This is a place where people wanting to leave a memory or a little piece of themselves can live on. We accept their items," maintains Sutherland.

From smoke to sensational

In-house applewood-smoked meats steal the spotlight here, with brisket—lovingly tended for a full 22 hours—taking centre stage. For a lighter spin on smokehouse favourites, the brisket salad offers savoury bites that contrast nicely with crisp, fresh greens.

Foodies, however, can't stop raving about the sweet potato curry waffle, a delicious souvenir from Sutherland's French travels. With all rubs and sauces crafted on-site and meat sourced from neighbouring farms, every bite tells the story of rural Alberta's culinary renaissance.

"If you don't support local, you lose local," notes Sutherland. "We're not a corporation; we're a family. We invest in ourselves and the community, so we've taken it back to the good old days when you helped your neighbour.”

Craft beer and country roads

After satisfying your appetite at the saloon, keep the local love flowing with a jaunt to some nearby breweries. Along Alberta’s Ale Trail, the region’s maverick spirit flows straight from the tap into your glass.

Heller Good Sandwiches: A community hub in the Canadian Badlands

“Everything we do runs off the ethos of fine dining, which is always balanced,” explains Chris Lorenz, chef and co-owner of Heller Good Sandwiches in Drumheller. “Dishes need to have richness, creaminess, acidity, salt, sweetness and texture. Fine dining plays with those tastes and textures, and with a sandwich, you can cover all of that. It makes the perfect plate of food but in a handheld version.”

After stints working in fine dining establishments in Calgary, New York, San Francisco and Beijing, Lorenz and his wife Candace made the leap to Drumheller.

“It was a community we wanted to be a part of, with an established eclectic art and music scene. And with Valley Brewing being a creativity project as much as it is a good brewery, we figured the town would support us,” recalls Lorenz. 

Embraced by the community, they were! After opening in 2023, Heller Good Sandwiches won Drumheller’s Most Promising New Business in 2023 and 2024.

The art of the perfect bite

With a rotating menu fuelled by pure chef inspiration, Heller Good offers six succulent sandwich creations, including at least one vegetarian option. Meat lovers needn't worry—an Italian hoagie riff and Alberta beef creation maintain permanent residency on the menu.

These handheld masterpieces can be paired with sides that are anything but afterthoughts. Skip your mother's macaroni for their elevated smoky pasta salad, or dive into potato salad loaded with three different types of dill—packing a flavour punch that somehow manages not to be overpowering.

"It's all about the balance," reminds Lorenz.

Community on the menu

Settling into the space—which feels like a diner with a dash of punk rock—strikes the perfect chord between cool and comfortable.

"The space, the food, the brand, it's a reflection of who we are as people. We want to have fun, and we go with our gut," shares co-owner Candace Lorenz.

While the duo works tirelessly with local producers to build a thriving food community, their bright, airy space was designed with community gatherings in mind. Events like live music happen organically, so follow their Instagram. Keep a particular eye out for their dinner series, where guest chefs from Edmonton and Calgary commandeer the kitchen for unforgettable culinary crossovers.

Make a day trip out of it

Since you're in the neighbourhood and these sandwiches are oh-so portable, grab one to go and head to the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum to cap off your visit. Let Alberta's prehistoric giants put your delicious day in perspective. Even a T-Rex would've appreciated a handheld fine-dining morsel if only they'd had the chance.

Saskatoon Farm: Home grown goodness

You wouldn't expect to find a lush fruit-filled orchard situated smack dab in the prairies. Yet for the past thirty years, the Hamer family has been making the most of nature's bounty while showcasing a living tribute to Alberta's heritage.

"There's not a lot of fruit originally out here, but Saskatoons are about the only thing that grows wild in the river valleys. And they're a big part of Indigenous culture as well," explains Seann Hamer.

Hamer, who's taken the reins of the family business, grew up at The Saskatoon Farm, where the entire family still lives today.

A prairie oasis south of Calgary

A 30-minute drive south of Calgary, The Saskatoon Farm feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Stretching across a rolling bluff overlooking the rivervalley, towering cottonwoods sway in the breeze, framing distant views of the Rocky Mountains. It’s all golden fields and lush greenery studded with dense thickets of berry bushes ripening beneath the vast, ever-changing prairie sky.

Growing beyond berries

Good old-fashioned organic growth transformed The Saskatoon Farm from its humble U-pick origins into today's must-visit day trip destination. Wandering down Main Street feels like stepping into a prairie fairytale. Punctuated with charming Western heritage-style buildings and flanked by hundreds of plants and blooms, the atmosphere buzzes with bright colours and intoxicating scents.

"It's our home, so it has to be nice for us too," admits Hamer.

Orchards of apples, sour cherries, and Saskatoon berries blanket 50 acres of pristine farmland, but this rural gem offers far more than just fruit. By February, the greenhouse bursts back to life with plants and vegetables, while a bustling market showcases local produce and artisanal treasures.

Unexpected flavours on the farm

"Our dad was a creativity first, planning second kind of guy," notes Hamer, which might explain the unexpected Mexican fusion twist at their full-service café. Here, skilled Mexican chefs take prairie ingredients like succulent Alberta beef and whip up vibrant, south-of-the-border specialties like carne asada.

The quiche—crafted with local eggs—showcases Saskatoon Farm's vegetables grown across its impressive 20-acre garden plot. Fresh beet salads celebrate one of Alberta's seven signature foods. Meanwhile, the creamy hash browns offer an elevated take on "Funeral Potatoes," a classic Prairie side dish typically only found in farm kitchens.

Just know saving room for dessert is non-negotiable. A generous wedge of Saskatoon pie crowned with a scoop of pale purple Saskatoon ice cream is what you're after. Each bite of pie reveals gooey, juicy berry filling encased in flaky pastry made from local organic flour. It's the perfect sweet finale for your rural Alberta adventure.