Sunday Brunch in Calgary
The Glenmore Inn in Calgary is one of the places that I have learned is somewhat famous for their Sunday Brunch. Not a typical dining experience for us, so when King Calgary was invited to meet an interesting group of friends for a Sunday Brunch we gladly accepted even though we had no idea what to expect for either the meal or from the venue we were going to.
Where is the Glenmore Inn?
I have drove past the Glenmore Inn so many times and always wondered where they derived their clientele from. It is a large older hotel, located on Glenmore Trail, east of the Deerfoot and just north of the Riverbend subdivision. I haven’t ever heard of anyone I know staying there at the hotel, never heard of anyone I know attending a wedding or event there, don’t even know anyone who has previously been to their Sunday Brunch Buffet. All I know is that when talking to others about which Calgary restaurant they want King Calgary to review, the Buffet at the Glenmore Inn has been mentioned a couple times.
Let’s Review It
Pulling up to the hotel, it doesn’t present itself as being anything of note. The parking lot which I recall from many many years ago as being one big empty spot has actually been developed with a commercial strip mall, thus actually creating a bit of a shopping center serving the neighborhoods nearby. The entrance is a bit congested for the number of little shops and stores there, but overall there is still lots of parking and it is likely mutually beneficial to the hotel to have this commercial development around it.
Smokers are Jokers
The entrance to the hotel wasn’t a great experience. There were about 10 people standing around smoking on the covered stairs into the hotel when I pulled up. So many people that I actually thought there must be something else going on besides just a bunch of smokers congregating as close the to doors as they could. I waited a few minutes for them to go stink someplace else, but there was still 6 of them hanging around like a bad fart when we went in.
King Complainer
Now, I couldn’t care less if you smoke, but dude don’t think for a minute that you don’t stink. You do. There’s a reason that there’s a bylaw that says not to stand around business entrances smoking and its not only pathetic that the few remaining smokers are this ignorant but also that the business has not been able to discourage or prevent this. I’m not usually one to complain about this, but this was the first time in memory I can recall seeing such a collection of dummies in one place that they weren’t supposed to be.
When The Smoke Clears
Once you battle your way past the filthy stinky entrance of the Glenmore Inn, into the interior of the hotel, its not too bad, it is actually surprisingly nice. They have clearly upgraded the place and the garden court area which is home to the restaurant looks very nice. It is a huge open room, high ceilings, nice tables, lots of plants, and really a breath of fresh air, literally. It has the atmosphere of a nice restaurant and not of a fast food burger joint.
Calgary Buffet Restaurant Review
Our group was a pretty boring one, we got seated and all ordered the Sunday Buffet. I have a picture of the menu here in the blog so you can see the prices and the selection offered. Overall, it was about $28 per person for a diverse breakfast buffet with the addition of roast beef and carved ham. If you’re not a breakfast person, then this buffet isn’t going to leave you impressed at all. In addition to the Buffet, our group sampled some adult beverages and coffee too, it seems this group and I enjoy a cocktail whether at breakfast or at a Calgary Nightclub.
Show Me The Beef
The food quality was all very good. I have to say that of all the items that I sampled, there wasn’t any that were not above average. The roast beef was excellent, not exactly something I would normally have with my breakfast, but it was probably my favorite of the items on the Buffet and could match the quality of any other fine Calgary restaurant. The ham was okay, not my favorite but it was a real ham and not one of those pressed or spiral ham that I personally find pretty gross.
A Strange Mix
Everyone in my group seemed to enjoy the breakfast. The bacon was a popular item, but so were the mimosas. There was a lot of salad choices despite the ongoing vegetable shortages too. Definitely an odd mix of food for us with breakfast, salad, and Roast beef in one meal. Something about drinking with your breakfast that just makes it taste better maybe.
Calgary Breakfast Restaurant
The buffet itself is large and spread out. It covers several long counters and they do a good job keeping it looking clean and presentable. This is nice because most Buffet restaurants fail badly in the area of cleanliness and orderliness. By comparison, this would be the most well maintained and presentable buffet that I have yet to encounter in the Calgary restaurants that I have visited so far.
Best Brunch in Calgary?
This one is a bit of a challenge for me to fairly present an opinion on for a few reasons, so its best I just stick to the facts and let you reach your own decision if this is a place you want to add to your own restaurant check list. The first reaction wasn’t great. The stark empty parking lot and the entrance crowded with smokers was definitely not a great look. However the pleasing interior, decent service from the wait staff, the well presented buffet brunch were all better than expected. The price was not a bargain at all, and perhaps for an early afternoon meal it is on the high end, with our bill coming in at over $100 for a couple (including some beverages).
Glenmore Inn Buffet Restaurant Review
I am happy we went to the Glenmore Inn for Sunday Brunch. We probably won’t do a ton of meals at this time of day, so that will always be unique, plus this place isn’t too close to our Calgary home, and thus we are not highly likely to hit up this spot for the same thing. There was little that was wrong with our experience going here, especially compared to the average restaurant in Calgary or some of the others we have been to lately. We would recommend it primarily for those who are breakfast lovers, who are a little less price sensitive and not looking for the cheapest place in town, and those who prefer to pay for higher quality food in a quieter atmosphere with friends on a Sunday afternoon.
As always for us, the highlight of the dining experience is the friends we go with or the people we meet when we are out exploring the City of Calgary. If you would like us to visit your venue or event, feel free to reach out and send us a message, we hope to get to as many places as we can in the City and can be found out on the town several nights a week, and often at as many new spots as we can attend. Thanks ~ King Calgary
King Calgary: I am a living in Calgary, enjoying exploring and experiencing the city and sharing it with others through words, photos, and videos. I like to write about the places I visit, the venues and businesses I go to, and the things that give Calgary its own unique character. With your support and suggestions I will continue to document cool things in the YYC area. Please help a local guy out by hitting the like or share button on any content you enjoy.