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Magpie & Stump Restaurant
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
10 reviews for Magpie & Stump Restaurant
10 reviews in English
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Review from Stacey T.
We had nachos here and they were ok. This place looks really cool from the outside and it seems like its been around for awhile so it has character. I thought the mason jars used for drinks was a cute touch.
I probably won't go back, the food was bland and there's many other places to try when I'm back in Banff. -
Review from Kait K.
Calgary, AB
11/7/2010
When I was a Banff-ite, Magpie & Stump was my go-to place to eat and pre-drink before a fun night out with friends. Their delicious margaritas served in icy mason jars is the number one thing I love about this restaurant. There is unlimited flavours and you can choose what kind of tequila or vodka you want. Its all about customizing your drink.
The food is another reason why I love hitting the 'Stump. Everything I have sampled on their menu has been fabulous and they use mainly corn tortillas for everything which is great for us Celiacs. When in doubt, just order the Guacamole & Salsa. You won't be disappointed. Probably the freshest guac I have ordered in a restaurant ever.
The love/hate part of my relationship with the Magpie & Stump is primarily focused on the decor. I love it because it is SO Canadiana and kitsch. But I also hate it because the taxidermy and stuffed magpies totally give me the creeps. Also, I think it has been like 50 years since they last dusted their shelves where all the nostalgic cowboy memorabilia is displayed. Sometimes makes me shudder a little.
Other than that, I heart the Magpie & Stump and I often crave their rustic wooden floors, guac, and raspberry margaritas! -
Review from Justin B.
Etobicoke, ON
3/3/2011
Ate here and I regret my decision. I am a foodie and was not impressed by the processed foods and huge array on the menu trying to accomplish Mexican food and pizza? Well it wasn't that expensive, compared to other fine dining establishments in banff. The Cesar was spicy and I couldn't complain. The host was attentive but the server who brought the food was rude. The waiter spilt the bill for my group of five, with different items spilt between different subgroups. I just wanted higher quality food and Magpie did not fulfill this criteria so I am giving it 2 stars.
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Review from Brandy W.
8/14/2009
Blah.
#1 - mistake they made: No chips & salsa (apparently you have to beg them, as I watched another diner...)
#2 - food portions tiny. That burrito I bought was the size of an enchilada. I don't want to know what an enchilada looks like!
#3 - service relatively poor.
#4 - prices high for small portions
#5 - they put beef stock in their salsa I was told by my waiter. What? Why the heck would they do that? Disgusting.
I really love mexican food and Banff has not proven to own it. -
Review from tamara j.
Toronto, ON
12/3/2010
For a mexican resturant, its not amazing. For a mexican resturant in Banff, its amazing. The Magpie also has great veggie options. Its also a great place to go for drinks. It's less expensive if you go for lunch.
Comment from Geoff H. of Magpie & Stump Restaurant 1/3/2011
We appreciate the positive comments regarding our Vegetarian… More » -
Review from Christopher W.
Calgary, AB
12/16/2008
The Magpie and Stump really disappointed me on a trip to Banff. From the outside it looks like some authentic prospector's establishment and so we went in. I was expecting to suck on a grilled caribou carcass or something. Instead, it has a whole Mexican menu that doesn't fit in at all with Banff's history....
We had a beer in the crowded bar and then decided to search elsewhere for food. Totally disappointing. -
Review from Sapna G.
Calgary, AB
9/22/2009 5 photos
I've been a patron of Magpie since the 90s. I know, I know, I'm ancient.
Let me tell you what I LOVE about Magpie.
#1. The atmosphere. It's so laid back and chillin' that you can throw your peanut shells on the floor. UH HUH. Everyone who comes here is friendly, the servers are great, the music is fun and it's right off of the strip in downtown Banff.
#2. The food. DELISH. The portions are big, and you always get rice & beans on the side. My personal favourite is the bean & cheese enchilada. They do something to the sauce to make it taste that good. And if you love spice like I do, then order a side of Mel's Red Death. Enough said. Oh, and just a note, Magpie has THE best mudpie I have EVER had. EVER. Do yourself a favour and try it.
#3. The drinks. Um, anywhere that serves drinks in mason jars has already won me over. My personal favourite at Magpie, their Shirley Temple, yup, in a mason jar.
#4. Convenience. Magpie is located close enough to THE candy store, that once you're done dining, you can make a pit stop for dessert. Well your second dessert, because I KNOW you took my advice and tried the mudpie.
Okay, so you're probably wondering if Magpie & Stump is SOOOO great, why does it only get 4 stars. Well, let's be honest. I get around, and I have tried Mexican food all over the world and while Magpie may not have THE best or most authentic Mexican food, it is a fantastic dining experience and I do recommend it to all my fellow yelpers :) -
Review from JP D.
Calgary, AB
4/15/2010
Disapointing food. The service is average at best. The ambiance however is pretty cool, The building itself is quite unique from the outside and from the inside it feels like a saloon from the old-west.
Skip this place and go for Mexican in Calgary instead -
Review from kathy m.
8/2/2010
This place wasn't that great. We came down out of the mountains hoping to have lunch around 2:30 and discovered that most of the restaurants in Banff close down from 2:00-5:00 so we settled on this place. They call themselves "Tex-Mex" and I figured that since they are so far away from both Texas and Mexico that they had little exposure to what, exactly, Tex-Mex means. Tex-Mex doesn't do pizza, I can tell you that much. I ordered the seafood burrito, which was pretty good, but everything had a slight canned taste, like canned refried beans, jarred salsa, and canned tomato sauce in their "Spanish" rice. The chips were one notch below Doritos-- kind of like a reconstituted Pringle-corn chip with tons of salt. Plus you have to pay for the chips and salsa. The service was really great, but I walked away thinking the place couldn't even do Diet Coke right. I'd recommend planning ahead and eating somewhere good when you're in Banff.
Listed in: I don't know, just BLEEH.
Comment from Geoff H. of Magpie & Stump Restaurant 1/3/2011
For 30 years we have offered our version of "Tex-Mex" to the… More » -
Review from Bill E.
7/15/2009
I didn't eat so don't really care what the food was. go for a drink, or two. I did. It's almost a dive bar, which I wanted. A few locals to chat with, some cheap pilsner and a shot, or two, of Scorpion Mezcal... and it's a wrap!
