The Bruce Hotel

A friend of mine had been wanting to go to the Bruce Hotel in Bruce, Alberta. A few weeks back I decided one can talk about doing something or you can do it. So I made a reservation and we were there yesterday. You definitely need a reservation. I had to book a few weeks in advance.

Bruce, Alberta is probably less than seventy people. The hotel was built in 1911. The hotel is only open Friday and Saturday nights. There is no menu, you go there to eat steak.

I did not know how this dinner operated. We got there a little before my booked reservation at five. The place opens at five. You are shown to your table. The waitress explained that everything is like a buffet. You are told when you can go up and get your salad. They ask how you want your steak and will deliver it later. We got up to get our salads and there are paper plates with metal cutlery. There were about seven different salads.

Your steak arrives on a styrofoam plate at your table and you go back to get your sides. There were baked potatoes with dill sauce on the side, fried mushrooms, shrimp, sausage, garlic bread, and baked beans. The steak was just how I like it - medium rare - and all the food was homemade and damn good. The owner comes around to all the tables and is serious that your steak is done the way you like it and that your are happy with it. The hotel was absolutely packed. I would bet they have a few hundred people a night.

Damn right I will be back.