Welcome to Val Marie Bar And Cafe

“ This is the only restaurant and bar in the village (pop: 126). There is nothing fancy about this place, but the service - provided by the woman who owns and runs the place with her husband (?) - is welcoming and friendly. And they serve up some pretty decent food. The menu is weighted towards Canadian-Cantonese dishes, with a few western favourites (e.g.: dry ribs; chicken wings; salads) thrown in for good measure. They also have a listing of specials posted on a whiteboard just inside the entrance. We ate here two nights in a row. The first night we ordered two of the Chinese food themed combination plates for one. Highlights were the stir fry vegetables (fresh, crispy with a really good, light sauce), lemon chicken (nice and crispy) with very good fried rice. We also ordered a couple veggie spring rolls, which were crispy and delicious. The chicken balls and dry ribs were also passably good. The ginger beef is a fun one-time and do-not-repeat order. It has a lovely batter but the sauce is cloyingly sweet. And yet, the ginger flavour actually comes through, which makes it a fun candied-ginger beef. The second night we had two western-style specials: fried chicken with fries; and, home made chicken pot pie with salad (we also ordered a full platter of the stir fry veggies from the night before - they’re just that good!). The fried chicken was crispy and juicy, and the fries were crispy and tasty. The chicken pot pie was delicious, but came out just warm’ish, which took away from the enjoyment a bit. We ordered freshly made watermelon juice both nights; it was just the right level of sweet and really helped us hydrate after long days of hiking. Two meals each night came out to approximately $70 (including tax and tip). Important note: they only accept cash (no credit or even debit). If you don’t have cash on hand there is unaffiliated ATM in the front foyer, but be aware that it will charge a $3.00 fee for withdrawals. ”

“ The watermelon juice, milkshake and yam fries were so good. Fried rice and chow mein portions were great. Friendly service and clean bathrooms. No wifi and cash only. ”

“ This venue is currently for sale and is closed on Monday. Plus they are cash only We came in for a late lunch and were seated where we liked. Rainbow, was our server and her and the cook did a really good job on our lunch order. I ordered the beef brisket and fries and my wife had a freshly made spring roll appetizer and chicken and rice dish. All three of our orders were most tasty. We as well ordered the homemade lemonade to go along with our lunch. The rest rooms were 70's dated but very clean. ”

“ Good food from great people. Rainbow and Bob work so hard and are providing an essential service in such a small town! Their homemade drink specials are fabulous! Thier strawberry juice is top knotch! Love the lemon chicken and the singapore noodles. They have fresh options and something for everyone! ”

“ I spent several hours in Grasslands park and if you are looking for a meal this is your only option! It was so nice to be able to sit down and enjoy a hot meal and drink in town! The closest restaurant is miles away, so thank goodness this place is still there! There is a lovely couple running it and keeping it going both for locals and park goers! I was traveling on my own without a cooler, so it was hard bring a decent meal with me. Luckily Val Marie is close to the park. I had a Chinese stir-fry dish which really hit the spot. It was delicious and a decent portion size! I know the couple are trying to sell the restaurant, but I sure hope they stay around! Nice people! ”

“ My boyfriend and I came here 2 days in a row. Everything was hot when it arrived at our table. The lady to runs the restaurant is an absolutely amazing woman. Even though she was extremely busy, she made sure we were still taken care of. We has the shepherds pie with ceaser salad. The portions are huge! And most importantly, it tastes homemade. The cheesecake is definitely a must try when visiting here. I will definitely be coming back! Another thing to keep in mind, it's cash only ”

“ Stopped by in Val Marie before entering Grassland national park, and the main street has all the businesses. Val Marie hotel was open and they had real good food, way above our expectations considering the small size of the town. Got the Philly cheesesteak sandwich and it filled me up! ”

“ Nice and only place to have a decent meal in Val Marie. They have a good Chinese menu. Only thing is they only accept cash. But the food was really good! Ordered the combo for 1, which was one ginger beef, one chicken, veggies, and rice. It was filling meal. The host is really sweet and she even helped me select what I wanted to eat. They serve alcohol, coffee or tea, juice whatever you fancy out of these. Many locals come here too. ”