🍽️ Restaurant Review:
📍 Quick Facts
- Location: 311 25 Ave SE, Calgary
- Phone Number: (403) 234-0065
- Website: readersgardencafe.ca
- Cuisine Type: casual Canadian cafe fare, breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea
It was a serendipitous discovery; a beautifully shot video flickered across our feeds, framing a historic sanctuary tucked directly into a steep, lush hillside.
It wasn’t a coincidence; it was the universe sending us a message— a direct incentive that we had to go.
This was Reader Rock Cafe, and like many Calgarians, I didn’t even know it existed. The garden itself was already on my ‘must-visit’ list. I had seen the sign just across from the Calgary Stampede South Grandstand and LRT tracks, but knowing that a gorgeous little café was tucked somewhere inside felt like discovering a hidden treasure.
Tip: Ensure you arrive early to account for the 10-minute walk to the café.
We arrived in time for our reservation, only to discover that arriving on time had just made us late — the parking lot is at the foot of the hill; you will have a steady uphill 5-10 minute walk up a steep hillside to get to the café.
Note: Visitors with mobility concerns can use two accessible parking spots located directly beside the café, which are accessed via Spillers Road.
On our quick and somewhat breathless trek up the hill, we noticed historic cobblestone pathways, stone bridges, trickling ponds, flower terraces and stone staircases that would have all to wait for closer inspection on the way down.
Topping the hill, across the perfectly manicured lawn, we finally spotted the cottage that housed the cafe; its muted terracotta colour and light cream trim made it stand out beautifully against the lush green. As we walked around the building to the entrance side, we noticed the outside walls were clad in individual square-cut wood shingles that are a signature feature of the Arts and Crafts design style (which I’m told is closely related to the craftsman style), mimicking a grid of terracotta tiles or bricks.
On the scenic wraparound deck at the front of the café, diners chatted quietly, devouring their food and enjoying the downtown views.
At the threshold of the old-fashioned wooden door, the clinking of cutlery and quiet voices beckoned us further. We stepped inside and immediately felt like we had stepped back in time.
Our eyes took it all in: Rich wooden floors and accents, enhanced by deep green and cream coloured walls. Large windows lined the dining room, bathing the interior in natural light. A descending wooden staircase sat directly in front of the door.
Simple, vintage-style tables and chairs were spread throughout the dining areas, and to the right, a white painted accent table was dressed with a white embroidered tablecloth that I’m sure came from my grandmother’s house. An elegant setting adorned the cloth: a Tiffany-style lamp, a fine China teapot, and a clear globe vase holding white tulips, alongside a gold-framed sign reading, ‘Welcome, please wait to be seated.’
We felt very welcomed; it was like stepping into a cozy, turn-of-the-century heritage home. Modern was nowhere to be seen; it was warm and inviting.
We were shown to a corner table; menus and ice water were provided.
The menu was compact but looked carefully constructed: typical breakfast-style brunch items, salads, sandwiches, mains, and desserts. A smaller menu is almost always a good sign.
We opted for the daily specials. Geoff ordered the Braised Bison Shepherd’s Pie. – It comes served with your choice of a fresh side salad or a hot bowl of soup, and he opted for the soup for the day: lentil and ham.
The Chicken Mushroom Ragout sounded appealing to me; I asked for a salad instead of the baked potato listed on the menu. Our server explained that the chicken was served on top of the potato, so I decided to try it as it was recommended.
Our food arrived shortly after. Geoff’s meal was an Alberta twist on a classic comfort dish, featuring lean ground bison instead of traditional beef or lamb, layered beneath creamy mashed potatoes.
For anyone who hasn’t tried Bison, it tastes very similar to high-quality lean beef, but it is slightly sweeter and has a richer, more robust flavour…without the gamey taste of venison or lamb. It was decadent, hearty, and well seasoned. Notes of rosemary and thyme helped to balance the Bison’s natural sweetness. Geoff thought the meat-to-potato ratio was a little off and said there should have been more stew and a little less potato.
The soup was puréed: thick, velvety, and deeply comforting. Every spoonful delivered rich, smoky depth from the slow-simmered ham, perfectly balanced by the earthy lentils.
The chicken dish was a rich, savoury reduction of tender chicken and earthy mushrooms simmered down into a thick, comforting reduction. It was like the love child of a rustic, thick stew and an elegant, velvety pan sauce. This is served over a steaming, tender baked potato, and the server was true to her word; the jacket potato did indeed add to the dish.
As much as the bison was perfectly cooked, tender, and every bit as delicious as we hoped, the chicken completely stole the spotlight. We are talking off-the-charts good. It brought a level of flavour that made everything else on the table take a back seat.
We decided to share a dessert. The Vienna Apple Strudel is true to Viennese style with a paper-thin pastry, spiced apples and raisins. It was not overly sweet, allowing the natural tartness and flavour of the fruit to take center stage. The strudel was served warm with whipped cream and optional vanilla ice cream.
A simple, elegant finish to our delightful meal.
Make sure you take time to stroll through the gardens before you leave.
The gardens’ creator and namesake, William Roland Reader, served as Calgary’s Parks Superintendent from 1913 to 1942.
When Reader accepted the job and the home that came with it, the hillside was completely barren and devoid of rocks. He transformed it from its hostile beginnings with the purpose of educating new settlers on what they could successfully grow in their own prairie backyards.
The rock garden – where, over the years, he trialled over 4,000 different plant species – was the crown jewel of his grander legacy, which also included creating Calgary’s network of treed boulevards, public parks, and playgrounds.
Reader Rock Cafe is only open for five months a year (late spring through September) and shuts down operations entirely for the winter months. Make it YOUR destination before summer ends.
📊 Scorecard
🍴 FOOD — 4.5 / 5
✨ EXPERIENCE — 5 / 5
Average of Service & Hospitality, Atmosphere & Vibe, and Value for Money.
• Service & Hospitality — 5 / 5
• Atmosphere & Vibe — 5 / 5
• Value for Money — 5 / 5
Notes for improvement: A little more bison, and it would have been a full 5 out of 5.
