This restaurant is located in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. We were originally attracted to this restaurant because of its wine list, but ended up loving it for the fondue.

The decor was reminiscent of a library, with beautiful mahogany and cherry wood. A small, quaint bar yielded way to a dining room, with subdued lighting, and 25 foot ceilings. Bookshelves and wine cabinets lined the walls with library ladders strategically placed. The tables were spaced far enough apart to foster a great sense of privacy. Most had a private window looking out into the secluded snow.

This is definitely a great representation of Swiss cuisine. We started out with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, accompanied with a flavorful cheese fondue. A salad course followed, which in itself was not distinguishable. However, fresh baked pretzel bread accompanied the salad, which was fabulous in the Gruyere fondue.

My wife chose the seafood plate, consisting of shrimp, scallops, lobster, halibut, and salmon. All but the salmon were top quality. The halibut was very well suited to her choice of vegetable bouillon.

I chose a trio of venison, buffalo and bison, with a beef bouillon. While I've sampled these cuts of meat before, comparing them side-by-side in a fondue setting was a real treat. The subtle differences between the meats, make each of them very interesting.

Standard accompaniments of potatoes and vegetables were to par. The sauces were very diverse. They actually elevated some of the cuts beyond a good meal. A well-constructed Merlot was a great pairing for my meal.

While the service throughout the meal had been fine, our server shone through near the end. A traditional chocolate fondue was our dessert. Fresh fruits were accompanied by banana bread. I've never been fond of banana bread, and expressed this to our server. He disappeared, and when he arrived with our fondue, he had tracked down (from three different kitchens) rice krispies, pound cake, and chocolate treats.

There aren't many choices in Lake Louise, and this stands far above the rest. It was well worth the 60+ minute ride from Banff.