This new restaurant in the downtown core is brimming with business suits and high fashion on a Friday night. As bartenders toss martini shakers and pour various craft beers on tap, customers snag tables and spots at the long centre bar.
The walls are filled with striking artwork, the ceilings are set high and open with stacks of wood lining the walls (similar to Meat on the south side). The chic decor transforms the 105-year-old Jasper Block building into a busy, 21st-century lounge.
Run by the same owners as the nearby Cask & Barrel, Rocky Mountain Icehouse boasts a menu of comfort food with a southern kick. My friend and I start with the steak bites, under the heading “Sharzies and Selfies,” and the Cajun Chicken Three Cheese Dip.
The menu has a thoughtful selection of beers on tap, including a couple local offerings, but the cocktail called Jasper Ave. sways me. Raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice lessen the whiskey flavour to create a fantastic, original drink.
Steak bites arrive wrapped in bacon prepared medium and with a lemon tarragon dip on the side. The citrus aioli adds a nice balance to the double meat skewers. And the jalapeno peppers pop in the rich and creamy cajun dip.
Rocky Mountain Icehouse comes across as equal parts eatery and bar. With that being said, the barbecue pork ribs are amazing. Served with corn and delectable baked beans on the side, the bourbon sauce saturates every tender bite of pork on the plate. (10516 Jasper Ave., 780-424-3836, Rockymountainicehouse.ca)
