I dined at Canada's 'best' restaurant for 2024 and the food wasn’t even the best part

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I had a dining experience like no other at this Canadian restaurant, and the food wasn't the only thing that left an impression.

Orso Trattoria was recently named Canada's best fine dining restaurant in Tripadvisor's 2024 Travellers' Choice Awards. According to Tripadvisor, the featured restaurants are the "crème-de-la-crème" with "best-in-class chefs and unforgettable bites."

These are spots that "receive a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period. Out of our 8 million listings, fewer than 1% achieve this milestone," the ranking said.

Located in Alberta's Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Orso Trattoria is the place to go for an epic meal. Boasting Italian cuisine and breathtaking mountain and lake views, it's no surprise that this spot ranked as the country's number one fine dining experience.

I had the chance to enjoy breakfast at Orso Trattoria while staying at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge earlier this year. I was seated in the Annex — a secluded area of the restaurant with a stunning lookout over Lac Beauvert and the surrounding mountains.

Despite being a fine dining establishment, the restaurant has a relaxed, cozy and Canadian feel. The massive windows along the walls bathe the tables in sunlight and I felt like I was dining outdoors.

The breakfast menu consists of several light options as well as classic dishes such as blueberry bliss pancakes, a breakfast parfait and eggs benedict.

I went with the good old traditional breakfast which comes with toast, eggs, home fries and bacon and it did not disappoint.

As delicious as the food was, it couldn't compete with the views. It was hard to remember to look at my plate when all I wanted to do was gaze out at the turquoise waters and majestic snowcapped mountains beyond.

With the high-end dishes and views, you might expect to pay an arm and a leg at this spot. However, I found the prices pretty affordable considering the restaurant's rank as Canada's best fine dining establishment. The breakfast dishes are all under $30 and the dinner menu isn't outrageously pricey either.

If you're visiting for dinner, you can expect a range of Italian dishes and high-quality steaks. The restaurant offers a three-course dinner for $99 per person, a four-course dinner for $129 per person and a five-course Chef's Experience Dinner for $149 per person.

Other restaurants that made the cut for Canada's best fine dining venues are AG Inspired Cuisine in Niagara Falls at number two and Pluvio restaurant on Vancouver Island at number three.

I definitely hope to visit Orso Trattoria again one day for more mountain views and delicious Italian fare.

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