Wildcat Café - Yellowknife

When you're in Yellowknife, you have to pay a visit to the Wildcat Cafe. Missing this would be like not seeing the Pyramids if you go to Cairo ! The Wildcat is a pretty small place and my first visit to this quaint little log cabin was over ten years ago. Only open in the summer months, this wildly popular little spot can be horrendously busy. Inside there is seating for ~40, there is an outside deck area. However, early in the season the deck can be cold, or in the summer, bugs can be an issue. Every year the Wildcat has a different restaurant in the city run the kitchen. This year it happens to be Bullocks. Upon venturing in, there are about 4-5 tables on either side with bench seating at each table. There is nothing splash about this place. Tables are wooden, as well as benches. You can sit anywhere you like and a server will be out to take your order. The menus, cutlery, condiments, etc are all at the table (help yourself). The server I had was very friendly and if they have time they'll even chat with you about pretty much anything. I decided to go with the Bison Pot Pie for my meal. In no time my food was out of the kitchen and it smelled wonderful. The Bison Pot Pie had a large chunk of bannock on it as well. The first bites in, and oh so good. With Bullocks running the kitchen I was a bit worried that I'd be getting Bullocks portion sizes (ie: Extremely large), but no, the portion size was perfect. Overall, This cozy institution of Yellowknife is a must see. The food was very good and service was good, not stellar, but good. This is a small place and it has a big reputation. Be patient if you can't get in immed. I think the food is good value for what you spend. Keeping in mind Yellowknife is typically very expensive for food. The interior is log cabin. Nothing grandiose or fancy. I like the Wildcat and I'll be going as many times as I can during the summer, before it closes up again for the winter.

We liked this place. Indoor is very rustic wood tables. Very cozy. Outdoor patio is the place to be viewing float planes as they come into the bay. The food is basic burgers and salads with a few entrees. The bison sausage was ok but nothing special. The fish cakes were very tasty and filling with some potato inside and a bit salty. I substituted Caesar salad and it was good. Burgers are great. Prices are reasonable for up north. Staff were friendly. Unisex bathrooms were nice. Apparently the deserts are to die for.

I was excited to stop in here after reading about its history and seeing it in the white stripes film. Also I was absolutely surprised to find a fellow Trinidadian operating as their chef and got a chance to eat the Trinidadian food I grew up with in Yellowknife of all places (yes they even made the pepper sauce). Also the white fish was quite good and light (somehow). The pone for dessert was fantastic, and just like my grandmother made. Awesome place to check out! I got lucky with the current chef!

I can die now, knowing that I 've enjoyed dessert in a Canadian national landmark. It 's true: this tiny, log cabin hotspot played such a vital role in Canada 's goldrush past that an almost-exact (they have a wing built on the wrong side) replica of this eatery stands in the Museum of Civilization in Quebec. How many restaurants can boast of such a thing? But how the times have changed since the days when the Wildcat was serving sorloin of beef brown gravy for one dollar. Partially because trucking costs leave the price for most goods seemingly high in this charming burg of less than 20,000 people, and perhaps partially because the owners of the Wildcat realize that they 're establishment is a centre of Northwest Territory tourism, prices here might seem a little rough. A typical entree for one easily requires upwards of thirty dollars from the wallet, but then, how often does one come by muskox steak? For an establishment that 's way out of reach for many people, I must admit that the fact that this rustic bistro even has a wine list at all impressed me. But my associates and I dropped by exclusively for desserts. Dessert portions were significant enough that my party and I worried if we 'd manage the walk home. My breadpudding was a satisfying block of raisiny goodness, though it lacked cinnamon and the whiskey sauce was tepid. The braised rhubarb-strawberry crumble should have come with ice cream, but our server has said they would and freely supplied the icy stuff on her own accord upon realizing that she was mistaken. But the portion of chocolate cake that the 8-year-old boy requested was a wedge large enough to hold back a mining cart full of rocks, and we were amazed that this resident glutton in our group just could not finish his sweet-tooth nirvana. I 'd love to return to explore and enjoy the Wildcat 's entrees, but must admit however that the pricing easily makes me wary. Still, the attempt at high cuisine in such a Grizzly Adams setting would make the experience entertainingly fun enough to give it a try.

It's worth going to this place simply for the unique Klondike ambiance. The restaurant is located inside a historic log cabin and is covered with mementos highlighting it's illustrious past. Apart from its ambiance, the food it offers is quite good, nothing remarkable but good nonetheless. The biggest negative with this place is the pricing, don't expect a good meal for under $15 with many of the main entrees costing over $25. Given the food quality and service these prices are outrageous even for Yellowknife. The Wildcat Cafe is a real tourist and business meeting hotspot therefore it is wise to call ahead to get an idea of the crowd there as space is limited. There is an outside cafe but Yellowknife has a major mosquito problem which can easily ruin a meal! The restaurant is only open in the summer.