So, alas, it is time to do a review of Jasper Pizza Place.

Review summary:  If you are looking for a casual meal in Jasper National Park or have a hankering for a good pizza, Jasper Pizza Place is a convenient restaurant with lots of choices to meet the needs of everyone.

Jasper Pizza is located at 402 Connaught Drive, the main road through Jasper townsite in the middle of Jasper National Park. It was a short walk from our hotel in Jasper National Park townsite.

Exterior of Jasper Pizza in Jasper National Park

Inside Jasper Pizza during an off-peak time, Jasper National Park

It is a clean looking facility with enough menu choices to keep just about anyone happy.  Of course, Jasper Pizza Place offers pizzas with typical pizza toppings: cheese, pepperoni, ham, onions, bacon, mushrooms, bar-b-q chicken, vegetarian, and more.

We had pizza during both visits to the restaurant.

Below is a picture of the Jasper Pizza Place Special we ordered - minus a slice because someone couldn’t wait for me to take a picture.  The Jasper Pizza Place Special has ham, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, peppers and pineapple.

Eating the Jasper Pizza Place Special at Jasper Pizza Place

Now here’s the close-up picture of the Jasper Pizza Place Special that will make you salivate (I am salivating right now).

The Jasper Pizza Place Special with the works... stop salivating!

A thick crust and dense toppings, it was a delicious pizza.  My only gripe is minor.  The size of the pizzas seemed a little on the small side compared to what I’m used to – or maybe I was just extra hungry from hiking the day before.  Medium is 10″ and large is 12″.  Then again, the crust was thick and the toppings dense.

Still, I recommend a large for 2 hungry people.  The medium might not be enough – unless you want to leave room for a dessert at the Bear’s Paw Bakery or Other Paw Bakery down the street.

On another day, this pepperoni and mushroom pizza made for an enjoyable meal too.

Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza at Jasper Pizza Place in Jasper National Park

For something different, go after 4pm

If you go after 4 pm, the pizza menu expands a little.  After 4pm, the wood burning stove is running and some more daring pizzas become available.

Some of the more interesting pizzas:

• The Robson is a pizza with smoked salmon, capers and onions on top.
• The Cavell has blue cheese, sour cream and black olives.
• The Fryatt has chicken, corn and red peppers on it.
• The Whistler pizza is a bad breath causing concoction to avoid when on a date.  It has garlic tomato sauce, onions, anchovies and tomatoes.

Beyond pizza

Jasper Pizza Place has a complete restaurant menu beyond pizza.

Appetizer choices include salt and pepper calamari, wings, pita with dip, Mediterranean bread and other selections.  Salads include a Jasper Pizza house salad, Caesar salad, Greek salad, spinach salad and others.

There are pasta dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, chicken penne Alfredo and lasagna.

Jasper Pizza also has a good selection of burgers and wraps.  The bacon mushroom cheeseburger features Alberta beef on a sesame bun.  The Happy Burger is topped with ham, cheese, relish, mustard, pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion and coleslaw. :)  A vegetarian burger and many other choices are available.

For full entrees, Jasper Pizza has New York steak, chicken Parmesan, Philly cheese steak, souvlaki, ribs and more.

The menu also includes rice and noodle bowls like Pork Ton Po, Chicken Nuk Su Kow and “The Buddha Bowl” (fried tofu on stir-fry noodles with teriyaki sauce).

Bonus Tips

In Jasper Pizza Place’s downstairs is a billiards area.  Stop by for a game during rainy weather in Jasper National Park.

Jasper Pizza has 2 outdoor dining areas, one a second floor patio and the other a handful of tables on the sidewalk by the entrance doors.  Either outdoor seating area is a unique viewing point and a way to eat in the great outdoors.

Also, if you can tolerate eating during off-hours instead of prime time, either an early or late lunch or dinner, you obviously run less of a risk of the restaurant being crowded.

There you have it, a review of Jasper Pizza Place in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Give peace pizza a chance.

If the forecast for tomorrow is for lots of rain, now is the time to make a reservation for afternoon tea at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

The Jasper Park Lodge is one of the landmarks of Jasper National Park from the early days. And the afternoon tea is one of the most memorable meals you’ll have – a perfect way to keep the rain from dampening your spirits.

The “afternoon tea” is a lot more than just gourmet tea.  It also includes tea sandwiches and even more dessert.

Afternoon Tea Dessert at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

The afternoon tea is served between 2pm and 4 pm.  Reservations are required at least an hour in advance but if you know it is going to rain, make a reservation as far ahead as possible.

Call the concierge at (780) 852-3301 or toll-free (866) 540-4454 to make a reservation for afternoon tea.

I recently wrote a full review of having afternoon tea at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge if you want to learn more.

This was my first time doing afternoon tea.  I’m now a fan.

The gourmet tea, the wide variety of tastes and textures of the food, the one-of-a-kind setting – it all makes for a enjoyable and memorable experience.  You won’t find troops of tourists here either, so I’d have to argue it is off-the-beaten-path too.

At the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge the tradition of afternoon tea starts with tea, then a tray of small sandwich foods and then a dessert tray.  All of it is prepared with the utmost attention to detail.

Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

The server provided a tea menu with a wide selection of teas.  The server can help with tea selection if you have questions.

Our menu had Earl Grey, Orange Pekoe, Assam Leaf, Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling, Lapsang Souchong, Kenmare Ceylon, Jasmine Butterfly #1, Kyoto Cherry Rose, Cascade Peppermint, Egyptian Chamomile, Kea Lani Orange Pineapple, and Berry Berry.

• Just avoid asking for coffee!! I’m not sure what would happen… but it could involve the room going silent and security personnel escorting you out of the building. I’m kidding, but that’s how serious they seem to be about tea here.

After a while, the tea arrives. The tea itself is loose tea served in a tea press to bring out the flavor.

After sipping on tea for a bit, the “sandwiches” arrive on a tray for two people to share.  Quail eggs, cucumber sandwich, smoked salmon, goat cheese and other delectable ingredients.  It is a unique set of foods.  That is part of the appeal.

Though the sandwiches may look small, it is a filling meal. Then comes dessert.  The dessert is a meal in itself!

Afternoon Tea Dessert at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Skip lunch, skip dinner. All you need is afternoon tea at the Jasper Park Lodge. Look at it!…luckily it is a serving for two people to share.

I counted 7 different kinds of dessert items – everything I could ever want in a dessert and more.

Alas, the meal was finished and the bill arrived.

The price for everything seemed reasonable for this fancy of a meal.  Our tab for two was under $70 after taxes.

Explore the lodge and grounds after afternoon tea

Afternoon tea is a great way to enjoy the setting of the landmark Jasper Park Lodge hotel (originating in 1921) without having to stay there (this is an upscale accommodation out of most people’s price range).  The lodge has a lot of character.

Lac Beauvert boat rentals at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is on Lac Beauvert.  On a nice day, you can walk around Lac Beauvert or even rent a canoe or kayak and do some paddling to work off the calories.

Reservations required

Be sure to make a reservation for afternoon tea, which is served only between 2 and 4 PM daily.

• At one point, the Jasper Park Lodge’s website lacked info about the afternoon tea reservation requirement – which can cause confusion for those who have never done afternoon tea before and for those who see that reservations are not excepted for the Emerald Lounge.  I pointed this out to the concierge and it was promptly improved.  It goes to show that they listen to patrons.  Now, the website reads “Please note that reservations are required and at least one hours notice.”

I’d suggest calling for a reservation a day in advance during the peak months of July and August just to avoid disappointment.  The main number for the lodge is (780) 852-3301 or toll-free (866) 540-4454.

Even though we were not staying at the hotel, the concierge really seemed to go out of the way for us.  And the waitstaff service was good too.

My only complaint about Jasper Park Lodge is the tight parking lot for guests not staying in the hotel.  Give yourself extra time to park and walk to the lodge.  Or live it up and do valet service which is at the entrance of the main lodge building where tea is served.

All-in-all a good time.  I’d do afternoon tea again.

It might not be the best thing to bring kids to for a meal but it is perfect for a romantic meal.

I wonder if the chef changes the selection based on seasonal food availability.  Sounds like the perfect excuse to go back to find out.

Simple.  Buy locally grown food on your way to Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

The region’s local farmers’ markets and many small farm stands offer green travelers and budget-conscious travelers a way to get locally grown produce at surprisingly low prices.  Buying locally grown produce reduces your travel carbon footprint because the foods were shipped less and have less packaging than foods typically found in a grocery store.

Buying local has added benefits.  For the traveler from lands faraway, visiting a market on the way to Jasper National Park is a way to experience the local food heritage.

For instance, have you ever tried saskatoons, a sweet fruit that looks like blueberries? Saskatoons grow in western Canada and northwest/central US.  Even if you buy saskatoons at local restaurants and ice cream shops, the saskatoon berries will have traveled less than, say, bananas shipped from South America.  Your travel carbon footprint will be reduced.

How to make the most of a trip to a farmers’ market in Alberta?

Make it easy to be a green traveler.  Make the habit of always bringing silverware in your suitcase when traveling.  Carry it in your backpack when out and about.  If you happen upon a farm stand and pick up an assortment of fruit, vegetables, bread, crackers and jam, you have a way to eat it.

The Alberta Farmers’ Market Association recommends buying what is seasonal, appealing and fresh.  They also recommend asking questions of the growers.   It is a great way to learn about local farming and meet new people.  The Association also suggests being selective as buying too much will result food can result in food going bad before it is eaten.

Farmers’ markets and farm stands can also be places to find unique locally made handicrafts and gifts.

The farmer’s markets in the region tend to be open seasonally (July and August, usually June and September, and sometimes beyond) and for only a day or two each week – and for limited hours. Be sure to know the hours before planning a trip to a farmer’s market.

Where are the farm stands and farmers’ markets in Alberta?

While a listing of farm stands is unavailable, farm stands tend to be open during the mornings and early afternoons.  If you are out driving in rural areas, keep a look out for the opportunity for a spontaneous stop at a farm stand.  Some farm stands even have DIY u-pick farms where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables.

Farmer’s markets are easier to find.  The following links will help you find farmer’s markets in the vicinity of Jasper and Banff National Parks.

Hinton, Alberta

Just minutes from the eastern entrance to Jasper National Park is the town of Hinton, Alberta.  The Hinton Farmer’s Market at the Hinton Centre, 965 Switzer Dr, is open Thursdays from 11AM to 2PM for most of the year.  The same organization comes to Jasper a few times a year, making use of the Jasper Activity Centre.

Edson, Alberta

The little town of Edson is midway between Edmonton and Jasper National Park.

The Edson Farmers’ Market is on Fridays from mid-April to min-December from 10:30am to 2pm. If you happen to be passing by Edson at this time, give the Edson Farmers’ Market a try. The market is held at the Edson Friendship Centre.

Keep an eye out for farm stands along the highway.

Edmonton, Alberta

The West Edmonton Mall is by no means the only place to shop in Edmonton.  Edmonton has plenty of farmers’ markets for shopping.  Farmer’s Market Online lists 8 different farmer’s markets in Edmonton.

Check out Edmonton’s Old Strathcona Farmers Market (website), open Saturdays from 8AM to 3PM, which has around 130 vendors and can sometimes see 10,000 visitors on a busy Saturday.  Be on the look-out for street performers as well.

Farm stands can be found in the Edmonton suburbs.

Calgary, Alberta

The Calgary Farmers’ Market (website) and the Millarville Farmer’s Market (website) are the big farmer’s markets in the Banff National Park area.  Stop by on the way to Banff and Jasper National Parks.

A nice photo album of the Calgary Farmers’ Market can be found here.

Besides being environmentally friendly, buying locally grown food can save on food costs, making for a cheaper Jasper National Park vacation.  It can also be a lot of fun!

Be sure to buy locally grown foods from farmers’ markets and farm stands on your Jasper National Park vacation so that you may be a green traveler.

Pictured is a scan of a Jasper Park Lodge restaurant menu I have.  The menu is dated Wednesday, July 22, 1953.  The menu depicts Spirit Island on Jasper’s famous Maligne Lake.

The words “Canadian National System” are written on the bottom of the restaurant menu.  Therefore, it is likely that travelers who received this menu were traveling across Canada on a Canadian National Railway transcontinental train ride and making a stop in Jasper for sightseeing and meals at Jasper Park Lodge.

Given that printing full color menus in 1953 was not cheap, nor was/is Jasper Park Lodge, I’m guessing this was an upscale dining experience.

Jasper Park Lodge 1953 Dinner Menu

Imagine the scene.

People sit in the Jasper Park Lodge restaurant talking about Ford and Chevy cars, B&W televisions or the black bear they saw from the window of the train.  In 1953, the geographic region had only been a national park for less than 50 years.

The dining experience starts with the waitstaff delivering celery and olives to the table as a snack.  The tourists are given a menu and choice of drinks, fruit supreme, grenadine, merry widow cocktail, or chilled tomato juice.  A merry widow cocktail, not as common today, is an alcoholic drink made with brandy, maraschino liqueur and a cherry.

Next comes the soup.

The travelers pick from the fancy-sounding “consomme vert pre” (probably some sort of veggie broth) or the less fancy sounding “jellied broth” or “cream of green beans”.

The Main Course

The Main Course selections for the day featured a wide variety of cuisines, some French, some traditional:

• Fresh lake trout saute, meuniere
• Breaded veal chop with spaghetti, chef’s style
• Sugar-cured ham glace, pineapple fritters
• Broiled beef tournedos, bearnaise
• Roast turkey, cranberry sauce
• Cold lobster, mayonnaise
• Fruit plate with cottage cheese, brown bread

The Jasper travelers would be served their main course meal along with lettuce and french dressing and a vegetable.  The vegetable selection was mashed, boiled or au gratin potatoes, new green beans and cauliflower with fine herbs.  Apparently “new green beans” differ from plain “green beans” in that new green beans are picked earlier in the season.

Dessert, the other main course.

Everyone loves dessert.  Dessert is one of the things to look forward to when traveling.  Jasper in the 1950s was no exception.  The dessert served on this fine 1953 evening consisted of a choice of frozen puff, frosted layer cake, pear cream pie, cantaloupe a lo mode or a cheese board (selection of cheeses).

The Jasper travelers of the 1950s

Imagine the travelers wearing the fashion of the 1950s.

Maybe the travelers who received this menu were going from Vancouver to Toronto or maybe just Vancouver to Edmonton.  Jasper National Park was one of the notable stops on the route.

Travelers would ride the train and then spend a day or two at the park, taking in sites like Maligne Lake or wandering around the Jasper Park Lodge (now known as the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge).  The engine car may have been like this steam locomotive train, typical of what was in operation in 1953.

Our July 22, 1953 Jasper National Park travelers not only had a great meal, but a few days later, they’d learn that the Korean War ended, a war that took the lives of over 300 Canadians and injured hundreds more.

A few years after this dinner, the more famous train line called “The Canadian” line launched with new trains and an even better transcontinental train ride experience.

Today, train buffs seeking a Canadian train adventure with stops in Jasper should look at Via Rail who offers a service here that is top notch.  It is not cheap, but must be one of the best train travel experiences in the world.  There’s a good article about the modern transcontinental Canada train experience here.

My best advice is to avoid arriving at the Jasper Tramway hungry at lunch time expecting to get into the Treeline Restaurant quickly. Pack some energy bars. At peak hours, the Jasper Tramway will have a wait, maybe 15 minutes, maybe more. Then, since the seating in the main area of the Treeline Restaurant is limited to 50 at a time, there could be a wait to get into the restaurant. Though there may be a wait at peak lunch hours, I wouldn’t worry about it. And if it is too busy, eat an energy bar and take a hike to the peak of Whistler’s Mountain and then try the restaurant again on the way down.

The restaurant is a hidden Jasper National Park gem that few travelers plan into their itinerary. Amongst the choices for dining in Jasper National Park, it ranks high for its atmosphere.

The Jasper Tramway is still a great time even if the restaurant is skipped. The Jasper Tramway Experience (tramway and hike) is a must-do but the restaurant is likely to make good sense for most travelers who can be flexible about when they eat. If you are already paying for tickets to ride the Jasper Tramway, eating at the restaurant is a good way to get more out of the experience.

Jasper Pizza Place is on 402 Connaught Drive near the train station. We sat by the window and had a good view of the distant mountains, something that never seems to grow old.

This is the place to go for a good old-fashioned pizza. The topics pizza toppings are what you’d expect at a North American pizza joint. There’s pepperoni, mushroom, ham, veggies, etc. There’s even a ham & pineapple combo and a barbequed chicken combo. It’s a nice bite to eat, nothing spectacular, but not bad either.

The two other good pizza choices are North Face Pizza (618 Connaught Drive) and Lulu’s Pizzerea (610 Patricia St), both in the vicinity in Jasper townsite.

Both North Face Pizza and Lulu’s Pizza get high marks from others, though I have yet to try them. And at some point or another, someone was dissatisfied with all three. That’s the fun of eating out. You never know what you’re going to get.

Follow some conversations about Jasper pizza and other dining on Chowhound here and here and most recently here.

This map shows the pizza places and some of the other dining options in Jasper National Park’s main village.