The best poutine West of Montreal!
Okay, so we’ve probably all ordered a take-out pizza or two from Carlito’s in our time, right?! If you live further afield then you may be excused, but I suspect the true mark of a Banff resident is a door knock from Carlitos Pizzaria! As one of the very few delivery options in town, the family-run eatery nestled within the Banff Inn has been a well-loved resource for free delivery. With that in mind, hands up if you’ve actually popped by the restaurant? With full disclosure, after several years of Banff noshing under my belt, I just had my first in-house Carlitos experience, and it was SO GREAT.
Full of flavour and with zero pretension, Carlito’s boasts a deliciously casual atmosphere; cozy with a few sports screens should you be wishing to catch the game. With ingredients sourced from local farms, and 100% homemade doughs, sauces and burger patties, Carlito’s is the ultimate source of comfort food in town.
From Montreal to the mountains, Carlito’s is worth a visit for its poutine alone, with a cheeky sign declaring as much! Sure, the Quebecois may have a mastery of cheese curds atop fries and gravy, but Carlito’s are here to give them a run for their money. Montreal smoked meat? Yep, they have that too, and it makes for a wonderful extra topping to your dish. Ooey gooey, and with a direct line to the soul, a steaming plate of Carlito’s poutine is JUST what you need after a full day on the slopes. Oof, even just thinking about it takes me right there to aprés heaven!
Before we jump into the revered pizza offerings, I would be remiss not to let you know that Carlito’s also offers honestly pretty excellent salads and pastas, for those who want a little variation to a plate full o ‘za! Personally, I found the Greek salad unfussy and fully delicious!
Carlito’s are super proud of the way they make their dough; they ferment it twice resulting in a thicker crust and an overall “sense of fluffiness, chewiness and tenderness.” I am but one mere mortal, so we tried but two pies; the La Diva roasted vegetable offering, and the self-titled Carlito’s, a chicken, artichoke, red pepper and garlic treat (washed down with a cold Canadian Steam Whistle, thank you very much!). Were they delightful? 100%. Would I order both again? Also yes. I’m, personally, not a huge sausage meat on a pizza kinda gal, but I have to say, a pepperoni came out past my ever-sniffing snoot, and it smelled (and looked) lovely, so if that’s your kinda party, have at her!
Do save room for the beloved Carlito’s homemade maple cake! Never once did I think to tack on a little dessert when ordering take-out, but when I was told first-hand how delicious they are, I just couldn’t help myself. It was deeply worth it!
Visit Carlitospizza.online for hours, reservations and further details.
