We had an enjoyable patio lunch at Home Tasting Room. The experience could have easily been a 4- or 5-star rating, but during Stampede week the service and atmosphere suffered.
We started with two sharing plates: the BC rock crab cakes and the Alberta hanger steak. We really enjoyed the crab cakes - there were 4 small (about 2cm diameter) cakes which had great flavor. The tarragon buerre blanc sauce went really well with the cakes, as did the pickled cabbage and carrots. The hanger steak was really tender, but I found the sauce and the dressing less flavorful compared to the crab cake plate.
The main lunch plate options consisted mainly of sandwiches, which was a bit disappointing on a hot patio day. However, the BLT I ordered was really good - the heirloom tomatoes were colourful and thickly cut. The bacon onion jam brought just enough sweetness to the sandwich. The side salad had an awesome vinegary dressing. The other 2 guys with me ordered the Reuben sandwich, which they really seemed to enjoy.
The service was a bit slow and distracted. It was understandable given that it was a busy Stampede afternoon, and no one seemed to be interested in moving too quickly. I'd really like to return one evening because I think that Home Tasting Room has the potential of providing an even better experience!