Serving Up a Soaring Success

The Eagle Restaurant | High Level, AB

The Eagle Restaurant Team

Conveniently nestled in the Executive House Suites Hotel in High Level, The Eagle Restaurant is back and better than ever. Re-opening in February 2024, they offer a deliciously diverse menu, dine in and takeout options as well as a weekly Chinese food buffet.

“Since opening our doors again, we’ve grown quickly. At first, we only offered room service, takeout and delivery orders, and now our dining room is open 11am to 9pm Monday to Saturday,” said The Eagle Restaurant Manager Joanne Ignacio.

Creating the perfect menu with a wide variety of options took some time, but it was something Ignacio wanted to prioritize before opening the doors to the public.

“I wanted to offer our community meals I knew they would like,” said Ignacio. “There is a lot of diversity in High Level, so having different options for different ethnicities was important to me.”

With the help of their head chef and line cooks, Ignacio says they have perfected their menu, which includes appetizers such as spring rolls, calamari and nachos. They have freshly made salads, multiple pasta dishes, hearty sandwiches, various rice bowls, and mains such as New York steak, BBQ pork baby back ribs, pan-seared salmon, butter chicken and more.

“Since it’s winter, our customer favourites are our pho soup and ramen noodles,” said Ignacio. “With our weekly buffet we always try to add new items, so people can try different options alongside popular dishes.”

Dining in at this vibrant establishment is sure to be an incredible experience due to Ignacio and her team’s commitment to take customer service to the next level.

Recognizing that happy customers are the backbone to running a successful restaurant, Ignacio says she is proud of her team for ensuring everyone has a positive experience.

“Word of mouth and customer referrals make all the difference,” said Ignacio. “Happy customers generate positive reviews, and that is one of our main goals right now.”

Not only can you expect to be treated with extra care and respect at The Eagle, but Ignacio says 95% of their meals are made in-house with fresh, not frozen, ingredients.

“One thing I said in the beginning was I wanted to make our own meals to stand out from our competitors,” said Ignacio. “Customers can tell when it’s fresh. It makes all the difference.”

Running a restaurant can have its challenges, especially if you’re new to the role, but Ignacio credits her amazing team for making her job easier and helping the business succeed.

“I’ve never managed a restaurant before, so it’s totally different than anything I’ve ever done,” said Ignacio. “With all the staff I have now though, and all their expertise, it was easy for us to grow quickly.”

Working in a fast-paced environment has its perks. Despite having a very busy first year, Ignacio enjoys receiving referral calls for bookings and reservations as well as hearing how much people have enjoyed the restaurant.

“For me, I love meeting new people, seeing different faces and getting to know people from in and out of town,” said Ignacio. “We try to always go the extra mile for each customer, and it makes everyone so happy.”

Looking forward, Ignacio is excited to facilitate and welcome changes to the restaurant such as obtaining a liquor license, opening the bar area and adding in a whole new section.

“We are hoping to open a café area that will be more geared toward lunch orders with on-the-go options, baked goods and a barista to serve coffee,” said Ignacio.

Success is never a guarantee, especially in the restaurant business, but Ignacio feels they have the right recipe.

“We couldn’t be happier with how things are going, and a big part of it is our team, who I can trust,” said Ignacio. “Plus, we took our time planning and got feedback from the community before officially opening.”

After being in High Level for 14 years, Ignacio has seen firsthand the difference community support makes for businesses and feels incredibly grateful to have locals backing the restaurant now.

“We wouldn’t have a business without our wonderful community,” said Ignacio. “That’s why we provide each and every person the best service we can.”

The Executive House Suites Hotel is owned by N’deh Limited Partnership by its general partner Ehda Cho Corporation. N’deh Limited Partnership proudly serves as the corporate representative of the Dene Thá First Nation. Situated in the heart of Northwestern Alberta, the Dene Thá Nation is a vibrant and diverse community comprised of three distinct settlements: Bushe River, Chateh and Meander River.

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By Dani Wearden | Photography submitted