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Kitchener Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Kitchener
Discover the best restaurant in Kitchener, Canada including Golf's Steakhouse and Seafood, Sole Restaurant and Wine Bar, Bhima's Warung, Moose Winooskis, Charcoal Steak House, Ellison's Bistro, Vincenzo's, Arabesque Family Restaurant, Borealis Grille & Bar, The Bauer Kitchen
Things to do in Kitchener
1. Golf's Steakhouse and Seafood
Overall Ratings
4 based on 489 reviews
Reviewed By Main1967 - Cambridge, Ontario
I couldn’t believe the style of this restaurant. It’s talked as being a high end steak house, but it was more like the old Ponderossa. Big tackle salad bar in the middle, and the dust on EVERYTHING tells me this place hasn’t been cleaned professionally in a long time. They need a full make over of both location and food!!
Since they offer banquet services also it felt like my lobster tail and fillet had been prepaped earlier in the day and just reheated for us!!
The server was very slow, and was more concerned cleaning off plates from other tables rather then bring us the requested dessert tray!!
If you want a nice steak at a similar price to this go to the Keg!! Much better atmosphere and the menu is current.
2. Sole Restaurant and Wine Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 376 reviews
Sole is a lively restaurant that offers both inventive and traditional cooking delivered in an elegant yet casual atmosphere. The restaurant ambience is comfortable and appealing, providing quality food at the right price in an unpretentious way. To view are full menus please visit our website. Sole offers brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am. until 4:00 pm.
Reviewed By fgstoneca - Lucknow, Canada
I ordered a Cesar salad and prime ribs. The so called Cesar salad was a bit of lettuce with too much of a foul tasting salad dressing. The prime ribs was hard to cut and looked and tasted like a piece of rump roast.
The server and greeter knew we were furious but offered nothing
3. Bhima's Warung
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 264 reviews
Reviewed By travelandshop2014 - Montreal, Canada
Went for dinner on a weeknight.
Food: 3.75/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 2.5/5
Although the restaurant is called Bhima Warung, it is a South East Asian (Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesian) fusion restaurant as opposed to a purely Indonesian restaurant. It takes the flavours and spices of these regions and pairs them with staples such as artichokes, asparagus...Having just traveled to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, I did not find anything I had to be authentic at Bhima. Having said that, the main that I had was good.
Pros:
1. Taro Root Mash and ribs - the Taro Root mash was simply excellent It comes with three taro chips, crispy shallots, green onions and of mashed taro. I would go back to eat this, although it was $8.00 and was a side dish. The ribs were good. They are not served with any side, so you need to buy this separately. These are not authentic Indonesian style ribs, but the rub on them was not overpowering and it was not oversauced. Not the best ribs I have had, not the worst. Very large portion sizes. I was too full to have a dessert. Although there were some pickled elements, I definitely missed the usual pickled and finely chopped vegetables, condiments and sauces that are served with ribs, well actually with almost every meal, in Indonesia. The cocktails are generous too.
2. Service - I was greeted warmly by the hostess and my winter jacket was hung up on the coat rack. There were two waitresses working. They moved very fast. Our waitress always checked on every table and was very helpful. I had a problem with my cocktail being overly sweet and it was kindly switched for me and prepared to my liking.
3. Menu - there is a vegetarian menu available upon request. It has about 6 or 7 items. Most of the menu is seafood and fish heavy, with a couple of expensive beef or lamb options.
4. Location - on King street north? of University- easy to get to by public transit or driving - parking lot on the side of the building.
Debatable:
1. Decor - it is eclectic not necessarily in a good way and a bit too dark for my liking. It is Balinese on the walls, Industrial in the ceiling and 80s on the tables. The exterior is in serious need of some TLC and the entrance is not obvious if you do not park in the lot.
2. Desserts - I tried a spoonful of my friends ice cream as she had ordered the fried banana dessert. I found the ice cream to be too grainy and the coconut on the plate was too coarse. I opted for a liquid dessert because I was full. My white eclair coffee was OK, but they were not overly generous with the Godet. I don't think my friend was impressed with the lack of rum butter sauce that was supposed to be part of her dessert. I am also not sure why a white chocolate coffee drink was adorned with a pineapple slice.
3. Waiting - the food did take some time to come, but you are forewarned of this on pages 1-2 of the humorous menu...which might need some updating particularly with the Indonesian words and phrases. It was not an incredibly long wait, but it might be worthwhile to order an appetizer if you are starving. Drinks were served within a reasonable amount of time. We came early though. The restaurant appeared to be completely full by 7:00 pm.
4. The restaurant is not on Opentable or any form of online instant reservation. You have to wait for the restaurant to call and confirm your reservation, which it does within 24 hours. Reservations are a must as the restaurant is small and is popular in the area, so this practice is a bit cumbersome.
Cons:
1. Music - perhaps I noticed this more as I arrived early and was waiting for my dinner guest. It is all over the place from country, to Buddha Bar lounge, to jazz, to rockabilly and Buena Vista Social Club when we were leaving. There were some good songs, but I have never listened to such a dysfunctional musical mix in my life. I hope they change this as this jack of all trades master of none musical selection is jarring and was the worst restaurant music I have ever heard. This is the main reason along with the darkness of the restaurant that my ambiance score and therefore overall score is so low.
2. Pricing - I think everything is overpriced for the region. Some of these prices would even be too much by Toronto standards.
Overall, it was a good visit. I would give it another try and I wouldn't have a problem recommending trying the mains as it is a decent fusion restaurant with good service.
4. Moose Winooskis
Overall Ratings
4 based on 507 reviews
Reviewed By Denise M - Bedford, Canada
Went for drinks with friends, the waitress pretty much ignored us in the bar area. We ordered a drink and said we'd look at a menu a bit later and that was the last we saw of her. Didn't t get our peanuts either...so we...MoreHello Denise M, We apologize for what happened. Would you be able to email us at [email protected] for us to gain a better understanding of your experience and give us the chance to make it right? Thank you.
5. Charcoal Steak House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 662 reviews
Reviewed By Nicole M
Had the most amazing time at this restaurant. The server was delightful and very attentive. Had the daily steak special and it was unreal. Truffle butter and peppercorn sauce were to die for. Great cocktails, beer and wine list. Romantic and fun environment. Would definitely...MoreThank you, Nicole, for your review. We so glad you had a wonderful Valentine's Day. We look forward to seeing you again.
6. Ellison's Bistro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 131 reviews
Reviewed By Paul B - Waterloo, Canada
We expected good food. Soup was excellent. Then it all went downhill...my pumpkin fritters were microwave defrosted, My Roti was out of the fridge, stuffed then rolled and served...cold. I sent it back. Was microwaved and brought back. My wife's fish was steamed dry with day old rice and beans. I so want this place to succeed but their passion for good food served with generosity and joy has disappeared. What do you really like to cook? It was a Saturday night and only 2 tables were full. Find your passion and your tables will fill.
7. Vincenzo's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 521 reviews
Reviewed By Julian A
You will be amazed what food this guys can prepare for you. Some. Amazing sandwiches, good salads, and cooked meals are great. Sushi is ok, nice desert bar and you can do your groceries in the same time. The European produce you find here are amazing. What I love sometime they have those try food stands and you could try realy good cheese or some other food. Great experience.
8. Arabesque Family Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 291 reviews
Large, casual eatery offering Lebanese favourites like hummus falafel fattoush baba gnaoush tabooleh shawarma & kebabs, with baked goods.Tasty Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food since 2009 in Kitchener Waterloo Region . We offer best shawarma .Fresh, quality, and great prices,Family Friendly place
9. Borealis Grille & Bar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 874 reviews
Borealis Grille & Bar is a restaurant that serves the very best of locally crafted foods and beverages. We bring "The Taste of Ontario", the highest quality of fresh products from Ontario farmers, Breweries and wineries to our guests each and every day. Combined with a deep respect for local heritage and craftsmanship and an unwavering dedication for sustainability. Our Borealis location in Kitchener is set in a restored 19th century schoolhouse, that is showcased in the great Harvest Lounge at the entrance. We look forward to seeing you!
Reviewed By CPAir747 - Hamilton, Canada
My first visit started off with a good recommendation by the waitress for a local craft beer Elora Lodestar Ale which was terrific. I then never saw her again until I was paying the bill. Seemed like service here is random people dropping food off with no consistency or follow up.
Lunch menu is fairly limited and they had no special on a Saturday afternoon.
I really enjoyed the elk sausage anjilitos to start with which was followed up by a chicken taco, fish taco and salad. The salad came dry with no dressing and the fish taco also had no sauce and was tasteless. The chicken taco was good but not much different than what you could get elsewhere for a few dollars less. Overall for a costly solo lunch my experience was best described as OK. Unlikely to return.
10. The Bauer Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 482 reviews
Reviewed By Scott C - Waterloo, Canada
We stopped by here for our Valentines dinner and had, yet another, great experience. We both had steaks, which were cooked perfectly. The atmosphere was excellent and our server Kathryn was great. We will return, as we always do.Hi Scott, Thank you for visiting again and for your review! Can't wait to have you again!
