Secrets abound, bartending genius is casually administered, and friends are made. Sugar Run is…read morethat rare bar offering up OG service without pretension or absorbent prices. Find it and you're suddenly in a noir film from a more romantic age. Did I mention the sexy, shadow-drenched, luxurious vibe? The way it shifts from mellow cocktail bar to raucous comedy club every once in a while? Great place to be social, take a date, or chill with your crew. Stellar service and staff. Have fun finding it.

Service was incredible. Drinks very, very good. Justin, the owner, is an incredible mixologist. You…read moreshould check out Sugar Run if you are anywhere in the vicinity.

The waffles and gravy are to die for...the service is great .... fried chicken with THE GRAVY…read more unbelievably good. IM A LONG TIME FOODY.

Love the food and the daily specials they have!! We stopped by on a Saturday night which was their…read morechef's special. And that night we had a deliciously charred but soft octopus dish. Along with that we enjoyed the fried Brussel sprouts appetizer and some sort of mini sliders dish. Would definitely come back for another one of their daily specials and trying some of their cocktails!

My fiancé and I went here for Valentine's Day and absolutely loved our experience. First, our…read morewaiter gave us phenomenal service. So personable and helpful. I went out with crutches and a knee splint and he went out of his way to find something to support my leg so I could sit comfortably. He was also so kind to retrieve us information from the bar manager multiple times when we were trying to figure out what wine and beer we wanted to take home. In addition to the service, the food was great and the wine and beer pairings they selected fit with the food fit so well. Our mains were our favourite - the trout and osso bucco. Both came with amazing sauce, and sides were cooked perfectly. I would definitely go back to see what they have on their everyday menu to test it out. And I 100% recommend you try them out as well!

While in town for a five day stint, I ended up dining at The Rich Uncle 3 times! Was it the…read moreexcellent craft cocktails? The program is definitely spot on, thoughtful, and expert. Was it the decadent comfort food? The lamb shank was juicy and punched and the burger was over the top and worth every calorie. Was it the five course Irish dinner that I was lucky enough to score a seat for? With a friggin coursed beer pairing? If I had to settle on one thing, it was probably the stellar service. The staff was so personable and the bar tenders world class. Can't wait to visit again.

I visited here mainly for their extensive whiskey selection. I ordered the Fuyu (blended),…read moreGlenfiddich 12-year, and Lagavulin 16-year. There was a live band playing, and the place was dimly lit, just like any good whiskey bar should be. Service was prompt, even when it was bustling.

My friend and I went here for dinner and drinks before a movie and we definitely were not…read moredisappointed. The reservation booking process was very easy, we simply reserved our spot a few hours before we arrived on open table. The restaurant is quite intimate. It is a smaller space that is decorated nicely. For the entree I had the short rib gnocchi which was sooo amazing. I would come back just for the gnocchi alone. The meat was super tender and the gnocchi were soft and suited the dish well. Both cocktails that I had were great and they were only $9, which I found quite reasonable. The server has very attentive and checked in on our table an appropriate amount. I hope to come back here again if I am ever in Waterloo.

I want to start off by saying I'm rooting for the Odd Duck, which recently was recognized by the…read moreMichelin guide (and well deserved)! My four star rating is just that I think they're really good, but they could be great. The staff is wonderful, both personable and knowledgable about the menu and ready to ask questions if they don't know the answers. The restaurant itself is charming too - you have a small store at the front and then pass by an open kitchen before being seated in a comfortable dining area. I was with a group of 4: my husband, and then another couple he's friends with that I was meeting for the first time. We were told that we should consider 2 dishes per person, and 6-8 for a group like ours with the intention of sharing. I love the chance to get to try many different things, so sharing seemed like the way to go. With that said, some of these dishes were much more challenging to share than others. We got the fried oyster mushrooms (easy to share), eggplant (easy), leek (difficult), roots (medium), duck (medium), crab & shrimp (hard), and mushroom main (easy). To this point, I would suggest going as a couple or with a friend you're quite comfortable with as the dishes feel easiest shared between 2 and not as large of a group. Minor, I know, but still worth mentioning. The food itself was delicious. Stand outs to me were their mushroom dishes (both fried and the main), crab & shrimp, and caramel apple dessert. I loved these for being incredibly thoughtful dishes, wherein the star of the dish was never minimized, and other elements brought in textural surprises or nuanced tastes to compliment what was being featured. The only thing we had that I felt was a miss was the seasonal pumpkin dessert, and for having had 9 dishes with only 1 being a bit lackluster means to me that Odd Duck has 5 star potential! The things that brought this to a four were the pacing, cutlery, and challenges sharing after it had been suggested we do so. With so many plates, I acknowledge the challenge but sometimes it felt like we were waiting quite a bit of time for the next bite of food. While the staff was attentive and refreshed our plates and silverware multiple times, there were a few dishes (leeks, and duck come to mind) that I wish we would have had a sharper knife. Knowing that we planned to share everything, I also wish that we'd been armed with that sharper knife to help divvy everything up accordingly. With that said, I would absolutely return to the Odd Duck. I love that they use fresh, seasonal ingredients and do a great job with them. I hope that when I return some of the things that made them a four have been easily remedied and the experience is a true five stars!

Not the nicest location (across the Kitchener bus terminal, in the plaza by the convenience store),…read morebut the venue inside is nice (simple and industrial). My friend recommended this place. They change the menu every two weeks or so (and she may or may not have tried each menu change...). There was four of us, and we got 10 dishes to share, as well as the cheese sampler. The service was good, and they brought out two at a time so we could savour it all. We started with the cheese sampler which came with two local cheeses, and a nice strawberry sauce, and their homemade crackers. (See pictures for the menu we had that night) The carrots came with a tasty sauce. The turnip dish was nice, but for me the mushrooms were the star of this dish. I didn't find the tuna fishy, and the lime crema paired well, as well as the sesame tuile (cracker). The scallop may seem overpriced at $30 for just one, but it was perfectly cooked (the knife just glided its way down), and big enough to share among the four of us. Certain parts of the beef were more cooked than others, but had a nice tasty sear. They didn't ask how we liked it cooked and came medium rare to medium (I usually order rare). The blueberry and peppercorn jus paired nicely with it. The lentil salad may have been one of my favourites. It tasted like it had lemongrass in it (which is one of my favourite flavours) and a convincing way to introduce lentils to those who may not be a fan. The bok choy was presented nicely and the mint paired well with it. I especially liked the rice paper chip. The gnocchi had a nice chew to it, and I liked the basil and sour cherry sauce. We finished off with their gluten free chocolate cake, and the mousse. They were both tasty, but if I had to choose again, it would be the mousse. The cake is soft and the (hibiscus & licorice root coconut) ice cream happily reminded me of coconut sago. The mousse is a bit misleading, as it's nothing like you would expect: not a soft creamy dessert, but instead ice cream with a hard ruby/dark chocolate coating on the outside. The chocolate coating is a bit hard to break, but tasty once you do. If the menu remained the same I would reorder: the turnip dish, scallop, lentil salad, gnocchi, and tuna. Menu looks a bit pricey, however they don't charge gratuity, as they pay a thriving wage. Would definitely come again.

Authentic flavors!! I had the cochinita and birria tacos, and they were incredible! Both rich,…read moretender, and full of spice. The service was warm and attentive, highly recommend!

We got the standard margarita, it has Tajin on the rim amazing…read more This spot easily has the best birria tacos I've had so far. It was loaded, filling and the right amount of cheese for $18.50 CAD. They only sell Birrias Friday - Sunday. Inside the ambiance you can tell is a local feel. It looks like all their artwork is from local Kitchener residences. They have a downstairs and upstairs seating. The service was great, they even DMd my account, told me thank you and said the next time I come back to give them a shout!

We came here post dinner and VR gaming. We arrived and were seated quickly eventhough the places…read morewas full. It took a very long time to be brought water and our drink order taken. About 15 minutes. The server apologized and then apologized for the 10 minutes to get our drinks. We clearly caught them during the tail end of their peak and were fine. The whiskey selection is decent. They have a wide range of selection but are missing some of the higher end selection one may expect from an establishment that focuses on whiskey. I am guessing they are simply growing their selection as they establish themselves over the longer period. We ordered a meat and cheese board to share for the four of us. It was more than we needed and had a decent range. Service remained slow throughout and drinks g9t backed up probably because other tables were ordering complex cocktails. On the way out we noticed a drink feature on the wall we were not aware that the ladies said they would have really liked. I believe the potential for this establishment is great and we will continue to come back.

We had the rabbit poutine and meat and geese board with a variety of cocktails…read more The atmosphere is extremely hipster, and especially dark and intimate and night. The food was alright, nothing special except maybe the rabbit poutine which tasted a lot more gamey than other poutines. The meat and cheese board wasn't too quality. The cocktails we had were all unique and tasty, and quite pricey to add. Would maybe come again if feeing fancy drinks.

I'd rate our meal about a 3.5 overall . It is a buzzy place and it was pretty full for a Saturday…read morenight . I was out with two friends and we ordered pasta and pizza. Service was polite but a little too rushed. Parmesan wasn't offered for pasta, little touches like that were missing. I enjoyed the Tetrazzini penne pasta for the most part , but wasn't wowed by the chicken add on. My friends florentine pizza looked very good , and the Barolo pasta was enjoyed . Overall a nice experience and ambiance with a few details lowering the score . Solid choice for KW for a night out and the prices are decent . I'd give it another go !

This place was located uniquely with 2 other places. You come in the main door and you have the…read moreoption to go to 3 restaurants at one time! This place is downstairs and has a nice Italian vibe. Also plenty of parking so don't worry about that. They start you with this amazing flower pot bread with 2 types of butter (herb & cinnamon). The bread is good on its own but definitely try it with both butters. I ordered the arancini balls and I will say they were ok. For a main through I had the sausage pepperonata, man this was really good. It comes out in this red pot with a lid, so cute! The pasta was cooked perfectly. I recommend if you like spicy order a side of the bomba sauce to go with it , it will take it to the next level. Overall, good food and service.

Biryani was okay, but the chicken was semi-cooked. But the momos were horrendous; I felt sick in my…read morestomach for about 3 days. Worst momo ever. If this tops the list, please rethink your food choices.

From the owner: We specializes in Biryani giving unique but authentic mouth watering taste of Biryani. Explore the…read morebest of authentic Indian, Hakka, and Momo cuisine at Biryani Bar! Our upscale casual restaurants, now with 7 locations and expanding in Southern Ontario, offer a must-try experience. Delight your taste buds with lip-smacking dishes crafted by expert chefs. Elevate your takeout experience with our state-of-the-art Biryani Bar app, offering hassle-free takeout for enjoying meals at home or the office. Unlock exclusive perks like loyalty points, extras, and more.

My party of four visited during Taste of Oakville, and in hindsight, the evening foreshadowed…read moreitself early -- the restaurant's website was down with a 404 error, and we kept finding two different addresses (one apparently their old location). We eventually found it. Upon arrival, the door swung open and struck a seated guest -- a sign of just how small the space is. The restaurant was full except for one four-top (clearly ours), and we stood awkwardly in the entrance -- which is essentially inside the dining room -- waiting to be acknowledged. When greeted, we were asked if we had a reservation. We said yes. "Table for eight?" we were asked, which felt impossible given the size of the room. We clarified four, and were pointed to the only open table. No name was requested; we realistically could have just walked in and taken it. The space is starkly lit with aggressive bright white lighting that feels more clinical than cozy. The artwork is interesting and gives a gallery-like feel -- it seems the restaurant is aiming for a downtown Toronto wine bar aesthetic, but it doesn't quite land. Our table was missing water glasses, and the stemware was mismatched -- not in an intentional, charming way, but more in a "we ran out" way. Once seated, we weren't acknowledged or offered water for nearly 20 minutes. Not rushing guests is one thing; leaving them feeling forgotten is another. When our server finally arrived, the service set the tone for the evening. One glass of water was poured before he realized another was missing. He disappeared, returned with a glass, inspected it mid-pour, then walked away again (dirty glass). After several more trips and long gaps, everyone eventually received water -- about 15 minutes later. He was polite and friendly, just clearly untrained. He shared that the owner is also the sommelier, cook, and server, and that he liked working there because he wasn't expected to know much about wine -- an interesting admission for a wine bar. The owner greeted us warmly but asked only one guest about wine preferences -- ironically the only non-wine drinker at the table. The concept appeared to be sommelier-led, though this was never explained. If that is the intention, engaging the entire table is essential. That said, the wines themselves were enjoyable; the service surrounding them was not. The Taste of Oakville menu promised three curated 3-oz pours paired with a charcuterie board for two. The pours arrived unevenly and slowly, with little explanation of the pairings. The charcuterie boards were plain and inconsistent between tables despite containing similar items -- basic fruit, crostini, simple cured meats, small portions of brie, and two slices of truffle cheese. No crackers, spreads, or thoughtful touches elevated the experience, and presentation varied noticeably. Our second wine pour didn't arrive until our mains, and service moved so slowly we requested a wine list to order a bottle. We were told there is no wine list -- "we're not that kind of restaurant." Instead, all reds are $80 and all whites $70, and the owner selects the bottle for you after asking only red or white. The concept might work if explained upfront; without context, it was confusing. At one point, noticing my empty glass, our server poured me a random red -- which turned out to be the same wine as our first pour -- and then left without serving anyone else. We had to remind staff we were still waiting for our second curated pour. Nothing about the experience felt curated. The most surprising moment of the night came when our mains arrived. As we lifted our appetizer plates -- still holding olive pits, fruit rinds, and crumbs -- the servers told us not to worry about clearing them and proceeded to place our main dishes directly on top of the used plates. I'm still shocked. I wouldn't do that at home, let alone expect it at a Lakeshore, or quite frankly, any restaurant. Two of us ordered the tagliatelle, which was tasty but contained only two small pieces of short rib -- and was difficult to enjoy while staring at discarded rinds beneath the plate. The other two ordered brisket sliders: two sliders, no sides. They tasted good but left diners hungry. One guest joked they kept thinking the fruit rinds were fries -- unfortunately accurate. We tried to make the best of the evening, but it never delivered the cozy wine-and-charcuterie experience we had anticipated -- dim lighting, thoughtful pairings, something special. After finishing our meal, we requested our bills and reminded staff we were still waiting for the third curated pour. We were told "five minutes." Those five minutes never came. Eventually, wanting simply to leave, we paid a single combined bill and sorted it out ourselves. Dinner for four totaled $460. This was not the boutique Lakeshore dining experience we expected, and ultimately, it was deeply disappointing.

As an Oenophile, I was excited to check out The Wine Bar in my neighbourhood. The door was open, In…read morewalked in at 4:55 to be "Greeted" by the Owner, "We don't open till 5 o'clock".......Attitude from the get go. I looked at the menu, interesting but very pricey for the offering. I looked at a row of wine bottle partially open and simply corked, no nitrogen or air extraction.....no telling how long the wine had been "Breathing"....Days? I am puzzled by the discrepancy 5 Star vs 1 Star reviews. I have no confidence in the 5 star reviews....Friends?...Self reviewed? No serious wine enthusiast would visit this establishment...bad attitude, poor value, insufficient wine care and presentation.