I wanted to post a review of a place in downtown Burlington that my husband and I went to on Friday…read morenight. We read the reviews and they all seemed so wonderful. We were expecting live music and a nice glass of wine. Because it's a cheese shop we thought we would get a Charcuterie board second to none. Ok so I will say that staff was new and I will give them that but the owner was overseeing what they were doing. So we got there they told us where to sit and offered us NO menus. No drink list nothing. We waved at a staff member and asked what kind of wine they had and what kind of beer. Being new he was not sure I'm still ok with that. He then said they had a California Cab. And mentioned a beer that was on tap. We pick what he mentioned to make his life easy. We then asked for the Charcuterie board as well. We waited and waited and finally it came. Nothing special and very slim pickings. Meat was of only one type and no bread no crackers and nothing to eat it with. No plate no small fork nothing. We got up up and went over to the bar where they were standing and ask for cutlery and some crackers or bread. They brought over some crackers and said you have to ask for them. That's NOT a Charcuterie board...so one glass of wine 2 beer on tap and a nothing Charcuterie board with arerage music in the back ground cost us $132.00 with tip. Never again for us.... I could have gone to my favourite restaurant in Burlington "DiMarios" for the same money and left happy.

If you like interesting cheese and a great selection of cured meats this is the place to visit in…read moredowntown Burlington! Troy is passionate about helping you create an amazing taste experience with his custom charcuterie boards.

The Oakville location of Whole Foods is one of my favourites of all the Whole Foods branches in the…read moreGTA. They have the best and widest selection of foods in the salad bar and hot food station. All the dishes are fresh and delicious. There are plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and pescetarian options (e.g. 3-4 different kinds of salmon, curry cauliflower, roasted vegetables, brussels sprouts, roasted potatoes, various legumes, tofu, tempeh, etc.). All the produce items are top-notch in terms of quality and freshness. They also have a great selection of items that are not as easily found in other mainstream supermarket chains, such as a wider variety of hummus and tempeh selection, an extensive bulk foods section (including nuts, grains, and beans), and other organic, vegan, and specialty items.

I like to go to Whole Foods to search for unique alternatives to my favourites…read more Visiting this particular Whole Foods is always a great experience. Especially during the first round of lockdown in March/April, you can tell their COVID-19 plans were carefully thought out. Line up outside with stanchions, must wear a mask and provided masks to those who didn't have one (before it was mandatory), clearly marked aisle directions, plexi-glass where necessary. It's safe to say I feel comfortable and safe to go here when I need to. I will say, however, my most recent visit did not have a lineup outside the store but I found it pretty busy inside! The meat and fish selection is always fresh and abundant. In particular, we enjoy picking up oysters - and they will shuck them for you if you ask! Pre-covid times saw me frequenting the hot and cold bar for quick but quality lunchtimes. Unfortunately, this area is being used for flow water and dry flax storage (as it should). But! You can grab some of the items from the hot bar in the fridge area, so it's nice to see they are making up for what I assume was a lucrative spot in the store. I also enjoy the beauty/vitamin/supplement/home area (I like a lot of things ok), as it provides a sense of calm and overall is a nice experience to browse the unique options they carry.

This is a fantastic little place any foodie must visit when they are in town. Lots of local…read morecheeses to choose from and sample and they will help you find exactly what you are looking for.

A coupla units down from Stonehooker is Lakeview Cheese Galore, a specialty cheese shop. Aside…read morefrom cheeses, they also sell jams, spreads, a small selection of cured sausages, & non-alcoholic drinks like cold brew, kombucha, cider, etc. Store itself is quite small. And according to the friendly male staff member who helped me, about 70% of the cheeses are locally produced. I believe they also make cheese platters for parties. Since the store is small, it is not really meant for browsing. It is best if you're cooking or just want a bunch of cheeses and someone to help you pick out something according to your palate/recipe. 5* service all the way! I was even offered a sample of a caramelized onion cheddar. It was delicious. Of course, it's on the pricey side, priced per 100g. It was $5-6/0.25" slice of cheese. This is GREAT if you're not a huge cheese eater and just want enough for something that you're eating without wasting the rest of the brick. There is a small outdoor seating area, but I'm not sure what it's for. Do they do grilled cheese?? That would be a GREAT idea as this area doesn't have much food options. Highly recommended for cheese lovers...or those who try to be!

If you want the best meat and service then this is the place. Sausage, steaks, blood pudding, all…read morehave been heavenly. The store is well laid out and they will vacuum pack products on request. I flew to New Brunswick in October with all the necessities to cook a full English breakfast without any problem with blood or leakage!

Best steak store ! I travel from oshawa because I find anything comparable closer. I really…read moreappreciate a dry age ! Definitely high end steaks but if you are a dry age snob like me it's worth it as they usually do longer times !

Phenomenal legit coffee. I am blown away. If you like your coffee strong and true this place is for…read moreyou. The coffee comes in a small cup and packs a punch. None of that nonsense Starbucks sizing here folks. Thank you to the gentlemen who made my coffee and helped me out because I was confused and amazed when I first walked in. Fresh large variety of pastries. We got the pistachio donut and it was divine. Thick donut with a pistachio cream/glaze and topped with real pistachios. Service is quick and there is even a small dine in area. Outside they have a lovely Terrance area for people to sip their coffee and enjoy the pastries.

I went to Lazar Bakery in Mississauga to try their famous treats, and it was worth it…read more They have a great variety, including cakes, cookies, puddings, cheeses, and other dairy products. But the standout for me was the Pastel de Nata. It has a wonderfully creamy custard, a beautifully baked caramelized top, and crisp, flaky tart edges that really bring it together. It is so dangerously good, which is very darn easy to keep eating. I enjoyed it a lot and will definitely be back soon!

Re: our first (and only so far) online order from Quebec. The products are fine. My only complaint…read moreis that one of the two cans was dented. Who sends out a dented can to a new client (or to any client, for that matter)? It seemed shoddy and not the best way to prompt return business. The delivery date kept changing, as well, but I suppose that's on UPS. (The physical shop in Burlington looks amazing. I would totally and gleefully blow my food budget there.)

British imports and stuff here... So for a few years my friend has been bringing me Walkers chips…read morefrom her neighborhood up in Richmond Hill somewhere where they are sold. Zesty Pita was rather kind of busy today so we ate along the bench that faces out the front window of the restaurant. Right in front of us is the Wandering Scott that I never realized was there. So after eating lunch I wandered in with the hopes that they'd have Walkers chips for sale and there was much to my surprise an entire wall dedicated to Walkers chips. The sad part was that they didn't have my favorite flavor (bacon) but they did have a few that I've not had before like Prawn Cocktail and Worcester sauce. They even had larger 6 packs of Cheese and Onion as well as a variety pack that includes Cheese and Onion, Salt and Vinegar and Ready Salted. Besides the chips a whole array of other snacks and imported foods can be had here such as a mix of Cadbury and even canned foods. There's a pastry display that has cookies, pastries, pies and even cheeses. I'm never been to England but this store makes me want to go, seriously... What equates to about 16 bags of chips cost me about 17 dollars after tax. The larger 6 pack bags work out to be 5.50 plus tax. I ended up also getting a tin of tiny Rolos but mostly I bought it for the tin. This store is simply "lovely" :)

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.