(Back-to-back Portuguese food in the GTA (is Hamilton included?) - 2 of 2)…read more The Little Grasshopper Cafe' is where I had originally planned to eat, but they would be closing. I then considered it for the following day so that it would act as breakfast and lunch ... an early lunch. The name was interesting, but I didn't ask about its etymology. Portugal has a strong symbolic relationship with roosters and hydrangeas, but I was interested in eating and moving along up the QEW toward Toronto proper. Nonetheless, it's a smaller cafe' behind a brick storefront that is roomy inside. I did not want a big meal and I did not want Canadian food. I selected a fish sandwich, which was a good sized filet. It worked very well for what I needed. I washed it down with a bottle of Sumol. And, on the way out, I added an impulse purchase - a pastel de nata - which was gone in a flash. It was all good. The proprietress of the restaurant was on hand, took my order, and was the server. She was very pleasant. The prices seemed fair. Hamilton is a surprisingly large city, with about 3/4 of a million inhabitants. While it sits in the kink in the "Golden Horseshoe," its downtown core sits inward from the lake. And, in between the lake and downtown, there are residential neighborhoods and small businesses. The area changes very quickly, with some parts being frayed and others being gentrified. The Little Grasshopper Cafe' is in a nice enough area and street parking can be found very close to the restaurant. Additionally, it has a somewhat hippie-dippy mural on the exterior that will also help you locate it. I would return, but I think it would also make a great place for morning coffee and an omelette or pastries.

Wow. I had the vegan burger, fries and the Sabby salad with tuna. Oh! And the London Fog. It was…read moreabsolutely fantastic! I had it delivered with Skip and it came perfectly packaged, hot and seriously good! Everything was great. The burger was probably the best vegan burger I've ever had. Sabby salad is definitely going to be my go-to salad! Will absolutely be back asap!

A small place but the food was great and the people were even better!! You can tell that there are…read moremany regulars that come here often. Cheap and delicious food (we got the Lisa Marie French Toast, Pancakes, a coffee and a hot chocolate all for less than $30!) with generous serving sizes! We were in the area for just the weekend and they were so friendly and gave us a ton of suggestions of things to do and places to check out. They were so kind and wonderful and we'd definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting the area! We can't wait to come back and eat here again.

This place is small but warm and friendly and has some delicious wraps and some amazingly hearty…read morepoutine. If you overeat you can always walk it off in the park across the street. It's a neighborhood gem for brunch and breakfast!

We had the classic famous butter, tater tots poutine, burger personal pizza, and the orange cream…read moreshakes. They were all amazing! We be back! I also appreciate that it isn't loud inside. We really hate it when places are so loud you can't hear yourself talk. Service was good! Our server was nice.

This is fifth location for OB that we have visited including the one in London ON and Toronto where…read moreit has changed the names. Although name has changed, the food is the same - just as the first time we had. The consistency not so much. The Famous Burger - was just as I had the first time. Big, a bit messy to eat. Loved it. The Vopper - again same as we had it first. Made just the way we liked it. The Vegan Pulled Jack - was disappointing. Very less flavour of the BBQ sauce. It very bland and not at all as we remember it. Wingalings - the texture the same and sauce good (Red Hot). However in this even though the texture is the same, the market has improved in the nuggets are where the texture has changed to so much closer to the real thing. The Poutine - disappointing as well. Too much gravy too much and Cheeze, way less. A few years this Cheeze has improved elsewhere but here the Cheeze has remained the same. Perhaps we were hoping that it improved with it being more stringy.

From food to service and cleanliness this place gets a 10/10. One of the most flavourful waffles we…read morehave ever had. Yogurt bowl was delicious and generous with toppings. My cappuccino was perfect!

The Cannon on Ottawa Street is a fantastic spot--great location with an excellent selection of…read morecoffee and pastries. Cozy, welcoming, and always a pleasure to stop in.

18 people went to this restaurant last night. We booked in advance. Only 2 waitresses, one for the…read morefront of the restaurant, one for the back. We were told this was a good restaurant to try. Deplorable planning of staff. We arrived at 6 pm. and didn't receive our food until after 7:30. They messed up further because one person's food order was missed. What owner of a restaurant doesn't call in more staff, there was only one chef! The food was okay, nothing great! The server tried her best, but it wasn't good enough. I suggested free dessert, due to the aggravation. She hesitated and then did give us free dessert. 20 % gratuities were added to our bill. A further insult to the evening. 10% or 15% would have been more deserving. We usually give 15% but this was undeserving. The owner's may have been away, or too busy to correct this situation. Will not return again.

Went to Betula this evening for the 1st time. Had heard it was great. Wow! What a lunchbag letdown…read more Their Dinner Menu is a joke. Looked more like a pub fare menu but at fine dining prices. My meal was their "Nashville Southern Dinner": consisted of 3 (mini) pieces of battered deep fried chicken breast,( over-fried and dried out), and Mac N Cheese (zoodles pasta...you know...something you'd give a kid for lunch) in a scant amount of sauce (like watery "CheezWhiz), and a few pickle slices on the side, all for the high end fine dining price of $29 and a 6oz glass of poor quality Reisling for $19. I couldn't force myself to finish eating it. Sub-standard, poor quality, served barely warm food. They ought to be embarrassed. I made a strong point of insisting the server send my sentiments to the (so-called) cook. Betula is an embarrassment to my hometown! I wouldn't recommend and I will never return. Food: 1/5 | Service: 2/5 | BY THE WAY, I'M NOT FROM SANFRANCISCO. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN THE VALLEY TOWN OF DUNDAS

What a cute little spot. I said to my fiance that they better be capitalizing on merch and they…read morebetter have a room key tag. And they did. And I bought it for my Keychain. The ambiance is kitchy and perfect. It reminded me of the golden girls, my facoeite show, and a motel, but all in good ways. It is all mimicking a motel. There is also an outside to sit and dine, but we stayed inside. The service was great. I got rhe fried chicken and Cajun fries. This waa gluten free and they had many items available gluten free. It was incredible. I enjoyed the hot honey and the aioli that came with. My fiance had the Brussels hash. It looked great. He enjoyed it. Definitely stop here if you are in the area. Parking free in the parking lot across the street on Sundays.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 (rounded up on Yelp)…read more Truly one of the best brunch spots in Hamilton! There's something for everyone at Motel, whether you're a classic brekkie fan, vegetarian/vegan, or have a sweet tooth. The standouts that I recommend are their champagne pancakes (gold flakes, the thickest, decadent Devonshire cream, and raspberry champagne could on top of a giant stack of pancakes), their No Tell Eggs Benny (two words -- tater tots!), and their The Concierge (for all the classic brekkie meat lovers). Presentation is gorgeous, taste is top notch, and the price of their menu is on par with most brunch places. If I were to critique anything, I'd say that sometimes service can be inconsistent (e.g., when they're very busy) and the cleanliness of the floors & downstairs washrooms is ok but could be improved. Despite this, I think the food quality and overall cute motel-themed decor are worth the trip here.

Such a cozy little spot that's perfect for coffee and breakfast. We stopped here before a hike to…read moreDundas Peak and you can tell it's a beloved spot in the community. My oatmeal power bowl was delicious- be aware you cannot modify and ask for raisins to be left out, but I ate them anyway! My mom loved her avocado toast and said it had a little kick to it. We both enjoyed our coffee and thought everyone was incredibly kind. Too bad we are 8 hours away, but if I find myself in the area, I will stop in again.

One of the most picturesque cafes just outside of Hamilton! A relatively small, historic brick…read morebuilding with greenery growing along the outside of its walls, blue painted window frames, and a few benches outside. You enter in to see clean, modern aesthetic cafe vibes and a rack of freshly baked sourdough from Dear Grain. The cafe connects to its outdoor seating area and feels a bit like a secret garden. There's a variety of baked goods, food, and drinks to choose from. Their espresso tends to be on the mellower side - I think it's a medium body, mild & balanced, and pairs well with milk. If you're into pour overs, Detour has an incredible selection of their own coffee bean roasts. Not a coffee fan? No problem. I also recommend this spot to pick up the best artisan style sourdough I've had in this area (if you're not close to Dear Grain Commissary in downtown Hamilton). Crunchy crust and the softest sourdough inside. Perfect for a fancy sandwich or to add to a charcuterie board! You won't regret it.

I've been to Isabelle's a few times now and have to admit I LOVE the outdoor patio. Great view of…read morethe lake and the atmosphere is stunning and cozy. I usually go for the cocktails or wine which are always great, but the last time we decided to try a couple appetizers and were not disappointed. We got an order of oysters and the burrata. The burrata was one of the best I've had. The combination of the cheese with the honey and thyme was incredible, along with the grilled sourdough. Will be back simply for the burrata and will have to try some other items on the menu. I will say that my preference is the outdoor space compared to the indoor restaurant. We felt like the indoor atmosphere was a bit cold, if that makes sense! The tables and seating were so far apart, so it didn't feel very intimate. I'd probably opt to sit outdoor if you're going with a partner, but again, this is just my preference. Service is also fast and the staff is very friendly.

Isabelle is a beautiful restaurant for brunch during the summer…read more It's right by the water and it's so nice during the patio season! I see they also have private rooms available to book for special occasion as well. Parking at the hotel is expensive, but within 10 minute walk you can find street parking and city parking lots that only charge $2/hr. They don't offer brunch of Sundays but their regular lunch menu is pretty decent as well. We enjoyed the steak and frites, trout, and octupus that we got. The coffee items are average, don't expect specialty cafe quality. Service was pretty good overall. It does get busy during 12-1pm peak, but our waiter was very friendly and came over to check on us a few times throughout. But ultimately, you're definitely here for the view, so be sure you specify that you want a window seat when you make the reservation.