The Observatory is run by the Algonquin Students' Association. I've been here once before for an…read moreevent where they had Perez Hilton come in, talk on stage, and sign autographs. A bunch of wooden chairs were set up facing the stage, and Perez gossiped about celebrities for an hour or so, told us how he got to be a famous blogger, answered some questions, signed t-shirts, and dropped as many F-bombs as he possibly could. The bouncers were a little too serious for the nature of the event and the guest of honour. You'd think that they'd lighten up a little considering it was Perez Hilton talking and not a concert or anything, but at least they made sure to keep everything safe and fight-free. Food and alcohol are offered at the Observatory. They are fully licensed and offer Starbucks coffee and a decent selection of sandwiches, salads, pizza, pub-fare, and breakfast, all for affordable prices. For those of you that are Algonquin College students, you can use your meal plan here. They also have couches, TVs, and pool tables if you want to hang out and/or study. It's also available for private rentals when it's not being used for other events. To contact the Observatory directly, here is their information via the website: Paul Norman, The Observatory Manager (613) 727-4723 ext. 5327 or by e-mail at normanp1@algonquincollege.com

I've eaten here three times now, and maybe it's the oil they use to cook their food or something…read moreelse but every time I've stopped by the observatory for food I've been sick right after. I usually get their chicken strips with fries, and it NEVER sits well with me. Sure, they taste good, but after twenty minutes I'm running to the washroom to toss it back up. A friend of mine has had their wrap and quesadillas and even she agrees that there's just something about the food that doesn't sit right in one's stomach. Overall, it's a really nice restaurant space - the fireplace is a nice, cozy touch. The food, however, leaves a bit to be desired. Prices are decent though, and they accept student meal plan, which is why I'm not giving them 1 star out of five.

great service friendly,there music was also good young man did a great job food was fantastic ,wine…read moreandshampan were very good and main meal was real good will go back to them again with friends or family

We discovered this gem recently, and think everyone should try it. They have a smaller menu that…read morechanges regularly, which allows them to concentrate on making each item perfection. The staff are very friendly and go out of their way to ensure you have a great experience.

Great place for wedding, I didn't get married but my friend did and it is absolutely beautiful. The…read morefood tasted amazing the staff was very friendly. Bonus points because it is close to home.

We have come here for sugar shack often. It is available in the mornings or at night. At night,…read morethere will be entertainment after the last service. The place is very picturesque. The price of the sugar shack meal also include a horse sleigh ride which the kids love. Service is prompt and courteous. There is a small selection of beer on tap and many bottled ones. The food is fresh, delicious and plenty. They bring you more if you ask. I particularly like the "Oreilles de crisse" which are essentially deep fried bacon with lots of fat. The desserts are self serve: sugar pie and vanilla cake baked in maple syrup. So, after the meal, the horse sleigh rides takes you to a shed across the pond where they serve syrup taffy on snow.

We had a mixed experience working with this company to plan our wedding at their Salon Richmond,…read moreand felt it was important to share. On the positive side, the space is stunning and the food was excellent - both were highlights for us. However, our experience on the planning side raised several concerns. Communication and expectations were unclear from the outset. We initially believed we would be working with one team member, but later learned that a different person would be managing our wedding, which was not clearly communicated and created confusion early on. Throughout the process, we found the planner's approach to be rigid and not particularly collaborative. We were open to guidance, but often felt that our preferences were dismissed in favor of doing things a specific way. During our tasting, for example, some of our menu selections (chosen directly from the venue's own offerings) were criticized as not being "classy" or "elegant," which felt inappropriate and unnecessarily condescending. There were also multiple instances that felt unprofessional, including meetings starting late and recurring interruptions during scheduled time together. We also encountered a significant issue regarding payment transparency for a vendor booked through the venue. A deposit we paid was invoiced as a payment toward the band, but was not fully applied as such, and this was not disclosed at the time of payment. The matter was only resolved after escalation. While it is clear that the team is capable of executing events, our experience did not reflect the level of professionalism, transparency, or care that is essential when planning a wedding. A wedding is not just another event, and the planning process requires a level of respect, communication, and client focus that we did not consistently experience here. Due to these concerns, we ultimately chose to move forward with a different venue, as we did not feel confident continuing with the planning process. Based on our experience, we would not recommend this venue for weddings. Couples should proceed with caution and ensure they have a clear, documented understanding of vendor payments, responsibilities, and expectations before committing!

Attended a Sikh wedding and reception here. Absolutely beautiful and a space that can be versatile…read morebased on your needs!

We attended a graduation gathering there. Clean and very nice set up. Drinks were reasonably priced.read more

From the owner: We serve dinner every Friday, we have events like Comedians, The Grass River Players, and we rent…read moreour space out to the public for private events.

This is my first time visiting this hotel. My friend and I didn't stay here but we came to check…read moreout their patio & lovely river view. We enjoyed our visit and will return again for sure . Thank you for having us.

Had a 3 day stay here on business. Decided to watch some of Game 7 of the World Series at the bar…read more Greeted enthusiastically by Megan the bartender and had a few pints with a co-worker. Friendly regulars and awesome service from Megan made it an enjoyable evening. If they had HD television it would have been even better.