Hamilton Cuisine - Page 77

mattgrande · #**1521** Posted **Feb 26, 2018, 5:40 PM**

Just heard today the Incognito on John South is closing. Feel like they've been there for a long time. This is third-hand information, but apparently the owners are just getting old and are kind of done with owning a restaurant.

drpgq · #**1522** Posted **Feb 26, 2018, 5:54 PM**

That's too bad. Incognito was always solid.

The Gore · #**1523** Posted **Feb 26, 2018, 6:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattgrande

Just heard today the Incognito on James South is closing. Feel like they've been there for a long time. This is third-hand information, but apparently the owners are just getting old and are kind of done with owning a restaurant.

I believe its on John South

movingtohamilton · #**1524** Posted **Feb 27, 2018, 3:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gore

I believe its on John South

Nope. James south.

matt602 · #**1525** Posted **Feb 27, 2018, 3:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by movingtohamilton

Nope. James south.

No, they were right unless they moved between April of 2017 (the google maps streetview image I'm looking at) and now.

movingtohamilton · #**1526** Posted **Feb 27, 2018, 12:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt602

No, they were right unless they moved between April of 2017 (the google maps streetview image I'm looking at) and now.

Of course it is. Oops.

Went there a couple of times when we moved here and didn't go back.

durandy · #**1527** Posted **Feb 27, 2018, 1:50 PM**

That's too bad. Always solid and their prices were great.

mattgrande · #**1528** Posted **Feb 27, 2018, 6:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gore

I believe its on John South

Whoops! Typo on my part. Thanks, I've edited it.

ScreamingViking · #**1529** Posted **Mar 30, 2018, 11:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamilton23

There isn't really a true fine dining experience in Downtown Hamilton.

Shakespeare's. LoPresti's at Maxwells.

LRTfan · #**1530** Posted **Mar 31, 2018, 1:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Shakespeare's. LoPresti's at Maxwells.

The 1980's called....Lol

Sehnsucht · #**1531** Posted **Mar 31, 2018, 2:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Shakespeare's. LoPresti's at Maxwells.

Berkeley North? Lake Road? The French? The Diplomat? None are Michelin, sure, but are still quite good.

timach · #**1532** Posted **Mar 31, 2018, 3:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sehnsucht

Berkeley North? Lake Road? The French? The Diplomat? None are Michelin, sure, but are still quite good.

Lake Road closed, born and raised is opening an Asian restaurant in there.

davidcappi · #**1533** Posted **Mar 31, 2018, 4:40 PM**

Fine dining hasn't typically worked in Hamilton. Guests seem to be more into fine dining level food in a more casual or trendy environment. Table linens and wine cellars with expensive steaks feels dated to me when you compare it to the creative food being offered elsewhere downtown.

ScreamingViking · #**1534** Posted **Mar 31, 2018, 7:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LRTfan

The 1980's called....Lol

Nevertheless, they count. And they've stayed open for good reason (though Lo Presti's and Maxwells used to be separate restaurants at one time).

"Fine dining" can mean different things to different people, so the line that defines it can be fuzzy. But I feel those two places fit the bill. There are many other "upscale" places in the core too as pointed out, though they may have a more casual atmosphere.

Chronamut · #**1535** Posted **Mar 31, 2018, 10:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidcappi

Fine dining hasn't typically worked in Hamilton. Guests seem to be more into fine dining level food in a more casual or trendy environment. Table linens and wine cellars with expensive steaks feels dated to me when you compare it to the creative food being offered elsewhere downtown.

Works for the keg.. can the keg be considered fine dining? I know it's not downtown but still..

Also the restaurant that was originally in the lister block renovation before.. the owner of it refused to pay anyone.. was pretty upscale.. and I'd argue some of the restaurants along king william are def. upscale.. (their prices certainly are..)

hamilton23 · #**1536** Posted **Apr 1, 2018, 3:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sehnsucht

Berkeley North? Lake Road? The French? The Diplomat? None are Michelin, sure, but are still quite good.

All good restaurants. None are exactly fine dining though.

hamilton23 · #**1537** Posted **Apr 1, 2018, 3:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidcappi

Fine dining hasn't typically worked in Hamilton. Guests seem to be more into fine dining level food in a more casual or trendy environment. Table linens and wine cellars with expensive steaks feels dated to me when you compare it to the creative food being offered elsewhere downtown.

You don't have to have fancy table linens to be considered a fancy restaurant.

There's a lot of upscale fine dining restaurants that doesn't feel stuffy or super formal. Just look at Downtown Toronto. That's the type of restaurant that's going into that space.

Lots of cool restaurants that have opened downtown in the last 5-7 years, but none are fine dining. That's all I'm saying.

hamilton23 · #**1538** Posted **Apr 1, 2018, 3:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronamut

Works for the keg.. can the keg be considered fine dining? I know it's not downtown but still..

Also the restaurant that was originally in the lister block renovation before.. the owner of it refused to pay anyone.. was pretty upscale.. and I'd argue some of the restaurants along king william are def. upscale.. (their prices certainly are..)

An argument surely can be made that some of the restaurants on King William are considered fine dining. My definition of fine dining could be different than someone else's and vice versa.

I think Quatrefoil in Dundas as a good example of a fine dining restaurant.

durandy · #**1539** Posted **Apr 1, 2018, 6:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamilton23

An argument surely can be made that some of the restaurants on King William are considered fine dining. My definition of fine dining could be different than someone else's and vice versa.

I think Quatrefoil in Dundas as a good example of a fine dining restaurant.

Agree with this. The Heather on Barton us the only place in Hamilton I know of, unless you count Dundas and then quatrefoil if it's still going. You need a menu that is inventive and personal, where the food itself is the destination. Hamilton has come a long way from 2007 but it's still so far from having anything worth visiting for.

Chronamut · #**1540** Posted **Apr 1, 2018, 6:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by durandy

Agree with this. The Heather on Barton us the only place in Hamilton I know of, unless you count Dundas and then quatrefoil if it's still going. You need a menu that is inventive and personal, where the food itself is the destination. Hamilton has come a long way from 2007 but it's still so far from having anything worth visiting for.

The powerhouse in stoney creek is an example as well.

There was also a restaurant on james st that is now a mexican restaurant - Le Bistro parisienne - that was DEFINITELY fine dining. I loved going there. It did quite well too.