Hamilton Cuisine

[the dude]

we seem to have a few forumers who are sincerely unsure of where to eat in the city, particularly downtown. let's use this thread as a resource for great dining options in the city. you like a particular restaurant? post the name, location and even a review if you want. i'd love to see a comprehensive list of all the great restaurants we've got downtown and the surrounding area. i'll give it a go first.

BROWNIES DOWNTOWN, FINE FOOD & SPIRIT
275 King Street East, International Village

the atmosphere is chic, urban and just a little parisian. the menu is franco-italian offering such fare as escargot, quiche, crepes as well as antipasto, gnocchi and paninis. they've also got a tapas menu of which i have not partaken. for further details check out their website: http://www.browniesdowntown.com/

THREE 16 LOUNGE
316 King Street East, International Village

one of downtown's most recent culinary additions, 'three 16 lounge' offers reasonably priced food and drink in a relaxed, friendly and trendy atmosphere. the menu is basic, which is very appealing to me. if you've got a hankering for a salad, sandwich and a pint [from their extensive list], this is your spot. also, the owner is ever-present and always happy to talk about downtown hamilton. here's their site: http://www.three16lounge.com/

[Tony]

August 8
1 Wilson St., Unit 11-12 (Wilson & Hughson)

Don't let the squat single storey plaza diagonal from City Centre turn you off, the restaurant offers probably the best Dim Sum west / south of Mississauga and has the cool combination of All You Can Eat Dim Sum & Sushi! Prior to the name change, I would go here for Dim Sum while living in St. Catharines.

[flar]

IL FIASCO
182 Locke St. South

Nice relaxed atmosphere, good service, excellent food, surprisingly low prices for the quality of the food. An interesting menu, I had venison with a blueberry wine sauce and my wife had penne with smoked salmon. The appetizers and both dishes were excellent and had the subtlety and combination of flavours you would expect at an expensive restaurant. There is also a bar at il fiasco with a selection of wine and a smaller selection of other drinks. Highly recommended.

http://www.ilfiasco.ca/index.html

[SteelTown]

A great affordable Italian place is Cafe Palazzo, they make the BEST panzerotti in the world!, seriously you must try one. Everything is homemade including the sauce. Great food. MUST MUST MUST TRY! lol.

It's near Mohawk College so during long breaks I sometimes take friends over and eat there.

The address is 612 Upper James Street. It's south of Fennell.

[Goldfinger]

PHO DAU BO

The best soup in the city.

Does anyone know if there are any good Sushi restaraunts left in the city?

[flar]

There is a good sushi place on King St. in Dundas.

[HAMRetrofit]

Sapporos Japanese Restaurant at Main and Catharine.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

A great affordable Italian place is Cafe Palazzo, they make the BEST panzerotti in the world!, seriously you must try one. Everything is homemade including the sauce. Great food. MUST MUST MUST TRY! lol.

It's near Mohawk College so during long breaks I sometimes take friends over and eat there.

The address is 612 Upper James Street. It's south of Fennell.

If you ever get a chance, go upstairs to the O Lounge and you will see some of our work.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

If you ever get a chance, go upstairs to the O Lounge and you will see some of our work.

You own the place?!

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

You own the place?!

No, we did most of the reno work. It was converted from a plain empty room. I think it turned out quite nice.

[DC83]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

You own the place?!

note to self: never go back to O Ultra Lounge!

[DC83]

Oooh. This thread is delicious... it's making me hungry!

My Top 3 (frequented) Downtown Restos, in order:

1) Pagoda (King/John ontop of Pizza Pizza)
2) Modern India Buffet (Main/Walnut)
3) My Thai (King/John, between King&King William)

Some restos that I like that don't get too much love:
- Papagayo, King & Hess area (mexican/south american food)
- Bronzies, James S & Young area (awesome meatball subs!)
- Maxims, IV King & Walnut (good for a light snack... plus I'm addicted to Mtl Smkd Meat! haha)

[LikeHamilton]

Leghorns King & Balmoral for the best chicken wings in the city.

Lemoncello’s Ottawa Street north of Cannon. Excellent Italian food.

Beach Road Meats on Locke Street for takeout sandwiches.

Hutches on Bay and the Beach for burgers and fries

Staropolskie Delikatesy Barton Street East just east of Sherman for takeout sandwiches and deli stuff.

Tony Roma’s for excellent ribs. On Queenston Road near Eastgate Mall.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

Hutches on Bay and the Beach for burgers and fries

Yea Hutches makes the best fries in Hamilton. I went down to the Beach strip this weekend for a walk and stopped by for the fries. Hmm it's good!

[RePinion]

Bistro Parisien
150 James Street South

This is an intimate, comfortable place serving very competently prepared traditional French bistro fare. I have been here often for firm lunches and dinners. In particular, I always enjoy the steak frites and generously proportioned salads. Off-menu specials, particularly the fish, are also a good bet. There is (by Hamilton standards) a pretty decent winelist with a number of good Ontario selections. Ambience is excellent. Staff is unobtrusive and polite (traditional French service, unlike the cloying effusive friendliness one finds at chain restaurants). Tends to attract a more mature, old money Durand sort of crowd (which is a good thing). Prices are fairly high by Hamilton standards but ultimately quite reasonable.

[I, Sinclair]

Originally Posted by RePinion

Bistro Parisien
150 James Street South

This is an intimate, comfortable place serving very competently prepared traditional French bistro fare. I have been here often for firm lunches and dinners. In particular, I always enjoy the steak frites and generously proportioned salads. Off-menu specials, particularly the fish, are also a good bet. There is (by Hamilton standards) a pretty decent winelist with a number of good Ontario selections. Ambience is excellent. Staff is unobtrusive and polite (traditional French service, unlike the cloying effusive friendliness one finds at chain restaurants). Tends to attract a more mature, old money Durand sort of crowd (which is a good thing). Prices are fairly high by Hamilton standards but ultimately quite reasonable.

I am looking forward to a real steak frites dinner in Hamilton. Sushi Supreme and Le Sélect Bistro are the two restaurants I wish I could import to Hamilton. I've given up on sushi in this town, but you give me hope for real bistro fare.

[RePinion]

Originally Posted by I, Sinclair

I am looking forward to a real steak frites dinner in Hamilton. Sushi Supreme and Le Sélect Bistro are the two restaurants I wish I could import to Hamilton. I've given up on sushi in this town, but you give me hope for real bistro fare.

Note before you go that they use hanger steak, which is not to everyone's taste (I like it, obviously).

Le Select is one of my favourites in TO (though service is inconsistent in my experience).

[chris k]

Has anyone been to the MacGill House on Main and Victoria? I'm curious as to what its like?

[block43]

Originally Posted by chris k

Has anyone been to the MacGill House on Main and Victoria? I'm curious as to what its like?

I would pass on this place. I went a couple of years ago and was really disappointed. The food was over priced and not very good, IMO.

[RePinion]

I wish some really good restaurants (or at least one really good restaurant) would open in Dundas.

Dundas seems to have most of Hamilton's best gourmet boutiques (Picones, Cumbrae's, Village Bakery, Mickey Maguire's, etc.) but no truly upscale dining option to go with them.