Dining out in the hammer

Andrewjm3D · #1 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 2:15 AM**

can any Hamilton forumers suggest any decent restaurants that I should try out my next time there? My g#f lives and works in the Hammer so I want to book a table somewhere good. It should be near downtown near the Go station. I was hoping to find a Tapas restaurant but I'm having trouble doing so.

Thanks in advance.

$$$$$$ is not an issue so suggest anyplace.

flar · #2 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 4:47 PM**

It's been a while since I ate in Hamilton, but I always liked Papagayo (Latin American) on King West near Hess Village.

PS: I moved this thread to the Hamilton section, it might get more replies.

durandy · #3 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 5:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrewjm3D

can any Hamilton forumers suggest any decent restaurants that I should try out my next time there? My g#f lives and works in the Hammer so I want to book a table somewhere good. It should be near downtown near the Go station. I was hoping to find a Tapas restaurant but I'm having trouble doing so.

Thanks in advance.

$$$$$$ is not an issue so suggest anyplace.

http://www.rapscallionrestaurant.com/
newest place in town, sounds like the kind of thing you're looking for. Only open on Sundays though!

Bistro Parisien is very near the Go station at James and Bold, but not Tapas. There are a few Portuguese places on James N: Ventura's, Acclamation, Wild Orchid that all can no doubt do small dishes, but I've generally heard mixed reviews. August 8 at James and Cannon is pretty good. Mex-I-Can at James just south of Cannon is awesome but definitely not fancy.

There's a big dearth of fine dining for younger crowds in this town.

SteelTown · #4 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 5:33 PM**

La Piazza Allegra on James Street South is really good.

Not far from GO Station...

http://www.lapiazza.ca/

LikeHamilton · #5 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 6:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

La Piazza Allegra on James Street South is really good.

Not far from GO Station...

http://www.lapiazza.ca/

Second that. One of the best Italian restaurants in the city.

realcity · #6 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 6:09 PM**

I like La Piazza Allegra also. It's been around a long time and it has both good authentic Italian and the interior is really nice. Terra cotta flooring, airy but formal, mediterranean themed. Try the muscles.

Too many of Hamilton's restos ignore the decor aspect. I like the MexIcan food but the service is horrible and it's like dining on a picnic table with a plastic cover.

The indian place at King William under Baltimore House has the best Indian food in town, but again it totally lacks in the decor factor.

Frankenrogers · #7 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 6:35 PM**

I have to try La Piazza Allegra and get over my preconceived notions b/c it is in a strip mall essentially. I have heard great things about it.

Want to try Rapscallion too. One of these (Sun)days.

flar · #8 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 6:46 PM**

I also like Dalina's (Egyptian food) on King William.

Quote:

Originally Posted by durandy

There's a big dearth of fine dining for younger crowds in this town.

Not sure if I agree with that completely. It's true a lot of restaurants in Hamilton are lacking in style, but there is a wide range of quality and prices in comparison to a place like Ottawa, where most of the restaurants look great but have fairly generic, middling food and high prices. Hamilton has some terrible restaurants but also some unexpectedly great hole in the wall type places. Hamilton also has a better than average variety of small ethnic restaurants. Eating out is one of the things I miss most about Hamilton.

Service is almost universally bad in Hamilton, so expect the waiter to have a look of disgust if you dare to ask them for something.

mattgrande · #9 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 6:52 PM**

Here's a couple of my favourites:

Fine Dining
- Lo Presti's on Jackson
- Boo's Bistro on James South
- Bistro Parisian on James South
- I've heard Rapscallion is excellent, but haven't been yet

Still Nice, but less fancy
- Augusta House (on Augusta)
- Wass (Etiopian Food) on James South
- Acclaimation on James North
- Capri's (Italian) on John

I thought La Piazza was good, but not worth what I paid.

markbarbera · #10 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 8:13 PM**

Incognito on John by Hunter is great for dinner, and you can't get much closer to the GO Station. No tapas per se, but they do have decent assortment of specially priced salads and appetizers on Fridays that ends up working kinda like tapas. $5.50 martinis too. Dinner is always top notch here and the service is excellent. http://www.incognitorestaurant.ca/index.htm

Brownies on King Street just east of Ferguson has a pretty extensive tapas menu and it's not too far from the GO Station (maybe 10 min walk). http://www.browniesdowntown.com/index.html

bluevue · #11 Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 10:59 PM**

La Piazza is very pricey for what it is, and the quality has gone downhill over the past while. LaSpagett is excellent for pasta and so is Koosh Bistro in Westdale. Rapscillion is only open sundays, but I have have heard excellent things already. Incognitto is great. If you like Mexican, try Mexicana on James street....excellent and great prices. Just my 2 cents.

CaptainKirk · #12 Posted: **Apr 4, 2012, 12:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flar

I also like Dalina's (Egyptian food) on King William.

That's my wife's favourite restaurant for about 15 years.

http://www.eatatdalinas.com/

My favourite, also on King William right by James St., is Thai Memory.

http://www.thaimemory.ca/

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluevue

If you like Mexican, try Mexicana on James street....excellent and great prices.

Actually, it's Mex-i-can.

http://menusonly.com/hamilton/index....mex-i-can.html

CaptainKirk · #13 Posted: **Apr 4, 2012, 12:56 PM**

BTW, for those that have never been inside Thai Memory, the interior is amazing ( so is the food)

Check out these pics.
http://www.thaimemory.ca/restaurant/index.html

ihateittoo · #14 Posted: **Apr 4, 2012, 3:46 PM**

i would consider locke street not too far from the GO station:

I only went here once when I was back in town but the bread bar is good:
http://earthtotable-ca.factoretest.c...pdf?1325722763

Also, there are other good options on Locke like il fiasco and Ne Roma, and Bar on Locke.

Nice for a dinner and then a drink somewhere.

mattgrande · #15 Posted: **Apr 4, 2012, 4:37 PM**

I can't believe I forgot Earth To Table!

There's also Chuck's Burger Bar, for amazing (gourmet?) burgers. They have a burger that's made of ground bacon that is amazing.

flar · #16 Posted: **Apr 4, 2012, 4:38 PM**

The food at Il Fiasco was far better and more creative than the price would suggest (however, it's been about 4 years since I ate there)

Tony · #17 Posted: **Jun 25, 2012, 5:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by durandy

August 8 at James and Cannon is pretty good.

I second this. Not a bad AYCE Sushi place with some Dim Sum items too!

CaptainKirk · #18 Posted: **Jun 26, 2012, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

I second this. Not a bad AYCE Sushi place with some Dim Sum items too!

August 8 is on Wilson Street, not Cannon, and closer to Hughson St. than James St.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?rls=com.m...ed=0CDkQ_BIwCQ

movingtohamilton · #19 Posted: **Jan 5, 2013, 3:04 PM**

Thought I would revive this thread. Does anyone have any recommendations for a place they have tried recently? Also, has anyone been to Rolly Rocket's BBQ?

ihateittoo · #20 Posted: **Jan 5, 2013, 5:44 PM**

Was in Hamilton for the Holidays and had some time:

Finally tried NaRoma pizza on Locke and it was fantastic and good value. Their pizzas are huge. I shared a salad and a small pizza with my girlfriend and had 4 slices left over! They have many specialty pizzas with some unique toppings. Depending on the size they allow you to do half and half or even 4 quarters a different style. The staff was good too. The decor, which seems to be the trend in hamilton of late, is large pictures of heritage buildings from downtown.

Highly recommended.

Also, Jack and Lois on James North - they do sandwiches, salads, and homemade potato chips. I had a breaded portobello sandwich on a onion bun from cake and loaf with brie and it was delicious. The chips were great too. Tried their homemade slaw - it was a tasty asian inspired (lots of sesame oil) affair but nothing mind-blowing. All-in-all it was cheap, tasty and satisfying before a night of beverages on new years eve.