As the New York Italians say: "When it's right, it's right," and this place gets it right. Born And Raised is such a fantastic spot. The only regret I have with this place is the fact that my wife and I waited two years before we came back. We were were worried that after two years the first time we were there was so awesome, with all the things that could change we wondered if it would still be good. Well, it was. We recently celebrated our wedding anniversary and we were so happy to be at Born And Raised again. The menu doesn't miss a beat. We started out with a couple of appetizers, steak tartare, and burrata done in a seasonal style with butternut squash. I thought it an odd combination but it was so amazingly good. Then our mains, I had the rigatoni with meatballs, and as a special feature item my wife had tagliatelle with braised short rib. I am always critical of Italian food given that my grandmother, mother, stepmother, wife, and mother-in-law are masters at it, but let me tell you their rigatoni with meatballs is the real deal. The sauce is amazing, pasta cooked perfectly, and meatballs were so delicious with every bite. The server was even cool about getting me some extra bread to clean up that sauce with which was an extra treat. I was able to beg for a couple of fork fulls from my wife for the tagliatelle with braised short rib, and it was so delicious. Oh yeah, and one other thing, in both cases the portions were fantastic. None of this two forkfuls thing for presentation, it tastes good, you're there to eat and eat well, and they deliver. They vibe in the place is very cool noise levels are fair, and they were playing some cool old school music when we went. All of the staff were friendly, and attentive always checking in. Can I recommend that for dessert you order their pecan pie. It's so amazingly delicious, as is the scoop of vanilla ice cream they dolloped on there. Yeah, I may have had to have put in some extra time at the gym the next day, but that kind of eating gave me high I rarely get in restaurants, and I wish the same for all of you that take this recommendation to heart. Well done to the staff of Born And Raised, and I promise it will NOT be another two years before we are back again. read more

Born and Raised - Burrata with squash, Rigatoni & Meatballs, Tagliatelle with braised short rib, & pecan pie - Seafood Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

This is a review for their coffee shop which was open later in the day. Holy cow that was a spectacular cup of coffee with an incredibly tasty meat pie. Asked the chef who made the and he did, right there in the shop. Just an absolute vibe in there, made me want to go back for dinner. Thank you ! read more

Born and Raised - Jamaican patty w black coffee - Seafood Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Overall rating 3.7/5 (rounded up to 4 on Yelp) I had been looking for an excuse to come here for their Sunday late night $10 marg/pep pizza special, and alas, I finally went! The restaurant's atmosphere even at 9pm on a Sunday night was bustling. The warm ambient lighting and candlelit tables gave off a cozy, intimate atmosphere. It did make taking photos and reading the menu a bit more difficult, but for some folks, this is their vibe. I did find the restaurant to be pretty noisy (music & conversations) when seated near the middle/bar, but I did have a front row seat to watching my pizza being made, so there's some give and take there. Seating near the front windows seemed to offer a quieter experience. The mark of a good pizza spot is their margherita, and I definitely enjoyed this one! Extra thin crust with just enough bite & chew at the edges. Perfectly paired with garlic aioli, fresh tomato sauce, and their cheese. However, I found that service wasn't up to par. A server didn't come by to take my order for longer than I expected, and I had to flag someone down to get the bill. Would I come back? Yes, because the deal & pizza are really good read more

Born and Raised - Margherita pizza - Seafood Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

The food here is very delicious. My favourite dish by far are the boa buns. Best in town. The vibe is very lively. Sometimes takes a little long to get to your table but definitely worth the wait. read more

Incredible food and exceptional service. My sister and I had an incredible evening. The pizza chef was fire hands down The BEST margarita pizza in the city. Everything from the cocktails all through to dessert exceeded my expectations, including the staff. Very sociable and added to the overall experience of the night. Such a great vibe and will definitely be back! read more

We had a really good time overall. Service was friendly but things were a little rusty and I don't mean the metal clad ceiling. I enjoyed the tartare quite a bit as it had sort of a béarnaisey sauce in lieu of a raw egg (often intimidating for first time eaters). The one downfall that we experienced was in my dining partners order. She ordered the classic meatballs, and received bread that was somewhat adulterated and soggy. Hopefully we can have a better experience next time. read more

I was recommended this restaurant by my coworker who had lots of love for their pasta and pizza. However, my overall experience here was not the best. My reservation was at 8:30p and we were screened, greeted and seated immediately. Then we ordered our food as soon as the server came to give us water. It was all going great until an 1hr-1hr 15min in, we haven't even received any of our appetizers or pizza yet. Our server did acknowledge and apologize for the long wait. But then we waited another hour for our pasta. For the duration of us waiting and the complexity of the food that we ordered (esp. the appetizers), I find that it is not worth it but the food was decent. The {Shaolin} Spicy Brussels had good texture and seasoning. The Margherita Pizza was actually very good and I wish they had an option to order bigger sizes. The Shaolin Baos, the Rigatoni w. meatballs, and the tagliatelle with braised lamb were okay. I think if I were to come back here, I would stick to the bar, the pizza and vibe out. I did see a lot of people order oysters, so I may also consider that. read more

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This place seemed promising from my research, but was another disappointing pizza that I tried while in Hamilton. I liked seeing the pizza chef work the dough and use the oven, but the ingredients were all fairly bland. I got the margherita pie, and it just didnt live up to the hype. The one saving Grace was the hot chili oil you can get on the side. read more

Born and Raised - Seafood Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Great restaurant, great service. I would highly recommend trying this place. We had oysters and an amazing mushroom pizza to start. I wanted the mushroom Pappardelle pasta but wanted some meat. The server made a special request to the kitchen and the pasta was amazing. They added some roasted pork cheek and it was out if this world. Great selection of beers and beverages. Would return in a heartbeat. read more

Born and Raised - Seafood Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Born & Raised is the second restaurant opened by Chef Vittorio Colacitti, who you may recognize from Top Chef Canada. If the name is any indication this restaurant is a reflection of Chef Vittorio's pride for Hamilton, the city which he calls home. Many quality ingredients are sourced directly from producers in the area, which connects the restaurant with the surrounding community. On our visit the restaurant was just over 2 months old and very busy on a Friday evening. The 60 seat restaurant features a raw bar showcasing beautiful seafood from both the East and West Coast, and is home to a beautiful wood-fired oven imported from Italy. The decor is a mix of modern and rustic, with touches of reclaimed wood and antique collectibles throughout. The menu at Born & Raised puts a globally-inspired twist on classic dishes. The offerings are a reflection of what Chef Vittorio has learned through his upbringing in Ontario and culinary training abroad in Europe and Asia. We started our dinner with the Steak Tartare "Le Roy" ($19), which is a Parisian style hand-cut beef tenderloin tartare served with fries. The beef comes from a farm just 20 minutes away in Haldimand County, and this dish was inspired by Chef Vittorio's time as a sous chef for Chef Didier Leroy in France. The beef was well seasoned and tender, while the fries were crisp and golden, just the way they should be. Fries don't do the greatest job of scooping up the beef, making it more difficult to eat than anticipated, but tartare and frites is still a classic. Next came the Crispy Shrimps (3/$15 or 4/$19), served on a bed of green mango salad and topped with crushed roasted peanuts. This dish was a mix of salty, sweet, and crispy goodness with the meticulously wrapped shrimp on a bed of Thai-style mango salad. I'm not the type of person to order soup at a restaurant, but the Ontario Corn Soup ($14) was calling my name. With chunks of Nova Scotia Lobster in a curried roasted corn soup base, this hearty bowl was absolutely incredible, no word of a lie. Perhaps mind-blowing is a better descriptor. The heat was finely balanced with the coconut milk, while the cream was cut with a hint of acidity. It was a complex combination of flavours and umami that I could not stop eating. We regretted not having enough room for a second bowl! Burrata is popular on menus out in Toronto. We honestly had it once a day throughout our trip, but I'm not complaining as it is a rare find here in Edmonton. The Burrata with Summer Pears ($14) at Born & Raised brings ultra creamy burrata together with radicchio, aged balsamic vinegar, walnuts, and basil. All the components are plated beautifully and finished with a drizzle of 'Olio Vittorio,' a cold pressed extra virgin olive oil produced for the restaurant by the Colacitti family in Central Italy. Aside from bringing some Latin and Spanish influence to the menu, Chef de Cuisine Sebastien Sanchez is typically found making artisan breads and pizzas with the wood-fired oven. The five signature pizzas on the menu range from classic to adventurous, and we chose to try the Monte Pollino ($16) as part of our meal. With roasted and smoked confit pork cheek, compressed pineapple, pickled habaneros and basil, this pizza is a unique twist on your classic ham and pineapple. The toppings are generous and the habanero has a serious kick (read: some parts were borderline too spicy for this Asian)! The housemade pizza dough at Born & Raised cooked evenly and rose beautifully in the oven. It retained it's structure when lifted, had a crispy, blistered cornicone, and met my criteria for an excellent crust. Just as our meal was coming to an end the kitchen sent a gorgeous off-menu dish to the table for us to taste. The dish consisted of charred wood-fire roasted cauliflower paired with cashew butter, maple soy dressing, scallions, and lobster. The cauliflower had amazing depth of flavour and the lobster was so fresh. All the components were throwing flavour bombs left, right, and center, making this another phenomenal dish. After the savoury dishes we chose to try Susan's Torte ($7) for a sweet finish to the evening. Who is Susan? She's Chef Vittorio's mother and the one who gave up her secret recipe for this beautiful dark chocolate meringue with Grand Marnier chantilly cream. The meringue is light, melt-in-your-mouth, and balanced with a bit of candied orange zest. With the opening of Born & Raised on James St. North, Chef Vittorio and his team are bringing local, seasonal ingredients and their passion for global flavours to the community. They're in a great location for the post-work crowd, and the warm, vibrant setting is great for get-togethers with friends or casual date nights. Service is friendly although a bit spotty during our visit, given the atmosphere of the busy restaurant on a Friday evening. We had a fantastic meal and will definitely return on our next visit to the area. read more

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I met the owner of this establishment on Sunday as he was doing a little repair. I asked him if he was the owner he responded "maybe who wants to know"in a very hostile manner. I told him I just wanted to compliment his outdoor patio,the entire conversation he wouldn't look me in the eye,that's a bad sign. I don't know what the food is like and I never will because this individual has a personality like a frozen sanitary product and is a complete orifice of rectal discharge read more

The best food and tied for the best cocktails in the city. Eat elsewhere if you want, but if you want to have a great night out, go to Born and Raised! read more

We visited Born and Raised last Saturday. While I went with a completely open mind, I have been left pretty disappointed. Food quality (pizzas, tartare, octopus, pasta, fries, beet salad), was between above average to good. It should be noted that we weren't ever sure if these items were coming as we were informed that the fryer could not be turned on "until the chef returned". Our server forgot to order one of our items, we were ready to leave when it came out, no longer wanting it-then were asked to pay for it. We were allowed to order way too much food, without any input from our server. While all of this is annoying and unprofessional, thats not why I am taking the time to write this. What was missing was a sense of hospitality. As a lifelong restaurant professional, I was sorely hurt by how my husband was treated. My family was celebrating a low key birthday for my mother. My husband had hoped to pop by for a drink and wish her a happy birthday. I will also mention that this was his one chance to see his infant son after working straight for three plus days. After some commotion he was given a chair at the end of our table, and was informed he would have to move if the table behind us arrived as it would block their table. The table was seated about five minutes after he got there. THERE WERE 10 PLUS OTHER TABLES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SEATED. Rather than any sense of graciousness on their part and welcoming a very tired man, he was asked to leave through their actions. I'm a fan of the burgeoning Hamilton food scene and dine out once or twice a week. It's going to be hard to go back there. read more

The restaurant and the staff were great. Food is awesome. Highly recommended when you're in Hamilton. read more

Born and Raised - Awesome restaurant in Hamilton. - Seafood Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Wonderful atmosphere with original dishes complimented with excellent wood fired pizza. read more

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The absolute worst experience. The service was pathetic and our server Jeremy was beyond rude. Don't waste your time or your money

Amazing Atmosphere and Delicious Food! My girlfriend and I were traveling through Hamilton Area and decided to grab a bite to eat. This place is absolutely divine. Food was fresh, full of flavor, not shy with the portions either. We tried several dishes and all were extremely tasty. Pizza had the most amazing crust, you can close your eyes and imagine you are somewhere in Italy. We ordered the "Monte Pollino" The steak tartare came with the house sourdough bread, that just made you come back for more. The burrata melted in your month accompanied with foxhole farms squash and pickled apples. The presentation was so pretty you almost don't want to touch the dish. For the main, we went with the Orrechietti pasta and it did not disappoint. Pasta cooked just right. If you are in Hamilton, this place is a must to check out. read more

So maybe it's because we came for the $5 Margarita pizza (Mondays 9-11pm) but I was pretty underwhelmed by the experience. First off, it does seem like a nice place to go on a Thursday or Friday night - it has a resto-bar vibe and it has a nice ambiance (fairly dark but candles are lit at night so it's good for dates). We came around 9:20pm and were seated pretty quickly. For the 4 of us we ordered 3 Margarita pizzas, 1 order of garlic fries and 4 oysters (they were on special for $2 each). The wait was pretty long, about 40 min, however the pizza was lukewarm when it arrived. The oysters were ok, nothing too special, and the garlic fries were pretty tiny for $7. The service was also ok, it wasn't good but it wasn't bad either. Overall, it was just a very "meh" experience. I do want to try this place again, maybe for brunch, or a different order next time. read more

I should start by saying we did not have pizza. We had 3 tapas. Meatballs, squash and frites. The meatballs were tasty but honestly for 3 small meatballs 14 dollars is a bit much. The tomato sauce was fresh but had very little seasoning. The frites were as expected. Ok but again for a small bowl of fries I expect to pay less than 7 dollars. The squash was prepared 3 ways and was tasty. The Gelato dessert was very small, not really fit to share. The upside...it was half price bottle of wine night. The pizza looked great we saw others had ordered it (actually everyone in the restaurant seemed to be ordering it). We may come back to try the pizza but that's not a given. We paid $75 for this meal with the wine at half price. I wouldn't say the food was exceptional enough to serve tiny portions and charge that much. The restaurant itself is beautiful inside and wait staff are attentive. read more

We made an 8:30 reservation for dinner with friends on a Friday, but still had to wait at the bar for a table for about 10 minutes. Unfortunately I couldn't order the shrimp appetizer I wanted because of possible contamination with other shellfish that I'm allergic to, but the kitchen kindly offered to make sure it's safe for my allergies if I call ahead next time. Instead I had the heirloom squash appetizer without the hazelnuts (also allergic to these), which was really delicious. I enjoyed the margherita pizza for my main - it had a good chewy crust and the perfect amount of salt both in the crust and sauce. Our table was in an awkward location at the back of the restaurant and it kind of killed the vibes for me. Next time I'd ask for a table up at the front. read more

Monday morning past I was unknowingly speaking to a partner in this Hamilton eatery in between sets at the gym. We began talking real estate and he mentioned the booming food scene in Hamilton. When he informed me of his new restaurant venture I quickly booked an 8:45 reservation for the upcoming Friday. Upon entering we were quickly seated. We ordered 4 items beginning with oysters. They came and before we dug in the pizza came too! Although we didn't mind our waitress did and promptly offered us a complementary pizza to take home! This alone earned here 5 ! Both dishes were great! Nonnas meatballs followed and we both commented on the addition of rich ricotta cheese to the marinara over a harder cheese such as parmigiana. The shrimp were fried in a potato wrap completed with mango salad. Seasonal drinks included the V8 which my girlfriend really enjoyed. Born and raised is a place to go and sample many items from the menu. We didn't have room for dessert but we will be heading back to this spot on James st. North. Update On our second visit to this establishment we were once again impressed with the food and atmosphere. We had a small issue with service, our prosecco was slow in arriving and our pepper oil for the pizza came with only a few bits of pizza left, but I feel I obligated to mention these minor things. Chef Vito impressed us with a fois gras and candied peach dish before our main that was as delicious as it was appreciated. The rib steak didn't require a knife, and the pizza is unparalleled. Once again we didn't have room for dessert. Cheers to the wait staff and kitchen staff for delivering the food in courses rather than all at once. Born and raised has proven to be an unique and enjoyable dining experience once again. We will be back! read more

Born and Raised - Seafood Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

We love the food, we love the atmosphere, we love the location and the service is always excellent. Nothing bad to say about this establishment. The pizzas are exceptional as are many other items on the menu and they make outstanding margaritas! My only suggestion is if you are planning on going here then make a reservation because this place is popular and fills up quickly. Hands down this is one of our top five favourite restaurants in Hamilton. read more

Very nice spot. Server was incredibly friendly and efficient. The pizza was delicious. Nice atmosphere and good stop on James Street

Pizza was delicious thin crust, stone oven traditional Italian. So good. The octopus was tender and served with a really fresh and interesting salad. Great beer selection. Lovely service, location, view and vibe. Will go back for sure. Bring your friends from Toronto. lol. ;P read more

The service and attention to detail of the customer's order should out weigh the fact that the food was good but it doesnt. If there was less than a 1 star Id give it. Wont ever being going back let alone recommend this over priced run of the mill establishment to anyone. read more

A total gem! Fantastic food...(the aroma of pizza from the wood burning oven is amazing!) Lovely casually elegant atmosphere is perfect...and the service is always great. Highly recommended. read more

We have been here several times and always had great service. The servers tend to be serious but very nice. The food is the real reason to come though. They offer unusual dishes but always excellent, especially the salads. We only had room for dessert once but It was splendid. read more

Poor service, flavour of the food wasn't very pleasant, extremely expensive for the experience. Drinks were excellent. Would only come back to take visiting friends to the bar. read more

Find me a better and more authentic italian restaurant....and you'd have to take me to Italy. I think this is the best italian cuisine I've had in Canada. Well done. Joe from Oakville, ON. read more

With places like this, I get why locals are pasting anti-gentrification posters on Canon and Barton. Another Hamilton hipster haven with a killer patio, though be warned that sitting outside limits the menu to apps and pizzas (and the latter couldn't get any better). Sure, the asparagus salad isn't a salad - seven sprigs doused in perfect caesar emulsion and a scrumptious rasher - but the server made up for it by having just the right amount of "I'm-new-to-Hamilton-but-you're-even-newer" disdain for us. read more

I expect if you stick to the pizza, you'll be fine. Otherwise, good luck making a meal out of the "small plates" selections on offer, like the $9 wee plate of brussells sprouts (I just don't get this trend). Asking the server for guidance didn't help any. To me, Born & Raised is typical of the new & popular restaurants trending in Hamilton -- what is lacking is the value proposition. read more

I come here all the time, the food is delicious and the service is great. The staff can come across as abit awkward at first but upon frequent visiting you can tell they are passionate about the food and restaurant and do a fantastic job. They get to know their customers and create a wonderful experience without having to walk around smiling like theyre about to explode (to the person who complained their server wasnt smiling). It has a wonderful relaxed atmosphere and I love coming here to sit and enjoy the ambiance and the food. Whenever wait times have been longer than expected the servers have been extremely apologetic and always make up for it. The food is always worth it and fresh and keeps us returning week after week. read more

Kudos to the hostess, Anna our server, the chef and the GM Eammonn Kelly, for a dinner and evening we will long remember. Hamilton is truly becoming THE place to dine and Born and Raised is o the top of the list. The unique drink menu, water refreshed at every turn and a menu that has something for everyone is what sets this restaurant apart. The servers are there to make sure everything is perfect. Our group of four chose to share all the food. We started with the DOP Pizza and Calabria. Propio come in Italia (just like in Italy). Although the DOP ended up being a bit soggy in the middle, it was still delicious non the less. For the next course we shared the Burrata, the beef with a side of rapini. Even though we were stuffed we had to sample the desserts and they were worth every calorie. I highly recommend Born and Raised, for anyone who wants homemade, home grown and local food with a flare! read more

Fortune smiled and we got a reservation last night for dinner. Since there were 6 of us and all new to Born and Raised, we put ourselves in the hands of Jeremy, our excellent server and he took us on a taste trip extraordinaire! From the oysters, steak tartare and the sea bream ceviche to the pizza, burratta, steak (perfectly prepared) and a plethora of desserts we had never tasted anything to rival this. Hats off to Born and Raised and the excellent staff. Can't wait to go back. read more