New Year's Eve Dinner Review If you're looking to test your patience on New Year's Eve, this restaurant delivers flawlessly. From the moment we arrived, it was clear the night was headed downhill. The greeter welcoming guests to this "special" evening had massive underarm sweat stains, which set the tone nicely. Inside, the dining room was so cramped it felt more like a waiting room than a celebratory restaurant. Service was abysmal. It took 95 minutes for our entrées to arrive -- an astonishing delay for a fixed New Year's Eve menu. When the food finally did show up, it wasn't worth the wait. The dishes were poorly executed and completely forgettable, making the premium pricing feel almost insulting. Attention to detail was clearly not a priority. One nearby table had red wine stains on the tablecloth, and instead of changing it, staff seated another party there before finally addressing it. Nothing says fine dining like dried wine stains and indifference. To their credit, the restaurant did attempt to remedy the situation -- after the damage was done. We were offered a gift card to return, which honestly felt absurd. After an evening like that, why would anyone willingly come back for round two? What should have been a festive New Year's Eve turned into a lesson in mismanagement and poor standards. This is not a restaurant we would ever recommend, especially for special occasions -- unless disappointment is part of the plan. read more

Wow, just wow! I had been here once before, for lunch, many many years ago - like maybe 25 years! I've wanted to go back because I remembered the wonderful ambiance of the place, but I recalled that it's expensive. However, we had a special occasion to celebrate and we made the exception for this time. It looks much the same inside as it did way back when, except maybe more tables now. Prices are still high (certainly higher than at lunch. There are more servers now; ours was patient with us, explaining the menu and repeating things we missed. We finally made up our minds, and placed our orders, and bread was brought out. I started my meal with a glass of red French wine and a salad. Main course was beef ribs, so tender as to fall off the bone! And very tasty too. I am not a big fan of gravy, and there was lots of it! Also 4 sprigs of asparagus, which is not my favourite. All this was filling and o had no room for desert. This was lovely, but expensive. I don't need to hurry back, but would certainly do so. read more

Food was creative and amazing! I had scallops with pineapple sauce... husbands was awesome also. Compliments to the chef owners and everyone! The ambiance was British antiques and very quiet! This will be an annual stop for us! read more

Always a wonderful time at The Brigadoon. Excellent food and service. Thank you Sam and Cheryl! read more

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My Mom and I went to the Brigadoon today for Canada Day and had their three course Canada Day special of Lobster Salad served in homemade mini croissants, filet of beef with rye bbq sauce with poutine style baked potato skins and fresh vegetables and wild blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream. The food, incredible. The service was impeccable, attentive and top notch. The ambiance was nothing short of perfection. Warmly greeted, fabulous service from Cheryl and her granddaughters and in the most agreeable and beautiful surroundings and amongst gorgeous British memorabilia. read more

I'm torn about where to go with this review. On the one hand, the food is quite good, the atmosphere is lovely (if quirky - and I generally like quirky), and the service is acceptable. I'm sure we'll be back occasionally. On the other hand, it's rather expensive. Far too expensive for its generally good but rather standard fare - but that being said, it is the only real fine dining available for miles around. Certainly nothing in Kemptville or Merrickville compares. A beer, an appetizer and a main for each of three of us ran to over $200 before tip. If you happen to be in the area (we live ten minutes away), it's a rather good local option. That said, I can't see recommending it as a destination - the most impressive thing about the place is the 18th century building, and it is beautiful, but such buildings aren't in terribly short supply in the region. read more

My husband and I stopped by the Brigadoon for a weekend lunch. It is a very unique and old world restaurant - you will love the atmosphere if you enjoy antiques and Victorian style decor. Typically, it would not be my first choice of a restaurant but I'm always up for something new! I ordered a simple cranberry juice and soda and it was beautiful and delicious! For my main meal, I ordered the fish and chips and finished off with the sticky toffee pudding pie! From first sight, the fish and chips looked amazing! Great big portion with a crispy golden exterior. Unfortunately, when cutting into it, it was all quite mushy. Not the best fish and chips I've ever had. However, I can say that the sticky toffee pudding pie was! Everything about it was delicious!!! The service was very good, but the reason for the 3 stars is threefold: 1) the server's black shirt was covered in pet fur - either dog or cat - and I found it to be quite disturbing; 2) the mushy fish and chips; 3) the old ambience surrounded by knick knacks. read more

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This is an excellent restaurant, and very unique. I didn't see a 5 star rating, so I'm going to give it one! The other reviews have their points but I like this kind of locally owned and operated establishment and wish there were more. This is a rare gem for Kemptville and the surrounding area. I'm told a restaurant is the easiest business to open and the hardest one to keep running. I think it speaks volumes about this place, which is out of the way in Oxford Mills, south of Ottawa. This restaurant IS the destination in Oxford Mills as there is nothing else that would attract your attention. I would argue that since a high end restaurant has been operating here for so long, this says volumes. I only go with my family for special occasions. In the last eight years we have been here three times. One was for our wedding and yesterday was to celebrate multiple birthdays and passing my Architects Professional Exams (ExAC). I'm really sorry, we totally forgot to take pictures of our meals! The food here is always excellent. I had the Rainbow Trout & Scallops and my wife had the Rack of Lamb. The different meats were all cook perfectly according to our liking. My vegetable risotto was particularly good. Portion sizes were well balanced. Presentation on the plate was also top notch. I would agree that the menu has not changed much in years. Granted this doesn't bother me as I go so rarely. I think the catch for people is the quality of the food. We all shared a "Beef Brochette" appetizer, very tasty. We were served a special marble home baked bread while waiting for our orders. We also had some nice drinks and all the cocktails can come as virgin. In terms of price the entrees are all $30 and above. You can see the menu online. I think the appetizers are pricey. Granted I didn't find the Beef Brochette small. We brought our own cake for my brother's birthday. They charged a $10 cake fee and served it to us after dinner. Service was also excellent, but in the interest of full disclosure after 7:30pm Sunday evening we were the only party there and my mother knew the server from the community. Granted she is friendly by nature. I have to talk about the atmosphere. The restaurant is inside a historic stone building with walls three feet thick. Fairly common for this part of Ontario but perhaps not always so loyally maintained. The decor is not "grandma style". This is an UBER serious collection of British memorabilia. There are the ceramic nick nacs but also a display of swords and muskets. The owner Cheryl told me she never planned on collecting the "guns". It was her patrons who decided she should have them. She has an authentic 1853 Enfield Rifle on the wall, I joked with her you can't get more British then that! There are also additional rooms upstairs and they are also well decorated in period style. Its fun to just walk around, check out the stuff and admire the paintings. Ask for a tour after dinner or go when its not busy and just wander the dinning room. The columns in the dinning room were built as ship masts down in Prescott when there was an active ship yard there, as Kristin H said. In conclusion we enjoy the place for great food and very interesting atmosphere. It is always a special occasion for us so the long gaps in visits makes it even more special. I would recommend if you can get out to Oxford Mills, stop in and see for yourself. read more

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I've been coming to this restaurant two or three times a year for the past few years to celebrate special occasions with family who live out that way. It's one of the few restaurants in the area, and surely the only restaurant of this calibre outside of Merrickville or south Ottawa. The decor of the Brigadoon reminds me of a grandparent's house: old, ornate wood furniture and paneling, memorabilia of decades past, and a classic, timeless decor. If you're interested in the history of Oxford Mills or the surrounding area, the back wall serves as a sort of archive. Interesting note: The main pillars or support beams in the dining room are in fact old ship masts. The service is always top notch. Servers do not last long in this restaurant if they can't cut it, and it shows. Always polite and friendly as you would expect in a small town, but with a level of professionalism usually reserved for high end restaurants in the city. Cheryl, the owner, can usually be found in the dining room or behind the bar, chatting with regulars. I'm there very infrequently, but she remembers me, which I appreciate. The menu is not particularly exciting, but what they do, they do well. The menu offers the typical cuts of steak, surf and turf, chicken, grilled salmon, pastas and salads. There is a separate vegetarian menu available, and I highly suggest ordering the asparagus and broccoli crepes, with the mushroom puffs as an appetizer. If you are a carnivore, the daily special is usually a bit more exciting, often featuring fresh game. There are two things that hold this restaurant back. One is the menu. It has not changed in the three years I have been going to this restaurant, and I am tired of the offerings. The Brigadoon has a loyal following, but it should consider retaining some of the most popular dishes and freshening up a tired menu with some new, seasonally-appropriate dishes. The restaurant is located in the middle of farm country and could certainly take advantage of the eat-local trend by crafting a seasonal menu using local produce, meat and cheeses on offer. The second is the wine list. Again, it is rarely updated, with the same safe staples listed year after year. read more

One of the best restaurants in the area. The menu has a lot of traditional items that obviously appeals really well to it's current demographic. That being said, the menu does need to be updated and expanded to include better variety. The atmosphere is really nice. The seating isn't that private as the tables can be very close together. read more

This is an upscale restaurant set in an old house. We found the food was wonderful (easily 5 stars), the dining room was pleasant (a bit cluttered with decoration: 4 stars), and the service was extremely friendly, if a bit distracted (4 stars). We would love to return, when in the area again. The what3words location of Brigadoon's entrance is: yelp.floral.glancing https://map.what3words.com/yelp.floral.glancing read more

Have eaten here several times Heaven on a plate Off the beaten track but worth the drive Bob Parent read more

Not the first time we have visited but the first time to be disappointed. WIth regards to the food it is a generally good if not inspired. However every business has its off moments. i ordered the fish of the day which was halibut with a garlic sauce. The fish I received was dry and tasteless. It was solid no flaking whatsoever. We were alone in the area of the restaurant we were in and from the moment served until the waiter came to take the plates away we did not see anyone. No one came to ask us how our meals were. I tried two bites and that was enough I did not eat anymore of the meal. The sauce on the rice was bland so i left that also. I informed the waiter that it was not acceptable. he came back and offered a free dessert but that the manager said i would have to pay for the meal. I has not planned to right a review as mistakes can be made but sending a waiter out to inform me that i would have to pay for a meal that i did not eat shows a lack of concern for me as a consumer. there are no other restaurants nearby so they will survive but I wouldn't advise going out of your way to eat here. read more

My sister & I took Mum here for Mother's Day. The restaurant is reminiscent of a great grandma's style seating & a knick-knack haven. The service is warm and food is delicious but I was greatly disappointed to receive but one lonely crab cake on my appetizer plate for a pricey $16.95. For this slight, I lowered to a 3 star. read more

A lovely quaint place in a small country town, with fantastic food. Nice outdoor patio. And a great place if you are interested in British memorabilia. One entire wall is nothing but selves FULL of commemorative plates, cups and nic-naks. read more

At 82 years old and owning a boutique historic hotel I have a lot of experience upon which to compare. The Brigadoon, in my opinion, is the finest restaurant in south eastern Ontario, As a Torontonian for most of my life but a resident of southeastern Ontario in more recent years I have dined from Ottawa to Cornwall to Kingston to Carleton Place. So I know whereof I speak, So why my ranking. You can find it's equal at 4 nitroglycerine prices in Ottawa but not the combination of an amazingly extensive menu, exquisitely prepared, artistically presented, decent portions, outstanding personal service (true of those few restaurants like this one where the owner is ever present and mingles with guests). The ambiance is eclectic warm and inviting, the linens, table serving and glassware are quality and very clean. To top it off the prices don't make you wince when you get the bill. I am so impressed that I make special mention of it in the binder in my hotel rooms and I wouldn't do so if it would backfire as I am putting my reputation on the line in so doing. And no.. I have no relationship to that establishment in case you are wondering. Just trying to help an outstanding venue survive and prosper in a tough market. read more