Yay! A bump-up review! Bala Bay Inn's Grill/Ghosts restaurant continues to impress each summer…read more
This year we were really, really pleased by the great service. We arrived for our dinner after a rainstorm, and the outdoor patio where we like to enjoy our food was fairly soaked as a result. No worries, the hostess assured us, we are more than happy to seat you outside. We were allowed to pick a table and then she and a few servers set to work diligently wiping everything dry. That was much appreciated. The great service continued throughout our dinner -- attentive, prompt, really friendly.
Food seemed better this visit, too. Last summer's scallop fiasco left me cold, but this year we really enjoyed the PEI mussels (oh, heaven), the spring rolls (surprisingly good for BFE Canada), the local pickerel (treat yourself if you've never, it's sweet, mild, and tender), and the fish and chips (with sweet potato fries). The only near-miss were the nachos. The chips were wonderful and clearly homemade, but the cheese was not melted which, to me, seems like a nacho given, right? Other toppings kicked nacho booty, tho, from the thick, tangy sour cream, smooth, silky guac, and crisp, fiery pickled jalapeños.
They have a martini menu that will blow your mind and rivals any shcmancy big-town bar. There have to be damn near 50 varieties on that thing. My favorite is an apple martini with Goldschlager -- it tastes just like warm apple pie and has some cutesy name (they all do) I wish I could remember.
We come to the Grill/Ghosts at Bala Bay Inn every summer and are rarely disappointed. Definitely worth a visit when you're in town. If you're ever in town...