The waffles and gravy are to die for...the service is great .... fried chicken with THE GRAVY unbelievably good. IM A LONG TIME FOODY.

Love the food and the daily specials they have!! We stopped by on a Saturday night which was their chef's special. And that night we had a deliciously charred but soft octopus dish. Along with that we enjoyed the fried Brussel sprouts appetizer and some sort of mini sliders dish. Would definitely come back for another one of their daily specials and trying some of their cocktails! read more

Grand Trunk Saloon - Fried brussel sprouts, sliders, and chef's special octopus - Soul Food Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

Bomb ass cocktails, great service, and solid food offerings. I really enjoy this place. They play really great music. Songs: Ohia was playing the first time I rolled in. The ambiance is nice too, very Texas in a non-cheesy way. Cocktails are cleverly divided into flavor profiles, making it easy to choose something to tickle your particular fancy. I've tried a few, and they've all been well constructed, balanced, and nicely presented. Food is decadent AF. There's a $20 smash burger I've gotta try. Sadly, I was a little full from lunch so I did the Caesar with fried chicken. Not exactly light, but the flavor was great. Looks like a fun place to kick it with friends too. Ace. read more

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I was grateful that they open late as my partner & I arrived late for our visit to see his friend. His friend recommended us to go this saloon. I felt like I'm back in the 1800s for some reasons. Maybe it's the vibes feeling. They have the Covid-19 check in before we can dine in. I am grateful for that because it's way we can dine comfortably without worrying about being exposed to Covid-19. He said buttermilk chicken and cheddar biscuits are the best. We ordered and share the dish. It was delicious!!! The drinks I ordered were not available but the bartender was willing to make something sweet for me. I love it. Thank you for an amazing drink you have made for me. I'm truly appreciated!!! Locals or travelers, you should stop by and feast their delicious food and champ drinks! Thank you for an amazing experience! read more

Grand Trunk Saloon - Buttermilk chicken and cheddar biscuits - Soul Food Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

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Came here on a Tuesday for their 10 piece chicken for $20 special, which is normally 6 pieces for $20. This was basically the only main dish we ordered to share between the 2 of us as the portion was pretty big, such that we only ordered a cole slaw and a sausage gravy for dipping on the side. The chicken was definitely really tasty and so worth it for the price. The skin was crispy and it wasn't dripping with grease, which was definitely a good sign. Though I did find the meat to be a little dry, so it was kinda hard to cut the chicken, and it might have been easier to eat by hand. You would get sick of the fried chicken taste pretty quickly though, as I struggled to keep eating after my third piece, but the coleslaw definitely helped as a pallet cleanser. In terms of the ambiance, the restaurant is more geared towards offering a bar atmosphere for drinks and social. Very few people actually came here to have a full meal when we were here. Most of the patrons appear to be white collar workers from the downtown Kitchener area who came here to grab a drink and socialize with their friends and co-workers. I definitely would say this is a place that I would also take my friends to get together and grab some food and drinks while we catch up with each other. read more

Grand Trunk Saloon - Tuesday butter milk fried chicken special, 10 for $20 - Soul Food Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

Cool drink menu idea. Very fast service. And helps you understand the menu if you don't know certain words read more

Grand Trunk Saloon - two cocktails on a table - Soul Food Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

My cousin said that this was the best cocktail place in Kitchener and he wasn't lying! I love the vibe of this place! We were only here for drinks and next time will try their food. Service was good. They are cool chatty bartenders and it is a small community - they already knew my cousin. Will definitely come again to try their awesome fried chicken! Happy hour fellow yelpers! read more

They aren't doing many things wrong at this establishment. Sampled the fried chicken, and happened to go on a Tuesday when there's a fried chicken special: 10 boneless pieces for $20. Also sampled: cheesy biscuits, pickle plate, Mac n cheese, pear salad and the burger. Everything was pretty fantastic, including the service which was nothing less than outstanding. You can really tell the people who work here know what they're doing and love what they do! Their drink list is certainly geared toward aficionados and is vast. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

Grand Trunk Saloon - Epic fried chicken and biscuits! - Soul Food Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

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My wife hates fried chicken. Well, "hated" is a better term. She still doesn't like Popeyes and gets sick of the idea of KFC, but Grand Trunk chicken? That's on her list of fav foods to get now. It's tender, crispy and filled with flavour. I love spice but can't say I like their custom made hot sauce (when we do takeout I do a home made mix of maple syrup and Frank's). But it comes on the side anyways. Their other food is good too. Nothing to sneeze at (though we're still in a pandemic so please no sneezing). And yes their drinks are fun too. But get the chicken and you won't be disappointed. read more

The vibe is pretty good. The temperature was good in spite of the cold weather outside. The food was so-so. Everything a little spicy. The service was great. read more

This is probably my new favourite spot in KW. I'd come back just for the cozy atmosphere and fun decor. The service was also great, and they have a nice bar counter. I love their drink menu, which has a handy Venn diagram to help you pick! I'd say I would come back just for drinks, but I know I also couldn't resist the food! We ordered a couple of appetizers to try: the Hushpuppies and the Chorizo Flameado. Both are fantastic and flavourful, and the latter is literally on fire, which was fun. I had the Chicken and Waffles for my main, which is probably the best version of this dish that I've had, at least in Canada. The fried chicken in particular was just so good! Finally, their house hot sauce needs to be bottled and sold, immediately. read more

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I would say this is the most impressed restaurant in me area for me. Most of the dishes must have to try. The environment was good. But it's a lit bit dark for the day time. Their butter milk fried chicken sandwich was really amazing. It comes with biscuit and pickle watermelon rind. The biscuit was soft, and the inside stuffing was all crispy. Soft+ crispy was really amazing. And the buttermilk chicken was savoury and crispy. But if you only have he chicken l, it will be kinda oil and dry. The best way to have is with this biscuit sandwich. Shrimp etouffee was also amazing. The soup was cheesy and savoury. read more

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Went here for dinner with office mates.. the ambience is quite good and so their drinks! Food was great - definitely should order Hush puppies, also the brusselsprout salad is good. read more

Grand Trunk Saloon - Soul Food Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

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This place is a must if you love cocktails. I've been here multiple times and have always been able to grab a table or seat at the bar. Although the food is pretty good (southern vibes) it's the cocktails that keep me coming back. The ambiance is good- I always feel like there's just something missing, or maybe it's the layout- not sure. But they employ great bartenders. With a menu that regularity gets changed up there's always something new for me to discover. read more

If you love crafty and unique cocktails, this is the place. Food wise - this place is incredible. Lunch options 1) Better than anything else on their menu is The Mississippi Comeback: Fontina Cheese + Smoked Cheddar + Bacon Jam + Pickled Jalapeno + Sourdough + Chips & Slaw. OMG Mouth watering. It's like a grilled cheese, except way better. 2) Trunk-wich for lunch which is a southern style chicken fried, waffle sandwich. Dinner: Mac & Cheese (Amazing). Service is great too. The atmosphere is like modern/sleek meets cowboy. Black leather couches, reclaimed wooden tables. Really cool place. read more

Step into this restaurant and it feels like you're in another dimension... The bar is well decorated and very welcoming. The design is long into the back with lots of seating. The style reminded me of the classic bar set up on Queen street in Toronto, but with a friendlier atmosphere. We visited here with a group and the food and drinks were out of this world. Some very unique drinks and greatly mixed. Coffee & Cigarrettes was one that the group tried and enjoyed. I tried the sour beer (which I'd never tried but really enjoyed) and I was convinced to try the Old Fashioned which I cannot say I regret because it was delicious! The food is great and beautifully presented. I tried frog legs for the first time. I've always been scared to but I was told I would love them and again...right!! So tasty and perfectly cooked/seasoned. The Chorizo flameado was also very tasty. If you're looking for a classy place to try some delicious food, drinks and have some great informative service, give this place a try. You won't regret it!! I'll be back for more! read more

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We were visiting Kitchener for the weekend and saw this place had good reviews so we thought we'd try it out and we were not disappointed. The atmosphere was great as well as the decor. We didn't try any of the food, since we had just ate prior to coming here, but we did have the drinks. The drink menu was loaded with a list of custom made drinks. The grouping on the drink menu was very helpful when trying to decide which ones to choose. The drinks were a little pricey, but you get what you pay for because they were VERY strong (I think there was 3 ounces of alcohol in each drink) and delicious. read more

Just had a wonderfully warm comfort-food meal from Grand Trunk Saloon. Delicious fried chicken, fried Brussels sprouts and probably the best collard greens I've ever had. With tasty, moist corn bread, and super tasty and spicy sauces, we had the perfect southern-style meal. Great value as well, and ready at exactly the pick-up time we had arranged. So glad these guys are still open to provide delicious food at this time. Thanks to everyone at Grand Trunk! read more

We had dinner here and ordered the Chicken and Waffles and the Macaroni and Cheese. The Chicken was great, the waffles just right and the habanero syrup a perfect compliment to the dish. The macaroni however was lacklustre bordering on bland. The ham in it was almost nonexistent and the dish lacked overall flavour. The atmosphere was quite good and despite being busy wasn't too loud for a conversation. The background music was at a good level and it lighting made for an intimate feel. read more

Stopped in at the Grand Trunk Saloon for a late lunch. Ordered the catfish Po'boy and local craft beer. The po'boy was ok but the portion size was quite small, coupled with potato chips as a side, wasn't a very good value. The saloon was quite cold inside and they had a portable electric heater going in the middle of the dining area. We ate with our coats on as it was so cold, not a very comfortable atmosphere. Not really much here to entice me to return. read more

Grand Trunk Saloon - Catfish Po'Boy - Soul Food Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

Casual ambiance with a lot of drink options. Ordered the Mac and cheese, roasted potato salad and the homemade pickles. All were so good and reasonably priced. I also ordered a Caesar which not only tasted good but also had excellent garnishes (homemade pickles and olives) read more

Grand Trunk Saloon - Soul Food Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

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The Grand Trunk never fails to satisfy. Some friends who had never been here said they would like to check it out. Upon arriving they were impressed by the atmosphere and decor....my one friend loved all the artwork. The waitress was very prompt and polite and got us our drinks. She gave us time to decide on what to eat from the menu. We decided on the Hushpuppies...Gator bites and Ceasar salad. The food was exceptional and the drinks, particularly the TROMBA were very good. We decided to try out the desserts and they were divine. There were only 3 on the menu..Banana split for 2..Pecan caramel fudge and a caramel popcorn lemon curd pie (I may have that last one wrong). All in all we closed the place and have decided to make it our "go to chill and hang for drinks" place Thank you to all. read more

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First of all, this place has the best cocktails in the region, hands-down! The bar staff are incredibly knowledgeable and the cocktails are potent and flavourful, not watered-down tasting like most places. They seem expensive, but they're not considering that they are 2-3 oz of premium booze. The rotating craft beer taps always have a good selection to suit most tastes. The food is inventive, unique, and amazing, and you would be hard pressed to find anything similar in flavour and quality in the area. The Chorizo Flameado appetizer and the Jambalaya are simply to die for! The atmosphere is funky, warm and inviting - don't let the appearance from the outside fool you! The staff are extremely competent and friendly, like really genuine! Not like some places that ask how things are just because they feel they have to. It seems like the staff really care about your experience! read more

Terrible service, rude staff. Don't drink too much or they'll sneak stuff onto yr bill that you didn't pay for.

A cute little bar/restaurant we found off of king st we thought we would try for dinner. First off, it is pretty tiny inside, but cozy nonetheless. The food is fresh and tastes great, but expect to wait a while for it to come out. Drinks are a little bit expensive. A cocktail is about $13-14. I understand there is a lot of work that goes into the cocktails but with a tip on top that's almost $16 for a drink, in Kitchener! If this was Toronto I could maybe justify it, but sorry not in Kitchener. Overall it was still a good experience to try. read more

Dark dim and beery scented, this place would be a great casual date/meet up spot. Food was fresh and flavourful... though menu is limited.

Their fried chicken is awesome as well as their Saturday special tacos. But their beer is rather expensive, $8 for 10oz

During a visit from out of town, we went to GTS twice in one week to try out their interesting cocktails and get a taste of their twist on southern food. Both times we had great experiences both with our service and our tastebuds! They have a wide variety of craft cocktails, presented on the menu into taste categories. While I didn't enjoy the two I tried (Hurricane and Friendly Traveller) as much as I expected, my partner loved the two (Toadvine and the Humidor) he tried, so depending on your taste you may or may not find a new favourite. The food was delicious, but a little on the pricey side (ex. $19 for Chicken & Waffles). We absolutely loved the alligator nuggets, the scotch egg, the gumbo, and the house Caesar salad! Great atmosphere, great service, and a cocktail menu which is sure to keep you on your toes - we'll be back! read more

Fantastic spot! We found the GTS on yelp and visited it before the Brothers Osborne concert. Food was outstanding...gumbo, fried catfish and hush puppies, fried chicken, brussel sprouts...all great. Good local craft beer on tap along with original cocktails. The Coffee and Cigarettes was a great way to end the meal. read more

Grand Trunk Saloon - Fantastic gumbo with fresh okra! - Soul Food Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

A visit from out of town landed us in Kitchener. The Grand Trunk Saloon did not disappoint. We were served by a charming cocktail barman named Dan. He made us off menu concoctions based on us answering a few key questions on our taste. He nailed the cocktails. Sat at the bar for a few hours and chatted with him. On top of being a great drink maker, he was also very friendly. Was fun watching him make all these drinks. We also tried the jalapeno hushpuppies and they were amazing! Great food, even greater cocktails. I highly recommend this place. read more

I loved this place. Came here for my birthday with about 12 friends and the waitress worked her butt off and did a great job serving us all. The drinks are very unique and all delicious. I reccomend their old fashioned, but ask the bar tender for some tips if you're feeling adventurous. Come here for drinks and you won't be dissapointed, fair warning it ain't cheap- but you get what you pay for. I just want to say I really appreciated the good service, not enough bars and restaurants in kitchener waterloo are investing in good wait staff! A good bartender or waitress can make the experience. read more

Must try the chicken sliders! Delicious biscuit pared with perfectly fried chicken thigh and picked watermelon rind. It is amazing, best fried chicken you can find in Waterloo! read more

This place is a gem. Seriously legit soul food and drinks. Try the coffee and cigarettes; smells like your grand-daddy's den in the best way possible. Tastes amazing. read more

What a hidden gem! We went for dinner last night as a group of 5 people. Everything was top notch! The service was awesome and every food item we ordered was really great! We will definitely be returning. read more

I came with a group that was recommend by one that was his third time in a week. We were the last couple to arrive. Hostess asked if we needed a seat and we pointed to our friends. She said sure, go in. Then the bartender asked same thing. We again pointed to our friends, but he interpreted differently and stated that they seat us. I'm sorry but why are you doing the hostess job?!?! I so wanted to like this place and brushed that away. Tuesday night being the chicken special, we all went for it. But... something went wrong with the fryer and it all tasted burnt. But I also wasn't a fan of any of the three sauces. The bbq one made me gag. The hominy was extremely too salty for "flavor". The biscuits were ok. I would recommend changing to a honey butter. Overall, I know these are my tastebuds at play here, but honestly I know this isn't the place for me. On the flip side, washrooms were clean. And the manager did comp us for the chicken fiasco. read more

Grand Trunk was recommended by a friend for their trunk-wich sandwich so we tried it out last month. Happy we did, the fried chicken sandwich was delicious. read more

Fabulous burgers, and an excellent selection of high-end liquor served by skilled bartenders who take great pride in their work.

Went Sat for dinner and cocktails. Staff really friendly! Taco board recommended by Cam was awesome!! Lots for 2 of us to share. Salsa was amazing, couldn't believe it was grilled corn, cilantro and sweet potato, tasted like tomato salsa. Busy place on a Sat night, ate at the bar. Dinner and a show! read more

Went for dinner, and the drinks were amazing - if you like an Old Fashioned, you'll love theirs. Food was great - recommend the Alligator nugget appetizer. Service was also perfect - friendly, informative, and attentive without being overbearing. Decor is really nice - darker aesthetic with lots of wood. Place was full while we had dinner, but wasn't too loud. Will definitely be back. read more

Hands down, best drinks around. Quality of spirits is top notch. Food and staff amazing as well.