My party of four visited during Taste of Oakville, and in hindsight, the evening foreshadowed…read moreitself early -- the restaurant's website was down with a 404 error, and we kept finding two different addresses (one apparently their old location). We eventually found it. Upon arrival, the door swung open and struck a seated guest -- a sign of just how small the space is. The restaurant was full except for one four-top (clearly ours), and we stood awkwardly in the entrance -- which is essentially inside the dining room -- waiting to be acknowledged. When greeted, we were asked if we had a reservation. We said yes. "Table for eight?" we were asked, which felt impossible given the size of the room. We clarified four, and were pointed to the only open table. No name was requested; we realistically could have just walked in and taken it. The space is starkly lit with aggressive bright white lighting that feels more clinical than cozy. The artwork is interesting and gives a gallery-like feel -- it seems the restaurant is aiming for a downtown Toronto wine bar aesthetic, but it doesn't quite land. Our table was missing water glasses, and the stemware was mismatched -- not in an intentional, charming way, but more in a "we ran out" way. Once seated, we weren't acknowledged or offered water for nearly 20 minutes. Not rushing guests is one thing; leaving them feeling forgotten is another. When our server finally arrived, the service set the tone for the evening. One glass of water was poured before he realized another was missing. He disappeared, returned with a glass, inspected it mid-pour, then walked away again (dirty glass). After several more trips and long gaps, everyone eventually received water -- about 15 minutes later. He was polite and friendly, just clearly untrained. He shared that the owner is also the sommelier, cook, and server, and that he liked working there because he wasn't expected to know much about wine -- an interesting admission for a wine bar. The owner greeted us warmly but asked only one guest about wine preferences -- ironically the only non-wine drinker at the table. The concept appeared to be sommelier-led, though this was never explained. If that is the intention, engaging the entire table is essential. That said, the wines themselves were enjoyable; the service surrounding them was not. The Taste of Oakville menu promised three curated 3-oz pours paired with a charcuterie board for two. The pours arrived unevenly and slowly, with little explanation of the pairings. The charcuterie boards were plain and inconsistent between tables despite containing similar items -- basic fruit, crostini, simple cured meats, small portions of brie, and two slices of truffle cheese. No crackers, spreads, or thoughtful touches elevated the experience, and presentation varied noticeably. Our second wine pour didn't arrive until our mains, and service moved so slowly we requested a wine list to order a bottle. We were told there is no wine list -- "we're not that kind of restaurant." Instead, all reds are $80 and all whites $70, and the owner selects the bottle for you after asking only red or white. The concept might work if explained upfront; without context, it was confusing. At one point, noticing my empty glass, our server poured me a random red -- which turned out to be the same wine as our first pour -- and then left without serving anyone else. We had to remind staff we were still waiting for our second curated pour. Nothing about the experience felt curated. The most surprising moment of the night came when our mains arrived. As we lifted our appetizer plates -- still holding olive pits, fruit rinds, and crumbs -- the servers told us not to worry about clearing them and proceeded to place our main dishes directly on top of the used plates. I'm still shocked. I wouldn't do that at home, let alone expect it at a Lakeshore, or quite frankly, any restaurant. Two of us ordered the tagliatelle, which was tasty but contained only two small pieces of short rib -- and was difficult to enjoy while staring at discarded rinds beneath the plate. The other two ordered brisket sliders: two sliders, no sides. They tasted good but left diners hungry. One guest joked they kept thinking the fruit rinds were fries -- unfortunately accurate. We tried to make the best of the evening, but it never delivered the cozy wine-and-charcuterie experience we had anticipated -- dim lighting, thoughtful pairings, something special. After finishing our meal, we requested our bills and reminded staff we were still waiting for the third curated pour. We were told "five minutes." Those five minutes never came. Eventually, wanting simply to leave, we paid a single combined bill and sorted it out ourselves. Dinner for four totaled $460. This was not the boutique Lakeshore dining experience we expected, and ultimately, it was deeply disappointing.

As an Oenophile, I was excited to check out The Wine Bar in my neighbourhood. The door was open, In…read morewalked in at 4:55 to be "Greeted" by the Owner, "We don't open till 5 o'clock".......Attitude from the get go. I looked at the menu, interesting but very pricey for the offering. I looked at a row of wine bottle partially open and simply corked, no nitrogen or air extraction.....no telling how long the wine had been "Breathing"....Days? I am puzzled by the discrepancy 5 Star vs 1 Star reviews. I have no confidence in the 5 star reviews....Friends?...Self reviewed? No serious wine enthusiast would visit this establishment...bad attitude, poor value, insufficient wine care and presentation.

Upon entering it was nice to see such a simplistic but aesthetic cafe, walking further in there is…read morea magazine aisle which has all sorts of art books which are for sale or viewing which is really nice. Walking more past the aisle and there is a seating with really nice photographic walls. Decided to order the wild mushroom grilled cheese sandwich! It was really nice that they served it with a side of ketchup (it's a weird food combination for some but it's my favourite) Overall a nice cafe to go to for studying or just catching up with friends

Not a great experience. Staff were honestly pretty rude and the food was mediocre. Seems like…read moreanother overhyped spot by locals.

We had a very nice brunch over the weekend here, and really loved the ambiance and service. We…read moreshared an array of vegetarian items, including the Spaghetti fingers, Oh my gourd, Vuffulo vings, Take a Bao and the Beatya to it pizza. The food item names are super fun, and super delicious. We definitely be back for a future get togethers!

Overpriced draft for $10 a pint is a goddam rip off. I can get pint in Burlington at the Squires…read moreduring happy hour for $5. You tell me??? I'm never ever coming back and tell the owner he is overpriced.

A group of us came here for lunch during a weekend trip to Grimsby. It's around the time of peach…read moreharvest so the restaurant is offering special peachy menu currently. The restaurant had really nice renovations and service was attentive. For lunch, I tried Caesar salad, baked mushroom and mushroom pizza. The salad and mushroom were okay. Not wowing but with okay quality. The mushroom pizza had a sweet teriyaki like sauce and blue cheese toppings. The flavour was on the heavier side, but I enjoyed it very well. Expect $35+ per person for lunch here.

Leanne was amazing. She runs an incredible restaurant. The space is very comfortable. We sat…read moreoutside and she turned the heaters for us. We only had an app, cowboy caviar which was great & a drink each but Leanne couldn't have been more gracious. On a busy Friday evening she spent time speaking with us. The drinks were tasty, prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend giving this place a try!

Fine Dining... casually!…read more When a restaurant delivers the best meals, with top shelf service in an intimate setting, you call that Michelin Star or at least recommended. When you do it effortlessly, you call that Buvette, a new standard in Casual Fine Dining. I had the most wonderful evening at Buvette in Burlington. Yes ... Burlington. Far away but worth the drive. Step in and friendly salutations are offered, along with overheard lively conversations of happy patrons that have been looking forward to a night out. It's been a long few years, and Buvette has spent their time setting up and after only opening 8 months ago, they are shaking up the dining scene. The home reimagined and constructed into Buvette is gorgeous. The passthrough fireplace, with Buvette proudly emblazoned on it, plays the center piece. The sunken sunroom dining area, the intimate bar, stairs to the second floor dining area all pass by warmth of the fire. And of course, opposite to the fireplace is the glass encased small collection of fine wines. Though Buvette is a Winebar, let's not forget their handcrafted cocktails. The owner was cheeky and named them after businesses around the historic Village Square of Downtown Burlington. From carpaccio to cauliflower bites, burrata to pastas, steaks to lobster, the names may be standard, but the food here is elevated to a whole new level. My fav? Obvisouly The Buvette Signature Share Platter! A mouthwatering board featuring steak, lobster, shrimps, lamb, and all the fixings. Whether you are here for vibes and drinks, spend some quality time with family, or a special someone, you really came to the right place. My night was amazing, however, take a gander at the menu before heading out. The place is casual but don't forget, it is Fine Dining. Bring your card made of metal... or someone you know that is!!! Downtown Burlington continues to impress me as a place for upscale living, and I think Buvette has given me another reason to perhaps make a move? Hmmm... CHEERS!!!

Food and service tops! Beet salad was delicious and as a…read moreappetizer huge BB bits and hamburger both are worth every bite. But not for the handicapped as washrooms are up stairs!

Great wine selection. Wonderful small plates. Lovely ambiance. It's everything you need from a…read morewine bar!

Rust Bistrobar is the only spot in Burlington that makes me want to permanently squat in the…read morekitchen and call it a day. Having been back here close to a dozen times over the last decade, I can firmly say this place is the perfect combination of gastro-ingenuity and traditional staples done right. The vibe is "industrial chic," which is essentially code for "I'm feeling something fancy, but still want to be able to visit in my Kirkland shorts." The food has a heavy focus on local ingredients, with flavors that are incredibly tight and well-balanced. The steak frites are so tender I'm pretty sure they were cut with a polite suggestion rather than a knife. The scallops are meaty and perfectly cooked. And of course the burger is absolutely mouthwatering and make it the tempting default option during each visit. The appetizers are all fantastic, Kat and the Korean cauliflower takes the cake! For desert, their house cheesecake is phenomenal, and their in house amber ale is full and flavourful. Our server was on the ball; the water was never empty, and the check ins were always at the right time. Verdict: 10/10. If you want western food with a fun twist and high quality ingredients, this is one spot you must check out!

We went to this place during the holidays time for a weekend brunch and we loved it! It was…read moredecorated so well and had a cozy vibe. Reservations are a must. The service was great, our server gave us a free latte because their coffee machine took forever to work. I got a hazelnut old fashion and it tasted amazing. The food was delicious, we got Huevos Rancheros (instead of tofu I opted for chorizo) and a Chorizo Benedict. Both the dishes were flavorful and came with crispy potatoes. I would recommend this place!

The food was excellent and the spicing extremely authentic. We ordered the pork souvlaki with the…read moreroast potatoes and the Greek salad. The service was slow but it was busy in the restaurant as they had some other larger parties. The meat was tasty and the tzatziki sauce was literally the best I've ever had in Hamilton and I've been to every Greek restaurant here. The potatoes were piping hot and delicious. We ordered one meal for two and it filled us both up. My boyfriend is a big eater so this means they have generous portions. Moreover, the waitress was efficient. She brought us our food when the chef had prepared it. Bravo!

Overpriced mediocre food masquerading as fine dining. The…read moremeat for both the chicken and pork savaki was overcooked and service was very slow.

Last night we had an amazing girls night with outstanding service given to us by Sadie! Sadie knew…read morewhich wines to recommend and did a fantastic job especially since she had to run upstairs to bring the food and drink. She was attentive and knew what to recommend to each of us. We had a private room for our girls night which was great for a good visit! The shape of the table allowed us to talk to each other comfortably and to hear each other easily. We also loved the live music from a distance. The food was very good for an evening out. I had the special and saw my friends eat the salmon, steak salad and tuna. Thank you for a great evening out!

Excellent food and service. Beautiful place. The only issue we had was they were understaffed, so…read moreit took a long time for the food.

I love love this place. Such a cute spot. Perfect after a long week of work and a 4 year old…read morerunning circles around you ;) It's become my husband's and I little escape place. Prices are not bad and selection is great. I think it hasn't been around a long time, but they're doing something right. Finally met the owner this week, lovely team of people in general. A+ service and ambiance.

Cute room, with the lovely chatter of friends meeting over food and drinks. It was hoppin' on…read more Saturday evening at 7p. We got the last table. A few more after us got a seat at the bar, and the rest after were turned away They have full bar service. The menu likely has something for everyone, with tacos, flatbreads, apps,and pasta feature. As hubs noted, for a place called uncorked, their wine menu is a bit light. However, if you include liquor choices, it works. Service was good overall, perhaps slightly lacking polish but made up for with genuineness. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights at 7. The trio playing was enjoyable playing a lot of classics most would know. Good music for conversation. The sound system was a bit distorted, so that did detract unintentionally from the band. As far as food goes, they brought the appetizer out after the tacos, and my main seemed to have gotten a bit lost. Ideally the kitchen would have delivered both mains at the same time. So Hubs ate his, then we ate our appetizer...and then I ate my main. Not ideal but pretty tasty. The brussel sprout dish was quite delicious, but a slightly lighter hand on the sauce would improve it. Pulled pork tacos were enjoyed by Hubs. I enjoyed my fish tacos and my duck taco. All in all a good meal.