Returned to London to see family and friends, and that means a stop at Kool's. We were a group of six and there were only 4 other patrons in the entire establishment. Great beer selection and the service was good. Opted for the nachos and the kitchen sink pizza. Perfect food to share. Taste and presentation were spot on. And congrats to Kool's for recently celebrating their 40th anniversary. It was a positive food experience and happy to recommend Kool's. read more

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We were visiting London for a hospital appointment. I wanted something local, no chain restaurants! We were intrigued right away with this restaurant because they have hotdogs. Their hard to find in restaurants! I had the chili cheese dog, it was very good but most of all it stayed together! A lot of the times the guns fall apart, but I ate the whole thing without a mess! It wasn't too salty, the chili was meaty and the cheese was old and sharp! I also got the mac and cheese .. a side dish okay?!?! The noodles weren't mushy and the cheese sauce was flavorful, definitely some of the better mac and cheese I've had. My hubby had a hotdog too, the Chicago, lots of veggies, he liked it... I rather my chili cheese haha. The fries were super crispy, if recommend if you're looking just for a plate of fries I forgot to take a pic until I was almost done ooooops! read more

Joe Kool's - Mac and cheese and chili cheese dog! - Pizza Near Me - London, Ontario

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Maybe it was how sunny it was? Maybe it was the raptors winning the championship the night before? Or maybe, just maybe, this place holds its own. Came here with a group of coworkers for Friday lunch. We sat outside because it was beautiful out...and I really enjoyed the patio! There is a partially covered area, and an open area (the tables have umbrellas), so there is a good variety. Service was excellent - we suspect they forgot to put in one of our orders because it was super delayed and it was wrong (we were all about done our meals), but the server didn't charge us for that one. Of course, we left the server a big tip. I loved my panko-crusted cod sandwich (one of the specials) and everyone else seemed to enjoy their food as well - kitchen sink pizza, caesar salads, santa fe salad...etc. Looking forward to coming here again! read more

This is a go-to spot for my family since my dad loves it so much and a well known place here in London. Our waitress was very polite and attentive. Refills were done when needed without having to ask (which is always nice). We had onion rings to start and they were fresh out of the fryer! Super delicious. I had the Build Your Own Burger with lettuce, pickles and processed cheese (cheese slice melty-ness is perfect for burgers) on a Kaiser bun. The burger was cooked perfectly and tasted really good. I got a caesar salad as my side but it was really tiny for $1.99 extra. It, also, had waaay too much dressing on it. Wish I had the fries instead. My parents got the Chicago Clubs and said they were really tasty. May need to try this next time I come! Overall it was a satisfying meal and I will definitely be back. read more

Joe Kool's - Onion Rings (after more than a few were eaten) - Pizza Near Me - London, Ontario

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small asian woman bartender is my fav would go again 10/10 just for her bathroom situation = questionable experience at times read more

Food is good, not fantastic, but definitely not worth the price. Description of the food I ordered: CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN NACHOS 19.99 A mountain of tortilla chips topped with monterey jack, black beans, corn, green pepper, pico de gallo, and cheddar. Salsa and Sour Cream included. Not a mountain of anything. It looked more like an app than a main dish. 1/2 the size of the nachos at Montana's. A handful of chips, a smattering of toppings, and tasted like just regular nachos. Came with one tiny wedge of lime but no cilantro. 2 CHEESE (VEGGIE) QUESADILLA 12.99 **only offered on the take out menu** Again, just the item without sides. It is not an app; supposed to be a main dish, but not sides. Was OK but no worth $12.99 BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP 16.99 Crispy buffalo chicken, romaine lettuce, tomato, bacon, monterey jack and ranch sauce. Was decent but just the wrap for that price! No sides included! An extra $4 for sweet tater fries. $60 for that. Not worth it. read more

We had the best time ...food was awesome device was Great !! And the Sante Fey spring rolls are too good !!!! :) read more

Joe Kool's - Love How Kools !!! Thanks for the great food and service !! - Pizza Near Me - London, Ontario

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This place is awesome. Been here many times for many different reasons. The manager is a great guy. Their pizza is OUT OF THIS WORLD. Hands down the best 'za I ever ate @ a bar. A must-stop when i'm in London :) read more

I can't speak to the food as I have not eaten here. I am only rating Joe Kools on the nightlife/bar aspect. Seriously, I still can't figure out what all the fuss is about. There is nothing special about this place (OK - well maybe they do hire the best looking security guys around) and it's ALWAYS busy on Fri and Sat nights! The place gets so packed that you can barely move and it's too loud to hold conversations - aside from on the patio which is a decent place to hang out - the music is mediocre and the "dance floor" is just an area in the back where drunk girls shake their booties while creepy guys stand around and gawk. Lame. Now I know what you are thinking... "Nicole, why do you keep going back if it's so bad?!?!". I wonder the same thing sometimes and the answer to that is because everyone I know in London seems to love this place! I go with the flow and will patronize JKs because that's where my people want to go. But blahhh! It leaves a lot to be desired. *Note about the good-looking security guys... Half of them are power-tripping morons. Really boys, you have the authority to allow or deny people into a bar. That's it. Get over yourselves! read more

Loved this place. Found it on a whim when driving through, had a great meal. Steve the bartender was attentive and helpful, even when we were at a table. Food was better than expected. I anticipated the sports bar type packaged bland food after we got there but it was anything but. Lots of TVs for what you want to watch as well. And the self-deprecating signs all over really struck a chord with me, loved them. This is worth a stop. read more

They have the 2nd best deep dish pizza in town. I wasn't sure if they delivered but to my surprise they do!! The delivery service was prompt. Pizza arrived,and was delight to consume. If you are bored of the same old poizza places and want to try something different gi e their deep dish or "kitchen sink try. You won't be disappointed. read more

I've been craving buffalo chicken tenders since I went out for my friend's birthday dinner but decided to order something else. So last Wednesday night I decided to make it my mission to get some for dinner. I figured I would try a pub since buffalo chicken tenders might be considered a pub food and I wanted to get really good ones! Joe Kools is a bar that I pass by all the time when I am on my way to the club on the weekends, so I decided to give it a try. Soon after being seated, I realized this restaurant is probably not the "ideal" hang out spot for people my age. It was definitely a pub for older men to come and have a beer after a long day at work. Despite this, I was on a mission for amazing chicken tenders so my friend and I decided to stay. The service was pretty good, but I have to say that I was really disappointed with the food! I was expecting chicken fingers covered in medium buffalo sauce, but the sauce wasn't very saucy... it was more like they dipped the fingers in a bowl of Franks Red Hot (but not as amazing tasting as Franks), which is more of a thin liquid hot sauce flavour. I don't like super super spicy food, but the chicken was so dry, and lacking that hot flavour that I had been craving, to the extent that I asked for some hot sauce on the side, which looked like a little bowl of red oil when it arrived (that I was charged extra for). To top it all off, I couldn't decide whether I had been given really odd flavoured chicken, or fillet of fish dipped in hot sauce by mistake. My friend decided to order the sweet potato fries, which she also told me were nothing special in comparison to other sweet potato fries she had tried elsewhere. Overall, this is not a place I would come again when looking for great tasting pub food, or to hang out/meet people since the crowd was a lot older. read more

Joe Kools is a London classic! My parents came here in their younger days and now I love it. The menu is fairly large and has lots of different options. My personal favourites are the nachos, which are gigantic and have lots of toppings. The Chicago club is my absolute favourite. Three different kinds of meat, cheese and veggies on an herbed cheese bun. It's unbelievable. I have only been here for dinner. But Joe Kools is also awesome for drinks Amy night. read more

The service here is outstanding! I live in California but my husband is from London. He grew up going to JoeKool's. He has such great memories. His birthday is coming up and I wanted to do something special. They have tee-shirts you can purchase at the bar but living in CA that was going to be a problem. General Manager Ron to the rescue! In just a few back and forth emails we worked out what shirts I wanted and how to get them to me. Ron even took them to the post and shipped them to me (not something that they do at all). This was above and beyond good customer service. I am so grateful and can't wait for my husband's birthday! Thanks again Ron, you truly saved the day! read more

I know my few reviews all seem to be negative but I just don't understand why with so many options in London places hire lousy bartenders. If the bartender is an idiot I'm more likely to leave and not tip. I stopped into Joe Kool's last night for 2 quick beers. I knew it was going to be packed with the Juno's in town and it being the St Patty's day eve. I was able to get a spot in the bar ok and then I had to wait 10 minutes to order my beer from the rudest bartender I've ever had. Before he could bothered to take my order he got into a verbal confrontation with a female customer. She was trying to get his attention to pay for the drinks he just poured and he started to use profanity towards her like she was doing something wrong by wanting to pay. I got my first beer and all was well until the same lady came up to the bar to order another round. He said he won't serve her or her table if 6 friends and she might as well leave. He continued to speak down to her but not serve her a drink. This woman was NOT drunk, obnoxious or rude to him but he was to her. read more

Pleasantly surprised when I went here, ordered a panzerotti and it was so tasty! Huge portion which made it totally worth the price. Really fun and friendly staff, chill atmosphere. Not a bar I check out that much, but totally one I would go back to again for some food. So good! read more

Good food and drinks. Would have a better rating but waitress was awful. It wasn't busy but she didn't come around much and wasn't friendly.

Great spot for some live music and some good old fun. If you are in undergrad this is not the place for you. Average age here is 25 plus (lots of grad school students and an older crowd). The drinks are relatively cheap and the food is your classic pub food. I would recommend going here if you want a fun time with an elderly crowd! read more

I'm not even sure where to start on Kool's. Let's put it this way - I recently had company in from out-of-town and we decided to go for lunch. I asked what they felt like and they replied that they wanted the true London experience, the place that most represented London. Well ... we ended up at Kools. I've been going here for over 25 years and absolutely love this place. It has a laid-back atmosphere and just as importantly doesn't take itself too seriously. Don't get me wrong, the food is good but serious foodies would likely be best served to keep their distance. Think draft beer, nachos and an eclectic decor best described as a 70's TV den on steroids. Speaking of beer, they have an pretty impressive selection of taps in addition to bottles, cans, wine - well, it's a full bar in the trust sense of the term. The service can be slow and often nonchalant. The employees often look like their having a bit too much fun - except when their not. The menu is pretty varied and should have something for everyone and the prices are certainly reasonable. In the warm weather the patio is pretty great and on the weekends the back room often transforms into a dance floor - with a slightly older crowd and fun and relaxed vibe. If you're just looking for a bite and some drinks this should certainly be at or near the top of your list. Kools has been around as long as I can remember and I fully expect it to be around long after I'm gone. As an added bonus, its my understanding that they're close to all the major hospitals. In short? They're certainly doing something right! read more

This place was recommended to me by a friend, so I was really rooting for it. However, the experience in total was subpar. Our server was quite unattentive, it took her about 25 minutes t0 bring us our drinks, then double that to bring our food. I ordered the Canadian Burger and it was pretty sad looking, and uncooked in the middle. I also got a hard bit in my first mouthful. I sent it back and got the mac n' cheese which was fine, but they charged me for both dishes... My friends were also unimpressed with their food as well. The atmosphere was neat, but the food was just really disappointed. I've heard that it's a London icon as well, so I really wanted to like it. read more

As far as restaurant bars go this is probably some of the best food in London! I've never had a better deep dish pizza in London, and the kitchen sink nacho's are probably the best nacho's I've had anywhere! The portions are more than generous, but the prices can be a little on the steep side, but they are located right in the heart of downtown so this is understandable. The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated if you ask me, and it's usually very clean. The staff are very curtious and unless they are swamped with orders, the food usually comes out very quickly as well. Never really tried anything else on the menu because I just love the nacho's and pizza so much but I've heard its soo good! Anyways as Dangyell already said, get there early on the weekends because they do fill up fast! Aactually they are usually busy all the time so if you have a large group I would call ahead. But check it out some of the best food in London! Not to mention the atmosphere! read more

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Great bar- You'll every person from every walk of life here. REally the only spot I've ever been to that anyone can go to. Food is the best pub fare I've had- you can tell Joe kools uses fresh ingredients. Bar staff is super friendly even though it's crazy busy all the time. Definitely a must go if you are ever in London Ontario. Try the spring rolls (baked)- AMAZING read more

My wife and I took our grandson there to watch the hockey game - at least that was my excuse. The service is good and so is the food. The waitress was great with our grandson. I had the perch and my wife had a steak; both were very good. If you like pizza try the sink. read more

If you are new to London or visiting downtown for the first time, this is THE place to start. Good for a lunch while shopping Richmond Row or a casual dinner on their rooftop patio. JK's has great nachos and the rest of the menu is worth a try, pizza and flatbreads, salads and starters have never disappointed me. A wonderful place to spend a casual evening out, Joe Kools is a London landmark and popular with students and young professionals alike. Most weekends a line starts to form after 10pm, go early if you want a table! read more

They just redid their menu and honestly it is way better than before! The food has always been great but the new menu offers a lot more choices (especially gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, etc). Even when it's extremely busy the service is still awesome! Definitely one of my favourite go-to's for lunch, dinner or even just a drink with friends. read more

I was having a large amount of family in town to attend a concert that night, and wanted to show them the best dining experience I could think of in London. We came to Joe's for the pizza and nacho's, and I blew them out of the water with this place. They couldn't get enough of the memorabilia, the polish penthouse, and how good the service was. Best of all the food is unmentionable. Its so good, you gotta go here and try it for yourself. The pizza and panzo's and nachos, Im telling you 5/5! Thanks to all the great servers for accommodating this very important night to me. read more

Don't come here for healthy food. Yes, they offer it but it's sacrilegious to do so. Kool's is for drinking too much, eating too much and having to scream at your dining companions. It's a place for excess, not for exercising good judgment. If you're new to town then this place should be your first stop. They make the trends. This was the first place that I know of in London that stopped carrying Heinz products when they pulled that stunt in Leamington. I only wish that they still sold Kool's merchandise from the booth next to the bar. Prices are a bit high for the quality of food but you are paying to take part in an institution. read more

If you spent anytime in London you always end up at Joe Kools. The best gathering place in London.

Pretty good place for a burger and some beers. Not the best burgers in town or anything like that but they are decent, and the location is good if you are having a night out downtown. read more

The breaded pickles were quite nice. But I thought the Quinoa and Kale salad was quite amazing. I'm not a vegetarian, but I highly recommend you give it a shot. Its quite fresh. read more

Sat at the bar for 15 minutes before anyone asked me anything Small crowd. Finally got a beer and had to chance down a waitress to pay for it. Wanted lunch but ran outta time. Very poor read more

I like Joe Kools, it' a pretty casual place for a couple of beers that gets pretty busy on the weekends. Food is ok, nothing special, decent pub food - it's the atmosphere you go for. I think it's a detroit sports bar, with lots of memorabilia on the walls. The crowd is a bit older on the weekends which can be good if you're looking to escape the students. Service is quick and friendly! read more

Not my go-to bar in London, but it does have history. I'll drop in with some friends every once in a while.

Fun times, great service. Good place to go to for all ages FYI Lineups can be very long on Friday and Saturday nights read more

Great food, never disappoints! Ordered panzarottis for delivery on a Saturday night and they were delicious and arrived quickly.

Back again for a 4th , em 5th time in the past few months .. This place doesn't disappoint. So much fun and great food too. Well done .

Patio was packed with only one server. Understaffed, unprofessional, unprepared. The manager was no help either, told us that we basically had to be our own waitress if we wanted to get food. Very rude. read more

I was there about a week ago and the service was terrible. The stool that I sat on was broken and I cut my finger on it. When I advised the waitress of it, the waitress responded in the coldest and least friendly manner I have ever experienced. She asked me what I expected her to do. I requested a band aide for my bleeding hand and never received it. I will never go back nor will I recommend anyone should. I felt disrespected and made to feel like the money I was spending there wasn't worth their time. read more

I really really wanted to like this place. I know it's a London icon. I went there for lunch with a group of four others today. We were seated in the back room, even though there were plenty of seats in the main area, but perhaps they were reserved. Anyway, the first thing we told the lady seating us was that we were in a hurry as it was our lunch hour and she assured us that it was no problem. It took over ten minutes for any kind of acknowledgement and that was after we had to flag down a server to ask where ours was. After that it was ten minutes to get drinks (three waters and two palm bays, so nothing to do there except open a can). As soon as our drinks came we ordered. Then we were left to sit there for another thirty minutes after which we had to enquire about our order. Then one person's order came out. I want to be clear, we didn't order a pizza or anything that would take time to make, just standard lunch fare like sandwiches, wraps, and quesadillas. Finally, when the first order came out we asked for take out containers and our bills since by this time there wasn't any time to eat. It took our server over fifteen minutes to just put us through the debit machine. I think what irked me the most here was that there was NO acknowledgement that they took so long, not even an apology that we really couldn't eat our lunch there. Now I might have given them a pass if there was a decent quality to the food. My quesadilla was greasy and the veggies inside weren't cooked properly. The Lettuce wraps had so much water in the filling it poured out. And the sandwich came as a wrap, and all the meat items were too heavily salted. It's unfortunate, but we definitely won't be back for the mediocre food and the non existent service. read more

Best bar in ALL of London! London is a Canadian college town, home of the University of Western Ontario! Enrollment about 28K students, give or take. Go Mustangs! Joe Kool's being the best bar in London, and London being one of the best college towns in all of Ontario, makes Joe Kool's the best college bar in all of the entire province of Ontario! Boom! Done! How ya like that math? That's a little southern United States mathemetization coming at ya! Have I been to all the other college towns and bars in Ontario, to make this call? No! But I am making this call! I've been to Joe Kool's countless times. Different years. Different seasons. Different times of day. Always the same results. Amazing! And when I say amazing, I mean their food. Canadian beer is always awesome and always has great flavour (Eh? Canadian spell? You like?) But I'm writing up the food. The food here is what makes Joe's the centre (Eh?...Yes, you like!) of the college bar landscape in this otherwise normally frozen-solid province. In particular, I love, and have only really ever had, the nachos and the pizza! Both bar food staples! Both the best in their class and could go up against any other North American college bar in these categories. Yeah, I said North American! This includes, the U.S.! I hope my fellow Americans will not take offence (Eh?) at this bold statement and challenge. I just hope that the University and the beautiful town of London appreciate, respect and recognize what they have right there in front of them. It's not just a college bar, it's an institution. An institution that serves food better than most hospitals. read more