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.

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!

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!

Rust consistently delivers as needed and expected. Always a relaxing place for a local meal with an…read moreunpretentious vibe. Always our go to for a night out! Thank you Rust and staff!

They have recently renovated and the place looks really nice. The new dine-in setting is suitable…read morefor both date nights/family dining or events/larger group gatherings. They also offer a full bar. The staff are nice and friendly and the owner cares about delivering high quality food and service. They offer authentic Indian Cuisine and we tried "Hariyali Paneer Tikka", "Maharaja Kaju Paneer Masala", "Butter Chicken", "Chicken Briyani" and "Butter Naan". The food was fresh and tasted great. Would love to come back to try more of their menu items.

This is an Indian restaurant and bar. There are four locations; we visited this one in Oakville…read more They recently renovated and reopened 2024-12-04, so it looks nice inside, especially the bar. They can also host large groups of people and events. We ordered the following: 1. Hariyali Paneer Tikka ($15.49). It is a combo of Tandoori Paneer Tikka ($15.99) and Lahori Paneer Tikka ($14.99). 2. Butter Chicken ($16.99). 3. Chicken Biryani ($14.99). 4. Maharaja Kaju Paneer Masala ($17.99). 5. Butter Naan ($3.49). The food was very authentic. It was very tasty and fresh. I loved the Butter Chicken flavour. The Paneer Tikka and Paneer Masala were also good. The Butter Naan was freshly made. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. There is one gender-neutral washroom, and it is wheelchair accessible. There is free parking in the plaza's parking lot. Review 2025-002

We had a wonderful experience at Di Mario's! We started with the charcuterie board, which was…read morebeautifully presented with a fantastic variety of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments. The burrata was absolutely delicious--fresh, creamy, and full of flavour. The cocktails were equally impressive, expertly crafted and the perfect complement to our meal. What really stood out was the exceptional customer service. The staff were welcoming, friendly, and attentive, and everything arrived quickly without ever feeling rushed. The outdoor patio was another highlight. It has a charming, quaint atmosphere that makes for a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience. Di Mario's is definitely a restaurant we'll be returning to. Highly recommend!

Went here for a Valentine's date and Dimarios did not disappoint. Everything was spectacular from…read morethe food, to service, and ambiance. This jumped to being one of the top Italian restaurants for us and we will definitely visit again.

We usually go to their Oakville location but this time we chose Burlington…read more In my opinion, the key to this chain's success is that they are able to maintain high standards of service and food and achieve this consistently across their locations I can never not order their mozzarella and the goat cheese & beet salad But judging by the expressions and feedback from my friends, their pastas are really good too PS: A special shout out to Hunter who was uniquely outstanding

We were in the area on Valentine's Day, and to be honest we don't really celebrate Valentine's Day…read morehowever we were hungry. Of course we didn't have a reservations, but we immediately got seated at the bar and Gaby was our waitress. Hands-down, great client service. She was so energetic definitely came in with her recommendations when we asked for it truly made the experience fun. As for the food, no complaints nothing extraordinary. Everything tasted great even with the place being packed around 4 PM. The food was consistently good.

Food and staff ... fantastic. We put first visit in Good Friday. Just moved to the hood and called…read morein late in the day and they found us a spot. The staff are clearly pros, so welcoming and accommodating. Loved the cozy atmosphere. Maybe Not the best place to bring your teenager lol re smaller but interesting menu ... but we all had the fish and chips ... something I make fresh myself and feel we are great judges of the dish having had in a lot of places .... Hands down the best we ever had ... something a little higher level about it... everything on the plate ... 10 out of 10. We will be back

West Plains Bistro is a place where locals like to go. The food seems to be made with love and…read morenicely presented. For me, it misses the certain extra, that would make it a 5 star place I'd go back to. The staff is very friendly.

April 11/2025: Lunch with Keith…read more This was pretty good. It was quiet for a lunch period. Our server "Vino" was very nice & attentive & delivered solid service. My main was the Italian Hoagie ($20.00). Came with a side salad that was just ok but not great. The sandwich itself was very good. Had lots of meats & was quit tasty. I'd do this again but just order different food.

We went for a late Valentine's dinner. Everything from the cozy atmosphere, attentive service and…read moredelicious food were outstanding! Started with a spicy margarita and grapefruit cocktail, which were spot on! I had the creamy garlic Mussel Pot and hubby had the bacon wrapped meatloaf with garlic mash. Soooo filling, we could not finish it! Highly recommend for a cozy date night.