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    The French

    4.2 (109 reviews)
    PriceyBistros, French
    Closed Closed

    The French Photos

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    THE FRENCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - The French

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    Dozen oysters from PEI with 2 sauces
    Amanda H.

    Some friends and I had a wonderful dinner the other night. We started with drinks - I tried a couple cocktails. The pear vodka Prosecco drink was my fav. I also had to try the mustard / gin cocktail- very unique and delicious. A few of us shared a dozen oysters from PEI with plenty of fixings. I had the steak frites which was cooked perfectly and tasted even better - yum! My friends both loved their meals and got the chicken and trout. Service was excellent. The ambiance is lovely - from our table you could see the food coming together in the open kitchen. I'm already looking forward to my next meal here!

    Alaleh P.

    This place is absolutely amazing; from appetizers to mains and desserts. You can enjoy an excellent service with high quality food. Literally one of the best Creme brûlée I've had.

    Jennifer K.

    I enjoyed my Brunch and Dinner experiences at The French. Small and intimate experience with a full view of an open kitchen in the Main dining area. Reservation is easy using Bookenda. I highly recommend making a reservation. For Dinner: Trout Almondine and Ricotta Gnocchi were delish! Love the crispy fish skin and gnocchi just so pillowy! For Brunch: Duck Waffles and House Baked Scones! Service is top notch. The vibe is lively. A great neighbourhood Bistro in Downtown Hamiliton.

    Chris C.

    On a recent trip to Hamilton to photograph waterfalls and explore a couple restaurants, The French was our first stop. We had heard about their brunch menu so that was our focus. In an effort to keep it light (for darn dietary reasons), we chose to share the Duck Waffles (Duck, Rosemary blueberry, almond creme fraiche), and a scone (with butter and preserves). I love duck but the components that made up the dish, I would never have thought to put them together. It was a wonderful mix of sweet and savoury. I liked it! The scone was a generous size but a tad dry and crumbly for my preference. Having butter and an apple compote really helped with this. The service was excellent! Our server was friendly and attentive. The ambiance was equally outstanding, with a really nice French bistro feel to it. The patio was just as nice but a bit too cool for outside dining in October. I would come back to try dinner.

    Katherine A.

    First time here! Went here for brunch on a last minute notice. If you want a table for more than 2, reservations are recommended! (Sitting at the bar is an option) The setting had a rustic aesthetic with cement walls and dainty decor. A lot fancier for a brunch, although walking in with a hoodie or sweats is still acceptable. I ordered the Eggs Benedict with Crispy Potatoes (can opt out for a salad) for $15 and it was beyond my expectations. The hollandaise sauce was made quite savoury that complemented the potatoes and eggs. Would definitely recommend this restaurant! Look forward to coming back.

    Omelette with smoked salmon
    Feng L.

    Having a Sunday brunch here, the service was excellent (5/5), the duck waffle (5/5) was very good, interesting combination of savour and sweetness. It actually goes very well together. The omelette with smoked salmon (from Norway) was good (4/5) too, the salad comes with it was very fresh. We also tried blueberry lemon tart (5/5) as the dessert (sounds weird? Dessert for brunch?), it was well balanced between sourness and sweetness, tart filled with blueberry, with crepe brûlée on top. Highly recommended. I really want to give it a five, but the coffee was not really good, otherwise it will be perfect and deserve a five star. Definitely a 4.5+

    Steak tartar
    Hester Y.

    steak tartar: 3.5/5 a little bit tasteless from my opinion Cured salmon:4.5/5 perfectly cooked! Sauce is a little bit too sweet tho Steak frites: 3.5:5 average steak, fries is good Chicken breast:5/5 juicy and tender chicken breast, great flavour! Overall nice service, nice food and great atmosphere. Would recommend.

    Arshile K.

    I have virtually no sense of Hamilton's culinary landscape. Until recently, I'd only been on weekends to visit friends and eaten around the Mac campus. The French was a revelation. Refined cuisine at a reasonable price - something very rare in Toronto, but more common in Hamilton where things are generally cheaper and young entrepreneurs are determined to make a name for themselves (or so I hear). I visited The French with family, who'd been just a few days before. The gnocchi - which apparently is their star dish - came highly recommended. It did not disappoint. Rather than the traditional potato filled variation, these were done with house made ricotta which amplified the pillowy texture one expects from excellent gnocchi. Certainly a brilliant twist on a classic. The cream sauce was perfectly balanced and well portioned, which was a nice surprise as cream sauce can very easily become too prominent in my opinion. What really made this dish stand out though was the parsley bread crumbs spread generously on the top. They provided an unexpected crunch which contrasted beautifully to the gnocchi. Finally, some sliced mushrooms added a very enjoyable springiness. The Beet and Chèvre salad was an unexpected and bold invention - chèvre cheese blended with apple framed the frisée and beet salad, which was a brilliant way to add depth to the salad without drowning it in dressing. For desert, we had the lemon and blueberry tart. I didn't go as crazy about it as the other dishes, but my family did. Regardless, it was very good. Overall, The French was a fantastic introduction to Hamilton cuisine. I look forward to coming back.

    White Chocolate and Raspberry cheesecake
    Gary L.

    Came here at night for dessert and the servers were super nice letting us pick anywhere to sit as it wasn't too busy but still quite a few people there eating late night dinner Decided to order the White chocolate and Raspberry cheesecake which was absolutely yum! Definitely will have to come here and try the main courses as well but the dessert was definitely a right choice!

    Lamb burger
    Breanna M.

    Nice/clean/friendly spot for dinner! I wanted to check out Hamilton, Ontario and the food! I stumbled upon this place and decided to give it a try. The service was great! Really excellent customer service and helpful staff! My waitress recommended I get the lamb burger so I gave it a try. It didn't disappoint. It's not super greasy or heavy like a regular beef burger. It's very juicy and has unique taste. I definitely recommend giving it try! I also got a a side of fries which were okay but nothing special. Anyway, this place is neat. Definitely give it a try.

    Tarte Flambee

    Visited on 09/10/21 Delicious; every dish we ordered was cooked perfectly. It was clear that a lot of thought was put into to the flavorings and it clearly pays off! Here are the highlights: - Foie gras parfait - The sourness from the grainy mustard was pleasant; you could control exactly how sour you wanted it to be. - Trout Almondine - Crispy skin and a soft interior that; a perfectly cooked trout. - Duck Confit - (my favorite) The outside of the duck was crisp and the inside was very tender. It was made better with their use of a slightly sweet raspberry sauce. The whole thing melted in your mouth.

    Cocktails!
    Suman M.

    Went for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night. Atmosphere is nice. Service was good and attentive. Food - our table shared a cheese app. The cheeses were great. They give us a couple different types of chips & crackers. The flax seed crackers were too overpowering in my opinion and I didn't care for the app. While my friends and family enjoyed their mains, I didn't. I had the Veggie Paella and it was underwhelming with little flavour. I didn't finish it. Drinks - we ordered some cocktails for the table, off-menu: old fashioneds. They were just ok. But we ordered some shots by asking the bartender to make us something good and she really delivered. They tasted great. We ordered a second round. And we were really impressed with the service and presentation. She came over to serve us our shots and took the time to tell us about the recipe as we were really interested. The glasses in which the shots were really nice too. Overall, good experience. I'll go back for drinks and brunch.

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    2 months ago

    very nice indeed probably the best in Hamilton, good service too. I enjoyed the steak and fries was cooked to perfection

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    2 years ago

    Excellent food and service. Lovely spot. One of our favourites and thought of first for special occasions.

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    Beautiful place great to go for special occasions. Staff is very sweet and accommodating. Great variety of food options. Well prepared.

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    Quatrefoil Restaurant

    Quatrefoil Restaurant

    4.6(68 reviews)
    7.3 km
    $$$$

    Came here with my significant other for a fancy dinner. I had the cappelletti and the halibut, he…read morehad the sea scallops and the tenderloin. I would get the sea scallops over the Capelletti, but both were very good. My halibut was cooked perfectly. Next time I want to try that beetroot pavé, it sounds great. We also shared the baked Alaska, note that is not lit on fire for you. I wish they sold the spiced chocolate ice cream separately. I would absolutely buy a tub to take home. It was amazing. The waiter was very kind and there was a nice welcoming, non-stuffy feeling to the restaurant. I wish they advertised soda products, especially for people who don't drink alcohol. Even during the fancy dinner sometimes a good pop hits the spot.

    I was visiting my bestie in Canada and came across this place on Yelp. We decided to go on a Friday…read morenight so we could have the option to try their Tasting Menu, and I was happy to be able to get a last minute reservation. As soon as we entered we were greeted and seated upstairs in a lovely quaint dining room. Our waiter Kyle came over and explained the menu options. We both ordered cocktails and decided to try the tasting menu. It was a great decision as we enjoyed everything that was placed in front of us. While everything was amazing, my favorite dish that evening was the salmon with the perfectly crispy skin and the pork loin/pork belly. The amazing service provided by Kyle, the ambiance, quality ingredients and amazing pairing of the ingredients made for an unforgettable meal and I can't wait to return to Quatrefoil. If you like French cooking, I highly suggest you give this establishment a try...and for amazing service, ask for Kyle.

    Photos
    Quatrefoil Restaurant
    Quatrefoil Restaurant - Scallop was delish

    Scallop was delish

    Quatrefoil Restaurant - Smoked ricotta, Capelletti

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    Smoked ricotta, Capelletti

    Ancaster Mill

    Ancaster Mill

    3.9(99 reviews)
    9.0 km
    $$$

    Ancaster Mill located along Old Dundas Rd. near Millcreek Ct. in Hamilton is a scenic creek side…read morerestaurant in a restored mill which serves up farm to table fare. The property also does events like weddings as well. The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner, as well as a Sunday buffet brunch. They also sometimes do special holiday and chef exclusive fixed menus as well. Parking is available onsite as well as valet parking as well. I recently dined at Ancaster Mill for their Sunday buffet brunch. Price wise, the buffet is $77 per person where it is half price for children aged 5-12. You do get a time limit of 2 hours. Reservations are a must if you decide to go dine for brunch as it gets quite busy! During brunch service, our server mentioned to us that the restaurant often sees up to 400 guests come and go to dine at their brunch! The vibes of the restaurant are relaxing and tranquil, reflecting the property it is in. Upon arrival at Ancaster Mill, there are 2 parking lots you are able to park at. Once entering the restaurant, you check in with the host where you are brought to your table. Even with a reservation you may have to wait a few minutes for your table to be ready. Once we sat down, our server explained the brunch to us and mentioned that if we wanted to order any unlimited beverages such as mimosas, sparkling wine, caesars, juices, teas and coffees, we would have to let her know. In terms of the layout of the buffet, seating and the buffet stations are scattered throughout 2-3 different rooms. Food stations included: - Seafood station (freshly shucked oysters, king crab, shrimp, smoked salmon, mussels) - Carvery station (prime rib, short rib, etc., but meats may change depending on the week) - Omelette station - Crepe station (as well as pancakes! There are sweet or savoury options to create your own crepe) - Fresh pastries and baked goods (croissants, muffins, etc.) - Hot brunch food (eggs benefit, sausage, bacon, seasonal grilled vegetables, salmon/rice, potatoes, etc.) - Fried chicken and waffles - Charcuterie and meats (charcuterie meats are often freshly sliced) - Fruits and salad station - Dessert station (ice cream, pecan pie, carrot cake, brownies, apple crumble, bread pudding, etc.) The food for the Sunday buffet brunch was good! I particularly enjoyed the seafood station with the freshly shucked oysters and king crab. There was staff often shucking oysters behind the station to make sure everything was replenished. During my time there, staff also kept making sure food was being cooked and brought out - never saw an empty station! The lines for the omelette an crepe stations were never long as well. Our server often kept checking up on us and our dirty plates were cleared in record time. Overall, a great affordable Sunday brunch with lots of options available. Great place to celebrate a special occasion with family or friends!

    The ambiance of this restaurant is the main selling point. We were seated in view of a nice…read morewaterfall which complements the rustic features around the mill. The menu selection was limited and as expected higher priced. We inquired about the appetizers and were advised many of them were small and really not portioned for more than 1-2 people. It didn't stop us but just good for you to know. The steak frites were delicious, came with as nice crème and steak was soft and tender. The mushroom melt was a little too greasy with the added butter on the bread then aioli and cheese. The fried chicken sandwich was a hit but beware, it's very sauce and will be a mess to eat. The blueberry salad lack flavour and sounds better than it tastes. Our server and the assistants were courtesy and nice however one of my friends did request for her salad to undressed but it came out fully dressed, we didn't make a fuss but our orders were quite simple and the restaurant wasn't busy, we'd expect a regular order.

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    Ancaster Mill
    Ancaster Mill
    Ancaster Mill

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    Spencer's at the Waterfront - Crispy Duck Leg Confit & Breast ($46)

    Spencer's at the Waterfront

    3.7(278 reviews)
    8.8 km
    $$$

    I came on a Mon around 17:30 and stayed until 20:00 (taking photos and videos of course!). The…read morerestaurant had very few guests. Because they were not busy, the service was excellent! They even asked the sous chef to make sure the presentation was excellent; he didn't disappoint. Their menu changes seasonally. I ordered the following: 1. Coke ($). 2. Tempura Shrimp ($27). 3. Crispy Duck Leg Confit & Breast ($46). 4. Saskatoon Berry Cheesecake ($14). The Tempura Shrimp were tiger shrimp and were so plump, each about 1 inch diameter at the widest end! They were de-shelled and tempura battered. There were orange slices (orange), avocado slices (green), and chili slices (red), making the dish colourful. The Crispy Duck came with a leg and sliced breast portions. Accompanying them were tamarillo, sunchoke puree, bordelaise, dried kale chips, berry gastrique, and chopped candied pecans. All the ingredients worked well together, with mixtures of savoury and sweet tastes. The Cheesecake was amazing. The cheesecake itself was an upside-down half sphere. It was soft; I prefer that over the typical firm cake. There were miniature dried berries on top, along with a ruby chocolate sauce, and a sliced of dried red beet. Surrounding it was a soft marshmallow meringue which was lightly torched. The colour theme was red and white with a touch of dark blue. Daimon, the sous chef, plated everything expertly for me. There is plenty of indoor seating, of which one side has a view of the lake. There is lively music playing in the background. There is free WiFi. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. There are separate male/female washrooms. There is free street parking on weekends on a street running north of the restaurant. There is also a paid parking lot next to the restaurant. Review 2026-040

    Returned to Spencer's at the Waterfront for brunch and was not disappointed…read more I enjoy visiting Spencer's on special occasions. At the recommendation of the service staff, I ordered the Crab Cake Egg Benedict (lemon aïoli, boston lettuce, chive hollandaise), served for weekend brunch only. Similar to my previous meals here, the food had subtle layers of flavour that came together nicely with every bite. I tend to gravitate to food that I can't get at other restaurants. The server informed us that the meal was not served on brioche like the other Egg Benedict's, but I was still full with the side salad (yeh, no arugula). My husband ordered the side fries so his belly was full. There were two crab cakes with eggs, and plenty of crab inside. I was glad that I didn't taste fillers. Service was good and we sat at a table with a waterfront view. The Sloane tea and beverages were a pricey and small for what they were, hence one of the reasons I don't come here as frequently. Overall, I enjoy the food here.

    Photos
    Spencer's at the Waterfront - Seating area

    Seating area

    Spencer's at the Waterfront - Saskatoon Berry Cheesecake ($14)

    Saskatoon Berry Cheesecake ($14)

    Spencer's at the Waterfront - Tempura Shrimp ($27)

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    Tempura Shrimp ($27)

    Saving Thyme Patisserie & Bistro - Dessert display

    Saving Thyme Patisserie & Bistro

    4.5(31 reviews)
    15.3 km
    $$

    Such an amazing little cafe. As an American I was in wonder of the beautiful assortment of pastries…read morein the showcase. We arrived on a Friday morning about 9:30 and the restaurant got considerably more busy shortly after. We were greeted by the sweetest staff member explaining to us the different pastries like the inside out cinnamon bun with a cream cheese center. She was patient and so friendly! We sat to order our breakfast along with some of the pastries for dessert. The smoked salmon Benedict was perfectly cooked and spectacular! Those frites that accompanied them were equally delicious. My friend ordered the croissant sandwich with salmon, cream cheese, and cranberries. For dessert we had the coconut cream tart which reminded me of a coconut cream pie elevated to a decadent tart. We also had an almond croissant that was so crispy and delicious that I had to order another one to go. My cappuccino was perfectly prepared. The food here is amazing and the service is equally exceptional. Our server checked on us often and was a delight! I can't say enough about this place that would do it justice. I will definitely return the next time I'm in Toronto.

    C'est délicieux! This was my first time having brunch at this quaint little bistro and we decided…read moreto visit on a weekday since weekends can see queues out the door. The restaurant was busy, but we managed to get a table. I had the eggs Benedict with spinach, while my partner had the same with bacon. The portion size was excellent and came with a lovely spring mix salad and fries. Dressing was delicious, and fries were nicely done. We ordered medium poached eggs, but one plate came out harder than expected. Service was good, although a bit confusing that you can order and pay online while in restaurant, or have traditional service from staff. Previously, we tried their almond croissant and other desserts, and they were fabulous! Will definitely return and try other dishes.

    Photos
    Saving Thyme Patisserie & Bistro - Dessert display

    Dessert display

    Saving Thyme Patisserie & Bistro
    Saving Thyme Patisserie & Bistro - Eggs Benedict with bacon

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    Eggs Benedict with bacon

    The French - bistros - Updated May 2026

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