Moody's - 107 George Street, Hamilton Ontario

I read about Moody's in the Hamilton Spectator and really wanted to try it based on what I read in the article and the fact that they are owned by the same people as the The Ship on Augusta Street.  Moody's is located on George Street in Hess Village.

They have a list of beers from local and Toronto area craft breweries along with a small selection of mixed drinks.  We tried the Peach Uber Sour from Nickelbrook and the Karma Citra IPA.  Both very good!

We started with the Table Salad which was an iceberg mixed salad with a house dressing and the Brussels Sprouts with bacon which were delicious.  We shared these two dishes among the three of us and then shared two pizzas.  The Mac Daddy signature pizza sounded interesting and it was made up with ingredients of a Big Mac hamburger.  It was topped with lettuce, special sauce, ground beef cheese and pickles.  The Buffalo Cauliflower pizza had a bit of a bite to it.  I enjoyed this one with the blue cheese drizzle on it.  The pizza crust was delicious and reminded me of the taste of an Everything Bagel at Tim Horton's.

We had plenty of food for the three of us.  Besides pizza, there are pasta and sandwich selections on the menu.  We enjoy The Ship and Moody's was equally as good plus it was reasonably priced. 

Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza

Mac Daddy Pizza

Beertown Public House - 2050 Appleby Line, Burlington

We read about this new restaurant in the Hamilton Spectator and decided to give it a try.  Of course the idea of a huge selection of local craft beers attracted us as well as their menu.  This is the fourth Beertown, as there is already London, Cambridge and Waterloo locations.  We have been to the Craft Beer Market in Calgary which is very similar to Beertown with a long list of craft beers and similar type of food on the menu.

We were not disappointed with Beertown Public House in Burlington.  The list of beers offered is divided into rotational pours and bottles as well as static pours and bottles.  There is a lot to choose from with the majority from local craft breweries.  I selected the Ceres Cucumber Lime Gose (a sour-gose), my husband tried the Bronan IPA and our son tried the Batch:1904 cider.  All were good!

For food, the menu selection is perfect with sides, sandwiches, salads and lots more.  The Power Bowl was delicious with kale, chicken, quinoa and edamame and worth it for $17.99.  The California Turkey Burger was a good size and my husband chose the blueberry and kale salad as the side dish.  It was also a good price at $16.99.  Our son had the Beertown Pad Thai with shrimp for $18.99.  We were glad we didn't order any starters because the meals were plenty to fill us up.

We would definitely return to Beertown.  It was well worth the money and the selection of local craft beers was awesome!  You can't eat a meal like this at some of the chain restaurants like Kelseys or Milestones and they also don't have the long list of craft beers to try.

Beertown Pad Thai with Shrimp

California Turkey Burger with Blueberry and Kale Salad

The Power Bowl

Black Sheep Snack Bar - 189 Ottawa Street North, Hamilton

We have been to Black Sheep Snack Bar for dinner twice in the past couple of months.  We like this place. It is a small restaurant and very comfortable inside.  It is part of The Other Bird group of restaurants, so the same group that owns The Mule, Rapscallion and other places in Hamilton.

Both times we showed up later at around 7-8 pm.  It was busy but we managed to walk in and get a table.  The menu is small and apparently they change it up periodically but it has plenty of interesting dishes as well as a good selection of cocktails and beer including some craft beers.  You want to plan to order 5 or 6 dishes for two people.

For our first visit, we ordered the Devilled Eggs, Four Perfect Nachos, Chicken Skin Roast Potatoes, Pierogi and Kielbassa, Sweet Potato and Chick Pea Curry and Brussel Sprout Pad Thai.  This was perfect for two people.  We were feeling full and probably would have been fine with one less dish.  If you like the idea of a menu of shareable dishes, we would recommend Black Sheep Snack Bar.

Four Perfect Nachos

The Menu

Pierogi and Kielbasa

Sweet Potato and Chick Pea Curry

Butcher and The Vegan - 61 Barton Street East, Hamilton

We are not vegan and not even vegetarian but have been wanting to try this place for a while.  The Butcher and the Vegan is located on the corner of Barton St. E. and John St. in the heart of Hamilton.  It really is a great location just east of the James Street North area full of many restaurants and up and coming shops.

They advertise as a "farm to table" restaurant that "celebrates Mother Nature with vegetarian, vegan, seafood and farm raised meat dishes from local producers".  So they really have a menu with selections to please everyone.  They also have some craft beers and unique cocktails on the menu. They are open for lunch during the week, brunch on weekends and dinner from 5-10 Mon-Sun.

It is not super fancy inside but more of a rustic type atmosphere with wood furniture and mismatched chairs.  It is not what I expected but we really liked it.  The link to the menu is below:
 
 http://www.butcherandthevegan.ca/menu/

We of course selected a craft beer to start.  For appetizers, we tried the Fried Brussel Sprouts served with a dill aioli ($10), Beet Fries served with a dijon aioli ($10) and the Caprese Salad ($12).  The Brussel Sprouts and Beet Fries were awesome!  For the price, the Caprese Salad was small I thought but tasted good.  For our entree, we shared the Curry Chicken Tacos ($16 for three good size tacos).

We enjoyed each dish and would definitely go back, especially to try the Fennel Apple Slaw tacos next time or check out the Brunch options.  This is a cute restaurant with a varied menu catering to many with just the right amount of food options.

Located at John St. and Barton St.

Beet Fries

Fried Brussel Sprouts

Caprese Salad

Curry Chicken Tacos

The Beverly on Locke, 254 Locke Street South, Hamilton

Another great restaurant on Locke Street in Hamilton.  The Beverly is a brunch/lunch spot with a great little menu, nice atmosphere and delicious food.

They do not take reservations but showing up on Saturday just past noon we did not have to wait for a table.  There was a bit of a wait if you wanted to sit out on their patio, probably because it was such a nice day.  The menu isn't huge and when you read the description of the dishes you want to try all of them.  There is also a drink menu with lots of options (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).

We tried the french press coffee to share.  I have never had coffee served this way and it was good coffee!  For our meals we selected the Banana Bread French Toast and the Green Eggs and Yam.

The Banana Bread French Toast was served with a whipped peanut butter, candied peanuts and bacon for a mix of sweet and salty.  There was syrup as well which my friend did not use as the dish was sweet enough.  There was no sign of eggs used for this french toast.....so really a sliced banana bread which tasted really good especially with the added toppings.

The Green Eggs and Yam dish was an egg omelette served with fried green tomatoes, broccoli, kale and chunks of yam.  The dish was served with a light curry sauce.  It was very tasty and probably a healthy choice.

We definitely will go back to The Beverly to try more of their dishes and probably sit out on the patio next time!
 
http://thebeverlyonlocke.com/

Green Eggs and Yam

Banana Bread French Toast

Born and Raised - 224 James Street North, Hamilton ON

Born and Raised is really one of our favorite spots in Hamilton.  The menu is small but everything we have tried in the few times we have been here for dinner has been excellent.  I have to also mention the service because it is always great too.

They have an updated menu for the summer but with the same choices for pizza.  Their patio is open as well.  The restaurant didn't seem as crowded for a Saturday night as it was on our previous visits but the patio probably accommodated guests freeing up tables inside.  Summer Menu :  http://www.bornandraised.restaurant/images/2017_07_menu.pdf

Our friends had not been to Born and Raised yet and I don't think they were disappointed.  We decided to pick a few dishes to share and then each of us ordered a pizza.  The Steak Tartare was served with a bowl of kettle style chips.  Steak tartare is something that we had never tried before and the way it was prepared tasted so good.  I would totally recommend trying this dish!

The salad on the summer menu is Salade "Lyonnaise" served with a poached egg on top.  This replaced the beet salad from the previous menu.  We shared the salad among the four of us and it tasted awesome.  Each of us ordered a different pizza from the menu.  I have to say that the Monte Pollino and the Wild Mushroom pizzas were the best choices.  The Monte Pollino with the pickled habeneros was spicy but the pineapple cut the spice.  The Wild Mushroom pizza looked the best.  The Calabrese and D.O.P. were good choices too.   For our next visit, I would choose the Wild Mushroom for sure!

Sitting inside the restaurant, you can smell the wood oven pizza off an on.  The service and atmosphere is nice and we were not rushed at all.  Ended with a dessert and espressos and cappucino.  This restaurant has reasonably priced menu options including the desserts, great service and tasty food!!

Salade Lyonnaise

Steak Tartare

Monte Pollino Pizza

Wild Mushroom Pizza

Jack and Lois - 301 James Street North, Hamilton

Jack and Lois website:  http://jackandlois.com/

We decided to try Jack and Lois for a Sunday brunch this past weekend.  I had already tried this restaurant with the girls from work and enjoyed one of their grill cheese sandwiches.  This time we wanted to try the breakfast menu.

The menu consists of all day breakfast choices as well as sandwiches, salads, soups and burgers.  There were a few additional Sunday brunch choices.  The restaurant is furnished with mismatched tables and chairs which are probably 1950/1960s era.  The decor is the same.  The restaurant was quite busy at 1130 and people were asked if they wanted a seat on the rear patio if no seats were available inside.  Because they were swamped, it took a bit for our food to arrive but it wasn't too bad of a wait.

Dale ordered the Westerner ($14) which was a piled high western omelette sandwich with pemeal bacon and I ordered When Nature Calls ($13) which was an eggs benedict dish with a bean patty and homemade hollandaise sauce.  Both came with homefries which did look like the frozen type, 

We enjoyed both dishes and were stuffed by the end!  Prices are right about average for breakfast/brunch and the restaurant is a cozy place with a unique decor.  We will definitely try Jack and Lois again.

The Westerner

When Nature Calls

50s/60s diner style

Nique Restaurant - 30 Vine Street, Hamilton, ON

A last minute change of plans brought us to Nique last night, where we took my uncle out to celebrate his birthday.  We have had this restaurant on our list to try for a few weeks.  James Street seemed busy and without a reservation anywhere we walked into Nique just to see if we could get a table.

First off, the restaurant is really nice inside with an open style kitchen and large bar area in the centre.  When we walked in, we asked the hostess how long it would be for a table and were told 30 minutes and we could stand at the bar in the meantime.  There was a small table next to the bar so we ordered our beers and waited there.  The hostess came over about 20 minutes later and said that there was now openings at the bar for us but we told her again that we were waiting for a table.  She then said that a table would be over an hour wait.  We know that we did not misunderstand her when we arrived so were a bit disappointed in the service at the start.

We sat at the bar and were treated to great service after that.  The bartender/server was one of the best we have encountered.  This restaurant has a long list of craft beers on their menu, both bottled and on tap.  It was hard to decide which one we wanted to try.  The bartender was great at explaining the food choices as well.  We started with a small plate of the Sushi Nachos made with won ton chips.  They were really good!

When I read the menu online, I did think that the meal prices were a bit higher than some of the other restaurants in the area.  Compared to a few of our other favorite places, Nique seems to have a bit higher prices but the food presentation and the taste was excellent.  My uncle tried the Grilled Top Sirloin ($36), Dale had the Chicken Adobo ($36) and I tried the Mediterroccan Eggplant ($22).  The eggplant entree was delicious with the couscous and yogurt sauce and although it may not have looked like a huge portion size, I was full.  The guys enjoyed their chicken and steak dishes too.

Overall, this was one of the more expensive meals we have had on our ventures out lately and it was kind of disappointing about the mix up with the table versus bar seating.  On the plus side, the food tasted great and we ended up enjoying the seating at the bar.....especially because of the great service.  Also, if you like trying some of the beer from our local craft breweries, you have a long list to choose from at Nique.

Sushi Nachos

Chicken Adobo

Mediterroccan Eggplant

Grilled Top Sirloin

The Heather - 357 Barton Street E., Hamilton, ON

The Heather - http://www.theheather.ca/

Dale and I decided to celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary with a dinner at The Heather.  We read the Spectator article about this restaurant a few months ago and have been wanting to try it ever since.  I'm glad that we waited for a special occasion because the entire dining experience at The Heather is special!

Being born and raised in Hamilton, we have seen many changes along Barton Street over the years.  Having a restaurant like this on Barton is such a positive change.  The restaurant is located just east of the Hamilton General Hospital and in a stretch of buildings that are beginning to get some face lifts.

This is not your typical restaurant that is turning over tables several times a night.  You make a reservation for one of three dinner seatings (6:30, 7:30 or 8:30 pm) and you are there for the evening.  We selected 6:30 and when we arrived were greeted by chef Matt and his wife Meg who is the hostess.  Two other parties of four arrived at the same time.  We were treated to some sparkling wine for our anniversary, which was really nice.

The restaurant is such a beautiful space, I would say modern rustic, and chef Matt does all the cooking right there in front of you.  The menu is referred to as a "tasting menu" and you are served a seven course meal for $75 per person.  You can also add wine pairings with the dinner for $40.  The menu is changed up depending on what the chef is feeling like cooking or what food is available.  He gathers wild edibles to include in the dishes which is really cool.

We opted for a glass of wine and cider for our drinks to start.  Later on we had an espresso and tried one of their homemade sodas.  The cooking begins for the evening and then as each course arrives at the table, chef Matt comes over to explain what he is serving.  I am including a pic of the tasting menu for the evening so you can see the unique ingredients for each dish. We started with homemade bread, followed by cattail hearts, asparagus vichyssoise, raw beef heart, torched scallops, manorun chicken, sheep's milk cheese and then a milk sponge with rhubarb for dessert.  We tried food that we had never eaten before and loved it.  It is how each dish is prepared and served that makes the experience even more special. 

You can tell that chef Matt and his wife love preparing these dishes and providing their customers with a unique dining experience.  What they have done to the restaurant is impressive.  You also do not need a special occasion to dine at The Heather. Be prepared for tasting amazing food in a relaxed atmosphere and trying foods that you may not have thought about trying before.

I am including lots of pics....but missed taking a photo of the Beef Heart dish and the Chicken dish which looked at tasted so good.  It is hard to pick what our favourite dishes were but probably the Torched Scallops with hamhock dashi, samphire and knotweed and the Asparagus Vichyssoise with rock crab and wild garlic mustard!

Chef Matt in the kitchen

This picture just looked so cool

Drink Menu

Dinner Tasting Menu

Homemade milk bread

Asparagus Vichyssoise

Cattail Hearts

Torched Scallops

Sheep's Milk Cheese

Milk Sponge with Rhubarb

Brux House - 137 Locke Street South, Hamilton, ON

This was our second time at Brux House.  We showed up around 8 pm without a reservation and they were busy but the hostess offered us a table on the patio.  It was getting a bit chilly but the restaurant had blankets that they were giving out to those willing to brave the patio.  So we took the outside table.  In the summer months, we need to go back again to enjoy the beer and delicious food.

We ordered a flight of beer which is three good sized glasses and you get to pick from the craft beers on the menu.  They are listed by letter A,B,C etc. each with a description.

Craft Beer Menu Selections

Two flights of beer, Selections A,D &E at the back and B,C & L in the front

 

I totally recommend "D" - Jelly King (blackberry) from Bellwood's Brewery in Toronto.  Dale enjoyed that one too.  Every beer we tried was great and all different tasting.

For food we started with the Roasted Brussel Sprouts ($9) which were awesome!  The bacon and aioli made this dish.  Dale had the Flat Iron Steak ($28) done to perfection and I had the Pork Schnitzel ($25).  The main dishes might be a few dollars more than you might pay elsewhere but really there is no comparison.  You would not be disappointed eating here and you realize why the restaurant is always packed.  Make a reservation and you have to try the craft beers!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Pork Schnitzel

View into the restaurant from the patio

Born and Raised - 224 James St. N. Hamilton, ON

http://www.bornandraised.restaurant/

We cannot say enough good things about this restaurant.  We love the atmosphere and the menu and the food is delicious.  Our only complaint about last night was that it got quite loud with a packed restaurant but really it was not too bad and they had the hockey game on a large screen at the back.

This was our second time to Born and Raised and we really wanted to try the pizzas.  For four of us we ordered two pizzas, two of their salads to share and the brussel sprout dish and meatballs to share.  It was almost too much food for the four of us and we did bring some pizza home.

The "General Jonny" Brussel Sprouts ($9) with the Organic Beet Salad ($13) and Green Mango Salad ($10) came out first.  We will order the brussel sprouts every time we go because they are the best! We all loved the Organic Beet Salad with the apples, pomegranates and walnuts.  The Margharita ($14) and Wild Mushroom pizza ($16) came out next with the Nonna's Meatballs ($15).  Each pizza was cut in four nice size slices and had the perfect crust.

Favorite was the Wild Mushroom pizza with the brie cheese and pears!!  For two people, I would definitely suggest sharing one pizza along with the Organic Beet Salad and of course add the brussel sprouts.  That would be the perfect size meal for two. 

Prices are reasonable for the quality of food.  The drink/beer selection is huge and they have a dessert menu but we were just too full to try a dessert.  Born and Raised is definitely in our top five Hamilton restaurant spots!

Margharita Pizza

Wild Mushroom Pizza

Nonna's Meatballs

Bar Izakaya - 275 James Street North, Hamilton On

I found out about Bar Izakaya when reading an article put out by Tourism Hamilton on places to eat in 2017.  We have been on James Street North several times trying different restaurants but we missed this place.  It is tucked behind the BMO on James Street and it actually faces Colbourne Street. 

 https://www.eatinc.ca/bar-izakaya

The restaurant is a nice size and with a modern decor.  We always enjoy ourselves even more when there is great service and staff explain the selections on the menu.  They definitely have excellent service and friendly staff. The menu is a perfect size and for dinner there are several shareable dishes and also Ramen dishes (vegan, chicken, pork), if you want an individual meal.  They have a drink menu and beer on tap from a local Hamilton brewery.

We selected the Brocolli, Beef Short Ribs and the buttermilk and soy fried chicken (Karaage) to share and we each had the Enoki salad.  We both loved the Enoki salad with asparagus and enoki mushrooms.....so good!  Another favorite was the Beef Short Ribs which included sliced daikon radish, sprouts and rice served in a bowl to share.  Everything tasted good and the portions for the shareable dishes were very generous.  After dinner we tried these warm salted caramel cookies for dessert which were delicious.

Bar Izakaya is described as serving dishes inspired by Japanese and Canadian cuisine and the food does seem to be a blend of both.  You can tell that the food is freshly prepared too.  We will definitely be going back here. 

Bar Izakaya

Small plate selections

Brocolli dish

Enoki Salad

Beef Short Ribs

Buttermilk and soyfried chicken with aioli for dipping