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Strykerz, in the Eastwood Plaza where Gastropub No. 29 used to be, opened this week. The interior has been freshened up. The menu offers a good selection of burgers and a few dinner items like schnitzel and pork chops. The owners are first time restauranteurs. They don't have their licence yet, but it is expected soon. My lunch (pork schnitzel sandwich with good fries, side of sauerkraut and a really crunchy dill pickle) was quite OK. I don't think this will be a "destination", but it should be a decent neighbourhood option, along with being the spot closest to the Aud.
(03-01-2016, 09:23 PM)MacBerry Wrote: [ -> ]CaliBurger Combines Burgers With Interactive Gaming

Remember when restaurants had video games? The two seater kind where each of you sat on opposite sides of the table?
All Star Wings and Ribs on Highland RD. (Near Westmount) seems to have closed there signs are gone and there was a note on there door, I didn't get to read it though. I enjoyed there food and atmosphere, all though the tv's volume was a bit extreme. I had a feeling they weren't going to last at that location. 

A lot of Chain's seem to be leaving KW lately which is very  disappointing.  Papa John's, Carl's Jr, Quizno's, 7 eleven (in Kitchener) technically Marry Brown's (Now Mr.Bowen's same food plus more) Ricky's all day grill, Baton Rouge, Johnny Rosco's, and Oliver Bonacini and some restaurants reducing there amount of locations KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza hut, Burger King and McDonald's (King and breithaupt, Market Square and Fairview Mall Walmart)  I'm I missing anything?
(03-05-2016, 03:39 PM)TMKM94 Wrote: [ -> ]All Star Wings and Ribs on Highland RD. (Near Westmount) seems to have closed there signs are gone and there was a note on there door, I didn't get to read it though. I enjoyed there food and atmosphere, all though the tv's volume was a bit extreme. I had a feeling they weren't going to last at that location.

A lot of Chain's seem to be leaving KW lately which is very  disappointing.  Papa John's, Carl's Jr, Quizno's, 7 eleven (in Kitchener) technically Marry Brown's (Now Mr.Bowen's same food plus more) Ricky's all day grill, Baton Rouge, Johnny Rosco's, and Oliver Bonacini and some restaurants reducing there amount of locations KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza hut, Burger King and McDonald's (King and breithaupt, Market Square and Fairview Mall Walmart)  I'm I missing anything?

I know Carl's Jr. Was all of Ontario but still disappointed they closed.
(03-05-2016, 03:39 PM)TMKM94 Wrote: [ -> ]All Star Wings and Ribs on Highland RD. (Near Westmount) seems to have closed there signs are gone and there was a note on there door, I didn't get to read it though. I enjoyed there food and atmosphere, all though the tv's volume was a bit extreme. I had a feeling they weren't going to last at that location. 

A lot of Chain's seem to be leaving KW lately which is very  disappointing.  Papa John's, Carl's Jr, Quizno's, 7 eleven (in Kitchener) technically Marry Brown's (Now Mr.Bowen's same food plus more) Ricky's all day grill, Baton Rouge, Johnny Rosco's, and Oliver Bonacini and some restaurants reducing there amount of locations KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza hut, Burger King and McDonald's (King and breithaupt, Market Square and Fairview Mall Walmart)  I'm I missing anything?

Does anyone know the real story on what happened with that Mary Brown's franchisee? I've heard conflicting rumours.

I have only tried Mr. Bowen's once, and it's not quite as good as Mary Brown's, unfortunately.
Benny's on Weber St in Waterloo appears to have closed too.
To be honest, I don't care if chains close. I feel bad for those who are out of work, but there are so many places serving the same from frozen food. I'm not criticizing the food per se, but how many places do we need that sell the exact same thing. Just my $0.02.
I think that a lot of people are increasingly agreeing with your viewpoint, Elmira Guy, and especially younger people.

I didn't notice that Benny's had closed. It always seems like there are quite a few of the same type of place along that stretch on Weber.
(03-05-2016, 03:48 PM)MidTowner Wrote: [ -> ]Does anyone know the real story on what happened with that Mary Brown's franchisee? I've heard conflicting rumours.

I have only tried Mr. Bowen's once, and it's not quite as good as Mary Brown's, unfortunately.

My Dad was talking with the Former franchisee now owner of Mr.Bowen's. The owner said that the franchise fees kept increasing and he wasn't getting much of a profit after paying the fees so he decided to open Mr.Bowen's instead. It's supposedly "the same taste as 8 years" that's what it said on the flyer anyways. TBH I don't notice much difference. I'm surprised he doesn't get in trouble with Marry Brown's though. He used Marry Brown's packaging for a while when he became Mr.Bowen's (Maybe just for frequent Customers?) and the kitchen staff even wear Marry Brown's hats still.
(03-05-2016, 04:28 PM)MidTowner Wrote: [ -> ]I think that a lot of people are increasingly agreeing with your viewpoint, Elmira Guy, and especially younger people.

I didn't notice that Benny's had closed. It always seems like there are quite a few of the same type of place along that stretch on Weber.

Or older people like me.  I go out of my way to avoid franchise operations anywhere.  So I'm disappointed when folks say the Region needs a Tim Hortons here or a Starbucks there as if that was the measure of successful development in the city.   No.  In my opinion it's places like The Berlin or Bhima's Warung or Almadina that sets this community apart from others.   When I drive down parts of Victoria St. or Fairway Rd it looks and feels like I could be in any Canadian or American city.  Extremely humdrum and uninteresting.
(03-05-2016, 04:16 PM)Elmira Guy Wrote: [ -> ]Benny's on Weber St in Waterloo appears to have closed too.

Doesn't surprise me the restaurant just wasn't the same when they reopened selection wasn't as good and food was cold. And the Supervisors Customer Service was poor too Maybe they were just having an off day but we were very disappointed and didn't go back. We were frequent customers before too.
Thanks MidTowner, but I'm not young. Smile i'm not entirely opposed to franchises, and nor do I think that every restaurant need be some potentially snobby, foodie haven either. Lower and mid-priced places are needed as well. I do prefer one-off places to franchises but that doesn't mean they need all be Berlins or the like. I mean Boston Pizza (which charges you extra for bacon on a Ceasar salad for god sake), Casey's, Crabby Joe's, Kelsey's and such are all fine, but they all sell the exact same product and it's generally overpriced. As I said, not every restaurant should require you to sell a kidney just to eat there. So if I want a good burger for example, I go to Frat Burger, a one-off place. If I want wings (which I do right now actually), I go to Milton's or Morty's (prefer the former). Sunday pizza deal at Ethel's is also damn good.
I actually tried to convince the owner of Milton's to set up a Waterloo location in the Chen's Buffet building, but no dice. Sad

Anyway, I think it's great if certain restaurants put K-W on some kind of map, but ultimately I want selection in types of food, and price. Some chains are fine, but I'm glad to see some local one-offs are thriving.
(03-05-2016, 06:23 PM)Elmira Guy Wrote: [ -> ]Anyway, I think it's great if certain restaurants put K-W on some kind of map, but ultimately I want selection in types of food, and price. Some chains are fine, but I'm glad to see some local one-offs are thriving.

That's it.  I don't mind a new chain coming in if they bring in something that isn't already here, but yet another roadhouse-type restaurant selling the same stuff doesn't add much.  Carl's Jr was OK, it's not quite a McD/BK/Wendy's competitor, Starbucks was a good addition when we didn't yet have independent cafes (less so now), and Oliver & Bonacini was nice (but that's not a major chain anyway).

I mostly eat at non-chain restaurants as well.  I do confess to frequenting Starbucks when I travel, but that's largely because it's usually easy to find one, independents are usually much more work to locate for a quick coffee on the way to the office or after lunch (unless you are a local and know where they are).
Agreed Tomh009. I would add that I don't mind if a new "roadhouse-type restaurant" opens in an area where none yet exists (my hometown screams for such a place). Those types of places are almost Canada's answer to a pub. Somewhere to watch sports and get good food of the usual fare. Besides, such places need not be chains. I just don't see a need for more of them in areas where they are already well/over represented, and ideally by not a chain. Though I guess any port in a storm.
(03-05-2016, 06:23 PM)Elmira Guy Wrote: [ -> ]Thanks MidTowner, but I'm not young. Smile...

haha Sorry, I was not meaning to imply anything about anyone's age. I have the perception that the restaurant industry values the young demographic, and among my younger friends I increasingly see a desire to eat at independent over chain restaurants.

For my part, I agree with you: I don't want to eat the same thing all the time, and chains don't seem to offer the same variety. I don't eat out all that much, and when I do I'd prefer my dollars support independent restaurants, and I generally see the independents providing better value. But I'm not "against" chains, either: I'm not too fussed when I see ones opening here, either...or leaving.