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General Food, Dining and Nightlife News
A new bar/social spot coming to Uptown Patent Social.


https://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news-st...-waterloo/
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(01-08-2018, 11:58 PM)KevinL Wrote: Full profile of the new executive chef at The Berlin. He's only 23! http://www.explorewaterlooregion.com/201...co-berlin/

Has anybody been to the Berlin since the new chef has been in place?  The on-line reviews seem decidedly mixed.
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(01-11-2018, 10:39 AM)panamaniac Wrote:
(01-08-2018, 11:58 PM)KevinL Wrote: Full profile of the new executive chef at The Berlin. He's only 23! http://www.explorewaterlooregion.com/201...co-berlin/

Has anybody been to the Berlin since the new chef has been in place?  The on-line reviews seem decidedly mixed.

We haven't been there since it first opened so it's about time we went again.  And we will.  

As for online reviews, like TripAdvisor, they can be very helpful if you know how to read them.  Some reviewers don't like the high price of fine dining (they want what for a glass of wine?!) or their comfort zone (based on their other reviews) is burgers and fries.  Often I see reviewers write inane things like "Best  burger ever!" but notice they've only had one or two reviews and all close to home.  Those reviews I dismiss totally.  But some reviews can be quite constructive and we've gone to some restaurants based on good, detailed, reviews.  

Regardless, the food scene in Waterloo Region is rather dynamic, especially when it comes to ethnic cuisines, but the Region is not yet a foodie destination.
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(01-11-2018, 11:15 AM)jgsz Wrote:
(01-11-2018, 10:39 AM)panamaniac Wrote: Has anybody been to the Berlin since the new chef has been in place?  The on-line reviews seem decidedly mixed.

We haven't been there since it first opened so it's about time we went again.  And we will.  

As for online reviews, like TripAdvisor, they can be very helpful if you know how to read them.  Some reviewers don't like the high price of fine dining (they want what for a glass of wine?!) or their comfort zone (based on their other reviews) is burgers and fries.  Often I see reviewers write inane things like "Best  burger ever!" but notice they've only had one or two reviews and all close to home.  Those reviews I dismiss totally.  But some reviews can be quite constructive and we've gone to some restaurants based on good, detailed, reviews.  

Regardless, the food scene in Waterloo Region is rather dynamic, especially when it comes to ethnic cuisines, but the Region is not yet a foodie destination.


Indeed, one can never take on-line reviews at face value (and that's true for restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions).  In the case of Berlin and other higher end fine dining establishments, I'm always struck by the number of people complaining about the (inadequate) portion sizes, and/or the high prices, and/or slow service.  One is left wondering why they didn't just go someplace to scarf down 8oz hamburgers and poutine.  Even in the case of detailled reviews that focus on the food, you can sometimes see that the reviewer fancies herself as the sort of foodie who's high standards are seldom met.  Not helpful either way.
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New restaurant in uptown:
   
Everyone move to the back of the bus and we all get home faster.
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(01-18-2018, 10:47 PM)Pheidippides Wrote: New restaurant in uptown: (Copper Branch)

Here is the menu:
https://copperbranch.ca/our-menu/

It's intriguing.  Fast food, but vegetarian (or vegan?). I wouldn't usually go out of my way for fast food, but we'll probably check this out when the weather warms up. And maybe the LRT is running. Smile
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Empress of India is moving from their current location around King and Central to the old Dragon Court building in Uptown.
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The Harvey's at Forest Glen plaza has closed. Its management will take over the new location at Westmount/Fischer-Hallman (behind the Starbucks) when it opens in March.
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New brewery opening up in Cambridge, article mentions a couple others that are new to me as well.

https://www.therecord.com/news-story/814...cambridge/
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(01-19-2018, 06:48 AM)tomh009 Wrote:
(01-18-2018, 10:47 PM)Pheidippides Wrote: New restaurant in uptown: (Copper Branch)

Here is the menu:
https://copperbranch.ca/our-menu/

It's intriguing.  Fast food, but vegetarian (or vegan?). I wouldn't usually go out of my way for fast food, but we'll probably check this out when the weather warms up. And maybe the LRT is running. Smile

I went, enjoyed it mostly... I had the poutine which was pretty decent but I think the gravy had a bit too much tomato undertone in it for my preference but it was thin enough to run down and melt the vegan cheese so it was still a decent analogue. I also had one of the burgers and it was delicious, especially the bun, one of the best buns I've had in years. Dessert was a cashew lime cheezecake square that was decadent. I think omnivores would be satisfied with the food, it was substantial and rich... I didn't eat supper that night as my partner and I split the large poutine.
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Thanks for that! What were the prices like- for instance, what was the price of the poutine? Did it seem good value generally?
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(02-23-2018, 08:49 AM)MidTowner Wrote: Thanks for that! What were the prices like- for instance, what was the price of the poutine? Did it seem good value generally?

And is it vegan, vegetarian or somewhat omnivorous?
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Amaya Express (on King, between Benton and Queen) has closed. Mark's Caribbean Kitchen and Seafood coming this spring:

   

The Amaya effort sadly always felt somewhat half-hearted, and they definitely did not have many customers either at lunch or dinner, as far as I could tell, so this is not a huge surprise. But this really makes DTK underserved for Indian food. Hopefully someone will seize the opportunity soon.

Based on Mark's web site (https://www.markscaribbeankitchen.ca/) they will mostly offer Jamaican dishes but more upscale than Rainbow Caribbean (directly across the street). They also have some non-Caribbean dishes (dhal, naan, burgers, steak) so I think not direct competition. Maybe more so for Ellison's but I suspect still different enough.
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I was going to say, you can see Rainbow's sign in the reflection! Good to know they're setting a stylistic difference.
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(02-23-2018, 12:00 PM)tomh009 Wrote:
(02-23-2018, 08:49 AM)MidTowner Wrote: Thanks for that! What were the prices like- for instance, what was the price of the poutine? Did it seem good value generally?

And is it vegan, vegetarian or somewhat omnivorous?

I think it's completely vegan, the menu said 100% plant-powered. The price for a burger was a bit higher than I'd expect, around 10$ but it seemed like it was prepared fresh that day with organic ingredients so that jacks up the price... and the bun, I don't know if they bake them fresh or they just had a delivery but it was really good. Next time I go I'm going to buy one on the side! I guess the non-GMO and organic aspect of all the food jacks the price up. I know it's a big deal to many vegans but I think GMO and non-organic are a-okay.

The large poutine was 11$ or so and it half of it was too much food for me along with the burger. My partner and I barely finished all our food... we just ended up laying around all afternoon with the itis. I even took my dessert home, since it was already in a container... they also had a bunch of grab-and-go type stuff in a cooler with the drinks. If one just had a burger it might not be enough food. I'm a big dude that loves eating so I wasn't expecting to be stuffed from the small burger and half the poutine. I don't go out much but it was a nice treat... a better value might found at a burrito place or my usual go-to is Guanaquita
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