The Gown & Gavel

Great atmosphere, with great food. Service was decent but they were out of chicken wings. I would definitely go back to this restaurant again.

The hotel we were staying at recommended this place for lunch. They’re known for their burgers and wings but we decided to try some lighter fare. We ordered the House salad and the grilled vegetable panini and both were amazing! The salad dressing was incredible and the fruit was was so tasty and fresh for this time of year. The vegetables on the sandwich were cooked perfectly. The waitress was very attentive and friendly. If I’m ever in town again I’ll be eating here for sure!

Went just for a pint and figured I would stay away from the food due to the bad reviews. I got hungry and ordered the Buffalo chicken sandwich. It was absolutely delicious, the chicken was moist, sause was tasty, bread was fresh and the fries were some of the best I ever had.
Service was amazing as well, I was shocked how quickly I got the food. Staff were all friendly and quite good looking so I decided to stay for a few more drinks. I will definitely be returning.

Undoubtedly the worst food I’ve eaten in Hamilton. The southern Louisiana chicken pasta was a mass of coagulated cheddar cheese with some tomatoes thrown in for color. The beer selection is nothing special. Understaffed on a Monday night. There’s no way my food order should have taken half an hour.

The one star for this review is strictly because of its prime location, and the fact that there was no lineup or cover charge (yet — I was told it increased to $ 15 later in the evening). Three friends and I stopped here to have a few beers and some nachos and about 10pm on a Saturday night, and made sure to ask the bouncer if the kitchen was still open. We were told yes, so decided to give it a shot. We waited at our table for about ten minutes before I had to go ask the hostess for menus myself because no one had come near our table. Our server appeared several minutes later, after we had all carefully selected our food choices, to inform us that the kitchen was in fact closed. She walked away with an unapologetic shrug, and did not bother to return to ask us if we wanted to at least order drinks. We left after a total of about 20 minutes of utter disappointment. If you want to check out a patio in Hess, Gown is probably the biggest and nicest (recent renovations) but if you’re looking for quality service you’re much better at any of the other patios across the street.

Recently renovated (2008 I believe), The Gown and Gavel has the nicest and largest patio on Hess. That’s really the main draw, especially in the summer, where it’s a great place to relax and people-​watch. I haven’t been there in the winter, but apparently the patio is heated and remains open (indoor seating is limited). The large capacity also makes it popular with big groups (think birthdays, office parties, etc.). Prices are pretty standard for drinks and pub fare. Nothing outstanding about this place, but it’s always reliable and it’s a good choice if you’re in Hess Village.
Random trivia: scenes of the «Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures» series were shot here, pretending to be in Toronto. Gotta love how Americans shoot in Toronto and Canadians shoot in… Hamilton.