Roots and Rye

I had my first visit to Roots & Rye with a group of girlfriends on an early morning weekday. The décor was much more trendy and edgy than the typical Santana Row vibe which I was really digging. We were the only table that early, so we were really looked after by Harrison. He was really dynamic with all of us and way friendly, and we all totally enjoyed ourselves.
The cocktails were all really tasty and you can tell that a great deal of thought was put into their handcrafted cocktails. I had the «Mezcal Mule» a spin on «Moscow Mule» with mezcal (huge fan) and I was obsessed with this drink. Only had one since it was a weekday brunch type scenario, it was great incentive already for me to come back and explore some of the other cocktails.
The pork sliders with pickles ~ yassss, yass, yaaaaass! :) It looks like there is a different menu available online than the one we were offered. We were all content munching on the small plates, pork sliders, parmesan fries, the «chips & dip», and a bacon/​onion flatbread.
As the diligent little trendy foodies that we are, we’ve all already recommended to our boyfriends and intend to come back to further explore the menu and drinks! I would recommend to any friends that are into trying new things have a nice appreciation for solid hand crafted cocktails :)

Came here once before for drinks only in the patio and I’ll admit service took horribly long but the server was nice. Should of learn then…
Came here for dinner tonight, we didn’t even make it pass appetizers… We ended up at yard house after… Yes. that bad.
Ambiance: cozy, dimmed lighted, trendy speakeasy type place with super loud lounge type music. Nice couches, I’ll give them that.
Service: Our server was nice but horrible at the same time. How do you mess up the only two appetizers we ordered not once but twice before we even order our entrees… It might have been the very loud lounge music that she could not hear us correctly but if its a missed communication, at least speak up. After we corrected her, we still got the wrong appetizers out… At that point we were done with this place… The server started to look irritated and even the very pretty tall slender girl manager went from pretty to having a mean face towards our table when they screwed up and we spoke up. Nicely too, not like we were rude or anything… Its hard to make me mean… lol I’m too nice… Anyways, if they would of had it right the first time then ok but failed more then once.
On to the food…
Burrata (⁴⁄₅) decent thing on the menu. Quite good.
Brussel sprouts (²⁄₅) so apparently, i wanted the mussels and the server mistaken the mussel for brussels but i never said sprouts… So i cancelled the mussels since I did not want to waste the brussel spouts. The texture was off, not really crispy and salty.
Mussels (sent it back…) I thought they mixed up our orders and we ended up cancelling this one!!! They brought this out after they mistake it for the above and we were like wth… The server said they mixed up the table… (not surprised, i forgot to mention devilish eggs and two sets of bone marrow almost ended up at our table)
Bone marrow (³⁄₅) finally comes out and it was alright… bland but the short rib was cooked alright.
At this moment service is out the door. I guess they knew we were unhappy and they didn’t care or at least pretend to that everything was alright. So here is my biggest pet peeve, the pretty tall slender manager who knew we were unhappy literally didn’t care and gave an annoyed look at our table. Shes pretty but had a rude look the whole time. They charge us $ 2.00 for side bread without telling us. The organization of this place is ridiculous, they need better training… Food was brought to us which were for other tables I guess and our appetizers were messed up twice before we even order our entrees…
Honestly, ill pay good money for good food and decent service but this was not at all worth it for what you get. We still tipped them my bare min for horrible experience which is 15% and to be frank they really didn’t deserve it.
Would i come back, probably not… My friend doesnt even want to set foot back here and hes an undercover foodie… Lol

on a Tuesday night the place was almost empty, closing at 10:00 pm. At first I was impressed by the décor which seemed modern and sleek but I was quickly let down but all other factors so I guess I shouldn’t judge a book by its (fancy) cover.
Waitresses are dressed in a manner that better suits other places if you understand what I mean, very poor menu that is trying to be sophisticated and modern and ends up being not tasty, small portioned and overpriced.
Service was good though (polite, responsive) and they allowed us to return a dish that we didn’t like.

The drinks here are OK– I would say if you’re a whisk (e)y drinker, their cocktails are a little too sweet for me. Whether it’s bourbon, rye, or scotch I just can’t do the syrup-​y sugar-​y tasting drinks. I was a little disappointed on that end. I also wanted to order a scotch neat, but I found it to be incredibly expensive. For a lagavulin 12 year neat– $ 43? I’ve had lagavulin out on the town and in my own home and I can’t understand how they can justify a $ 43 glass when it wouldn’t even factor out retail wise for that amount.
Nonetheless the vibe is great, the food is fantastic and the service is incredible. Although I prefer the Jazz nights to the Friday nights (the music is a little too loud for me and I like to hear my friends talk :) but that’s just me!)
Only thing I can critique is for your cocktails– no need for the sugar overload and possibly reevaluate your pricing on certain things. I’ve never paid more than $ 20 on a lagavulin, and I live in NYC and have gone to many «fancy» places.
Keep it up with the excellent customer service and jazzy vibe. Oh, and I LOVE the fire places!

Came for happy hour on a Monday.
Me: Do you have any drink specials for happy hour?
Server: No, I think we stopped doing that. We only have food specials.
Me: What’s so happy about that?

Came here for drinks with a few friends on a Saturday afternoon, and I wasn’t entirely impressed (although maybe it was the wrongful pairing of gloomy weather outside paired with the dark lighting of this place).
At first, I liked the modern feel of the restaurant, especially the fire pit lounge seating area! My group chose to sit in the inside lounge area (open seating policy I guess. The whole restaurant was not lit, which ended up making me kinda sleepy…
They were serving only apps during our visit (3PM, Saturday), but out of their choices, I really was only interested in their parmesan fries. We also ordered the ‘fries and ketchup’ which was tempura style pig ears in a spicy aioli sauce. The parmesan fries came with an egg … but I didn’t try it. The fries themselves were good though! Nice thick cut fries with just enough parmesan/​salt. The pig ears were alrighhhhht; I wasn’t a fan of the dipping sauce, and the texture of the tempura pig ears was weird to me.
Cocktails were average price I think, around 12 – 16 each. I didn’t get to try any this time around. Apparently their cocktail menu rotates, since my friend noticed that a drink she got previously was no longer on the menu. They charge $ 8 for a ginger beer though, which is typical.
Service was fine, nothing to complain about nor to rave about.
Roots & Rye wouldn’t make it on my list of ‘must-​go’ places, but if I was in the area, I guess it would make an OK alternative. Maybe another day I’ll have a whole meal here and update my review then.

Came here for brunch with my boyfriend and his sisters plus SO’s. The atmosphere was interesting in a good way. The design was simple but modern. They had the restaurant divided in different sections: lounge, dining, and outside. The outside intrigued me because they had fire pits which would be perfect when meeting with friends on a nice night out.
We were sort of confused because it was brunch on a Sunday but also lunch. Unfortunately we never caught eye of a lunch menu but that’s okay.
I ordered the Maple Candied Bacon. It came with two very thick slicked of bacon over soft scrambled eggs and a biscuit. The bacon was good, wasn’t too crispy but can easily be sliced. It had lots of flavor to it and the pistachios sprinkled on top gave a nice compliment.
I tried my boyfriends sisters burger and french toast. I highly recommend these two. The burger is a bit on the pricey side but definitely worth it. Something so simple with great flavor. The french toast was crispy on the outside but had a soft custardy inside with caramelized banana’s on top.

We came in for early New Years afternoon happy hour. The place was empty in between lunch and dinner, calm before the New Years Eve storm, but started to fill up as we were leaving. Once inside, enjoyed the atmosphere and lounge seating next to the bar.
They had a special NY-​eve menu, with a limited but pretty wide selection of appetizers and entrees. We were impressed, pork belly sliders, fried brussel sprouts, parmesan fries with egg… all very good comforting foods. We also had a couple special cocktails and enjoyed them both, not overly sweet, just enough spirits for a kick, nicely done.
We look forward to going back to try the regular menu.

Roots and Rye (R&R) is one of the newest Santana Row restaurants. It’s tucked in next to Maggiano’s and Kara’s Cupcakes in a space that previously housed Roux Louisiana Kitchen and Hot Tamales. I’m not a big fan of the décor, which makes the whole restaurant look like it is still under construction. However, I hear that they are going to run plants and vegetation on those exposed wood pillars which would provide a unique effect. Like their sister restaurants Straights and Sino, they have a unique restroom that is partially unisex – might as well get that out of the way now so that there are no awkward surprises ;).
They have an impressive outdoor patio space with plenty of heat lamps. R&R also features live music on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. A nice Jazz band was playing while we dined there the second time around.
So now, let’s get to the good stuff… the food. They recently changed their menu to focus more on small, shareable plates that are available all day. They still have some main courses that are available after 5pm. R&R also has a long list of unique craft cocktails and bourbons.
SMALL BITES (SEVERED ALL DAY)
Parmesan Fries with a 63 degree egg, fines herbs, truffle aioli — This is their signature small plate and an absolute must-​try. You can either dunk the fries into the egg, or pour the egg on top of the parmesan fries. I could eat this all day.
Brussel Sprouts with parmesan, capers, red wine vinegar — Brussel sprouts are usually not my favorite side to order, but these were outstanding. The lemon zest and capers added an extra kick and help make this a perfect addition to your meal.
Roasted bone marrow with red wine braised short rib, potato pepper crostini, pickled radish — When foie gras became illegal in California, bone marrow turned into my new go-​to for some extra indulgence on special occasions. The presentation, flavor, and portion size of R&R’s bone marrow were all impressive. However, I will say that the first time I dined here there was foie gras on the menu, and it was excellently prepared. If I had the choice, I would go with the foie gras over bone marrow any day of the week.
BIG BITES (5PM TIL CLOSE)
Fried Petaluma Chicken with house-​made apple sause, brussel leaves, mustard caviar, pickled vegetables, apple cider jus — Excellent chicken with crispy skin exploding with flavor. They nailed this dish and the accompaniments.
Beef Short Rib with potato purée, caramelized roots, charred leeks, red wine jus — This dish was just okay. It was standard fare for short rib and did not blow my away like the chicken. I would have rather ordered two more small plates instead of this, which seem to be R&R’s strong suit.
SWEETS
Fried Apple Pie with honey crisp apples, roasted quince, crème fraîche ice cream, cider reduction — Save some room for dessert, and order this! If you like apple pie, this dessert will not disappoint.
Candy Bar Tart with chocolate ganache, salted caramel, spanish peanut nougatine ice cream, sazerac caramel sause, huckleberry compote — This is their most popular dessert and was my wife’s favorite. It tastes like all of the candy bars you craved as a child melted into one.
Roots and Rye Affogato with house spun fennel ice cream, almond anise biscotti — A much better alternative that just ordering coffee at the end of your meal. I really enjoyed the cappuccino-​soaked ice cream and biscotti. The coffee was a little bit too bitter for my tastes, but a regular coffee drinker should love this.
DRINKS
Churchill Downs (bourbon whiskey, strawberry aquavit, lemon, green cardamom, fever tree ginger beer) — This is one of their signature cocktails and had a very unique flavor that is difficult for me to describe. It was like drinking a flower. This is light enough on the alcohol for either gender to enjoy. This was my wife’s favorite.
Goldenrod (terroir gin, herbal liquor, lemon chrysanthemum honey, absinthe, rosemary) — The taste here was even more unique than the Churchill Downs. The combination of flavors actually made this taste kind of like sawdust, which pairs well with the décor. I couldn’t resist drinking this since it was so different, but wouldn’t recommend it to most people.
Barrel Aged Old Fashioned (bourbon whiskey, bitters, demerara sugar) — I’m a bit of an Old Fashioned snob since this is my favorite cocktail in general and this is the only cocktail that I can reproduce at home. R&R uses Buffalo Trace, which has a bit of a bite to it but I would expect nothing less from a traditional Old Fashioned. This is the cocktail that I would order first in the future.

4 STAR.
What a cool new joint at Santana Row! Great ambience with fire pits and outdoor seating, booths/​lounge area, eye-​catching bar area, and a full service restaurant with tasty tapas plates.
I’ve been to Roots and Rye twice now, the first of which was for my 30^th bday celebration. After having dinner at LB Steak, my friends and I met up at Roots and Rye, and I immediately loved the vibe. First of all, I listened to a lot of swing and jazz music growing up, and I used to dance in a troupe for many years, so I was immediately hooked. Luckily, we got there around 9:30 before the evening rush arrived around 11pm, so we were able to get a booth near the bar area. We ordered a number of drinks (not overly priced), and had a great time. Everyone loved the ambience. It was a little difficult to walk around once it got packed in there, but that is to be expected in a restaurant/​bar/​lounge in Santana Row.
The second time I went was this past weekend, but this time, I went to try the food. My friend from work and I were seated immediately (got there around 9pm on a Friday night), and we ordered a number of small, shareable dishes, which I have outlined below:
1. Truffle parmesan fries, $ 9 (rate a 4 out of 5) — the truffle parmesan fries were awesome. They were served with a side of truffle aioli and a 63 degree egg that you could dip your fries in. Wasn’t as big of a fan of the egg to dip the fries in, but the aioli was spot on!
2. Crispy kale sprouts, $ 7 (rate a 4.5 out of 5) — these brussels sprouts were quite a surprise! I never order brussels sprouts, but my friend did because he loves them for some reason, and we were definitely impressed. They had capers and parmesan mixed in too. Highly recommend.
3. Pork belly sliders, $ 9 (rate a 2.5−3 out of 5) — this was probably the most disappointing of the dishes we ordered. The pork belly was just ok, and lacked taste. Probably won’t order them again next time.
4. Bacon and caramelized onion flatbread, $ 12 (rate a 3.5 out of 5) — this wasn’t bad. It definitely could have been better. We love anything with bacon on it, so can’t go wrong there. But nothing too exciting with this dish.
5. «Chips» and dip, $ 6 (rate a 4.5 out of 5) — whoa, was not expecting a deep fried chicken skin with garlic aioli to be their take on Chips and Dip. The deep fried chicken skin was awesome, and extremely well done. It wasn’t overcooked either. Definitely loved this dish, but might die of a heart attack if I order it again.
We ordered some whiskeys with ginger ale to complement our meal. In total, it was a $ 90 meal (including tax and tip). A little pricey, but for the ambience, it was decent. Would definitely come back for drinks and maybe a few of the small dishes. Highly recommend Roots and Rye — definitely a gem in a tourist-​trap-​filled Santana Row!

I had a great night with some friends last night. Luckily I was able to hold down a whole section on my own at the lobby room area. This place gets packed up so be sure to arrive just in time.
Drinks take some time but that’s fine since there is a huge crowd from hr to hr. This is an intimate atmosphere that’s great for groups of friends. I wanted to make sure my guests had a great time so I ordered their Gerardo rose champagne for about $ 45 along with some hand crafted cocktails. The mood was just perfect; nothing beats it.
Overall we had a great time. My group of four converted to a group of 10 lol because our friends from the past were also in the lounging area. We all got together and enjoyed!

Easily one of the three most beautiful restaurants in Santana Row and sadly just as expensive as the rest. Ignore the price tag, empty your wallets, and have a great time!
The drinks are good. I ordered the Churchill Downs, and within 15 minutes, it seemed like everyone was talking too fast. It was worth its value for how strong it was.
Although these were probably the best scallops I ever had, I’d stay away from the $ 24 scallop dish if you’re not OK with only having 3 mini York patties as your dinner. The sauce was good. The scallop was plump and baked to perfection. It’s still $ 8 per bite and half way through your drink, you think by now you could have fed an entire orphanage somewhere in the world with 24 McDoubles.
The buttermilk biscuits and fries were delicious as expected.
I would come back again for drinks but save the food for somewhere that you don’t feel like you would need Chipotle to compensate for the next few weeks.

Sat at the bar with my friend to start off our Saturday night. We are both very picky with old fashioned’s, but the bartender proved himself and made delicious ones! To go along with our drinks, we got the jalapeño poppers. There’s only like 8 balls– for the price we were expecting a bigger plate :(it’s pretty good but I won’t be getting this again.
The atmosphere is pretty trendy; it has like an upscale 1920’s vibe, and I love the uniforms the men wear! You know, suspenders, newsboy hats. Reminds me of singlebarrel in downtown SJ! The women should dress to the theme too.
Not a fan of the music they play though.
I might stop by here once in a while for an old fashioned and try out some of their other foods if I happen to be in Santana Row!

One of the very few whiskey-​oriented places in the area! Love the whole ambiance, staff, and drink/​food selection available. Tucked away in the corner of the same plaza as Maggiano’s, this place feels a little secluded but doesn’t fail to stand out.
My friend is a person who is interested in whiskey, so he decided that we would come here one night. We were not disappointed! I got my wine fix, and he got his whiskey fix. The waitress was very friendly and checked up on us JUST enough times (not too many that we were constantly interrupted, and not so few that we’re just sitting around.) The patio is beautiful, as are the rest of the restaurant/​bar, and the fire in the patio area does its job in looking pretty while still keeping you warm.
We only went for the whiskey/​wine, so the only food we ordered that night was the parmesan fries, which was absolutely delicious and totally hit the spot. The egg that you can dip in was an interested take add-​on to the fries and it was actually pretty good! Overall, the place is pricey but that’s expected given its location. Can’t wait to return!

Although I’ve haven’t had a proper sit down dinner experience here, I have had several visits for drinks and light bites. The space and décor gives off a slight industrial appeal (unfinished wood structure overhead, and yet polished, with the patio firepit tables enclosed in glass). Noise levels are high but not deafening as the high ceilings help dissipate the chatter around you.
The Triple Crown (with tequila and egg whites) and the Churchill Downs (bourbon and ginger beer) are two of my favorites. The parmesan fries are a must try as the 63 degree soft boiled egg and truffle aioli provide creamy good dipping complements.
Service comes with a big smile and generally good attentiveness. My visits have fallen on either a Friday or Saturday evening, and as you would expect, the crowd is live.

Came here for dinner on a Sat night and instantly scored a table during prime dining time of 7pm. Unless you have reservations anywhere in SR, this is quite unusual. R&R has been open for 3 months now so why does it still look like there’s construction? Oh wait – this is their décor with 2x4s running everywhere. Ohhhh – got it! LOL
With the exception of the bar, this place is dimly lit. It sets the ambiance for a hip, swanky place but what doesn’t work is that the cocktail menu was printed on a dark card. This made it difficult to see the selection especially since there were no candles. I chose the Goldenrod and the gf chose the Churchill Downs which was recommended by our server. Since we were told they are out of the Beef Short Ribs and had substituted it with Duck, we were advised to order this before it was sold out. We heeded her advice and also chose the Fried Petaluma Chicken which we were told was ½ a chicken and Chicken Wings as an appetizer.
My Goldenrod was quite shocking (that’s what SHE said). It was described to be herbal with lemon chrysanthemum and rosemary but it tasted like it came from another garden. It had a strong pungent scent of Lavender like the bartender poured some Airwick in it. Like I said, the bar is the only place in this restaurant that’s highly illuminated so how can the bartender pour the wrong liquor in it?
When the chicken wings came out, it was absolutely bland. I guess you are supposed to dip it in the 2 sauces provided but the «BBQ» sauce tasted 99% ketchup and 1% something else but not BBQ (see pic). Thank God this was only the appetizer. Can’t wait for the bigger dishes.
When the Fried Petaluma Chicken came out, I thought someone played a joke on me and brought me something from Boston Market. I may not be from the South, but I know Fried Chicken doesn’t look like rotisserie chicken! This little cornish hen never saw batter or a skillet in his afterlife. The kale was pretty good, but the pickled vegetables were just off. When I thought there was hope with the duck I was disappointed 1 last time. The two pieces of our feathered friend was dry and totally flavorless once again. At $ 26, I thought I should have kept the granite slab it came out with so I wouldn’t feel so cheated.
Fine cuisine is usually small portions prepared by renowned chefs and served on big plates but taste is amazing. Here at R&R, you get everything but the last. I felt cheated that our $ 100 snack was so unsatisfying and tasteless. We could have had a much more amazing dinner next door at Maggiano’s and not walk out hungry still. The lounge section looks inviting with their firepit tables, but I would not recommend anything from the kitchen.

Been here a couple times. Just ate here last
Night but the wifi is nonexistent as me and my friend couldn’t connect and check-​in on my Unilocal app, lol (if internet service is important to you). This place has a cool loungy atmosphere. Fire pits and green leather seats with dim lighting. People come here to get fancy and dress up maybe before walking the row and bar hop.
My friends and I have become obsessed with froie gras; fatty creamy, rich duck liver goodness. We get it every time we go here.
This time we ordered the ribeye, $ 32; cooked to perfection– soft, tender, red center, juicy. Shared a bottle of wine, $ 42. Deviled eggs, got only 4 pieces, $ 8, I guess that’s what you pay for «fine» dining. And Baby kale salad.
The downside I feel is that the menu items change, or slightly changed. The first time I went the kale salad had a creamy bagotta cheese; the second time we went which was a couple months later it was no longer there. Also the first time I went there used to be a froie gras two-​ways, and this time I went it wasn’t there, but they still had a froie gras dish.
Also service is a little inconsistent. First time the waitresses were super attentive and checked up quite frequently throughout the meal. Second time, our waiter didn’t serve our bottle of wine until after we had already received our appetizers. I place reservations before coming here because it can get pretty busy on the weekend.

After being contacted by Roots and Rye management/​marketing about the poor service we received, we decided to give them another try for dinner. It is so refreshing to see a restaurant take into account customer feedback and make us feel valued. You don’t see this very often!
We made reservations for dinner on a Friday night and were a little late, but it was around 7:30 so it was not an issue. There were plenty of tables and lounge area available from what I could tell. We sat in lounge area the middle of the restaurant with the bar to our backs on very comfy leather sofas.
We glanced over the menus and joked about having difficulty reading them in such dark lighting. Two parties that sat next to us subsequently used their flashlight on their phones to read the menus. That’s how dark it was!
The Food:
ROASTED BONE MARROW — Very rich and delicious.
BEEF SHORT RIB — This melted in our mouths. So tender and juicy. Loved the sweet potato-​carrot purée too. Very good.
GRILLED RIBEYE — The potato purée was amazing! The ribeye went great with the bordelaise sauce, but was not seasoned well. However, I’d rather have an under-​seasoned ribeye than one that’s over-​seasoned!
CREME BRULEE — We didn’t enjoy this, as it tasted a bit stale to us. It came with a cookie that was very hard to bite into.
Overall, the meal was very good. I wasn’t expecting to be too impressed just because these places tend to put more emphasis on drinks/​nightlife experience and not so much on the food, but I happily found out that this is not the case with Roots & Rye.
Service was excellent this time around. The staff were all very courteous and helpful. We had a great date night here. Thank you, Roots & Rye!

Another case of wishing half stars were a Unilocal feature, Roots & Rye is closer to 3.5 than a 4, but you know… they’re new so I’m rounding up.
I came here on a Thursday night with a friend and was excited to check it out. After all, the menu looked promising. The best part of our experience however, was hands down the service. That’s nearly unheard of, especially when a restaurant is this new. Saying that, let’s dive in.
COCKTAILS:
Goldenrod, Churchill Downs, Summer Hat (1 with gin, 1 with vodka). All had tons of promise, and were good, but way too sweet. They really need to work on their craft…
CONSUMABLES:
deviled eggs | overly hard-​boiled, average. Because the eggs are so small, the pickled jalapeño completely overwhelmed the flavor.
heirloom tomato | DELICIOUS, highly recommend. Obviously this is a completely standard dish, but R&R’s preparation is well executed. The ingredients were super fresh and well seasoned; I loved the crispy basil leaf.
pressed potatoes | one of the better dishes that came out. This could be a fantastic dish if the seasoning were on par. Ask for salt/​pepper before your food arrives so you can season to taste.
roasted bone marrow | huge disappointment. I’m a huge fan of bone marrow and this was a big let down. Unfortunately, the bones I received had virtually no marrow. What little marrow there was was hidden under a sorta haphazard fennel & parsley salad intended to cleanse my palate. Maybe if I’d had any marrow. The star of this dish was the onion jam. ONION JAM should not be the star of a $ 16 dish. It screamed, sorry there’s no substance to this dish, have something that might make you feel as though you had a protein. #pass
roots & rye burger | ordered medium rare, cooked medium rare. Yay! Flavor was on point and the size was something I’d expect to see on the large consumables page, not the small. I’m a shoestring french fry girl, but their average sized, skin partially on fries were pretty tasty.
ATMOSPHERE:
I think this is a great addition to Santana Row. The open architecture with the wooden frames is interesting. If you’re sitting in their «outdoor» section, be prepared to inhale a LOT of cigarette smoke because it’s next to a breezeway that many smokers light up in and walk through.

R/​R is not that bad of place!
Kind of really dark in the place, you cant take good non-​flash photos for Unilocal :|
My friends came here for lunch on Monday and had a great time, chillin and eating.
On Saturdays and Sunday + Holidays, I believe, they serve brunch for a good part of their day! + one or two lunch dishes.
Their whiskey selection is amazing! and definitely makes you come back to try them all!
Richard was our waiter and he was a pleasantly great waiter.
Service:
Great service! The hostess was super nice and accomdating and our waiter was superb in what he does.
Food:
The food here is great! The burger is good and juicy, BUT, not as comparable to Firehouse or Liquid Bread.
R/​R Burger — Great burger! cooked perfectly fine, the sauce is okay and the onions were alright. Overall, decent burger.
Mac n Cheese — The MnC was bomb! I really started liking MnC from Smoking Pig and these are on my list of good MnCs! Again, Firehouse is better. But, to each their own! I would definitely order this again, and one for a table of 4 is well worth it!
Poutine — The poutine was okay. They need to understand the concept of poutine better because ours had the gravy UNDERNEATH the fries. The point of poutnine is to have it ON TOP of the fries. Cheese? No thank you, they did not use cheese curds, just regular cheese which kind of defeats the purpose or poutine; and they also skimped on the pulled pork topping. My rating? ²⁄₅. It’s good, but not that great, Original Gravity Poutine is a lot better.
Belly Benedict — This dish was presentable, just not good. The muffin they used definitely took up all of the room on this dish, it was dry and not flavorful. The Egg was poached perfectly and was ooozing with yolk! The pork belly itself was not seasoned that great and had uneven flavors.
Overall,
I would come back to try their dinner menu, their lunch/​brunch was okay and not to par from what was expected.
Maybe the dinner menu and evening gastropub will allow me to review this with 4 stars.