I had high hopes for this restaurant, but my Valentine’s Day experience was a complete disappointment. I made reservations specifically because of their Kingstonlicious menu, which prominently featured both cheese and chocolate fondue along with appealing mains like mushroom risotto and steak. Nowhere on their website did they indicate that this menu would change for Valentine’s Day.
To be sure, I even called the restaurant on the day of my reservation to confirm, only to be told that they weren’t offering the cheese fondue because they didn’t have enough pots. A restaurant promoting fondue but lacking the equipment to serve it properly? Unbelievable. They only had four pots, all reserved for their outdoor seating, which had been fully booked before I even made my reservation. This was never disclosed anywhere. I even asked them to note my request for cheese fondue, as I’m pregnant and had been craving it. They said they’d try—but made no promises.
When we arrived, the atmosphere was completely underwhelming. The lighting was not romantic at all, and they seated us right by the entrance, next to the host stand. Every time the hotel doors opened, we were hit with a blast of cold air. To make matters worse, the restaurant had no real separation from the hotel lobby, so we constantly heard people going in and out of the elevators. Definitely not the intimate dining experience we had hoped for.
As for the food—what a disaster. They refused my fondue request, so my only options were French onion soup (which I couldn’t have as a vegetarian) or fresh mozzarella with tomato and balsamic. I went with the latter. It took 40 minutes to arrive—just for a few slices of tomato and a cheese ball. No bread, no crackers, nothing. I asked for bread because I was starving, and the server said he’d check. He never came back. 15 minutes later, another server randomly brought out some bread—by then, I had already finished eating.
The mains took 1.5 hours to arrive. By then, I felt like I was going to pass out from hunger. The restaurant was clearly understaffed, with our waiter also acting as the bartender. At one point, he reassured us the food would be out “soon” but we still waited another 30 minutes after that. Given that the mushroom risotto was a key part of their set menu, they should have been better prepared instead of making everyone wait. It was a total failure in planning.
Dessert arrived within 5 minutes of finishing dinner, which felt rushed. Normally, there’s at least a 15-minute pause between courses, but they seemed desperate to turn over tables. The chocolate fondue itself was fine, but nothing special—just melted chocolate with some fruit and crackers.
I understand that Valentine’s Day is a busy night for restaurants, but that should be expected. Patrons shouldn’t have to deal with poor planning, miscommunication, and excessive wait times. This was supposed to be a special Valentine’s dinner—our last as a couple before becoming a family—but this restaurant completely ruined the experience. First and last time dining here.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Chantel Morrissette
Dinner under the winter night sky. ☆☆☆☆☆ Excellent service from Marcel, who served hot meals to us as we relaxed within the shelter of the Dome. I highly recommend this dining experience. Blankets and soft pillows are provided to allow personal adjustment within these heated domes. I was surprised by the sound bubble within a dome. I could see other diners conversing but could hear nothing from within our dome. The food was fantastic. See photos.
Vegetarian options: There is a vegetarian option
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
kendra Estrada
I had a fantastic dinner here! The Winter Mule cocktail was perfectly balanced and seasonal, and the Waterside Trout was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Service was fast and friendly, making the experience even better. Highly recommend! ORDER a side of garlic bread OMG insanely good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kaitlyn
Had dinner on the patio this season. Patio was packed. Very busy place, hard to get a spot in unless you have a reservation. The food was good but the service was very slow. Waited 15 minutes for our drinks and one person at our table didn't even get theirs, we had to ask for the drink again. Then we asked for a take home container and waited 20 minutes for one long after we paid for our food. Not impressed
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
Johann Palkowitsch
We were at Thanksgiving dinner. The staff was very attentive and immediately asked for drinks. When it comes to the choice of food, we can't complain. The quantity and quality were also right. At the end the chef even asked if it was tasty. All in all a successful evening.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
sara ghotb
Delicious food and great service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
B R
The patio seating was really nice & our server Jasmin was warm, friendly & efficient. The food was alright but below what I expected especially for the price point & compared to other similarly priced restaurants in downtown Kingston.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips
Katherine
We have an amazing view, the waitress and host were both awesome. The food was great and just the right amount. The downside....we waited just over an hour for our food. The restaurant was not overly busy and other tables that arrived after us were served. To top it off we had a reservation. That was the only hiccup To an otherwise good experience.
Manuel Gagnon-Bujold
Seated for 10-15 min , no service, people seated after us were served before us. Nice patio and spot , but staff very slow and not responsive.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
glen
Keep your money. It has great potential but just couldn't nail it down, based on previous reviews. Beautiful location and view. The barbecue station was tucked into the corner of the patio. Great smells of chicken and corn heightened the anticipation. Our reservation was for 6pm. Previous reviews indicate slow production from the kitchen so we placed our full order: Gin & Tonic and Vodka Martini Entrées- Duck Ravioli and Barbecue Country Chicken. 2 glasses of white wine to go with the meal. cocktails were served timely - Gin & Tonic tasted good. Unfortunately the vodka martini was watery. Around 8 minutes after we placed the order we were advised they ran out of Duck. Again, based Open Table reviews we prepared for alternates on the event of a challenge and immediately selected Waterside Pickerel. 30 minutes later with cocktails long gone. We asked when we should expect the meals We were told any moment now. 10 minutes later the plates arrived. Didn't look like the menu items at all. The chicken was sousvide and over cooked. They finish it on the barbecue but not properly so the skin was soggy. Mediocre flavour. The fish was luke warm and the potatoes were soggy and lacked flavour. The wine was absent. We didn't send it back as it was almost 7pm, we were hungry and would not be able to wait for the 2nd attempt to hit the table. We ate some, not all. We pushed the plates. About 5 minutes after we finished, the wine arrived. We sent the wine back, paid the bill and left. Server was very polite but looked somewhat conditioned to relay messages on delays and service failures. Had that look anticipating a difficult situation. We've been on the Frontline of dealing with Kitchen failures. We tip the server. Not his fault. We haven't been to AquaTerra but its walking distance from the Wharf and Feather. I'll go there next. See link below. Life's too short for bad food, bad wine or bad people.
Hotel was excellent, so I thought the restaurant attached would be as well. For the price point, I had high expectations, but was let down sadly. Lots of other great local spots to try out, but I'd give this one a HARD pass.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Gail
A hidden treasure on the waterfront. Rain foiled our plans for an al fresco dinner so we enjoyed very good food inside. Service recognized that we were visiting with people we had not seen in a while and left us to order on our own time without being rushed.
KathyM
All good but we paid and the ordered another drink. The waitress didn't bother to clear our table. So we had our drinks on a messy table. Too bad as the service was good up til then
Emily
First time here, we really wanted to love this restaurant. The ambience was lovely; on the water, live music. However, although well staffed, it took almost an hour to have our food orders taken. We had booked the table in advance for a friends birthday, and that was added when the reservation was booked ,which most other restaurants will bring a complimentary dessert etc - didn't happen. As we were paying, our server overheard someone saying happy birthday, to which she asked if it was someone's birthday we were celebrating. Not a huge deal, just would've been a nice added touch, especially for a restaurant that has small portions with an expensive price tag. The whole evening just felt very unorganized. However, our server was still lovely, and the food / drinks were good, albeit expensive. Definitely won't be back, but was worth a shot!
MichelleC
We have been here many tines with reservations of 2 to 20 planning many gatherings with friends and family. Last night was utterly horrible. Our waitress MacKenzie was amazing and continuously apologizing for the late food, 2.5 hours late! When we received the brisket it was cold, although it was as hard as leather sitting somewhere, the half of a baked potato was dried up and the 2 inch piece of corn bread was sad. Never have I seen such a poor display of food. I have recommended this restaurant to so many and brought many friends and new clients moving to Kingston. I will not recommend again.
I had high hopes for this restaurant, but my Valentine’s Day experience was a complete disappointment. I made reservations specifically because of their Kingstonlicious menu, which prominently featured both cheese and chocolate fondue along with appealing mains like mushroom risotto and steak. Nowhere on their website did they indicate that this menu would change for Valentine’s Day.
To be sure, I even called the restaurant on the day of my reservation to confirm, only to be told that they weren’t offering the cheese fondue because they didn’t have enough pots. A restaurant promoting fondue but lacking the equipment to serve it properly? Unbelievable. They only had four pots, all reserved for their outdoor seating, which had been fully booked before I even made my reservation. This was never disclosed anywhere. I even asked them to note my request for cheese fondue, as I’m pregnant and had been craving it. They said they’d try—but made no promises.
When we arrived, the atmosphere was completely underwhelming. The lighting was not romantic at all, and they seated us right by the entrance, next to the host stand. Every time the hotel doors opened, we were hit with a blast of cold air. To make matters worse, the restaurant had no real separation from the hotel lobby, so we constantly heard people going in and out of the elevators. Definitely not the intimate dining experience we had hoped for.
As for the food—what a disaster. They refused my fondue request, so my only options were French onion soup (which I couldn’t have as a vegetarian) or fresh mozzarella with tomato and balsamic. I went with the latter. It took 40 minutes to arrive—just for a few slices of tomato and a cheese ball. No bread, no crackers, nothing. I asked for bread because I was starving, and the server said he’d check. He never came back. 15 minutes later, another server randomly brought out some bread—by then, I had already finished eating.
The mains took 1.5 hours to arrive. By then, I felt like I was going to pass out from hunger. The restaurant was clearly understaffed, with our waiter also acting as the bartender. At one point, he reassured us the food would be out “soon” but we still waited another 30 minutes after that. Given that the mushroom risotto was a key part of their set menu, they should have been better prepared instead of making everyone wait. It was a total failure in planning.
Dessert arrived within 5 minutes of finishing dinner, which felt rushed. Normally, there’s at least a 15-minute pause between courses, but they seemed desperate to turn over tables. The chocolate fondue itself was fine, but nothing special—just melted chocolate with some fruit and crackers.
I understand that Valentine’s Day is a busy night for restaurants, but that should be expected. Patrons shouldn’t have to deal with poor planning, miscommunication, and excessive wait times. This was supposed to be a special Valentine’s dinner—our last as a couple before becoming a family—but this restaurant completely ruined the experience. First and last time dining here.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Dinner under the winter night sky. ☆☆☆☆☆
Excellent service from Marcel, who served hot meals to us as we relaxed within the shelter of the Dome.
I highly recommend this dining experience.
Blankets and soft pillows are provided to allow personal adjustment within these heated domes.
I was surprised by the sound bubble within a dome. I could see other diners conversing but could hear nothing from within our dome.
The food was fantastic. See photos.
Vegetarian options: There is a vegetarian option
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had a fantastic dinner here! The Winter Mule cocktail was perfectly balanced and seasonal, and the Waterside Trout was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Service was fast and friendly, making the experience even better. Highly recommend! ORDER a side of garlic bread OMG insanely good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had dinner on the patio this season. Patio was packed. Very busy place, hard to get a spot in unless you have a reservation. The food was good but the service was very slow. Waited 15 minutes for our drinks and one person at our table didn't even get theirs, we had to ask for the drink again. Then we asked for a take home container and waited 20 minutes for one long after we paid for our food. Not impressed
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
We were at Thanksgiving dinner. The staff was very attentive and immediately asked for drinks. When it comes to the choice of food, we can't complain. The quantity and quality were also right. At the end the chef even asked if it was tasty. All in all a successful evening.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food and great service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
The patio seating was really nice & our server Jasmin was warm, friendly & efficient. The food was alright but below what I expected especially for the price point & compared to other similarly priced restaurants in downtown Kingston.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips
We have an amazing view, the waitress and host were both awesome. The food was great and just the right amount. The downside....we waited just over an hour for our food. The restaurant was not overly busy and other tables that arrived after us were served. To top it off we had a reservation. That was the only hiccup To an otherwise good experience.
Seated for 10-15 min , no service, people seated after us were served before us. Nice patio and spot , but staff very slow and not responsive.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Keep your money. It has great potential but just couldn't nail it down, based on previous reviews. Beautiful location and view. The barbecue station was tucked into the corner of the patio. Great smells of chicken and corn heightened the anticipation. Our reservation was for 6pm. Previous reviews indicate slow production from the kitchen so we placed our full order: Gin & Tonic and Vodka Martini Entrées- Duck Ravioli and Barbecue Country Chicken. 2 glasses of white wine to go with the meal. cocktails were served timely - Gin & Tonic tasted good. Unfortunately the vodka martini was watery. Around 8 minutes after we placed the order we were advised they ran out of Duck. Again, based Open Table reviews we prepared for alternates on the event of a challenge and immediately selected Waterside Pickerel. 30 minutes later with cocktails long gone. We asked when we should expect the meals We were told any moment now. 10 minutes later the plates arrived. Didn't look like the menu items at all. The chicken was sousvide and over cooked. They finish it on the barbecue but not properly so the skin was soggy. Mediocre flavour. The fish was luke warm and the potatoes were soggy and lacked flavour. The wine was absent. We didn't send it back as it was almost 7pm, we were hungry and would not be able to wait for the 2nd attempt to hit the table. We ate some, not all. We pushed the plates. About 5 minutes after we finished, the wine arrived. We sent the wine back, paid the bill and left. Server was very polite but looked somewhat conditioned to relay messages on delays and service failures. Had that look anticipating a difficult situation. We've been on the Frontline of dealing with Kitchen failures. We tip the server. Not his fault. We haven't been to AquaTerra but its walking distance from the Wharf and Feather. I'll go there next. See link below. Life's too short for bad food, bad wine or bad people.
Restaurantji Recommends
Hotel was excellent, so I thought the restaurant attached would be as well. For the price point, I had high expectations, but was let down sadly. Lots of other great local spots to try out, but I'd give this one a HARD pass.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
A hidden treasure on the waterfront. Rain foiled our plans for an al fresco dinner so we enjoyed very good food inside. Service recognized that we were visiting with people we had not seen in a while and left us to order on our own time without being rushed.
All good but we paid and the ordered another drink. The waitress didn't bother to clear our table. So we had our drinks on a messy table. Too bad as the service was good up til then
First time here, we really wanted to love this restaurant. The ambience was lovely; on the water, live music. However, although well staffed, it took almost an hour to have our food orders taken. We had booked the table in advance for a friends birthday, and that was added when the reservation was booked ,which most other restaurants will bring a complimentary dessert etc - didn't happen. As we were paying, our server overheard someone saying happy birthday, to which she asked if it was someone's birthday we were celebrating. Not a huge deal, just would've been a nice added touch, especially for a restaurant that has small portions with an expensive price tag. The whole evening just felt very unorganized. However, our server was still lovely, and the food / drinks were good, albeit expensive. Definitely won't be back, but was worth a shot!
We have been here many tines with reservations of 2 to 20 planning many gatherings with friends and family. Last night was utterly horrible. Our waitress MacKenzie was amazing and continuously apologizing for the late food, 2.5 hours late! When we received the brisket it was cold, although it was as hard as leather sitting somewhere, the half of a baked potato was dried up and the 2 inch piece of corn bread was sad. Never have I seen such a poor display of food. I have recommended this restaurant to so many and brought many friends and new clients moving to Kingston. I will not recommend again.
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