odd duck | wine & provisions

Had dinner here this evening to celebrate a friend’s birthday and what a celebration! The food was exquisite, the atmosphere cosy and personal. The staff amazing on every level! Thank you ‘Odd Duck’ for a night to remember!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Simply perfect.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

There’s a lot to like about Odd Duck, particularly on the hospitality and beverage side. The cocktails were genuinely excellent, thoughtful, well-balanced, and memorable. The house-made fig syrup stood out in particular and showed real care and creativity behind the bar. Service was another strong point: Isabella struck a great balance between being warm, attentive, and respectful of space, which made the evening feel relaxed and well paced.

Unfortunately, the food didn’t consistently meet the same standard.

The deep-fried mushrooms were decent and certainly edible, but a bit heavy-handed on seasoning. The breading dominated the dish, making it difficult to taste the mushrooms themselves. With a lighter touch, this could easily be a solid plate rather than a merely passable one.

The scallop crudo had promise. The sauce and accompanying flavours were interesting and well conceived, but the scallop itself was let down by its texture and a lack of seasoning. Without enough salt to bring the dish together, it mostly tasted like plain raw scallop, and it became difficult to eat more than a bite or two.

The steak was the biggest miss of the evening. It was a strip loin that was cooked nicely and sliced properly against the grain, so the technique itself wasn’t the issue. However, the meat was still tough, chewy, and contained a noticeable amount of gristle, which points more toward sourcing and/or trimming rather than cooking. The accompanying potato was under-seasoned, and the steak itself would have benefitted from even a light finishing sprinkle of flaky salt.

The Arctic char was the most successful dish of the night. The fish was cooked well, though slightly under-seasoned, but the cabbage accompaniment leaned too heavily into acidity without enough sweetness or richness to balance it out.

Across multiple dishes, under-seasoning and textural issues became a recurring theme. At this level, consistency and strong fundamentals matter, and that’s where the kitchen struggled.

One small but telling detail: our table was noticeably wobbly, and it didn’t seem like anyone on staff was aware of it. It’s a minor issue, but in a dining room aiming for a polished experience, it stood out.

To the restaurant’s credit, our feedback was listened to respectfully and professionally. However, despite multiple dishes being largely uneaten, we were still charged in full. While that’s within the restaurant’s right, it ultimately shaped our takeaway from the evening.

While the drinks and service were strong, the food execution and overall value didn’t align with the expectations the restaurant sets. For that reason, we wouldn’t choose to return.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 5

I went to Odd Duck with my partner to celebrate their birthday and we did the “trust us” experience. The courses were all delicious and the wait staff were very friendly. We especially liked the vegetable root pavé and dessert! We are eagerly waiting for the next special occasion to visit again.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

An amazing restaurant in downtown Kitchener. We had excellent service from the moment we arrived. Isabel was an amazing server and you could tell they and other staff members were knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the restaurant. Food was amazing. This is a true gem.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place was amazing. From the moment we entered to when we left. The food was exceptional and so delicious. It’s hard to pick a favourite. The staff were all so kind, welcoming and helpful. It’s great to hear that it’s an all woman run kitchen and everyone plays a key role in running the place including the menu. Although the food is pricier, they don’t ask and don’t want you to tip. Pay it forward in other ways ❤️

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

What a dynamic and exciting experience! Every single bite was on point. A must try!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I tried to message the business directly to give this feedback, but they don’t allow DMs.

We weren’t impressed by their sip & shop. Definitely could have used more advertising transparency as to 1) what the shopping entailed i.e. it’s just their regular bottle shop 2) the cost of the mulled wine wasn’t posted. It was $15 for a 6oz paper cup.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

It was a great dining experience in every way. The food was delicious: good portions and creative blending of ingredients. The wine pairings were spot on. And best of all, the staff were terrific: their pride with what they were doing and their friendliness throughout the meal, made the whole dining experience top-notch. This is a restaurant where you make excuses to come back again - soon!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We were told to order entrees to share. The portions were so small that they were definitely not sharable. If you don't want to come away hungry you need to order at least 3 selections per person so you can expect a very hefty bill. The food was tasty and the service pleasant but don't expect dinner.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Wow!!! What an amazing experience!! It was our first time and we shower the “trust us experience “ and we’re so happy we did. We added the wine pairing which was perfect! Everyone was so friendly, welcoming and happy! We will definitely return. They have a no tipping policy and pay their staff a thriving wage! This is so refreshing! I love it. Highly recommend this restaurant!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Always a great experience. Fantastic food, friendly staff, good wine selection.

Food: 5

Fantastic experience! I went with my boyfriend for my birthday, and I’ve been craving some of the menu items since. The staff was super accommodating and helpful with dietary restrictions, from preparing a list prior to our arrival and helping me find the best options for us to share. All of the food we had was so delicious!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place has a great vibe, and really good food! Can’t wait to go back and try the tasting menu.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had an exception and fun experience. The food was new and unique, the service was impressive and very knowledgeable and the venue was inviting. Looking forward to returning.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5