The Dickens in Burlington

423 Elizabeth St, Burlington, ON L7R 2L8, Canada

★★★★☆
(872 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant Bar Karaoke bar Live music venue Pub

About

Step into The Dickens, Burlington’s favourite British pub nestled in the heart of Village Square. Housed in a gloriously restored 1800s heritage building, we defy ordinary, radiating a playful charm that would make Charles Dickens himself raise an eyebrow. Our menu offers a tempting blend of classic British pub faves and modern delights. Need to wet your whistle? We've got 16 beers on tap plus a selection of good, honest cocktails to keep your spirits high and your inhibitions low. As Burlington's most infamous spot for music and nightlife, The Dickens is open till 2am daily. So come on down, raise a pint, share a laugh, swap a tale, and make some memories in the most delightfully unexpected British pub this side of the pond.

Website
thedickens.ca
Address
423 Elizabeth St, Burlington, ON L7R 2L8, Canada
Plus Code
86G3+FJ Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
11 AM–2 AM
Monday
12 PM–2 AM
Tuesday
12–6 PM
Wednesday
9 PM–2 AM
Thursday
12 PM–2 AM
Friday
12 PM–2 AM
Saturday
11 AM–2 AM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Great cocktails Live music Sport
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Late-night food Small plates Spirits Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets Wi-Fi Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Family friendly Groups LGBTQ+ friendly Transgender safe space
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
High chairs Kids' menu
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Paid parking lot Parking
Pets
Dogs allowed Dogs allowed outside

Photos

Reviews

4.0
★★★★☆
872 reviews

Most Mentioned

pub (59) beer (39) live music (30) patio (30) bartender (27) karaoke (21) fish and chips (20) trivia (13) bouncer (10) open mic (5)
5 stars
451
4 stars
186
3 stars
94
2 stars
43
1 stars
98
★★★★★
December 6, 2024

The perfect spot for that British pub feeling. Great service, food is on point and the taps are flowing. We had some apps and pints. Victoria and Alicia were super friendly and welcoming. They were always available for fresh pints or anything else we needed. Definitely coming back.

★★★★
November 14, 2024

Stopped by this pub for a quick beer. The atmosphere was lively, with a friendly crowd and efficient service. Perfect for a casual drink. However, if you're sensitive to loud music, be aware that live performances here can get pretty noisy.

★★★★★
October 31, 2024

Walking around Burlington Canada and saw this spot, read other reviews and came in for their Fish and Chips….not Disappointed at all! Highly recommend Fish and Chips, Service was great and food was served hot!! Great place.

★★★
October 18, 2024

Enjoyed our time out at the patio. The food menu has a great selection of starters and mains. The service was alright overall. Staff are courteous. The food was pretty decent. I'd return for drinks and appetizers on those pleasant summer evenings.

★★★★★
October 8, 2024

It's great to see an establishment that's looking out for its customers. I'm referring to the $13 lunch specials. There's a great selection and everything we've had has been great. Tasty meals nicely presented and good portions. Friendly service from the staff as well.

★★
August 13, 2024

Ordered takeout last night, and for the second time in a row, we were disappointed. I had the fish and chips, and the fish was so greasy! As you can see in the video, with a light touch the grease pools on the fish. I had to use 2 paper towels to remove some of the grease from it. Furthermore, in my mind the whole point of ordering take out is so you don’t have to cook. I had to pop my fish into the air fryer because when it arrived it was so light in colour and soft (not crispy), it felt undercooked. We had this problem with the fries last time, too. They were droopy and barely had any colour on them. I had to pop those in the air fryer, too. Unfortunately, that’s it for us. I thought the first bad experience was a fluke, but two in a row makes it a pattern.

★★★★
January 7, 2024

Went for date night with my wife.... Food was so yummy we started off with the spinach dip which was so yummy then we both had the buffalo chicken wrap. Wrap was full of flavor and was a large wrap with fries on the side which were chrispy and crunchy so yum... I had a Molson canadian pint and wife had a yummy ceaser.. I would definitely recommend this place to whom ever likes great service and yummy food...

★★★★★
February 18, 2023

We stopped by for a casual drink! I can say it’s such a great Bar! Food was incredibly delicious I had tried their Curry and Fries the sauce is a must have! They have Live music 🎼 every weekend! It’s busy and good vibes overall!!

★★★★★
December 14, 2024

Alicia will make sure you shave a night to remember, she s a soul gal, enough said

★★★★
Local Guide
December 7, 2024

Regular customer. Excellent quality food. Service efficient and friendly. No surprises.

Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Would not recommend this place. My wife and I went for a pint and a burger. The beer was flat and it was the dirty lines kinda flat, not the e d of the keg kind. They dumped my food on the table and then took about a half hour to replace my meal so of course I told my wife to eat hers. Not great...

★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Great pub for some drinks and listen to some live music.

★★★★★
November 21, 2024

Wow wow wow... Beauty staff. Goes above and beyond every time.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Visiting from BC, my coworkers and I spent a glorious night there. I certainly hope to be back

★★★★★
November 21, 2024

THIS WAS SO GOOOD, manager Tanya was such a delight, props to her. Pretty chill environments and very clean, will be revisiting.

Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Went with my gf to get a few drinks later in the evening. Women behind bar ignored us. Didnt get served. Left after 10 minutes will not be returning

★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Good lunch specials good service

★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

The mens bathroom is a mess. Theres one stall, the door handle was broken and wouldnt close/lock, the door itself was obviously kicked in, massive hole and patched with a piece of board. There was no soap. I ended up using the soap in the womens bathroom. Food was ok, service was good.

★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Some of the srvers are really great and go above and beyond others just shoukdnt be in the hospitality industry

★★★★
September 21, 2024

Stopped in for dinner, service was fast and friendly and the Prime Rib Poutine was amazing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Bartender was great friendly does far beyond her expectations would return

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Personally, I enjoy getting carried by my friends ever Tuesday night for trivia.

★★★★★
September 21, 2024

Love this place Good food great service awesome staff Food

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

Band night use to be fun. Now not so much. Seems to be all about the money. Over serving drunk customers to the point they are falling over on other Patrons and spilling drinks all over the place. Sad thing is management doesn t care he has better things to do with his time. Won t be returning I would stay away on band nights if you don t want to come home smelling like someone s beer. - Despite all of the above Helen Reached out to me and made everything right and looked in to the issue. Thank you Helen.

★★★
August 21, 2024

Beautiful interior with a true pub feel and a great name but the the menu is basic and uninspired! Its an English pub named after an English writer whose works FAMOUSLY INCLUDED FOOD IN HIS WORKS and none of that is reflected in the menu. Huge swing and a miss.

★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Typical pub with great staff!!! Decent prices considering the area. Food

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

Incredible atmosphere, wonderful service and loved the live band

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Very friendly environment, and the entertainment is amazing!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

stopped in here on my way home from the beach last night. even though it was quite late and i had never been to a bar before, my bartender was very patient and kind with me. i had not planned on coming here, so i had not looked at the menu beforehand but she was so patient with me as i figured out what i wanted before ordering my food (fish n chips) to-go. i had a drink (southern punch) while waiting on my food and it was delicious ! i usually dont drink cocktails, but it was made very well and was very yummy. while i was there, they were having an open mic night which was nice to be able to hear what the local music scene sounds like even though i didnt plan on coming here last night, i will definitely be back... maybe even for karaoke next time !

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Quick drink. Great place. Friendly staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Home town pub!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Fun place with live music and quick service.

★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Great place for a pint

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Great pub food, value for money and the service is always prompt and friendly. We visit every time were in the city. Highly recommend the spinach dip, calamari, and their Moscow Mules are stellar!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Great Food Great Service. Semi busy didnt wait long. Congrats to wait staff. Great job.

June 21, 2024

This place is ridiculous. Waiting in line for 45 minutes just to watch the bouncer allow people in that he knew people were constantly cutting the line or just completely bypassing it

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

We loved the food and the service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Thursday night karaoke was live!!! Loved it, recommend it!

★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Good band but super small

★★★★
May 21, 2024

Food, nothing special. Service ok. Great time. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

I had not been to The Disablement since Summer of 2022, my friends and I won The Trivia of the night. When we arrived, we were informed, no places to play. We asked if we could play at the Bar. Quickly three spots were setup for us, in line with a TV. Our drink orders form quickly. The staff is friendly and willing to go the extra mile. Food was good, standard pub fare, no better. The other teams didnt like us. Dont blame them as Team The Leafs Caddies, won. Remember the Name as we will return to crush all who stand in our way to becoming The Greatest Trivia Team of as all time. June Dark clouds coming for Dickens, same for England in Euro 2024. Forza Italia

May 21, 2024

Sat there for 40 minutes waiting for my order just to be told the order never went into the kitchen and it was going to take another 15-20 minutes.

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Popped in at 10am for Sunday morning breakfast and loved it.

April 21, 2024

The owner Kevin kicked me out for getting a water he is a clown the whole industry are clowns I got a water and did not have one drink but they are too focussed on allowing drunk teenagers it s illegal and I cannot believe the service and I cannot believe the unprofessional manor of the owner absolutely do not come to this bar ever

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Had a lot of fun here with my friends. Live music and nice people.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Great food and atmosphere!

April 21, 2024

Waited at our table for 30 minutes with zero service before leaving. The older lady who was supposed to be our server just ignored us and didnt seem to be helping anyone else either. I guess cutting limes was more important than actually waiting on tables...smh

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Wow! Just went here for our first time and loved it! Im sitting in the car writing this because I need a few more minutes before I get up because I am so full. I didnt want to stop eating and even had lots to take home. We started with the Kentucky Bacon Strips & Spinach Dip. The bacon was better than I imagined and had the perfect dip to go with it, I ordered an extra dip for my fries for my main course. I had the fish and my husband had the burger with onion rings, both excellent. Our server Sydney (hope I spelt that right) was amazing and on top of it even when she was getting busy on the patio before the next server was in. I worked in restaurants for 20 years so I can tell what was happening, and shes a pro! She had back up from the hostess and Im guessing he was the owner or manager, it came off as a seamless operation. He also made sure to check on our table which was great. We will be back to have more bacon, try the deep fried pickles and wings! Thanks so much for an excellent evening out, see you soon! Sarah & Matt

★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Listen, if you re bored and have nothing else better to do, then yeah come here. As long as you can handle a packed sardine can of kids on Thursdays or old heads on Saturdays as well the semi annual stench from the old building pipes, then you ll have a great weekend!

★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Food was fantastic and service was great... the restaurant was small and very tight but still a very good experience !

★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Great spot. Got the homemade chicken fingers and they were fantastic.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Thursday night karaoke here is a one of a kind visit. Great people, great service and music!! Definitely worth the visit

★★★★★
March 21, 2024

Food was awesome! Got the 2 for 1 appetizers and couldn t finish them, portions were really large for a good price! Service was fantastic, drinks were refilled without needing to ask, and the waitress checked in to make sure everything was good! I asked for the strawberry cheesecake and they said they were out, so they gave me a chocolate cake for free (which also tasted awesome!) Atmosphere was great, I will definitely be coming back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Had a great time. Band was great !

★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Came here for drinks and music and had a great time.

★★
March 21, 2024

Security guards are horrible

★★★★★
March 21, 2024

This was my first time visiting this bar. My experience was so good. Cheap beers and food is awesome. They have live music there and security guys are so awesome

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

I went to the open mic night. I saw some very good musicians, heard some wonderful original works and general great vibe! Food was awesomeness

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

Kid-friendliness: Afternoon Luncheon Specials Colouring Wheelchair accessibility: Parking Spaces Available Washroom Access Very Good and Clean

Local Guide
February 21, 2024

Not a good experience. Over serve customers. Wont go back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

This place was awesome first time there and absolutely loved it! Service was fast and fantastic the drinks were so delicious

★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

The food was delish. Stairs to bathroom left much to be desired. Definitely a trip hazard. Service laid back. Sat with empty drinks for 10 minutes....

★★★★★
February 21, 2024

Marc was a very nice and energetic server!! We had a lovely time !!

★★★★★
February 21, 2024

Had a nice time here!

★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Cool place but its over run on Thursdays with 17 year olds

★★★★★
January 21, 2024

Awesome

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Great place, love trivia night!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Loved this little pub/restaurant good food and great beer on tap

December 21, 2023

Went for a night out and it s filled with underage kids. Bartenders also only pay attention to the boys while I waited at the bar for an hour then finally order my drink and ask for one for my friend beside me and she said I can wait again Didn t tip because the service was awful and received a dirty look from the bartender when she looked at the receipt. Unsure how she thinks terrible service and a rude attitude should be rewarded but I will not be back anytime soon.

December 21, 2023

you guys are a joke, that scronny little boy at the door decides after 7 months of coming here he doesn t like my id and ruined my night he s a joke and is making it nowhere in life

★★
December 21, 2023

The food was blah. I expect more UK beer in a place called The Dickens. Not just Guiness...

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

We went for a private brunch buffet, the food was good and the staff friendly.

★★★
December 21, 2023

I understand after a long shift , you re going to be tired and not in the mood to be upbeat and polite to customers, but the miserable attitude and clear lack of care toward our group was disappointing on Tuesday night 1/31/2023. This has nothing to do with the quality of the drinks or speed of service which was great. However, I work as a server and would never even think about frowning and giving disapproving looks the way our server did to us. We were very pleasant and harmless to deal with but she made us feel like we were such a nuisance. I don t like to name names. So I ll just say we were the table sitting on the lower level by the window. If you are reading this hun, you need to work on your demeanor. I ve read through a lot of reviews on here and your description shows up several times with similar complaints to mine (I m sorry some of them body shamed you, that s not necessary). I don t wish you to lose your job, but I suggest you improve how you treat people since you are literally in an industry called hospitality . There are many people out there who would love to do your job and do it with the right attitude.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Had a drink here with a friend, I didnt try the food so I cant review that. The service was very friendly, and the atmosphere was quite nice. Ill definitely go back

December 21, 2023

The staff was friendly. The food was terrible. We were there at 5:30 so you would expect the food to be fresh for the dinner hour. We ordered 4 meals. Fish and chips, Steak Panini, Chicken Strips and Liver and onions. The Liver and onions were good but everything else was way overcooked. The the Fish, Chicken and fries were a very dark brown color, which I have seen never before. Looked like they had been refried many times. The beef in the panini was hard chips of meat. We all agreed that we would never go there again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Delicious drinks and great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good music, good food, and good atmosphere, what more could you ask.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great drinks!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Had lunch at the Dickens. Food and service was great. Recommend the buttermilk chicken coleslaw sandwich.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Had an awesome time met some really fun people. Great place

December 21, 2023

Place is busy on Thursday and the weekends and the bartenders are swamped. Alicia the bartender is rude and carry s an attitude would never go back

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Fantastic trivia on Tuesdays. Lovely downtown location. Everything else is just fine.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

I really liked the ambiance,service and the fish and chips were amazing.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

I honestly think they should turn this restaurant onto a dessert and coffee shop. My husband and I came in for brunch. I asked for cappuccino but the only choice was perculated coffee. We both had a breakfast type meal. Dead energy. No music. Likely wont come back. But I do see potential of a couple changes that could get more traffic coming in

December 21, 2023

Ridiculous Don t ever go after 9pm on a weekend Staff nice and all. But as an established professional in a group of 10+, it s only a place to be at if you re looking for a fight. Young kids hide behind the fact that adults can t retaliate and Dickens does nothing about this. Literally asked to move 2 feet. Joe Dogs will always be #1, everyone just wants to have a good time there. If you want to flex and front and pretend you re someone you re not, You ll get away with it at Dickens. If you actually want to have a great night out, Joe Dogs can t be beat.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Enjoyed the fish for lunch. The pub has a smell of old carpet or similar. Could do with sprucing up inside. A Parking: Big car park, free on weekends

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Fun Times Always !!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

small quaint pub, live music, good food and resonsible prices. bar tenders were talkative and very nice.

December 21, 2023

It is to my extreme dismay to have to write this publicly, however, I want to ensure no other minority must go through the same embarrassment as I did. On March 17th, 2023, a group of friends decided to go to this pub to end the night to celebrate St. Patrick s Day. There was a bouncer outside who is, allegedly contracted by a company to navigate the people coming in and out. A crowd of people went from one bar to this one to wrap up the night and in this group of people, there were Caucasian women and one visible minority, myself. All the Caucasian women were allowed to enter the bar, and I was stopped at the door and told to wait, even though I walked there first. The security tried to convince me that this was because they knew someone, which we knew they did not. After confirming with the other Caucasian women what we already knew, we left and, on the way, out my husband told the bouncer that it was not fair his wife was not treated equitably like the other girls. The bouncer s immediate response without knowing whom my husband was referring to was, It s not because she s black I did not let her in. When my husband called the owner the following day, he said it was unlikely he was being racist because the security guard is Indian, which is irrelevant. We waited until the end of the weekend for someone to call back after watching the camera footage and looking into the matter to follow up, but no one got back to us. They kept adamantly trying to tell my husband we were wrong; however, I do not believe you can minimize someone s discrimination to your opinion. I do not want anyone else to experience this, nor my children in my own community. This is disgusting and disgraceful for the lack of responsibility. This is deep-rooted racism at its finest in 2023, stay away from Dickens, no one deserves this.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Service is great even when busy! Ive enjoyed all the food Ive tried so far, and so have my friends. Trivia night is a lot of fun, and the players all come from different age groups (I would say its a pretty even spread). I also like that the questions arent America-centric, like some other trivia places. Ive come here with friends directly from a poor experience at another restaurant knowing it would be a good time Parking: Parking lot across the street

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

bartender was much nicer tonight

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Myself & a few friends had a lot of fun at Karaoke on Thursday night!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great atmosphere, everyone was enjoying themselves. Even the staff m security seemed to be enjoying their night. Will definitely be back

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Rude staff. Raw chicken wings. Avoid!

December 21, 2023

Very humbling experience to see 18 year olds running around here all weekend but to be a 22 year old and get id d 4 times in 20 minutes

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The chicken chilli nachos were large, but Im not sure Id get it again. Wings were pretty good...loved the flavour of the Mayday sauce but they werent very spicy. The server was super friendly and provided great service.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The staff were the worst Ive Ever seen. Rude, disrespectful, unprofessional, and overall disappointmet.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Everyone ends up at the Dickens. Its like going to a casino. Youre rolling the dice on the band, youre rolling the dice on the one terrible bartender out of 5 working, youre rolling the dice on it either being full of 19 year olds, or drunk 40+ year old dudes and 50 year old moms. But in the end, the Dickens is the Dickens, and everyone ends up there. And everyone sings with the band, and everyone has a good time.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I was just there today, had the Dickens burger and it was incredible. Its one of the best burgers Ive had. The place is clean and bright. Our server was Kayela and she was wonderful, friendly, fast, attentive and a really nice person. I will definitely be back!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Best bar to be at downtown Burlington on the weekend. There were a few girls at the bar who were being very disrespectful to a server as many customers witnessed, however, the server handled it wonderfully! Although I can t remember her name, the server with black and red hair was nothing but pleasant. Very kind and ensured we were well taken care of. Really looking forward to returning!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Love The Dickens! Staff are friendly, quick and always very accommodating.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food looks fine until we find hair in the seasor sald, and then our appetite is ruined.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The staff was very friendly but NOT the manager . The food it seems good till I found hair in my Ceasars salad and its ruined the whole thing. The lovely waitress apologized but NOT the manager . The toilet disgusting and not clean at all

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Really fun spot, staff are very bicycle friendly, kind and attentive. Ive only been for breakfast, but its a spot Ive come back to twice now because its that good:)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

First time we went to the Dickens for an after dinner drink. Loved the live music.. the cover band was absolutely amazing. Playing old rock. Really enjoyed it. Crowd was mixed, mainly 20 somethings. Overall great experience. There was a line up when we left around 11:30pm/12:00am. Definitely a hot spot.

December 21, 2023

Located in a charming village square is all this location has going for it. Local to Burlington, we are rarely disappointed with the options and service our beautiful city has to offer. I can only speak to my dish that I ordered, Moroccan Lamb Wrap which is described as house blend of North African Spiced ground pork and lamb wrapped in a tortilla with spring mix, tomatoes, onions and Tzatziki sauce and swiss cheese at $26.45 is actually a dried up patty that tastes like a frozen vegetarian patty you get from a box, warmed up and put in a wrap. I would have to say, this is the worst meal I have ever had. The Dickens should be ashamed they even have this on the menu at this price. Before ordering, I asked the waiter for her feedback and she said it was one of the popular dishes which I DO NOT BELIEVE. So disappointing and I hope this review helps others with their selection. Also, your glasses are dirty and need a good wash.

December 21, 2023

Rude man/ manager in a pink polo extremely aggressively and rudely threw a drink on to the street whilst I was checking on my little sister. Hostile and bad hospitality. No concern for welfare of young women.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Very rude lady or server. No manners how to talk. Learn how to work in restaurant first.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I was at the SOM and I popped in the Dickens. I was pleasantly surprised on how busy they were. The manager, I had the pleasure of speaking to as I watched her hit every table on the patio. She was so pleasant and smiling which is nice to see considering how busy they were. Staff were also good and wow the food. Well done I d say. I sure will return.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

My wife and I were at the Som and stopped in the Dickens. What a time, the food and the manager were awesome. She was all over talking to customers on the patio with a smile on her face. Nice time, we will return.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The band is very good this evening!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good place for a drink (hahaha). Great location in downtown burlington close to the lake. Live band that played a good mix of old and new music. Can get real busy at times. But night was fun. Service : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great food and amazing services Naomi was great host. Food

December 21, 2023

update: waited 3 hours, they don t let people in. i am still in line. i ve been at the front for an hour now. they don t keep track of who comes in and goes out. random people were let in. THEY JUST SAID THEY ARENT LETTING PEOPLE IN

December 21, 2023

Waited in line for two hours while friends were leaving because it was so empty inside. Left the line before going in because security was so incompetent. Get security who can actually handle a crowd next time lol. Also - have had experiences in the past with bartenders being ridiculously rude. As someone who works in a restaurant I have to say that watching a bartender yell NO TIP at guest rubs me the wrong way. I wouldn t tip either for the attitude that they give.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I was a bouncer there and the staff and food is excellent ty guys tom

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Oh my god i have to say this place ROCKS but its all because of Naomi !!! We came in and asked for the most obscure and complicated drink and she NAILED it! i cannot recommend her and this place enough. She made our night and I m so excited to come here again just for her amazing bartending skills Also shout out to Ar for writing this

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

The chef came out to chat with us and gave us a free cinnamon bun. Great service

December 21, 2023

I went with my g1 valid drivers license. And was not let in with the bouncer saying this is not a valid drivers license . My g1 works everywhere in toronto, port credit never had an issue with it. Do not go here with your g1!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Karaoke on Thursdays

December 21, 2023

unless you have 2 forms of id don t even try. They said my g licence was fake with no explanation as to why. where do you find these people? and said I had to wait in line again if I went home to grab another form of id. Frustrating when I could count more than 10 people on the patio who were under age and the girl behind me who was in fact underage with only one form of id. They need to swipe the cards or have a better system. Saw a cop on our walk back to the car and for jokes asked if my id was fake. They said it was real so hmmmmmmm. I also just turned 19 last week and this was my first night out, sad that the drive home was the best part.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good vibes

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Rowdy

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I just want to say I stopped in late and as a server and former long time bartender i was taken back by the way customers treated the two ladies at bar when I first walked in. Asking for a drink and telling them the ingredients like they dont do this for a living. Naomi & Shivon were nothing but completely hospitable, and kind during all interactions. This place does have an amazing atmosphere, and brings in great life from what Ive seen from time to time. Definitely recommend. Have not tried the food, but I also always come too late due to also being in the industry. Be kind to your servers! And tip well

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great for live music Friday and Saturday eves

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Ive been going weekly for pub trivia. The trivia is great. It food is consistently bad. Up until this week it would describe the offerings as unimpressive. But this week fries undercooked. Nachos were undercooked, cold topping soggy chips and very expensive. Im going to find a new place to go to trivia.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Cool spot. Good poutine. Friendly service that may stick their nose a little too far into others business (saw them keep calling the other restaurant/bar to make sure patrons weren t served). I have this radical belief that the waiters/bartenders can make their own judgement, wild right? Edit- I realized after making this review I grew up in a free country in a freer state(South Carolina). These poor young girls probably don t know what freedom is and have always been told to do as they did. Sad situation, but what can ya expect with Fidel s son running a country.

December 21, 2023

Tried to go to the Dickens with a group of friends and they wouldn t let one of them in because he was from a different province and did not have an Ontario ID, he had 2 pieces of ID as well. I have been out of province and my ID was always accepted without question. We were happy to take our business elsewhere. When we called to ask about this policy we were hung up on. Overall we were extremely disappointed in our experience tonight and will not be coming back.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Does not accept foreign IDs written in English from tourists that are clearly over 40. Needs to be shut down by police for racism.

December 21, 2023

The curry fries were so gross

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Stopped in for lunch mid week. Fish and chips was good. Service was excellent. Thanks Keily. They are lucky to have you.

December 21, 2023

waited an hour after being told a 5 min wait while watching 10 groups exit the bar, since they got new security it s been a horrible experience

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The bartenders couldnt be more distant. They choose to ignore you, even when show you have cash or/debit. Worst ever. Been tolerating the two ladies for years and weve had enough. No more.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

The Dickens is awesome and Alicia & Sydney are the best bartenders in town!!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Very cool pub in downtown Burlington. The drinks are great,food delicious and fun entertainment. I m going to check out karaoke tonight. Hopefully nobody chokes on their wings when I sing!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Attended the Dickens on Friday Oct 13! What a night. There was an excellent classic rock band there and the atmosphere was terrific. Lots of dancing on the floor, bar staff were busy yet attentive to everyone. My first time back to the area in over 10 years and our group of 8 guys had a blast all night. Thanks for the great entertainment!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Food was good but it is a little shabby

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

friendly place

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

I recently visited The Dicken in Burlington, arriving just past the stroke of 11 PM on a bustling Friday night. The atmosphere was charged with energy, the crowd a diverse tapestry of ages and backgrounds, adding to the establishments dynamic character. While the thrum of activity made for excellent people-watching, the live bands performance that night fell short of enhancing the ambiance for me. If youre hoping to engage in conversation, the volume levels might not be on your side, but its the perfect backdrop for those who prefer to soak in the scene with a drink in hand. In terms of service and offerings, The Dicken holds its own. The selection of beers and cocktails is robust, catering well to those looking to unwind with a pleasant crowd and some good times. All in all, The Dicken earns a respectable 3.5 stars. Its worth dropping by if youre in search of a lively night scene in Burlington, just be prepared for more of a visual and auditory experience rather than a chat-friendly venue.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good spot for a pint with friends or a relaxed night with the other half

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Pub atmosphere with friendly staff only had a drink there but the waitress was very nice and offered us wristbands to come back later in the evening when things picked up. Unfortunately we didn t make it back.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

I experienced horrific service at the Dickens last night. I was there with a small group of people. I had left my full beer on a high top table near my fiancee and friends while I went to use the washroom. When I returned, my friends had moved from that spot and a girl came up to me and told me that she thought she saw someone put something in my drink. I went to the bar and told the bartender what had happened and asked if she could replace my beer (which was completely full). She tossed it and then proceeded to hand me the credit card machine. I fully expected that my drink would have been replaced at no cost given the circumstances. When I told the bartender this, she took the beer away from me and proceeded to ignore me. My fiancee, after speaking to both the bartenders and security, then asked to speak to the manager, who instead of trying to rectify the situation was extremely rude and unhelpful and told my fiancee that he needed to leave the bar. I didnt even really care about the cost of a new drink, it was more how we were treated that was so mind-blowing. The Dickens staff and manager that we dealt with clearly do not care about the safety of their patrons. The situation was so poorly handled, it was disgraceful. Management and staff are in serious need of some training.

★★
December 21, 2023

Went for late lunch, only 3 regulars at the bar. Girl came over got our beer and food order right away. 3 more regulars came in and service stopped. Sat with an empty beer for 5 minutes so figured lunch was over. Been to other B Social restaurants Southcote and District, they had their regulars but bartender was able to focus on others.

★★★★
December 21, 2023

The four stars is not reflection on the food or the service by bartender Kylie (spelling?). We came to look at the space last Friday for an event in the New Year. Kylie was very apparently serving everyone sitting at the bar and everyone in the dining room. She was kind, friendly, personable and tried to answer as many questions as she could about booking the space. She also provided us with the event planner, Ericas number so we could connect with her. We had already been in contact with Erica, however, that was above and beyond on Kylies part. Kylie was pouring drinks, running food and taking orders. By herself. In a very efficient manner I might add. Review for Kylie is FIVE STARS ALL AROUND. However, there was a man standing around for most of the time we were there. He appeared to be the owner or more possibly the Manager? He stood around leaning on the bar counter or standing and just watching Kylie run around the pub on her own. At one point, we saw Kylie request that he run food for one of her tables, which he obliged. This is the only task he appeared to perform to assist his staff. He approached our table while I was mid-bite and my colleague had finished and asked how our food was. She answered him and he walked away without clearing her empty plate. I have never seen a manager operate like this after working as a server in the hospitality industry for 15 years. Serving 101, full hands out and full hands in. How is a manager ok with standing around and watching an employee bust her behind to make sure the customers are served and happy? And then leaving an empty plate on the table and walking away. Deplorable. Im assuming it was a manager and not the Owner, as every Owner I have worked with is in the trenches with the servers, expo and hostesses to ensure a great experience for guests. Please pass our kudos along to Kylie. She was absolutely phenomenal and we will request her for our event if we book.

★★★
December 21, 2023

Its been years since Ive been to the Dickens. It was ok but not outstanding. They used to have the fireplace on, on cold grey days, but maybe they dont do that anymore. The food was ok, but nothing spectacular. Good atmosphere would help make up for the mediocre food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Friendly staff, and they didnt mind us sitting there for hours catching up.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Wow! Loud and lively! Had to order beers at the bar, friendly people. Stayed for one quick drink. Would stop again.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

nice patio and live music on Fridays

Local Guide
December 21, 2022

This place was too loud, too crowded, and a disaster. Definitely not a fun place to be, you cant even hear yourself think let alone hear the people you are with. I do not recommend going here on the weekend. Learn to set limits to the amount of people you let in to your establishment to keep it a good experience. No one likes being bumped into every 5min repeatedly. Also, good luck getting a drink at the bar the line is way too long. Never going back there.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Stopped here for some brunch in the middle of a bike ride. It was quite a cold day. The lady offered to bring the bikes in so we could be sat inside to avoid the cold. The staff were all so nice, food was great!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Excellent nachos and the beer was cold - cant ask for more! Also, good prices, which is becoming rarer these days.

December 21, 2022

Servers are rude, go on a deal night. 15% is all they deserve plus you walk away with a deal

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Had an amazing time, it was the first time I had ever been. Service was great I had a super friendly waitress...very attentive. Food was great, so much selection..I wanted to eat most of the menu. I ordered some food to take home for the next day. Lol Cannot wait to go back again

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Alicia and Kendra are the only reason we go to the dickens

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

We had an awesome time. We actually were there on customer appreciation night. They had live music and prizes for draws. Great service and delicious food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great place for a drink with friends. They have live music and open mic evenings and a great selection of tap beers.