280 Van Wagners Beach Rd, Hamilton, ON L8E 3L8, Canada
Fish 'n' chips, hamburgers, hot dogs & milkshakes in a casual lakeside stop open since 1946.
This place is all about the vibes. It’s feels like you’re at a diner 40 years in the past. Great views of the lake. Food is pretty mid. Chicken fingers tasted like frozen packaged food you’d get at the grocery store. Staff were very pleasant!
A classic vintage restaurant perfectly lined up with the beach, giving barrier free views to the beach and the CN too on clear days! Freshly fried food with generous portions, and delicious fried fish, shrimps, coleslaw, and huge onion rings. To top it up is a hot fudge brownie with a legit cherry on the top! Don't miss the foosball and jukebox! Highly recommended if in the area!
I live in Toronto and regularly make Hutches a day trip. It's that good. The place has an authentic charm that I haven't seen in years. Portions are generous and the food wonderful. The latest additions of vegan friendly burgers has NOT gone unnoticed. The view is absolutely breathtaking.
First, they do not have table service. Second, it is not fast food. I'd say it took us a good 20 mins to get our food. We had the chili poutine and foot long hotdog. All very good. The location is great, right on the water. You can watch wind surfers . They also serve ice cream.
Stopped in for lunch and I can see why this place is such a popular spot! I got the cheeseburger with everything on it and a side of fries. The portions for the fries are very generous and they’re almost like fry nubs, if that make sense. The burger was just fine to me. Based on what I saw others ordering seems like the fried fish is definitely the more popular option here. The one thing I did really really love was the ice cream that they scoop, which is right around the corner from the main food ordering area. They had easily over 25 options to choose from and it was the toughest decision I had to make today lol! Definitely would stop by again to try other things on the menu because the prices were very reasonable and considering how busy they were the wait time was not bad at all. Nice view of the lake as well right outside.
Enjoyed our lunch here. Fish & Chips was very good, authentic. Onion rings were good too. Had to queue to order food, but it was not too long a wait. Nice vibe in the restaurant, very 70s ‘Happy Days’ feel. Crowded. Could see Lake Ontario from our seats. Will be our stop next time on route to Niagara!
Was told that this place has a great burger but when I asked the the cashier they're known for their fish and chips so I had some fish and some chips. The only thing that turns me off about fish and chip shops is when their specialty is fish and chips and they don't make their own tartar sauce. Overall, the fries were good. The fish was very good. We went to the back for some ice cream and that was fantastic. I got Grandma's cupboard or something like that. I would drive back just to try that ice cream again. Just make your own tartar sauce. Thanks for watching
This is such a cool place. The decor and atmosphere are the best. It was very busy, but they got us through the line quickly. It did take a little bit of time to get the food, but there was a lot of people there there. There is plenty of seating. We enjoyed a variety of menu items and they were all very good. I also love that it was right next to the beach, with a great view of Lake Ontario.
Always spot on for quality, freshness, and price.
Hutches is legendary. We know that, but the fish is not the same anymore. I dont know if its just me, but that fish is so GREASY. And its all batter, bland, and barely any fish. Its like eating fried batter dripping in, grease. Its time Hutches gets a new spin on how to fry fish. And change their oil more frequently. Food : 1/5
Only place I go for fish and chips,, at least once a month,, date night with wifey,, will update when I try more dishes,, old school diner with tons of retro decor,, Ice cream is located in the back,, Keep it up guys!!
A Hamilton institution. Old time Fish and chips and so much more. They support the entire community and deserve ours as well Kid-friendliness: Kids are always welcome
This place has been a staple on the beach for many many years, the whole experience is what makes it great! Sometimes there is a wait, sometimes the staff is over worked and exhausted, but squeezing into a booth and eating fish and chips is a local pilgrimage. Parking: Large lot but most of it is shared with beach users so during Summer it can be a distance to walk to restaurant.
Loved it.
Excellent
Atmosphere very nice but fish was a bit bland
Thick batter on the fish that is not cooked enough
Nostalgic with a great view
Old style diner. Good fast food for a decent price.
Been going here for decades food always great staff are pleasant my grandchildren love the video section & view of lake Ontario also table top jutebox
The fries smell heavenly
We went in November, clearly in the office season and this place was still BUSY. I cant imagine summertime. This was a perfect little place to eat on our road trip from Toronto to Philadelphia. The food was great, high quality, not insanely expensive. Highly recommend.
We popped in here on 11/23/2024 around 6:00 P.M. it was relatively not busy as usual. Plenty of parking and there was plenty of room in dining areas (back & front areas). We decided to order the large Fish & Chips, with an order of coleslaw. (With an extra plate & plastic cutlery). The cook Hutch s had on this night in the kitchen, definitely knew how to cook (sometimes you get burnt, under cooked) Fish & Chips, but this chef should be commended. The whole meal was perfect, cooked to perfection and huge generous size of fish and an over abundance of fries (took some home) in doggie box. Coleslaw was nice and creamy too, just enough mayo in it, with shreds of carrots finely grated up. Kudos to Hutch s on this evening, keep up the consistency of excellent product and you ll bring in more customers IMO. Very enjoyable dinner this evening at a very reasonable prices. Parking: On this day, we have two disability plates and had no problem finding a spot in one of many disability parking spots on the large parking lot. Kid-friendliness: Yes many children were there with their parents.
Ordered fish and chips. The batter was not fully cooked (large pockets of raw gel like batter), and the oil tasted burnt (noticed by others at the table but to a lower degree). While the staff was quick to replace it, there was still a bit of burnt oil flavour and traces of raw batter (still much better). The fries could ve use more salt. Portions were too big, nearly none of could finish it. Would ve liked to see less resources going into portions, and more into quality control. The ambiance was great, eating areas were clean, and the service was very quick and prompt to respond to errors.
Juke box out of order so missing some atmosphere. Chips were great, fish a little grease but best chocolate milkshake!!
Brilliant old school joint with views of the lake. Generous portions of fries which are the draw I think. Just fun!
Really loved everything about our experience coming to Hutchs for the first time. Our order took about 10 minutes to be ready, the view was amazing while we ate, the portions were super generous for the price and we thought the food was delicious! My husband and I split a large fish & chips and had coleslaw and we left feeling very satisfied. The inside retro charm is awesome and everything was clean. Staff was friendly and Id really be happy to come back for another meal.
Authentic place, with traditional American culture, almost 80 years old. Huge portions and delicious milkshake, consider the size before ordering, we left all the potatoes
This is a great place to stop in for a couple cheeseburgers. Booths line the back wall. All with a good view of Lake Ontario. Kid-friendliness: Ice cream available during the summer months.
Havent gone here since COVID. And since I got sick Did not disappoint once again. Beautiful place to eat with a great view Food : 5/5
Too greasy!! Gone down hill since the 70 s
Great foods
Ordered cheeseburger and fries for me and my husband. The fries were great but the cheeseburger was so dry and seemed not fresh. We both developed stomach pains so I would say it was that cheeseburger. Wont eat here again.
This is our go to place for fish and chips. The service us always good with great food
Hutchs on the Beach is a good place for families with kids. As a diner along the beach, you can wind down after a long bike ride and enjoy various ice cream cone options. Offering burgers, fish and chips, smoothies, and fries. Its a cheaper alternative to other restaurants found along the beach. Inside, youll be greeted by a vast amount of seating options. Even sporting a few arcade games for the kids; The atmosphere can sometimes be too loud and undesirable. However, its not for the atmosphere that you go for, its for the cheap and filling food that makes hutchs well worth your time.
I knew this place from many years ago & had such good memories of being at the beach & dropping into Hutchs for a casual bite to eat. Food was good. This day I met up with a friend to walk the boardwalk & ended up introducing her to Hutchs by getting a hot chocolate. Such a casual, friendly atmosphere, with booths like the olde days. Lge parking lot..right on the beach.. washroom clean. No complaints. My friend said shell bring her husband - she recently moved nearby. Kid-friendliness: Very casual atmosphere...beach style. Always lots of kids, very happy there.
Fries! Get the fries! My dad has been going here for 70+ years. Its the greatest and worth the drive!
GREAT just like I remember
Delicious as usual - yummy fish & chips - freshy cut fries & nicely battered haddock!
Great place. View of the lake is awesome. Food was good and staff friendly
The first time I tried Hutchs was on the beach in the original location in 1972 and I was hooked on their fish and chips on the first visit. This present location is great when its not busy but can have quite a wait at peak times in the summer. I find the food is better when its not busy, when they are busy the kitchen is probably a bit overwhelmed. If you want to try for the first time try to visit in a quieter time. Other than that they are pretty consistent.
Excellent fish and chips with an amazing view of the lake.
This place is a gem. A great diner close to the beach/waterfront. Lots of booths with views of Toronto. The food is good and exactly what you d expect from a 50s style diner. Cheeseburger and root beer is the way to go.
Love it just cant eat it anymore too much grease for this old girl
They have the best French fries.
Had a longish wait for my food, but it was definitely worth it. (Wait was from the number of customers, not slow service) great atmosphere and amazing food!
Goo price good food
It is a great dinner, right on the water
I think they need to make some changes to their fries. Too big too dry once re dipped in the vat.
great burgers..
Fish and chips are good, portion is huge. Had a burger here once but it was just ok. The fish and chips is where its at for more. Oh and the decor is interesting, seems like a lot of history
The fish and chips are amazing!
Great fish and chips since before I was born. Love going there and the scenery isnt bad either.
The chocolate sundae ice cream was great!!!
The fish is awesome. The view amazing.
Excellent Fish and Chips
Always excellent
Best fish and chips ever
The food was excellent. We also had ice cream for dessert and it was wonderful.
Fish is super oily, and seating is a challenge if you want to sit indoors. Really, just okay for an occasional visit.
Fish under cooked fries under cooked, both greasy.
Fantastic place that always has great food and decent portions. We love going there Kid-friendliness: Lots of variety in kids meals
Hutchs is a Hamilton tradition, with a real Canadian family atmosphere, and a priceless view of Lake Ontario. My wife and I love Hutchs. Do come, youll enjoy it.
Parking: Lots of space in front and public parking nearby Kid-friendliness: Small kid sized portions available and pinball machines Food : 5/5 |
I heard about this awesome place the food was great...Wow thats a load of Croc fish batter hard as rock...fries half cooked..they got order all wrong No vinegar or tarter no folks an I got to my car the door was lock at this place..so called back told him what happen..he was one of those I really dont care person..food inspection needs to close that dirty place down..
We went on our way home from a festival as a treat. All aspects were excellent.
You can never ever go wrong with stopping by at a classic like hutchs! Good food, good views! I do really really wish they would put the juke boxes back in though.
Unlike the last time we ate here (years ago), the food was a tad disappointing, bland undercooked batter, unsalted fries, and unseasoned fish, but with enough ketchup its ok. The staff were absolutely lovely however, helpful, and the food wasnt a long wait. The atmosphere is fun with an awesome retro aesthetic! We may come back in the future pending other reviews.
Love this historic fun restaurant always packed though and busy . Show up early 30-45 mins before u want to eat .
Amazing food, always super delicious. Fun family environment, staff is always friendly & happy. Prices are super good for the portions you get! A family favourite! Kid-friendliness: Family environment. Kids meals are very well priced and they get a good amount of good. Lots of options for kids meals too!!
Food is good, just slow
By far the best fish and chips in Ontario. Tradition of going here started when my 80 year old grandmother went here as a child. Go once a month and am never disappointed. Hutchs for life!
The food was terrible to say the least. The hamburgers are a low grade quality of frozen patties, the fries were under cooked. The ice cream was good.
Fish and chips of course
I love their fish and chips and the sauce is amazing. Sea view is nxt level
Great nostalgic spot on the lake for fish & chips, ice cream etc. Fun spot we stop at usually yearly. Parking: A few handicap spots. Lots of parking however it can get busy so a bit of a walk. Walking/biking path behind restaurant and long Burlington bay and Hamilton beaches look nice. Kid-friendliness: Lots of kids at the restaurant and beach areas. Wheelchair accessibility: Restaurant is on ground level with handicapped parking.
We like To go there for the ice cream.
Their icecreams are so amazing
Fun location for family time, which helps with the wait. This place is super busy, always seems to have a line up. The beach is accessible and they have a loudspeaker announcing order numbers, so its possible to enjoy the beach while waiting. The wait can be up to an hour on peak times, but if youre keeping busy at the beach, its tolerable. Inside the restaurant, theres a lot of seating, but a lot of people, so its challenging. The food itself is pretty good. No gluten free options, but they will wrap your hamburger in lettuce if you like. Theres also a place for ice cream in the back of the restaurant. Dietary restrictions: No gluten free buns.
Waited for ever , food was not good at all . Fries under cooked, fish greasy! Did not enjoy at all. Ice cream was amazing!
Hutches is a very well-known spot for their fish and chips for good reasons! They are amazing! They have various other options for those who are not the fish and chips type, such as burgers. The atmosphere has an old-school vibe to it and would feel comfortable wearing beach type attire with a cover-up shorts and Ts. Dont expect fancy dining. Food order numbers are called over a speaker, and you go pick up your food at the counter. The location is amazing right off of Wagners Beach, which has a long walking path next to the water to work off that dinner before heading back to the water! Hands down... it the best fish and chip place around. 2 peice fish with fries and a drink will run around $20 Kid-friendliness: Kids friendly for sure! Wheelchair accessibility: Seems to be fairly wheelchair accessible.
A Hamilton fixture thats alive and well after 70+ years, retaining some of the 50s diner charm, classic fish n chips type of joint.
Insanely huge portions, freshly made. Consider splitting one with your friend or partner
Great fish and chips and many varieties of ice cream, all with beach views.
Good burgers
Although the wait is always worth it, expect to wait at least a half hour give or take because in the swing of summer they get super busy but the wait is again, worth it! They need a new system of how people line up for ordering and line up for food though just mass of people all over waiting for numbers to be called. Other than that it s a pretty great summer spot. Parking: Because it s part of the beach the spots get filled up pretty fast everywhere. Kid-friendliness: It s a family restaurant. Lots of kids around in there and families. Wheelchair accessibility: No stairs at all to go inside but also don t think I seen a wheelchair button but I m sure someone will gladly hold the door if needed.
Great food and atmosphere Parking: On a summer weekend, parking can be at a premium, but its worth it Kid-friendliness: Ice cream stand, and a couple of arcade games, plus right on the beach make Hutchs a kid friendly spot
I Love Hutchs on the Beach!!! It has tasty grill food & amazing Ice Cream! The view is gorgeous!! Its like going on a holiday without the expense The history of this location Drew me here. The people & the vibe keep me coming back.
Great view of Lake Ontario, and you can see Toronto across the lake.
Food is always good. Staff is friendly and fun place to eat in or out. Bathroom is a bit dated and not easy to find. Too many signs.
Best ice cream in Hamton Ontario.
Best fish and chips in Canada and the price IS PERFECT.
Ways a great spot to enjoy some fish and chips by the water. I have been coming here since I was a kid!
Delicious food! I would love to go back one day there.
Grease pit awful food
Our fish and chips was excellent and with minimal to no grease
One of my favorite places for fish and chips!!
Love hutches. Such a staple in Hamilton. Great food, ice cream, wonderful view. Nothing to complain about
Always a great customer service at this restaurant the staffs are amazing
Institution
A Hamilton classic. Best fish and chips in the city (perhaps province). Massive portions and always fresh.
Good place for lunch.
The fish was too oily, spent half the night up trying to digest it!
I couldn t eat it, no tasty, no salt, terrible interior. The main plus is the view of the lake. I dont know how people eat this.
Gotta love when the server in the black shirt, black hair and braces at the front at approximately 4 PM on Sunday, who is apparently staying until 7 PM bc someone called in sick, rolls her eyes when a customer asks a question :)
Took family on Sep 14/24 for dinner. Very disappointed. Shrimp was so flat. French Fries had no flavor and not impressed with small plates. Fish was overcooked.
The wait was not too bad. The service ordering was good but our fish was tough because there was a mishap in the kitchen. Where 2 orders were wrong. I watched as the fish fryer kept putting the fish back in the fryer as our order was detained a bit. I felt bad for the people that had to wait longer for their orders because things were missing.
Best place to go for Fish and chips
Best fish and chips!
Subpar poutine. Had brought my beautiful girlfriend to this establishment with the intentions of getting mildly edible food, was left highly diss appointed when my SOUP, should I say poutine was served highly lukewarm & watery, cheese curds we re not up to par and could ve made at home saving myself the 30 minutes. Chicken tenders were lowkey fire tho.
The food is delicious and the ice cream is delicious.
Im really not a big fan of complaining on these sites! I dont really have anything big to complain , other than the fact that theyre not wrapping the fish in newspaper anymore! It was super oily Im bringing it home so I can hopefully get some of the oil out. They did initially mess up our order and gave us an extra order of chicken fingers and fries. They very quickly rectified that though and told us to keep the ones that they gave us by accident. Please hutches you need to start doing this again!
Pretty disappointed in my food yesterday. 3 out of the 4 pieces of fish were greasy & had far too much batter on them that was raw & gummy in spots. Fries werent cooked long enough. In the past Ive been happy with the food here; not this time. Unlikely to go back.
Like the vintage vibe!
The food was ok. Convenient location if you are walking along the beach in Hamilton. Cafeteria style ordering. Good selection.
Great location and the food was ready pretty fast considering how incredibly busy it was. Fish was good, chips were underdone but still pretty good for beach food. No lemon provided with the fish.
Great quality, quantity and value. Were hooked on the fish & chip. The location and views are great also.
Just heard about it and dropped by. I was not disappointed. Loved that it was on the beach!
Great place to eat. The fish is the best Ive had in a longtime.
Dont order online. The 3pm pick up time was available for my order submission at 2:35pm. I showed up at 3:05pm, confirmed they had my order, which they informed me would take a few more minutes - the girl behind the counter visibly rolled her eyes, but I ignored it. By 3:25pm we reapproached the girl behind thr counter to inquire. We were informed that the order wasnt scheduled for pick up until 3:20pm (? But at 3:05pm they told me it would only be a few more minutes..) The SAME GIRL this time rolled her eyes AGAIN. Unbelievable. I thought considering we patiently wait for an extra 20 minutes, it was a fair inquiry. Not pleased with this visit.
Good ol Hamilton staple. Can get real busy around meal times or weekends, so expect a line-up for ice cream or some hamburgers. But besides the wait, you get what you paid for. Can pass the time quickly checking out the history of hamilton/Hutchs by strolling around the restaurant. Other things like go karts, a splash pad for the kiddies and a nicely paved walkway to take a stroll along the beach.
Nice local establishment with a beautiful view. I loved the fish and chips! Even during a busy time the wait time wasn t long.
Fish and chips are good here. Portions are decent. Friendly staff. Many flavours of ice cream too. Right on the beach. Gets super busy at times. Definitely recommend.
Old time burger stand on the beach burgers are good fries are ok fish&chips are good Parking: Lots of parking if the lot is full in front of the building check the parking lot beside Hutch s
Need to clean up around the building crowded messy and ill maintained.
A true Hamilton classic.
Food sucked. Fries were soggy and gross.
Food is good but lines are bigger.
Great fish and homemade fries. Awesome food. Very busy place.
Hamilton historic - a homage to cholesterol!
Food - 4/5 - I have been to Hutchs many of times, and they consistently serve good food. I thoroughly enjoy their fresh cut fries and milkshakes. I have had fish a few times and it never disappoints. Food doesnt give me the wow factor yet to give it a 5 star. Service - 4/5 - For the most part everything is self serve. Upon entering the restaurant you walk to the counter to order. After ordering you sit, and wait for your order number to be called. When called you pick your food up. Tables appear to be cleaned quickly, but service again lacks the wow factor to give a 5 star review. But, then again you dont usually come to Hutchs for the service. Atmosphere - Maybe an area I am a bit biased in because I love the old diner atmosphere. Hutchs definitely get the 5 star for the amazing view of the beach while you enjoy your fish and chips. The only thing that would top it off is if you replaced windows with garage doors and opened them up on a nice day. Overall - I definitely suggest checking out Hutchs if you are in the area. A great place to go for good food, a walk along the beach, or to enjoy an ice cream cone. I will continue to visit when I come to the area. Parking: Large parking lot available. Can be very busy as it is shared with the beach and possibly other businesses. Wheelchair accessibility: The premises is accessible by wheel chair and there seems to be enough room to navigate where needed. The only struggle would be if it is really busy like it likes to get.
The service was fine, its always busy there, I enjoy better when I eat my food close to the window,because I can see the lake ,its so nice to see the landscape and its relaxing.
Casual and friendly, most importantly waterfront
Kid-friendliness: Yes Food
Used to love coming here. Two times in a row now our fries werent fully cooked. Cant go wrong with ice cream though. Parking: Lots of spots along the beach.
Great food, great service, great location.
Only had fries and icecream, its always packed in there!
Food is absolutely amazing. The staff are efficient and polite. The atmosphere is dated but that s part of the charm of this historic restaurant!
The fish and chips were good as usual.
Old style diner, beachside. Great selection of ice cream flavours
The service is good. However, the poutine was undercooked...
Took my kid for his first time, and its different than I remember it, but still excellent. Will definitely come back again sooner rather than later!
So disgustingly greasy and delicious! This is a place you love to eat but you body hates you for it :) Usually a bit of a wait, but you cant beat some fresh fish and chips for dinner, or a delicious ice cream on a hot day.
We were at Hutchs at lunch time today. Very busy. Weve been going there for about 65 years; todays food was as good as its ever been. A very pleasant experience, and a bit of a surprise after all this time.
Bad food. Thats all I need to say.
Food was great...prices ate affordable..will be back