Wild Orchid Restaurant Downtown Hamilton in Hamilton

286 James St N, Hamilton, ON L8R 2L3, Canada

★★★★☆
(599 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant Cafe Portuguese restaurant Seafood restaurant Steak house

About

The Best Restaurant Downtown Hamilton with Patio has offered since 1996, awarded “Best Seafood Restaurant on James St” in Hamilton, admired as a cozy Steakhouse Restaurants in Downtown Hamilton for its mouth watering varieties of various meats. And it is an authentic Portuguese Restaurant in Hamilton. Come and enjoy fabulous cuisines in a warm atmosphere.

Website
wildorchidrestaurant.ca
Address
286 James St N, Hamilton, ON L8R 2L3, Canada
Plus Code
747M+CJ Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
5–9:30 PM
Thursday
5–9:30 PM
Friday
12–11 PM
Saturday
12–11 PM
Sunday
12–7 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Great cocktails
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Paid parking lot Paid street parking Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.1
★★★★☆
599 reviews

Most Mentioned

portuguese food (61) patio (27) sangria (26) calamari (25) rabbit (18) mussels (14) appetizer (14) piri piri (9) beef a casa (8) seafood rice (6)
5 stars
336
4 stars
135
3 stars
47
2 stars
31
1 stars
50
★★★★
September 15, 2024

We had the pleasure of visiting this lively spot during the Super Brawl Festival, and it quickly became one of our favorite stops. In a sea of festival vendors, this place stood out for offering affordable drinks and food without compromising on quality—a rarity during such events. We indulged in tequila shots, priced at an incredibly reasonable $6 each, as well as some classic rum and coke and vodka with juice, both priced at $12. The drink options were both budget-friendly and well-mixed, which added to the overall experience. To accompany our drinks, we ordered their fish and chips, and it was a pleasant surprise—crispy, flavorful, and satisfying, making it one of the highlights of the day. Located on prime real estate on James Street, right in the heart of the Super Brawl festivities, this spot offers great convenience. Whether you’re watching the action unfold or just soaking in the festival atmosphere, grabbing a seat on their patio elevates the experience. The outdoor setting is perfect for people-watching while sipping on your drink of choice. The only area where this place could improve is cleanliness. The tables felt a bit sticky, and while it didn’t ruin the experience, a little more attention to tidying up would make a big difference. Overall, it’s a fantastic place to enjoy affordable drinks, good food, and prime festival vibes. With a bit more attention to cleanliness, it could easily become a top spot for festival-goers.

★★
September 14, 2024

Not happy. I waited in line outside while being ignored until I finally asked to order for take out just to be told to order at the bar. The person working the bar didn't seem interested in taking my order. After I finally got it in I waited about 40+ minutes to get my food. I ordered the piri piri chicken poutine and the piri chicken salad. I was overcharged. When I got home I realized I got the wrong order. No poutine. Chicken thighs and side of fries. The salad doesn't have much chicken on it nor vegetables.... So I paid $15+ for salad?? What the hell!! I know not to bother calling them since when I was waiting for my food I overheard them saying that they don't answer the phone! Every plate that went out to a table looked great, I guess they don't care about to go orders. The waitresses all seemed slow and confused about tables and what needed to be done where. That was my first time there and I won't be going back. What a waste of time.

★★★★★
June 1, 2024

Excellent place for friends get together! Food tastes great, employees with sense of humor😄 [by the way…my friend put the candle ornament on the floor, we didn’t take it back to home😆]

★★★★★
May 18, 2024

Ten years ago, when I first stepped into this restaurant, I was a high school student new to Canada. Holding my first paycheck, I found myself in this Portuguese restaurant, staring at a menu I couldn't quite comprehend. The waiter at the time recommended the Spanish seafood rice, and I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors. A decade later, passing through Hamilton, I revisited this restaurant, instantly transported back to my high school days, even the prices. The food here is definitely worth the cost, and the chef's skill is exceptional. Today, I ordered the seafood rice, fried squid, and charcoal-grilled sea bass—all incredibly delicious. The charcoal grilling technique used for the fish gives it a tender texture and a fragrant aroma, reminding me of my time in Portugal. This is a restaurant that might be underrated in ratings, but I believe it has kept loyal customers like myself since 1996.

★★★★★
May 18, 2024

This is a surprising Portuguese meal, each dish is above average, no disappointments! Great value for money, dishes like seafood rice and grilled sea bass would cost more than twice the price in Toronto! Highly recommended!

★★★★★
February 9, 2024

Always an amazing experience here. Jorge is a perfectionist Beef a casa was so on point and perfectly executed. Service is amazing. Claudia is super great. But let’s talk about the food. a ALWAYS great. Great wine selection and again anything you order is going to be awesome.Also Jorge has won awards since 1996.

★★★★
January 15, 2024

The restaurant has a great interior but was half empty. Our server was super personable. The sangria was delicious. We ordered the rabbit and the seafood pasta. After about 15 minutes our server came back and told us they were out of the rabbit so my partner switched to the steak. The stuffed bread appetizer was delicious. Our main came out and I was brought the rice, not the pasta. Our server was super apologetic. Although I really wanted the pasta, the rice was delicious.

★★★★
September 27, 2023

We came here for my birthday dinner with the family because we had heard good things about this place. Parking is a pain for the area but we figured it out. We ordered some appetizers and mains for all of us. The dishes were large and plentiful, so no one went home hungry. The best dishes were the sardines and the rabbit, very tasty. The rest were other seafood dishes that were bland and needed seasoning and herbs flavours, my seafood pasta looked beautiful but lacked the flavour you would expect from all the shellfish. That was the only disappointment, the ambiance and the service were wonderful and felt very local and homey. We will come back another time and see if this was just a one-off.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 20, 2024

Yum! Fantastic seafood, great service!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

Very sad that they are closing. We have been eating at the Wild Orchid for over 20 yrs.

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

First time there and it was Amazing. It was very busy which is totally Understandable. Overall fabulous. Sorry that it is closing down for good. Loved my Stuffed bread with chorizo and the Aioli .

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

The best Portuguese seafood youll find!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Great atmosphere and delicious food. Recommend if you re craving Portuguese cuisine

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Fantastic food and atmosphere great team well done

★★
October 22, 2024

Quality has been deteriorating, it used to the place to go, for Portuguese cuisine, now its horrible food menu, and service is crap, wish they kept Quality the same, but unfortunately, thats what it is now, poor menu, now, and service is horrible, long waits, and waitress has poor attitude on top of all this!

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Beef a casa cooked perfectly . Mussels done right. Will visit again but dine inside. Lots of traffic noise and smell. Still had a great meal and time!

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Had a few drinks lived the vibe, and service was very good considering how busy the patio was.

August 22, 2024

Absolute garbage, My friend and I ordered the Beef a Casa which never came. After 1 hour and 10 minutes, we just got up and left. Servers/management never came back to our empty table to check up on us. This was my first time in Hamilton as well, sucks that it had to be ruined.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Sangria Sunday! What a wonderful time!!! My medium rare Steak melted in my mouth! Did I mention Sangria Sunday with Friends Enjoy a top quality meal and also ENJOY more Sangria Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

I loved their seabrass fish! It was little salty but still good. very nice and cozy atmosphere!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Very hoping place inside and on the patio. The chicken was fantastic and the bifana was outstanding. Definitely a place to checkout Portuguese food. I forgot to take photos. Food

★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

While it was absolutely delicious it was very expensive for the portion sizes.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Food was very good.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

We went for dinner on May 3/2024 at around 630pm. The food was very good and the portions was good that we ended up bringing it home as we couldnt finish it. We were happy with the food and atmosphere of the restaurant. However we were not happy with our server. At one point she had our appetizer in her hand and was talking with one of her co-workers. Also, she only came once to see if everything was ok and never came back to see if we wanted anything else like refills on our drinks. We found our server very unsatisfactory she never smiled once .

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

We enjoyed our recent visit during the Hamilton Art Crawl.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Very good experience. After having to leave a previous restaurant due to unsanitary conditions and non welcoming service. We decided to try our luck here. Turned out the service was fast, friendly and welcoming. Food was excellent and very filling. Worth the hour drive.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Delicious seafood! Usually Im 50/50 on seafood, but wow the grilled salmon was perfection! Edit: 2 years on we come to this restaurant from Toronto once or twice a year. The rabbit and the lamb are absolutely delicious. A wonderful place!

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

The food is really good. The service of SONIA is very welcoming. Very polite and good vibes. The place is relaxing. Overall it is really nice experience for the first timer. Love it so much. Will be back again and recommend to friends.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Outstanding food and outstanding service! Highly recommend the lamb and salmon

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

One of our favorites!

March 22, 2024

Went out with my friends for a birthday party here. We brought a cake, to be cut there after having dinner. We asked for extra spoons, they asked for $2.5 each for a SPOON! How ridiculous is that?? We split the bills, One of my friends skipped the tip and a middle-aged watress literally yelled Oh so you are not leaving a tip!? What kind of absurdity is this? Who does that? You cannot possible ASK for a tip! Horrible experience. Would never recommend.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Another amazing meal at Wild Orchid Portuguese restaurant.

★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

nice place inside great for large parties/ gatherings. workers are friendly and professional. there prices are competitive. have some of the best Portuguese dishes there. Food : 5/5 |

Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Not much to say. They hate film, brings billions to the area.

★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Great little spot for some authentic Portuguese food, the food was awesome with a few varieties to choose from. Huge wine selection that goes along with the food as well. Its a bummer that there wasnt any cocktails on the menu. The place is nice and cozy, has that old and rustic vibe to it; however, it didnt feel much alive to be honest, which kind of affected the atmosphere.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Awesome place to eat and great food

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Visited for the first time Friday night and the food was incredible. We had the arroz de Marisco, a seafood rice dish and the rice was so perfect in the wonderful seafood flavoured tomato sauce with a nice selection of seafood. Also had the roasted rabbit which was delicious. Claudia who looked after us made it a very pleasant experience.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I had salmon, it wasnt great. Service was very good Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great service, great food. Will definitely return. Steak was tasty and cooked to perfection.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

My new favourite local restaurant, I m Italian and love this Portuguese, food, great flavor, fresh seafood, and a wide variety of dishes, great service. It was recently renovated it has a nice feel, I highly recommend this restaurant.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

First time to this restaurant,love the Portuguese food because I Im Portuguese the variety of dishes are amazing full, great server she was a nice Lady ,me and my wife will be back soon,I think apart of this great restaurant we would like to see on the tables paper Placemats,but the rest I give 4 stars.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Went for dinner, shared the calamari, mussels, sea bass and lamb. 10/10. Zero complaints. Good ombiance inside and our server was very kind

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Service and food were super! Sat outside it was beautiful! First time here, while visiting in Hamilton. Will be by again next time Im in town! For sure!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The menu is Portuguese cuisine. Although we only had beers and a shared appetizer, the mussels were very good. The service was friendly and outstanding.

★★
December 22, 2023

First time there for a birthday party based on recommendations. Server was ok but wait time and food quality were disappointing. Had way better steak at a breakfast place than here. Meat was over cooked, fatty and chewy. Couldnt finish our meal. For what we paid we could have gone to a lot better restaurants in the area

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Personally my food was good, others in our party not so much.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Amazing food Had just about given up on eating good Portuguese food. They are good Food : 4/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

My first time going to an exclusively Portuguese and it will not be the last. The appetizers were great, the Beef a Casa was fantastic.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Wild Orchid never disappoints. The flavourful beef and fish and quality. What a great afternoon. Worth going. Thanks to the staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This is a gem. The staff is so friendly. The ambience is very nice and food was on point. We stopped in on Mother s Day without a reservation and they accommodated us. If in the area again we will definitely stop by.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Just my son and I went for a couple of beers on mothers day Sat on their patio and it was awesome all the pretty patio lights the waitress was extremely busy on the inside as the place was packed but we just wanted to sit outside Ill definitely be back !!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Just ate an amazing meal! I forgot how amazing the food is at The Wild Orchid. The rabbit was to die for! Cant wait to experience their cuisine again.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great food, great staff. We enjoyed the patio. The products are fresh and well cooked. Only little issue, our pastas came lukewarm and the waitress didn t suggest to warm them up.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

My spouse and I love dining at Wild Orchid, situated in the heart of downtown Hamilton. The restaurants strategic location enables us to explore other attractions along James Street.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food is above average for a bar type restaurant. Rabbit was a bit disappointing. The stew was well seasoned but the meat was a bit dry. Of the dishes we had the seafood over rice was our fave. Delicious! Calamari was also yummy. The service is friendly, but because the restaurant is so long, the servers run back and forth a lot and service ends up slightly slower. A few times we couldnt get what we asked for (glasses, place settings) and just grabbed it ourselves from other tables Atmosphere was a typical bar. Nothing special but clean.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Authentic flavours & reasonably priced. Staff are very attentive. They also have a small patio.

★★
December 22, 2023

We booked here based on the menu and reviews online but were very disappointed. The server was helpful describing the menu but then disappeared for 15 minutes before we got our order in. The sausage baked in bread was delicious, the sardines were ok and the fried calamari was chewy and wet. For some reason our entrees arrived before we had finished the appetizers, the lamb was over cooked and a bit chewy, the steak was just ok and the sea bass was tasty but full of bones. We were offered coffee but no dessert. Probably wouldn t have bothered anyway. The fact there were only 3 tables in on a Saturday evening when places nearby were packed speaks volumes.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The Place Nice the food Was decent Nice environment not a lot of choice of items no dessert I consider more like a pub and the menu is half pages for drinks and the other half for food few choices of meat or fish dish not choice of vegetables are you forced to eat with they have listed for you cannot replace some stuff and in the end days price was not bad, but I don t think I will go back there again.On google show it as a good restaurant for my experience is a hot food place nothing more !

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Loved the food but be prepare for slow service.

December 22, 2023

So disappointing! My filete fish was from a frozen box and so was the shrimp. My French fries were cold. The waitress was not professional at all.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

My wife and I just experienced one of the best meals weve had in a long time. We both had the Beef a Casa , with chorizo pastry as an appetizer Both Outstanding! Prices are very reasonable as well. As for the decor , My Wife ( who is Portuguese) says it reminds her of the restaurants in Portugal. And our waitress Claudia is one of the best, who really made our experience complete. We will definitely be back! K. Gorman.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place was Extremely disappointing. I was hoping to Enjoy a meal out with my family, and we decided to eat in. I ordered the Samon and roasted potatoes, The salmon was very Salty, and way to charred on the outside, all I could taste was pure salt and burnt fish. the flavor was to salty, and the Quality of the salmon Tasted like the frozen cut packs from the 10 dollar bin at the Grocery stores( pretty sure it was). The potatoes where not seasoned and tasted very plain. I also almost bit into a hair on one of my Potatoes. My Daughter ordered the Rabbit with Roasted potatoes. The Rabbit was not too bad just very very oily, and mosty bone( not worth the price based on the flavor and the bone. The potatoes were the same very bland just plain no seasoning at all. My Husband, and son ordered the chicken dinner, legs and thigh With fries, my Husband tried his first the Chicken had a fishy taste and was so dry he could barely get it down with water. My son is 10 and gas Autism and refused to touch his after that ( cant say I blame him) the fries where not good either. The waitress took of the chicken meals, but did try to make excuses about the issues which made it very uncomfortable. The sangaria was the only decent that was ordered. Even the pops where flat* The order would have cost around $159 but with the chicken dinners removed it was $109 very small portions for my daughters Rabbit dinner, and my salmon dinner but it was gross anyway. The atmosphere was also bland when we arrived it was dinner time and we where the only people dinning( should have saw that as a red flag. Every other place we walked by was packed with people. Trust me dont waste your money dinning here. Theres also not a huge selection of food so they should be able to get these things right. Im honestly surprised they have over 4 stars for reviews. Was not appetizing at all.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great Portugese fares, friendly helpful staff, nicely decorated environment, good location. Street parking.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The best lamb Ive had in a long time. Recommended without any hesitation.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best Portuguese food in hamilton, especially the bacalhau a bras

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Awesome. Delicious food. Red sangria amazing Food

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Probably wouldnt go again. After being seated for 25 minutes, we had a server come on: didnt even acknowledge how late it was. We placed order. 15 minutes later, our drinks are served and my glass of wine never arrived. Also this is when the restaurant is more than half empty. Literally sitting here and putting the review. Could do so much more on this street instead.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I was seated right away and sat for 25 minutes without a single server asking if I wanted a drink or any food. I went to the bar To order a beer and was told to sit at my seat if I want service. We left after 30 minutes of not being acknowledged. Went to salt lick next door where we were treated, seated and fed right away.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Restaurant looked very nice especially the patio. The portion of food sizes are good and all thr dishes I ordered could serve two people. The waitress was welcoming and friendly as well. What I disliked was the quality of each dish. The rice seafood looked amazing but it lacked seasoning. The rice was swimming in a lot of sauce; it was waterdown. The other two dishes were really lacking seasoning as well and the pasta seafood only had one shrimp. I was really disappointed because I wanted the food to taste as good as it looked. All three dishes came up to $155 with tax.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We had heard good things about this Portuguese restaurant in downtown Hamilton. They have a patio option or indoor dining, it was a bit chilly so we sat inside. We started with the mussels and the sardines for appetizers. The sardines were excellent, the outside was nice and crisp, and the meat wasnt overly salty. The mussels were made in red sauce, but I was disappointed that there were barely 1 dozen mussels VS most places at that price point usually serve 2-3 dozen. For mains, the boys each got the Beef a la Casa which is a strip loin with fries served with an egg on top, in piri-piri sauce. It was very good, and a bit spicy. I wanted the lamb but they were out, so my wife and I ended up sharing the Arroz de Marisco, which is a seafood rice and comes in a large size to share. For those used to Spanish paella, this was a bit different. First the rice is a short more stiff variety, also it has piri-piri sauce so its all a bit spicy. It does come with abundant shrimp, mussels, clams, crab legs and lobster. Service was good despite mixing our orders up, but they fixed it quickly enough. The atmosphere inside is a classic 80-90s restaurant with incandescent lighting.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

You wont find a better place to sit down and enjoy the warm ambiance. The decor is inviting and the food is tantalizing. The mediterranean cuisine makes you feel like you are near the ocean in Europe. I always opt for the Bacalhau à Bras. A codfish dish with shoesting fries that is a staple in the portuguese culture. Thank me later. Its worth the drive to James St. North.

★★
December 22, 2023

When we arrived at the restaurant it was mostly empty so we were seated immediately. I wasn t a fan of the atmosphere of wild orchid. It didn t feel but like a restaurant. It felt more like a Beer hall. Everything was wood and old looking. Server was fairly friendly and attentive and took our orders quickly. Pop was from a fountain and completely flat. It was also served in plastic cups. Not only Did this feel cheap, it s incredibly wasteful. The first thing to arrive was calamari. It was by far the worst calamari I have had in my life. You could tell that it was frozen and not fresh. It has a freezer burned taste to it and was hard, rubbery and nearly impossible to chew. For the first time in my life I had to spit food out into my napkin. When another girl came around with our mains, we told her we wanted to send the calamari back as it was rubbery and her response was yes, that s what calamari is like . Sorry, that s not what good calamari should be like. Lol For our mains we all got the chicken. The fries were undercooked and greasy but not terrible. The chicken on the other hand was very good, as was the peri peri sauce. Only complaint was they didn t give enough sauce. When we asked for the bill we asked our server if the other girl has told her about the calamari and she had not. They were nice enough to take that off of the bill.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great fish at fair prices.

December 22, 2023

No mask, no service.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Had a lovey time with friends and family. Good service and tasty food. Would recommend

December 22, 2023

I arrived for lunch time zero people inside. I informed it was my husband me and my baby. I was told I had to leave my stroller to the side of the restaurant if i wanted to eat there. I left!! So upsetting!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

What an amazing place!!! Great service and get the beef WITH the egg on it.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great food and service in a cozy atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

If you want to taste authentic Portuguese cuisine then Wild Orchid is a must visit. From seafood to lamb and rabbit this restaurant delivers fresh, perfectly seasoned feasts! The seafood rice is my favorite but their piri piri chicken is another go to.. Wash is down with a Super Bock or Sagres and youll be super happy..

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

While looking for a decent and affordable place to eat, prior to an event at the Bridgeworks, we came across Wild Orchid. When we arrived, we were asked if we had reservations, which was a surprise as the place seemed to have open tables? That changed quickly (for good reasons), so reservations are recommended. Although we were a walk-up, they graciously accommodated us. Claudia, our host, was amazing! Incredible service, fun, great recommendations, she truly added to the experience. The food is great, well portioned expertly prepared and amazingly priced. As the place quickly filled, we looked longingly at the dishes other people had ordered. Not for want, we had no more room to eat more, but we will definitely will be coming back to try those dishes the next time were in town. See you soon Claudia!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food & service.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Ok atmosphere and service. Unfortunately half of the clams were not open (indicating they were dead before being cooked) and inconsistency on shrimps across three dishes. Some had shells removed, others not. The pasta lacked flavour and the fries come out cold and soggy. The complimentary bread was good and the steak was executed well.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I went into Wild Orchid Portuguese.Restaurant in Hamilton, and i found that i had a great experience dining there. The food at this establishment was really authentic Portuguese cuisine, I had a seafood rice dish that was to die for! I would definitely recommend this Portuguese restaurant to my family and friends. Feliz Comendo!!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I love Mike Turner

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We drove from St Catharines, do that should tell you something. Authentic, tasty Portuguese food. We had a group of 4 adults. Some of us had the rappini and anchovy bread, other had the chorizo bread (TO DIE FOR). My main dish was bacalhau á Brás, my husband has the Arrow Marisco, and the other couple has Carne Alentejana and Fish Fillets with rice. We loved our meal, the atmosphere, and the service was great. Parking? Well, its a busy location and after stuffing our faces ... Whats a little walk? It was definitely worth our drive in to Hamilton.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The first time we ate here we had the Chourico Bread and the Bacalhau Bras. Both were super ! Though the Bacalhau Bras could do with a little more Bacalhau as opposed to Potatoes. Nonetheless both the dishes were great ! The next time we ate here we had the Bacalhau Bras and the Beef a casa. The Bras was great yet again, and the Beef a Casa was a perfect medium rare. A juicy succulent steak which if Im not mistaken was marinated with Piri Piri sauce. So it had a nice kick to it. Irrespective what the marinade was, the steak was yum and juicy. The first time we had beers and the next time we had Caesars, the Caesars were made to perfection the right balance of sweet sour spicy ! The food coupled with the great ambience of the outdoor Patio watching the world go by is the prefect recipe for a great Saturday or Sunday afternoon lunch.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Sangria and mussel special that they offer in their patio is fantastic. Recommend going for the seafood. Busy and good energy on weekends.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Enjoyed our meals and the service was excellent. The only thing holding us back from giving a higher rating was that the food was a bit under par. The sea bass was only lukewarm, the rice in the paella was undercooked and the salad lacked flavour. We will be back to give Wild Orchid another go. We also discovered green wine: a definite plus.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Amazing friendly service and great food. This is my go to for delicious portuguese food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Beef a Casa.....absolutely amazing. Service was excellent. Will definitely be going back and highly recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Best food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Food drinks and service were great!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Awesome place for Portuguese food! Seafood dishes are amazing. Wild Orchid has been a staple on James Street north for many years. Have come here for family events or just an evening out and the service is always excellent. Been coming to this place for years and will continue to be a returning customer.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The food is delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Well hands down best calamari in town perfectly cooked. All there seafood dishes are cooked to perfection . Enjoy a nice patio open in the nice weather. Did I say best calamari in town .

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Nice place, the Portuguese cuisine is great, food was flavorful and had nice presentation, the service was very good. We will definitely return.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This place is so tasty that I ate so much that I literally could barely walk and was wildly uncomfortable for like 2 hours after. Get the sea bass and the thing thats like paella. probably not just for yourself though unless youre a glutton like I am. Phenomenal food.

★★
December 22, 2022

Lovely place, food was adequate, just not my thing.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Love this place!!!!! Amazing Portuguese food! Claudia always ready to make your dining experience amazing! Mind you the other girls are just as pleasant.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Was my first time having Portuguese food. My family and I had a great experience, definitely give it a try.

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great place. I recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

It was our first time eating at Wild Orchid and overall it was a great experience. We started with the chouriça bread for appetizers, and it was pretty tasty. For entrees we had the Piri Piri chicken and Beef a Casa, both were well seasoned, great portions and cooked perfectly! Great place to experience Portuguese food.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Was so looking forward to trying this restaurant with my daughter. Was Immediately turned off by the odd smell the restaurant had when we entered.. it wasnt what they were cooking at that moment, it was an embedded smell, you could just tell. Décor very old , dark and not the cleanest. Salt and pepper shakers on table were dirty, smudged and needed filling. Was a real turn off. We shared the large seafood rice dish, most of the seafood was overcooked and chewy, most of the clams shells were filled with the rice which was also a turn off, couldnt taste the clams as the rice overpowered everything. The only thing that we enjoyed was the appetizer, the calamari. The Stuffed Bread with sausage was also disappointing, I believe the bread was underdone as it was too doughy. We didnt complain, Maybe that was a mistake but this was an early Mothers Day dinner and my daughter came from out of town. We ended up going out for a nice lunch elsewhere the next day before she had to leave for home, just to make up for the poor dinner. Sorry folks but much more attention to detail is needed in your establishment and in the kitchen.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

The Wild Orchid has been one of our go-to restaurants for the last few years - the grilled sardines, sea bass, rabbit, and piri piri chicken are all fantastic dishes and well-worth the 45 minute drive to the restaurant. Yvonne and Claudia always provide excellent service. Looking forward to returning again soon!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Good portuguese good, I love the vibe they have going inside. Service could have been a little better, but overall a good restuarant

★★★
December 22, 2022

Great space,excellent wait staff,food did not turn my crank with flavour but the variety was good.

December 22, 2022

Wasn t impressed at all. The food is very basic, nothing special at all which was a letdown. Glasses were cloudy with marks all over them. My friends food had hair in it & another s had a piece of metal from packaging or something? Definitely do not recommend.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The most disappointing experience Ive had especially when it was highly recommended by a work colleague. The food was tasteless. Didnt even have salt. The shrimp just tasted like it was doused in tomato sauce. I could barely eat the food on the plate. Had to stop and get dinner after I left here after spending 200 bucks. Im sorry guys but you need to really work on your meals. Will not return or recommend

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Sangria is pretty good, highlight of the place. Service was great too very helpful and doted over us nicely. Unfortunately, the food doesn t live up-to the hype. The calamari potion size and sauce was underwhelming and left me wondering how you can justify 5 pieces of calamari covered in Ragu for $14 can be justified. Summer sausage in the dough was Meh at best, wasn t under or overcooked it was just really unappealing and corny looking. Nothing tasted microwaved but just gave off that vibe. I arrived excited and hungry, and left disappointed and unsatisfied.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The food is not fresh, the service is not very good.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Highly recommend!!!! If your looking for taste and quality go here you wont be disappointed! Best food ,atmosphere, and great service .

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great place. The food is fantastic! And Claudia is an amazing as always.....

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Not as good as usual. Almost seemed like a different chef than the last time we were there.

December 22, 2022

I could not believe 6 small shrimps as appetizers definitely not Tiger shrimps as stated! 5 calamari and a third of a plate of mussels, really? Not to mention the steak quality very fatty, bread stale, super disappointed won t be back.. much better before covid.. take some pride in what you serve.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent food and service. The patio is lovely!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Enjoyed a delicious meal. Staff was friendly and attentive.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Seafood platter was very good. Loved the sangria.

December 22, 2022

Not as good as it used to be...the changed the potatoes..the lamb Is all fat and bone....barely any Calamari on the plate not to merits frozen cheap Calamari..not authentic at all....used to beag about this place now Im never mentioning them...disappointed for sure

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Simply amazing

December 22, 2022

Heard such great things about this place and was severely let down. Got food poisoning after I left... ordered the fish entree, salad and calamari. Not sure if something not cooked well enough or the combination I ate was bad, but will definitely keep going back to Charred for best Portuguese food on James North.

★★
December 22, 2022

To start, we have been returning customers to Wild Orchid for about 10+ years. Prior to covid, it was such a tasty restaurant. This time, we found the menu to be a bit boring compared to what we remember. Cons: We had a hair in one of our meals. The hostess kept chit chatting with a group across from us and ignoring us. My steak was over cooked when I requested medium. The nuggets from the kids meals looks like it came from the frozen grocery store packages and still cost us $8per meal, which wasnt worth it. Sangria pitcher we order was tasteless unfortunately. We did not want to complain as the hair though. We will just not be returning for a long time in hopes that things change again. Pro: After the hair in meal complaint, they did not charge us for that meal. Parking: Awful parking. No where to park.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Portuguese restaurant. Really good seafood. Large portions. Kid-friendliness: We had two toddlers and a baby there. The restaurant made them and their behaviour welcome. Food : 5/5 |

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

My mother and I went for dinner. When we arrived the only two people in the restaurant. Food was served lukewarm, my mother sent her fish back twice as it was not served hot. Had to call the server over to our table each time as we were not checked on. A family of three came in and another couple. Total of 7 people in the restaurant. Took 20 min for our plates to be removed. Had to ask for the bill and that took another 10 to 15. Another server appeared tk have started and they look confused/flustered by the two extra tables to serve. Two meal, a tea and soft drink came to $70.00. No parking had to pay at a street meter Wheelchair accessibility: Very difficult. The ramp is steep and no automatic door. My mother uses a walker and had a great deal of difficulty leaving. The bathroom is not accessible. You have to push the door open to go in and pull open to leave. Not possible if you use a mobility aid or wheelchair

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Delicious authentic Portuguese food! Wild Orchid is one of my favourite restaurants in the city. I ordered the Arroz de Marisco (Portuguese seafood rice) and it was phenomenal. Will definitely be back.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I have had fantastic food and so-so food here. I really wish it was consistent because when it is good it is GREAT but when it is cold / dried out it is too bad. Decent prices, friendly staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Another excellent visit at Wild Orchid - our staples include the grilled sardines, rabbit and piri piri chicken (which comes with authentic fries!). We also like that you can purchase Portugese wine at a very reasonable price for a full litre, in the same way offered in Europe. Since getting to Europe is too difficult now, this little slice of Portugal is welcomed! Their refurnished patio is wonderful in summer too.

December 22, 2022

Owner and or manager was frustrated due to of the filming down the street. He thought my friend and I had anything to do with it, we listened to his complaining for a second then left after he used profanity (C Word) at us. I d never eat at a place where the owner would disrespect another human randomly in the streets. And neither should you. Classy

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Really good Portuguese food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I will certainly be back. Thank you for the great food and friendly service. I am recommending that people should try this place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Ordered a steak with potatoes for New Years & although the employee I spoke with (could have been the owner) was apologetic that I would have to heat it up due to the overwhelm of orders, the food was honestly delicious. My hopes are never super high when ordering a steak from a restaurant, but this one was SO good. Will definitely be visiting again.

December 22, 2021

Overall not a bad experience, but not the best. Sangria and shrimp were amazing. Customer service was amazing. However when I order the lamb dish, there was no meat just fat and the potatoes were bland. My partner also ordered the filet dish and it was a pretty sad meal, could ve went to hutches. But overall not that bad I guess. Defiantly not worth the price I paid at all.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Free mussels with a pitcher of sangria was a nice touch! Good food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Its an absolutely delicious restaurant. Be sure to order their 12oz steak. Dont order the mussel, its not delicious. The seafood fried rice is also recommended! This restaurant is definitely a must-try Ordered their 12 oz Steak and seafood fried rice, excellent taste and marvelous food. Just Amazing! thats all i wanna say

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

So much good food! The calamari and paella were amazing and we cant wait to go back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Just wow! Wild Orchid exceeded all of our expectations! Beautiful covered patio. Delicious food. Great pricing. We will absolutely be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Best sea food ever!!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Delicious Portuguese food. Loved the Favas and mussels!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

My favorite Thai place in Hamilton!!!

December 22, 2021

Food was incredible, beautiful restaurant, however I wont be coming back due to there so called playlist was not suitable for the atmosphere whatsoever, asked multiple times for something different and we were told no. Great food but wont be coming back due to something very easily fixed. Music went from heavy electronic dance music, to heavy metal to rap and so on.

December 22, 2021

Server was amazing. The girl behind bar was short and rude - I asked to change the music to something other than ear drilling EDM. She said they only had one playlist and walked away. Don t go here if you re looking to dine somewhere nice/upscale. Felt like I was eating lamb at a pub.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Wonderful food. Awesome MUSIC. Always accommodating. Will definitely be returning! My only problem was that I didn t see a sign posted that they were hiring a DJ like the previous review seemed to think. Businesses are struggling after lockdown, if you think the food is great please don t give them one star over reasons beyond the servers control.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

I hope there s more seafood but the taste is delicious and the service is great. Will be back :)

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

We had an amazing experience. Great food, great wine and awesome service. Claudia our server was awesome!!! Will go back for sure!!!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Great food. Great service!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

It was mine and my boyfriends first time at this restaurant tonight and we loved it!! The food was amazing, very nice atmosphere and the service was fantastic! We had a lovely waitress named Claudia and she was a sweetheart

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

This place is awesome! The food and service was fantastic, our server Claudia was super friendly and fun to be around. The patio is such a cool place to hang out. Highly recommend the seafood pasta. (In the picture we had already eaten a bunch of the shellfish, it came with a ton!)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

amazing food! check it out!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Cool spot, great Portuguese food, a must try.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Sangria was good, but on a Saturday lunch time with only one server it took us close to 20 minutes to pay. The place smelled amazing will be returning for food. To give this place another go!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

I LOVE this locations! ive been there over 4 times n its amazing! i tried alot of their foods! from their bbq piri piri chicken, their lamb meal, their roasted rabbit & their beef a casa n i love it! huge portions especially as anazing service, fast! great friendly servers! i will continue going in!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Wonderful experience on a hot summer day, kind of in between lunch and dinner. Service with the loveliest of smiles, and a perfect bite. We had the mussels and the sardines. I havent seen fried sardines in eons, and these did not disappoint!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

I absolutely loved the environment of Wild Orchid. The food was amazing. Young and old there s something delicious and memorable on this menu. This is my first and DEFINITELY NOT my last visit. Great service tonight from Eshita! If I could give her a 6/5 Stars, I would! Wild Orchid, Eshita, THANK YOU!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Our group of female pilots and male flight attendants loved Jorges culinary specialties that were only surpassed by Claudias gracious manner.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Amazing experience from start to finish! Beyond delicious food and huge portions! Wonderful service from Claudia. Thank you Jorge the chef - you are a culinary genius! We will be back! Muito Obrigada!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Fabulous experience from start to finish. Great food, fantastic service, wonderful atmosphere and REALLY good music. Thanks to George and Claudia for a fabulous evening. We will definitely be back!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

A fun visit to Hamilton with a great restaurant experience on James Street at The Wild Orchid! The food was so fantastic ( lamb dish!) and the service was top notch! Thanks Claudia for the laughter! Portuguese food at its best!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Service was sub-par and the paella was kind of bland

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

My first time here but definitely not my last. Food is traditional Portuguese. The appetizer shrimp were huge, marinated and cooked to perfection. The Portuguese salad had olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, hot peppers on mixed greens. Delicious...but the star, for sure, was the marinated and roasted rabbit. Wonderful flavor and meat so tender that it fell off the bones. Half of a rabbit with potatoes boiled in their skins was like home. Our server, Claudia, was helpful and very friendly. Will be going back again. Update on Aug 19th 2021, I had a chance to visit the patio. Had a great appetizer of calamari which was amazing. Super tender but crisp on outside. Shared a paella for 2 and the amount of food was enough for 3! Tons of seafood and the rice was delicious. I love this place. Consistantly good food and great service

★★
December 22, 2021

Been several times and always enjoyed the food, and atmosphere..... This time, was not good at all. The server was very rude and unpleasant. The Rabbit dish served was chicken (as I have had it before) but she insisted it was rabbit and was rude about it. We asked to pack up the rabbit and was then told that she threw it out by mistake. We shall not be back or recommend this place... Its too bad because previous experiences were good.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Loved it! Fava beans were scrumptious as was the rabbit, lamb and seafood. Definately worthy

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Amazing food!! Ive never tasted such a delicious fish in my life. It was very well prepared. My husband thought it was a bit salty but it was perfect for my taste. Ive definitely have to go back. Ohh and also the paella is a must!

December 22, 2021

Small portions for the price. many better options in the surrounds area. extremely disappointed.

★★★★
December 22, 2021

Lovely patio and our waitress was very helpful. Yummy lunch!!

★★★★
December 22, 2021

All delicious, thank you very much

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

this place is amazingly delicious! If you are a seafood lover you will love this place!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

The best Portuguese food, the best sangria, and always the best service. Love this place.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Covid protocols adhered to; attentive wait staff, generously sized appetizers and tasty mains. Yum!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great food always good

Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Shame on you. Dispite your Bacalhau I will never visit your place again.

December 22, 2021

Wont be going back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Amazing staff specially Ivonne and Claudia are really cool. A huge congratulation to the chef George for cooking so delicious food. Im looking forward to trying winter specials and I will definitely be back ! Best Portuguese food in town

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Food is very authentic

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Amazing place , adorable staff great food ! Lots of respect ! Ill be back for sure!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

We had an amazing waitress Yeyvaun she took such good care and the food was great we will definitely win go back for the food and service

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

This place is fantastic the food is excellent and the service is superb

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Great food, had a great time with my family!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Paid almost $100 for a dinner and got undercooked rice.

Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Terrible first visit. Arrived for a 7 pm reservation and had to wait 10 mins at the front to be seated. Waitress then started cleaning the tables inside instead of attending to us or even offering drinks/starters. Mind you its COVID protocols and there were only 3 other guests in the restaurant. Tried to order PiriPiri chicken and was then told they didn t have any, and couldn t make any. I could swear this was supposed to be a Portuguese restaurant. We got up and left in a hard time like this you would think they would appreciate customers wanting to come to their establishment. With limited seating you would think they would have food available, or at least let us know when we entered that the menu was limited. The waitress suggested we should have let them know ahead of visiting that we wanted chicken. What a laugh. Who would actually do something like that? Didnt realize we made a reservation for takeout. We drove from Milton to Hamilton to give their place a try but now will probably never return again.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

The best Portuguese food that I ever tried in Canada. Authentic portuguese cuisine.