Pilot House of Kingston in Kingston
265 King St E, Kingston, ON K7L 3B1, Canada
About
Situated in the heart of Downtown Kingston, The Pilot House is the ideal place to meet friends, share a pint and enjoy the best fish & chips in town. Our friendly staff and relaxing atmosphere are sure to make you feel right at home.
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This cozy bar offers a welcoming and warm atmosphere. During our visit, there was only one bartender handling the entire place, but she managed everything seamlessly. Her professionalism stood out—she was friendly, efficient, and made every guest feel well taken care of. The bar has an impressive selection of drinks, and while the food menu is limited, every dish looks tempting. We tried the chicken tenders and fish and chips. The fries were perfect—crispy and golden, just how I like them. The chicken tenders were juicy and flavorful, and the fish was tender, with a light and tasty batter. Overall, this bar is definitely a spot I’d return to, even though I was just visiting. The inviting atmosphere, attentive service, and excellent food and drinks make it a standout place to relax and enjoy a good meal. Highly recommended!
This was a great place for lunch and the Pilot Poutine was so very good! They were busy and seemed like there were only 2 servers but the atmosphere was ultra friendly and we just relaxed with our drinks while we waited for our food. I'd definitely recommend the Pilot House.
poor service, the staff let you wait for a long time without telling you where you can sit. They also dont have enough staff and other service is slow. They dont refill the water for you as well. the food is overrated and oily
I ordered 1 pce halibut and switched out the fries for a very tasty house salad with goat cheese and walnuts. The batter on the halibut was not too thick, light and crispy. The service is friendly and hospitable, their outdoor patio is serene and lovely, and the food is tasty. The only thing I would recommend is the Pilot switch out their tartar sauce for something more home made and less commercially generic. If you’re looking for a space to chill with good food and friendly service the pilot is a great place to land.
Great pub with a regular local crowd. Server was wonderful. Fish and chips were delicious and a surprisingly excellent house salad! Recommend
Such a cute little pub and a Kingston icon. After passing by this place many times my friend and I checked it out. You seat yourself and the staff feel like true Kingstonians. The pub gives family owned, very caring vibes. The other people in the pub were very low key and it was quiet enough to have good conversation. The food had big portions and tasted amazing. Would definitely return to this place and would recommend to anyone
Went to pilot house last week quite late as not much was open and I've always wanted to try this place. The kitchen is open till 9pm, my friend and I ordered pub food and stayed and chatted for a few hours. There were typical pub fair,lots of fish options, and some salads available. The service was friendly, the atmosphere was very homey but clean and pleasant. Overall the food was good, the portions were huge. Accessibility: noise level is moderate, lighting is low, steps required to get in. I would come back with friends for another fun evening.
Lovely pub. Good portions. Good service, you need to be fast with your orders or the busy lady with long hair leaves and returns, smiling, a few minutes later They have various games like pictionary placed around. You are welcome to play Loved the ale and the food
Service is top notch,; pretty happening place. Love the food and their Tap droughts.
Very small place. About 10 to 15 tables. No seating at the bar area. Standing only bar. Service was slow. Portions for most items on the menu very small, the fish and chips were good! But that would be the only thing I would order on the menu if I went back.
Great little restaurant on the corner. Food is good, but had a bad experience one time and wont be back. Nice little stop though, worth checking out if your in the area and have never been.
I leave Nashvillel today for work and well be at the Pilot House tonight
Visited Kingston and ended up here for fish and chips. Service was great, food was good and the ambience very laid back and relaxed. Highly recommend this place.
My son goes to Queens, and I took him here on a recent visit. The space is cozy with great service. We both had fish and chips, and enjoyed it immensely. Will definitely be back!
Never disappoints
Food was amazing!! Restaurant and views were perfect! Highly recommend!
Best fish and chips we ve ever had! My 4 and 7 year old boys loved the food! Service was amazing and very kid friendly!
Great experience and will definitely return. Lamb curry pie was hubbys choice, he loved it. I chose fish and chips, perfect amount of batter on the fish and fresh chips
Awesome staff
I have only been to The Pilot House 3 times in my life (July 2003, August 2018, September 2024). The entire menu fits on a small chalkboard in the corner, and the entire place holds maybe 20 people. I yearn for The Pilot House. It is hands-down one of my top 3 pubs, and in 2018 (and again this year), I made it my #1 Kingston priority. Yes, I put it higher than Fort Henry. If you know me, you know that speaks volumes. Their fish & chips (especially the haddock) is still the best Ive ever had. You have the choice of cod, haddock, and halibut. Dont let the small plates fool you. You will be properly full, and yet you will still have sufficient space for dessert. If you go to Kingston, you must add The Pilot House to your To-Do list. I will die on this hill.
Amazing restaurant Especially if you want to fill your stomac without emptying your wallet! The food was great (not if youre on a diet), the service too. I recommend the fish and chips that is really worth it. Food : 5/5 |
Delicious, home cooked Pub food along with a perfectly poured Guiness! Friendy staff. A lovely lunch during my visit to Kingston.
Very friendly service, thank you! The fish here is excellent, I had the haddock, others enjoyed their halibut. Big load of fries underneath which are the chip truck variety, I prefer crispy ones though. I would have liked some coleslaw . This place is a small, traditional pub with carpeting, old furniture and decor and two old men drinking in the middle of a weekday watching sports. Parking: Parking downtown in Kingston is a nightmare signs everywhere Wed - Sun between 6am and 2am or if you need a purple permit or it s a loading zone, near a bus stop, beside a fire hydrant, blocking a driveway, too close to a stop sign then find a box to pay for your parking slip. They do check those! It s all very comical.
Max relax little bar.
Good food, good service, good prices & good atmosphere!
Amazing food, great atmosphere and very friendly staff.
Everytime we go to Kingston, we stop at the Pilot House for Scotch eggs and fish and chips. Al really needs to make more Scotch eggs as they were sold out when we went on Friday. We want to give a shout out to Shirley our waitress on the patio. She is really personable, funny and offers great service. We felt like we were visiting with a friend. Already looking forward to our next visit.
Great food, excellent service and cold beer! Place was packed but we managed to find a table inside. Barman was phenomenal. He served all the drinks and food by himself, without batting an eyelash. He had a good sense of humour and delivered prompt service. Highly recommend
The worst. They are rude, they dont know how to treat people and children. I do not recommend it at all. We simply left and we will never come back. Not even to pass them by the front Service
best fish + chips in the league!
Great pricing, good selection of drinks and the fish and chips were great. Really nice location downtown, and the place itself has a cozy feel to it. Good service and friendly staff as well. Food : 5/5
Good fish and chips
We were walking by on our way to another restaurant - a Kingston trolley driver yelled out his window, ..best fish & chips in Kingston.., we waved and said thank you, decided to go in. Driver was right.
It was alright
Great little side spot for fish, choices are straightforward and the patio is small but comfortable
Kenny is the best, but he s all mine. He s limited.
Excellent fish & chips!
A terrific pub; our go-to spot for a drink and fish and chips. The staff are wonderful and friendly. A perfect way to wind up a busy day.
Nice cozy spot.
I have been here twice with friends before. The atmosphere is welcoming & makes you feel as if you were home. Staff was lovely and the food was great. Would recommend if you are looking for a lunch spot! Food : 5/5
Enjoyed Halibut & Chips with Guinness.
Great food and service with a quaint pub charm.
The friendliest and warmest place with great service, delicious food including an amazing salad and locally brewed beer!
A favourite watering hole for several generations of our family. Good pub food, and crucially they know how to properly pour a Guiness.
Loved the pilot house BUT - not cool when the server talks about the previous patrons, dating he needs to take a shower, smells like an old hat not sure if we ll continue to come here.
You can always count on the service and the halibut and chips. My favourite fish and chips place anywhere!
Enjoyed a beer after pickleball
I just really like The Pilot House. Its a cozy small, family-friendly neighbourhood type pub that reminds me of my youth. Good food, decent prices, friendly staff.
Nice cozy pub
The Pilot House is a great place if you are new to Kingston and need to make some new friends. Its also a great place to walk in on your own if you are a single woman. Shirley is an amazing, server who makes everyone feel welcome with a great sense of humour. The food is amazing with homemade steak and lamb pies, and the best fish and chips in Kingston. Great atmosphere and awesome music! Very welcoming vibe!
Incredible service, homey atmosphere, and the best fish and chips for miles.
Nice and charming ambiance... very friendly and attentive staff.
Cozy
Great atmosphere, friendly staff, good drinks
Great service. The fish and chips are some of the best in Kingston. Will definitely be going back.
Five stars! Love this place; takeout is always ready within 30 minutes, sometimes even 15. Cozy and homey, servers and bartenders are always friendly. Love the small town atmosphere
Drove down to pick up 1 halibut and chips and 1 cod and chips, paid a whopping $39.00 for two 3oz. pcs of fish and brown, soggy fries, the portions were a joke and way over priced. Worst fish and chip experience I have ever had. The Pilot House is a mere wisp of its former self. Will not be back.
Great quaint little no frills traditional pub with a good beer selection and comfort food. Feels like a small town pub in the UK.
Fast and friendly service. Support local kids programs. And food is delicious and great portioning.
Nice atmosphere, great playlist and great service.
The best waitress in Kingston. She keeps the place stirring. The halibut was great as promised, With no porter or stout I found the red wine quite nice. The slaw was a surprising flavorful compliment to the fish. I wish Nashville was closer.
Great pub, took my family. Good food and nice atmosphere.
This was the fourth in our 12 pubs of Kingston 2023. If you haven t been, all I have to say is that I had the best onion rings ever. Poutine was delicious and the mozza sticks were super cheesy. I washed it all down with a Red Fox Ale while the wife had a Cider. Staff is super friendly and the interior is cozy. All in all, I d recommend this to anyone. We ll be back as we didn t do the fish and chips yet!
Best in town!
Great food, atmosphere and drinks. Extremely welcoming
Feels like it did when I visited probably 35 years ago. Fair prices. Good food.
Past this place many times and finally had the chance to stop, and was very pleased with the food and friendly atmosphere
Great spot with friendly staff and regulars. I will return!
Great location close to downtown and Ontario Str. Tyler is a wonderful server. Good value in food and drink
Server was very friendly, food was hot and fresh
Great service from lovely staff. Food was tasty and fast.
Super nice boss! Warm welcome, I really recommend ;) value for money!
Great, super nice boss. Very good welcome. Exceptional value for money. Go there with your eyes closed. Superb address
The fish and chips and the pilot poutine are so good. Nice waitress.
Good home cooked food, personable friendly service. The decor is rustic but matches the theme of the English wharf pub. I highly recommend it for those looking for English style cuisine.
My daughter had fish and chips and said it was fantastic. I had nachos since it was the only vegetarian option. Vegetarian options: One...nachos
The place food was good but not outstanding. The service was good and the pub was really nice.
Great fish n chips, wonderful patio staff, excellent service
Tasteful dishes, great staff and an historical stop everyone needs to visit.
I love going to Pilots when Im at the Kingston Library. The food was delicious and my waitress was very attentive. Preparation was fast so I could get back to the library for more genealogy research
Excellent place for fish & chips and a pint.
The Pilot House has always had great food and service. Highly recommended!
Proper pub vibes with possibly the best fish and chips and Guinness I ve had in Kingston. Definitely the place to go to if you re craving a great pint, great fish, and great chips.
Its a good place for fish and chips. Cooked well! The atmosphere needs some sprucing up, but the food is great! Waitress has a good sense of humor, which all waitresses should have. My only wish is they would use actual Heinz ketchup- it has a better taste. I believe they use the French brand. Heinz is better with the chips! Of course, malt/white distilled vinegar is the best with chips, but Heinz is a close second! Great visit!
Friendly service & good food !
Love Pilot House. Small, cozy. Service great.
Fish was amazing. Playlist of tunes perfect. Service outstanding. Just as I remembered from 25 years ago.
Quaint spot for a fresh pint with pleasant staff.
Best Fish and Chips in town. Wife and I split the 2 piece halibut and it was plenty for both of us.
Superb service and delicious food (definitely one of the best fish & chips Ive had) Go there without hesitation!
Great service, awesome onion rings, good beer selection. Good old local pub
Couldnt message them directly, so posting here. My partner has been coming here for 40 years for what he said was exceptional fish and tips. Today the fish and chips was just...lousy at $25 each. We told our waitress ( no complaints about service) and she offered 25%. Then after a delay, she said the computer wouldnt let her. I told her we wouldnt be back and she said would talk to the owner. After a bit, he came out to the pos and discounted one meal completely, but would not talk to us about it, which says everything. We wont be back or recommend.
It was an amazing experience. My wife and I went to the pilot house to eat fish and chips. The food was awesome! Not only that, the service was very kind and non oppressive, and most of all the welcomed our min pin and gave him also a bowl of water. Absolutely recommended, and of course we ll be going again.
Fantastic, welcoming spot!
This has a cozy pub atmosphere. They specialize in Fish and Chips. Because I avoid gluten, I had the Caesar, which was OK. Terrific selection of beers.
Great fish and chips!
Great comfortable bar with great service and warm feeling.Parking on street can be problematic and on Fridays it gets very crowded..not wheelchair accessible..Meals are pub fare but topnotch especially the fish and chips. MY FAVORITE PUB
Its a nice place. Small, but comfortable. The fishnchips are great.
Always a favorite!
The Pilot House is a cozy little pub, right downtown Kingston. It has been around forever and still exudes a warmth of cheer, good friends and great pub fare. If youre looking for a intimate gathering with good friends, the Pilot House is perfect. Its close to everything downtown yet still maintains its own unique atmosphere. A great Kingston experience.
A wonderful place for family, friends and even kids! Very kid friendly with an excellent children s menu as well as very kind staff.
Fantastic fish and chips!! So, ended up here only because everything else was too busy. Walked by here many times and never ate here. What a mistake. We both ordered fish and chips. Food came in 5 minutes. Best fish and chips Ive had in years! Service was amazing. Just a great experience all around. Ill definitely go back. Apparently the Ruben sandwich is a hidden gem there too. FYI
Amazing foot
Shirley and the staff at the Pilot went above and beyond their normal excellent service. The food was great. Best fish and chips in Kingston.
Old favourite for fish and chips. Fine selection of draft beers and a very personable staff to aid you in your choice. One of the best places in Kingston for a great meal in a pub atmosphere. Been eating there for over 50 years and have yet to be disappointed.
The Pilot House was great..as usual. Best fish & chips in town !
Friendly service and nice simple menu. Meet a friend for late lunch and enjoyed some food and conversation in the dining room. Really eclectic mix of music though, something for every taste!
Went for lunch, fish and chips were amazing, good selection of draught beers. Friendly service, nice patio, a must try.
Always a must when visiting Kingston. The Haddock is so tender and the serving size is more then enough. Never a disappointment! Can not wait to go back!
Nice quiet small pub.
Great food..superb service... pleasant atmosphere... worth a visit!!!
Best fish&chips in Kingston
Great spot for fish & chips or other good pub grub! Friendly service and reasonable prices!
What a beaut. Check it out and try the skeleton key beer.
It can sometimes be hard to get a table, but the wait is worth it. Their fish is some of the best in the city.
Great cosy pub-like atmosphere! Second Best Fish and Chips in Kingston. As a Kingstonian, Mike Mundells Fish and Chips of Kingstons Brock Street Past will always be my favorite!
Good place
A True Kingston Classic
Not like its glory days. Just ok
Too crowded. Either your a restaurant or a bar..dont feel like eating dinner amongst bar flies yelling over each other. Very dirty old place needs renovations desperately. Feels like there is a layer of grease on everything in there, even the people.. man alive! There are men alive in here!.
Great fish and chips.
Small quaint restaurant....been there for years it seems...very laid back and casual. Excellent place for fish and cips and a beer...friendly staff...we did not feel rushed. Seems to be a place everyone, locals and tourists, know about and no one had a negative thing to say. I will go back there for sure. Fantastic. My niece ordered the house salad and one piece of haddock. My sister had the haddock with onion rings. I ordered the haddock with fries. There was plenty of it andnit was delicious. Our servor was fabulous as well. A wonderful place. My niece said her salad was great.
Fantastic Place!!!
Excellent Haddock and great fresh fries. Be sure to ask for a side of amazing gravy !
Great place a block away from the waterfront. Great service and great fish as always.
Enjoyed the personal touch and conversation with the server . Curry beef pie with fries was great and a Corona
I ordered a sandwich that was supposed to have peppers/jalapeños but had olives instead.. which was a really overwhelming and gross taste. I should have asked for another but I hate to bother people. On the other hand, inside & patio had a great vibe and the fish & chips were absolutely incredible! I lol definitely return for the good portion fish with the gravy.
Nice simple menu and place.
Very casual and cozy pub with excellent fish. I recommend subbing the chips for salad for a delicious and healthy alternative. We were served an arugula salad with cranberries, feta, and onions. The chips we got were slightly overcooked but overall, a great meal
Awesome supper. Was recommended to us as the best fish and chips in Kingston. It was fantastic!
Always the best!!
Friendly service, fine selection of beers and food. We had halibut, smoked cod, and lamb pie with salad. Excellent on a chilly Saturday afternoon.
Great and beer, friendly staff, perfect location. Love the new patio!
Stopped in with my wife for a beer and to get out of the pouring rain while walking around downtown. Shirley our waitress was outstanding , and never left us wanting for anything. Nice cozy spot. We will have to come back sometime to try the fish & chips.
Very warm welcome and excellent homemade cheese cake!
Historic building. Traditional pub fare. Big variety of beers on tap.
We had great fish and chips for lunch on the quaint patio
It was a quiet restaurant with good prices and beer.
Very pleasant staff. Enjoyed our outdoor seating. The food was good and reasonably priced
The waitress was friendly and the food was good
Decent little restaurant with friendly staff. The location is nice! The food is very average. Most of the stuff felt frozen.
Disappointing - we had fish and chips which we were told they were famous for. Fairly sure they were frozen pieces dumped in the fryer to make them extra cripy. Not impressed, wouldnt go back for fish and chips.
Historic, great atmosphere,
A Kingston staple
Warm and friendly pub , love it
The curry-based seasoning is excellent!!! The beer is 10...
Awesome fish and chips! Highly recommend!
The halibut fish and chips was super yummy! Definitely would recommend for the price. However our server was a little rude and seemed to be put off that we were students. Definitely would come back for the food though.
Excellent halibut
Very cozy awesome fish and chips
Nice place, well poured drinks
Best fish and chips and the ambience was perfect.
Very nice place to visit the meals are great and very quiet. Music great too .
First visit but not our last!
The best fish and chips plus more in Kingston Ontario.
So so cosy. Great service.
Great small English pub. Great fish and chips and I love the atmosphere.
Really tasty and perfectly cooked fish and chips. The cod was fantastic.
Good food
Great fish & chips! Great & friendly service with great tunes playing in the background! Highly recommend!
Amazing food, great service, quiet atmosphere. Top 5 pubs in Kingston!
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