The Lab Street Eats in Kitchener

Went here for many lunches, good food and not just burgers. Just wish there was more of a selection, but I know it s a small place and the kitchen can only hold so much

Several visits eating in and several nights of takeout....great food!!! Great service and great atmosphere too!! Between the two of us, we are not far from trying everything on the menu, and its hard to pick a favorite. One thing for sure, actually two things....always a poutine as a side and a try at one of the new local beers on the menu is a must. Go visit and enjoy one Waterloo regions best!

Great little place with delicious comfort food. Prices are reasonable and the vibe is intimate, trendy, and causal.

We popped in on a busy Friday to order takeout, and were greeted at the bar with menus. Once we ordered, we were offered a space tucked away to wait for our takeout. The place was packed and had a cozy but upbeat atmosphere. The food was amazing and we will definitely be back for more!

Food was Delicious Service was Great

Amazing food! Staff are friendly and welcoming. Can t recommend enough

We went to The Lab for my husbands birthday. It was our first time. We had a wonderful time. The food was delisiois, prices were very reasonable, portions were great. Run by a father and son, great music and atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Absolutely the best chicken sandwich I have ever had the pleasure of eating. Food portions are more than generous. Prices are more than reasonable. Owners are an absolute delight. This place is an absolute must try.

Great chicken sandwich, great fries, great beer, great value. Casual, fun atmosphere. I regretted not getting my fries as poutine after seeing an order go past.

Small, quaint, good food,

Got the 12 dollar jerk tacos, perfect portion for myself the pineapple slaw was amazing with the slow cooked pulled pork. Environment and staff 5 stars!

one of the best places to eat in the city. period.

Went to the Lab Street Eats yesterday evening with my sister and son. The Badass Cheeseburger, Cajun Chicken sandwich, and Jerk pulled pork tacos, with a large order of fries were ordered. The large order of fries were more than enough for three adults. The food was amazing. What topped the food was the friendly service!! I highly recommend the Lab Street Eats. Enjoy great food, friendly service, and fun atmosphere. More importantly, keep supporting local businesses!!

Amazing food, Awesome staff

Great crispy Jerk chicken sandwich and awesome fries! Need to try more menu items

Its definitely a cozy place. Ill definitely be back.

experience at The Lab on Victoria Street: Today, my husband and I ventured to The Lab on Victoria Street, eager to try something new. As a chef, my husband typically has high standards and avoids restaurants, but we decided to give it a shot. Upon arrival, we chose a table by the door, which was a bit chilly, but manageable. We noticed an unusual service dynamic. The server took orders from two other parties, a family of three and a single gentleman, before attending to us. When she finally approached, she seemed abrupt and explained that she was unaware of our presence because she was in the back. My husband, understanding the restaurant industry, remained polite despite his initial frustration. However, the owner soon emerged, apologized for the oversight, and surprisingly comped our meal. Despite the rocky start, we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. The burger and fries were genuinely delicious, and it wasnt just because they were free

Update November 2024: food still rocked, this time we tested out the dillicious fried chicken burgers. It was very busy for only one server, but we were not rushed and served appropriately. Brought my son to the lab, as he is a big smash burger fan. We both enjoyed a single smash and some fries. Mac and cheese is on the list for next time, it looked awesome. Great selection of craft beers also.

Go here, is all the review I can give. Amazing all around, any wait is worth it.

Excellent food,service and atmosphere! I love the rotating specials and local craft beer. Be sure to take some pickles home. Only wish I could have is beer of tap!

Ordered take out and everything was awesome! From the guy I spoke to on the phone, to the price and OMG the food. We all (4 ppl) LOVED our meals and we are hard to please. The Mac n Cheese is legit the best Ive ever had, and Ive eaten Mac all over Canada and the US. Im not a French fry girly, but I stole a bunch of fries off my husband cause they were so yummy. Great job!

Got the apple slaw, caprese soup and jerk bean tacos, husband got Cubano and poutine. The food packed amazing flavour, so fresh and visually pleasing. Service was wonderful and the staff was so kind and friendly. I hope to return soon!

Incredible service, delicious food! You will not be disappointed eating here.

By far the best cheeseburger I ve ever had, I work in the industry and tried many of hamburgers. I ll definitely recommend my co workers come and try the food. I will definitely be back.

Fire

Great crispy dill chicken sandwich

I thought since this place had such high reviews I would give it a shot. I walked up to the bar area. I was not greeted with a hello or good afternoon. She hardly even looked me way. After waiting for a while I was asked if I wanted to takeout menu. I felt like a number in a line of customers. I placed my order and it took over 30 minutes to receive it. The fries were very overcooked. The sandwich was overly greasy. I appreciate they were very busy. But please, take a second to say hello to a customer when they walk in. Not a great experience.

Just had a takeout with a side package of Nashville Hot spice. Badass Cheese burger and chicken and waffle. Tasty!! Staff was very pleasant. Will return for an in-house meal and a beer. Lots more to try on the menu. Well done Lab!!

This is a fantastic family friendly place. The food and all of the staff are more than amazing!!!

This place is an absolute gem

Bomb food for a fair price! get the poutine they dump on those cheeses curds! The music on there playlists is always on point- great atmosphere! Food

Well today my hubby and I went there for lunch and omg there food was amazing like there buggers were soo good and home made style and also poutine was really good ad well lightly on the salt and really good good family place to eat

This place is a gem !! Every single meal is finger licking good .

A coworker recommended I come here. I couldnt be happier I did. An enthusiastic greeting welcomed my partner and I when we stepped in the front door. Food and drinks were ordered and we didnt wait long for it to arrive. The portions appeared appropriate for the price. It seems in todays world, Im constantly evaluating how much Im getting for my money but those thoughts quickly disappeared once I started eating. The food is impeccable. The food was so good I actually thought to myself they could increase their prices by 10-15% and it would still be worth it. The waitress was kind, genuine and enthusiastic. The atmosphere was simple and the ambiance was relaxed. I am 100% coming back to try the rest of the menu.

A nice and cozy small restaurant with friendly staff, the food is good and prices are responsible.

Absolutely fantastic atmosphere with some of the best comfort food that youll ever have! If you love burgers or fries, chicken or just a good time, come on by and give it a try! Food

Food was awesome. Atmosphere was great. People were so great. Well be back!!

A tasty place located walking distance from DTK. I ordered take out, but did notice inside to be smaller and it didn t look like any outdoor seating (4/5 for atmosphere). Small fries ended up being a very generous serving, and the chicken sammy was loaded with toppings (5/5 for food!). Even after walking to Victoria Park, chicken stayed crispy and fries stayed hot. Would absolutely recommend this place to others.

Outstanding!!!

Great spot!

This food is so delicious, I wish I could afford it every day. Im not sure if they sprinkle something magical on it to make it so good, but seriously. It is scrumptious! Even my picky youngest child ate all his meal... And all the crust of his grilled cheese! My only warning is when you go eat here, everything else will suck. Life will not be the same. You will think about it too much. The atmosphere is great, too. Usually I get take out only because the man and I are introverted. I sat there for my recent birthday though, and,the service is good all throughout. The pricing is good, too.

I got the Hot chick burger and its so good with a huge amount of fries!

Yesterday I finally made it there Ill definitely be back and letting lots of people know what a great experience it was.

Grabbed some takeout since we caught the dinner rush. The double cheeseburger was awesome! Grabbed a couple Mac and cheese - also tasty, especially with bacon. The portion size is huge, one box can feed four children lol! Kids will be pleased to have it again the next day :) The fries are nice, but I d recommend altering the box to let the steam out for takeout orders. The fries were soggy when we got home, but they crisped up nicely under a broiler, so we still got to enjoy them like they were just made! Lots of free 2h parking on Oak street, east of the restaurant.

Dont want to say too many good things about here because it will get harder to get a table to eat! Food is fresh, portions are filling, music was chill, staff are friendly and prices are fair. They even sell some of their sauces for you to eat at home. We will be back!

We loved it here. Great food, great service and love the grown up lemonade

Amazing burgers, best in town. Staff was super friendly and inviting. Will definitely be going back.

Absolutely delicious! Amazing chicken sandwich and mac&cheese! We will be back.

Very poor service (argumentative). I came after the kitchen closed but 1/2 hour before closing and instead of telling me sorry the kitchen closed he told me I was wrong to expect it to be open and that no kitchen in the area will be open at this time, so I went down the street and got some food at another restaurant with an open kitchen. I also commented on how they were not answering the phones and instead of apologizing he was again defensive and told me they are really busy, implying again my expectations were wrong. Then he told me to stop shaking my head in disapproval and asked me not to come back.

This place is awesome. Portion sizes are almost too generous. Awesome. Will return.

I seriously wish I could give more stars. My boyfriend and I are regulars and go here to eat almost weekly. We have always been met with the most amazing service and the absolute best comfort food ever! Huge portion sizes, everything is homemade and full of flavor, great drink selection. I seriously recommend this place to everyone I know. And if you are looking to have the best burger of your life this is the place! Keep up the amazing work guys!

Food

The Food was amazing !! I had the Jerk chicken Sandwich. 5 out of 5! The Fries where also homemade and not over salted. Amanda was an excellent host as well! Keep it up The Lab!

Omg such good food. The poutine is amazing here and they are not stingy on the cheese curds. Absolutely love this place and all the food. I have never been disappointed.

Heard they had the best poutine in town. After trying it... Its hard to disagree! Fantastic!

Keeps busy for good reason. Vibe, tunes, drink, and of course FOOD is what you want when you hear what they got. And its good, local, chill junk, down to the beer and the patties. Bless!

My new favorite poutine in KW

Great bbq and more joint serving terrific Sammy s and taco plus other delicious options. Real local atmosphere, makes you feel right at home. Really friendly service. Try the Cajun chicken sandwich or the Jerk chicken tacos! Plus the fries are home cut, perfectly cooked and served in a generous portion. Nice job, Cindy and Mike, living their dream and putting smiles on faces!

This place is AMAZING! The food is sooooooo good and the service is great! DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!!!!

Burger was great. Dill soup was the special and it was awesome.

We ordered the crispy jerk chicken burger and the badass. It was delicious!! The crispy jerk was a mouthful of flavor and the badass was an awesome beef burger. We paired the burger with small fries which was enough for 2.5 people with the lab spicy maple honey sauce and creamy dill. Both sauces were very flavorful and fresh! The service was quick and extremely polite, kind and loving. And the music slaaapppss!!! Definitely coming here again!

A friend and I came into this restaurant tonight and I was more than impressed with the food, atmosphere and service provided. The Dill Chicken Sandwich was what I got and I would definitely get it again! It was by far the best chicken sandwich I have ever gotten. We will definitely be coming here again!

Great food, great vibe, and great value. Overall this is a super great choice for a quality beef or fried chicken burger.

Food is amazing. Best chicken sandwich of my life. So flavourful and perfect combination of toppings. The fries are pretty good too. Service is great, the two owners are the ones taking orders and serving your food and they re both really nice.

Excellent poutine!!! Tons of gravy/cheese/bacon and Cajun spice. The large is enough for 2.

Such a cool little place. Always had great service and never had a bad meal. Portions are huge, great value and the food is excellent.

Rude staff i will go into more detail. Owner is not welcoming rudely tells us we can sit at a table is quicker to respond to review than kindly welcome guests. Shows owners have no clue what they are doing as they ran out of pork when most of the menu consisted of pork. And yes we did enjoy our night when we found a actual good and welcoming restaurant

The food is delicious and fresh, the staff are amazing and the atmosphere is so cool.

We tried Cajun chicken burger and the badass cheeseburger. Really fresh patties and both were excellent! Amazing food and friendly staff. If you love burgers, please come check this place out, youll love it !!!! It is a small place, hence cannot accommodate a large crowd. Will definitely go back to try out new items. Update: tried fried chicken & waffles, and wagyu beef hotdog. The chicken is so crisp and fried to perfection, juicy and seasoned well. The syrup had some seasoning too (I may be wrong, not sure). It was truly delicious. Wagyu hotdog was bursting with flavor, it was a special item on the menu, so it may not always be available. I wish they had more varieties of cocktails or wine. Would have been nice. But hey, these people serve the best burgers in town, Im happy with that

One of the best burgers that I had in the recent times. I would also recommend the cheeseburger fries, which is the dissected version of the burger.

One of the best sit down meals Ive ever had. Food was amazing and service was even better. Thanks for everything!!

I visited this restaurant with my friends, and it was an extremely disappointing experience. Despite the restaurant s closing time being displayed as 8 PM, we arrived at 7:20 PM and were told by the owner that we could only take our food to go, even though we had 40 minutes to eat. However, the worst part was yet to come. We agreed to take our food outside, but in the meantime, my friend and I went to the washroom to wash our hands. To our shock, the water coming out of the sink was boiling hot, and we both burned our hands. This happened in different washrooms, so it wasn t an isolated incident. We informed the owner about the boiling water, but he dismissed our complaint, stating that no one else had ever reported such an issue and that he would check it out. He did check and came back, but didn t apologize or say anything further about the incident. Adding to our frustration, while we were waiting for our takeout, a table of four people received their food to eat in the restaurant. This made no sense as to why we were told to take our food outside. Overall, the experience was highly disappointing. The poor customer service, the unsafe washroom conditions, and the contradictory seating policy were unacceptable. I won t be returning, and I cannot recommend this place to others.

One of the best places in town! Amazing service, the food is always great and has the best atmosphere, I highly recommend!

Probably the best food in town and hands down the best value! Burner burger is my go to favourite and the Mac and cheese is out of this world! With or without meat it s definitely more then one person can eat! If I m craving a burger it s from The Lab!

Fabulous burger! Great service as well. Would definitely recommend!

Cute place for lunch and interesting food choices. The establishment was a refurbished single level house second from the corner. Street parking was available at lunchtime on a Wednesday. When you come in the lady said just seat yourselves and brought us the one page menu (available online as well) with drinks on the backside. Many varieties of beer plus cans of soda and drip coffee. Food included mostly hot sandwiches, burgers, chicken, fries with toppings, and an interesting mac and cheese. I ordered the cheeseburger fries with apple slaw while my partner ordered the jerk chicken burger and poutine. We both got a can of pop. Considering I ordered my food specifically without onions, it wouldve been nice if she had warned me that the apple slaw had onions but she did not. As for my main course, I did not like the food. If it had been cooked well, it might have been good. Fries topped with cheese sauce, crumbled burger patty, and pickles sounds great! But the burger was way dry and overcooked as were the fries. It was gross and I could only make myself eat so much. It was a waste of a meal. I politely told the lady there that I did not want anymore because I did not enjoy it and she said okay. When I was paying, she asked if I just didnt like the sauce and I told her that the burger and fries were very overcooked and tasted bad. She said that this was how they cooked the burgers here and that the fries were kind of hit or miss. She charges me full price for everything and I tipped normally because I always do. I will not return.

The Hot Chick chicken burger made me sweat slightly, and it sure was tasty. The poutine tasted great, wish the cheese was a bit more melted. The Burner was spicy, a good heat. Good toppings and bun. Didnt leave hungry. Well be back.

Wow. Food is great. Great spice and flavour in the sandwiches. Also great drink selection.

Great atmosphere small . cozy

Food was delicious!!! Got mine with a GF bun and it was so good! Dietary restrictions: GF bun available Food : 5/5 |

Portions huge, great people and incredible prices! Small place but oh man is the food good. Dill chicken sandwich is so good and so is the fries and Mac and cheese! House spice blends and hot sauce are so good too! Food : 5/5

Great little spot. Had an awesome chicken burger

Stumbled across this place on Google and so thrilled that I did. The food was absolutely incredible. Lovely staff and cool atmosphere. Will be back for sure.

Just got the mutant and fries everything was excellent no complaints always excellent owners

Poutine, where can I find some poutine that is going to melt my face? Ordered the small and the large, one with pulled pork. Big portions and the curds had melted just slightly by the time I got home. Perfect. The gravy was a little under powering on the taste but still delicious. With other poutines the gravy has that, you know, gravy taste that overwhelms the fries. I would have to take another crack at this to really tell. Unfortunately the restaurant is up a flight of stairs so this isnt very accessible but Im sure the nice staff would deliver outside. Wheelchair accessibility: The front entrance is up a flight of stairs which is unfortunate.

I sit here in my work van writing this having just finished the Just a badass Burger and omg. It was indeed a badass burger. Tasted amazing, cooked perfectly and it just looked so good too. Got it for takeout and was cooked nice and quick and the service was great :) Will be back for sure! Looks like a fun place to have a few beers for sure!

Quaint, charming, and unique. Love the food and the owners are fun and passionate. Highly recommend this hidden gem. Food : 5/5 |

Cool, Intimate space. If youre a 90s kid, youll appreciate it. Great food, local business, fun atmosphere, need I say more !?

Best fries I have ever had. Crispy outside tender inside and the burger is the best in town. Hands down. Go in hungry it s filling. Great portions and fresh.

I went to this place for lunch for the first time today. My husband has been once before and said how good it was. We both got the Korean bbq chicken and rice soup and the I like it when you call me big popper burger. We also ordered a side fries. We both said that we have not had such amazing food anywhere else. They season everything to perfection and don t skimp on portions of anything including the jalapeño popper cream cheese! The price is amazing for what you get and the service was exceptional. I can t say enough about this place and I will be recommending it to friends. I just wish it was located in Cambridge!

In a world of inflation and high prices, this place stands apart. Still get an amazing homemade burger and a huge portion of fries for 15 bucks...easily beats any fast food franchise. Seating area is small, but feels very homey. Staff are friendly. And best of all the burgers are amazing.

Amazing staff. Amazing service. Prices are better than what you expect for a downtown popping burger joint. Menu is full of flavourful items. Never had a bad experience.

Absolutely delicious burgers. I would even go as far as to say these had to be the best burgers I have ever had anywhere. They were fantastic. The prices were not at all unreasonable. Especially considering what you get. I ordered the jalapeño popper burger and my fiancee the Badass cheeseburger. Both were fantastic. Even the fries were perfect. Highly reccomend!!!

My partner, 1 year old son and I visited for lunch today. Vibe is great, loved the music and atmosphere. Food was great and worth the money. Portion sizes are generous and you cant beat the taste! Cant wait to go back and try other menu items. Had the large poutine and it was LARGE and the double burger was perfect!

Came during dinner on a Saturday food came quick and was amazing. Definitely will be back to try more of the menu

Went to this place cause all the hype on Facebook. Tiny spot but still quite a nice vibe.I Got the jerk chicken tacos and my wife the burger and a shared poutine. The tacos were absolutely amazing as was the poutine. Honestly 2nd only to one I had in Montreal. My wifes burger was good, but she wished she got the double patty cause she didnt realize they were smash burgers.Overall amazing experience, and like I told him. Lived up to the hype!

Hard to find a spot like this out of toronto, staff was awesome, environmental was grat and the food was anazing. Will absolutely be here again and will recommend to friends and family!!!

Its a cute place, great food and friendly owner. Should definitely go.

First time visitors. Cool little place, nice people and great food at a reasonable price. Definitely worth checking out.

Our favorite eatery in Kitchener by a LONG shot! If you havent tried the Lab yet, youre definitely missing out on one of the best restaurants in the region.

You gotta try this place!!!

Went out for dinner at the Lab for are first time and what an amazing little family run restaurant. The staff is extremely friendly, the food was excellent and the atmosphere is fantastic. I would highly recommend.

Everything we ordered was on point. Great staff! Definitely coming back on a regular basis

STOP WHAT YOURE DOING AND LISTEN!!!! This place is the SPOT! Wow, the customer service I received here, it couldnt be replicated anywhere else, no major chain, or small mom & pop has ever done what they did for us tonight! WOW, I mean just straight up wow! The food was delicious, like MMMMM MMM GOOD, finger lickin delicious! I had a take out order too, and they were still over the top good to me! I took it home and my kids were complimenting how yummy it was and they cant wait to go there ( this was our first time ordering there) and then I told them about the amazing gesture and service and they were floored! So, not only will you leave with a belly full of amazing quality food, youll leave with a little piece of care and love for the place and the hard work they put in to make it feel that way! Were a local company too, and we will definitely be referring and using them for our company events! Wow, just wow guys! Thank you so much!!

Honestly the perfect experience for a lunch date. Went there with my girlfriend today and it was so good. We were speechless. I got the single burger while she go the cubano and both came to our table within 12 minutes- the ideal ticket time. My burger was cooked to perfection and they give you the option for bacon or cheese. I opted for both. The best burger I have ever had in my life hands down. The cubano my girlfriend had was huge and filled to the brim with everything you could want. If youve had a cubano sandwich before you need to try theirs because it redefines the whole thing. As a side dish we ordered a poutine and we tried to get a large to share but the owner saved us. The small was more than enough to share with another person. All in all our bill was just under 50 dollars and I could not recommend this place enough. A must-go experience if I do say so myself. Parking: anywhere really.

Those cheeseburger fries were the best thing Ive ever eaten.

Good food, reasonably priced! Owners wife is a hottie!

Love this place. Friendly little family run spot with terrific food and good service. Mac n cheese is great, Cubano, burgers, soups... All delicious. My daughter loves it too. Prices are very reasonable. Wheelchair accessibility: Unfortunately not wheelchair accessible

Taste Good, Feel Good food. Mike and the staff were wonderful. Catering to our every need! Would recommend. The food is great the service is definitely a bonus!

This place has earned a spot in our regular take out rotation. I first discovered this place when I had a craving for fries and searched for restaurants in the area with highly-rated fries and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. The Cajun Garlic mayo is a must. The portion for the fries is also generous. I ve tried their burger, the Hot Chick and the Crispy Jerk Chicken sandwiches. All have been great and I might even be bold enough to say these are the best chicken sandwiches in town (that I ve tried so far). The space is small inside and doesn t have a tonne of seating. We have always gotten take out. Your can order ahead for pickup. If you order there, the wait is a little longer because they make it to order. Definitely worth the wait and the staff have always been super friendly. There s no parking but you can park on Oak Street and it s a quick walk to the restaurant. Just remember to lock your car :)

Everything was delicious. Great portions and great price. Owners were awesome and welcoming. Cant stop going. The specials are always just as wonderful as the regular menu Food

The Cubano is amazing!!

Great spot downtown for a burger and fresh cut fries!

Best chicken sandwich I have ever had.

Giving 5 stars today for being closed and allowing your staff more holiday down time. The food is good too.

Why did it take us so long to go here. Everything was so good.

The Lab Street Eats has quickly become a favourite for my entire family! My parents can be very hard to please when it comes to a good burger and fries but even they were blown away by the quality of the food. Then there s my toddler who can t get enough of the Mac and Cheese. The staff are always extremely friendly and quick to bring out food and drinks. If you haven t tried this place out yet, go now! 10/10 would recommend. Kid-friendliness: High chair available

I don t know what s better the food, service or general vibe of this restaurant! I ve come to specifically crave their cheeseburger and have no problem making the hour drive over there to get it. The staff/Owners are lovely and i sing along to every song as I shovel every perfect piece of food into my mouth. 10/10!

An absolutely amazing restaurant and atmosphere. The food is some of the best I have ever had and at a fraction of the cost. There is always unique Specialties on the menu that just blow away the flavour buds, The Mac and Cheese seems sent from heaven, and the portion size is enough that this 64 guy usually asks for a take out container. Common saying here is We dont do small portions Atmosphere... Mike and Cindy (the owners) always treat you like family, place is always clean and friendly, respectful and accommodating, they really go above and beyond to please! The Lab Street Eats is all about community, and it shows with all the partners they have teamed up with, from the gourmet coffee, custom beers, and wines all local sourced, they really do give back to the community. If you have never been here you are truly missing out on one of the best little restaurants K-W has to offer

Walked in on a Saturday evening. Grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered a large mac & cheese and fries with gravy to go. Food was prepared quickly and tasted great.

My family and everyone I bring to the Lab always has a 10/10 experience! The staff make a huge effort to make you feel very welcomed and appreciated! The food is just incredible and well thought out. The portions are wild. Haha I usually always have a hearty lunch the day after dining at the lab! We love it and highly recommend everyone go experience the awesomeness that is The Lab! I m always excited to plan my next visit there Kid-friendliness: My kids are obsessed with this place!! They tend to be pickier eaters, but they always find something they love from the Lab!

The lab never disappoints! Mike and team are amazing at what they do. With an unreal menu full of tasty eats and a carefully curated craft brew selection, you will not want to miss this place. Always check whats on special!

Love this place! The food is always delicious! The people are very friendly/kind and the atmosphere is great! Cant say enough good things about it! Cant wait to go back!

Food is just amazing especially the mac and cheese with Cajun chicken and chicken sandwich. Very friendly staff and affordable for the amount you get. Highly recommend!!

I ve been to The Lab a couple of times, the food is always AMAZING. The staff is very friendly and polite! I ve also order take out a couple of times and the burger is warm and juicy! It s absolutely the best place for a burger in the region!!! I can t wait for them to come back from vacation

Amazing food, wonderful service!!

Amazing food and service every single time. Best burger and the best poutine but everything is delicious and comes out hot. The staff always treats me and the other guests in the place like gold. If you dont like this place look in the mirror before you post anything cause you crazy.

Vegetarian options: The best Kid-friendliness: Gives candys to kids for free Food : 5/5 |

This is going to be one of my new go to places! The food was incredible quality and generously portioned. I ordered the Cubano sandwich with a small poutine. I was immediately impressed with the quality of the meat in the sandwich and the freshness of the bread. The poutine was large for a small and even as a big guy I was stuffed by the time I finished them both. The fries stood up really well to the gravy and didnt immediately turn to mush and the cheese curd was at that perfect point of meltiness that it was stringy while still keeping its structure. Despite being quite full I was told by a friend that I had to try The Dessert and was I ever glad I did! It is an ice cream sundae. The homemade vanilla ice cream is smooth and delicious. The caramel is made with hot honey that brought an unexpected spiciness that played perfectly with the saltiness of the crispy bacon pieces and sweetness of the ice cream. It was playful and perfectly balanced and I am in love. The atmosphere is very friendly and it seem the owners knew everyone who came in. It was really busy on a Friday lunch with so many people picking up food they had to warn new people coming in that it would take half and hour for new orders. I dined in and my food came in a reasonable time...i would estimate 10-15 minutes. The space is small, only about 6 tables, but I found it a cozy, friendly atmosphere. Only downside is that it was -17 outside and door doesnt close properly so ever time someone came or went (which was constant) the whole restaurant got blasted with cold air. Was it worth putting up with for such a good meal? Absolutely! But if you are sensitive to such things choose a seat out of the doors wind line. Very very highly recommended. Parking: No parking lot but lots of parking available on Oak Street. Wheelchair accessibility: The restaurant is up a flight of external stairs so sadly it is not accessible.

Why bother posting opening hours if you re not going to bother honouring them .

Never a bad experience and all the staff are super friendly. The food is always delicious! Small poutine is not small though; need someone to share with!

We are so lucky to have this little gem of a family-run restaurant in Kitchener. I love that its the owner who waits tables, and he is so friendly. And the food is top-notch with reasonable prices. I also love their business model. They believe in work/life balance, so sometimes the restaurant isnt open. Good for them! If you go and find the restaurant is closed, just plan to go another time. It will be worth the second trip!

The Lab just doesnt miss! Be sure to check their Instagram for a latest updates on the restaurant ! One of the best chicken sandies in town , classic fries and then amazing atmosphere inside! Although the seating location may be small , they are close to multiple places a short walk away to sit and enjoy lunch in the sun We have now moved to Alberta and will forever miss the lab, will be stopping by on our hometown visits Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly, while still hip-hop culture based.

Simply the best food in KW!

Went there with my sister and nephew, we all left so full and with to go containers. The food was prob and we all agree the best we ever had at a restaurant! The service was above and beyond. The husband/ wife duo work hard and supported eachother. I was impressed with their team work! Great job guys keep in up!!! Cant wait to come back and try more of the menu! The prices are amazing as well!

Food is excellent and always have interesting soups and specials. Staff are so kind and helpful.

Ive been coming here for a while now and every time I do, it never disappoints. The food is made fresh, never frozen, it always comes out hot and is delicious! The portion size is huge and very filling, I tend to always take food home. They have a variety of homemade items that they sell to take home, Im always buying the pickles when they have them! Mike and crew are amazing, the fact that despite seeing and serving tons of people he knows my order! I hope theyre around forever! Keep up the amazing work!!

Weve just returned from a dinner out at this most excellent little establishment, and we are honestly so grateful to have such great burgers and fries in our corner of the city. The poutine in particular is my go-to, and my partner swears that the cajun chicken burger is the best hes ever had. The reason that prompted writing this review though is the service. The owners were incredibly accommodating to our chaotic young family, and I was impressed that Taylor, our server, took our order perfectly despite our kids chorus of tiny voices doing their best to block out any other sounds! Places like The Lab are the soul of a community and I think its amazing that the owners here are able to consistently turn out such amazing meals while still prioritizing the health and well-being of their own family and staff. We aspire to be long-standing regulars here; this was not our first great experience here, and Im certain it wont be the last either. Thank you!

Easily one of the best restaurants in Waterloo Region. The food is always consistently amazing and the owners are lovely people that make you feel like friends every time you come. The prices are reasonable considering the quality and the portions are very generous. I have never left hungry and usually leave with a to go container for my lunch the next day. I can t recommend The Lab enough. It s a must try for everyone.

I saw all the positive reviews posted online and thought to take my family here when they were visiting from out of town. From the moment we walked in, we found it to be a hectic, crammed and uninviting. The waiter, who I guess is also the owner by the way he man handled all the customers was really pushy and seemed annoyed about all our orders and asking for customizations. If we are going out we want to get what we want. The service was lacking because it was just the one guy, and the restaurant wasnt even full. The food is all just over priced fried food you can get almost anywhere. It took a long time to come out and some of our plates were cold. We mentioned this to the waiter and he shrugged it off that we are a large group and didnt offer to reheat it or anything. No one really enjoyed the experience and there was 6 of us. Parking wasnt easy and my relative who isnt from this city had one of the neighbours yell at us that were were in their spot. Parking: The parking wasnt easy, it faces a busy street and has very limited street parking on the side where the neighbours yell at you if you are in a spot they dont like you being.

Hands down the best burgers and poutine in town. Mike and Cindy do an amazing job I tell everyone to go here keep up the great work guys! I tried the sai burger was outstanding

Best burger ive had!! All around great vibes!! Love the artistic rad touches around the room as well as the opportunity to give back to the community by giving a donation to the coping centre and getting a little plant to care for in return. We will for sure be back!! Family run buisness makes it even extra special in my eyes!! This restaurant keeps going strong even when obstacles are placed in the way!! I fully suppprt them taking time off here and there to spend time with family, thats so important!! as I truly beleieve self care has a ripple affect to bring awesomeness your way!! Keep being unique and making delicious homemade food!!! Cheers!!

Enormous portions of amazing food! Small, family team running the show, dealing with more than their fair share of restaurants ups and downs, and still supporting great causes. Ill be back to try everything on the menu a few times! Vegetarian options: The bean tacos were a great substitute for jerk chicken!

What sucks is that I can only give this place 5 stars. Definitely deserves 10. The food was excellent (that badass burger and the dill chicken burger were outta this world) and the fries were incredible. The local art on the walls inside made it fun, the staff were super warm and attentive, and it was just a great experience for an out-of-towner here for a couple days. Come hungry!

Best burger in town. Yummiest poutine. Incredible service by the most warm, and welcoming local business owners. Definitely our new favourite spot. My only regret is that it took me this long to discover this local gem.

I highly recommend this place if you havent tried it yet.. you will go back! Their food, customer service,atmosphere, hospitality are ALL amazing!

Best chicken in town

Absolutely delicious and well priced. Best comfort food in town.

Generally a good food spot. It s just extremely overpriced. We spent $30 and got just two burgers. We expected for $30 to at least get fries and a drink too! Didn t even get napkins.

Great food, great service! They really know how to take care of people here.

In my quest for an awesome burger in DTK, the Lab Streets Burner is nothing short of wicked. Cooked to perfection, just a smidge past medium. At a mere $11.00, bang-for-the-buck you cannot find a better burger in Kitchener! (I did omit the pickles, and added a dash of ketchup) Parking: Free parking on nearby Oak Street.

Best comfort food in Kitchener. the quality is always A+ and never falters, service is phenomenal, atmosphere is perfect.

Amazing food with amazing portions! I got the Dill-icious Chicken sandwich which was crispy and delicious!! My partner got the pulled pork mac and cheese which was a HUGE portion that lasted us for a couple more meals. We also got a side of fries that was MASSIVE for the price with some dill sauce that I would literally drink by the gallon if I could. Will definitely come here again!

The Lab is a must if you want sophisticated street eats without the pretentiousness. From the moment I walked in I knew I was in for an explosion of eclectic masterful flavours. The ambiance in the lab reminded me of an underground house club from the 90s but very understed. No matter where you looked in this quaint space there was always something to see and explore visually. The food was just as amazing as everything there. I normally will only eat part of my meal, when I say I cut my badass burger in half expecting to do the same thing I normally do. I finished the whole burger which is very rare for me. Keep being original in your flavours, ambiance and music choices you are a hidden jem. I will be back again for sure.

Tasty food, kind and pleasant owner

So delious! Service was amazing and server was so friendly! First time coming but won t be the last!

Had a fantastic lunch with my wife here. I had the crispy jerk chicken sandwich and my wife had thr Cubano and we shared a small fry. The food was top notch. Will definitely return.

Husband and I finally ventured here after hearing nothing but stellar reviews. We popped in around 2pm on a Saturday just in time to snag a free table as a few others waited on take out or to get their food. There are about 7 tables inside total and a little bar area with a few seats that is used more for those waiting on takeout it seems. It is by no means a large place but you can call to make a reservation off peak times if youre worried and parking is located for 2 hours just on Oak street. Not even a 2 minute walk from the door! The atmosphere was very relaxed with no one rushing around, music at good levels and no one yelling or having to talk over one another which was fantastic. The menu ranges from burgers to chicken and even soup with a variety of local drinks to choose from alongside the usual sodas, coffee, and tea. We ordered the cubano, badass cheeseburger, fries, and a poutine. Id heard they made the best smash burgers in town so I was eager to try them out! We snagged a cherry cider and craft elk juice while we waited only a few moments for our food to come out. The burger was huge! Two patties, two cheeses, all the fixins topped up between a brioche bun. After the first bite I couldnt set it down! Crispy on the outside and juicy inside with the perfect amount of sauce and toppings for layer after layer of flavour. And the homemade pickles? We couldnt get enough so we got a jar to take home! The poutine came out in a small mixing bowl and was layered perfectly for bite after bite of gravy, fries, and true cheese curds. The fries came out the same way and were crispy and airy, another difficult dish to put down. The cubano was also large and stacked with the right amount of pork, ham, cheese, pickles and oh-so-good sauce. We definitely did not leave hungry, but we werent stuffed either. We took the fries home to snack on later and after tip (and a jar of pickles) our total came out to around $88! More than fair for both service and food! We are SO GLAD we stopped in and we cant wait to go back for more. Parking: Parking is located on Oak street and is free for 2 hours.

Great atmosphere and the food is top notch! Cant wait to go back. One of my favorite local spots in KW

You NEED to try this place. Amazing food, even better service. Owner is always there, dropping wisdom and friendly chats. And if all this isnt enough, he plays old school hip hop for you to enjoy while youre eating the best Mac n cheese youve ever had. Go there. Now.

Great vibe, great food

Delicious everytime! Fresh and great friendly service!

Ive been twice, super cute creative food- burger fries were amazing and there chicken is the best i ve had. i wouldn t recommend getting the normal burger tho that was a touch dry everything else was a 10/10

Find a better Cubano in the tri cities, I dare you.

Macaroni and Cheese and Cajun chicken is absolutely amazing! I could eat here everyday, its very addicting!

Absolutely mind blowing how delicious this quaint local spot is! Cubano was flavourful with some subtle heat, chicken & waffles was perfectly breaded drizzled in this insane spicy maple honey, and the poutine = perfection! If you haven t been, GO!!!

I ve had a few things on the menu and I gotta say I love the details of the cooking process . I had a chicken noodle soup and the lab actually cooked my noodles to order so they weren t all mushy, they were perfect. The Patty Melt with side garlic sauce to dip is my favourite.

Wonderfull

Went there Wednesday for Jaide Security dinner. Amazing food, incredibly fast service since we ordered for 10. Large portions and the chicken and waffles was delicious. Absolutely amazing local restaurant. Well

Everything about this place is incredible! You get quality food at a good price! Everything from the service to the atmosphere even the music was on point. The kind of place you need to try everything on the menu atleast once! Will be back for sure!!!

Food has been amazing every time my wife and I have come to eat here. Amazingly cheap for what you get. If this is your first time comeing here the portion sizing is HUGE so come hungry or come with a crowd. Parking: Parking on the side street beside the restaurant.

We just moved in across the street, and went for a feed after hauling all our stuff in. We were hungry and thirsty and tired, and this place was a shining star on our horizon. The staff is so lovely! Friendly and welcoming from the get-go. We got beers, and asked for suggestions on the meal, and we were not disappointed. I had the dill-licious chicken sandwich, which was amazing! So rare to find a fried chicken sandwich that doesnt involve a dried out chicken breast; the fried chicken thigh was perfect for this sambo! The Mac and cheese, one of our party got this, which was a HUGE portion. And they suggested adding a beef patty, which was amazing! Another friend got the Cajun chicken sandwich, which they really really enjoyed too. We got a large fry to share, and a massive mixing bowl of fries arrived!! So many fries!!!! But they were so tasty. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit, the beers were cold and tasty, and the atmosphere was great. Good tunes, friendly staff, this place is gonna be dangerous to us living across the street! Also, we bought a jar of pickles from the fridge and OH MY GOD. These pickles are to die for! Thanks Lab gang!!!

Amazing chicken sandwich, massive amount of fries and mac and cheese I cant wait to go back and try their burgers. The idea of having craft beer at the same time is awesome!

The Lab is consistently a fantastic place to eat. Best poutine in town, always has interesting new beers and drinks to try, and every single one of the chicken sandwiches is to die for.

Awesome small local place near central station ridiculously good food for the price, and ridiculously good food, period. Can t wait to bring friends sometime soon to dine in!