Symposium Cafe Restaurant | OSHAWA in Oshawa

2630 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4, Canada

★★★★☆
(1190 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant Bar Breakfast restaurant Brunch restaurant Cafe Canadian restaurant Coffee shop Dessert restaurant Family restaurant Lunch restaurant

About

Welcome to Symposium Cafe Restaurant Oshawa, the top choice for casual dining with a gourmet twist. Whether you’re looking to dig into some seriously delicious comfort food, enjoy refreshing drinks, or just relax with great service, we’re here to help you celebrate all of life’s moments. Feast on mouth-watering burgers, juicy steaks, fresh seafood, delicious appetizers, tasty sandwiches, hearty soups, and protein-packed salads. And don’t miss out on our fresh fruit drinks, specialty coffees, and our legendary desserts. We also serve up daily lunch specials and have a killer happy hour that’s sure to please. Located in North Oshawa on Simcoe Street at Windfield Farms Shopping Centre north of Ontario Tech University & across from Costco.

Website
symposiumcafe.com
Address
2630 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4, Canada
Plus Code
X37W+FH Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
8 AM–10 PM
Tuesday
8 AM–6 PM
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
8 AM–10 PM
Friday
8 AM–11 PM
Saturday
8 AM–11 PM
Sunday
8 AM–10 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Kerbside pickup No-contact delivery Delivery On-site services Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Great cocktails
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Happy-hour food Healthy options Late-night food Organic dishes Small plates Spirits Vegan options Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets Wi-Fi Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Family friendly Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids Has changing table(s) High chairs Kids' menu
Parking
Free multi-storey car park Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.3
★★★★☆
1190 reviews

Most Mentioned

server (69) brunch (24) birthday (24) patio (17) spinach dip (12) salmon (10) mimosas (9) brownie (9) fish and chips (6) fettuccine alfredo (5)
5 stars
814
4 stars
154
3 stars
69
2 stars
47
1 stars
106
★★★★★
December 11, 2024

Recently visited Symposium for their weekly wings special. Every Wednesday 1lb for $9.95. Best wings ever!!! I love the service, so friendly and welcoming. Such a relaxing environment to get my school work done and enjoy a nice meal!!! Keep up the great work!! 5STARS

December 10, 2024

Loved the restaurant for it's cleanliness and ambience to click pics for my birthday but the service was pretty disappointing especially by the middle aged lady- Akshaya something. We came in early but wanted some time to just sit, talk and relax but she kept on insisting to order whether it was the drink or food. Also was disturbing while cutting the cake, couldn't enjoy wholeheartedly because she was constantly showing up to ask something or for us to do something and even tried to make us leave by 9 pm although we didn't want to leave so fast. Food was okay too, not very well cooked and sauces or seasoning isn't added generously like the Salmon with Pesto sauce and Spiced Chicken dishes something. Way too pricey when the service and dishes or drinks aren't that scrumptious or savoury. Even the Mimosa drinks barely had the Fruit essence and just consisted of carbonated water with Wine.

★★★★★
November 27, 2024

The place is neat and charming, been here a couple of times. Staff is nice and accommodating, portions are really good for the price point Akshaya was particularly spectacular in her service.

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

What a lovely quaint place. Cool quotes on the wall as soon as you come in. The staff are so nice and friendly. Thea gave great recommendations to meet our dietary needs. She was very attentive too. She checked on things a few times to make sure it fit with our needs and followed up mid meal as well. Would definitely come again!

★★★
May 13, 2024

I ordered the Cobb salad no meat and vegetarian mushroom Alfredo with rice noodles. I liked the option of rice noodles. All the food came at once. The salad first would have been nice. The Cobb salad didn’t have avocado which was strange. The Alfredo was good.

★★★
April 30, 2024

Food was delicious. Server was just okay... resturant was dirty and wasnt what I had expected for a newer location. It was 1130 am and they had already run out of the only 2 desserts someone at the table wanted. Hair stuck in outlet by our table, wi down ledges were covered in drink rings and dust. Will not go back to this location. Also got a glass of wine that I'm pretty sure was wiped with an old oily rag before they gave it to me.

★★★
March 30, 2024

Had a very strange experience at this location. The food itself was great, but the service/staff were off. It started well, but we had just sit down, not even a minute goes by and the waitress asks if we’re ready to order. We obviously needed more time. When it was time to order, we decided we wanted to do a big breakfast. I wanted to order additional protein sides to the three egg breakfast (sausage, bacon, ham), but the process they had in place made that unusually difficult compared to other breakfast places. I also wanted a waffle as a side order, which they don’t offer, again very strange. They ended up charging me $12 for one waffle. When we were done, we hadn’t seen the waitress for a while. She eventually showed up, asked if we wanted anything else, we said we were done, and she walked away. We thought she was getting the bill. So we wait, and wait… eventually I had to approach another waitress who was working very hard. She went to go find our waitress and finally we were able to pay the bill. On the way out, the hostess at the door had been on the phone for at least the last 15 minutes. As we were walking out, I expected her to acknowledge us leaving. She didn’t. She just had this bored, miserable look on her face while on the phone and completely ignored us. It’s unfortunate because the food was great, but the service and atmosphere ruined the experience. Will definitely not go back to that location.

★★★★★
February 19, 2024

Had an awesome visit to Symposium Cafe in Oshawa this Sunday evening. The place was pretty chill, not too crowded, which was nice for a laid-back night out. They were running with just two staff members, but you wouldn’t even notice – they were super on top of everything and really friendly. I went for the fried chicken breast with fries and gravy, and let me tell you, it was so good. The chicken was just the right kind of crispy on the outside and super juicy inside. The fries? Perfectly crispy. And the gravy brought it all together. Seriously tasty stuff. Also tried the Caesar cocktail while I was there, and it was exactly what I needed. Really refreshing and just the right mix of flavors. All in all, had a great time at Symposium Cafe. The vibe was just right for a Sunday evening hangout. Good food, good drinks, and good service. Definitely recommend checking it out if you’re in Oshawa and looking for a cool spot to grab a bite or a drink.

★★★★★
December 20, 2024

This place was absolutely adorable! There were really pretty art pieces around and all the staff were really nice and respectful :) Would definitely love to go again, especially for the dessert!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 19, 2024

Had a wonderful brunch here with mimosas... The service was discreet, pleasant and helpful. The food was tasty with good portions. Noise levels varied, but it is Christmas party time... Would visit here again.

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

Thamira s service is fabulous. As it was my first experience. She made it remarkable.

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

The food was scrumptious and the service was amazing.

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Excellent service from akshaya

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Very good manager !!!

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Food was lovely, pretty looking restaurant to get a quick meal with my husband, and friendly service. Akshya gave excellent service.

December 1, 2024

We regularly attend sporting events in the Oshawa area and our family always looks forward to our visit to the symposium cafe Unfortunately, we will not be returning to this restaurant, at least not to this location. upon arrival, the restaurant was fairly empty and a few of the waitresses were standing near the cash. Although we were acknowledged quickly, that welcoming feeling wasn t the same as our past visits. My daughter, who is 13 requested to order something from the kids menu which has an age restriction of 12 years. The owner came over to inform me that that would not be a option and questioned my daughter s age. Although she looks older, she is 13 and we were honest about that and I offered to pay full price for the pasta which she agreed to. When walking away I heard her comment to the waitress to not include other items in the kid meals and charge for the chocolate milk. Again totally acceptable , given the accomodations made. When our entrées arrived, they were extremely salty. There was definitely added salt after cooking, so much so, that it was visible on the food. You could see the salt caked on my french fries and my daughters mac & cheese was also incredibly salty. we tried not to complain and attempted to scrap off as much as possible from surface but we could not stomach the saltiness. The fish was also undercooked and you could scrap the uncooked batter off the inside. in addition for a 2 pc fish I received about a table spoon of tarter sauce, a tiny splice of lemon and very small serving of slaw. Definitely not the portion we always receive. my daughter asked for water, which was not provided at the beginning of the meal as it had been in past visits and i decided to inform the actual owner who came to the table that the food was horrendously salty. She immediately took offence told me they didn t add any salt to it in a angry tone. I repeated that neither of us had added salt to this meal either and she basiccally stood over us rolling her eyes. she began to argue so I told her to taste it for herself.. and after no response other then eye rolling I said just bring the bill of you are not going to do nothing about it it s not even eatable . I paid over $50 for a fish and chip and mac & cheese that was totally inedible. She did not even discount the food nor offer us any apologies or meal replacement. And when an alternate waitress came by to finalize our bill. She asked me if I would like to take out box and I again expressed that the food was inedible and salty and she also began to tell me that they make 30 of these meals a day and no one else ever has a problem or complains. I was going to walk out, and not pay this bill but I just had the feeling, these people would probably start something so I paid 50+ dollars for nothing. I will not be returning to this location and plan to express concerns to head office. Very intimidating and disappointing experience!

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

Stella was amazing , the food was great. It is a great place to hangout for a fun date.

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

Great experience

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

Akshaya took good care of us, great customer service and nice ambience too.

Local Guide
November 22, 2024

We ordered fettuccine with chicken, Symposium burger and tacos.. Our little guy only ate 2 spoons of the fettuccine and we asked for a takeout box. We left without taking the takeout box. We had forgotten. We returned exactly after 14 mins to take the box and the staff mentioned they threw it in garbage. How can they throw my food especially when it was almost a full plate and I paid for it? Very disrespectful and felt unprofessional. Not recommended.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Our server, Stella, was so lovely! Lunch was great too

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Excellent burger- homemade, amazing fries. Our server, Akshaya, was lovely. Parking: Simcoe and Winchester Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Oshawa very very good service.. especially my server Akshaya

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

akshaya very good service

★★
November 22, 2024

Ambience is nice, but food and drinks are just average. The host/waitress lacks hospitality, no smile, just greeting for the sake of it like a robot. Never visiting again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Thanks to Komal she advised me the cake and mojito and really they were delicious.she provided excellent service! She s a lovely lady, attentive and warm, making our experience truly special.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Instantly five stars, Akshaya is the best

November 22, 2024

me and my family had a very bad experience, Food was not at all good, I recommend not to try any cocktails, fettuccine alfredo, Fish tacos and anything except wings.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Akashaya was very accommodative and friendly, checked on us frequently and served everything timely. The café itself was also nice, not too busy on Saturday noon and a very pleasant experience to hang out. Bonus points: breakfast till 4pm!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Akashaya is very attentive and friendly.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Good overall, got a brownie from this review

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Akshaya is an outstanding barista who truly elevates the coffee experience. Her warm and welcoming attitude, expert coffee knowledge, and attention to detail made my visit memorable.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Akshay is best very good service

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Wow akshaya is friendly server we are very happy

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Loved the food here. The service given by Akshaya is amazing . Came here for my friends birthday and she was so sweet.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

The food was great! Akshaya gave us amazing service!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

I came here with a few friends to celebrate a birthday and enjoyed it a lot! I ordered the JD Petit Filet, and it was great. The service provided by our waitress, Akshaya, was also amazing. Would come here again

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

It was a great experience ny server was the best Akshaya was really attentive and very pleasant.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Akshay was amazing, will definitely be going back

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

We always enjoy our food here and the service is always excellent. Staff are all friendly and attentive. Daily and lunch specials are good deal.

★★★★
October 22, 2024

Komal was very friendly and gave amazing service!!

★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Got together with a couple girlfriends to reminisce over dinner. It was perfect because this location wasnt busy, guessing as it was Thanksgiving Monday. We had an amazing server er, I believe her name was Kylee. She made the experience that more perfect. Will probably return again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Excellent food and service

September 22, 2024

I had a very disappointing experience at Symposium Cafe Restaurant on Simcoe location. I went there for a date with my boyfriend and decided to try their 2 can dine for $69 special. The calamari we ordered as a starter was subpar, tasting fishy and served on wilted lettuce. The main dishes, a steak for me and salmon for my boyfriend, were even worse. The vegetables looked frozen, the rice seemed old, and the steak was inedible. When I politely expressed my dissatisfaction to the server, the manager came over and proceeded to yell at me, insisting that their food is not microwaved or frozen. He refused to replace the food or offer a solution. I ended up paying for food I couldnt eat and left feeling extremely frustrated. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone based on my experience.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Good service very nice food

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

The place is nice and the food is very good. Thanks Thamira for the great service.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

I had the pleasure of being served by Thamira at Symposium, and her service truly stood out. She was exceptionally sweet and engaging, making our dining experience not only pleasant but memorable. I couldn t have asked for a better waitress.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Service is good. They had good food. My family and I have a great time

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

It s a very nice place for family and friends! Very good atmosphere. Excellent service. Our waiter s name was Thamira and she is very friendly and helpful. She helped us by suggesting good dishes according to our taste! We had a great time. We will definitely come back to this place!

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

If you need GF meals do not come to this location as we the ran out of GF buns they don t have GF appetizers no GF buns for entrees and no GF dessert I. E GF brownie. Other then that we ordered Pad Thai which taste great!!! House wine taste okay hence happy hour option!!! Dietary restrictions: Gluten free limited options .

★★★
September 22, 2024

My waitress was excellent. The food was ok. Parking: Na Food : 3/5 |

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Had a great lunch at Symposium Ferry and Akshaya provided fabulous service and the food was delicious. The inside has great decor also!

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Wonderful!!!!!!

★★★★
September 22, 2024

Went during happy hour and the place was not crowded. The restaurant was fresh smelly and very clean. Unfortunately, it was very cold and frigid in the restaurant. The portioned were great. The food was good something to keep you coming back but nothing to write home about. Unfortunately, we had to request cutlery. Our server Komsomol was excellent.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Akshaya is a wonderful server. Had a wonderful brunch.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

excellent service as always ! i always love coming here

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

The best service and food!

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Amazing service from Thamira! Will definitely be coming back!

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Good food, great service! Shoutout to Thamira, she was so sweet

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Great staff, nice food and very laid back

★★★
September 22, 2024

I came here for brunch. I loved the avocado toast but the coffee was not great.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

I had a great experience here! The staff named Thamira was very knowledgeable about the food they had and recommended some great dishes for us. The prices were reasonable and very affordable. Overall, a great experience!

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

We had a lovey server (Aubrey) who was efficient, friendly and gave us a great Caeser Salad tip! Really nice experience. Food was fresh and ready in no time.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Mind blowing, fabulous, fantastic burgers Vegetarian options: Good vegetarian burger Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Everything was good

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Akshay was wonderful! The food was great and good drink deals.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Very delicious food and the place was so good and clean and the server Akshaya was so friendly and nice must visit this place

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

I recently dined at Symposium Restaurant and had an exceptional experience, thanks to our server, ferry. From the moment we were seated, Ferry was attentive and friendly about the menu. She ensured that our dining experience was nothing short of perfect.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Wonderful friendly staff. Very great dining experience

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Food was delicious, great prices, nice clean restaurant

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

The Pad Tai was super good! Huge portion. Half price menus and $5 drinks! What more can you ask for !! Ill definitely go back

September 22, 2024

Food is great, service is horrible. Had my order wrong multiple times I ve gone there and we have to reach out if we want to order. Even when I ask for my right order they won t take it back. This happened more then 3 times, I tried giving the place a chance but the service never improved

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Great food, nice and quiet. Not too crowded. If the manager reads this, our server yesterday morning (July 22) was great! Could not be more impressed.

★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

First and last time going to this location. The 3 stars is for the food, because the food was phenomenal and delicious. Our waitress was absolutely miserable and looked like she did not want to be there. Our food was brought by the kitchen staff guy, our waitress was too busy sweeping Not a smile to be had. Lousy service, wont be back.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Great food and service

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Great food and service

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Great hidden spot

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Very good

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

good food

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Great food

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Great food great service

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Great place great food

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

I met a client here for lunch due to its proximity to his home - and that was a great decision. Its in a relatively convenient location with a decent amount of parking (as well as other interesting places to shop close by) The menus are full of yummy-sounding dishes, and the food is very tasty and fresh - served in good-sized portions. The service was excellent as well. Definitely looking forward to going back and trying more dishes off of the menu.

★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Service was a bit slow considering the restaurant wasnt busy. The chicken fingers and fries were a good portion size but the chicken fingers were very dry. Fries were good. Avocado toast looked amazing but was on marble rye bread which had a strong flavor. Would have been better on sourdough.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

We enjoyed our family meal. The service was very good, every one loved their food selections and the atmosphere was very relaxing. The deserts looked fantastic.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Chicken and waffles were excellent but the rest of the groups food was average for the price.

★★★★
August 22, 2024

Customer service is great and food is amazing!

August 22, 2024

Ajax location food and service was great, this location service and food was bad, very disappointed

★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

I ordered the zucchini noodles and they were not cooked at all, we had to ask the kitchen to cook it more so the raw taste went away but the server was very sweet

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Top class service at this Symposium Oshawa on Simcoe!!!!! A means I eat there almost every single day try them out if you have now top class service 1000 percent

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Came for the food but stayed for the service! Hyperbolic? Yes. True? YES. In all seriousness I was on a first date and our server Audrey must have noticed I was nervous because it was uncanny how good her timing was. lol Food was excellent, Ill be honest I didnt pay much attention of the atmosphere for obvious reasons but the service is the only reason Im even writing this at all. Restaurants take note* hire more people like her. Without the great service B+ with it, A++. Thanks! P.S. I got a second date! :)

★★★★
August 22, 2024

Was an amazing experience food was good and staff was welcoming

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Nice chill spot for a dinner. Service was awesome and food as always for the company name is on pointe.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

I came here with my family to get some lunch. We enjoyed the food and the server, Thamira was amazing. She recommended some great options.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

I came today with some friends and we got some drinks and food. The food was really good and the server thamira was also very nice. Overall service and my experience here was good.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Audrey is awesome!!. Great service and lovely personality. Food is tasty. Nice vibe overall.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Server was very friendly. Great experience, manger came up and said hello to us and made sure we had everything at all times. Everyone had a smile on their face and the food was delicious, definitely coming back again!!

★★★
July 22, 2024

I had a very odd experience here. The wings were good but the place had small fruit flies and a spider on the window where we were sitting by. The fly went into my drink and we mentioned it to the waitress and she looked at me and the drink and said she didnt see anything. When we showed her she looked like she didnt want to change it.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Great food

Local Guide
July 22, 2024

The first time we came here! The food is on point. Very nice. I just hoped the service matched a portion of how good the food was. I understand its busy and there is a bigger group of people but it doesnt have to be at my cost of waiting for sooooo long to get fruits for my one year old. The waitress wasnt really in the mood to serve. Food on point, service 1 star.

★★
July 22, 2024

Excellent food, but does not accept cash as a payment. I will not be returning.

★★★
July 22, 2024

We went to Symposium at Oshawa. The food was decent. We ordered parm fries and veggie flatbread and a couple of drinks. We were tempted to try their cakes. We ordered Tiramisu and Tuxedo for takeout. The cakes didn t taste anything like a Tiramisu or Tuxedo. Both cakes tasted exactly the same but looked different. Tiramisu did not have the slightest hint of coffee. We ve had better tuxedos at other places. Contacted the restaurant only to be told that they will pass on the feedback. They didn t make it right.

July 22, 2024

Im giving this a one star rating because they no longer accept cash. I will not be returning. Even if the food is good, I will not support cashless businessss

★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Coffee good Tiramisu ugh but great coffee Food

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Great service. Manager was very kind and welcoming. Great food. Definitely recommend!

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

I had an amazing experience, Very Good Manager and aswell as the server. I had a wonderful time at this restaurant and will definitely be coming back.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

This restaurant was amazing. The service and cleanliness of the restaurant was excellent. The manager and servers were so welcoming. Will definitely recommend this place!!

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Awesome experience!! Love the food. The manager, the servers and the overall service was extraordinary

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Manager, atmosphere, and servers were really amazing.The food was so delicious. Truly enjoyed my experience, will visit again soon!

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Love the food, fresh and good atmosphere

★★★★
July 22, 2024

Fast and delicious service, clean place Vegetarian options: Check the options Parking: Alright

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Food amazing

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

What a great spot for lunch! Food was fresh and delicious, with great friendly service.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Great place and great food ! Recommend this place to everyone!

★★★★
July 22, 2024

I rarely take the time to write reviews but my since my only two experiences to this restaurant were completely different I had to take the time and share it with everyone as its a great example of giving a business a second chance. My first time in (Tuesday) the service was horrid and the food was not much better. Our server was polite but clearly phoning it in and didnt seem to really know the menu. The food took longer than expected to arrive but was decent. Problem is almost every order was incorrect and judging by the blasé attitude of the staff that day Im not surprised. We seemingly were being served by their B team and it showed. I was actually planning on never returning but was forced to due to work commitments and wow... Im so glad I did! Ever watch the movie Dumb & Dumber? Remember the scene when Harry tells Lloyd that he totally redeemed himself? This was my feeling after my second round with the restaurant. Our server (Aubrey?) was proficient professional and definitely knew what she was doing (I think she may be the manager?) The food was amazing and surprise surprise there was not one mistake with our order and Im almost certain it was due to our server and the A team that must have been working that evening (Friday). We were even acknowledged on the way out something we were not the first time. So now Ill be returning for the tie breaker! lol

★★
July 22, 2024

Severely overpriced for basic food.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Fantastic experience at Symposium Oshawa! Great food, ambiance, and wonderful customer service from Akshaya! Thank you...we are looking forward to our next visit! Vegetarian options: Fantastic veggie options, such as a delicious veg burger & zucchini noodles! Dietary restrictions: Very attentive to food allergies.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Went in for lunch, companion ordered the steak bites and fries, I ordered the chicken stir fry. Companion enjoyed her meal, my meal came with an ingredient not shown on the menu, which I cannot have, i can eat it, it wont kill me, but my companion would be picking out bits of chicken stir fry from her meal and clothes. So I was disappointed in the meal. I opted for some plain French fries, which were pretty good. Dietary restrictions: They put dill in the rice dishes, it is not listed on the menu.

★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Was here a couple nights ago for a takeout chai and vanilla latte. Neither of us tasted even an iota of coffee in the latter, but, the server was quick to bring not one but two generous shots of espresso which fixed it. I do like the ambiance, and want to try the food.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Akshya was my server. Amazing place and very friendly.

★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

The server was very friendly and the atmosphere was nice, however, the food was atrocious. I ordered the fish tacos and received a very soggy and frankly disgusting plate of food. The fries were good and so I ate those, but could not take more than two bites of my tacos. I was offered another meal of similar value, but honestly didn t trust another item would be any better. I paid for the whole meal and in hindsight wish I had argued not to pay full price. I will not be visiting this restaurant again and do not recommend the fish tacos. Wish I had taken a photo.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Tried the Cuban sandwich on the breakfast menu. It was awesome! Flash backs to our visit to Miami where we fell in love with Cuban food.

June 22, 2024

Horrible experience at this cafe ! The manager is so rude , that lady needs to be fired .

June 22, 2024

Bad Service for 1 glass of water wait 15 minutes

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Their clam chowder is to die for. We drop by just to get that alone.

June 22, 2024

Vegetarian options: not enough and the staff is not well behaved :) Food

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

The manger is very friendly and so helpful and the servers are amazing! The morning breakfast was great and had a great experience will come back soon!!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Amazing service, very lively and tasty food for an affordable price. The manager Akshaya was extremely kind as well!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Very fast service, the food was delicious. Very homey place. Will be coming back!!! Thank you Akshaya for the amazing service.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Beautiful interior and good service, would come again. Sever Akshaya

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Great atmosphere, especially the patio! The server was quick & very friendly! Food was incredible. Will be back again! Vegetarian options: Wraps, fries Dietary restrictions: Gluten, vegetarian friendly Parking: Parking right out front.

June 22, 2024

I have eaten at other Symposium Cafes and had wonderful experiences. But today we went for breakfast at the Simcoe st oshawa location and had the WORST breakfast ever. Omelette with home fries and toast, home fries burnt. The omelette brown and flat like a pancake. The toast was edible. When I pointed out the burned potatoes to the server all I got was a shrug. And after asking for the bill still had to wait to get it. We won t be back

June 22, 2024

I haven t been here in a few months. Usually we re greeted by a friendly host named Ramsey. I don t know if he even works here anymore because the entire atmosphere seems different. I m assuming new management. Either way, the food was disappointing, the drinks weren t that great and as we were eating they decided to start sweeping around our table while having a personal conversation on the phone as if we were in her living room. By the end of our meal, I think the waitress saw our disgust with the service so she tried to be as pleasant as possible to make up for it. I honestly don t see myself ever going back to this location. The overall experience wasn t good.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

I recently visited Symposium Restaurant with my husband and had an absolutely delightful experience. My husband got the eggs benedict and I ordered their French toast, and it was nothing short of delicious! The flavors were exquisite, and every bite was a treat. I also ordered the Vanilla Chai Latte, which was surprisingly good! What made my experience even more memorable was the exceptional service provided by Komal, our server. She was truly amazing, exhibiting a level of attentiveness, kindness, and dedication that is rare to find. Komal ensured that every aspect of our dining experience was perfect, from taking our orders promptly to checking in on us regularly to ensure we were enjoying our meal. Symposium Restaurant is not just about delicious food; its about creating memorable experiences, and Komal exemplified this with her outstanding service. I highly recommend this Symposium Restaurant to anyone looking for a superb dining experience paired with exceptional service. Thank you, Komal, and the entire team at Oshawa Symposium, for a wonderful meal!

May 22, 2024

My partner and I went about a month ago and it was genuinely the worst restaurant experience Ive ever had. My partner arrived before me and got a drink. Once I got there the waitress, who saw me walk in and sit down, stared at us for like 5 minutes before coming over to take my drink order. It took 10 minutes after that for me to get my iced tea (there were only 2 other tables there). Then the waitress comes back and takes our food order. My partner got a chicken dish and specified he wanted only the sauce and cheese on top (no mushrooms). I ordered a burger with just cheese. The waitress came back 3 times in 10 minutes to double check our order. Each time we reiterated no mushrooms and plain with cheese Food arrived quick but it was totally wrong. My partners food was covered in mushrooms. My burger had what looked like thousand islands sauce on it. When we let the waitress know it was wrong she argued with us and tried to blame us for the mix up. She finally took the food back. It came back out a few minutes later. My partners food was correct. But mine looked like the cook just used a napkin to try to wipe the sauce off the burger. This also makes me think that they just picked the mushrooms out of my partners dish (which could have been a health hazard if he were allergic). When the waitress asked me if it was okay now I pointed that out and she again argued with me. Finally she asked the cook to make me a new one. After all of that the food ended up being underwhelming. It was such a bad experience its become a joke for us to suggest this place when we are figuring out where to go eat. Would never come back

Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Just didnt like salad..boring and tasteless

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Our server tonight was Komal. From the moment she greeted us at the door she was pleasant and engaging. I appreciated her friendly demeanor and thoughtfulness. It was a lovely experience.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Very nice people and akshaya helped me order the food. Must come back!

May 22, 2024

We should have negative marking here .. never buy desserts here. We got a slice of tiramisu and chocolate cake. They charged 27$ for what ???? The taste not good. Metro and Swiss chalet cake slices are much better than these ones. So expensive and not worth it

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

I love the ribs nice well done and the suside wings were spicy

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Kid-friendliness: Kid- friendliness is like when kids are friendly We kids enjoyed the cake we had for dessert We also enjoyed the drinks! Food

Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Took a very long time to bring food. Not worth the wait. Very poor service.

May 22, 2024

Waited 40 minutes after calling for a reservation only to be told that they aren t accepting reservations. Once we were about to go for a table, another woman claiming she had a reservation was let ahead of my group and that was the last straw for me. DIBA the manager is very disrespectful and rude and has no organizational skills, why is there 15+ people waiting and no lineup or system is being used to make it organized? Thanks for starting off my birthday in a horrible way, DIBA.

May 22, 2024

My family and I decided to try Symposium for the first time for a mothers Day brunch. What a mistake. I would strongly recommend not eating at this establishment. Very poor customer service and deceptive business practices. We brought some of our concerns to the Manager Dheea but she seemed unconcerned with us and didnt seem bothered about losing a customer. She was also the person responsible for overseeing the seating the guests and it was highly disorganized. No list was kept as people were coming into the restaurant and the groups that were there previously waiting for a long time were overpassed by more recent people who came in as a result of the disorganization. This caused several waiting guests to leave in frustration prior to being seated. Furthermore, Symposium advertises promotions which they do not honour. This is a very deceptive business practice. The service was slow and the food was subpar. The worst part of the whole experience was that Dheea didnt mind hearing that we would not be returning again and made no efforts to correct the situation. Stay away from Symposium. Not worth your time or money.

★★
May 22, 2024

Overpriced, and mediocre food. I was very disappointed.

★★★
May 22, 2024

The food was average. I can cook better at home or go to another restaurant to get better food for the same price. Probably wont come back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

AMAZING EXPERIENCE! Delicious food, yummy drinks. FANTASTIC SERVICE BY AKSHAYA... such a lovely lady.. will definitely be back.

★★
April 22, 2024

We ordered the chocolate chip colossal pan baked cookie expecting it to be like the description but what we got was three cookies with ice cream on top and no snicker bites. Apparently this is how their location makes it . Adding pictures so no one else gets disappointed like we did.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Good hummingbird and carrot cake.

April 22, 2024

Took my family there on one weekend, didn t get the table as I wanted to, Dirty tables, average food taste wise yet over priced. Don t recommend

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Great service by Akshaya and topnotch Rose pasta.

April 22, 2024

Service sucks

April 22, 2024

This was one of the most horrible experiences I have ever had in a restaurant. They absolutely violated my human rights by accusing me of being here before and not paying my bill. Stopping my friend and I who were going out for a smoke saying since I hadnt paid my bill before we had to pay before we went out (just for a smoke - each time) We hadnt even ordered food yet. Not did we after They even went so far as asking my name. Nor could they produce the bill I apparently hadnt paid. I again reiterate Ive never been in this establishment before. This was my first time at this restaurant and it will be my last. The beer they served had gone bad and they refused to refund it. I am appalled that any restaurant in Oshawa let alone anywhere would treat a paying customer in this manner. I wouldnt advise anyone to take their family or friends to this restaurant - boycott..........

Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Was very excited for this symposium cafe location...but the owners have major attitude ..0 customer service ...0 professionalism

Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Server was short tempered and spent then entirety of our meal arguing loudly on the phone less than 10 feet away when we were the only guests in the entire restaurant. We both got a breakfast sandwich and soup and both had a strange spice taste to it. Neither employee really seemed like they knew what they were doing. Two cups of coffee came to $7 which I doubt accounted for refills that we were offered but didnt take. We were charged $1.50 extra on our bills for fruit salad when all of the menus offered a side of soup with no extra charge. The atmosphere was a confusing amalgamation of African, Renaissance and miscellaneous art that made absolutely no sense. What the hell is going on with this place? Will never be back.

★★★
April 22, 2024

Had fish tacos and soup. Tacos were wet, couldnt pick up, overall vinegar taste. Soupy was watery.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

The food is great, and our server Audrey gave a really good vibe! Thanks so much!

★★★
April 22, 2024

Had a reservation for 12 people for dinner yesterday. Service was very slow. Only 1 waitress working. Food was only fair. Will not go again.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Our server Akshaya was great!

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

our server, akshaya, was great!!

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Great service by Akshaya!! Loved the experience :)

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Akshaya was a wonderful server!!!!

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Our server Akshaya was amazing! Great service and amazing food!

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Kids menu was great, loved the food. Vegetarian options weren t that good. Good prices for the food.

★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Breakfast of Champions came out small and left me hungry. The waffles were soggy. Seats in the booth are incredibly uncomfortable. The only saving grace was our spectacular server who was friendly, prompt, and detail oriented.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Went for a Birthday get together and the food was great but the service was better.

★★★★
April 22, 2024

I dont think you should write negative reviews to harm a business, as they have families to support. However, honesty is important. The food tasted like pre-made food that was reheated; it lacked flavor and freshness. On a positive note, I think the interior decor adds a classy touch. Overall, I believe the food needs a revamp to align its taste with the cost.

March 22, 2024

Service and the food was horrible never again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

It was good food for okay prices. Very interesting interior design. Everyone enjoyed their food. We had some drinks and they werent crazy priced. Had a good time there, will go back

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Akshaya was amazing!

★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Went here for my daughter birthday lunch with family. The service was great. Our server was friendly. We tried to order calamari and they didn t have it. The food was okay nothing special at all. When we went to order dessert again they didn t have the cookie sundae. The spinach dip was disgusting so much spinach it was GREEN GREEN and very little cheese. I will not be giving this place another try.

★★★★
March 22, 2024

Went for lunch.The food , service and ambience was amazing. Special call out for the manager -Jans on his exceptional service. Our family had great fun. Highly recommended.

★★★★
March 22, 2024

I ve have dine in with symposium before and their service and food has always been great. The food was hot and ready and tasted amazing. I had Theasa Josefine and her service was great she listen attentively and answered any questions we had. Definitely recommend.

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Was great experience to have brunch here, food was fresh and well designed to serve, friendly hosted from all people there , Treasa the lady was helped on my table, she explained well about every meal I wanted to choose also her smile was positive energy

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Akshay was very attentive.

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Akshaya was an excellent server. She was kind and courteous and very prompt

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Parking: Parking was convenient. Experience was great. Server was accomodating and friendly. Food

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

The service was great by Trissa. She was so friendly. All the orders were made correct. Dietary restrictions: Since my friend who accompanied me told her that she has an allergy and only eats gluten free, she kept that in mind and everything was perfect.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

I just went in with my family of 12 and the server Komal was so nice. The atmosphere had a nice vibe and the food was really good.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Teresa was amazing