Rare Restaurant in Peterborough

Just had a wonderful Christmas celebration at our home - and had Rare cater the food - it was absolutely outstanding and I cannot recommend them enough - Thank you Rare for making it so easy to host a houseful of people even after working a full day and making it all effortless for me! Dietary restrictions: we had a number of dietary issues to work with and they accommodated them ALL - thank you!

Food was mediocre. We did the three course prime rib and the salads were pre made and the Yorkshire pudding was clearly reheated (not fresh) and virtually no gravy. Our waitress was terrible. She didn t understand basic questions like what is the soups of the day and can I have an old fashioned . We had to beg for drinks and constantly repeat ourselves. We almost asked for a different server and in retrospect, I wish we did. Would not recommend. Really disappointing service and overpriced food. Not a great experience.

Great evening! Amazing food and Samantha our server was the best!

I was here for a work event, and it was such a treat! They had the BEST STEAK I ve ever had. Everything was delicious, the vibe was amazing.

This probably the nicest most delicious restaurant in Peterborough. 12/10 recommend, everything we tried was amazing.

Perfect location for an intimate evening. We hosted our wedding dinner here and it was Perfect! Definitely would recommend so any special events.

Our party of six was celebrating my sisters birthday and we made a reservation at RARE. The atmosphere was so charming, quaint but full of life and the restaurant quickly filled up. Samantha was our server and was such an absolute delight. She was so charming and had a quick sense of humor, she was so personable and such a wonderful server. Our appetizers and main course was out of this world !! Everyone absolutely loved their meals and cleaned their plates! Everything was wonderful ! I met Haley upon leaving who was a delight. Such a fantastic evening ! Thank you

When u want to eat some good steak in Ptbr city, I really highly recommend this location restaurant for you. This is a supper super good restaurant for a good place for u. On the other way, this restaurant has a special menu for each day of the week.

Really didn t not expected much coming here. This place really surprised us. Everything cooked to perfection. Great sauces. Really great tasting and great looking dishes! I m not big on writing reviews but had to make an attempt to write one here. Thank you for a great family dinner.

Just spent my last dinner here. The service was great. The food was delicious. Definitely recommend. Will come back again.

The 12oz ribeye was amazing definitely the best steak I ve had in Peterborough and the sticky toffee pudding was 11/10

My husband and I came for our anniversary and it was LOVELY. They were kind and accommodating when we called to adjust our reservation time as we were out of town. (Took us early!) You can tell this place is a labor of love from the moment you walk in the door - from the front of house staff to the executive chef in the kitchen. The food was amazing. Ordered the pesto linguini and honestly it was a beautiful, incredibly thoughtfully designed dish. Absolutely delicious. Wine was excellent. So glad we stumbled on this place! Will be back! What a gem.

A great upscale restaurant! We will be back.

We decided to try Rare for our anniversary. I called to make reservations over a week in advance. I told them that I looked at their menu and was pleasantly surprised. I asked them if they ever had bone-in rib steak or Alaskan king crab legs. She told me that they dont usually have those items. I mentioned to her that I had been calling around to some other restaurants in the area and was always told the same thing and that I really wanted to have those items for my anniversary dinner. She asked me if she could call me back. When she called me back about 10 mins later she said that they would definitely have those items for me when we came in for our reservation. At that time I also mentioned that my wife really wanted sautéed shrimp but she would like 13/15 size. She told me that they dont usually carry that size but would definitely have those as well. I thanked her and ended the call. When I called to confirm our reservation I gave her the wrong day. She seemed confused because she couldnt find our reservation for Saturday. When I mentioned to her that I requested rib steak, crab legs and shrimp she immediately without hesitation said ohhhh you reserved for Monday and immediately knew who I was, and confirmed that they had all the items I requested. I told her that my schedule at work had changed and that we couldnt make it on Monday and asked if we could come on Saturday. She immediately said of course you can and managed to give us the same time. Upon our arrival she asked if we had a reservation, I said yes, told her my name and she directed us to our table, asked how much crab legs, and shrimp we would like, and asked us how we wanted our steaks cooked knowing already that we had requested certain items. We had a great time andeverything was cooked perfectly regardless that we asked for items that arent usually on their menu. WE WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK!!! THE SERVICE WAS EXCEPTIONAL AND THE FOOD WAS BEYOND WHAT WE EXPECTED!!!! THANK YOU RARE!!!

Decided to try Rare for a 40th birthday gathering and we were super impressed! Great atmosphere and each item we ordered was obviously prepared with attention and care. The salmon was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy. There were delicious vegetarian and vegan options as well. The crème brûlée had a brittle top and smooth, creamy interior. I highly recommend for a special date night or night out with friends. Cocktails and appetizers were great too. I highly recommend. Well priced for such good quality.

The place is aptly named. The ribeye was perfection. The energy and love from the chef and manager was apparent in their attention to every detail. They are artists. This is my new favorite restaurant

Dynamite. What a find. Ribeye was incredible. I hope my travels take me back to Peterborough so I can eat here again

stunning food. i can highly recommend the bourbon brined pork loin. delicious. service was great. lights could be brought down to add some ambience. will be back.

This restaurant is a special gem. They have a unique and adventurous menu that you just don t see elsewhere. The service is impeccable, it s obvious that tons of creativity and care has gone into Rare. A for sure must try :)

Visited Rare yesterday with my daughter and granddaughter to enjoy the Mothers Day brunch. Everything was perfect! The food choices were numerous and so tasty! Our hostess was very attentive to all of us. Dessert was a favourite - lemon /lavender cheesecake! Oh my! Thank you for an awesome dining experience. Debbie Smith

Great food I love the bone marrow the most. Good vibe and easy to go place.

Nailed every element of our dinner service, great atmosphere and food. Service was on point, bathrooms clean, parking available in the back. Parking: Parking in back

Very tasty, fresh, and high quality food. Great service. Relaxing and cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend!

Very easy to miss it and drive by. Looks like a plain white house that simply says RARE on the front. Small, homely but slightly upscale feel to it. Cozy, charming, and not capable of being too crowded or loud. Free parking in the rear, but easy to miss. Public pay lot across the street if parking is full. I ordered the Ribeye with confit fingerling potatoes and it was pretty darn good. Not the best steak Ive had, but thats also not a fair comparison considering the steakhouses Ive eaten at. Even compared the best steaks Ive had this place was pretty darn good! The glace de viande was a delicious touch. Ordered the steak rare and it came out medium rare, so maybe order it cooler than you normally would. Though I will admit that I think medium rare was probably the better temperature for the recipe used, even though it wasnt as rare as I normally like it. Coworkers got the duck confit and the burger, and both said they were pretty good as well.

Steak was amazing. The pickerel was just plain fish and chips which was just ok. Description made it sound like it was going to be fancy. Chips were a bit overdone too. Staff were nice

This place has consistently kept its perfection over the years. . Amazing from the front of the house to the back! Thank you for the exceptional service and food for a memorable evening.

The rib eye steak was excellent. Melt in your mouth.

Rare is a little slice of Heaven. Its the very best restaurant in Peterborough: the food is always delicious, the atmosphere is lovely and welcoming and Mai and Andrew are the best chefs in town. My picky Dad who has never been 100% happy with the food at any restaurant, LOVES Rare. Its been a total game-changer. Andrew really knows how to cook a steak! Were so lucky to have this gem in Peterborough

Great food , service and super friendly chef!

Beyond perfect ! Love

Had a lovely date night dinner here on a Tuesday night when most other places in town were closed. The chef, Andrew, made us a beautiful meal. Everything was fresh, flavourful, generous and delicious. Thank you for a wonderful night out!

Recently dined at Rare, a delightful French bistro, and was impressed by both the cuisine and service. Although there was a mix-up with our entrée and a wrong dish served, the staff handled it professionally. We ended up getting complimentary desserts, which was a kind gesture. The ambiance was cozy, the food delicious, and despite the small hiccup, the experience was very enjoyable. I ll specifically point out that I like how they kept the dining room nice and bright - I hate dark settings. I recommend Rare for anyone seeking a taste of France, a real rare gem in Peterborough.

We had a wonderful experience - exceptional friendly service, cozy atmosphere and great food. Everything we ordered tasted great. Best restaurant we ve been to in Peterborough for sure. We will definitely be back!

Extremely slow service.

IF I CAN GIVE A NEGATIVE STAR FOR THIS USELESS PLACE I will. Came here for valentines with my boyfriend as my last option due to other restaurants being full. I arrived there at 8:30pm, and didn t get my food till about 10pm. The servers gave other people who arrived after me food before me. I DO NOT recommend this place. Food was inedible. Was meant to have a full valentines 4 course meal but due to poor service, we had to end our visits at 10:30 haven only eaten 2 course. Paid $65 for a salad and a drink which were very little portions. AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COST.

Every time is always amazing. Perfect restaurant for an intimate dinner or with family/friends. Everything I have had or tasted has always been superb.

Nice date night experience overall. Friendly and attentive staff, excellent mixed drinks, and some great food! My partner wasnt thrilled with the burger, but thats what you get when you order a burger (only joking). The cast-iron French bread is to die for! The pork loin was presented beautifully and did not disappoint. Well be sure to return. Thanks again!

I love how intimate this restaurant is. Very cozy and warm, the service is impeccable, and you definitely leave full every time. Each time Ive gone, the chef has come out to personally ask how the meal is and for our opinion on how to improve it. If you want quality food with quality service, this is the place to be. Its definitely a hidden gem.

Went here because the keg was too busy. Service was great the waitress was very nice and attentive. My wife ordered her steak medium first time came out blue then rare on second attempt third was medium rare, she settled for that. Steaks were just ok in my opinion.

We stopped in for a dinner with a party of 7 people. They did a good job of handling the table given the number of people and orders. The food was good overall with no real complaints. The Pickerel and chips was a little heavy on the chips and could use more mushy peas. Several people had the lamb special and it was a big hit. Would recommend that dish in the future.

Love this place! Ontario let the 2022 change in ownership scare you! Diverse menu. Something for everyone. Vegetarian. Pescatarian. Meat eater. Adventurous meat eater. Menu features duck, quail, pork, beef, fish...

Had a beautiful dinner at Rare yesterday. The appetizers and entrées that we ordered were very creative and tasty. Service was excellent and the table check by Chef Andrew and Sous Chris were very much appreciated. We will definitely be back ! Thanks for a memorable evening.

Had a wonderful experience at Rare. Nice choice of appetizers. Best rib eye steak Ive ever had. Kudos to the Chef!

New co-owner Chef Mai graciously let us in for a labour day dinner (as she said she was in the back doing takeout meals so she didnt mind, which was so nice of her!). The food is just as spectacular as with the old owners! The demi glace is to die for!! Steak was perfect, mashed potatoes devine and the house special homemade fettucine was throughly enjoyed by my hubby. Choc mousse dessert was also very very good. Dont be scared to come to the new Rare Culinary Arts Studio, Mai knows her stuff our meals were exceptional.

Went for Valentines Day, dont let the photos fool you, was super excited Ribeye was cooked perfectly with a mediocre au jus that didnt complement the steak, the cut was too thin for what you want from a restaurant like this, vegetables werent cooked or flavored. Ya disappointing meal. Im remaking Valentines Dinner at home myself this weekend.

Food was mouth watering. Highly recommend for a nice date night. You can tell they put a lot of energy and attention in the quality of their food. 10/10!

Rare Culinary Arts Studio is a hidden gem in Peterborough. I went here with my fiancé and friends for dinner. The ambiance of the restaurant gave a cozy and modern vibe. Mai, one of the chefs and owner served us. She was up on her feet cooking in the kitchen while hosting us- incredible multi-tasking skills! We ordered the fois gras, ribeye steak and roasted duck breast. All the dishes were very flavourful and well plated. We will definitely be coming back!

Rare offers great fine dining service, wonderful dishes and dutiful staff. Hosts are social and friendly and make a welcoming environment. Food was absolutely delicious. Loved the burger and duck, 10/10 would eat there again. Cheers to Rare and staff

Every time every time, they exceed our expectations, chef always delivers above expectations dishes and Mai Ashley make us feel like family

Amazing food and service by Ashely and Mai. Great experoverall.

Dinner was outstanding again! Their team always delivers excellent food and service. We are made to feel like family when we arrive. Thank you for an amazing culinary experience and overall fun evening out!

Best meal ever. Fabulous service and a delicious meal and atmosphere.

Thank you to the team at RARE! You provided us with a beautiful and exquisite meal. We worked with Mai to come up with a family style meal to celebrate a special occassion. The portions were generous, flavourful and perfectly prepared. A wonderful meal and great atmosphore!

10/10! Thank you for a great meal and experience! We will be back

Had the most fantastic brunch on Sunday!!! So good!! Both traditional and unique items to choose from. Highly recommend. Service was excellent! Vegetarian options: Vegan and vegetarian options on menu. Dietary restrictions: Food is made fresh per order so I m assuming any dietary needs can be catered too. They had vegan and vegetarian options as well. Parking: Lots of parking in back! Kid-friendliness: Absolutely!

The Food and staff are amazing, we booked a large group luncheon there and they accommodated us no problem and paired the wine with our food. Cannot say enough about the service we received there. 5 star plus compliments to the entire staff and chef. Highly recommended to anyone thats looking for a awesome meal. Delicious *****+

Perfect easter dinner!! Lovely fall off the bone lamb, luscious sweet potatoe mash and brussels, the sticky toffee also top notch! Always delivering the best meals

Absolutely phenomenal experience at Rare. Im vegan so i called the restaurant ahead of time to let them know that and surely the chef did an amazing job at catering to my dietary needs. Very kind,considerate and humble person! The service was top notch with the sweetest waitress and the food honestly was the cherry on top. So I definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a classy atmosphere and delicious cuisine! You will NOT be disappointed

Delicious!

Every meal we ve had there has been so delicious, and the service is incredible. Highly recommend for dinner or weekend brunch!

Just had our anniversary dinner here, everything was amazing! Not a complaint, the staff was very friendly and the chef came out to speak to each table asking for constructive feedback. We will definitely be back. Come check this place out

Amazing food and service, from start to finish. Would definitely return and try another dish. Their creme brulee is so good we didnt even snap a photo before it got devoured, somehow we managed to take photos of our entrees - ribeye and duck confit.

Fantastic ribeye, wonderful fish, delightful wine, and my absolute favorite, the coffee ;).

Insanely good brunch. I recommend this place!!! Kid-friendliness: My kids tried almost everything

We enjoyed the delicious tasting menu at Rare in May. Each exquisite course was a work of art and was presented beautifully. Delicate flavours were enhanced perfectly with the wine pairing. Gracious hosts, a fresh, inviting atmosphere and delectable dishes made it a night to remember! Whether you order off the menu or experience the monthly tasting menu, Peterborough has a wonderful fine dining restaurant for you to enjoy! Parking: Free parking conveniently located at the rear of the restaurant.

Last night we sampled the tasting menu at Rare. What an exceptional experience. The restaurant itself was beautifully appointed creating a lovely atmosphere in which to enjoy the fine dining menu. Chefs Eric Lewin and Haley Mai Dong were delightful, guiding us through the themed meal and sharing their culinary background with us. The food? Absolutely exquisite and so artfully presented. Wine pairing complemented the delicious plates bringing out the wonderful flavours each course had to offer. We will definitely be back, both for the a la carte items and future tasting menus. We highly recommend this fantastic restaurant!

The food was excellent. It s tough to find foie gras and the steak was exceptionally well flavoured. But our waitress mixed the drinks and had zero mixology experience. The olives in the martini were stuffed with garlic and the old fashioned was absurdly sweet. Stick with the food and you ll leave happy.

Amazing dinner. Chef brought out my main and was (very deservedly) proud of his work. Server was on point too. I had the confit duck leg, and added the seared fois. Couldnt be any happier than how it was! Thank you Chef and thank you to everyone working there!

Went for a special dinner, was not disappointed. Chef Andrew went out of his way to accommodate food allergy s. Mai Dong was very sweet with us we felt welcomed. Special props and thanks to Samantha our server she was outstanding and very professional. Special thanks to Andrew for sharing the special drink, look forward to returning the favour. Cheers and much love

My husband and I went for dinner here last night after a difficult week. The food and the atmosphere were just what we needed. The pig tails were a big hit with both of us, an incredible sweet sauce with a hint of spice from the fresh chilies, melt in your mouth. For our mains, My husband had the duck confit and I had the mushroom bolognaise. Both dishes were outstanding in flavour and presentation. Wonderfully fresh, and the passion for food preparation comes through from the chefs. Our dessert was the Chocolate Elements dish, which was not too sweet, and allowed the flavour of chocolate to be the star of the show, accented by fresh berries. Great spot, great food and great owners. The food is truly art.

The staff was awesome. The food was exceptional. Overall experience was great. I highly recommend it.

Good overall Exp here, loved setting. Drinks to food was excellent. Out of duck at time of visit but the Cornish hen was fantastic as well as the sides. The tartare was delicious, best by far I have had. The quail egg was an excellent touch. Pork loin and Croquettes were on point as well.

Just had a taste test here with my fiancé and it is easily one of the best places to eat weve ever been. The New York Strip, Pan Seared Salmon, House Salad, Gazpacho, and Lemon Cheesecake are fantastic and a must try. Complex flavors, kind service, and the owner is incredibly kind. Heavily recommend.

Had a lovely dinner out for our anniversary. I had the ribeye and my spouse had a duck dish. Everything was cooked beautifully and well worth the cost. Id recommend this to my friends and fam over any steak place in town. They made substitutions without Hassel and even gave us a lil treat! We will be back!

Be prepared for the best meal of your life! Thank you Chef for the most amazing experience.

Skipped a few pubs that were open on a Monday night and found this gem tucked away with an inconspicuous sign. Our server, Samantha, was so lovely. Meal was delicious. Dietary restrictions: Gluten and dairy-free

I hesitated posting a review b/c I was so frustrated. I ordered two burgers with fries and two salads. I presented my gift cards. I was informed that the owners would not accept gift cards from previous owners. I had a total of four gift cards remaining totaling $350.00. I received the bill for $90 + Obviously paid for my buger and salad. The roasted beet and Brussel sprout salad was not worth the $15 each charged and the burger was raw. I explained that I avoided using gift cards during the pandemic, I felt like doing so would only add to the stress they were already taking on. I wont be back.

One of (if not THE) best culinary experiences in Peterborough. Chef/owner run restaurant where you can really taste the love and passion. Keep doing what you do!! - a fellow restauranteur <3

A wonderful fine dining experience with excellent staff, service and top knotch ingredients. Hats off to Chef Lewin. We will be back! Food

Unbelievably delicious food, wonderful service, and a comfortable elegant atmosphere. This is by far my favorite restaurant in Peterborough!

I had my wedding reception here!! And it was the best decision I could have ever made. It was a small intimate wedding and the staff were incredible. The food was amazing, service was on point and they were so lovely. I did not receive a single complaint, in fact I was told many times it was the best wedding people had been to. The vibe in the restaurant was unmatched. They made my special day an amazing experience, if I could do it all over again I would. Thank you so much Andrew and Mai!!!

We wanted to spend our Anniversary at the Keg for a steak dinner but the Keg was closed for renovations, so we googled the next best place for steak in Peterborough and saw Rare had a 4.5 rating. I ordered NY steak, cooked to request ,but so tough my arm was getting sore trying to cut it. My husband ordered duck ,which was such a small portion it looked more like a chicken wing. Portions of the add ons were so small we left still hungry, even though our bill came to $105. Even the Atmosphere was ridiculous as another customer was walking all over the restaurant taking pictures of her food. Standing behind us with her plate and camera. Will never go to this restaurant again.

10/10 would go there again! Not only was the food amazing & presented beautifully, the portions were *generous* for the price in a fine dinning gem like this. It was truly a pleasant experience with our server being attentive to us, she was very kind and I loved how you can see the chef work with their the open kitchen. The drinks were delicious too! (Midnight martini & Caesars). Highly recommend the pig tails, it s basically ribs. It was so tender and tasty in that sauce! Rare is definitely my go-to restaurant whenever I m in town. Can t wait to try their other dishes soon!

Service and food were phenomenal, we went there for my birthday dinner

Was recommended this restaurant by a colleague who lives in Peterborough. Absolutely great spot! It was so refreshing to experience such attentive service from the wait staff. They had happy hour on so we decided to go with some snacks and drinks to start. Went with the grilled shrimp and pigtails and wow were we impressed! So flavorful, fresh and cooked to perfection! For the mains we ordered fish and chips and the ribeye. I happen to luckily catch a glimpse of the action in the kitchen on my way to the washroom! Was impressed to see(as a foodie/cook myself) that even the batter for my fish and chip was being made fresh to order - which explains how crispy, light and perfectly fried the fish was! Loved the attention to detail to all the components of the meal, from the grilled lemon wedge to the fresh in-house made aioli. Of course I had a little bite of my girlfriends steak as well and wow tender and cooked just the way we like it. Definitely would recommend! Must come back to try some more dishes!

Fabulous family meal out. Multiple choices, super service. Thanks for your great service.

What a lovely find! Everything about the food was fantastic. You MUST have the Vietnamese coffee at the end of your meal. Thank you for giving my wife and memorable evening. I ll post photos next time we visit. Support this restaurant!

Nice.Cozy.Tasteful.Rare.

My wife and I sampled several items on the menu. Everything was great. Our favourites were the osso bocco and fois gras

Perfect Atmosphere for a milestone Birthday. Excellent food and very accommodating for dietary restrictions. Service was very good, could have been a little quicker.

I have dined at Rare in the past and am always so impressed. The service and food are always wonderful. They ve recently launched their lunch program and it s just as great. I was fortunate enough to have visited today for lunch and I m so excited to go back again. Truly a local gem.

Its pretty expensive as far as food goes but its definitely going to be a great meal whatever you get.

Gorgeous food! Was shocked when the server corrected me when describing a meal only to describe it in a similar way.

Outstanding all around!!! Superlative food and service. Definite new favorite.

Amazing experience...its my second time if you think Toronto is good find this little gem in peterborough!!

Food was very good

Best restaurant in the town , the price is a bit high for the area, but if you re looking for a really good dinner, here s the place you should go Too bad they re listed for sale

Everything about our experience at Rare was a delight. The food and drinks were delicious and the service was great! We will definitely be coming back.

The meals were good but way too expensive for what it is..

We went for supper last night. A very special place. The most delicious food. A great atmosphere. Staff was super friendly and helpfully. The new owners are very accommodating. The food was some of the best I have eaten. 100 pecent 5 stars. Best restaurant in the Peterborough area by a country mile. If you eat anywhere this year you must try it

Another amazing dinner, service was perfect, very friendly and welcoming. The chef came to check in on dinner, which I thought was a great touch. Ordered a steak that was honestly the best steak I ve had in a long time! (Ribeye) The duck was also good, it came with gnocchi which was garlicky and soft and Oh so FANTASTIC. Cocktails - TRY THE MIDNIGHT ONE! - so good. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Had an absolutely amazing time at Rare!! The food was delicious and the server was so kind and accommodating! I would give 6/5 stars if I could. Thank you for making my birthday dinner so special <3

Dining at Rare is different from other fine dining. You can see the kitchen, the server treated us like friends and the chef/owner brought us our dinner personally. Best steak of my life. Best experience for dinner and atmosphere ever. Love the record player and ambiance before and after dinner. Very classy but still feels like your dining with friends and family. Favourite place ever. Don t make the mistake of not making a reservation.

I have been a few times and the meal quality was always superb. I appreciate the focus on using local ingredients. My steak was so amazing I had to leave a review

Excellent food, delicious, perfect portions, and temp. Fast and friendly service. Cant wait to go back. We had the duck and a beef rib special.

Great place... really good food! Thanks ! Food : 5/5

Had the most wonderful dinner with friends! The food was incredible - from the Farmer Platter, to the perfectly grilled tenderloin, finishing with the delicious eggnog creme brûlée - it was all fantastic! The atmosphere was warm & friendly, and the service impeccable. A true Peterborough gem. Look forward to our next visit!

Theres not enough good things to say about Rare. Tyler & Kassy and staff are amazing, and so nice . The food is outstanding, I recommend this place to anyone that will listen. Go for a #rareexperience! Its more like a 4.8 btw

A1 NUFF SAID

We went out to Rare for dinner tonight. The ambience is quite cozy and cute - very welcoming and warm. The service was great. Drinks were delightful. Appetizers (bone marrow and fried brussel sprouts salad) were delicious! The reason I gave Rare 3/5 is because the mains (10oz strip loin and 6oz skirt steak) left much to be desired. The cuts of beef were chewy and tough, and they lacked enough reduction to accompany the steaks. Did not live up to its hype. Disappointing.

Amazing food and more importantly passionate and hands on owners. Difficult times and they are still killing it... check them out.

Ordered the tofu skewers (+ 1 beef skewer). Great flavor. Excellent serving size. Awesome service.

The most. amazing. food. Made with passion, which is hard to come by these days. You can tell these folks not only know their food but show their love for all things local. If you want to be blown away, eat here!!

The most amazing food with incredible service! Love this place!

The food I ordered for pickup tasted great and was being packed up at the perfect time. The fried chicken was amazing.

UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE! From the moment we stepped in the service was top notch and the food is Outstanding! Memorable and unique experience. 1st time for waygu beef...wow! And never liked kale til now. Chef is a genius extraordinaire.

Excellent food and great interior.

Food was delicious, prices were high end but that s to be expected. They also had a featured cocktail which was so so good. I ve never had oysters before and these ones were pretty good! I ordered 2 and ate them both. The flavourings that came with everything was unique and delicious. Staff are the perfect amount of hands on and hands off too, which we appreciated.

First time out for oysters, steaks and wine, and we loved it! We ll be back for desserts and sippers!

Run, dont walk. Make sure you order the triple fried fries and the scallops.

Not a rare experience. Decent food, decent wait staff,, friendly, but the menu was incredibly poor for this time of year. Steak but no seasonal vegetables just a big huge wad of fries to go with the steak. If you want to be upscale then they should really be in touch with the season availability of foods. Over priced for what you get, again poor menu selection vs what they tout they are, much better choices around for the price and selection.

Food was certainly an experience. They have options on the menu that many places would not. A rose between two thorns in Peterborough. The atmosphere is incredible, all the music is on records. The service was good but it seemed understaffed for a Saturday night as we didnt have the quick service youd expect from a place with those price tags.

Lovely atmosphere & setting, great food & service! I highly recommend.

amazing food and service

Rare never disappoints! We ve had several meals here as well as many of the takeout and freezer options. I love the variety and the passion is so obvious in the dishes!

Had a lovely dinner this evening at RARE. Wait staff, including the owner were very attentive and friendly. Meal was excellent; From the meat and cheese board the the steak frites. Great small restaurant ambiance with smooth jazz playing. A great night out

My husband and I went to Rare last night, and it was such an excellent experience. The ambiance is so cool, service is great, and food was out of this world! We got the Brussels Sprout salad, steak frites and burger, and all of it was just the best food weve eaten in a long time! Keep doing what you are doing Rare, and we cant wait to come back!

Fantastic food and service

Spectacular smoked carrot soup

Over the rib eye. Great accompaniments. Atmosphere is lacking.

Simply the best in Peterborough! Period. Give it a try!

Great steaks and sides, space can be loud buta great experience

Food was fantastic and wonderful

The food we had at Rare was VERY good. Portions are not huge and left you wanting more. Having said that, if a restaurant is going to charge the exorbitant prices that Rare does, then the ambiance and service should match the price. They don t. They just don t.

Excellent food. Great atmosphere for fine dining

They carefully source their products.

Excellent food and amazing quality and taste.

Did a great job on the recent makeover of the restaurant. Best place to get a great steak in town and staff definitely know what theyre doing and are passionate about the place. Try the poutine appetizer, you wont be disappointed.

Exceptional service!

I have been to Rare in the past when it was owned and operated by Brad and Katie Watt and had a fantastic experience every time. Most recently, I reached out to chef Tyler about possibly preparing a vegan entrée for a special occasion. Tyler jumped at the request and put together an incredible four course meal complete with wine and drink pairings. Everything about the meal was fantastic, from the fantastic service from our server Jo, the expertise of our bartender Matt, to the hospitality of Kassy and Tyler themselves. The whole team went out of their way to cater to a request that seemed silly to ask of a place well known for great meat dishes, and managed to turn it into one of the best meals Ive had in my life! The changes the Tyler and Kassy have made to Rare are beautiful and new menus are exciting. I cant wait to go back!

It was such a treat to order from Rare and have a nice dinner with my husband. Both meals were fresh and the portions were large, my husband had left over Mac & Cheese the next day. I would highly recommend heading to this local restaurant before wasting your money on one of the big chains, you won t be disappointed!

It was our first time at rare tonight and we only have great things to say about this restaurant. The service was impeccable and the food delicious from start to finish. It is also worth mentioning that its diverse menu distinguishes it from other high-end restaurants in town. Tonights pig ears and seaweed salad was a nice surprise, and even brought back some childhood memories! This is a little gem if you enjoy steak and more.

Awesome food and ambiance!

Overpriced and average food. My meat was also too fatty.

Rare is amazing! My husband and I visited for our anniversary and the food and service was phenomenal. Having 3 small children we dont get out much and our server handled all my silly questions about the menu and drinks perfectly and made excellent suggestions. She was also very polite and helpful for us on our much needed night out. Also we went while only the patio was opened and the weather was questionable, the staff called us a couple hours before our reservation to let us know how that would affect us. We will definitely dine here again when we get another night out.

The best filet mignon I have ever had at a restaurant was at Rare.

Great patio with very friendly knowledgeable staff. Well prepared food with great presentation.

Absolutely delicious one of the best meals I ve had eating out! You can tell this restaurant uses high-quality ingredients and really cares about their customers dining experience. Also the Decour is very cool and funky!

Nice atmosphere, great staff and amazing food. Very Tasty chef creations

What a spot! Recently was here for a fantastic dinner. The service and food were equally amazing and I cannot get the bone marrow or the wagyu ribeye off of my mind! Talking with our server they are constantly bringing in new items and features so if there is something that sounds good make sure to get it because it may not be back.

Number one in my books. Everything was fantastic. Loved it.

Everything is scrumcious here and the service is excellent. From the bone marrow, oysters, striploin, ribeye and the feature rack of lamb there is no bad choices. MMMMmmmmm

What a great change. Fried chicken and tater waffle for breakfast. Amazing. I won t soon forget the great high class dinners we ve here, and to add to this is the great breakfast. You won t be underwhelmed at all. Thanks for the great times once again, and thanks for adapting to keep us fed with great food ! Absolutely recommend.

My friend and I enjoyed Rares new menu on the first day of its launch. My friend and I both had the chicken club and it was delicious. Their wedges and mac n cheese are so good ! Serving was really good and service excellent!!! Today my hubby and I enjoyed the brunch and definitely not disappointed. I had the eggs Benny with their own smoked salmon. Excellent!! Hubby had the tater tot waffle and chicken and gave it 10 out of 10. I love the whole vibe of this place. Lovely owners and delicious food. Excellent staff and prices are very reasonable. You guys rock ! We will be back soon.

Went here for my birthday because I know some of the staff. Everyone was friendly and the service was amazing! Go try out the new fried chicken menu before it s gone, you won t regret it!! I would also like to point out the affordable pricing for a more highly revered restaurant; great job guys!!

My wife and I decided to have our anniversary dinner at Rare this year. It was a brilliant decision. The service and food were amazing. It s really cool to see a small business be able to pivot to such a creative menu during such a difficult time. And dining in was above and beyond sanitary and clean. The atmosphere of the place with the vintage framed advertisement and impeccable playlist of music was top notch. If you want to get out of the house this winter go here! The server was friendly and informative about all the new dishes. This is one of our favourite new spots for sure.

We were really excited to try this place. The room looked cozy and romantic. We ordered our drinks and told the specials. We ordered the bone marrow ( delicious) and the escargot (also very good) BUT the waitress never came and checked in on us. She did approach at one point, and picked up my prosecco and said are you done with this?. I still had 1/4 of the glass left - MUCH more than a sip- and she picked it up without waiting first for my response. I shrugged and let her take it. She made me feel cheap for thinking no, actually, I am NOT done. The wine we ordered was great, but again, she didnt give us the opportunity to taste it first and then decide, as is common practice. Things got worse. When we ordered our 12oz ribeye, we told her we would like to share it and she offered me a choice of side. Garlic mashed potatoes. Then she turned to my partner and asked him what side he wanted. We clarified we wanted to split the dish but she replied when people split the dish, we usually add a side so he ordered the stuffed potato. The steak came and it was overcooked and covered in a sauce that was not jus - it was more like BISTO! / fake gravy. It was thin and medium-well. It had been cut in half so whoever cut it certainly saw it was well overcooked but I gues they didnt care. It was maybe just under an inch thick and much smaller than 6oz each. I worked as a butcher. I know what 6oz of meat looks like and we were ripped off. The bearnaise was much too thick (again, Hobarts is WAY better) Again, she didnt come and check on us nor did she pour our wine for us. When she came to collect the dishes she ignored the fact that we hadnt finished our sides and didnt ask how it was. She asked if we wanted dessert menues and we said no. She brought us the bill. We hadnt asked for it, and we were still enjoying our wine. Oh and get this: she CHARGED us for extra vegetables and an extra side! She had made it seem like it was included and hadnt mentioned that by splitting our $45 ribeye, we were going to be charge an extra $9. Outragrous and unacceptable. All in all, it was incredibly disapointing. I woke up in the middle of the night naseous and threw up. No joke. I sat in bed, unable to sleep and felt MAJOR restaurant remorse. ..... and then I realized: there werent even grill marks on our steak!! SO this place is called Rare Grill...but our rare steak was medium and not even grilled. What a load of crock. NEVER going back. What a shame.

One of my favourite places to get a steak, anywhere. The food is amazing. You have to try it. Love the options apart from steak as well. The staff is courteous and knowledgeable. Try the bone marrow.

Had the special waygu beef and filet with mushroom risotto. Started with brisket poutine. Unbelievable meal! You wouldnt think you could rave about poutine, but it was that good. The waygu beef was perfect, would have again as well as the risotto. Service is perfect. Will be a regular after today

Always amazing!

Rare was fantastic! Loved the food, environment, everything.

Cheeky beef deliciousness

Amazing

The food was exceptional. I highly recommend this location for a high end meal. The service was also 5 stars and made our visit memorable.

Most of the dinner was good, but I had to fight a tendin to eat my stake. Kind of disappointing, but theres not much that can be done.

I ve heard amazing things about this restaurant and after a while I decided to pay them a visit. One of the things that struck me was the location of the building, sadly it s placed in a not so great area of Peterborough and it s crowded with drug addicts around the parking lot. Once in the restaurant, the ambience was great, dim lights, relaxing music and a great smell! Upon entry we were greeted and seated in our table, shortly after we ordered our drinks which were quick and tasty. After some time researching the menu we ended up choosing the calamari as an entree, a rib eye steak and a NY striploin. Shortly after some warm bread and butter came to our table and after 15 minutes or so our calamari arrived, the presentation was spot on but as much as I loved the presentation the flavour wasn t there. The calamari was lacking seasoning, just a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon will have turned the plate around! The calamari was sitted in a purée that tasted good but kinda sweet and garnished with some apple. I love the idea but personally I think there were too many sweet flavours in one dish and made it seem like a dessert. Once our entree was finished we waited for our steaks and to be honest it was quite the wait, I did not mind waiting since the ambience was pleasant and the waiters were checking on us from time to time. After 30 minutes or so our steaks arrived, once again presentation was amazing, both of the steaks were cooked exactly how we ordered them and my side of bone marrow tasted amazingly. Once I got to the steak I noticed a gravy looking sauce of top of the steak, even though it tasted good it was covering the taste of the rib eye. In my opinion a cut of meat like that should be served without any sauce in order to enjoy the full flavour. The steak was tasty and juicy but as I ve read in other reviews it was indeed lacking some seasoning. Our steaks came with a side of vegetables but upon trying them they seemed more as decorations rather than part of the dish as they were not throughly cooked and tasted bland. After all it was a pleasant experience, our bill came to a rough 130$ and even tho the presentation and the service were on point, the expected flavour from a dish in those prices was not there.

Very well prepared and served professionally. Wine list was small but very well thought out. Great place to enjoy friends.

I had the pork chop, it was sizable tender juicy and flavourful. Service by Anya was great. Ill go again.

Great food and service

Rare is always a treat - Excellent service and unparalleled food. Amazing menu and theres always something unique on special. Not the easiest on the wallet and some dishes may not be for the feignt of heart (pig tails, heart, etc) but this may well be the best restraunt in town. Looking forward to our next visit!

In my opinion, best steak house in town. Only downfall is the location.

Love the food

By far the best food weve had in a very long time. Beats every other steak house hands down. The staff was absolutely amazing, friendly and well informed. Great dining experience! Cannot wait to go back.

The restaurant is very cozy and my server was very welcoming. Dining alone while away on a business trip isnt my favorite thing to do but her kindness made it feel less awkward. I ordered the filet and choose a twice baked potato and the veggies as my sides. The twice baked potato was cooked perfectly and was well seasoned. The veggies consisted of a mix of green beans, bok choy, & beets. Again, all cooked perfectly

Great food and service

Excellent meal!

Party of 6 they add the tip for you no matter how slow the service. Ask about the price of the special , ours was $72 for a 1/2 thick steak that was tough and fatty but tasty.

Absolutely delicious, everything was amazing. The highest quality

Steak was perfect

Awesome restaurant

Excellent food, prompt and friendly service.

Well worth the drive to PTBO, looking forward to our next visit here.

My friend and I drove to Peterborough for a reunion after 20+ years. We wanted somewhere with a quiet but modern atmosphere and a great meal. Rare exceeded our expectations! We both had steak (filet mignon... Cooked to perfection!) with vegetables and potatoes (hers: twice baked, mine: au gratin, both: exceptional! But the show stopper was the side of mushrooms! They were amazing! We would definitely recommend and go back when we are in town again!

Tyler is an absolutely great chef -- hes passionate about the work hes doing and is very friendly and personable -- would recommend Rare for any special occasion!

Great meal last night. Thank you so much!

I wish I had photos from the dinner my boyfriend and I had here for an anniversary. We were treated so well, and all staff encountered were amazing. The chef has exceptional talent that has really made Rare a stand-out restaurant in town.