34 Brunswick St Main Level, Stratford, ON N5A 3L8, Canada
Inspired by flavours of South Africa and bar classics reimagined. South African cuisine is so delicious, and typically has a more casual vibe. Elevated but approachable foods in a warm space. Dine inside our modern restaurant or outside on our beautiful patio.
Braaibar was our first disappointment in Stratford, unfortunately. Usually we have amazing dinners in this city. First, cocktails are the best part of this place. I enjoyed my choice (heads in the cloud). We ordered fries and spring rolls as starters. Fries were soggy and the portion was really small. Rolls were good but they arrived just warm. But the entrees was the biggest problem. This time fries were good, But the steak was terrible, opposite of tender and tasteful. The doneness was supposed to be medium rare, but came more for rare. It was supposed to come with vegetables, not only peppers. I enjoyed the sweet peppers but I expected variety. PEI Mussels were poor and the hamburger was good. No one asked how it was our dishes, otherwise I could say it personally about my steak. The waitress was so busy that she almost never appeared in our table.
Visited for a pre-theatre dinner on a friend’s recommendation and was so impressed. The interior is beautifully decorated, but we took advantage of a warm September Saturday to sit on their quiet alleyway patio - also great. The streamlined menu allows for fast service, and I love that they that they offer half pints of their draft beers. Spring rolls with mango chutney and burger were both excellent, flavourful, and reasonable portions - some of the best fries I’ve had too. I’ll be back next time I’m in Stratford! PS - they didn’t have the same line down the block as some of the touristy restaurants, perhaps because they’re about a block off the main drag. Don’t waste your time lining up elsewhere - just go to Braaibar!
Braai Bar atmosphere is incredible, as well as the service. My partner and I went to Stratford Festival (August 31st)and between the matinee show and the night show we booked a table at the bar. Our table was initially to dine indoors but the hostess kindly rearranged our reservation and had us sit on the patio. We decided to book a table at the Braai Bar because I'm vegan and we wanted to make sure we went to a place where we could both enjoy the meal. Braai Bar sounded like the perfect spot, as on the first page of the website you have "Our talented team have curated a bar menu that will leave you wanting to try every dish. Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, gluten free or a carnivore, we have something for everyone". My partner called the restaurant Friday night to confirm whether there'd be vegan options, which was confirmed. When the server gave us the menu, I couldn't find many vegan options. More precisely, the only vegan option they had was the Hippy Bowl and 2 vegan salads (options that were not originally in the menu but could be made vegan since I asked). Since we had the table booked already and had a limited time between the shows, we ordered drinks, a tomato salad (really good!) as a starter and the main dishes - Hippy Bowl for me and a steak for my partner. I don't have words to describe the Hippy Bowl. That was EXTREMELY disappointing. The Hippy Bowl was essentially a quinoa salad with vegetables. No dressing, no further preparation, no taste. And $23! I couldn't eat half of the bowl because how tasteless it was. My partner is an excellent cook so we asked for a take-out container and brought it home to use the leftovers for something else (picture attached of the delicious vegan sandwich he made with it). We had a show to attend at 8pm, and would get home (Toronto) only around 1am. Therefore we had to stop by at a vegan diner in town to get me another meal (more $). I understand the Braai Bar menu is focused on steak. However, when you advertise you have options for everyone, including vegans, the customer expects a dish that at least requires more preparation rather than throwing vegetables into a bowl. We all know that Vegan cuisine can be more than just plain vegetables. It was extremely disappointing, considering the place is awesome, the service, and the patio is lovely. I'm not the one to leave bad reviews or express my disappointment. I know vegan cuisine is still on the rise and places are getting used to having vegan clients and catering to them. This is feedback for a place that has potential and I would love to return to and have reasonable options with substance (e.g. pasta, risotto, flame roasted hearty vegetables, toasted crostini with heirloom tomatoes and balsamic reduction. For dessert: vegan chocolate cake, cookie, sorbet). Thank you!
This place is a treat! We always go to the Braai House located upstairs from this place. Since the same owners run this too we figured why not try it and we were not disappointed. The owners and staff are a delight! Love the food, service, and their ability to accommodate gluten free. 95% of their menu was actually gluten free. We will be back!!! OFTEN!
Thank you to our hostess Leah for providing such a great experience. Braaibar is probably one of my favourite restaurants now. The food is top notch, so while it is pricey, you will get some of the best quality food you have ever had. The extended menu is available after 7pm only, so I was disappointed that I could order only from the fixed menu, but the dishes I received were fabulous. In the end, I'm glad I got to try something new. I highly recommend the patio!
My wife and I are in love with the Braai House and Bar. Came back here after an amazing night at the House two days ago and the bar is equally as good in food quality but not as a fine dining experience. The food was phenomenal. We didn’t hesitate to get both desserts because we knew the quality. The service was also phenomenal here. The best service we had in the whole of Stratford. The waitresses were pleasant and attentive. The food has the same smokiness and depth of flavour in everything that was served. Our only regret is that due to our limited nights here, we can’t try every single thing on the menu because we know it would’ve been an experience every time.
Will definitely be back!! The food was amazing!! Both me and my husband got their roast special. The food was absolutely perfection, cooked perfectly with great flavors. The portions were quite big and fair priced for the high quality food and service. Staff was very kind and helpful with suggestions! Their drinks were fabulous and unique. I got the 21st century and it was delicious!! My husband got the cold War which he also loved! It was like a cinnamon old fashioned. Both drinks were visually beautiful to look and delicious. The atmosphere we really lovely, great if your looking for a classy place for a date night. We were able to get in without any reservations, but I'd highly recommended calling ahead to be sure. Overall, I would highly recommend trying this place out! Thank you to the chefs and the staff for making our night so enjoyable!
First time in either of their restaurants and I was impressed. The atmosphere was amazing, great music and loved the decor. The staff was super friendly and very attentive. I loved the variety of menu choices. I chose the boss man chicken which was so tender and full of flavour. The fries and dip so good and I loved the charred greens. My husband got the ribs and gave me a piece, so good. Will for sure be back!
The food was extremely disappointing. Fries were soggy and a tiny portion. Steak was too tough to eat.
Very disappointed with the tuna tartare, which was mostly gacamole. Name it different, but dont name it tartare, its no tartare if you only sprinkle some tuna on top of guacamole. Lemonade was also very bad. Dont offer to make it if you are going to serve this, please. I couldnt finish it on a hot day. Fish and chips, and burger werent that bad, but nothing out of the ordinary. I wont come again, maybe I will come back to the actual brai. But if youre looking for good places for lunch, there are are better and cheaper options in town.
Ambience is nice and cozy. But service is super slow. We waited for 45 minutes for just 3 sandwiches. Food was ok too. The side salad had only raw onions and Lettuce. Very disappointed with the salad.
Fish and chips was burned and my kids steak was so raw that they could not eat it... Our table was close to the kitchen so we saw the cook was sweeping the floor and without washing his hand went to prep dishes. The interior is so nice and the waiters are polite.... very disappointing.
Went with some buddies, and we decided to order a bit of everything to share. So glad we did that as everything was amazing! If youre adventurous and its your first time there as it was for most of us, I would recommend you do the same. We dined downstairs, and it was a very cool place. The service was great too. Highly recommend a visit if youre visiting Stratford.
Bar menu has a limited selection.
This was my maiden voyage to Stratford but it won t be my last. After enjoying a walk around the city, taking in all the great sights, we settled on Braii bar. This meal was a highlight of my year. I was unsure about ordering broccoli as an appetizer but it seemed the safest gluten free choice. Wow! It exceeded all expectations for texture, and taste. So did my Malay curry. The vegetables are vibrant in color and unique spices. The portions are hearty and the staff is cheerful and engaged in their clientele. A glass of the Pearce Predhomme Cynsault/Syrah was a perfect finish to the meal. I look forward to eating here again. Thank you. ~esther
Despite arriving at 5:30pm and receiving our appetizers promptly at 5:45pm, our entrees were still not served even by 7pm, leading us to make the decision to leave. Despite our server being aware of our 8pm show, the kitchen failed to prepare our two entrees despite the fact we placed our order a mere 10 minutes of being seated. Adding to our frustration, the table behind us, which arrived much later, received their appetizers and entrees before us. Our server neglected to check on us or provide any updates until we flagged her down. This unfortunate experience left us hungry, forcing us to wait until 11pm after the show to have dinner, and with limited options as most places were already closed, we settled for A&W. We feel compelled to give the restaurant only two stars, as the appetizers were enjoyable, and the server did apologize and comp our appetizers.
WOW. Definitely top 5 places I ve ever dined. From the app to dessert, everything tasted better than the next. We will absolutely be returning- and very soon hopefully!
Excellent experience! Friendly staff, fun atmosphere, and the food was incredible. Highly recommend!
I have been wanting to go to Braai House for over a year, but were about 45 mins away from Stratford and life gets busy. Finally, we had an excuse to go, but sadly found it it wasnt open on Mondays. But I knew there was a sister restaurant and it happened to be open! I called for reservations and there was a large party that had booked. The gentleman on the phone worked with us to get us a table by asking us to come in a little earlier if possible. He was so nice and courteous, outstanding customer service! When we arrived, the gentleman we had spoken to made a point to come over to our table, introduced himself (we had no clue he was the owner) and even knew my first name. He said he had a cancellation and that there was no rush and we could stay as long as we wanted. Our server was outstanding, every recommendation was spot on, she was friendly, professional and just a delight. Even the owner came around to check on us a couple times. The food was outstanding, we had the top sirloin which was cooked perfectly, the flavours were amazing and the drinks were great as well. All in all, not disappointed that we couldnt go to Braai House, we now just have to come back which is not a bad thing!! Would recommend this place in a heartbeat!!! Best service Ive had in a VERY long time!! Thank you for a wonderful night!!
Very good food for a reasonable price! Great atmosphere and good variety on the menu. Food
Beautiful location. Amazing food!
To start, the restaurant is beautiful. The colors, the overall aesthetic and atmosphere sets the mood for a wonderful date night out. Our waitress was incredibly friendly, helpful with explaining what some of the menu options were, and very attentive. The food was impeccable, we were lucky and went on a night when there was an amazing special going (follow them on instagram for their specials). So we got to try several things. I got their Comfort is a slow death cocktail which was delightful. Pictured is the full rack of ribs, bossman chicken, chili fries with peri peri aioli, and the pap chakala. All of which were amazing. The flavors were good, the ribs and chicken cooked to perfection, and overall an incredible meal. Our dessert of choice was the chocolate stout custard which had a marshmallow topping, a must try! I cant say enough good things about my experience and I will definitely be back!
We loved it! Amazing customer service and really good food!
They messed up our reservation and the staff could have cared less. We left and went elsewhere. Thanks for the great birthday dinner - not.
Hands down one of our new favourite GO TO s for a night out. The decor and ambiance was casual and fun. Our server was absolutely amazing. As for our Food and Drinks they knocked it outta the park. We had the whipped feta for an appetizer and highly recommend, it comes with a smashed avocado with a sweet chili paste to die for. We both had the ribs and chicken board and absolutely everything was perfect. Even the broccoli I was dying for more! South African cooking at its finest! If you have never tried you HAVE too!
We loved our evening at Braai Bar. The cocktails, food and service could not be faulted. We ll be back!
Loved it! Went for their South African inspired menu (Ive been to SA before and wanted a taste of it again!) Got the Comfort is a slow death cocktail - so refreshing and grapefruit-y! Went on a Wed which is their Sando Deal day (some sandwiches/burgers for only $15) so we got the pork Sando as well as the Fireside Board. Both were delish! The pork Sando had a great balance of pork, pulled pork sauce and greens (bun was a perfect complement too!) And the fireside board was reminiscent of a campfire in South Africa. Fire-cooked ribs, lemon-herb chicken and a spicy Chakalaka. The bowl of grit-like stuff (forgot the name!) that came with it was a nice balance to any spices on the board. And for dessert, something small, not-too-sweet-or-rich, the KOESISTER. Warm, cake-like balls, in a honey syrup, covered in coconut shreds. Perfect bites of sweetness to end your meal. Would totally recommend for a date night! Wheelchair accessibility: Not recommended for strollers/wheelchairs. They have a main floor and an upstairs (but I didnt see an elevator and upstairs is not always available so the main floor would get crowded easily on a busy day). Didnt feel like a wheelchair would be comfortable fitting through the space - Im sure staff would make accommodations, just wasnt super accessible, imo.
Dont recommend for vegetarians/vegans. Visited with my SO and wanted to treat her to a nice dinner after a month of long distance. We started with the feta dip which was phenomenal (100/10) but made us all the more disappointed by our mains. We each ordered one of the two vegetarian options they had. I had the curry which was fine. It was alright but lacked flavor and even then id expect better for the price. My partners Braaibowl was the main issue. The vegetables basically amounted to broccoli and cauliflower and the kimchi tasted like it had been washed in sink to erase any flavor. It was somehow worse than the bad kimchi youd find at non Asian grocers as at least bad kimchi still resembled kimchi. We ended up sharing my main as the bowl was honestly depressing to look at. The 30$ bowl of rice, cabbage, unseasoned broccoli and cauliflower was a depressing way to start our reunion and am still thinking about it 2 weeks later lmao. Writing this rant was a nice way to finally move on.
We ate outside in the alley, nice to be outside. Inside its dark and bar like - not to my liking. We often eat upstairs at the Braai House which also has an outdoor patio. The food was great, the desserts very tasty. Shared a 24oz tomahawk steak with my chum. I like it better upstairs at the Braai House but well be back.
Excellent customer service. We arrived 30 mins early and they still got us a table. They gave complimentary Champagne since it was my birthday. Very cozy and cheek ambience. This place is 10/10.
I had the steak. Done to perfection, tender and jus was wonderful. Excellent complement of spices with every dish we ordered. Recommended for a couples dinner out!
Great place to visit for some very unique menu items. Staff and service was great. Best to make reservations and know that the full menu is not available until 7, great experience overall
Lovely restaurant. We were able to get in without a reservation. The service was great. The food was wonderful and I would go back again if I was in Stratford.
Came to Stratford for another restaurant that was closed, looked up vegan options and this one showed up and Im so glad it did! Staff was super helpful for my girlfriends food requirements. They are knowledgeable and friendly. The cooking staff even caught an error on our order and told us that they subbed out one of our items because it would conflict with the allergies we stated. The menu was smaller due to the festival going on, but we will both return for their full menu. 10/10 and I will be telling everyone I know about this place Vegetarian options: Vegan, gluten free, nightshade free options available Dietary restrictions: Staff is knowledge and kind and willing to work with difficult food allergies
A second visit, and an equally wonderful dining experience! I came back here after a couple of years, learning that the restaurants name had changed, so was the menus, however, the arrangement was pretty much the same, so was the quality of the food and the service and the variety of the dishes. We opted to seat at the patio this time. We were given the option of pre-fix menu vs à la carte due to the timing of our reservation. The bartender made the craft cocktail, JoBurg Jandal to my tasting (more sweet). Thanks to our amazing server, Mara, who communicated my preference. I had the Cauliflower Kaap Curry which was quite tasty and with a generous portion. The special dessert of the night was called Chocolate Celebration if Im not mistaken and it was also quite wonderfully done.
Must try.
Food was over seasoned, mussels were overcooked. The place has a great atmosphere, but having bar seats werent ideal given your server is too busy with their other duties. Overall, a little disappointed given I had high expectations. Will try it again if I can get a proper table in the future.
I had higher expectations. The food was not great with apps coming 45 min after ordered - my boyfriend and I both had the fetta dip, his was fresh with fluffy naan - my dip had a skin on it from sitting so long and my naan was like shoeleather. The veg that came with my beef was awful and left a sour taste in your mouth, the smashed potatoes were half Dijon mustered and mayo, sounds good - but not by the 3rd bite. Desert had literal coffee grounds in it. We had reservations for 615 and everyrhing was so slow we barely made an 8PM show even with a set menu. Lots of places to eat in the area, I wouldnt recommend this place.
The mussles were not good anymore
Had the tuna tartare appetizer and almost cancelled my dinner to order a second serving. Best thing I tasted in 4 days of restaurants while attending the festival. Vegetarian options: Appetizer and dinner options for vegetarian.
Its a nice place to stop by when in Stratford. Fantastic atmosphere and tasty South African flavours. However, the service provided by Reena was above everything else - thoughtful and very kind.
The food ordered did not appear to match what was listed on the menu unfortunately. I ordered the Beef Short Rib (which was delicious) but it came without seasonal vegetables nor cipolini onions as advertised but what I like to refer to as a lumps savoury grass stems...horrible! The smashed potato was a cold two tablespoon blob on my plate. I was shocked considering paying $45 for this? I also ordered the Mussles appetizer which were delicious as well but an extremely small portion of which one of the Mussles was still closed ??? Never happened to me before ! I was served 2 along side two lead-like lump of fried dough instead of toasted garlic breads. Not happy. My son ate here and recommended the mussles and he got toast? For desert I ordered The Eton Mess of Prince WIlliam fame. I know what this dessert should look like and what landed before me was an abomination! Wont return for our Stratford dinner. Give me The Keystone Alley back.
Very cool little place just steps from the Avon theatre. They have a bit of a Personality crisis as their braaiBar and braaihouse are in the same building yet have two totally different menus and no one seems to know where they actually reserved a table? Sitting close to the door I heard nearly every customer say I don t know if I m here or upstairs . Hell i showed my wife the wrong menu in preparation of coming there. The food was quality, nice menu and well cooked. I will say their seasoning needs work, my African spice rubbed steak was maybe salted? The rest I m not sure about. Same goes for a very mild/weak curry sauce in the fish beignets. I noticed that most of the clientele were older, not sure if they are playing to that crowds taste. Waitresses were all friendly and attentive.
I highly recommend Braaibar. We were seated on the patio on a chilly and rainy October evening and it was very comfortable, save for the occasional cool gust of wind. I wasn t sure what to expect of the patio this late in the season, but it was comfortable. I had the trout salad, a Jo-berg Jandal cocktail, and the stone fruit Eton mess. Everything was perfectly cooked and delicious. One of my friends had the chicken and it looked and smelled incredible. She reported that it was as delicious as it appeared. Service was pleasant, but a bit slow. We made it to the theatre in time, but just barely. I will definitely be back. Thank you Braaibar for a wonderful evening!
Great atmosphere, delicious cocktails and food at a reasonable price. We shared 3 dishes which went together very well!
We went for dinner before a show last night. The atmosphere of the bar was wonderful, with nice lighting, interesting fixtures and decor etc. The food was fantastic and servers were very attentive. We would definitely come back.
Great food and cocktails!
We went last night for the 1st time. We made reservations for 3 but made a call in the afternoon to add a 4th person. We were told, if an issue they would call us back. No call. We arrive promptly and hostess barely even greeted us and seemed annoyed we had 4 guests. Our waiter was very nice and took our order, brought us drinks and we never seen him again? No check in too see if the food was good. No offer to order more drinks. We even had to flag down a different wait staff for cutlery. The food was absolutely fantastic - but the service didn t deserve to be even tipped. We are locals - and it was very surprising how poor the service staff was. This was not the upscale experience we were expecting. Like I said food was amazing - but luckily, Stratford has MANY AMAZING restaurants! Sadly, we will not be back.
Great good. Great service
The place to be in Stratford! Classy decor, fun music, great service and most importantly delicious food. I didn t take any food pics but can attest that the Thai Coconut was one of the most flavourful meals I ve had in a while. Great spot for a date or dinner with friends.
Good service, good food. The miso cake and sorting rolls were a miss for me, but everything else we ordered was on point. Well be back.
Came here for dinner after watching a show at the Stratford festival. The interior of this restaurant is so cute and our server was great! We absolutely loved our food as well. The duck bao was so amazing we were still talking about it on the way home! We also had the spicy noodles and the Thai curry which were super flavourful as well. We finished with the sticky toffee pudding which was delicious as well, though on the salty side so be prepared for that if you order! We will definitely be coming back!
Omg the food was delcious. Server was very polite and very helpful. Had to take a doggie bag home due to large portions.
My friend and I made reservations for The Alley after seeing a play in Stratford. The decor and music were a fantastic vibe, and the staff was amazingly attentive, and every one of those wonderful facts was just blown out of the water by how SPECTACULAR the food was here. We ordered a couple small plates, an assortment of bao, and the Thai Coconut Curry to share, and it was hard to decide which bite was my favourite! The pork belly tonkatsu practically melted in our mouths, the sauces paired perfectly with all the different bites, and their feature drink for the night was just the right accompaniment. We even managed to find room for dessert, which was both beautiful and delicious. DEFINITELY recommend this place, we cant wait to find another excuse to come up to Stratford and eat here again.
Great service. Fab food.
A must visit place at Stratford for Dine in! The food is sooo delicious. Especially if you are a beef lover, please donot miss ordering Bibimbap with beef brisket.. Will surely return if I come back to Stratford and our server was fantastic !! Love love love
food and frindliness and dcor great. A bit slow whne we werer there but the food is worth the wait if it happens. High recomendation if visiting Stratford but make sure enough time before theatre.
Pretty food that wasnt up to snuff. Scallops main was the size of a good appetizer. The duck raku had a good presentation but fell short in the taste dept. From reviews I expected more, as did the couple sitting next to us! In fairness, my wifes spring rolls were tasty and plentiful as was her bimbap. The waitress was good. The outdoor chairs were uncomfortable for eating but good for lounging as they were raked back.
Wow! Amazing food, pleasant venu
Great atmosphere inside, great drinks. If you want to spend your money on amazing food & drinks and not regret it at all, go here. I Highly recommend the scallop dish, and even the expensive non-alcoholic drink was delicious and refreshing.
Great food, thoughtfully prepared and fresh. Might have been an off night for them but the service was painfully slow. It was 2 hours from the time we arrived until some of our party got their food. Everyone was pleasant (and we didnt complain) but it would have been a nice gesture for someone to apologize for what was unacceptably slow service. The food would bring me back but dont go for a quick bite!
Amazing food and great severs. Loved the art deco style. The Bao flight is not to be missed, and scallops were excellent. I wanted to try everything on the menu, including the very creative cocktails. Worth the visit!
If you wanna get healthy. This is the place to be. Love the ambiance and when you see the kitchen, they are serving fresh quality food. Very pricey but worth it.
Menu was too fancy for me, which increases the prices even more. They take good food, and try to make it better, but, for me, it tastes worse. Vegetarian options: Very limited vegetarian options.
I had quite a negative experience at the Alley on Saturday, August 26, 2022. I had made a reservation back in June after carefully researching the restaurants in Stratford. We made the reservation for 6:30PM knowing that we had a show at 8:00PM. We promptly arrived for our reservation at 6:15PM. Upon arriving - we were told that someone had claimed our table and it had been given away. We were kept waiting at the bar until 7:00PM. Despite arriving 15 minutes early, we were kept waiting for 45 minutes for a table. Once we were seated, we told staff that we had a show at 8:00PM and we were unsure if we would even have time to eat. The waiter told us the kitchen was incredibly backed up and wasnt sure they could accommodate us. I dont feel like any efforts were made to compensate for keeping us waiting. We ended up forgoing appetizers and desserts and only ordered mains. We did not get water until about 7:20PM. I had been looking forward to this reservation and trip for months, and the experience overall was an incredible let-down. Except for our host, no one apologized to us. Nothing was done to address the poor service we were given. I am sad that I spent so much time looking at restaurants only to choose one that did not prioritize my experience at all. It definitely put a damper on our trip to Stratford.
Excellent food and excellent service.
Really amazing atmosphere and service. However, the food was mediocre - not as appealing as it sounded in the menu. Soba lacked salt and flavour and the Bibimbap was too salty.
A new dining gem in Stratford of Thai infusion, including drinks with a twist. Definitely going back! Went back a year later; just as delicious!
Interesting cocktails. Food was nice, not overly exceptional. Appetizers were lovely. Seafood Soba was a little bland. Coconut curry was a 3.5/5.
Very chill place with a lovely vibe (music at the right volume, server was cheerful and genuine), food amazing. Have a cocktail before your email and enjoy the atmosphere before diving in to all the fantastic items on the menu. Reminds me of the Cosmopolitan in Vegas !
Amazing, stunning, spectacular. The service, the food and the drinks was all 10/10. Went here before a Stratford show and will be back again soon. Much love.
The cocktail menu is incredible! Amazing bevys, fantastic food, and great service! Fantastic spot!
Phenomenal space, food, and drinks! Their outdoor patio is quite intimate, which made it perfect for a date night. The service was top-notch and our orders came out promptly. Our favourites were the beef tataki tartare and the pork belly bao. We look forward to coming here again!
Beautiful restaurant. Excellent service. The food was delicious, and the vegan options were great. The Pardon My French drink was an amazing drink - unique and absolutely delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant.
We ate dinner here a few weeks ago. Loved the ambience/retro vibe. Our server was lovely. My meal (the bao flight) was one of the best things Ive ever eaten. Truly incredible. The only reason I didnt give the restaurant 5 stars is that for my bao flight I requested 1 of each bao (1 fish, 1 beef, 1 pork, 1 tofu) and instead was given 1 fish, 1 beef, and 2 pork . Also, the toppings that were supposed to be on the pork (per the menu) were on the beef and the beef toppings (per the menu) were on the pork. The kitchen needs to pay better attention.
Bad/cheap cuts of steak, extremely chewy. Over cooked chicken. The Keystone group is also not known for treating their staff very well. The only good thing are the drinks.
I m not sure when the restaurant s changed its entire offering, but the menu items pictured here are not there anymore. It s an asian/fusion menu which I was not expecting at all. It was partially my fault, as I only checked the menu via phone and the site only showed the appetizers, not the full menu. So check the site on your desktop for the full menu! The oysters (1st pic) were really good but the entrees were not up to par... The salmon dish was super super salty (not pictured here) - it just tasted like it was soaked in soy sauce and soybean paste. I had the crispy chicken dish (2nd pic) which tasted like Thai curry. Of course, I can t speak to the other dishes as I haven t tried them but was disappointed with these two. I was really looking forward to this place - and the staff was friendly - but not sure if I ll be visiting again.
Their Thai coconut dish is to die for! I ve had the tofu and my parents had the chicken + they allowed us to have our 3 months old puppy in their patio( as long as he was on lish and would sit quiet)
Atmosphere was good ! Food could have been better. There was this server named Sam who was fantastic and I am giving 5 stars based on him. Keep up the great work Sam!!!
Great food, lovely ambiance, excellent service! We particularly enjoyed the bo saam with short rib, grilled shrimp and mango, and lemongrass ivory salmon. Everything so very flavorful and beautifully presented. A lovely finishing touch was my americano decaf served in a beautiful, old-fashioned tea cup and saucer! Service by Kaitlyn was perfect.
Thoroughly enjoyed eating at the Alley. We visited on hip hop night and had the crispy chicken bowls. They were delicious and all though we didn t order the wings they looked tasty as well. The bartender made a delicious mocktail and the beer, made on site, was wonderful. Friendly staff, tasty food and great drinks, what more could you need? Such a beautiful place, a must visit when in Stratford.
Amazing night away Absolutely delicious, portion size perfect, drinks were phenomenal
Incredible all around, Sam made the night with some truly inspired libations.
We enjoyed a delicious lunch here! The quiche of the day was tasty and well balanced! The pork burger was juicy and the fries were excellent. For the price I expected slightly more from my side of greens, but we were still impressed by the food and service! A great spot overall.
Excellent dining
Beautifully designed restaurant that serves excellent food made with fresh ingredients,
The food is amazing and service is excellent!
I was in town to buy a car (I do not make a habit, not do I condone, traveling this far during the pandemic, but I was here on business), and I was recommended this place to eat. VERY good food! We all ordered something different; hamburger, fried chicken sandwich, a vegetarian Indian dish, and a steak. I tried them all and all were delicious
Fantastic food, atmosphere and service.
Had a wonderful dinner here last night. Their special offerings on Pierogie Night are quite delicious! You might think of the pierogie as a rather humble staple item, but Keystones Spanna Kopita and Portobello pierogies will open your eyes to a whole different range of possibilities! And thats only the beginning...
This restaurant is not child friendly. If there is another baby or toddler in the restaurant dont bother there is only one highchair. You will have to try to eat with a toddler on your lap as I did, makes it hard to enjoy an over priced fish and chips. The staff is not overly friendly and the food is good but nothing amazing.
Good food, waitress was excellent. Made for a great night
Ordered the steak which was cooked perfectly. This place has an amazing ambiance and is very conveniently located right outside the Avon theatre. Due to its short hours and discrete location I dont think to go here often but certainly worth it for the odd date night or dinner before the theatre.
Lovely waitress, awesome food and great decor!
Passionate owners, caring servers (Francis), fabulous homemade beer, gorgeous patio, tasty food, lots of variety.
The Malva Pudding made me miss my moms cooking! From a fellow South African
Smells bad
Limited choice, but nice food
The food, service & wine were all excellent. Enjoyed the atmosphere & all the staff were very friendly and attentive.
The sound in this place is pleasant! Word has it that the owner has taken great care to install sound absorbing panels. Makes for a great comfort food fancy kind of meal.
Great food relaxed atmosphere busy spot service attentive
Keystone alley is one of the many upscale restaurants in Stratford Ontario. The decor matches the the upscale theme creating a warm and intimate aura. The sevce is fast and friendly. They bring bread while you are waiting for your food. The menu is sparse. The food selection is not what you expect from this type of restaurant. Mostly basic dishes like fish and chips, schnitzel and chicken. The portions are large, and quality is excellent. The prices are high for this type of fare.
Delicious food & drinks. Great vegetarian options! Excellent service too.
We celebrated our anniversary here and had a wonderful experience. Great service and good food. They went the extra mile by providing us with a complimentary champagne toast and a happy anniversary card. Thanks for a great evening, Keystone!
Nice staff and great food
Dinner before a show. Food was good, wine was good. Wait staff was polite and friendly. Prices were ok, you are not overpaying but price point could have been a little lower
Food was delicious!!!
Great food and even better service
Excellent food
Suberb quality and presentation of food. Great lunch selection. Cant go wrong eating here.
Delicious
The duck mousse was excellent...
My wife and I just ate here after many years away, and we were disappointed. The restaurant was noisy, our table felt cramped, and the unfriendly waitress brought me the wrong drink, while failing to tell us about the dinner specials. My entree was good but small for the price, and not filling enough, so I ordered dessert, which was just ok. I thought I d try this place again for old time s sake, but there are better places to eat in Stratford, and we won t be back here again.
We had a nice time and almost everything was great. Two reasons for the star deduction. First the outdoor chairs are the least comfortable, poorly designed chairs Ive sat in. They are woven plastic, and angled backward so one slips backwards and they are too low for the tables. We asked for cushions and that helped. But the alley seats are the signature seats and we had the impression whoever purchased the chairs never tried sitting in them. Second, the prices are too high. We both had the vegan option which was excellent-- tofu and quinoa-- but it was $24. Should have been $17 at the most. The wine and sticky toffee pudding were both topnotch.
Top notch
Service was amazing and super friendly staff. Food was also very good.
Maple vinaigrette was to die for!
Excellent. Local fresh ingredients and beautifully cooked. Fun staff as well. Thanks.
Great drinks, delicious food. Good portions. I loved the scallops!
A new favourite!
So good! Went here for a birthday lunch and was given a little card and glass of champagne. Good was delicious and staff were incredibly friendly and attentive.
We had been to Keystone Alley before we returned last night and unfortunately last night s dinner didn t live up to my memories or my expectations. We were greeted warmly by the host and directed to a private table, as I had requested. Our server seemed awkward and not sure in what order to present our orders: did the salad come after the appetizer or did the appetizer come with the entree? Well, no, an appetizer is an appetizer, presented before the entree. The duck liver mousse was wonderful as was the smoked salmon appetizer. My husband s beef stroganoff was superb. Here s my criticism. I ordered scallops (for $45) and what I received was very disappointing: small scallops surrounded and engulfed in risotto. The plate was brimming with risotto! I think there should have been other vegetables or something else! Very disappointing. We will probably go back, but the server needs training and I won t get the scallops again.
Loved our dinner here before heading to the Festival. Delicious local cuisine - a lot of care and attention to what s on the menu. We ll definitely visit again. Try the beef stroganoff!
Ate lunch here recently, so good!
Love the patio ! The food is top notch. Had the Scallop risotto and it was pure perfection. Oh and I cant forget to mention the warm toffee pudding dessert is fabulous!!
What a wonderful addition to Stratfords dining scene! Service was excellent. Madelyn provided great advice and steered us into perfect selections. The brussel sprouts were crispy and cooked just right. The miso tofu bowl was huge and the miso was so flavorful! Desserts... you must try the sticky toffee pudding. Definitely will be back next year when back in stratford!
Really good service and food
We had an excellent lunch. Delicious food and friendly, informative and attentive service.
Great food
Great food in a smaller very modern decor. Staff is friendly and other guests always willing to recommend dishes.
Great staff and service. Food excellent.
Good food. Good service.
The daily sandwich is simply amazing. Not to mention the beers Kyle is brewing for them are top notch! Cant wait to go back!
Beautiful side patio and the food is great, service is also very friendly. Would recommend to others!
The Outdoor Patio is so beautiful every time I go. I feel like I am somewhere in Europe everytime I sit in their lush green patio. Today I ordered the Keystone Beer which was excellent. I am also a HUGE fan of their fish and chips, brussel sprouts, and sticky toffee pudding. Yummy!
Everything was just amazing. Had the ploughmans plate along with sauteed Brussels sprouts, and a chocolate tart for dessert.
Friendly staff, good food, tasty beer, tables should be further apart
A bit over priced for what they offer. The fish tasted pretty good though it was a bit greasy and they asked if we wanted salt for their over salted shoestring fries. And you couldnt really dip them into the little bowl of ketchup that came with the meal. They also needed more servers because the 2 who were there were running their butts off trying to keep up.
Delicious food!
Delicious! Be sure to make reservations...seems to be a popular place?
A perfect dining experience. Nothing else to say. Try it.
Came in at the last minute, and were still able to be seated. Had a wonderful dinner prior to our show
Great food. Lovely patio. Super friendly staff.
Lunch was amazing ! It was my sisters birthday and there were 5 of us ! The staff had a signed Birthday card for her on the table plus a glass of champagne ! Amazing service and the meal was sublime ! Perfectly paced serving and attention to detail ! This is as good as it gets ! Thanks to everyone and especially the kitchen !
Great food and service .
Great service and very good food. The charcuterie plate was ample and delicious. Salmon was cooked to perfection. Will return again when in the area.
We walked in hoping to get a table but got so much more. As we waited for a table the owner made us feel welcomed and even gave us ideas for things to do in the town after we finished dinner. Food is incredible and the atmosphere is cozy and welcoming.
Amazing food flavors that perfectly mesh and the service is quixk and friendly!
After a 2 week delay and very stressful day we finally had our 30th anniversary dinner date. Havent been here since Sheldon and Patty sold but we were very impressed! The food was excellent and the staff was amazing. Very pleased to see the awesome quality at a reasonable price has carried on. Look forward to our next visit. Also, thank you to Luke for taking the time to chat as we know you were very busy.
Good food and service. Reasonably priced and very nice patio. Very clean throughout.
Amazing!!
First let me say I have been to Keystone many times over the years and have always enjoyed my experience. On my last visit I was very disappointed with both the lunch and the dessert. The presentation was particularly poor. I ordered Quiche with side greens. I felt a piece of quiche on a plate with greens and dressing was not value for my money $16. I thought it would be a light salad with nuts or tomatoes rather than a few lettuce leaves beside the quiche. We ordered Carrot cake for dessert which was a square piece of cake with a dollop of cream cheese icing for $5. No drizzle, no whipped cream just simply a plain square piece of cake in the middle of a plate. We mentioned to the Waitress and she seemed quite surprised. Not sure if the owners have changed but we will definitely not be back.
Great place for a quick and extremely good after theatre snack and a drink. Out door shaded alley next to the restaurant, comfortable and shaded from sun and wind. Very good service. We had Duck liver pate with toasted soft tack, Huron smelts with spicy dip and local craft beer - all outstanding. We travel a lot and this place is on a par with the best of Europe.
Really good food. Amazing staff. Upscale restaurant that was great to a large group with 2 kids.
A very nice place once the theatre crowd leaves
Good food and fun!
OMG what just happened to me? Unreal. Delicious. I had beer braised beef heaven.
Never had chance to eat there. But, stayed at there hotel or bed and breakfast. The place was clean and awesome
Amazing food and staff! Very quick service despite how busy it was and the size of our group. Delicious desserts! Great for a quick sit down meal before a show.
Wonderful food, service and atmosphere!
My wife and I came here for the first time and had 6pm reservations. Our food that we ordered was fantastic, however our waitress was extremely pushy to get us out of the restaurant to accommodate the next customers. The meal felt very rushed and she even mentioned that we were not drinking our wine fast enough and that we could cork it and go home. We were not in the restaurant for even an hour before all of this ensued. Based on this experience I would elect not to return here. It did not turn out to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience like I hoped for.
Great food, great service.
Terrific experience once again!!
Great place for lunch before a show at the Avon Theatre or dinner afterwards.
Excellent meal!
Excellent meal and service!
Service, food and atmosphere are fabulous! Plus, their beer is excellent.
Went for lunch on a weekend, with a reservation. Our waitress, Frances, was not only funny, since our one friend didnt show up, but she brought our food out in a timely fashion, filled up our water glasses, and explained the menu to us if we had any questions in a positive happy manner. It was my birthday so I got a card from the restaurant signed by the staff working that day and a glass of champagne! Really nice touch! Food was amazing! And best part is that on the dessert menu for 10 bucks you purchase the kitchen staff a six pack when their shift is done! Which we did ! Thank you we will be back for sure
Had a great experience at this restaurant. Went with my wife and two young children. They immediately brought out baskets of toys without prompting. They brought out bread to appease my young son. They even interacted with him. Food was delicious and service was great. Atmosphere is also very nice
Excellent food. Attentive but not intrusive service. Have eaten here twice now - 2 different mains and desserts - both times delicious. Highly recommend.