LOVAGE in Stratford

Food is insane! Enough said.

Came here for dinner, excellent experience. Will definitely come back.

The food was stellar. The highlight for the table was the cold roast lamb with the eggplant caponata. It is hard to describe the flavour profile, but the combination of flavours blended together so well! But for us, the true highlight was our server. Not only was she spot on in her recommendation of drinks (I was pleasantly surprised at the pairing of a lighter bodied chilled red wine with steak), but she was also thoughtful and attentive. Eating out with any food allergies and food sensitivities can be very stressful, and when traveling with my friend, we often try to find places to eat that are within a certain distance to the hotel. But this time around, my friend ate with ease and its been awhile since I saw her enjoy her meal and be so relaxed. The server and the kitchen team marked up which foods she could enjoy worry-free and which foods they can make adjustments for her on the menu, so there would be no surprises. So many chefs often create a dish and are very strict in how they want their patrons to enjoy it that they wont make any exceptions. Thank you, LOVAGE, for valuing inclusivity. Your team is doing a wonderful thing and we are truly grateful. We cant wait to come back soon! Dietary restrictions: Our server asked us if we had any dietary restrictions and sensitivities, and when my friend mentioned that shes sensitive to dairy and prefers minimal butter, our server went to the kitchen to ask and came back with a menu that was marked up with what my friend could eat and which dishes could be modified.

What a wonderful place for dinner. The menu is limited, but is full of innovative dishes we just would never make at home. Coupled with a solid wine list and friendly, knowledgeable service, Lovage provided a memorable evening.

We had an amazing experience at Lovage and we will definitely be back. Great atmosphere, great food, and fantastic service by Kayla. Dietary restrictions: Gluten friendly

Good food, great service, good vibe. Some of the entree plates are very small.

Excellent presentation of dishes rich with flavour

To eat at Lovage is a culinary experience. An adventure for the taste buds. First time at Lovage. It was difficult to decide because everything on their menu sounded so good and different. We eventually settled on a local cheese/apricot jam and crackers, followed by 3 shared platters. Smoked trout, fried green tomatoes with jumbo shrimp, roast cabbage and one dessert each. Burnt cheesecake ..really ? Yep .. outstanding. And the panna cottage/feta and watermelon. Amazing. Savoured every unique flavour. All made in their own kitchen. Exceptional. Add the knowledgeable and welcoming service of our server, I would give Lovage 20 of 10. A very satisfied customer. And will be a regular customer, whenever I visit Stratford. Unfortunately some of my favourite restaurants have closed but Lovage is a new and unique addition. Good luck and continued success to the Lovage team. Thank you.

Fantastic service, great food with big flavor, great wines, no complaints! I m in Stratford once a year and this is the best meal I ve had in town in ages.

Minimalist decor, knowledgeable staff and an interesting wine list. Based on two visits one year apart, food remains inventive and satisfying with deep flavours and a focus on the local and the seasonal. To be recommended.

This is the best kept secret in Stratford. Great tunes, great vibe, and phenomenal food. You ll want to tell your friends!

This place blew us away! Lovage is a big city experience in small town Stratford. Tough to find a better restaurant anywhere.

Loved every moment, and every bite Thank you for your hospitality! Food

Our most favourite place to dine, period. The menu is perfectly curated and the food always delivers, the service is friendly and honest and the atmosphere is welcoming. This is a place I would recommend to anyone.

Outstanding! I think we just found our new favourite restaurant anywhere West of Toronto since The Berlin in Kitchener unfortunately closed.

Interesting wines, well executed menu, attentive service. We can t wait to return.

This place is amazing! The staff was friendly and very accommodating to my familys food allergies & dietary restrictions! The chef was more than happy to help us in figuring out which menu items worked for us! They had a variety of meat, fish and vegetarian options! The food was INCREDIBLE and the kitchen is open concept so you can watch the magic happen. I would highly recommend this restaurant! Dietary restrictions: Very accommodating!

PARDON?! I cant even with this place. Kayla and Abra are two of my favorite humans. The service is personal and incredible. The food.. MY GOD. My food tonight was music. I could not stop swaying to the rhythm of it. My only criticism is that I came too late and the fried cauliflower was 86d, and this is a criticism to myself for dawdling on my way out the door. Fabulous. Every. Time.

Humble French food in a modern-rustic and relaxed atmosphere. Wine options by the glass are limited.

Amazing food lives here !!! The staff are always incredible and every dish makes us want toncome back for more! A go to for sure if you are dining in Stratford

One of the very best! Incredible food, staff and atmosphere. So lucky to have such an incredible kitchen here in Stratford! 5/5

Super delish, a delightful meal

Hard to find any faults ! We had a great time at dinner on a Saturday night in the dead of winter Roasted cabbage stood out among the many great dishes we had

Dietary restrictions: They are well equipped to handle and special requests, or dietary restrictions. Food

Fabulous drinks and amazing meal. Abra and the Kitchen talent were humorous, gracious, hard working and cooperative under immense pressure-great team! The steak tartare and citrus salad were sublime. Look for this gem in Stratford if you crave amazing food, wine and service.

Cute and comfortable spot with a great menu. Phenomenal and surprising flavours with a lot of depth. Superb service. Will be my go-to spot when Im in town. Absolutely loved.

An amazing atmosphere, delicious food, great wine selection! The whole experience was perfect from start to finish! Highly recommend!

Enjoyed my first visit - food was fantastic and wine selection was perfect. Will definitely be back soon.

Nice atmosphere, menu changes often so always something new to pick from. Started off with a couple small plates as appetizers, then had lamb sausage as my main it was tasty and the peppers were cooked perfectly. Had a maple tart for dessert. I will happily go back.

One of my best culinary experiences ever. It is comforting but something I never be able to make at home. From first bite of the Shrimp cocktail till last bite of the Chocolate mousse, everything is filled with wonder. Best service as well. Very excited to have this restaurant in Stratford. Should have visited sooner. Can t wait next visit!

This place is incredible. A true master class is hospitality from start to finish. My partner and I sat at the bar to enjoy a meal and some wine for my birthday. The staff were incredible. Knowledgeable, hospitable, and genuine. We had really great conversation with all the serving staff, it truly helped make our experience what it was. The food was seriously one of the best meals I ve had in a long time. As someone who used to work in kitchens professionally, the attention to detail and creative touches on the 7 plates we shared were well thought out and executed perfectly. Bravo to the kitchen team. The music, the layout, the open kitchen it all makes Lovage what it is. Thank you again for the lovely night, you really made my birthday a memorable one. Brad and Laura.

A memorable restaurant experience is a good blend of outstanding food, smooth service and a theatrical environment. Lovage has it.

Ive dined at many restaurants around Stratford and I can state definitively that Lovage is in my top 3. The standard of service and cuisine is excellent. They have a menu that changes almost daily, which means it is incredibly seasonal and there is always something new to try! This place is always my first recommendation to anyone looking for an amazing dinner in Stratford. Dietary restrictions: The chefs are incredibly professional and are accommodating for all kinds of allergies and dietary restrictions.

A new gem on Wellington in downtown Stratford, Lovage gives you a unique dining experience you won t find anywhere else. The servers are knowledgeable and charismatic with great humour. The kitchen has nailed it with ever changing menus to keep things fresh and keep you on your toes. Chic, comfortable and bright, you can enjoy their inside dining space or outside patio. Either way, you are in for a treat!

We had an event for a group at Lovage in June. The staff could not have done anything better. The food was fantastic and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. It was obvious that the chef and kitchen staff cared greatly about their craft. The wait staff was attentive and looked after every need. There were great non alcoholic beverage choices for those who chose that option, and a great selection of wines and cocktails. A wonderful gem in downtown Stratford. Highly recommend visiting.

This is unquestionably the best restaurant in Stratford, coming from someone who lives here. The menu changes often. The dishes are always a hit and the wine list is solid.

Eclectic menu. Spiced lamb ribs were excellent. A good place for a group to share the variety of food options.

A very charming experience at Lovage today; we enjoyed a joyful meal of tartar and a zucchini Agridolce. The zucchini dish was INCREDIBLE. We nearly walked by a didnt seat but the server invited us in at open for lunch and took the plunge on faith. SO glad we did; we really were dazzled by the technicality of the dishes and impressed by the daily menu made bespoke each day. The front of house was very warm and welcoming and the dining area is relaxed and comfy but polished and hip. I will go out of my way to return next time Im in town. Top marks!

Weve gone here twice and twice we loved it here. Good food, good desserts, good service. We are local and we will keep on coming for sure, congrats to the kitchen.

Now open for lunch, we dropped in after the theatre crush

Amazing food. Very tasty. These guys really focused on cooking. I had a very tender liver in my sweetbreads. As the downside I would indicate that dishes could be bigger and there is room for more cosiness, especially inside. Food

Sensational food, good portion size, very reasonably priced, lovely staff, would definitely come again, and strongly recommend the smoked trout!

We were out for a special night and had a fantastic experience from the moment we sat down to the moment we left. Great down to earth, whimsical and yet professional service. Portion size, flavour and menu offerings couldn t have been more satisfying. We d decided on Lovage based on some high bar reviews from friends and it surpassed the bar. I highly recommend!

Talk about a more inhospitable dining experience, treated like trailer trash - Folks, dont judge a book from its cover, especially people driving 6 figure cars!!!

A casual, unpretentious atmosphere and world class food. Thoroughly enjoyed our early lunch here. Our server was friendly and charming. The menu changes every single day (seriously impressed by the effort that must go into that) and the dishes shift with the seasons and available fresh ingredients. I will go back to Stratford again specifically to dine here! Get the potato dish if it s on the menu. It s like grown up tater tots collided with patatas bravas *chefs kiss* I d also like to add that after reading a few of the low reviews here, I walked into this restaurant wearing jeans, flip flops and a baggy sweatshirt. Both my partner and I were welcomed and not made to feel out of place or judged in any way. Quite the opposite. Thanks for a great time, Lovage!

Great food and service experience. Great sharing menu. We shared the sea bass and other couples at our table shared the steak. The taste of the food was amazing. Can t wait to go back! Food

The best restaurant in Stratford and one of my favorites in the country. Service is great and the local bistro atmosphere is lovely, quaint and unpretentious. Most importantly, the food here has been consistently delicious ever since its opened, punching way above its weight class for a relatively small town like Stratford. I had the pleasure of eating a stellar meal at Mon Lapin in Montreal a week or two prior to my latest meal at Lovage, and remarked that the quality of food and balance of creativity vs. sheer deliciousness was at the same calibur. Its great that the Stratford scene has a team working at this level!

Unfortunately, we didnt even try the food. Booked weeks in advance after a matinee performance.and were looking forward to trying this place. The restaurant was empty when we arrived and they were going to place in very tight cramped space.(my aunt has an injured shoulder) We asked to be moved and thats when the fun began. Unprofessional comments from hostess /manager and very unwelcoming. We left. Not spending our money is such an unpleasant environment. Went to another location and were graciously seated, had fantastic service, and a great meal. Could have been easily rectified and resolved at Lovage. 19 years coming to Stratford and our worst (and only negative) experience in that entire time. Put a huge damper on a fantastic afternoon.

The culinary creations are simply incredible.

My first time to Stratford and I am terribly disappointed with the service of the hostess at this restaurant. A local in town recommended Lovage and I waited half an hour for it to open. I was so looking forward to what I thought would have been a quality experience. I paid for parking and was the first to enter when the restaurant opened at 5PM. I didn t have a reservation but there was a walk ins are welcome sign. The hostess who greeted me never asked if I had a reservation, but as soon as I said I was dining alone, she immediately said that I have to sit at the bar. It felt like if I had someone to else dining with me I would have been given a table. It felt discriminatory and a brush off. Jaime the owner was courteous and said that they had no tables. But there are better ways of delivering this message that doesn t make someone feel unvalued as a potential customer, discriminated against because they are dining alone, and brushed off. This is my fist time to Stratford and not the experience I would have like to take away with me. As someone who works in tourism and hospitality, how has worked for a 5-star hotel and heads a tourism organization, this experience is terribly disappointing. They say your first experience is the lasting one, and sadly my first experience of Stratford will be my last. I will take my presence, business and money to restaurants that values customers, even those who dine alone, OR, know how to convey messages properly in a way that still makes their guests feel respected, valued, and appreciated. My experience fell far beneath that. This ruined what I thought would have been a wonderful night. However I drove to Peninsula Ridge Winery in Beamsville and had an incredible dinner, experience, and high quality service.

Lovage is definitely a favourite of ours in Stratford. The food is next level and the wine list and cocktails are incredible. The staff are very warm and friendly and the service is exceptional. Their menu changes often which is a testament to the thought and care that goes into their food. Truly spectacular all around and a must visit!

Go here! Food, service and atmosphere were exceptional. The creativity and execution was delicious. Expensive but worth it. The pricing reflects the quality.

absolutely incredible. amazing staff. jamie (chef) can do no wrong. every dish is top notch. menu changes on rotating basis and you need to try EVERYTHING. LOVE this restaurant. cannot recommend enough

Super cute, European style atmosphere. AMAZING, artful, unique food. OUTSTANDING service. You could stay for one hour or five. I won t say anymore, go and see how wonderful it is for yourself!

Lovage makes food for your tongue to dream. The service was exceptional, and the food even better. We went for afternoon snacks, perfect before a show, or a casual walk about town. The food was a perfectly delivered song and dance on our pallets. This place is a must visit. Spoiler: The Patatas Bravas, might make you cry (be sure to order it)

Exceptionally good---cannot recommend highly enough.

We ate at the bar and shared a bunch of plates. All were delicious. Cocktails were creative and well done. Bar tender/waiter was exceptional

Service and quality of food exceptional! My wife made a comment that sums it up, Why doesnt this restaurant have Michelin stars?

Amazing food and ambiance

Loved everything I ve tried here! The staff is insanely friendly and attentive. The menu changes, so if something catches your eye, order it! Update: Had my final meal in Stratford here and can t wait to return. The food is FRESH, often local, and curated beautifully. Must try!

We had a party of 11 and we sat on the patio before heading to the theater . We had a fantastic Dinner and the Service was outstanding . I will be back !

One of the best dinners I have had in a long time. My parents and I loved it. We had the steak (they shared) with oysters to start. I had this lovely green bean/bean salad to start with this INCREDIBLE squid dish. We also had the most incredible chocolate mousse (a bit salty and crunchy!) & strawberry sorbet. We also loved the wine! Impeccable choices offered by our server. So memorable, refreshing, and unexpected. The service is so wonderful and sweet. An incredible new favourite. Thank you so much. I highly recommend.

We cannot highly recommend this place enough. The food was outstanding. From the appetizers to dessert, all we heard at our table was a bunch of omg yum . Everyone shared their appetizers and food because we all thought ours was better. Turned out, they were all excellent. The reasturant is small and cosy. The menu is very interesting. Food comes out quickly. Even though we had so much food to eat, including dessert, none of us felt stuffed. It was just the right amount of food to leave you feeling satisfied. The staff are super nice and attentive. You definitely need to make reservations as this is a popular spot. We will absolutely be returning with more friends. Do not miss an opportunity to eat here. You will love it.

I m at a loss for words, it s hard to describe perfection.

The food and service was wonderful!

It wont let you down. Good service, good food good music, good desserts, gooooood! House wines could be better but hey, who cares, everything is so good it doesnt matter! Any alcohol is good with good food. We will come back!

Our server (Conor) was attentive and informative . His enthusiasm for the meal was justified. The food was well prepared , delicious , presented beautifully and exactly as Conor had described it. It was a meal that we anticipated instead of just waiting for it. Back patio was clean and comfortable , and the washrooms were the same . Little cloth hand towels to dry your hands is a nice touch. Wine list is extensive and varied. Our waiter didn t make us feel uncomfortable that we only wanted water, we seldom drink prior to an 8 o clock show.. Well done Lovage.

Small plate dining, tapas style, is something I love and thats what Lovage does. Their menu has a near perfect amount of variety between dishes and a party of four could easily try almost everything (or everything if you are on the pretty hungry side). We tried all but 4 plates and each dish was better than the last. Drinks were expertly crafted and delicious. Take the ice cream pairing at the end of the meal, its individually prepared and amazing.

My husband and I visited Lovage for our anniversary. The service was wonderful and attentive. The menu was interesting/exciting. The pasta feature was the best pasta dish I ve ever had. If any recommendation, it would be to space out the seating more, as being directly next to another couple was a bit distracting. Overall great experience.

Costly, small quantities but flavorful! We had the Pasta and the Eggplant Toast, both tasted good but the quantity was small for the price we paid.

Beautiful food and atmosphere.

Most uncomfortable experience ever. Walked in with my partner and everyone stared at us (patrons, waitress, and entire kitchen staff)! The waitress never acknowledged us despite walking past us multiple times. We stood up and left.

Fresh ingredients plus a talented kitchen staff equals outstanding results every time. Couple this with the front of the house staff who treat every guest like family and you simply can t beat Lovage. Creative menu the changes constantly, huge wine selection, comfortable atmosphere, crazy mixture of music, and a open kitchen make Lovage my favourite place to eat! Really enjoy watching the kitchen at work, and the locally trained sous chef Tanner is a delight.

The best place to dine, drink, listen to good tunes & enjoy the people you re with.

Very disappointed. Staff very good. Very expensive- which we expected- but all six entrees were cold. We told our server. No one came over or said anything to apologize. We will not return.

This was a great dining experience. From the start the service was excellent, the bread awesome, the foie gras was wonderful but the show stopper was the cucumber salad. It was a flavour explosion and so Unexpected. The pasta as well delicious. Topped off with a beautiful and interesting wine list and you have a winning meal!

Absolutely superb meal, service and space. One of the best meals anywhere at any time. Congrats to the chef and crew

A restaurant so taken with ITSELF as to not care about it clients! Can you believe a $65 piece of beef in an ice cream parlor ambiance?! Dont believe posted menus. They seem to change more often than the weather. My fish was swimming in vinegar. My wifes fish was oily enough to lubricate a car. The wine was exceedingly ordinary. I cancelled my salad and we went elsewhere to dinner.

Awesome, creative and ever changing menu! Great atmosphere, top notch service and fantastic selection of tasty adult beverages. Do yourself a favour and go!

What a lovely reataurant. Walked in without a reservation and were kindly shown a table. The food, service and atmosphere were fantastic. The shrimp stuffed chicken wings were a delightful surprise, and the pork chop schnitzel was beyond delicious (and massive). We will be back for sure.

The new star on the Stratford restaurant scene. The menu is perfectly designed for sharing, so go with a group of 4 or 6. The menu is every changing, allowing the kitchen to build the dishes around ingredients that are fresh and high quality as well as keeping the kitchen team motivated and challenged. It all comes through perfectly in the food. Not inexpensive, but certainly worth it!

What a gem!!!!! This place feels like a Michelin star restaurant- the menu is creative and always changing, the chefs clearly have a very high standard and pride for their cooking (tasting as they build, and happy to listen and deliver the food to the table themselves). The service from Abra was amazing too!!! I d recommend trying as many of the apps as possible. True have so many. I also love that that are really pushing the boundaries, with new and novel dishes. If they still have it, you need to try the oysters, the clam spat, and the shrimp cocktail. And you should Andy try some of the things you ve never had before. A must go to when in Stratford!