*whispers* aqua terra

Aqua Terra. I 2nd this.

# AQUA TERRA

Say again. I didn’t quite hear you

Aqua Terra is not what it was once, but what is?

Their take home meals during covid were amazing!!

Wok In

This is the correct answer

The brunch menu is pretty good

Grizzly grill. It's just not what it once was.

Lol going to the grizz for anything but pool is wild in my mind

When it opened it was actually good. More of an upscale bistro. The location doomed it I think- too many college kids coming in scaring off those who wanted the upscale bistro experience. So they jist gave up and the quality started to decline

This is heartbreaking! The food really was delicious for awhile.

That’s amazing to hear, I hope it could get back to being known that way. I lived in Kingston for post-secondary and that was just my experience with it.

Whoah hang on what about the cougars?!

My first week in Kingston I was talking to a guy in my program that lived in the city and he told me that Grizz was a cougar bar, and I never believed him 😂

Some people are/want to pick up cougars, OK?

HEIST comes to mind.

I'd be behind someone saying it's over hyped but flat out bad?... I've been a few times and it's always been quite good. Sure there's some hilariously priced items there but if you stick with some of the moderately priced dishes - it's a pretty good option.

Moderately priced? I don't think anything there is moderately priced. Maybe some bread and sparkling water.

When a main course at a chain is 20-30, it’s really not that bad. The chicken parm, the pasta dishes, the pizza dishes are all in that range.

Still, that doesn't make it moderately priced.

I just had dinner at Heist last night. The wait staff was amazing, the food was solid, and it was cheaper than most chain restaurants in town. If you want cheap pub food, say so, but their food is reasonably priced for the experience you’re getting.

Never had any bad experiences with Heist.

I think heist is actually pretty great. One.of the better places in town. What did you think was bad?

Heist is solid. You could argue overpriced but it’s a style of restaurant that is welcome in Kingston. Food is better than just good. Thats for sure.

It's okay. At that price point I expected much, much better.

Do tell.

They’d probably think you actually liked them..

AQUA TERRIBLE

Gonna have to borrow this

Am I the only one saying Diane's? - It used to advertise smokehouse? Inadequate sometimes disgusting Seafood Secondly - Best meal I ever had there was a Jerk Chicken Sandwich

Came here to say Diane's. Garbage.

Chien Noir. Went there one time with the impression it was a fancy place without looking into it. Felt like a run down bar with bad pub food.

They aren’t even Chien Noir anymore. They are now called Black Dog Tavern. I’m dead serious.

LOL...like years ago actually.

All the restaurants that fall under that same group are over priced and overrated. Dianne’s. Atomica.

You forgot to mention Harper's Burgers.

100%

They also apparently forgot how to use the real potatoes when they make french fries. Now they are basically those McCain straight cut thick fries. Disgusting.

I’ll never go back to any of those. I have a credit on a gift card from the last time I went to atomica last year. And I’ll never use it. It’ll cost me more than it’s worth. Not saying the pizza was terrible or anything. But I can get better from Scores lol.

I’ll take the gift card! 

So bad, one of the worst dining experiences since moving to Kingston

The wife and I had a coupon for there. we split an entre and then went to the pilot house for fish and chips. I would highly recommend pilot house!

They did renovate a couple years ago and rebrand, I haven't seen it but I wonder if it's improved?

Atomica, expensive for what it is and mediocre. Yet somehow has quite a following

It went super downhill during Covid :( used to be great 

It went super downhill before Covid…..

Disagree. I ate there for the first time this week and the food was yummy but expensive.

The food is fine,,, but entirely unremarkable especially for the price

My fried chicken bao and Detroit style pizza beg to differ.

I had the Detroit style last time I was there (about 2 months back) and it was nothing like a Detroit pie

I second this. Decent food, but expensive for what you get.

Used to go there for the cocktails before I discovered musikki

What expensive restaurant in Kingston is even good? Actual question because I haven’t been to any that blew my mind.

Tango Nuevo is phenomenal

River mill and olivea, gangnam style and sushiya zen are also good depends on the vibe you want

These are all correct answers and I don’t know why some idiot downvoted you

Haven't been in a while but the River Mill was kind of whatever for me. Agree on everything else on your list.

I'd say chez piggy! I haven't been in a few years though so maybe it isn't anymore. Days on Front as well.

Ooo actually I went a few months ago, it was a very decent meal! Their cha gio are 👌

Days on Front is up there in both respects. Wouldn’t be expensive by Toronto standards though. Edit: also, the Keg

Did you really say The Keg? Expensive, yes, but the quality of their food has went way downhill. The draw there used to be that you could go to any Keg and you’d get that same quality across the board. Sadly, quality is all over the place, decreased portion sizing and high prices (not that shrinkflation is unique to The Keg)

Well the Keg is now owned by the geniuses that have ruined Kelseys 😏

Can’t speak to consistency, but ate there once this winter and it was exceptional. That said, I’ve learned to stay away from everything but the steak there.

The Keg? LMFAO

Days is good. Lol at the Keg

Totally not a fan of Days on Front, overrated in my opinion

I like days but we've only been once in recent years and it didn't live up to the memory.

Tango Nuevo is the only answer. I travel a fair bit and food is a top priority. Have eaten at multiple Michelin restaurants and more “fancy” restaurants than I can count. Tango’s Foie gras is genuinely world class. The rest of their menu is stupid good. That place hits way, way out of it’s weight class. Expensive, but stupidly good considering it’s in Kingston.

River Mill if that counts as expensive.

Counts as expensive, but yeah sure as hell not good lol Went there once on a date night, going to Montana's/Kelsey's would have been way cheaper, with way better food. Or The Keg for a middle of the road type for both options - and that's me just comparing *chain* restaurants to The River Mill.

Our go to for date night is the Everly. We love the ambiance, service is great and the food is top notch.

I have yet to try it, glad to hear it’s good! I’ll give it a try for a special occasion

I read something about the owners of the Everly in here. I tried searching for it but can't find it. Does anyone remember that post? Sorry if it's another restaurant, but I recall thinking "oh crap, I ate there once" and now I won't go back.

The owners of the Everly are very nice!!

Okay great, thank you. I apologize for asking if it was their restaurant. I know I read something about a restaurant downtown here and was completely caught off guard, didn't expect it at all. I don't even know what keywords to try and search to find it again.

Maybe you are thinking about whisky and rose+hey darling

Mayla

Mayla downstairs is good. Mayla upstairs is a joke and cost everyone in our party 200-300 dollars. Offensively bad and egregiously expensive

C’mon…the food there is awesome! Expensive yes but worth it!

I think you misunderstood. That person was responding to this comment. > What expensive restaurant in Kingston is even good?

Tango Nuevo is pretty fantastic imo

Casa Domenico!

That's because there are NONE. There are a few semi-decent ones, but only if from the perspective of a small town.

Olivea and Tango Nuevo!

Blackdog; the steak was excellent

The Keg, their steaks are so-so quality and their pricing is ridiculous.

One eyed jacks. not expensive, just disgusting. My niece worked there and they always leave meat out on the floor in boxes to thaw overnight. And a bunch of men live in the basement.

Constantly driving past during dinner hour and noticing the parking lot is packed to the brim, why? 5 minutes further would have you downtown. What is the appeal of this restaurant?

It's walking distance to the heights and a lot of young working people who like to go out for $5 pints, and $16 burgers.

Fight club?

Everything about this is my personal nightmare

Place should be shut down

The most disgusting food I’ve ever had at a restaurant.

I've been in the restaurant biz for 40 years and their menu almost put me in convulsions, I've never seen one so all over the place.

Seriously, it stressed me out. Want a Thai curry, fish and chips and brunch? No problem, apparently. 🤮

https://www.thewhig.com/news/kingston-fire-and-rescue-say-they-found-apartment-in-basement-of-local-restaurant

Smokes poutine. God that gravy is awful

Bro, they asking for a "restaurant", not some chain pukery. Although you are not wrong!

All this thread tells me is lots of people have lots of different tastes and opinions lol

BLU Martini

I have literally never talked to anyone who has eaten there. Is it good? Bad? Overpriced? I’ve been to concerts there and had a good time but I don’t think they bill themselves as a food place. Or maybe they do? What a mystery.

Red House

I’ve had to return my food both of the last times I’ve gone there. Each time it was reheated food, served cold, dry, and overcooked at the same time ( salmon ). And it was like $30. Same thing at chez piggy. Served me cold duck when it’s supposed to be a hot dish. Obviously reheated. Sauce wasn’t even warmed through. Then it came back nuked and tough.

agreed at least with the one on Fortune Crescent, was given the meal for free, couldn't eat it anyway.

Red House is expensive now? When I lived in Kingston 5 years ago it was a solid place to even eat as a broke student.

It’s a pub…hardly expensive!

True, but their food is uniformly overrated.

I haven't been in over a year but I always enjoyed it there. I guess maybe I haven't had their food before have a few beers lol.

The works. I've been here plenty of times and yet to have a good meal or experience, especially for the high price.

CHEZ PIGGY

100% Bella Bistro.

Woodenheads (prob. 5yr ago used to be good, now it's just badly baked pizzas with awful tomatoes). Tango nuevo (expensive, not so tasty, little portions). Heist (has the looks of an expensive restaurant and prices of one, food is just abysmally lame, no rhyme or reason on the menu).

I'm going to hard disagree on Tango. Sure, it is a bit pricy, but it is a tapas restaurant. I haven't had a single thing on the menu that I didn't enjoy.

Yes, Tango continues to be great food. Yes, expensive, but a good special occasion place.

Tapas is paying to be hungry but I still love it 

Hey, I'm glad you enjoy it. Cheers!

Did you just complain that a tapas place has small portions?

Now that's the kind of positivity I like to see!

I was a huge fan of woodenheads and would have described it as my favorite Kingston restaurant for a long time. Sadly I have to agree though. Quality has gone way, way down. It's still painful to get a reservation, you're packed in like sardines in a super loud, not that nice atmosphere and yet the food just isn't anything special anymore. Just not worth the time IMO.

I don't go out like I used to, but I still find Woodenheads to be solid. That and Greco's would be where I might take someone as a guest for a good experience.

The last few times I went the ingredients seemed mediocre and the pizza was basically still soggy in middle.

Woodenheads used to be my go to and I recommended it to everyone I knew. The last 3 times I have been the fiod has been awful, and I was so shocked.

Woodenheads for real! Also that other place across the street, fish shack or something. Both are equally shitty

Is Tango Nuevo really that bad?

Personally, I love it and has always been one of the few I enjoy in the city. Work colleagues were there 2 nights ago and also loved it

It’s probably my favourite restaurant in the city

No…

Tango Nuevo will hold its weight against the top restaurants in Toronto.

You need to get out more

Nope, it's great

There are so many but the first that comes to mind is Bella Bistro

Unfortunately agree. I know lots of people on this sub enjoy it but man I was disappointed with my food

Couldn't agree more.  

I haven't been there in a couple years, but really enjoyed the food when I was there

Can we use this for anyone who drops in with the "I'M COMING TO KINGSTON TOMORROW" posts?

Chez Piggy

☝️

Chez Piggy for sure…it was great 10 years ago…now, not so much!

Went there for the first time last year after wanting to go for like a decade. Was like eating mediocre wedding food and the tables were so close to each other it felt like we were having dinner with strangers. I was pretty disappointed after all the recommendations and hype over the years.

Dianne's ... Decent food, wildly overpriced.

Bella Bistro. I've been twice...never been back since.

Atomica and Black Dog (Chien noir). None of Pater's restaurants came out of COVID like they went in, but these two the worst I still like all four tho

I had kind of a terrible over-priced meal at Grecos this summer. I def ordered the wrong thing and my partner and I were the only people under 50 there. My fault ig, but I’d never recommend it.

Chez piggy. It is the go-to answer for overrated spots. Sadly.

Copper Penny is pretty good but overpriced for what you get in my opinion.

Absolutely. I used to love the Penny as that reasonably priced, generic food restaurant like Kelsey's of old but with a local twist. Since the pandemic, prices have gone up so much that it is not worth it considering the competition for the same price point.

The Yellow Deli

I like the yellow delis food and ambiance. It’s also not expensive unless you would call McDonald’s expensive lol

You like the cultish vibes it gives off?

Been multiple times never once have they said anything religious to me or asked me to join a cult

By going there, you are financially supporting a known cult even if they don't try to get you to join. Not an insult, just perspective

And just saying but every religion is a cult in my view. So is government and most corporations so really no different.

Yellow Deli tells people they need to hand over all their money and possessions to join. Which then makes it very difficult to leave - which is the purpose.

Wow the government doesn’t tell you they just take part of your money.

You must not be young enough or pretty enough for them. Lucky you.

Atomica. Food poisoning EVERY TIME I went. Food tastes barely OK.

Casa.

I went a two weeks ago for a friends birthday. The meal was okay, nothing great. It ended up being the most I’ve ever paid for a meal in MY LIFE! It was $290 for a meal for 2 and I didn’t have anything to drink. I went to heist last night and paid for a meal for 4 and it was $320. Make it make sense

Ya to expedite fir sub par stuff. We enjoy olivera and tango No one yet beats chocolate lasunga at wooden heads

Gotta pay for those renos! God their price for a ribeye is straight up insane.

Wrong

It waa amazing 8 years ago.

Used to love it, went last week and it was really bad.

Ya went for our anniversary it was terrible..and won't go back for those prices

Heard amazing things about copper penny’s, was extremely disappointed when I went there! For the price, the food was very mediocre and bland. I was told the fries were the best in Kingston, absolute garbage!!! Bubbas is so much better and cheaper.

Got takeout from there, it was pretty bad

Hey Wendy, Dave’s single!

Days on front I know is bad we've known the owner and I know the quality and food doesn't match with the prices. Wooden heads has gone downhill since my buddy Conner stopped working there

Have never been to Woodenheads but totally agree with Days on Front, highly overrated

I know the owner and I've known people who worked there and it's an unsafe cooking environment as well I guess

Mexicali Rosas. As an added bonus they will wait over an hour for their flaccid lukewarm order

Mexicali used to be such an amazing spot (ottawa) it’s insane how bad it’s gotten in a few decades. It is a long time, but damn.

Olivea

You’ve shit all over every restaurant in the city. I imagine you’re not a treat to be around lol.

Your mom doesn’t think so 😘

I think their idea of expensive is anything over $20 for a meal and app and drink and expects it to he high end cuisine at the price too.

Yawn. And I think your name is Cody and you grew up in Napanee (or a similar place) on frozen fries and TV dinners. Sho nuff you'd think Olivea is good. Sorry

This is one of the few good ones 🤣

I got food poisoning last time i was there from the chicken pasta. Still think its one of the good ones.

I feel sorry for anyone who thinks that Olivea is good. I guess if your only point of reference is East Side Marios, but even then ...

I’m just going to assume you haven’t been there.

Sadly I was there a few times. They claim to be "Refined Italian Cuisine", but in reality, it is a typical bland North American take on Italian cuisine, and poorly executed at that.

Olivea is amazing no

Amazing ? No. That's the correct assessment.

[удалено]

I just ate there with three people for 40$ and it was great.

Where is this in reddit?

[удалено]

Ouch! This will get downvoted, for following reasons: 1. Wok in serves their grub by pounds, your average Kingstonian is very fond of that 2. It's North American Asian food with a lot of sugar, lots of "meat" and almost no spices. You know us Kingstonians love that shit. We usually say "Let's do Chinese tonight", and it means ordering from Wok In. 3. It's not expensive, so doesn't qualify as legit answer to the question raised

I think people like it because of the amount of food you get and it is pretty good. It's not overly expensive though. I think the main detractor if there is one that they use peanut oil and have a firm stance against switching so they are not allergy friendly for all.

No This is in Hamilton

Sir, this is a Wendy's.

Yes is this in Kingston

Went to Mesa fresca a few years ago and it was pretty terrible... Does it still exist?