Sonny's Drive-In Restaurant - Waterloo

A recent trip to Waterloo, Ontario had me taking in lunch at Sonny's Drive-In restaurant at 256 Weber Street North, steps from University Avenue. I suppose you are wondering how such a flashy roadside sign could draw me in for their dining experience. Well that sign looks like the very same one that I remember some 25+ years ago when late night noshes meant there was only one game in town.

Sonny's is approximately 3 kms from the residences at the University of Waterloo and for this crowd, a burger joint open until 3 am on the weekends is a good thing.

So for purely sentimental reasons, when I saw that beautiful sign while driving through town, I had to see if Sonny's still held the same cachet for me.



I showed up for lunch some time after 2 pm and was quite surprised at the crowd ahead of me, considering it was a Wednesday afternoon. Fish and chips seemed to be the popular choice. I ordered the typical hamburger ($3.39) and small fry ($2.69).

There is no seating in the establishment but they do have a long stand-up bar by their front window if you do want to eat in. Like the sign, it does not appear that much has changed inside either. (The place has been around for at least 40 years. But how much older than that, I really don't know.) This experience was pure nostalgia.



The burger patty was flame-broiled on the charcoal grill like I remembered but I am not sure these patties are home-made. I loved every bit of its decadence though. My burger tastes have definitely become more sophisticated. My new favourite burger is made from O'Brien Farm's hormone-free beef at Hintonburger back in Ottawa.



As for the fries, they were great. Cooked perfectly with a crisp outside and a soft meaty center. The small is an ample portion for me. In fact, I couldn't finish them.

It is definitely a cautious treat nowadays, considering all the calories that go with a burger and fries. Something we didn't think too much about back in the youthful student days.

The impulsive stop into Sonny's Drive-In was a charming trip down memory lane.

Sonny's Drive-In
256 Weber St N
Waterloo, Ontario
519.884.1750

Sun to Thurs: 10 am - 1 am
Fri to Sat: 10 am - 3 am

The Bauer Kitchen - Waterloo

On a recent road trip to the Kitchener-Waterloo region, we took in brunch at The Bauer Kitchen, one in the suite of restaurants owned by The Charcoal Group. We had a reservation for 11:00 am on the Sunday after the clocks changed back so we were expecting to be seated among a buzz of well rested fellow patrons. I am almost certain we were the first to arrive. First pour of the coffee would be the freshest, right?

The menu for brunch isn't teeming with choices of the 'breakfast' variety. Something we knew before going since we had cased it out on-line. This is not the place to go if you are looking for the diner experience of 2 eggs over easy, 3 strips of bacon, hashbrowns, rye lightly toasted. It is catering to a finer plate presentation - eggs benedict, waffles, french toast, 2 different omelettes, steak and eggs. The lunch side of the menu is better represented with sandwiches, salads, appetizers and even what I would call light dinner fare.

The website says that "The Bauer Kitchen's fair trade organic house coffee is a proprietary blend of three estate coffees from Nicaragua, Ethiopia and Sumatra". Which I suppose that's why it is $2.95. It was good, but not memorable. Though I am sure it was doing what it needed to be doing to get us primed for the day. (Perhaps I carry my loyalty to Bridgehead Coffeehouse, Ottawa too far.) Although it was Noon, 'old time', we all seemed to be dragging. Interestingly, if you are looking to bring their caffeine experience home, you can purchase their coffee (whole bean or ground) or get it next door at Vincenzo's.

They say their bread is baked using local grains and no additives or dough enhancers. That sounds like a good thing. It is baked on-site in the Bauer Bakery and can be purchased for take-home as well.

Our first mistake was ordering the sticky bun ($1.95 each). Two to share among the 4 of us. Although, there wasn't a whole lot of sharing. The mistake you ask? Well, let's just say the thing is gigantic and there is a reason that this picture looks like it covers the whole plate. It's because it does. It was a meal in and of itself. (Shouldn't good wait staff stop you from making bad decisions like that?) The fresh tender sweet bread was covered in much cinnamon, butter and sugar. (Not a nut or raisin to be found.) It was pretty yummy but I still continue the search for the 'best' sticky bun in the world.



I decided to go for the Smoked Salmon Benedict on a fresh biscuit with hollandaise, poached eggs, homefries and fresh fruit for $13.95. I try to pick salmon whenever I can. What a great idea to match it with the bennys. It really was lovely but I wished I had been more hungry than I was. Darn that sticky bun.



The teenager went off brunch and headed for lunch tastes, starting with the Romaine Salad with garlic anchovy dressing, Heidelberg double-smoked bacon, olive oil croutons and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese for $7.45. He absolutely LOVED it. It had that big garlic flavour he was looking for. He commented on the great bacon (quantity and taste) and the big splash of cheese shavings.



He then moved on to the Bauer Butcher Burger with Heidelburg double-smoked bacon, mustard scallion mayonnaise, aged cheddar and grilled onion on a multi-grain bun. It came with a handsome serving of sweet potato fries. All for $13.95. His eyes were bigger than his stomach and he admitted defeat early and opted for a doggie bag. He says he quite enjoyed the burger and the fries were done to perfection. (I can agree. To the fries.)



The mister and our guest had Eggs Benedict on a fresh biscuit with peameal bacon, arugula, poached eggs, hollandaise, homefries and fresh fruit for $11.95. Our guest moaned a lot through her meal. When it came time to clear the plates, hers had a look of 'licked clean'. The sticky bun mister gave his meal a valiant try!




The Bauer Kitchen opened in December 2009. They describe themselves as "an energetic up-market 'bistro' set in a SoHo inspired, restored felt factory". Who can argue with that description! (SoHo, a neighbourhood in Manhattan is 8 hours and 800 kms away. Wow! The power of inspiration.) The interior is impressive with its high ceilings, high wall shelves, cement floors, table dividers of industrial steel and reclaimed wood. The restaurant space is massive so getting a cozy feeling is tricky. This was my second time here and I still haven't felt it. It actually reminds me a bit of Milestones Grill + Bar, though it is hard to beat the Bauer Factory history seeping through.

Executive Chef, Michael Hodgson is a hometown boy and I often read about the healthy competitiveness and camaraderie among the chefs in the region that I can't help but think keeps them all sharp at their game.

I usually do not to pay much attention to restaurant prices, at least not in a picky way. I tend to think if you had a really outstanding experience, a percentage point or two doesn't really factor into your make or break decision. But I did feel the prices at TBK are a bit on the high side compared to other places of this calibre.

I do prefer chef-owned restaurants versus those run from 'head office', but I can happily say that our overall experience was positive and I do want to come back again. There is so much to the place, I think it will take a few tries to soak it all in. Perhaps on a future visit we will be out on their large outdoor patio. Here is hoping that the place is having a solid following as it approaches its first anniversary.

Whether I like it or not, Waterloo appears to be growing up.



The Bauer Kitchen
187 King Street South #102
Waterloo, ON
519. 772.0790
www.thebauerkitchen.com
Twitter: @thebauerkitchen

Open seven days a week.
Weekday Lunch: 11 am - 4 pm
Dinner: Mon & Tues: 4 pm - 11 pm
Dinner: Wed & Thurs: 4 pm - midnight
Dinner: Fri: 4 pm - 1 am
Dinner: Sat: 2 pm - 1 am
Diner: Sun: 2 pm - 11 pm
Weekend Brunch: 9 am - 2 pm

Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill - Waterloo

It has been 4 days now since our party of five dined out at the Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill, located at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, Ontario and I am still pondering the experience. This is one of five O & B Café Grills in Ontario. So a chain, I guess. Not something I usually do when dining out. But this collection of restaurants is just five in the larger family of Peter Oliver and Michael Bonacini eateries. Of the other six, Canoe and Luma are the more well-known, both situated in Toronto. As I contemplated whether I would go to a 'chain', I acquiesced knowing it came with a pedigree.

I sometimes catch a glimpse of Michael Bonacini on Citytv's CityLine but I am most fond of his TV presence from his time on Chris Knight's production, Cook Like A Chef. What is it with Welsh men? They are just so darn charming. And a celebrity chef so calm, cool and collected seems virtually unheard of in this industry. Shea Robinson is the Chef de Cuisine at the Waterloo location. No word on HIS disposition!

With all this goodness, what could I possibly be pondering? What I can't figure out is why Waterloo. The other Grill locations are more Toronto centric with the exception of the other outlier, Blue Mountain. And if Waterloo, then why the Conestoga Mall. And if Waterloo's Conestoga Mall, where is everybody? I get that Kitchener-Waterloo has a high student population with two universities but surely there are enough people in the area with some okay coin to go out to dinner once in a while. Perhaps we can just chock it up to being Sunday night in a town that still closes its doors sometimes for 'the day of rest'. For us it was a lovely evening and I just hate to see people missing out! I so hope a Waterloo presence can work for them.

Annie greeted us like family on our arrival. Our service was consistent, cheery and attentive. The interior is beautiful. So many details that speak to a very urban style, not typical of restaurants I have been to in Waterloo in the past. High ceilings. Large tables. Banquettes. White and bright everywhere. Fashion forward plates. Their handicap washroom borders on posh. Check out the website gallery section to give you a better sense of the mood of this place.

We all shared the chicken & leek potstickers with maple ponzu sauce. Lovely bundles with an asian accent.





The teenager first dug into the small caesar salad with focaccia croutons, maple bacon, creamy garlic and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese dressing. Another guest started with this dish as well. They both had the same comment - the dressing seemed diluted. He was looking for a rich garlic punch. High praise for the bacon though!



The teenager then moved on to the Tuscan onion soup with caramelized onion broth and bocconcini and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. This was his favourite dish. All the onion flavour he was hoping for. He recommended it and wants to come back for more!




The teenager finished off with one of the November Tutta La Pasta specials - handmade ricotta and truffle ravioli with preserved lemon and garlic sautéed Swiss chard, butternut squash and rosemary brown butter. I was able to pull off a taste of this. I enjoyed the creamy filling and the squash base. But the Swiss chard was just a bit too overpowering against the very mellow ricotta and squash. High marks though for being beautifully presented. After all, we do eat with our eyes, don't we?



I had the grilled Atlantic salmon seasoned with olive oil, lemon, sea salt and garden herbs, served with Provençal ratatouille and thyme roasted potatoes. It was a handsome portion and the salmon was cooked to perfection. I loved every bite. The ratatouille was a good match and something I have never had with salmon before.



The mister had the grilled chicken on Japanese Caesar with edamame, roasted shiitake, cashews, wasabi peas, pickled ginger in a lime and soy Caesar dressing.



Our first dinner companion followed her Caesar salad with the strozzapreti (short hand-rolled pasta) with rosemary lamb ragout, spinach and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. It was an ample portion and she left most of her pasta. I suspect it overshadowed the ragout.



Our second dinner companion had the fire roasted baby back ribs with jalapeño cornbread pudding, creamy coleslaw, seasonal vegetables and campfire maple baked beans. He just loved these lip smacking ribs!



Our dinner companions shared the Sicilian pistachio ice cream. Creamy goodness! It came from SOMA Chocolatemaker in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District where artisan David Castellan makes handcrafted chocolates and gelato.



The teenager, the mister and I shared one of the O&B Tiniest Desserts - a raisin loaded butter tart. Being a bit of a butter tart connoisseur, I believe no butter tart should have more than ten raisins. I didn't do a final tally but I know there was easily double that count. Thankfully they all sat on top so I could alter this tart to be just pure sugar pie. This probably isn't the place to brag about my own baking prowess, but it was said by both family members that my butter tarts are better! It was still a tasty treat.



The highlights were definitely the salmon, the baby back ribs and the Tuscan onion soup. Waterloo is fortunate to have Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill in their midst. Considering the size of this region now, it needs to have a place to go for a reliable, solidly delivered meal that can serve as a 'go-to' place and also a destination for celebrations. The food preparation is receiving careful attention in its preparation. The ingredients are simple and fresh. Come out and enjoy your gem. I for one would love to go back.

Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill
Conestoga Mall
550 King Street North
Waterloo, Ontario
519.772.0783
www.oliverbonacini.com

Open seven days a week.
Lunch: 11:30 am - 4 pm
Dinner: Sun & Mon: 4 pm - 9 pm
Dinner: Tues to Thurs: 4 pm - 10 pm
Dinner: Fri & Sat: 4 pm - 11 pm
Weekend à la carte Brunch: 11 am - 4 pm

Rise & Shine Family Restaurant - Waterloo, Ontario

When we were in Waterloo recently and looking for a breakfast/brunch place, we knew that we wanted something that had a predictable menu with lots of choices. Just give us the straight goods. We found a place tucked away in an unassuming strip mall that appeared to be doing a brisk business. Always a good sign.

Inside the place looked clean and orderly. Another good sign.

And for a wee place in a strip mall, it sure seems to hold a lot of tables. Considering the brisk business, good for them!

The menu is daunting in its full 7 pages. But if you want any combination of breakfast, brunch or lunch known to man, then 7 pages it must be. By the way, the place closes at 3 pm every day so don't be looking for dinner here.

Our coffee came up right away. It is priced separately at $1.89 for a bottomless cup. Our orders were in promptly and the wait for our piping hot food seemed reasonable. A nice surprise too considering how busy they were on this Labour Day Monday.

Our guest had the Mexican Benedict with salsa, jalapenos, cheddar cheese and guacamole sauce. It was made with 2 poached eggs on top of a toasted English muffin with hollandaise sauce and served with home fries and baked beans. All for $9.99.



Our guest said he enjoyed it very much. His only comment was that the hollandaise sauce had started to separate and was a bit on the thick side but it didn't stop him from going all the way.

The mister went for the Gourmet Omelette with grilled zucchini, roasted red pepper, roasted garlic and Asiago cheese. It was made with 3 eggs and served with home fries, baked beans and toast. He chose rye. All this for $10.95.



He too was happy with his choice and also spoke well of the home fries.

I chose the Vegetarian Omelette with tomato, zucchini, red onion, mushrooms and green pepper. Like all the omelettes, it too was made with 3 eggs and served with home fries, baked beans and toast. I chose brown. All of this for $9.99.



I like my omelette to be cooked but not to the point of having the browned skin exterior. I have asked many places many times but it always comes out the same as everyone else's omelette. Browned up. I didn't bother asking this time. I really wish it was some how a choice that chef's could deliver. I usually safely retreat to the choice of soft poached eggs to save the bother but this time I was attracted to all the choice goodies coming with this vegetarian omelette. And it really was nicely done. I didn't share the mister's delight in the home fries. I am not sure how they were prepared, but they were too greasy for me. I should have slid them his way.

None of us were fans of the baked beans.

We all liked the place. The service was terrific. In the kitchen and front of the house. Our server was keen, attentive to refills of the liquids and pretty darn cheerful. She did ask why I was taking pictures and who did I work for. In a curious way. I was looking for something clever to say in return but it didn't come to me. So she had to settle for the truth. An unpaid, interested food blogger from Ottawa.

Having been inundated in Ottawa with the Cora's breakfast chain and feeling like it has lost its original home town charm now, we were happy to be in a breakfast place that is local, thinks local and delivers that local charm we were craving.

The breakfasts weren't under priced and I half expected the coffee to be included but we weren't to quibble since we got what we came for. A full belly of a predictable brunch selection, prepared well and presented with a smile.

Could this be a regular go to breakfast place whenever we are back in town? Why yes, I think so.

Rise Shine Family Restaurant
373 Bridge Street West, Unit 4
Waterloo, Ontario
519.885.9494
Owner & Operator: Marios Stavrou
Owner & Manager: Christa Simon

Mon to Sat: 7 am - 3 pm
Sun: 8 am - 3 pm

Eat in; Take Out

Hog Tails BarBQue - Waterloo, Ontario

As I was working on my Hog Tails BarBQue blog entry I saw that Omnivore's Ottawa had done another post on DivaQ. This time the wonderful catering job she did for his father's birthday. Ron Eade has given us the impression that DivaQ of Barrie, Ontario is the benchmark by which all BBQ food should be measured. Based on her many accolades, I am guessing he is right. And as I was reading his blog entry, I was wishing that I had the benefit of tasting her great food as I tell you more about Hog Tails and how they measure up. Perhaps DivaQ and Hog Tails have met out there somewhere on the BBQ competition circuit.

I should tell you first off that I do not gravitate to all things BBQ when looking for a dinner choice. High protein is not my game. This time I was in the presence of 3 beer-drinking males and based on the clientele, it appears that testosterone is generally drawn to Hog Tails.

Hog Tails BarBQue is located in a small strip mall northwest of the University of Waterloo. They have been in business now for just over a year and it seems they have a hit on their hands. They have just a few tables for eat-in service and they do a booming take-out business. 'Just leave the door open' booming. Hog Tails also does catering, equipment sales and rentals.



The menu covers all the basics you would expect on a BBQ food menu.



The beer drinkers tried the F & M Brewery's Stonehammer Pilsner and Dark Ale. F & M Brewery is Guelph-based. Although they enjoyed it well enough, they didn't crown Stonehammer their most favourite craft brewery beer. Their search continues. They would tell you to give it a try and see what you think.

Among the many menu choices, Hog Tails offers a 2 meat and a 3 meat BBQ Platter, along with a piece of Sweet Honey Cornbread and 2 sides. The strategy at the table was to vary the choices of sides in order to taste most of them.



This two meat meal came with Hog Tails' Signature Award-Winning Ribs and Mississippi Hot Wings with the sides being Sweet Potato Fries and Beer Battered Onion Rings.



This three meat meal came with ribs, wings and Southern Style Pulled Pork with the sides being Jalapeno Hush Puppies and the General's Coleslaw.



The BBQ 1/2 Chicken came with the sides of onion rings and a Tijuana Caesar Salad.

It was pretty clear that the team at Hog Tails know a thing or two about the southern pit BBQ and deserve big kudos for their efforts and great pit flavour. However, there is room for improvement.

The ribs and wings seemed like they needed more time cooking to get to a 'fall off the bone' texture. I am guessing since their ribs are award winning, we just came on a night that was too busy for the long slow cook. The 1/2 chicken was just a bit too burnt for the diner's liking. The pulled pork was deemed the best meat of the four on this occasion. All in all, the smokey grilled flavour was there in all the meats.

Some of the sides do need work. On the plus side, the sweet potato fries were cooked well with the right crisp. The coleslaw was fine. The problem is that coleslaw is actually deemed a must side to cut through the pounds of southern pit protein and thus should be more than 'fine'. It should be memorable!. The onion rings were a bit greasy but all onion. We still aren't sure if 'massive' is a good thing. It probably is in the South! The Jalapeno Hush Puppies got a full thumbs down from all and the cornbread got a pass.

But don't let the sides, distract you. It is clear that they deliver on their promise to take pride in their slow cooked meats. They say the meat is locally raised and butchered. The meat is pretty good and this place is definitely worth checking out. I am not a BBQ expert but I can say it is the best BBQ that I have had eating out. It is obvious that they are working hard at their product and want to please. Based on that takeout line up, their is already a solid base of happy customers.

In closing, I should say that the BBQ Platters felt like great value for the money with the 2 meat at $13.95 and the 3 meat at $15.95. The doggie bag was just loaded down with leftovers.

If you find yourself in Waterloo, Ontario and in need of a big smokey plate of protein, head on over to Hog Tails BarBQue.

Hog Tails BarBQue
645 Laurelwood Drive
Waterloo, Ontario
519.888.9911

Mon - Wed: 11 am to 7 pm
Thurs - Sat: 11 am to 8 pm
Sun: Closed