The Old Newcastle House Taps & Grill — Restaurant in Clarington

I have been living in Newcastle for 5 years and continue to try to want to love this place but there is so many little things that just urk me about it. One thing they have finally changed is that their meals come with a side whereas before it was an additional charge. I find everything is an additional charge or is misleading with their pricing. For example an order of sweet potato fries does not come with a chipotle aioli whereas it seems pretty standard everywhere else. You can get it but it will be an extra charge here. Also their daily specials such as the craft beer Thursday’s for $5…well that’s starting at $5 but does not really advertise that. Meanwhile we order 3 different craft beers and all of them were $6.98 on the bill. The waitress said it’s a good deal as they are normally $9 anyways yet on their drink menu it shows $8. I’m not understanding how the deals are really “deals” at this place. Their outside menu in the case at the entrance is outdated. The pricing is different on the hand out menus than in the computer for some things. I feel the establishment as a whole is always penny pinching and more worried about an extra buck than actually providing a good experience. Also I find the waitresses, not all as Tanya is lovely but some of them I find have a lot of attitude and when calling about reservations or when showing up to the place about getting a table it’s almost like you’re inconveniencing them or it’s quite the ask if you’d like to wait for a patio spot or even put a name down. God forbid they try to accommodate anyway. I just overall get this impression everytime I come here that they are privileged. I honestly wouldn’t even come here if we had more options. I feel this restaurant plays on that a bit and knows if you’re wanting to stay local you only have so many places to go. I just wish they could do better. I think giving back to your customers and providing better deals and less nickel and diming would go a long way but I guess they don’t worry about that as they technically don’t have much competition. I will say the food is good here, just some items have slightly smaller portions and can be overpriced. The patio is really nice and they do an excellent job creating a great ambiance and atmosphere. Just feel there is room for...

We made a reservation for 7 pm. Upon being greeted we were advised to go to our table, the server didn't come with us. It was a table for two in a front corner of the porch area. Unfortunately, it was directly under a speaker playing music. My gf has sensitive hearing so that wouldn't work. The server asked us to wait while they cleared a table.

We were shown where to go to find our new table. It was fine despite the three tv screens directly over head. We placed our drink orders and then our meals.

Then for some god unknown reason they turned the speaker which we didn't bare in the corner up rather loud with the leafs game!! We looked around other than two gentlemen seated at the bar absolutely no one was watching the game! We now had to raise our voices to even hear each other. But we remained where we were.

I order french onion soup as an appetizer. It arrived in a timely manner. The cheese on top was scorched with some areas burnt. I moved some of the cheese to begin. The soup, (french onion soup is always served VERY hot. This bowl was at best Luke warm. The server was quick to advise she would remove it from our bill.

I ordered the bacon wrapped and cheese filled meatloaf. A combination I had never before had the gravy was tart which perfectly offset the sweetness of the Applewood smoked bacon. The garlic mashed potatoes appeared to be flaked mashed potatoes.

My gf ordered the liver and onions. Being an Irish lass, whose mom is an executive chef. Said the liver was VERY tough. She also had the flaked potatoes.

Overall, not a great experience. I would advise NOT to attend if there is a leafs game on, as they seem to believe it is a sports bar, (there is a sports bar just up the street).

It could also have been the food was just having an off night, which I completely understand happens. Hopefully the management chooses to bring the short comings to...

Kitchen is awful and doesnt care about accuracy or food quality at all.

First off the server was great. Really friendly and personable. The environment is cozy and chill. Unfortunately, the food itself is a huge turn off to an otherwise attractive dining spot, i work in the industry myself and this is some of the worst ive had at a bar.

I paid 19.65 for my burger and received one that was so dry and incorrectly garnished that it made me wish i went to mcdonalds or something instead. At least there the young folks putting together your food try their best which this cook was clearly not doing..

The burger wasnt even remotely close to being made properly. Its supposed to have a few diff cheeses on it - none. Sauteed mushrooms, none. House sauce, none. Applewood smoked bacon - literally one single piece of bacon cut in half, and then halfed again. I think between my aunts burger and mine there might have been a single strip of bacon used. Onion rimgs ? This was the one garnish cook got right, unfortunately he seemed to think he could hide the lack of all other garnish or even proper cook on the burger patties by putting like 7 onion rings on top of the burger. This is either extreme laziness / not caring at all, or the cook doesnt know his menu at all. Either way not a good look.

I wont even get into the other food, you get the idea. This is clearly a kitchen who just doesnt give a sh!t lol. You dont make that many errors on one dish ansd then repeat it across the table lol, thats just plain laziness and not caring.

I didnt eat most of the food and despite the server being a sweetheart and doing a great job the food just kills the experience. I wont bring the family back to this cute little joint which sucks as i wanted to like the place but the food was just such a...