The EL — Restaurant in Cobourg

I was looking forward to treating friends to a favorite place in Cobourg. Server was very friendly, drinks came slowly. My husband wanted the side salad with ranch dressing "don't have ranch" she says. "How about 1,000 islands?" "Dont have that" she says. "What do you have?" She says some vinegarette thing. "That's it?" "Or you can have caesar dressing" she says. OK on the Caesar, assuming that dressing is on the side salad". Dinners come. Mahi taco so overloaded with blackening, can't eat it. Shrimp in tacos overloaded but also tough and very dry. Pasta special was paltry...penne with little addition (1/2 of one cherry tomatoe!!!! Seriously?) And cold! $24 for it!! Outrageous!! Bill comes, we are charged $4 upcharge, I question it and waitress says "it says upcharge on the menu" i try saying to her how we misunderstood and she should explain to customers. She took off. Another girl comes with bill to be signed and says I yelled at our server and she was crying. I DID NOT yell at her. The 2nd girl had a major rude attitude. I tried talking with her again before we left and again she was rude and says they don't get paid enough to deal with us. I was hot. Now, today, in looking at the bill, I was charged for 3 Caesar salads instead of 2!!!. Won't see us again! ALSO.... our friend went there today regarding last night and she was treated very rudely by one of the same girls. ALSO..... there were 24 empty chairs last night and customers were turned away because they didn't have a reservation. When I asked about that, our server says they don't want to be busy. WHAT??? as an owner, I would like to...

I like to be considerate when writing reviews, as every day, every employee, and every customer experience can vary. This was my first visit to this restaurant, and therefore my first impression.

After seeing a few photos and reading some reviews, I was sold. The atmosphere was incredible — the vibes were honestly some of the best I’ve experienced. Warm, welcoming, and vibrant.

Now let’s talk about the food — absolutely phenomenal. I had the smash burger, and it was easily the best burger I’ve ever had. Packed with flavor, juicy on the inside, perfectly browned on the outside — it was cooked to perfection. I've tried many burgers in my life, but this one stood out. Huge props to the kitchen staff and the owner!

The service, however, was just okay. Nothing terrible, but there’s definitely room for improvement. As someone who works in the service industry, I noticed a few missed opportunities. More attention to detail, greater familiarity with the (fairly small) menu, and a touch of genuine hospitality — like asking how the meal was or making friendly conversation while handing the bill — could elevate the experience significantly. When a server is knowledgeable and shows they care about the business, it makes a big difference in how the guest feels.

If the food hadn’t been as incredible as it was, I might not be rushing back. But thanks to that amazing burger and the great ambiance, I’ll definitely be returning. Looking forward to seeing how this place evolves.

Have an...

I've been to the EL Cobourg a number of times, and each time both service and food was consistently stellar. Among the sea of franchised restos, this gem is the kind of European dining experience I'm after. The wait for good food well prepared, rather than banged on a grill from the freezer, has never been overly long when I've been there. The service every single time has been wonderful. Chill, relaxed interactions with wait staff who offer excellent recommendations on drinks to go with your food choices and who are attentive and friendly. They don't chase you out after your meal, even though they are often busy and fully booked. I find it interesting that many reviews refer to the expense of the food, Priced (slightly) higher than franchises, sure, but with so much more bounce for the ounce, it doesn't bear comparing. I aim to try everything on the menu, but the Truffle fries should be on the table always, Caesar Salad was perfect and the Fish Tacos are to die for. My pals and I now have an understanding the we will always order Fish Tacos to share, as an appetizer along with our mains. Cocktails and Mocktails are great, but I prefer wine and their beer selection is wonderful. I think they've nailed the whole vibe. Local biz values, happy staff means good management and they survived the pandemic closures, a phenomenal feat. I wish them years and years of success as I intend to keep them on speed dial! No pics this time, food was gone too fast......