Kelseys Original Roadhouse — Restaurant in Guelph

The food was very good. My three star review is based strictly on speed of service. I'll talk about the food first.

My husband and I were quite excited to go to Kelseys, and had decided we wanted to try a new menu they had launched. I had pulled pork tacos, sweet potato fries, and the best dessert ever! The tacos were cooked perfectly and the lime crema sauce was a perfect compliment. There was not a dipping sauce with the sweet potato fries but they were still good. The roadhouse buttertart dessert was to die for! A crispy buttertart shell that is filled with a sweet caramel sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream.

My husband had the fish and chips. I was impressed they offered wild caught cod, we try to eat only wild caught fish. The batter was crispy and flavorful, and was not thick or greasy. He got house fries with his order, they were crispy and not overdone. We loved the food and have no complaints about it!

Now on to the service! Now, I place half of this on our server and half on the kitchen.

When we entered the restaurant, we waited about five minutes or so before someone even acknowledged us. It did not look busy at all, and many staff were gathered around the bar area. We asked for a booth, and it had not been cleaned from the last guests. It was cleaned quickly and we were seated, and then the waiting game began. It took about 15 minutes or so before our server came to take our order. Our drink order. Then she disappeared again and we waited another 10 or 15 minutes for her to come back to take our food order. After we ordered our food, we waited.

It was a very long time before our food arrived (at least 30 min or so) and the server did not check in with us once to give us an update or let us know what was going on. There were a few tables that got their food before us. Having worked in food service for many years myself, I'm more understanding when delays happen and know that it does happen. She also did not check in with us during our meal.

Overall, I would like to be able to go back and have a better experience. My husband and I found many items on the menu we would like to try. I hope this review will help improve the service experience and provide some constructive feedback for the staff.

Food is excellent, just be prepared to spend a lot...

Kelsey's on Claire Road is truly a gem of a restaurant. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that sets the stage for a memorable dining experience. The food is nothing short of exceptional, with a menu that offers a wide range of delicious options to satisfy any craving.

But what truly sets Kelsey's apart is the outstanding service provided by their server, Amelia. From the moment she approached our table, Amelia exuded a genuine warmth and friendliness that instantly made us feel welcome. Her knowledge of the menu was impressive, and she was more than happy to provide recommendations and answer any questions we had.

Throughout the course of our meal, Amelia's attentiveness was unparalleled. She anticipated our needs, ensuring that our drinks were always refilled and promptly addressing any requests or concerns we had. Her professionalism and efficiency were remarkable, yet she never made us feel rushed or overlooked.

Not only was Amelia attentive, but she also displayed a genuine passion for her job and a commitment to making our dining experience exceptional. Her friendly demeanor and engaging conversation added an extra layer of enjoyment to our evening, making us feel like valued guests rather than just customers.

In addition to her exceptional service, Amelia's attention to detail was remarkable. She took the time to ensure that our orders were prepared exactly as requested, and she personally checked in with us to ensure that everything met our satisfaction. It was evident that she took pride in her work and genuinely cared about providing the best possible experience for her guests.

Overall, our experience at Kelsey's on Claire Road was nothing short of outstanding, thanks in large part to the exceptional service provided by Amelia. Her professionalism, attentiveness, and friendly demeanor truly set her apart as a server who goes above and beyond to ensure that guests have an unforgettable dining experience. We highly recommend both Kelsey's and Amelia to anyone looking for a fantastic meal and...

Came in today right at open for lunch on the way home from Toronto. I made it very clear that I had a dairy allergy (not intolerance, but an allergy). I was told they don’t have an allergen menu (which is strange considering they are a large company and most do have one) but that she would check to make sure my choices were dairy free and if not I would choose something else. We ordered the Cajun shrimp dish to start and I chose wings with a side of fries for my main. She came back and said she double checked everything and I was good to go except the gravy, which was fine. We get our appetizer and she says the dip is an aioli so it’s mayo based and is dairy free. Okay, great, so we start eating. A couple minutes later she comes over and says that she was mistaken and that “sometimes” they use Caesar dressing in their dip but she couldn’t confirm. I find it odd that a) they sometimes switch up the dip because it’s a chain restaurant and there are usually pretty strict guidelines on how the dishes and extras are to be made and b) that she said she double and triple checked but didn’t realize until AFTER she put down the appetizer. I think she could tell I was unimpressed but I didn’t want to make a scene, so I just said it’s fine and gave my husband the dip. But I was upset because I made it very clear that this was an allergy and she confirmed more than once that my choices were fine. I understand that people make mistakes, but having worked in the restaurant industry for years, allergies is something to be taken seriously. We never even had a manager come over to apologize for the situation, which makes me think that either the mistake wasn't communicated to anyone, or management just didn’t care. Luckily my allergy isn’t life threatening which is why I didn’t complain at the time. But I will be in pain and incredibly uncomfortable for the next week. My worry would be if someone had a life threatening anaphylactic allergy. Doesn’t seem like they are very thorough or caring...