Festival Café — Restaurant in Hamilton

My daughter and I recently had the pleasure of visiting Festival Cafe Restaurant after a football game, and we were thrilled to indulge in the fun foods commonly found at carnivals and summer festivals. Overall, our experience was quite enjoyable, with a few minor ups and downs. First and foremost, let's talk about the food. We ordered a classic favorite, poutine, and an irresistible Oreo funnel cake with ice cream. The poutine was absolutely delicious, with golden crispy fries smothered in a savory gravy and topped with cheese curds. The flavors were on point, and it truly satisfied our taste buds. However, one aspect that left us slightly disappointed was the portion size. Considering the price, we expected a more generous serving. It would have been great if they could enhance the value for money by offering a larger portion. Now, let's move on to the highlight of our experience—the Oreo funnel cake. This indulgent treat was everything we had hoped for and more. The funnel cake was perfectly fried, achieving a delightful balance between crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The addition of Oreo crumbles added a delightful twist, bringing a familiar and beloved flavor to the mix. Topped with a generous amount of creamy ice cream, it was pure delight in every bite. If you're a fan of festival treats, the Oreo funnel cake at Festival Cafe is an absolute must-try. The atmosphere of Festival Cafe Restaurant was vibrant and lively, with cheerful staff members who seemed genuinely passionate about the food they served. The interior decor featured bright colors and nostalgic elements, transporting us back to the joyous spirit of summer festivals. It was a pleasant setting to enjoy our meal and added to the overall experience. In conclusion, if you're craving the delectable treats typically found at carnivals and summer festivals, Festival Cafe Restaurant is a great choice. While the portion size for the poutine was somewhat underwhelming given the price, the flavors were excellent. The real star of the show was the Oreo funnel cake, which delivered pure delight in every mouthful. The cheerful atmosphere and attentive staff further enhanced our visit. So, the next time you're looking to satisfy your festival food cravings, make sure to hit up Festival Cafe for a fun-filled and...

I had an absolutely disgusting and infuriating experience with this place, and I feel like people need to be warned.

I brought home some food to share with my husband, and as I bit into it, I literally found a rubber band inside. Not beside it. Not on top. Inside the food. I was shocked, disgusted, and immediately felt sick to my stomach thinking about what I had just put in my mouth. Who knows where that rubber band came from or what was on it. I could’ve choked, or gotten seriously sick. It was completely unacceptable, and obviously shows zero care or hygiene in their food prep.

So I called the restaurant, thinking they would want to know — and hoping they’d make it right. Instead, I was met with one of the rudest responses I’ve ever received. The owner’s son answered and literally said, “So? What do you want me to do about it? Get over it — it’s just a rubber band.” I was stunned. No apology. No ownership. No professionalism. Just a dismissive, careless attitude that showed he didn’t take customer safety — or customer service — seriously at all.

Frankly, he should go to school to learn basic customer service, because it was clear he has no idea how to speak to people, let alone run a business. If this is the way they treat paying customers — and the level of care they put into preparing food — it makes me never want to eat out again.

I genuinely felt sick after the call — not just from the rubber band in the food, but from how I was treated. It was beyond disgusting and unacceptable. No one should ever have to experience this.

I will never eat here again, and honestly, I don’t think anyone should. If they’re careless enough to let a rubber band end up in someone’s meal and then act like it’s not a big deal, I can only imagine what else they’re letting slide behind the scenes. Stay...

Awesome first experience with Festival Cafe. We over ordered because we could not decide what we wanted... Everything we ended up with was incredible. The chicken IS better than your typical KFC/Popeyes. Funnel cakes were huge and delicious. They packed all the toppings on the side to prevent the cake from going soggy. The pretzel dog was a neat spin on the traditional dog. And the panzerotti was also on point. Deep-fried deliciousness!! All of this packed in fun/festival boxes and bagging.

We will most definitely be back to try out more.

We downed the rating to 4-star as the pick up window is kind of odd.. There wasn't any tape to form a line/barrier or covid precautions at all. When we were waiting for our order another family was placing their order through the pick up window which threw us off. The family had 3 kids who were touching everything and their order took a good 5 minutes to take. Even after the order was done the mother did nothing about the kids sitting right where everyone was trying to pick up their food. Even if covid wasn't here, I don't want other peoples children (or the parents) around my food or the area to pick it up. The staff should have asked them to move away. The owner should put some kind of queue to get everyone through in a reasonable fashion especially during the pandemic; even if it is just tape and verbal corrections, anything would better then nothing. Every other customer was waiting at a distance respectfully, but some people/families are just ignorant.

The only other concern is the pick up window has a speaker right beside it making it even harder to communicate with the staff without leaning in for a kiss-like chat.

This place is worth checking out if you're not worried about covid or an...