The Ship — Restaurant in Hamilton

5 stars all the way through!! First time for dinner, definitely will come back!! Party of 6 very well taken care of and attended to!! Dropped off my partner, and went to find parking, and was told when I come in to go upstairs. I entered and headed upstairs, past the bar, and was given a friendly greeting by the bartender Jack. Was the last of the party to be seated, greeted everyone and noticed First couple were already enjoyig an IPA and a fruity ale, and then Jack was there asking if the rest of us would like a drink, he was on top of things right away, gotta love it!! A diet soda, glass of wine, rye & coke and I had a pint of amber, that was flavorful, tasty and not overpowering. He was up & down the stairs like we had pre-ordered and just picked it up and served us. He asked if we were ready to order dinner, but we required a little more time, no problems. After perusing the double sided menu, one side specialty burgers & sandwiches, the other side seafood based entrees and big salads, and separate app menu we came to a decision. Ladies first, says Jack, very classy!! We selected 3 orders of perch & chips, fish tacos, rattlesnake burger and I had catfish. 3 large pieces of perch served over fries, cooked well and tasty, 3 satisfied diners. Fish tacos drizzled with sauce and very well presented on the plate, another satisfied diner! Rattlesnake burger, large, beefy and well decorated and ooh jalapenos!! 2 thumbs up covered in sauce, satisfied burger lover!! Let's get to my catfish, 2 lightly breaded and seasoned large filets, perfectly cooked over a bed of fries. The consistency was perfect it didn't fall apart, nor was it overcooked or hard great job!! My palate was so deeply satisfied!! My partner knowing that I'm not a fry lover commented to me about eating all the more than plentiful serving of fries, to which I explained that they were chips not fries, homemade style, deep golden, not hard or over cooked and not soggy. Add that there was 2 types of vinegar on the table, got to have the malt vinegar, yes!! A very large paper cup of tarter sauce came with the fish dinners, great to see no small plastic cup of it and very eco responsible of the restaurant. Also a large paper cup of creamy coleslaw, which one of my female diners and I agreed was best coleslaw we have had out in a long time. Our room was rustic and quaint, so very relaxing, the atmosphere was friendly and enjoyable. We paid our bills and weren't pressed to leave as we finished our drinks and enjoyed conversation. Very very affordable dinner nite out. Service was fantastic, friendly and fast!! Food was incredible hot and very tasty. Atmosphere was comfortable and warm especially on the eve of the polar vortex lol. Next time I'll order some apps as there were a lot of selections that piqued my interest and taste buds, especially after having the catfish meal!! Less than $ 60 for 2 dinners 4 drinks. Can't go wrong!! Thankyou...

I started coming here when they first opened. It was my hang out back when they had foosball tables upstairs! We would play for hours. It's been a long while since I had been in.

My friend had the duck wings as an appetizer and it was very nicely cooked and lightly seasoned. Not saucy as I thought they might be but quite meaty.

They still have my favourite menu item the catfish po boy, I think it's bigger now and certainly more expensive. The quality and quantity is worth it though, especially when compared to other spots in town. The breading is light and not too greasy which is a big plus for me. They put it on a long bun and top with tomato, slaw, etc. The basics. The pickle they they've added to the top of the skewer was incredible, I meant to ask what kind they use or if they pickle them there. Tangy, crisp, and dilly, it went so well with the fish sandwich.

My friend had the Hawaiian burger and it looked huge. I've never seen such a big burger disappear so quickly lol.

We both had basic french fries were also delicious, nice and crispy and plentiful. I couldn't finish it all! Took them home. Swapping them out for garden/Caesar salad, sweet potato fries, or herbed fries are an extra $4. My old go to was the sweet potato fries, they came with an amazing spicy mayo dip. I wonder if they still have it! Next time.

They have lots of beer on tap right now and Willibalds Purple Seltzer for those who can't have barley like me.

Next time I want to try the strawberry chipotle jalapeno poppers, that sounds amazing! I was also happy to see they have a vegan crab cakes option now too! I often enjoy and appreciate their more creative menu options.

They have a good patio for the warmer weather, and the washrooms and more seating are up steep stairs, not wheelchair accessible.

Cam who works there is great, our server was fine but it took a while for them to check in on us after finishing to get our bill. I think they got tied up at the bar chatting.

When I have the money I go back to treat myself.

Be warned though, they are usually very busy! I went on a Sunday around 9:30pm. When we got there there was a couple other tables, and it got busier after a football game ended.

Parking is kinda tricky around there but there is a small lot around the corner and some paid street spots...

I'm biased as The Ship is a neighbour and thus great to have nearby when I want a good burger and fries at reasonable prices for these days. During the pandemic, they somehow stayed open on take-out alone for months at a time, and were some nights the only open restaurant left on Augusta. I'm very glad they survived.

I like dine-in even more - the cozy interior vibe and the closeness of the other tables makes the place always seem quite lively and friendly. There's just enough distance between the tables to make a private conversation possible, too. The front patio offers al Fresco dining without being too close to passersby, and the rear patio seats more and offers more privacy.

The burger variations see changes to the lineup every now and then, but it's the same basic patty and usually the same bun with the toppings making up the main differences between choices. One reviewer pointed out a burger was overdone/charred and that happened to me one time in over 20 purchases. So, yes, sometimes imperfect humans work there, but always super-friendly ones. They all seem to radiate such good cheer that if there is a problem, you won't feel intimidated when trying to get it fixed.

While seated it can sometimes take over 20 mins to get the food to your table on a busy night, but that works OK for me & friends as we can enjoy a nice microbrew (from a big selection) while waiting, then get the second one ordered when the food arrives. If burgers aren't your thing, try the Chicken Fried Chicken. Same mountain of fries you get with the burgers, and a really generous amount of crispy fried chicken with two great homemade sauces. Burgers and chicken both still under 20 bucks before taxes & tip, what's not to like about that!

4.5...