Boathouse DTK — Restaurant in Kitchener

After having a spectacular meal here in November when it first opened, my wife made a 12 pm reservation on a Saturday for her, my 1 y.o. son, and myself. While we had requested a patio table and a high chair, we had to request both again-- no big deal, but making a reservation is probably an unnecessary step (which we found strange for such a prime location!). The patio, while located in a beautiful location, leaves a lot to be desired in regards to the atmosphere. Only some tables have umbrellas, puddles of dirty water sit stagnant on the concrete and besides the beautiful park, there doesn't seem to be a flower or plant in sight.

When we sat down, we received paper brunch menus which seemed a bit odd considering the bougie-ness of our initial visit, however that's not something to be too worried about. When the server arrived, we asked if they'd be serving lunch soon, and were told they do brunch until "about 1". The brunch menu has some pretty diverse options, but not if you were hoping for lunch. Throughout our visit both the table behind me and in front tried to order lunch. The lady behind us pleaded for some fries for her kids and a salad for herself to no avail, and on our way out we heard someone say "I guess I'll have to have the breakie burger" because it was the least breakfasty option available-- my order. No kids menu wasn't an issue, we didn't really expect it, but we both had to add a side of home fries and seemingly wouldn't have been prompted to do so, nor are they on the menu.

When the food arrived, it was plated so poorly. Two bowls you'd find in our cupboard with home fries tossed in sat next to our sandwiches with no other garnish or condiments. We weren't offered condiments, and by the time our server returned, it seemed pointless to request them. Even if it was just a little dipping dish with Heinz ketchup, I think it would have looked better. The breakfast burger patty was dwarfed by the bun, but ultimately the sandwich was delicious, which is the only reason I'm giving the food 3 stars. For the price, however, they should give you a side of home fries and maybe a handful of greens like most places that market themselves as a little higher end.

Between the $9 half pints, the extra charge for a side, and the mediocre service, we left $80 lighter, asking ourselves what had changed since our initial visit and shocked that such a beautiful location wasn't taking full advantage. This is a place that should have a considerable wait time and require a reservation at noon on a Saturday, but instead it will be a casualty of management that seems to be coasting off the ambience of the park and the initial hype-- hype that has more...

I hate making reviews like this, and actually held off posting my first opinions. We had such high hopes for the boathouse, hoping it would be our new go to. Unfortunately it is incredibly mediocre. It's lovely inside, the staff are all really wonderful, and my dining partners have complimented the cocktails but the food is unforgivable. Actually my husband says the corndog is good. That's it.

Our first visit was within the first two weeks of opening so I was willing to overlook the fact that the fried chicken sandwich was nothing like what I had seen on their Instagram. It wasn't stacked high, not much flavour, kinda mushy.

Our second visit, last night, I had higher hopes for. But it was even worse. The chicken wings were... Weird. I still can't decide if I liked them or not. They were almost too sour? But hey that could be a me thing. The Mac and cheese was unforgivable though. I don't know if the prep cook last night seriously messed up the recipe or what but that was the worst mac and cheese I have ever eaten. If I wasn't on a strict timeline to get somewhere else, I would have sent it back. Instead, I made myself eat about half. Mostly with the curiousity of how someone in the kitchen could have tasted it and still served it. It must be a roux based cheese sauce because the texture was so powdery. It barely tasted like cheese. After a few minutes sitting on the plate and cooling, it seized into a solid glob. Which makes sense because it was basically glue.

The kicker was that my husband decided to try the fried chicken sandwich again, this time the cheesy version. Which was covered in the same awful cheese sauce I had. It made the sandwich dry and there was no other sauce for relief.

All in all, my opinion is that this is a place where you come to eat once (then never again), to watch live music, or to sit on the patio in the summer with a beer. I worry that this iteration of the boathouse will fail because I can't see anyone coming regularly...

I hope this review is taken constructively.

I’m a foodie at heart—especially when it comes to burgers, fries, and chicken wings—so I was genuinely excited to finally try this place after passing by it almost every day. The location and atmosphere are absolutely stunning—truly out of this world. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives ended.

I ordered over $100 worth of food, expecting a great experience to match the views, but sadly, I was met with a string of disappointments: • The burgers came with burnt buns and tasted awful. My son actually had to rush to the bathroom after taking a bite. • The fries were burnt and served in very small portions. • The chicken wings were soggy, undercooked, and barely resembled chicken in taste or texture. The sauce on them was unpleasant and unappetizing—I managed two bites before giving up. • The poutine was nearly inedible; we couldn’t even finish it. • The hot dog was burnt, the bun was dry, and the overall taste was just poor. • The chicken fingers were so bad I jokingly felt they were all “middle fingers” served to us.

The food quality was shockingly low, especially considering the prime location. To add to the letdown, the menu was very limited—no pizza, steak, or pasta options, which we were hoping to find.

On the bright side, the service was truly exceptional. I’m giving 5 stars for the service alone—especially thanks to David, who was welcoming, attentive, and made a real effort to ensure we were comfortable. If it were up to me, David would get 10 stars and the kitchen would get zero.

This was, unfortunately, one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had, and it came at a steep cost. I won’t be recommending this restaurant to anyone unless serious changes are made in the kitchen. If you’re drawn by the location, you’re better off just enjoying the park—it’s free.

David, thank you again for your kindness and hospitality. You made a disappointing night a little...