Pump House Grille Co — Restaurant in Mississauga

This used to be my favourite spot when I lived in Mississauga, so when I had to host an event in the city, I naturally thought to make a reservation here. My 2 star rating is based on my experience trying to make this reservation.

Call #1: made a reservation for 12 people and inquired about a preset menu. Was told to get in touch with the manager via email, as he was off that day. Host spelled the email address out for me. I emailed my questions after the call. When no reply came after a few days, I called again.

Call #2: Needed to make a change to the party size, so called in to do so. Told it was no problem. Asked for the manager - was told he was not in but would be later that day; the hostess took my number and said she'd let him know I was trying to get a hold of him.

Call #3: Same day, but into the evening. Asked for manager - was told it was his day off. Relayed info I'd been given earlier and was told he HAD come in because of a specific reservation, but left shortly after. I explained that I'd been trying to reach him regarding my own reservation and provided my name and number again so that he could call me. The hostess apologized and assured me she'd pass on the message.

He called 2 days later and left me a voicemail which indicted the possibility that my reservation was under a different name...?

Call 4: Unfortunately, I was unable to answer his call when it came and so, I had to call again. He was off. HOWEVER, another manager was in, covering him, and I was put on to her. She apologized for all the back and forth and tried to assist as best as she could. When I provided the date and time of my reservation, she told me there was nothing booked! I explained my first two calls and we mused over what the heck could have happened. How did someone discuss my reservation with me on 2 separate occasions (call #1 & 2) but not have anything recorded?

She proceeded to answer my questions and asked me to send her an email with in menu inquiries and that she would discuss them with the actual manager, whom she was meeting with later that week. She provided her email address. She gave me a date and latest time I should expect to hear back by. Wonderful!

I emailed my inquiries the following day.

Not only was the email left unacknowledged, no one called me back. At this point, I made the decision to move my party elsewhere...the event was two weeks away, and invites had already been sent out, guests had RSVP'd...I needed to have something set up!

No call or email from either manager ever came, but, lo and behold, on the event day (June 26), 27 minutes after my reservation time, I get a call wondering if my party is still coming. And then the same call another 15 minutes after that...

The horrible communication/follow up has made me not want to return. 2 stars, not 1, were given only because all the people I did speak to...

TL;DR: Pumphouse Grill Co delivers solid comfort food that won't change your life but will definitely improve your Monday. The kind of place where you can show up in yesterday's clothes and no one judges you, but the food is good enough that you might actually want to put in effort next time. Perfect for when you want to feel like you're in a small town without actually having to live in one.

The crowd was peak folksy Mississauga.

Ordered the daily special BLT because I'm a sucker for a classic, and honestly, judging a restaurant by how they handle simple things is my personality trait at this point. The sandwich was solid – bread toasted just right, bacon that actually tasted like it came from a pig rather than a science lab, and tomatoes that weren't those pale pink abominations you usually get in winter. Nothing revolutionary, but executed with the precision of someone who actually gives a damn about sandwich architecture.

Then came the birria tacos – an unexpected plot twist on a Monday in Mississauga. These things were dripping with that rich consommé that immediately identified my white t-shirt as its target. The meat was tender enough to make me briefly consider becoming a food blogger just to document it. Not quite authentic enough to make my Mexican friend's grandmother approve, but definitely good enough to make me not care about the consommé now decorating my shirt like a Jackson Pollock painting.

The staff treated me like I was their favorite nephew returning from college – that perfect balance of attentive without hovering. My water glass never dropped below half-full, which is basically the Canadian version of five-star service.

I'm coming back...

Tucked in the heart of Port Credit, this restaurant has all the charm you'd expect from a neighbourhood favourite—at least at first glance. We stopped in for dinner and were seated quickly. The space is nice, the atmosphere relaxed, and the staff seemed friendly at first. Our drink orders were taken promptly, and we placed our appetizers and mains soon after.

Then the waiting began.

We sat for 45 minutes before our appetizers arrived—no explanation, no heads-up. We had evening plans and assumed the timing would be manageable, but by the time the mains arrived (another 30 minutes later), we had to ask for everything to be packed up to-go. No apologies, no acknowledgment of the long delays, and we had to flag down our server just to get boxes and the check.

That said, the food itself was excellent. The focaccia with brie trio dip and the panko mozza “bricks” were beautifully done—crispy, melty, and rich with flavour. Easily the highlight of our experience. Though we didn’t eat our mains at the table, we did enjoy them at home. The whiskey burger was especially impressive, with the perfect balance of sweet caramelized onions, cheese, and a juicy patty. The fish and chips didn’t hold up as takeout—too oily by the time we got to it—but we suspect it would’ve been much better fresh.

Overall, this place has solid kitchen talent, but the service and communication need serious improvement. Patrons shouldn’t be left sitting for hours without an update or even a simple apology. A little courtesy goes a long way—especially when the food is worth...