Black Dog Tavern — Restaurant in Ontario

A Not so special birthday.

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday because he wanted to take me to what we heard was the "Best Restaurant in Kingston". He had made reservations and when we arrived, on time, we were told our table would not be ready for 15 minutes. We were told there was no room at the bar for us to wait, so we should go next door to their sister restaurant and wait there, without an apology. The hostess didn't act like she cared at all about us or our patronage. Pretty bad start. When we went over to Atomica we had to wait as well (but that not Le Chien's fault). We were at the other restaurant for 30 minutes so we called Le Chien to ensure our table would be ready. The hostess said that our table was still not ready and would be another 15 minutes. After 45 minutes of waiting at the restaurant next door (even though we had a reservation) we finally walked into the Le Chien and got seated. The hostess basically just pointed to our table, she didn't walk us over or make any sort of effort to make us feel comfortable. The front of restaurant was freezing from the door opening and closing often so we asked to switch to a table further inside. (this was in the winter). We were seated at a makeshift table in the middle of the restaurant a four seat table even though there were many empty 2 person booths with better ambiance. Our server came over he asked if we wanted anything to drink and as my boyfriend was speaking, the server walked away in the middle of the sentence... I could go on and now. Overall the food was fine, the drinks were alright but the service was horrendous and made what was supposed to be a special night not fun at all. We were ready and willing to spend a few hundred dollars here but this was an awful start and we will never go back there. Another note, I yelped this review a few months ago and the restaurants owners have never commented or gave any apologies....

We came on a quiet Sunday afternoon & there were maybe 4 other customers in the restaurant. We ordered the charcuterie board, which was absolutely delicious. However, our waitress barely spoke more than a few words to us the entire time we were there. She drily took our order and turned away. When she brought our food, she quickly named the cheeses & meats & walked away. After that, she never said a word to us for the rest of the time we were there. She then spent much of our time there loudly complaining about somebody to another staff member. When we asked for a bit more bread, she just walked away without a word of acknowledgement - not even a nod or a smile. She came back a few minutes later, dropped a half-full refill of crostinis on the table & walked away without looking at either of us or saying anything. The entire atmosphere was extremely unwelcoming as well, so we tried to eat quickly & leave. However, we couldn't even do that as we could not get her attention to ask for the bill. If this were a busy night, we would absolutely understand - but at this point, there were only 2 other customers left in the restaurant. We ended up having to ask another staff member for the bill & waited some more for our waitress to finally bring us the card machine. Throughout our entire experience there, she did not check in once or even really engage with us - absolutely no engagement after dropping our food on the table.

We have honestly never received such poor service nor had such a negative experience in such an uncomfortable environment. The only positives: pretty good charcuterie & the other staff member present who was...

5/5 Stars – A Safe Haven for Gluten-Intolerant Diners

As someone with a severe gluten allergy (celiac), finding a restaurant that takes food allergies seriously is always a challenge. But I recently dined at Black Dog Tavern, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their commitment to providing a safe and inclusive dining experience.

First off, their dedication to safety was immediately clear when I asked about gluten-free options. Not only do they have a separate fryer for gluten-free items, which made me feel incredibly reassured. The staff were well-trained and knowledgeable, answering all my questions with confidence, and I felt completely comfortable knowing they take cross-contamination seriously.

For the first time in over two years, I was able to indulge in calamari again — something I never thought I’d be able to enjoy due to my gluten sensitivity. The calamari was perfectly crispy, tender on the inside, and full of flavor, all without a trace of gluten. It was a true moment of culinary joy after such a long hiatus from one of my favorite dishes.

Overall, Black Dog Tavern has earned my highest praise. Their attention to detail, dedication to allergy safety, and ability to deliver a fantastic dining experience make it a must-visit for anyone with gluten intolerance or allergies. I can’t wait to return and explore more of their delicious offerings, knowing I’ll be in safe hands. Highly...