The Caesar Company — Restaurant in Ontario

Ate here recently and my feelings on the experience are mixed. First the good: the food was outstanding. Had gotten bruschetta for a starter and a burger for my main course, and everything was top quality and cooked really nicely. The bruschetta was outstanding, and my mom who I was dining with couldn't stop gushing about her Caeser which, I'll admit even as someone who isn't particularly fond of Caesers, couldn't help but be a little envious. In all, we both enjoyed our meals and were plenty full afterward.

now the blast-

Losing someone's reservation is never a good look, especially when we're talking about a Saturday evening. Not sure what happened there, but historically whenever that's happened to me in the past, I usually just leave, however because I was there on account of it being my mother's birthday, I felt obligated to stay since it was her decision to go there.

Which brings me to the next problem; because we didn't have a table available we were sat in the small seating area to begin the evening. Which is fine, however, it would've been customary to at least get a drink from us so at least we had SOMETHING while we waited. We must've waited for about 12-15 minutes before someone took our drink order.

After getting our drink order, it was another ten minute wait or so before getting a table. In the interim we were able to place our order for appetizers and put our meal order in at the same time. During this period, we were updated on table status - or rather, I should say my GUEST was updated on our table status. The hostess, for some reason, refused to direct any information to me despite the fact that I was the one who made the (lost) reservation and communicated with her upon our initial arrival. At least to me it would make sense that the person making the reservation is likely the one paying for the meal, thus any information regarding wait time for seating should have been directed at me. Not only is this a major faux pas, but rather emasculating. I very much doubt this was the hostesses intent, and it may have simply been nervousness on her part, but I'm sorry, you really can't do that.

We did finally get a table after getting our drinks, however we would not see our appetizers until we were served our meals, resulting in a longer than expected wait just for any food. By then we'd been there for nearly 40 minutes. As a Toronto guy, I can tell you that from top down this kind of service would simply be unacceptable anywhere in the city. Our server was polite and gracious enough, but overall the night received a failing grade in the service department. Had it not been for the high quality of food, the score would've been much lower. However, I would be more than willing to come back another time, as I do understand with any relatively new establishment it takes time to work the kinks out. By then hopefully the quality of service standard is...

Net-net: Expensive. Avoid this place. Service is bad. Food is average at best, and they overcharge.

Monday evening, a lot of other local places were closed, looked interesting from the outside. Should have stopped there!

It was not busy at all, 5 tables. Seated rather quickly. Menus on table good! Then.................it took awhile before waitress came to get drinks and apps order.

Then it took another long while to get 4 drinks. Again, 5 tables. I am from Montreal and we are used to "casual" service, but the waitress was chatty Cathy and yacking it up with a couple at the bar. So eventually drinks came....

Apps when they came out were good. Bruchetta did come out wet, the cook should have grilled the bread before putting the toppings on, then flash heated under the salamander. But overall an ok start. However the silverware and napkins were not on the table, bit of a delay but they came with some water at the table.

Then the long wait came....waitress chatted with bar patrons, then two women came in who the waitress knew, she seated them in the back and sat down with them and chatted.....and chatted.

I finally had to get up, approach the waitress (she saw me get up and shot over from the chatty table) and ask for a second round of drinks, refill of the water jug (no service pours here) and ask about the food.

Then another wait......drinks come out. No food.

Waitress saunters to the kitchen and food arrives. We had the vodka gnocchi and tomato bowtie pasta. All 4 plates had been sitting under a heat lamp. Gnocchi had a decent rosé sauce, but definitely not a vodka sauce. Sun dried tomato bowtie with chicken came out oily with no tomato taste, and the chicken was dried out. Not even worthy to take home.

My daughters ordered mock drinks, but we were charged full price for drinks.

When my partner explained to the waitress that her plate was oily and dry, the waitress did offer to replace it, but we would still be waiting for that to be served if we took her up on it. Waitress simply took the plate off of the bill.

Clear the staff is not motivated and this place will close soon if this is the norm.

Avoid....there are much better places to go in Kingston!

Update:

We are now in May 2025, 4 months later, and the owners just replied to this review.......

Well we know where the priorities are.....

Net-net: simply...

Overall not a bad place to come for a meal but the prices might steer you away. I was with a group of 10 and we were placed at the back. When I ordered a drink, it was 10+, really happy with it, other then I had no napkin to wipe my fingers with as they were greasy from the bacon. The food prices on the other hand and how the menu was set up was not pleasing. 80% of the entrées did not come with a side like a soup or a salad, you had to pay separate for that and most of the items were above the $20 mark. It was hard to decide on what to eat as now I was thinking of how much this was going to cost me and also for my spouse for the total. I had the blackened chicken with pasta. It was warm but not hot, no option of having fresh pepper or parmesan on top. I did not go for a second Caesar as it was just too pricy for my outing. The lights were dimmed too much that it was hard to see the menu. Amongst the loud music and a full house it was not a good night. The total cost of the meal, 2 Caesar', one pasta dish was $72 and a 15% tip for 2 people is breaking the bank account when the cost of living is through the roof let alone the cost of gas. I won't be back for dinner here again but a drink yes. Adjust the menu to have a full meal included with sides like the Amadeus does across the street and I might come back. Service was ok, waitress was busy as it was a full house that night,...