The Tasting Room — Restaurant in Ontario

Update Nov 2024 - try somewhere else. Changing my rating from 3 to 1. This place used to be good, and somewhere you could enjoy a high quality, diverse and unique menu in a casual fine dining atmosphere. What happened?

The menu still hasn't changed, for years now, and is overpriced. We ordered the 2 chicken entrees offered at $36 each. The lobster/crab stuffed chicken was just ok.. chicken was flavourless and tasted like it was boiled, more breading in the stuffing than any seafood. Mash was flavorless, green beans were under cooked.

You've eased up on the chili oils, but why is the Caesar Salad so spicy? To the point where the server warned us when we ordered it, so obviously you've had plates sent back. The worst part is the atmosphere felt more like a bar, very loud, music was loud, and as a result everyone was yelling over it. We couldn't hear each other talking. This was at 730... ?

And what's with the host and servers dressing like football players? Seems like you're grasping trying to improve business. Try improving your menu and atmosphere that might help.

Finally, when I made the reservation I told you it was an anniversary, and asked for a table away from everyone. We were seated at a table for 2 in a row 12" from the next table. And not even a mention of a special occasion.

In contrast, when I made the same request at milestones, the hostess acknowledged the special occasion on arrival, the server also acknowledged the occasion, and they made us a special dessert with the occasion written on it. Further, the food was better, better selection, better drinks, the atmosphere didn't feel like a bar and it was less expensive. 🤷‍♂️

Unfortunately we'll be enjoying other restaurants and won't be back here.

Update Sept 21st 2023 I have to change my review from 5 on my previous visits, to a 3 for my visit today. Service was great, but the food is slipping. We ordered the artichoke dip, 16 ribeye and crab cakes. I'm not sure what's going on with the Chipotle seasoning and chili oils.. but it's over used on dishes to the point where it's ruining the dish. Are you using it to cover up the poor flavour profile? Or just getting lazy? The Chipotle butter with the bread.. ok I get it, not bad. The same butter with garlic on the steak, along with a pepper oil absolutely ruined the flavour profile of a nice cut of ribeye. My partner couldn't eat hers and had to scrape it off. The chili and Chipotle oil on the crab cakes? Again, not appropriate and ruined the dish. The artichoke dip had the flavour of raw garlic, where it burned our mouths and the back of my throat. We all know what raw garlic tastes like, it's not pleasant. The steak was ordered medium rare, and was way under, between rare and blue, and should have easily been seen that it was under. We sent it back. They fixed the steak, but the rest was beyond fixing. Listen, you're only as good as your last meals guys, and you dropped the ball tonight. Time to freshen up the menu with some new items, and retrain the chef. There are far too many great places to eat in London for less money. We likely won't be back for a while.

Update, Dec 21/22; It had been a while since we were here so decided to stop in for some apps. Everything below still applies, service is professional, food is great, if you're going downtown London and can get a table definitely get over there and give it a try! You'll be glad you did. Original Review; If you love trendy new dishes that put a new spin on classic dishes and find new and innovative uses for traditional ingredients then you'll love The Tasting Room. We always find something that sounds fun and that we've never seen nor tried before. And they update the menu often. The staff at this restaurant are always friendly, service is fast but not rushed and not only is the food innovative with impressive presentations it's also generous in proportion and represents great value based on the price. We usually just get a few apps to try new things as the few times we've ordered entrees we were unable to...

This restaurant is well known downtown in London (Ontario) and is conveniently located near to the Grand Theatre. I visited, recently, having planned (for some time) to experience the lunch menu of appetizers coupled with a ‘flight’ of wines.

There is an extensive variety of appetizers. I chose the Shrimp & Pork Lettuce Wraps and the Duck Wings, each described by the server as ‘finger food’, something that I was about to regret later.

For wine, I selected the Sauvignon Blanc Flight comprising four 2 oz glasses of wines from South Africa, Chile, and New Zealand.

The Duck Wings, described as; a confit, crisped and tossed with an Asian chili [sic] sauce (that removed any crispness) with meat that should have benefited with additional slow cooking … although duck would rarely be described as succulent, however cooked. Firstly, I tried the Roojberg wine from South Africa, and found it basically tastless, or earthy, on both nose and palate, i.e., not “packed with … fruit flavours” as described. I also tried the Chilensis wine from Chile, and just found it correctly described with having “citrus fruit” aromas.

Next, the Shrimp & Pork Lettuce Wraps, described as; including charred corn, pickled onions, cilantro and piquillo pepper salsa wrapped in Boston bibb lettuce. All together, these ‘wraps’ were absolutely delicious. BUT, they were not wrapped (as one may expect spring or cabbage rolls to be wrapped) but open, which meant that the lettuce became salsa-saturated, limp, and incapable of holding anything … even with two hands. The finger-dipping bowl hardly satisfied the continual need. I suggest putting this on a children's menu. I tried the Mount Fishtail wine from New Zealand here, correctly described with “lush tropical fruits … and a touch of sweetness. I finished with a wonderful, fruity (expensive) Map Maker wine, also from New Zealand, making New Zealand the go-to country for Sauvignon Blanc wine … at the moment.

Finally, after washing my hands, I ordered a coffee.

Recently the Review required an update and I decided to experience the dinner menu at 2:30 PM, which showed a Seafood Pasta presentation -- Perhaps it was the time of day, but the ingredients promised on the menu became: more than a dozen mussels encircling the plate and three shrimps. I was halfway through the enjoyable pasta and sauce before it became obvious that the blue crab and Atlantic salmon had cancelled their appearance ... and were, probably, still in the freezer. Wishfully, I sipped the wine. Then, left, looking...

As a local business, the way owners respond to customer feedback is important to me as a consumer in what I, and those in my life, choose to support. Especially during a time when many people and businesses are struggling financially after a global pandemic. Considering the inappropriately rude responses from the owner of this business, unfortunately this is one place I won’t be attending or supporting. Please rethink the way you approach your customers. Not everyone leaving a low-star review is looking to have their bill deducted, free food, gift cards, etc.. they’re providing constructive feedback that could be utilized to provide better customer service and a better experience overall for future customers. If you are not open to constructive feedback, turn your reviews off or simply don’t respond. It’s very off putting the way you have responded to all of the lower reviews… I’d rather support businesses that want to serve their community and thrive rather than those who think they know everything and don’t deserve the feedback, whether positive or negative.

edit The continued unprofessional replies is just further proving these statements to be true. Trying to use covid hurting your business as an excuse for treating customers poorly, calling people “Karen’s”.. in your words, “wow” is right. Providing reviews and feedback on how to improve, things that may have gone downhill since you re-opened, etc is not “bashing” your business. Customers are allowed to relay their experiences at your business with others.. your responses clearly show exactly why these reviews are needed and why they are on here in the first place.

Everyone is struggling after covid, and add soaring gas prices on top of this.. consumers that are willing to spend their hard earned dollar at your place of business, only to be treated and responded to in this manner.. highly unprofessional. You’re going to continue to create more negative feedback for your business with your tasteless, unprofessional comments. Sorry, but I’ll spend my money elsewhere on businesses/owners who treat people with respect, dignity and who recognize that their customers (whether past, current or future) are the reason their doors are open in the first place.

Please rethink your...