Wooden Heads Gourmet Pizza — Restaurant in Ontario

Having visited Kingston for the first time, I was told by my better half that Kingston had not only one of the highest restaurants per capita, but some great spots as well. Having tried a variety of restaurants, this one truly exudes mediocrity. The service was 'servicible' though our server and most staff looked slightly irritated to be there - a smile was no where to be found. I think the team is either not entirely happy or just settling because we're wooden heads after all - amirite? The decor and patios are nice, lighting and atmosphere are set properly but something was missing. The menu is a vast array of pizzas and apps along with plenty of 'favourites' which coincidently seem to be marginally favourable to the restaurant and the appetizers were fine. Overall, the appetizers were the best portion of the meal other than the browning lettuce on the mushroom salad - the coconut shrimp were nice though plated on a much too large plate diminished the value proposition of the 5 shrimp. The thing that was most dissapointing was the pizza. 3 out of 4 pizzas had at least 2 inches of just sauce around the circumference which was so peculiar. I know product costs are high but charging $20+ for pizzas and not giving a full pizza is a bit slimming. The taste was fine, ingredients fresh and dough well cooked. Unfortunately the pizza we had at score pizza was just as good if not better for half the price. Sure you don't get the snazzy table tops nor the prestinely dressed servers but the end result is just better. Having worked in the hospitality industry for more than a decade and now consulting businesses, this is a place which is riding the hype wave. Kingston elites roll in to rub elbows which leads to mediocre service for the rest - perhaps that's why our table didn't hear the specials but the one behind us did? The business has a lot of potential but it needs to get back to basics of hospitality and product quality as well as value proposition or else it's only a matter of time until a new kid on the blocks jars ownership awake. Don't hesitate to reach out if I can offer more insight - LinkedIn...

We made a reservation for 5pm on a Saturday - the place was busy so I'd recommend to make a reservation if you can. It's a bit loud inside, not because the music is too loud, but just from so many people talking in a small space. It didn't dampen our visit at all, but if youre looking for a quiet dinner out, this might not be the place for you. The tables are close together too, so it is impossible to have a somewhat private conversation. Again, not something that dampened our visit, but something that others might want to consider.

Our server was Shannon and she was absolutely lovely. She was friendly and attentive. My husband ordered the Campagna pizza (pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms and double smoked bacon, my son ordered the Classico (pomodoro sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni) and I went with our server Shannon's recommendation, which was the Milanese Bocca (breaded chicken with prosciutto and smoked mozzarella, with Calabrese cream sauce, and upgraded from roasted potatoes to the potato cake and it was the best decision! The boys loved their pizzas - it's clear they are made with fresh, quality ingredients and there wasn't even a speck of grease on their plates. The Milanese Bocca is quite possibly the best meal I've ever had at a restaurant. My son even helped me finish it after he was finished with his pizza and he just kept saying, "oh my god" after each bite - yes, it's that good! The chicken was perfect, it didn't taste or feel heavy like most fried chicken does, the potato cake was ahhhhhhhhmazing - so light and so flavourful, the calabrese cream sauce just pulled it all together perfectly. Thank you Shannon for the recommendation!

We all agreed that we can't wait to come back and it will be our go to place for dinner everytime we...

We originally ordered take out, but ended up staying to eat at the restaurant. Our server was very friendly and attentive. I loved the atmosphere of the place. You could watch the people make your pizzas and the art and brick walls makes you feel homey.

We tried the Pesce Alpino: pan seared artic char on sweet pea and pancetta risotto with fennel caponata. I liked all the elements separately. The risotto was creamy and delicious. The fish had tomatoes and other stuff on top, but it did not taste like a cohesive dish. The fish was overcooked and whatever they put on top of the fish did not make it taste better. The fish and risotto should be served separately or remove whatever they put on top of the fish. I did like the little greens they added on top, as it added some freshness to cut through the creaminess of the risotto. I would order the risotto again, but would ask to remove those tomatoes. I did mix it in with the risotto and it did taste better, but still altogether, it was not a cohesive dish.

We also ordered two pizzas. It was good, but pretty expensive for very little ingredients and the size of the pizza. We made our own with mushrooms, arugula, and truffle oil. The size of the pizza is really meant for one person or as an appetizer for 2 people. For two pizzas, it was about $40. I didn't think it was worth the money. Maybe we should've ordered one that they make? My coworkers swore by their pizzas, so I'll give it another chance.

Lastly, we ordered their lemon tarts. It automatically came with two tarts and I really enjoyed them. It was creamy and sour, but with the blueberry, it was perfect!

All in all, I would come back again and try other items...