Ashburnham Ale House — Restaurant in Peterborough

I did lunch today at the Ashburnham Alehouse and Google recommended that I write a review.

Wait... what?

You mean that I haven't done one yet?

Ok then

Strap in!

On my very first walking visit to PTBO i stopped into the Visitor's Centre. I asked The young lady who was working the following "This is my first trip to PTBO. What do I NEED to see while I'm here."

"The Canoe Museum. Seriously. Even if you're not interested in canoes it's worth seeing once. "And if you're looking for lunch I really like the Ashburnham Alehouse."

She was right about both.

The Ashburnham is on the east side of the river. Drive over the Hunter St bridge and it's on your left side just before you head up the hill towards the lift lock.

The Ashburnham is very popular with locals. There's always a good crowd when I show up. Note I've never been there for dinner or later so I never have a problem getting a table but the place is never empty. They've got three private patios on the west side of the building. These are fully shaded and allow you to watch traffic on the bike path.

They've got a large selection of drinks (Al-key-haul drinks) and they have seasonal specials.

The menu is good. It's solid pub-style fare but it's tasty. Today's special was a turkey burger with aioli, onions and pickle (said pickle was on the side... I put it on the meat!) The turkey was so soft that the burger started coming apart as I ate it. That was not a problem for me. Good dessert options if you're a dessert person!

The interior is well-maintained and attractive. The washrooms are newish. The AC is strong and the staff are friendly.

Bring someone that you love and sit out on one of the...

We have been going to Ale House for a couple of years, but our recent visit was our last. I made a reservation a week and a half in advance for Saturday, the 21st, at 3 PM, and we drove from Oshawa to Peterborough just to enjoy a nice drive and have lunch.

When we arrived, we were seated at a small table near the closed door at the back. The table was too small to hold our food, and we had to use a small platform on the window casing as extra space. There were several empty four-person tables available, but instead of offering us one, we were crammed into this tiny space, which was uncomfortable.

After our food was served, the server never checked back with us or asked if we wanted anything else. He seemed preoccupied with other tables and ignored us completely. We started to feel that something was off. After finishing our meal, we expected someone to come by to clear the dishes, but no one did.

Eventually, my wife got up and went to the cashier to let them know we were done and to ask for the bill. The place wasn’t even busy at the time. We began to wonder if we were being treated differently, possibly due to racial profiling. It was an unpleasant experience, especially given that we had driven from Oshawa, showing that we can afford to dine out. It's important for businesses to be mindful of how they treat customers, particularly in this day and age.

Despite everything, we still left a tip, but we won’t...

I remember when this new restaurant opened in 2013 and everyone was talking about it. I had just accomplished a very tough licensing exam and was going to celebrate my victory. I chose the Ashburnham Ale House as the whispers across town were strong! The restaurant is interesting with historic maps, antique decor, warm fireplace and a strong wooden atmosphere. The windows allowed the natural light into the space and there was local art work proudly displayed on the walls. The menu has dishes I had never enjoyed before. I have not ordered a single item from this establishment that I did not enjoy to my core. My little foodie heart has always been so excited to attend a lunch or dinner here. Scott and Nollie have figured out the five star dining experience. From the helpful and knowledgeable staff to the delicious food brought out perfectly every single time. You will not be disappointed here and you will find a unique beverage or menu item to enjoy!

Update: Every single time I am at this restaurant I feel taken care of. Our waiter went above and beyond this evening to allow for my friend and I to sit outside on their beautiful private patio (the trio on the trail) than made our delicious Kir Royale drinks and delivered our cone of fries quickly so that we could share a moment of happiness (away from jobs, children and wife life) and decompress for 30 minutes. Thank...