Madhouse — Restaurant in Thunder Bay

🐸🐸🐸.....CRACK ON.....🐸🐸🐸

From outside it doesn't look much at all but when you go inside it's a "different world"....🌎🌎

It's much smaller in than it appears from outside. Cozy atmosphere - beautifully appointed - the walls adorned with paintings, pictures, prints, etc which are worth a look just on their own.

With a full frontage of glass I would have expected it to be much lighter & airier inside but it wasn't.

Every effort had been made to give it an authentic "Pub" style and Kudos to that......👍👍👍

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It was early lunchtime & pretty quiet so I sat at the Bar. The waitress was polite, courteous, welcoming, chatty & friendly - a big bonus for an "out of town guy"..👍

She allowed me to taste a couple of beers - I eventually settled for "Dawson's Trail".

It was good, light and suitable for lunchtime... ... 🎩🎩🎩

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I've never seen such a selection of Whisky/Whiskey (depending on its country of origin), Bourbon & Rye in my life - and I've missed "Whiskey Wednesdays" but my liver won't mind that.... 😂🙄😂.... .......also an amazing assortment of cocktails.

The prices were reasonable and the place was spotlessly clean.

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A couple of beers so I went & spent the afternoon sitting in the sun taking in my last view of the "Great Lakes".

I returned early that evening (Friday) and managed to get the same seat at the end of the Bar. It was time for the "Steam Whistle".........🚂🚂🚂 .....there she blows - going down the tunnel to the depths below....a damn good Pilsner.....🍺🍺🍺

It was now getting busier so ordered the "Goats Cheese & Steak Salad" and "Sweet Potato Fries". It was very good BUT the steak was slightly overcooked - a small "mute" point. Had to find a fault somewhere !!!! Great value for money.

People close by were friendly - one even giving me a name & number for somewhere to stay at my next "port of call".

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After more than a couple of "Whistles" it was time for this Engine to retire for an early night ready for an early start.

When I left the atmosphere was convivial, jovial, happy & I really didn't want to leave...😂😮😂

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💥💥...A CRACKING PLACE... 💥💥 HIGHLY...

Service 101, you bring water when you first greet your table. Ask if they would like drinks right away, not as they are placing main order. I asked for the vegan menu, was not told until I went to place my order that they were out of white beans (in half the dishes on the vegan menu) so I had to choose something else. "Can I get the Olives on the side please?" "Yep, they come in a ramican" -Olives did not come on the side-

My friend agreed to a refil of coffee. (Had to ask for extra sugar twice before she could even drink the first cup) "If it's fresh". She comes back with a cup "it's 40min old. Is that ok?" They were open for another 3h, but wouldn't put on a fresh pot when asked.

When placing the original order, I ordered a wrap to go (my lunch for the next day). "No tomatoes please". 40min later, (that's how long it takes for the baked falafel option), I get the wrap. I've learned to always check my order. Good thing I did, it had tomatoes.(also had a side of ranch for my veggies. In a VEGAN menu item 🤦‍♀️) I called the server over and asked they remake it. "Is it ok to just take the tomatoes off?" "No. Everything will taste like tomatoes. Just deepfry new falafel, It's fine." She brings the bill, I ask if they can take 10% off. "Oh... I'll have to ask" Bartender come over "so, what's the issue here?" "I clearly asked for no tomatoes. If I hadn't checked, and noticed back in our hotel room when packing for lunch tomorrow, I would have been pissed. I hate tomatoes, they give me serious Ick. Do you have any foods you can't stand?" "No but I understand. And you did notice. and we are fixing it. If you had noticed later, you could have called and come back, and we would have fixed it. So we won't be giving you a discount." I didn't bother to tell her all the other issues we had. I was too mad about the audacity.

I can't tell you how many free or discounted things I've had to give customers for WAY less. I don't think I was in the wrong for asking for less then the taxes off for a...

We ordered the mad burger and mad veggie burger with fries. We had the Mediterranean plate as an app.

Service was great, no complaints there. The space has always had a good atmosphere as well.

For the price, the Mediterranean plate has an absurdly small serving. 14$ for 3 falafel balls, a few pieces of Naan, and some olives. The sauces went very well with the plate and the falafel was awesome in taste but for 14$ you would think they would include at least enough Naan to finish the sauces.

The fries were crispy yet soft inside and wedge in style. Probably my favourite part of the meal, except for the fact that there was a piece of breaded fish mixed into my wife's plate of fries? Maybe from a fish and chips ? I mean, yes; I ate it anyway ok? But getting a random fishy bit in your fries is not what you'd hope for if you didn't order it. Ironically, they told us no sea food was available before we ordered.

The veggie burger was OK, not great. I dont know if my tastes have matured, but I remember really liking the mad veggie burger years ago. This time, I had a hard time getting over the squishy and greasy texture of the patty.

For the price, I'm not sure how Madhouse stacks up to other bar food type restaurants. I don't go out enough to really say. maybe covid times has made them rise their prices, but the bill was well over 80$ for 2 burger meals, a small app, a beer, and a fudge cake desert.

Madhouse gets an "OK" rating from me. 10 years ago I would have probably given it 4 stars but maybe...