Bender's Tavern — Restaurant in Canton

When you reach a top tier price point, you expect a certain level of service, food presentation and taste. Benders fell short on all. Our server Natalie seemed nice and accommodating like any server but then I realized she clearly plays the game the way the tavern wants her to. I had a strip steak with a lobster tail. This was a 60 dollar plate. I have had better at red lobster for much less. For sides I had broccoli and what is supposed to be their specialty fried brown like potatoes. When I first sat down and my wife and I ordered we were so excited. I was telling my wife in front of our server Natalie that Benders was a staple in the town and we should enjoy. I was very wrong. The 19 dollar lobster tail was more like a single jumbo shrimp the steak was not bad but nothing special at all. The potatoes tasted burned and greasy and the broccoli was over cooked and mushy and the side of mushrooms we ordered were obviously canned. When I mentioned these things to Natalie she simply shrugged it off by saying other people like the food this way and as far as the mushrooms she implied I was correct about them being canned by saying had they been fresh they probably would charge more. She said she would share my feelings with management and in a "fine dining establishment" you would think they would comes out and address the situation and make it right. NOPE! Natalie simply returned with two small ice-cream desserts that were supposed to sweeten the deal as she put. They did not, I left highly disappointed. Again at this price point I can't help but compare to lalas on the lake, capital grill, the bistro at gervasi and many other places that earned my praise. I will never return and you should avoid this place and spend at a place that cares about the level of service and overall dining experience. It was a waste...

My husband and I dined at Bender's Tavern Friday evening for the first time. We were in Canton, OH (for the first time too) to attend a concert that subsequently was cancelled. So we will be back in Canton when the concert is rescheduled...and we plan to go back to Bender's Tavern again for dinner. And we plan to ask for our server, David, who is new to Bender's and provided very good service to us during our meal. The list of "daily features" was long and it was supported by a fabulous and varied menu of seafood, beef, chicken, pork and pasta! My husband had the prime rib which was done to perfection. I had the Camp something-or-other preparation of fresh walleye...it was incredible! We also liked the salads...I had the wedge salad and my husband had the tossed salad. Someone mentioned the bread before...save your carbs earlier in the day you go to Benders and eat the roll. It is worth the carbs. We didn't try dessert as the meal was filling. Now about the ambiance: we entered from the outdoor seating into a really neat bar area. The next room had a high ceiling and it was kind of noisy. This was at 6:00 pm on a Friday and the restaurant was hopping. So I'd say you would also want to have reservations, especially on a weekend. We asked the maitre d if we could have a quieter area. And he found a lovely room with several tables but it was noticeably quieter. The restaurant has been around for 100 years, so you know all of the owners are doing something right all of these years. Oh, and the top shelf Margarita was spectacular...I forgot to mention. This was a very memorable dining experience. We enjoyed it very much. We look forward to the rescheduled Dwight Yoakam concert and another delicious dining experience at...

I really wanted to like this place, I have heard so many others in the area rave about this place but after my third time there I’m good, I won’t be coming back.

Every time my husband and I have come here we have both gotten food poisoning.

Our first couple times at least the staff has been great but this most recent time…. Not so much.

First let me start with if we hadn’t had a gift card we wouldn’t have even wasted a date night here. Our waiter spoke very quiet and got right in our faces, it was extremely uncomfortable for both my husband and I, he also came to the table way too much. My husband and I could hardly have a conversation without constantly being interrupted. We counted, he came to our table almost 20 times.

When it came time to order I went to order the only mocktail they had on the menu as I have been sober for almost two years. I try to order it and our waiter proceeds to tell me I can’t order it because they’re out of mint and it won’t be “perfect”. Didn’t try to see if I could have another mocktail, didn’t ask if I cared about the mint, just straight up told me I couldn’t have it.

You know what’s not perfect? Having to drink a Pepsi with my “fancy” meal like a child.

The steak my husband ordered smelled metallic, it grossed him out, he stopped eating after three bites.

After our odd service, the food poisoning that followed that night that was 100% expected, the place mats they had on the tables talking about how great and fancy they are (which lol this place may be fancy for Canton, OH but I don’t see it.), and how they don’t seem to season anything. We will...