Waterloo on Sunday night

[Food on the brain]

Meeting my nephew for dinner on Sunday night in Waterloo - So disappointed that Uptown 21 is closed! Am now looking at Sole, Wildcraft, Charcoal Steakhouse & Bauer Kitchen. Suggestions??

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Wildcraft
425 King Street North, Waterloo, ON n2j 2z5, CA

The Bauer Kitchen
187 King St., Waterloo, ON N2J 1R0, CA

[meatnveg]

What time are you planning you arriving in Waterloo? If you are coming in the afternoon, I would recommend paying a visit to the Christkindl Market that is currently on at Kitchener City Hall. I went there today and it was quite pleasant.

Amongst the various stuff to eat was;
- Pulled pork on a bun
- Deutsche Bratwurst w/ sauerkraut
- Knockwurst
- Back Bacon on bun
- Lieberkasen on bun (it's a fine german meatloaf, steamed or grilled)
- Potato pancakes with Applesauce
- Hard and soft Apple Cider
- German Beer
- DEEP FRIED MARS BAR!! and other such 'delicacies' to enrich heart surgeons

Inside on the second floor there was a German bakery selling traditional Stollen and Fruit Cakes and a stall by Nougat bakery which had excellent apricot cheesecakes and Linzer torte.

Tomorrow is the last day of the market and the closing ceremony is at 5 pm.

[Full tummy]

Yum yum. Nougat is a great lunchtime option and also fun for some grat baked treats and German specialties.

[chrisarc]

Try the Keg on Northfield
Excellent steaks and reliable quality

[RR3100]

Wanted to weight in just for fun: some of favourite places to eat for a variety of reasons: price, service, atmosphere, menu:

Raintree Cafe - you walk out of there like you saved a farmer and ate well all at the same, so reasonably priced and nice wine list and desserts
Marbles (perhaps best in the summer on their quaint patio)
Cameron for Chinese
Bauer Kitchen - I find the menu quite reasonably priced and surprisingly unpretentious
Bhima's is great but pricey
Masala Bay....just plain yes!

Sole, Rude Native, Charcoal/Martinis/Del Dante/Wildcraft....take a pass for being unremarkable!
Enjoy!

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Rude Native
15 King Street South, Waterloo, ON N2J 1N9, CA

Raintree Cafe
220 King St N, Waterloo, ON N2J2Y7, CA

Masala Restaurant
205 Duke St, Dryden, ON P8N1G9, CA

The Bauer Kitchen
187 King St., Waterloo, ON N2J 1R0, CA

[meatnveg]

I would advise against Marbles. Strongly. The 2 or 3 times I have gone (I really wanted to like it), the food has been absolutely meh. Even their famed Ratatouille tasted singularly of tomato, no depth to the dish and the eggplant was only half-way cooked. I have also had a wrong order brought to me, and then on one other occasion my dining companion was served a full 15 mins before me! On the positive side, I hear their apple pie is good.

Cameron is definitely the best dumplings you'll find in K/W; at par with the better places in Toronto.

Bhima's is a great option; plan on about $50 a head.

I second Masala bay (again), it's good Indian food, and IIRC Sunday night is a buffet, so you'll get a variety of stuff. The quality of the buffet is generally good, but my experience is limited to the weekday's (more turnover=better food).

There is also Leung Yue Hotpot 1508 King St E (the edge of Kitchener, before the highway). It has very good AYCE hotpot for $11.50/person. The staff is bit distant but the food is good,

[Food on the brain]

Haven't been anywhere yet - it's this Sunday - I'm leaning toward Sole - nephew recognizes that I like some of the unusual stuff and suggested that I might like Sole.

Will let you know

[urbnmns]

If it's not too late, I recommend Bhima's Warung, which I think does the most delicious and interesting food in town (a few years ago, I posted that service was insanely slow, but I've been back and pacing is reasonable, and the food is definitely worth the slightly longer wait). The food is Asian fusion; they also make some really nice non-alcoholic drinks, if you're driving. I haven't been to Sole in awhile, and while the food is decent, I don't think you'd find it an exceptional experience as a foodie. Also (in my admittedly limited Sunday dining experience) I don't think it would be as lively as some of your other posted choices, if atmosphere is an issue for you.

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Bhima's Warung
262 King St N, Waterloo, ON N2J2Y9, CA

[froglegs]

So where did you go? Please do tell!
How was it? Am interested because I am going there to KW in 2 weeks.

[meatnveg]

Here is the KW thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/109071

If you are looking for a casual place, I suggest:

1. Yukiko's Homestyle Eatery: Food apart, the desserts are very good and home-made

2. Masala Bay: They now have a Sunday night buffet.

I find Bauer expensive for what it offers. the 2 i listed above won't run you more than 30 bucks total for the two of you.

[Food on the brain]

Thanks for this. Are you saying the the food at Yukiko's is not so great and to go for the desserts, or in addition to the food in general? Anyone have a link for a menu at Yukiko's?

[Jab05]

Sole would be my pick! I love that place, I find the steak at Sole's better than the steak at the Charcoal Steakhouse.

[Food on the brain]

Thanks Jab - Is Sole also a chain, or are they independent?

[Jab05]

Sole is independent. I could be wrong but i think the owners also own the Blackshop in Cambridge.

[kwfoodiewannabe]

Sorry F.O.T.B. for recommendations that are not open on Sunday...oh well... Jab05 you are correct re: the owners and the Blackshop.

[Food on the brain]

No worries! I'm now down to the wire and must decide. :-) Thinking Sole

[Food on the brain]

Actually, no it was Bauer Kitchen he suggested, as there is marrow and duck confit on the menu. :-)

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The Bauer Kitchen
187 King St., Waterloo, ON N2J 1R0, CA

[meatnveg]

It's probably too late now, but; Yukiko's has no website and no menu online.

The desserts are as follows:
- Choc. banana cake (signature cake)
- A fruit crumble (alternates between apple and strawberry/rhubarb)
- Choc cake
- Meringue pie
cheesecakes, cookies and brownies.

And ice cream.

[urbnmns]

Yukiko's has closed; a new resto has taken its place.

[meatnveg]

Are you sure?

I was walking past it (from Vincenzo's to Valu-Mart) and am sure I saw lights on. They do have a new sign board and the 'official' name is Homestyle Eatery. Perhaps that is what led you to believe they losed down?

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Vincenzo's
740 Belmont Ave W, Kitchener, ON N2M1P2, CA

[urbnmns]

Yep, that was my thought. Is it Yukiko's rebranded?

[meatnveg]

Yup.They dropped 'Yukio's cafe' sometime last year I think. I am guessing it is because the original brings japanese cuisine to mind and confusion abound when you see nothing on the menu that is remotely japanese.

Funny Story: After reading your post, I went back the next day (Sunday) and bought a Turkish Decadence and their caramelized apple cheesecake just to make sure they had not changed.... :-)

[Chipp]

Bauer Kitchen or Verses would be good bets. If you want a more intimate atmosphere and don't mind paying a bit more, Verses is awesome. The Bauer Kitchener actually just won the Uptown 21's "Iron Chef" competition last week, which doesn't really mean anything, but the two chefs from the restaurant did impress and seemed like they knew what they were doing in the kitchen!

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The Bauer Kitchen
187 King St., Waterloo, ON N2J 1R0, CA

[Food on the brain]

Thanks Chipp. I am really disappointed that Uptown 21 is not open on Sundays. But, such is life.

[Chipp]

Just wondering - where did you end up going? How was it?

[Food on the brain]

Hmm....and O & B Cafe?

Read a previous KW Sunday dinner thread, but am wondering amongst these options, which would you recommend? Nephew is a student, but loves great food. I am a foodie, and living somewhere where good eats are hard to come by and very expensive!

[kwfoodiewannabe]

Wildcraft, Charcoal (Del Dente/Martini's) and Bauer Kitchen (same owners) all good, but a bit "corporate chain" sameness at all locations. Experience generally does not disappoint though... Sole has a nice menu and surroundings, I have found food to be hit or miss... Have not been to O&B here, but I'm guessing the experience would be similar to O&B Bayview village? Not much in the way of non- chains here... I would check out Verses (a bit pricey, though) and if you want a European food experience (Schnitzel, perogies, etc.) Two Goblets on weber St. is very good. Cameron seafood for Chinese is generally considered KW's best.

Love to hear your review wherever you end up!

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Two Goblets
85 Weber St W, Kitchener, ON N2H, CA

Wildcraft
425 King Street North, Waterloo, ON n2j 2z5, CA

The Bauer Kitchen
187 King St., Waterloo, ON N2J 1R0, CA

[Food on the brain]

:-( Both Verses and two Goblets are also closed on Sundays. Unfortunately, my choices are limited as it is a Sunday night. But, thanks for the feedback on the others.