Mulligans Golf Bar | Ottawa, ON

Though I am not a golfer, the hype surrounding the opening of Mulligans had me curious enough to check it out for myself and I am glad I did. Out for drinks, we decided to stop in for one and a look over the menu had us staying for a few and some food.

What I have especially loved about Mulligans (aside from the complimentary gourmet popcorn dusted with their specialty popcorn flavoring) is that the staff are knowledgeable and friendly, touching base with us throughout each of my visits. The ambiance at Mulligans is relaxed and welcoming, suitable for any occasion. Since visiting Mulligans with friends in May, I have returned for drinks with my partner and for food with coworkers, trying something different each time and happy with each experience.

While almost every Ottawa sports bar seems to rep your typical pub fare and mixed drinks, I can admit that I largely underestimated what these local owners would bring to the table. I was incredibly pleased to take a look at their food and cocktail menus to find that Mulligans decided to take a different root and have made menus full of delicious choices from fresh ingredients and featuring new flavors and out of the ordinary takes on some classics. They’ve even managed to elevate their French fries, skipping the easy cop out of truffle oil, using a Jalapeño brine that will make you wonder why every restaurant and chip truck isn’t doing it!

Interested in learning more about what goes into Mulligans craft cocktails, I had some questions that the bartender was happy to answer, in fact, he took the time to come to our table and explain the different simple syrups and infused liquor that are concocted in-house and separate their craft cocktails from what other Ottawa bars are offering, giving us a warmer introduction to what 'Mullys' is all about – the finer things. 

each and every guest

A restaurant's success comes as a result of the satisfaction of their guests, which is earned as guests' familiarize themselves with a restaurant and come to trust the menu, the staff, and the establishment as a whole. The economy plays a factor in the way that people spend their money, and when the employment rates and economy in Ontario are not doing so hot, people are more cautious about how they spend their money. 

When a guest visits a restaurant and feels that they are valued as a customer, that can go a long way. When they enjoy the food, are happy with the service, and the ambiance is appropriately set, the customer finds a sense of comfort - that's what every owner should want and what a restaurants team should strive to achieve for the satisfaction of each and every guest. 

From my experience, the establishments in which you will find these qualities are the ones that are led by owners and managers that are passionate about food and drink, taking pride in their work and valuing each opportunity to showcase the establishment's greatest attributes ensuring a memorable and positive experience for all guests. 

The Toucan | Kingston, ON

This was my first visit to The Toucan. It was a late Thursday night and we chose to seat ourselves outside, and I am so happy that we did. The side patio provides a cool atmosphere within one of Kingston's quaint courtyards, which it shares with Chez Piggy Restaurant & Bar. We grabbed the last available seats on the patio for our group of five. 

It was late, but I was curious about the pub's fare so I decided to try the soup of the day. I ordered a bowl of the featured Tomato Rosemary Soup. It was served with buttered toast, which was a delicious fresh white bread. The soup was also very good - I especially enjoyed the aroma and flavor of the rosemary. This soup was a nice introduction to the restaurant's menu, and I look forward to returning to try out more of their items.

The music was funky, but completely all over the place, giving the impression that that's the kind of vibe the pub is trying to promote - a relaxed, fun place to socialize with friends. The crowd that night was primarily males aged 22 to 50 and seemed to die out shortly after midnight. The server was friendly and timely. 

One quick trip to the ladies room and I immediately made the decision to never use this establishment's lavatories again. This is something that does drive me nuts about so many different restaurants; gross washrooms. As this was the first offence, I'll attribute the uncleanliness to the fact that the front of the restaurant seemed to be hosting a large group of golfers (the bags gave it away).

Overall, as first impressions go, this was a good one.

the curse of a filthy washroom

Everything about an experience at a restaurant can be absolutely perfect, but if nature calls and what is found behind the mystery door forces you to pull your shirt up over your mouth - unfortunately, it's not likely you'll have much of an appetite for that restaurant again. 

Think of it this way, for the most part, there are two parts of a restaurant that guests have access to; the dining room and the washrooms. Kitchen's are not often open to the scrutiny of the public eye - leaving customers to really trust the establishment and it's staff. When a guest's visit includes a trip to the loo, let it not be one that leaves the poor soul gagging and gasping for breath - if the washrooms are filthy, one can only imagine the condition the kitchen is in. 

It's always advisable to equip your eating establishment with washrooms that aren't going to leave your guests without an appetite. 

So when a guest ventures into the washroom and finds toilet paper on the floor, soaking in puddles of what one hopes is a leak and not someone else's urine, the filthy washroom can be a real deal breaker. If the owners, management, and staff are all okay with overlooking a dirty washroom, than one can only imagine what they overlook in the back of the house, in the places that are hidden from the public eye.  

What's your favorite restaurant? Ever wondered if you can trust the cleanliness of the kitchen that makes your favorite food? Did you know that you can easily access the local Health Unit's reports from Food Safety Inspections of restaurants in your area?