Chesswood | Carleton Place, ON

Excited to get out of downtown Ottawa and celebrate a couple of birthdays, we decided to visit one of Carleton Place's newest additions - Chesswood.

The decor and ambiance was nice with a rustic chic feel. The menu offers a variety of options to choose from. We were seated in a booth at the back of the restaurant and really enjoyed this as we had a view of the restaurant with some privacy from neighboring tables.

While they don't advertise vegetarian options - I chose the Bruschetta to start, as followed that will the Beet and Goat Cheese Salad, and enjoyed the Deep Fried Ice Cream for desert (because birthdays).

While I was hoping for the Green Tea ice cream as the menu advertised, I was served Vanilla ice cream without notice from the service staff, but it was delicious non-the-less. The Bruschetta was nicely presented and had a good topping to crustini ratio. The Beet Salad was large and full of tasty beets and goat cheese on top of romaine lettuce. The salad came to the table wilted which had me second guessing my choice, but I was pleasantly surprised by the flavours.

My partner had the calamari, which was lightly battered and well seasoned. The plate was garnished with romaine lettuce, which it could have done without. While he would order it again, a larger portion would better reflect the price of the dish.

The Tandoori Chicken Wings, which were served as a full wing, were slightly under seasoned, but the cook could be easily improved with some finesse, allowing it to cook a bit longer to crisp and char the skin. The wings were accompanied by a dipping sauce that was tasty, but would be more enjoyable if it was thicker, allowing the flavours to come through and the sauce to hold to the chicken.

Friends shared the crab cakes, the charcuterie board, and the spring rolls. They really enjoyed the crab cakes, while they could have been a little more moist, they really enjoyed them as they were not over breaded and were full of seafood.

The charcuterie board was beautifully presented and provided a selection of cheeses and seed to sausage meats. However, service wise, the staff could use coaching in steps of service when serving charcuterie and/or cheese boards, providing guests with a brief run over of what meats and cheeses are featured when the plate is delivered to the table. When asked the service staff was unsure. The portioning was large (for two people). Our friends very much enjoyed this plate and said they would definitely order it again.

We really enjoyed our visit at Chesswood and will definitely be back for a visit again. We hope Chesswood thrives and does well in Carleton Place. With any restaurant there is always room for growth - we look forward to see what Chesswood makes of itself and how it evolves! It is a great place for locals to check out or for anyone passing by, as it is only a short jog North of 7 and 45 minutes from downtown Ottawa.

Chez Piggy | Kingston, ON

Gin|Pineapple|Cucumber|Mint
Bartender Sam, Chez Piggy

I finally had the pleasure of visiting Chez Piggy, a staple of Kingston's food and drink scene. Having never stepped foot inside before, I was pleasantly surprised by the establishment's quaint and homey interior and the variety offered by its food an drink menus.

We were greeted and we asked to be seated at the bar on the restaurant's main floor, which is accompanied by a very nice courtyard patio in the summer season. We arrived late in the evening and had just missed the kitchen, which was a shame because each of us were dying to try the menu, but regardless we asked to take a look for future reference, a move that turned out to be pure torture as each of the dishes featured on Chez Piggy's menu had our taste buds attention.

When visiting a new restaurant, I often like to opt for a seat at the bar. I enjoy engaging with the bartender and getting a good seat that will allow me to really get a feel for the place. Our bartender that evening immediately had us happy with our seating choice. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive.

When you walk into a restaurant, you are often quickly made aware that you are not the only guest in the establishment, moreover, you are not a priority. What a shame! This was not the case at Chez Piggy. Sam the bartender did a great job in providing us with quality service. It was late and we were his only guests. He took the time to familiarize us with the establishment and its features, encouraging our return by drawing out attention to menu items, such as the wonderful selection of vegetarian dishes, and promoting some of the restaurants assets that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. 

Quality service, cocktails, and some great conversation came of our visit to Chez Piggy. 

Will we return? Of course we will. 

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?