The best restaurants in Hamilton are delicious. Well, the food is, but there is something delicious about these decors as well, so maybe that opening gambit can stay. Hamilton might be the most underrated city in Canada, with a fabulous array of attractions to keep visitors occupied until dinnertime arrives. Good food is everywhere here, from James Street and King William to Locke and beyond. From fabulous French to bombastic burgers, Hamilton’s best restaurants don’t disappoint. Get ready to feast in Canada’s most underrated city. There, we said it.
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Husband and wife team Fraser Macfarlane and Georgina Mitropoulos met while cooking at Toronto’s Scaramouche and went on to train in some of Europe’s Michelin-starred restaurants. On their own turf, here at Quatrefoil, the duo serves five-star dishes inside a beautifully restored heritage home in Dundas. Boasting a French-inspired seasonal menu, a sophisticated atmosphere and unparalleled service, Quatrefoil is Hamilton’s top fine-dining destination.
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If you're a fan of Top Chef Canada, then you may already know this joint. Just like The Good Son in Toronto, Born & Raised is owned by Top Chef finalist Vittorio Colacitti. The Italian-Canadian chef opened Born & Raised in an ode to his heritage. The olive oil comes from a friend's farm in the Abruzzo region of Italy, Vittorio uses a wood-fired oven from Bologna, and the bread and pasta are all made in-house. The menu, in turn, features well-balanced, flavorful dishes that utilize fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced locally as much as possible.
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Before The French and The Diplomat, city staples, there was Aberdeen Tavern, brought to you by the same folks behind Equal Parts Hospitality. Comfort food served in an upscale environment? Count us in. Aberdeen Tavern serves consistently exceptional dishes in what feels like an exclusive supper club in the main dining room, a gorgeous private event space on the upper level called The Apartment, and a pretty outdoor patio. Feast on mains like garlic butter ricotta agnolotti or juicy striploin, or visit for brunch for an equally impressive menu that includes cheesecake-stuffed French toast.
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Whether Downtown or at Crown Point, you're guaranteed a fine burger thanks to the HAMBRGR crew. They get their meat from local farmers and have an infectious passion for beef patties. Not for a classic burger, that's for sure. Be adventurous and order a Maui Wowi (pulled pork and pineapple jam) or the Weekly Chef Smash, the catch-of-the-day burger equivalent. And if you're avoiding red meat, there are chicken and vegan items too.
Ancaster Mill is a fine dining restaurant with character, set beside a waterfall and built with 19th-century limestone blocks on the site of historic flour mills. Guests visit to feast in the dining room overlooking the falls, indulge in the Sunday brunch buffet and savour the freshness of organic Ontario ingredients. Ancaster Mill looks to the season’s harvest to build the menu, so you’ll find items like spring minestrone soup and braised pork belly with roasted fiddleheads on offer, depending on the time of year.
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The award-winning meat and seafood restaurant offers fine dining in a Great Gatsby-like manor, complete with a curated wine selection from around the world. The building, constructed in 1921, features a sweeping marble staircase that dates back to the 1800s, wooden floors, original stonework, lavish chandeliers and views of Lake Ontario. Start with fresh oysters or crab cakes and enjoy a charbroiled steak or one of the many other entrée options.
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Smoked meat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, made-from-scratch comfort food and a ‘50s diner atmosphere make this Southern-style barbecue joint so damn good. The smoker runs 24/7 and can hold 500 pounds of meat at once. No, we ain’t lying.
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Get transported to Europe with authentic Portuguese cuisine in a rustic, casual atmosphere. Set on James Street North, Wild Orchid is right in the heart of the city’s Portuguese population and plays off the neighborhood’s history. Life doesn’t get much better than sharing a shellfish platter with friends.
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Put simply, this is a soup restaurant that happens to be endorsed by Guillermo del Toro. Once you visit one (or all three) of The Burnt Tongue’s locations, you’ll start craving soup. The creative dishes are made even better with a grilled cheese to dip in them or an order of fries. Check social media for the day’s menu, including vegetarian, vegan, celiac-friendly and dairy-free soup options, burgers, salads and sandwiches.
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Berkeley North is a contemporary dining space, the ideal setting for West Coast-inspired small plates made with locally sourced ingredients. The sleek black and white design, exposed brick walls, potted plants and a garage-style door that opens in the summertime add even more character to the experience. Start with a tantalizing cocktail or house-made kombucha, and then attack the seasonal menu.
This rather casual Italian restaurant is always packed and doesn’t take reservations, but we promise it is worth the wait. In addition to the delicious pizza, diners revel in huge, Italian-style portions of meatballs, cannelloni and the famous chicken red and white (that would be: tomato and Alfredo sauce). Do wear your stretchy pants. Save yourself the trip to Chicago and enjoy the delicious pizza at this local spot itself. Fun fact: the team behind Chicago Style Pizza started serving this cheesy, saucy goodness in the Windy City itself.
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This cozy eatery may look like a coffee shop upon entry, but once you taste the food, you’ll feel part of an upscale yet accessible dining experience. Find natural light, an intimate atmosphere, photo-worthy plates and a small but thoughtful menu to define your meal.
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