Best Restaurants Open for Newyears Eve this year in Stratford – 2024

You have to eat here! It was hard to decide what not to order. The waiter asked which dishes were our favorite and each time we moved to the next dish they seemed to keep topping the last. So good!!!!! I loved the twists. The twist to top it off was the cheesecake with Chicago popcorn mix. I had to order to try such a unique plate and was so glad I did. Can’t wait to go back!

Nice little spot in a historic building very close to the center of town. Table service is great, but sit at the bar and chat up the creative bartender who is always ready with a new creation or will just as happily make whatever you like. Nice lineup of gin and a short but surprisingly comprehensive wine list covering quite a few major regions. With the tasty drinks go tasty food. The chef's appetizers and entrees offer a quirky blend of flavors that you are not going to find anywhere else. Even the most familiar and simple dishes have an Elizabeth twist all their own. Definitely recommend without hesitation. Do book a reservation... or run the risk of missing out.

Went there for dinner last week and the food was so good! We had the bread (the truffle butter is delicious, and they give you a very generous portion), the wagyu meatballs, and the gnocchi with Stilton and pears. I’m still thinking about that gnocchi days later, it was to die for. The cocktails were good too. Plates are kind of large tapas-style, so sharing is recommended—our server recommended 3-5 for 2 people to split (or 6-8 for 4 people). The service was also excellent—when our table wasn’t ready at our reservation time, the staff was very kind and offered us complementary champagne. Overall, a great experience and we’d definitely recommend it.

Fellini's Italian restaurant in Stratford, Ontario, is a true gem for Italian cuisine lovers. The lasagna was an absolute standout, featuring perfectly layered pasta, rich meat sauce, and gooey cheese that melted in every bite. Equally impressive was the pepperoni calzone, with its golden, flaky crust encasing a flavorful, cheesy filling. The dishes were crafted with care, and the flavors were bold yet comforting. Combined with a warm ambiance and attentive service, Fellini's delivers a dining experience worth savoring. Highly recommend for anyone seeking authentic Italian fare!

Quick lunch service. Has a lunch special menu. Theatre days are busy and if you let them know you have to be out to make a 2pm show they will accommodate. Food is ok - we split a chicken. Sandwich and soup special. Two kinds of daily soups to chose from. We had the potato celery (which not a favourite of mine). Chicken sandwich on a ciabatta bun was big enough to share. Bread with oil and vinegar provided before lunch was served. Washrooms are located in the bsmt with a wheelchair accessible one at the back. Street parking g or paid lot at the rear.

Went here for the first time this weekend and had the best time! Our food and drinks were yummy - but the highlight of our experience was our server Susan! She went above and beyond to give us the best experience and made it feel like home!

Our server was excellent! The food was also great. I've seen weddings here before and was curious to try. One person in our group had a slight issue with their food but the manager and server were very understanding and responsive. for me, my home cut fries were well seasoned, and eggs revival was flavorful and good. The upstairs is mostly empty and people can go up to look around.

This place was amazing. An incredibly unique experience to dine inside a church. The food was as good as the atmosphere. I rarely order a chicken dish when I go out since I eat it so often at home. But the chicken I had here was definitely something I couldn't replicate myself at home. Just wish I could have gone when they have someone playing the piano.

We just dropped in on a Sunday at 6:00. The place was half full. We parked next door at the Chiropractor. It’s connected to the restaurant and the restaurant parking lot was full. The outside of the church has beautiful well kept grounds with flowers and shrubbery. The inside is quite large and spacious. At the front of the church is a large stain glass window. The hostess seated us. The server was very friendly. I ordered the vegetable linguine for $26 and my husband ordered the Korean chicken for $36. It came with kimchi which my husband didn’t like. I enjoyed my vegetable linguine. The server also brought over bread. We didn’t have dessert because they only had one item, which didn’t interest us. The server was nice enough to talk a picture of my husband and I in front of the stain glass window. This restaurant is worth the visit.

We visited Pazzo Pizzeria with our family, including two young children aged 3 and 4. The staff were wonderfully accommodating, providing coloring books to keep the kids entertained. We visited during a festival in Stratford, so booking ahead is essential if you want to avoid a long wait. The ambiance was pleasant and well-lit, making for a comfortable dining experience. The food was fantastic, though the portion sizes were a bit on the small side. The service was excellent, with hardworking young students doing a great job. Overall, it was a delightful experience, and we will definitely be back!

I stopped in for lunch with a colleague and one of his friends. We all ordered a one of the pizzas each and I had a side Caesar salad as well. I have to say that I wasn’t expecting the Caesar to be so good, it was excellent. The Italian Stallion pizza was also good but if I go back I will order the large Caesar salad. The staff are very friendly. We also ordered some soft drinks and one person had a cappuccino. The bill was $120 with tip which was reasonable for what we had.

We had a salad and a pizza. Honestly, they cannot claim the Za Za Gabor pizza is the best. It is average in quality. The salad is great. The hot oil is very stimulating. Try it. Remark: manay flies all around the restaurant. The decor is average.Outside view is much beautiful.

The Staff were so accommodating to our eclectic group! We had a 4:45pm reservation for our family of 3 seniors, 3 30-somethings, a 3 year old, and a baby. I emailed ahead to see if there was a high chair, but they said they hadn’t had a chance to get one yet but that I could bring my own perch chair from home, and this worked really well for us! The menu worked really well for those of us that didn’t want to share and also very well for those of us that did! There were also great options for the picky-eater 3 year old (only wish there had been some ketchup for the fries). The space was beautifully and thoughtfully designed, very accessible for our stroller too. Fantastic cocktails, fantastic folks running it, fantastic ambiance and fantastic playlist that had everyone grooving. Love love loved it— will recommend to everyone.

This place was friggen incredible. Usually we don't go to small plates venues, but it was my wife and I's second anniversary and we wanted to go somewhere with really high quality food. Initially we opted here from any other restaurant in the town because it had the highest reviews, and boy did they live up to them! We done drink a ton of Alcohol but the mocktails were on equal par with any other drink I have ever gotten. In addition, the food was absolutely delicious. Between my wife and I we ordered at least 2/3rds of the food options on the menu, and not one of them was remotely bad. Straight deliciousness across the board. Kinda pricey, but for the quality and live music completely worth it!

My husband and I enjoyed dinner at The Starlight for a night in Stratford. The atmosphere is cozy, giving mid-century modern upscale diner vibes, and the location is conveniently located amongst the shops of downtown Stratford. The food is small, shareable plates, which we enjoyed, as it allowed us to try a bunch of dishes from the menu. All of the food was delicious, fresh, and well-prepared. Highly recommend the ginger hoisin wings and the arancini! Unfortunately, the service was lacking for us. I'm not sure if it was due to it being a busy Friday night or maybe they were understaffed, but the staff seemed highly unorganized and uncoordinated in their duties. Each member of staff appeared to be doing every service job - bartender, server, bussing, etc. At the end of the evening, we felt forgotten by our waitress and sat for quite a while at our empty table before another staff member noticed. It was tricky to get their attention too as they were all running around focused on other tasks. It then took a while to receive our bill and then a further wait to actually pay. It wouldn't deter us from going back, but it was an unfortunate way to end our visit.

Here for the first time and came for lunch. Fantastic experience. Would definitely come back Our server was fantastic and was very patient and helpful in helping us with the manual since this was the first time at this restaurant. Apparently, the menu changes daily. We had what our server recommended which was the fried green tomatoes and panzanella. We left both. My favorite was the fried green tomatoes. It was not terribly busy on a Friday afternoon and we had a seat in the back patio which was nicely shaded.

A five star dining experience! Came for a delicious French lunch. Menu is seasonal and changes daily. We had the most exquisite squash with stracciatella cheese. Omg! We devoured the fresh pie oysters as well. Excellent service and fresh sourdough. Will certainly return! Thank you!

My girlfriend and I eat out often and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal at LOVAGE. One of the best we’ve had. Tremendous service, food and experience. The bread was insane.

We recently had our wedding reception at The Common and couldn’t have asked for a better day. Our guests raved about the food. The staff were incredibly friendly and organized. I would highly recommend having your next event at The Common. Cassandra and Chef Tim are amazing!

Came here for the first time and was bowled with the quality. Their drinks are a particular highlight, offering unique combinations that recreate old favorites with new flavors. Their menu is varried and hearty. And although everything that passed my mouth was delicious, nothing compares to the streak frites and filet. When I took a bite of that dish, which thankfully I had ordered, as opposed to one of my dining companions, I thought I died and gone to heaven. It's that good. I hope The Common keeps this up and is around for years and years to come.

Incredible flavor profiles not only in the food but also the cocktails. Really enjoyed the unusual pairings in flavors! Picture is of the delightful corn fritters.

My husband and I recently visited Stratford for the first time, and our first meal in town was at the Braai House. It set such a high bar that the following evening’s dinner at another highly popular restaurant couldn’t compare! Service: From the start, Braai House impressed us with their flexibility, accommodating our reservation change from 7:30 PM to 5:00 PM when our plans shifted unexpectedly. Every staff member we interacted with, from the host to the servers, was incredibly professional, friendly, and always greeted us with a warm smile. They patiently answered our questions about the menu, introduced the ingredients of each dish as they were served, and checked in at just the right moments to ensure everything was to our liking. The timing between courses was perfectly paced, making for a relaxed and enjoyable dining experience. Food: While I don’t recall all the exact menu names, the dishes we tried were truly memorable. We started with a squid appetizer that was tender, flavorful, and a delightful surprise. For our mains, we had the chicken and lamb stew. The chicken was beautifully seasoned with herbs and the lamb stew was rich and hearty, both paired perfectly with the fresh, well-cooked side vegetables. The stew also came with specialty buns that complemented the dish wonderfully. For dessert, we enjoyed a chocolate cake that was anything but ordinary—it had layers of texture and a refined flavor that made it stand out. We couldn’t be happier with our experience and can’t wait to bring our family along on our next visit!

My favourite meal this year was at Braai House. We started with cocktails in the bar on the first floor then moved our way upstairs for dinner. The bar is beautiful, with dark and sophisticated tones, and friendly staff. You won't find this type of food and drink menu anywhere else, it's definitely unique and adventurous. The restaurant upstairs is cozy and still sophisticated, welcoming and knowledgeable staff, and intimate. You're able to sit at the bar, at the chef's bar or in the dining area. All 3 courses we had were so well executed, everything was high quality. Loved the whole experience. If you visit, Stratford, you have to check out Braai House!

If you find yourself in Stratford, this spot is an absolute must for dining! The service, the people, and the food are nothing short of exceptional. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner, dessert, drinks, and the warm hospitality from both the waitress and the chefs. We’re already planning to return with friends—highly recommended!

We had dinner here during our short stay in Stratford. My partner and I really enjoyed the smash burger, fish and chips, and soups. It was our anniversary so they brought out a Pavlova as a complimentary dessert! It was delicious. We'd definitely come here again.

Visit Sunday September 15, 2024 private event held in the Chuchill conference / dining room. Mobility impaired accessible, ample parking. Accessible rest rooms on main floor and basement via elevator. Lovely building and well appointed common spaces. Wonderful decor and furnishings in the restaurant and lobby. Food served was most excellent. Grilled salmon, Florentine style steak, mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables and deserts were delightful. Staff were professional, friendly and engaging. Prices quite reasonable given the great quality. Would highly recommend.

Had a lovely experience on this delightful patio, sipping on a cosmo and devouring a smash burger with bacon. My partner went for the haddock and was pleasantly surprised by how tender the fish was- it was falling off the fork! We were a little apprehensive because of the limited menu, but the food was worth it! Normally smaller menu restaurants compensate with flavor and The Parlour was no exception. The service was very quick, efficient and friendly. We hope to return!

Food was delicious and beautifully presented. Lots of unique flavours, not just a replication of what every other restaurant is doing. The sides beautifully complement the mains. Service was pleasant. We ate outside so I cannot speak to atmosphere inside, but outside has something of a European bistrot appeal. Patio seating was limited (seating for 10) and quite cramped, so would not have offered much opportunity for private conversation, but a bonus is that we all talked to each other about Stratford shows we have seen or were about to see and the conversation ended up being quite lovely.

Bluebird was the perfect place to catch up with some dear friends. The vibes were relaxed but classy, and the food was incredible. We enjoyed the hot and cold oysters, the lamb chop, the jowls, the chicken mousse, and more! Everything was delicious, the perfect temperature, and the service was great. Don’t be afraid to ask their incredible staff questions - they were very helpful and knowledgeable. Great experience!

Get yourself a reservation here to have a very tasty dinner. My friend and I split three “snack” plates and they were enough for dinner. Eggplant dip is out of this world, the shrimp tacos are so delicious and well balanced. Galway fries very yummy too.

We cane here on a Saturday morning around 9:30 and we waited for a few minutes for our table to be ready. But by the time we were leaving, there was a huge lineup at the restaurant. I was ready impressed. They provide really good service and the staff were all friendly. The menu offers great variety of options from sweet to savory. You can also order bottomless coffee. We wanted to try different options so we ordered “3 Egg Omelette with mushrooms, Spinach and Tomatoes”, “Swiss Steak Bruschetta Benny”, “Greek Skillet”, “Blueberry Pancake with Fruits” and “3 Eggs with Triple A Striploin Steak”. Everything was fresh tasted amazing. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and a great vibe.

I would avoid this place. Seems like normal diner fare, but my experience was very disappointing. My hollandaise sauce came out broken, it was very greasy. One member of our party ordered the pesto chicken and the chicken was strangely chewy. We also received a mug with a lipstick stain. Place was loud and prices were high for the poor quality. Definitely go somewhere else, plenty of other tasty food in Stratford.

Food was amazing the portion sizes were great for the price as well. We ended up going to breakfast there twice which usually we never do when going on a trip to a new place, but it was well worth it. The Paul was definitely a hangover cure, some of it served for lunch as well. As for the skillet *chefs kiss* sorry I had a couple bites before taking a picture, but I think that speaks for itself.

Braaibar was our first disappointment in Stratford, unfortunately. Usually we have amazing dinners in this city. First, cocktails are the best part of this place. I enjoyed my choice (heads in the cloud). We ordered fries and spring rolls as starters. Fries were soggy and the portion was really small. Rolls were good but they arrived just warm. But the entrees was the biggest problem. This time fries were good, But the steak was terrible, opposite of tender and tasteful. The doneness was supposed to be medium rare, but came more for rare. It was supposed to come with vegetables, not only peppers. I enjoyed the sweet peppers but I expected variety. PEI Mussels were poor and the hamburger was good. No one asked how it was our dishes, otherwise I could say it personally about my steak. The waitress was so busy that she almost never appeared in our table.

Visited for a pre-theatre dinner on a friend’s recommendation and was so impressed. The interior is beautifully decorated, but we took advantage of a warm September Saturday to sit on their quiet alleyway patio - also great. The streamlined menu allows for fast service, and I love that they that they offer half pints of their draft beers. Spring rolls with mango chutney and burger were both excellent, flavourful, and reasonable portions - some of the best fries I’ve had too. I’ll be back next time I’m in Stratford! PS - they didn’t have the same line down the block as some of the touristy restaurants, perhaps because they’re about a block off the main drag. Don’t waste your time lining up elsewhere - just go to Braaibar!

Braai Bar atmosphere is incredible, as well as the service. My partner and I went to Stratford Festival (August 31st)and between the matinee show and the night show we booked a table at the bar. Our table was initially to dine indoors but the hostess kindly rearranged our reservation and had us sit on the patio. We decided to book a table at the Braai Bar because I'm vegan and we wanted to make sure we went to a place where we could both enjoy the meal. Braai Bar sounded like the perfect spot, as on the first page of the website you have "Our talented team have curated a bar menu that will leave you wanting to try every dish. Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, gluten free or a carnivore, we have something for everyone". My partner called the restaurant Friday night to confirm whether there'd be vegan options, which was confirmed. When the server gave us the menu, I couldn't find many vegan options. More precisely, the only vegan option they had was the Hippy Bowl and 2 vegan salads (options that were not originally in the menu but could be made vegan since I asked). Since we had the table booked already and had a limited time between the shows, we ordered drinks, a tomato salad (really good!) as a starter and the main dishes - Hippy Bowl for me and a steak for my partner. I don't have words to describe the Hippy Bowl. That was EXTREMELY disappointing. The Hippy Bowl was essentially a quinoa salad with vegetables. No dressing, no further preparation, no taste. And $23! I couldn't eat half of the bowl because how tasteless it was. My partner is an excellent cook so we asked for a take-out container and brought it home to use the leftovers for something else (picture attached of the delicious vegan sandwich he made with it). We had a show to attend at 8pm, and would get home (Toronto) only around 1am. Therefore we had to stop by at a vegan diner in town to get me another meal (more $). I understand the Braai Bar menu is focused on steak. However, when you advertise you have options for everyone, including vegans, the customer expects a dish that at least requires more preparation rather than throwing vegetables into a bowl. We all know that Vegan cuisine can be more than just plain vegetables. It was extremely disappointing, considering the place is awesome, the service, and the patio is lovely. I'm not the one to leave bad reviews or express my disappointment. I know vegan cuisine is still on the rise and places are getting used to having vegan clients and catering to them. This is feedback for a place that has potential and I would love to return to and have reasonable options with substance (e.g. pasta, risotto, flame roasted hearty vegetables, toasted crostini with heirloom tomatoes and balsamic reduction. For dessert: vegan chocolate cake, cookie, sorbet). Thank you!