Miscellaneous Restaurant Talk

[Spokes]

What specifically do you mean by Family Restaurants? Family run?

[Waterlooer]

Local restaurants that people can go to and eat lunch/dinner at.

[Waterlooer]

The Crossroads Family Restaurant Ltd.
384 Arthur St. S. | Elmira | Link

The Crossroads is a great place eat. They have a nice all you can eat buffet which serves wonderful country style foods.

[IEFBR14]

Crossroads Family Restaurant

+1

Most certainly worth driving the extra distance to Elmira instead of stopping half way at Stone Crock in St Jacobs.

P.S. Would the Mandarin Chinese in Kitchener qualify as a family restaurant?

[Waterlooer]

P.S. Would the Mandarin Chinese in Kitchener qualify as a family restaurant?

Yep.

The Mandarin has very great food. I think if you go at lunch it costs way less then at dinner time?

[Spokes]

Mandarin is considered a family restaurant? How?

Is this about FAMILY restaurants, or just restaurants?

[Waterlooer]

My mistake, I just meant restaurants that families can go to. I changed it to just "Restaurants".

[IEFBR14]

I think if you go at lunch it costs way less then at dinner time?

Yes, however that's true of most buffet restaurants. They also typically have a smaller selection of foods at lunch time.

From www.mandarinbuffet.com/

[BuildingScout]

My mistake, I just meant restaurants that families can go to. I changed it to just "Restaurants".

Families can go to any restaurant: been there, done that. Family restaurant is a euphemism for "rowdy kids welcome".

[Waterlooer]

Now I know :P I was getting franchises mixed in with family restaurants before.

[panamaniac]

Families can go to any restaurant: been there, done that. Family restaurant is a euphemism for "rowdy kids welcome".

Rowdy kids have nothing to do with restaurants and everything to do with parents. To me a "family restaurant" means not fine dining but not fast food, not a chain, pretty broad selection of standard fare on the menu, probably kids portions and/or seniors menu, and generally moderate prices. Along with Crossroads, two I like are Shmidtsville in Wellesley and Prime Rib on Highland Road (despite the bar). We seem to have quite a few family restaurants in the Region.

[jerryhung]

I like Metro on Victoria in Kitchener.. I think it counts as Family restaurant
They sell Schnitzels!

http://www.restaurantica.com/on/kitc...rant/23000127/

[Waterlooer]

I like Metro on Victoria in Kitchener.. I think it counts as Family restaurant
They sell Schnitzels!

http://www.restaurantica.com/on/kitc...rant/23000127/

Yeah, that's a family restaurant (I think :P). The ratings look very good for that place, I must try it out sometime!

[jay]

I've never been to Metro.. Maybe I should check it out.

[Section ThirtyOne]

I've never been to Metro.. Maybe I should check it out.

If you like schnitzel, you owe it to yourself to pay the place a visit.

One warning though, I found that the food can be of mixed quality on nights where it isn't so busy.

[Section ThirtyOne]

Vijay's Indian Cuisine
380 Weber Street W| Kitchener | Link

Vijay's is s staple in this house, we get take-out from here on a regular basis. I've been going here for years, and know the owner and his son... in fact, one time I went in and forgot my debit card. He said "pay me next time you're in." Try that at Boston Pizza!

[plam]

Vijay's Indian Cuisine
380 Weber Street W| Kitchener | Link

Vijay's is s staple in this house, we get take-out from here on a regular basis. I've been going here for years, and know the owner and his son... in fact, one time I went in and forgot my debit card. He said "pay me next time you're in." Try that at Boston Pizza!

I don't find Vijay's to be that tasty. (I did discover, though, that the secret to making Curry in a Hurry produce food that tastes like anything is to order it "extra hot", which just means that it has some flavour, and it doesn't actually end up having heat). I think Empress of India on King is tastier, although I've only been to either of these places once.

[Section ThirtyOne]

I don't find Vijay's to be that tasty. (I did discover, though, that the secret to making Curry in a Hurry produce food that tastes like anything is to order it "extra hot", which just means that it has some flavour, and it doesn't actually end up having heat). I think Empress of India on King is tastier, although I've only been to either of these places once.

I always order extra hot, regardless of which indian restaurant i'm at. Doing so has produced some entertaining meals, as some restaurants can be pretty liberal with the heat! Regarding the lack of flavour, did you have a wide range of dishes or just one? We always get the same thing, and I can tell you that the Lamb Vindaloo is the best i've had anywhere.

I've not been to Empress of India, but have heard good things about it. I'll definitely check it out. Thanks for the tip.

[Section ThirtyOne]

On another note, there was some discussion in another thread regarding the new Shawarma place (Mozy's Shawarma) at King and University in the Pizza Pizza/Starbucks plaza. I stopped in last night for a bite to eat and came away with mixed feelings.

First off, service was great and the employees were friendly and moving fast to make a bunch of shawarmas for a couple of big orders that recently came in. The menu at the restaurant is limited, you had better like shawarma! You have the choice of a wrap or plate, and the option of what appeared to be fresh cut french fries. The only other items are drinks and baklava for dessert.

On to the shawarma: you won't go away hungry. The pita it was stuffed in was nearly bursting at the seams, and it must have weighed in at a couple of pounds. No cheap filler here either, it was mostly meat. My only gripe was the garlic sauce. It is a pet peeve of mine when shawarma shops use what seems to be like a garlic flavoured mayo as their sauce. I prefer something lighter, which some shops seem to use. Unfortunately for me, this sauce was of the mayo variety.

I will likely return, but will ask them to go easy on the garlic sauce.