The Ancaster Old Mill Inn

In sum: Terrible Service because:
1) Two tables including mine asked to turn down the air conditioning because it was freezing. I love a/c and don't get cold easily but it was so cold by the end of supper my head was cold from the constant a/c blowing on my head. What really gets me is that it was about 19C or less outside...not even hot, and there was no sun on the windows to heat the place up!

2) It took 1 hour and 25 minutes to get our main course after ordering. Other tables around us that were seated well after we had arrived got served dinner first. I don't mind waiting for good food but come on!
What also gets me is I've seen this before: Large groups will get priority, and waiters will try to take on too many tables in a night to boost their total tips. Both were clearly evident tonight.

3) My poor wife and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary (yes we did get married at the Ancaster Old Mill!) and she got so hungry and was sipping the red wine, that she got a major headache waiting for the entree. So we had to ask for her dinner to be wrapped up to take out! THE WAITER CAME BACK WITH THE WRONG TAKE OUT PACKAGE!!!! (It was another half eaten steak from another customer!)

For $130.00 we cut our losses and declined desert and coffee AND the offer from the management for a "coupon" for our next visit. I was so angry I didn't want to list all of the above complaints in front of my wife as we were celebrating our aniversary.

Unfortunately we will not be dining there again for awhile!
(The location is lovely and I had no complaints on the taste of the local grown food. The presentation was not spectacular but the food did taste good....when we got it.)

If you want to enjoy the view of the fall in the restaurant go for coffee and maybe a desert but for $130.00 (not including desert and coffee) totaly not a bargin.

Sadly this is the worst tip I have ever given...and I don't like being cheap to waiters.

I went to the old mill in ancaster following a recomendation of a friend, i have heard of this restaurant many many times, As I understand it, it has been around for many years.
The exterior of the building is very beautiful, 3 waterfalls run right through the centre of the restaurants, the valet parking was a nice touch.
We were greeted very nicely by a lovely young lady, we sat in the lobby area while they took our coats, and got our table ready.
We were led to our table over a glass bridge overlooking the waterfalls, i wanted to stop to gaze but our hostess seemed a little hurried.
Our server was a young gentleman who was very polite, I, not being a wine expert, let him suggest and select a beautiful local niagara wine for us.
We ordered scallops, a goats cheese tart, a green salad and a french onion soup. All were delicious, although did take a little long to arrive(we were rather hungry though!)
Our Waiter had recommended the feature of the evening, a 60day dry aged steak! He explained the process of dry aging and why they felt it was important, We subsequently ordered 2 of these! My wife ordered the organic chicken, and our friend the Cod.
All of the dishes were delicious, but i would like to pay particular attention to the steaks, I have never been a lover of brussel sprouts, but thought i would try them again, the combination of bacon, tiny onions, brussel sprouts and dry age steak have made me a new fan of the tiny childhood horror!!
My wife was very happy with her chicken, and commented on how perfectly cooked it was, our guests also enjoyed their meals, the cod was 'light but satisfying'. We were too full for all of us to order dessert, but we did share a 'famous' french apple tart, which was buttery and warm and a creme brullee, which had a delicious layer of fruit at the bottom, it broke up the creamy custard perfectly.
I would and will dine at this restaurant again, although it is not cheap, it is an excellent reprsentation of the food movement in hamilton.....i only wish the other restaurants in the area would catch on.

VERY negative experience on Christmas night. I'm actually going to write the owner to give him an opportunity to respond before posting the full experience.

Many fond memories of this place in the past, bit I do NOT recommend it now.

Ambiance was fantastic, but food was let down. We have been to many restaurants and would not return. Our waiter was friendly and efficient. French onion soup was good, cesaer salad was ok, but croutons were hard as rocks, no parmasean, dressing too lemony (usually lemon is on the side). The bread served at start of meal was unusual, I prefer a choice of various rolls and apple butter would be associated with breakfast. The steak was over done and dry and somewhat tough, the 3 mushrooms with it were too vinegary, potatoes tasted like instant and seasonal vegetables were appalling. Felt somewhat ill after dinner, didn't like cheese on top of steak, too many various taste experiences and I find they didn't go together...too disappointed to have desert.

We go there for sunday brunch once a year with family and friends, it is buffet style and I am always VERY impressed with the whole thing, There is a seperate room for crepes, waffles, omeletes (all made to your order in front of your own eyes) there is also seafood, fresh smoothies, fruit, cold meats and hams! After that there is bread and pastries, and you think it is all over but then there is a whole section of cooked breakfast (bacon etc) and a roast lunch (pork cut in fornt of you) it is delicious, exspensive but a nice treat once a year!
will definatly be going back!

I have never been to the Old Mill in Ancaster so when the opportunity came up last night I jumped at the chance. I do enjoy a dining "experience" from ambience, to service and of course to the food. I am in the industry and have trained at and run some very high end and exclusive hotels/resort kitchens. I only say that to set my perspective.

The evening started out a little strange when the Maitre d' greeted 3 seperate parties and told all of us to follow him to the dining room. Maybe it is a form of efficiency that i am not aware of, but as a result we felt like cattle being herded.

The place is beautiful, lush gardens and an impressive dining room, at first glance. Upon closer inspection a few flaws came shining through. There was a black cloth gathered over the top of the entrance to the kitchen which looked as if had never been laundered or dusted. Also, the upkeep of the furniture was not what you would expect at a high end restaurant.

Our wine was a niagara vintage which I had selected for our guests who were visiting from Calgary and Florida. Our waiter attempted to push another bottle on me 3 times. The majority of people at the table were over sixty and not heavy drinkers. So after the first refusal, I did not want to be hounded again.

Our appetisers seemed to take forever to be delivered, but once we received them they were very good! I cannot say the same about the main course. The braised chicken dish was bland, and almost tasted spoiled, the noodles were grayish in colour and the addition of the fresh arugula did nothing to save this plate. Unfortunately two of these entrees were ordered. The Lamb Two Ways when described on the menu sounded excellent but was a disapointment on the plate. The stew component of the dish in my mind should have been succulent, juicy and tender after being braised. Instead it was a stringy mess of sauce less, tasteless meat with a brunoise of root vegetables sprinkled on top. It then sat on a bed of "colcannon potatoes", Honestly it was as if they forgot to salt the water, then left the potatoes on the boil too long. Bland, bland bland, but wait, it seemed as if they realized the lack of seasoning and threw one and a half black olives into the mix. On their own the olives were indeed briny but did nothing to save the potatoes. To the kitchens credit the rack was cooked perfectly, though there was a disconnect between the rack the stew and the sauce on the plate. The lamb was very gamey, my fault I realized afterwards that I don't particulary like Ontario Lamb.

There was a shining light at the end of all this our desserts. The longest wait for the best dessert goes to the Apple Tart. Our waiter warned us it takes 13 minutes to prepare but worth the wait. He was right on the mark, all the other desserts were not remarkable...the Apple Tart was an expectations exceeder!

This restaurant has so much going for it, it is a shame they miss the mark on so many ways!!

Even though the place was packed with private functions and weddings the attention to detail from the valet to the reception desk was amazing. We were seated promtly and the server was great to explain the menu and make suggestions. We spent 3 hours there and loved every minute. I dont know how they do so much business at once and do it so well. Cant wait to return

Went to celebrate my father's 85th birthday at the end of April/08 Our table decided to order the Sunday Supper and the food was acceptable but not worth the price you pay. Also the portions were so small especially when looking around at other tables with the same amount of people in there party we were given MUCH smaller portions. The only conclusion I have been able to come up to is the fact that our table consisted of 2 seniors, 2 adults and 1 teenager. I travelled from British Columbia to celebrate this occasion and am on a limited budget and can definitely NOT afford to be ripped off. This is clearly unacceptable and would not recommend any gathering for seniors.

So good. I have heard good things about this place as of late. We all had a wonderful meal and great service. the restaurant was full, lots of buzz.
Food was amazing. I like that they support local farms, very smart.
will definitely return.
Anyone been to the Sunday Suppers?

Went for dinner on Easter Sunday. Reservations for 6 o'clock. Seated in a room with very little heat. Ordered our dinner. Appetizers came at 7 o'clock, main meal came at 8 o'clock and dessert finally showed up at 9 o'clock. We've eaten at some of the finest restaurants and will never be back to this restaurant. The lamb I ordered came cold and was mediocre. I've cooked better in my own kitchen. I've left a review on another website but when I saw these reviews I just had to add my own experience. Two of the people in our party have eaten at the finest restaurants worldwide and we've decided to meet in Oakville restaurants for our family meals in the future.