Big Ben's

Stopped in to try breakfast. Ordered celery bread to have as an appetizer, it was the smallest piece i've ever seen. I actually laughed. Our breakfast took 45 min and the place was not busy. Our eggs looked like they were cooked in water and the peameal bacon tasted like it was microwaved. It was terrible. Briefing though the menu I found thier prices very expensive. Would definately never go back. As we were walking in a lady came out screaming about paying 8 dollars for 2 eggs and toast. Almost turned around and never went in. Maybe i should have listed to what she was saying.

Went to Big Ben's for Halibut on my Birthday!!!
Was well worth the price and the food was ohhhh so good! The kids said the wait was a little long but once they started eating I didn't hear another word.
Kids these days once they have worked in a restaurant they think they know it all!

Keep up the good work Neil and my wife says breakfast was great too...... JR

The new restaurant is both regal and very spacious. We have enjoyed a number of meals including a sampling of new offerings.

The service is excellent with the value of the cuisine being well in line for the establishment.

Eager to please and willing to fine tune each and every entree, this will keep us coming back.

If I am looking for the lowest cost meal, than I would be sacrificing a very lovely ambience.

Kudos to Neil and Tracy in the superb job they have done in transforming this property.

We moved to the Brier Park area of Brantford about a year ago and we were very happy to stumble across Big Bens. We would get their Fish & Chips at least once a week (usually the fish and chip specials) to take home. We would also get Breakfast take out once a week as well. The prices were reasonable, the portion sizes were excellent and the food was great.
We stopped by to order our usual, after their renovations had been completed and although the dining room was quite nice.,..the prices weren't. The take out fish and chip specials were no more, which was very disappointing and the prices were noticeably higher. We waited for almost an hour for our order. The young girl that took our order had somehow messed it up. No big deal though...things like that happen.
We took our order home and could not believe the difference! The portions of the Fish&Chip orders were literally HALF of what they were PRE renovations! A week later I decided to give it another chance thinking maybe our last experience was just an "off" night. This time ordering our usual Breakfast specials. Again, the portions were ridiculously smaller. We have not gone back since.

I can understand increasing the prices a little to help with the costs of the new dining room...but cutting back on the food that much is not the smartest idea. We now go to Joeys for our weekly take out Halibut & Chip fix and they are very good. They have many take out specials at very reasonable prices and generous portions too.
It's unfortunate that Big Bens decided to take this route with their business, A nice dining room doesn't really matter if there isn't anybody in it.
I wish them luck.

My wife and I actually discovered this restaurant right here on restaurantica. We'd never been in when it was Anne's Chippy so we really can't compare however this was our first visit and were we ever delighted.

The popcorn lobster was very tasty and for a 6 buck app it was a great deal. Figuring that English food was going to be greasy and fatty I tried the Buttered Chicken and my wife loves pastry so she went for the Steak and Mushroom Pie.

Not knowing what to expect, when the mains arrived her pastry looked amazing and it was huge. It was easy to tell that it was home-made and if it isn't I'd like to know where to buy them. After her first few bites she actually whispered to me "This is frigging amazing."

My buttered chicken was really nice and it wasn't too heavy on the curry. The rice (basrati or something) was nice and light too. It was a perfect dish for not wanting to eat too heavy. I'd order it again for sure.

Not being able to get through her dish my wife gave me the rest of her steak and mushroom pie and wow was I missing out by eating light. Everything about it was amazing. The pastry was rich, the mushrooms were big and looked hand cut, the gravy was really nice and the cubes of steak were tender and didn't have a hint of fat on it.

I think both mains were around $11 or so each which was a steal for the quality of the food. I think the final bill was around $47 where a Kelsey's or Montana's comparably would easily tally $60 plus.

I hope these folks do well, they seem really nice. The only battle they'll have to win is location. Who thinks to go to Dunsdon Plaza for dinner?

We'll be back for sure. The menu claims they do breakfast on weekends until 4pm which is nice for those of us who like to sleep in!

Went there for lunch with relatives visiting from the UK ~ they were very impressed with the fish & chips ~ said they tasted like home :)
Good service, nice new decor & very very clean!

WOW - what a transformation - this unique little 20 seat British style cafe has transformed itself into a beautiful dining establishment with about 100 seats. Gone are the back street cafe red, blue & white walls (as seen in the hamlets of Britain) & they have been replaced with a warm, inviting, modern & spacious dining area. The menu had a overhaul as well - don't worry they still have their scrumptious beer battered fish & chips, but they have expanded the menu with some unique & flavourful additions that I can't wait to try. This is casual fine dining at it's best & at affordable prices.

I am continuing to enjoy both the food and friendship at Ben's, still trying new things on the menu.

The value provided for the price is unbelievable.

Keep the quality number one and we will continue to visit frequently.

Cheers!

Well I see the prices have gone up YET AGAIN. It's the nickel and diming increases that are driving me to other area fish and chip places.
The last visit the teenaged staff was snippy and reeked of cigarettes, the fish mushy and the chips undercooked....and now higher prices...why go back? I certainly dont know!

This is the best Fish & Chip shoppe for MILES and the reason is clear. Obviously when I drive all the way from Hamilton for lunch there is a good reason: Cod...

Yes, real Atlantic Cod, and it's delicious. It's not that fibrous horror from the warm Pacific, but real cold water Cod. I am delighted to have found this place. Yes, the Tilapia is good; the Halibut good; the Haddock is good. But it all pales in comparison to real Cod that I thought was permanently lost when the Grand Banks were illegally over-fished by international factory ships in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Rejoice, people! The Cod is back, but so far only here, in Brantford. Visit today!