Umberto's Bistro

Many tables are arranged bistro style (side by side) -- does not offer much privacy for a private dinner for two. When asked for a wine list, we were told they didn't have one -- strange, but we ordered the house wine. Then when the table next to us was seated (and I mean right next to us), they were offered a wine list! My calamari arrived about 4 minutes after it was ordered -- certainly not fresh, it was deep fried frozen calamari. Caesar salad was OK. Veal Madagascar was good, but $27 for three SMALL slices left me wanting more, and the scalloped potatoes were terrible. You had to look hard to find the vegetables (a few flowerettes of broccoli) in the pasta primavera. Triamisu was good, but the blueberry cheesecake was terrible--canned blueberry sauce on a wedge of dried out cheesecake. Probably too many items on the menu to anthing well, or fresh (come on, frozen calamari, get real). We will never go back!!! There are too many truly FINE dining establishments in Waterloo Region to ever think about going back here. Not sure they how much longer this place will be around.

Let me start with the positive - the service was some of the best I have had. The servers were personable, funny, knowledgeable, really on their game - I tipped well. The desserts were great.
Now for what needs work - the apps and the main course. I have been to many italian restaurants this was the most bland and boring meals I have had. Not to mention the most over priced veal parma meal with some steamed veggies and two very thin pieces of veal for $25. I suggest they take a visit to Al Dente's in Brantford for their main meals.
It may be that we ordered wrong and should have gone with more exotic dishes, perhaps that is their speciality.

We have tried alot of different Italian restaurants in Ontario and I have to say that this is the worst. My dinner was good and so was my husbands, however he ordered desert and found a plastic finger from a glove...that was disgusting. Our waiter looked like he just got off his motor bike ride with his biker friends. When we informed him of this he was stunned and didn't have a clue on what to do. We decided to try it once again just to see if things had changed. Not a chance, even being at a new location didn't change our minds about this establishment. The decor was lame, the food was cold and with little flavour and we were amazed that we had the same server, the one good thing that came out of this was that we didn't chew into another glove. I found that it was like sitting in a fancy Sub shop, the location was a poor choice.

When I called to book the reservation, I mentioned that it was my fiance's birthday and when we went last night, a week later they remembered without any reminders and sang to him with their italian touch. My fiance is Italian so it was really nice. The service was absolutely incredible. We not only had an extremely classy waiter but Umberto also came to check on us multiple times. I dont think I have ever tipped so much but it was worth every penny. You dont ever see service that good. The food was to die for and the atmosphere was relaxed, old school italian and very romantic. We try a new restaurant each time we go out for a special occasion and this definitely tops our list. Thanks Umbertos for making Shain's birthday dinner perfectly wonderful.

we went without reservations, It turn out to be the most enjoyable experience we have ever had at restaurant. Service was empacable, food was the same.The crablegs were so big ,the rack of lamb was done to perfection,and you got at least 7 chops. This is the restaurant that tops all others . We will diffently make it our first on our list for favorites. The menu is big enough for all taste,it is amazing how great all are appetizers and main entrees were. We will be back for more!!

We have been all over the world. We have seen the worst, but this has to be the worst culinary experience we have ever had. Party of 8 on New Years eve 2008 - Service was terrible and it took forever to have drinks brought to the table. The bartender did not know how to make a daquiri...we were asked for instructions!!!!! The one thing good about this meal was, first of all, there was a group of us having a great time, second, my greek salad was awesome and then it all goes downhill from here. The elk was burnt....there was a small piped rosette of PURPLE "mashed potato" on the plate alongside 4 or 5 green beans.. all this at $49.00 a plate. I was appalled at this. I have never in my life had a more disgusting meal.. If it werent for good friends and a sense of humor I would still be stewing over it.....thumbs down to this one.

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Brutal food! The seafood came out of a can and the sauce was dry. Lobster was extremely small and the bill was obscene! I make better at home

Umberto and his wife run a terrific restaurant - the veal marsala is amazing!

The service was very good we had 3 people looking after our table. One of them being Umberto himself.My wifes seafood pasta was very strong fish flavor, her ceasar salad was excellent. I had a pasta dish which was ok nothing great but it was not bad either. I won't get that again though. The potatoe soup was very good.The big surprise was the 7.95 Coronas which are a little expensive I thought. The overall feel of the place was very nice.