Bailey's Restaurant

My husband and I used to love this place... unfortunately, the atmosphere that kept us going back is no longer there. It seems they've moved a bakery display/fridge into the main dining room, which gives the place more of a café feel rather than a nicer or more romantic place to dine feel. The café feel also makes me feel like I should be paying café prices for a dinner rather than about $25 for a main entrée pasta with chicken added.

My suggestions (and of course these are only suggestions!) would be to choose between café or finer looking restaurant and match the prices to whichever it's going to be. If going for a more romantic dinner restaurant feel, I would try and cover up the bakery display at night (or at least turn off the bright light in it which is an eye sore and sort of reminds me of dining at Perkins Family Restaurant), dim the lights down ALOT more, add some more candles, and turn the background music up to a level where you can't hear the bakery display fridge and people next to you talking (music doesn't have to be blaring - just loud enough to drown out other background noises that kill the atmosphere and give a place a more cafeteria feel rather than a nicer restaurant feel). All and all, when I'm out, I'm all about the atmosphere. I cook well and so if the ambience isn't there, I could simply have a nicer set up at home or could go to a cheaper café or pub to eat.

When in Elora, Bailey's used to be a great place for a couple to have a nice romantic dinner... please bring that atmosphere back to us!

My husband and I were looking forward to a dinner out without the kids. We were also looking forward to eating at Bailey's. Much to my dismay, I had a less than good experience while there two weeks ago.

The food (seafood pasta) was terrible, overcooked with tough shrimp and tasteless fish like stuffs; the appetizer was too spicy, but that is my issue. I asked to take it home thinking my daughter might like it but before the entree was served, the server returned to the table and plopped down the "doggie bag". Okay, when you are paying close to $60 per person for the meal, one might expect not to have poor food, crappy service, and a doggie bag left on the table while eating. Futhermore, the staff began clearing off the tables around us. It really felt like we had to leave. we won't be going back and have told several people of our experience when asked where to dine in Elora.

Hit or Miss
I've eaten here a few times. Its fine, not great. I had a nice meal here a few months ago though was back last month,..the service was fine, the food was disapointing. the menu seems to be all over the place. and in consistant.

Would I return...possibly. The food was just ok for me. I had a pasta dish with shrimp that was pretty bland and the pasta was overcooked, but everyone else at the table seemed to enjoy their meal. The mussels were very nice. I like the atmosphere very much. We arrived at 7:00 and several items from the menu were no longer available.

All in all, just ok. The place is fairly expensive so in my opinion, they can aim higher and do a little better.

My first order ended up being a little too spicy for me to handle, and as much as I liked it I knew I'd have an upset stomach if I finished it. I had to send it back. It was no problem to do so. The waitress made the meal complimentary, and allowed me to choose something else from the menu that would be easier on me. I had the veggie kabobs over a rice risotto and it was SO delicious!!!

Our server was attentive, professional yet friendly, and prompt with whatever we needed. I appreciated that she went the extra mile to make sure our meals were satisfactory.

I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and patio. Elora's a beautiful small town, and when I go back I'll be sure to eat dinner at Baileys!!!

Elora is a beautiful small town with a very relaxed atmosphere. This restaurant is tastefully decorated and cosy,the staff are helpful,and the food of a high standard. I would visit again without hesitation.

This was our second visit to Bailey's on a pleasant summer evening. Our first visit earlier that year was a delightful surprise. Our second visit was absolutely the worst dining experience in my life, period.
The evening was a cascade of one disappointment after another. It began with the lack of adequate air conditioning in the main dining room, which was unbearably hot and humid. We decided to move to the patio to escape the heat, and to benefit from the evening's breeze.
Our waiter, while a very polite young man, was completely overwhelmed and lacked experience. Needless to say, our orders were late (the appetizers arrived after the main course), and in 2 cases, incorrect.
It was obvious to our party, that we were not the only customers affected by the poor service, as grumbling could be heard from the surrounding tables.
Here's the best part. While we were struggling with the poor service and wilted greens, Bailey’s Owner and Head Chef were seated on the patio enjoying a glass of wine. Unbelievable! Here we were, in the middle of a service meltdown, and the two people with the most at stake, instead of coming to the aid of their staff, and potentially salvaging the evening for many patrons, where having a drink.

Such callous disregard for their patrons should never be tolerated nor rewarded. I will never again visit this place.

My husband and I were looking forward to a dinner out to celebrate our anniversary, but it ended up being the our worst dinning experience by far.

To start we waited 45 minutes before we got our drinks, which we had to order twice because the waitress forgot what we ordered. Once receiving our drinks, my husband ordered a Tom Collins, which we had to send back because it didn't taste like anything. The waitress responded "that was the first Tom Collins that he ever made" (which I can only assume that she was referring to the bartender).

When she finally offered to take our order, several things on the menu were unavailable because of lack of preparation for a Saturday night. Our appetizers arrived, my soup was excellent and my husbands calamari was the best that he had ever had, but I had to ask twice for bread and when it came it was hard and stale. Main courses came, my husband's lamb was prepared excellent, but my chicken special (walnut crusted chicken) was by far the worst entr?e that I have had in my life. I have no idea what was going on with the flavours and the dish was saturated in the sauce which was the worst part.

They only had three desserts to choose from and two specialty coffee's so when we were trying to decide what to have, the waitress was clearing our table and spilled a litre of water all over my husband, at which point we decided to call it a night and vowed never to return.

I have heard many mixed reviews about this restaurant. But I will say one thing, I would choose my wait-staff much more wisely because it seems as though the waitress that we had could potentially be very bad for business.

Wonderful warm, inviting atmosphere. We both loved the service - had a family feel to it.
We will be back next year. Also, it was rather busy, so I would suggest making a reservation.

This is kind of a hidden gem in Elora becuase it is at the top of the main street and we had to resist the temptation of eating at the grubby looking pubs along the way. It was a small intimate attmoshpere, and the service was great! The food was very well priced and great tasting! I would highly reccomend Baileys after your tour in Elora!