Restaurant Review: Rocky River Cafe

There is a trick to having a restaurant with only a few tables. We've been to this restaurant before, Dec.  26th, 2013, and Dec. 6th, but not since it changed hands. It was The Masonry. We are frequent restaurant visitors!


It's small, and it is in a lovely old building. Brick walls, and such. The last time we were there, there was some broad on her cell phone doing business while we were trying to have our meal in peace and quiet. She had ear plugs and didn't have an awareness about people around her. She was disturbing. I took a selfie with her, after turning around and glaring at her several times.

The restaurant was for sale for a time, and then new owners took over. After our Tuesday volunteer day, hubby does Meals on Wheels in the morning, I provide respite for a nonagenarian in the afternoon, we often go out for dinner.

As we entered, there were five tables for twosies, and 4 tables for fours. Now, the two tables we were were offered were in the middle of the room, very near the people sitting eating, right in the traffic path. Yet, here was a woman our age, and her mom, two at a table for four. We were told that they needed to keep the tables for four freed up, just in case they get a crowd in. This diminishes my importance as a customer. Don't we deserve to have some space?

We've been turned away from this restaurant, when they were full. We understand the small restaurant concept. We understand that they need to fill tables. People can learn to make reservations. What about us?

We were sat right beside the brick chimney.

Hubby has a 30% hearing loss. I asked if we could sit beside the wall, at a table for 4, as it is hard to hear in the room with the brick walls echoing sound. They did slightly accommodate us, and move the table for 2 against the wall, and the table for 4 out into the middle of the room. It did help us hear one another.

Then, a young man entered. He was immediately set up at a table for four. He knew the people serving us. Chatting loudly across the room with them, where they were behind the bar. I was shocked. Then, a woman joined him. It was far too loud, for us. You know the kind of people who think everyone wants to know their business.

Otherwise, the service was good, although there is a small room, where a group of 6 filled the space, and they needed some attention. The food was served fairly quickly, yet that is never an issue for us. I do appreciate being asked, after a few bites, if the food was good, which our server did.

The food was good, although hubby was limited to the beet salad (he cannot have dairy, yeast or eggs), there was nothing else he could eat. I had mussels. That said, we didn't feel important and we won't be back.

Happy anniversary to us at CC's in Rideau Ferry

Happy anniversary to us, Saturday, Aug. 22nd, 2002! I posted photos for our 10th Wedding Anniversary in 2012. This is our 13th anniversary! We took a drive and I saw a wedding about to happen. Much fun!

We had lunch at the newly renovated CC's in Rideau Ferry. A nice, young server took our photo for us! The menu is much less expensive, with a better variety for those chunking by on boats. When you are at the cottage, sometimes you just don't want to cook. We read about the change in the paper and popped in last Thursday, after a tough day. Hubby offered to take me out for our anniversary for lunch.

 The serving staff are fun, they clear one another's table. A sheltered patio, they seem to have been doing a great business over the summer. There is a covered, screened room, as well as the open patio, with doggy water dishes! (Although, I think Annabelle might like it here, too!

Mel's Farm operator makes a move to the restaurant business

• Jul 23, 2015 - Melanie Young has taken over the Shipwreck Restaurant, now known asCC's on the Rideau in Rideau Ferry. She and some of her staff ...

They waved at silly me!

 

This is s a great spot to watch boats. This is my slideshow!

Restaurant Review: Wildfire BBQ and Smokehouse

This is a fun place, open seasonally in a renovated garage, with a side car for food prep. Located at 6They have a Facebook page! Very richly flavoured and yummy smoked meat, including pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and loaded large potatoes. Lots of choices, including any of these on a bun, or as platters. We've only ever ordered and brought things home to eat. Very good portions, I feel the need to cut back the next day and have a salad! If you've been to any of the cook-offs downtown, you'll appreciate this spot.
5 Craig St., Perth, ON, right beside Timmy Ho's.

"Ain't no sin to have sauce on your chin!"

As is the way, you order 'sides' with it: slaw (which was OK), fries, beans, creamed corn, cinnamon apples. Not a lot of veggies, but this would be a rich meal after a long, hard day. We picked some up on our way home after birding! I'm not thrilled with the fries, they taste a bit rich, perhaps that is a function of having it in the container with the rest of our Smokehouse Sampler (1/4 chicken, 1/4 rack ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket). This was more than plenty for the two of us! They have ice cream, milkshakes, iced tea, soda, as well.

They've done their research!

You get what you pay for, though, as there are family meals you can pre-order and pick-up for home. A whole chicken, for example, but such a wonderful flavour, or a pound of pork or beef.

The signage is fun, showing 'how many sleeps' until opening, with local street signs obviously gathered from years in the region. You have to love a place that shows a sense of humour on the part of management. There was a countdown to opening, as you can see by the above sign! Their Muskoka chair is quite the size. The people I saw in the chairs couldn't really be seen! The hand washing station is important, as you really want to use your fingers and wash before and after your meal!

Restaurant Revew: The Waterfront in Napanee

Lunch, finally!

Poor hubby, he knows how much I like eating outside. Our summer season seem so short!

We spotted this place by accident. An outdoor patio beside water! Oh, for joy!
Firstly, the food was wonderful. We both had a spinach salad, with seasonal fruit, I had salmon on mine, hubby had scallops.

The service was excellent. They had two computers under a tent, and servers logged in our orders, fetching drinks and food from inside. The menu was quite extensive, and there were lots of options, even with hubby's food intolerances. Again, all food created in the kitchen and they offered to meet the dietary needs of patrons. This I like to read.

The facilities were terrific. Lots of booths indoors, and clean washrooms.

The location is ideal. What an idyllic spot. I'm really glad we were in the pre-shoulder season, May, as I'm sure it is very busy in June, the shoulder season, as well as in summer.

Poor man, as well as some of the other patrons, were cold!
I had popped a warmer jacket in the car and it came in handy!
We giggled about this. I offered him the blanket from the car, but he toughed it out.

My story

There was a couple beside us, another behind us and a woman behind Joe. The woman behind me was swearing profusely, dropping the F-bomb, in a very loud voice.

The woman beside me began to giggle. The woman with her started to snort, as things got worse before they got better. Then, the woman behind Joe was giggling and staring. What can you do?
This very attractive young woman, sounding like a miner.

You know the kind of voice you use when you are talking on a cell phone? This was the situation. I turned around to stare, she was dining with someone. I gave her that teacher look! She was a bit more subdued, but obviously trying to impress the man with her by her treatment of the English language. I think she was a hippie, and had tattoos on her leg. I don't know! Maybe a wanna-be hipster?!

I had hubby take my photo. He's more familiar with the camera than the videocam. We had more giggles.