Restaurants in Hamilton

To put it simply, J. Anthony Grille “is a very nice restaurant indeed.” But thespec food critic Dan Kislenko, much like the cooks at J. Anthony, isn’t satisfied with just putting it simply. Their plating of “creatively and carefully made” roasted chicken, colorful salads, and crème brûlée is as eye-catching as they are tasty. The menu facilitates several types of dining, so guests can share tapas—such as vegetarian spring rolls or pulled pork—or start with one of four signature salads before digging in to seafood pastas and grilled steaks. On weekends, they return to peruse the enormous Sunday brunch buffet, decorated with pastries and an omelet bar.

The building used to be Martin's Steakhouse, founded in 1948 by wrestler Martin Hutzler, but now it belongs to the Purple Pear. For more than two decades, the Purple Pear has been serving its hearty upscale fare to appreciative Hamiltonians, and the move to the former Martin's has done little to change that. The 'Martin's Favorites' section of the menu honors the legacy of its new home, offering roast prime rib with yorkshire pudding and filet mignon surf-and-turf to meat-lovers. More unexpected offerings?shrimp curry, spinach and ricotta cheese rotollo, and spanikopita, for example?provide all the flavor and novelty of a pear that is purple.

Sushi Star's all-you-can-eat buffet offers each table one hour and 45 minutes of sushi sampling and hot Japanese bites. Rows of hand rolls conceal fillings of crispy white tuna and spicy crabmeat within rice and seaweed to keep them hidden from any pelicans flying past the window. On sushi pizza, guests find layers of grilled mushrooms, chopped crab, and barbecue eel. Crunchy pieces of shrimp, purple yam, and broccoli tempura provide contrast to chilled sushi, as do trays of salmon teriyaki, octopus pancakes, and red-curry chicken.

As Sid, the founder of The Great Canadian Wing King, once observed, nobody orders the second best of anything. So when he started building his brand, he was determined to create the country’s best chicken wings. Today, patrons can order Sid’s wings in one of 10 sauces, including Jamaican hot, honey garlic, and Thai. The menu also boasts half and full racks of ribs and a diverse lineup of sides such as poutine, caesar salad, and mac ‘n’ cheese wedges.

While working in Denver—a city with more than 600 Mexican restaurants—software developer Steve Gill cultivated a passion for burritos. When he finished his work and returned to Canada, Gill embarked on a new project: creating the perfect burrito. Diners can devour the tasty results at Quesada, where cooks stuff massive burritos with fillings such as chili-lime shrimp, adobo-seasoned pork, and freshly made salsa. Those ingredients also go into a variety of tacos, quesadillas, and salads.

Since its humble beginnings in Edmonton, Alberta in 1964, Boston Pizza has grown into Canada-wide franchise that serves more than 20 gourmet pizzas. The menu boasts more than 100 items, ranging from crispy chicken wings dressed in spicy to sweet sauces and rubs to succulent burgers and sandwiches. Big-screen TVs broadcast hockey or prime ministers' wrestling matches as guests dig into hearty pastas or dive into desserts such as the Chocolate Doughcano.