The Lord Byron

I have been going to Lord Byron for about 24 years. Started with my parents as a young teen and when my husband and I got married we started a tradition to go there every year on our anniversary and hopefully other times throughout the year (if we had the extra money) Once our children were of an age, we started to bring them here for their confirmations as well as their Grad dinners. Had an amazing experience every time as the staff knew us well and treated us with extra special attention. We would often be there for over 3 hours as we just never wanted the night to end. It was a real special place to go and never in all the 24 years did we once leave with a complaint. Well now here is where the disappointment comes in. We took our sons there just recently to celebrate knowing quite well Lord Byron was under new management. We both were optimistic and of course had to try it out. Well sadly as soon as we entered I knew it would not be the same. We were sat in the section we like and I kept looking around for the familiar faces of Frank, his wife, his sons, Sam and of course our favourite Jimmy. Only saw Sam who looked a bit frazzled as he was assisting the other staff. Well the atmosphere has lost its warmth, the lights were up to bright and too many staff moving around the tables. They even changed our favourite water glasses (and you would wonder why that mattered, just always felt good seeing them on on the tables when we arrived) The hosted would often be seen running to the door when people arrived (not walking, but running). Our waiter started serving us and all of a sudden he was no where to be found! When I asked where he was, another staff said he went home sick, but no one told us or came to continue our service. I asked if Jimmy was still there and was told no. Food didn’t taste the same (especially there famous garlic bread that we would often get 3 baskets) the garlic bread that came this particular night had no flavour, the service was definitely not the same and it didn’t have the feeling of being somewhere really special for my family. What did stay the same was the prices as our bill was $ 395.00. Which in all the past years was worth every penny paying. Not so much now. It is coming up to my husband and my 20^th anniversary in May and as you can only imagine my disappointment that we will not be celebrating it our beloved Lord Byron.

The punchline: Avoid unless you don’t have ANY steak options around you. It is certainly not worth the trip.
The review: We went for Valentine’s day, me and my wife, drawn by the excellent reviews. While the décor was nice and certainly unique, there is nothing else to remember from the experience. First, when I called to make a reservation they told me that the only available table would be at 9pm. When I refused, they said they would fit us in at 8:30. We got there at 8 to realize that it was not busy at all, not even half the restaurant was full. –1 star for that…
Next, while they have their full menu outside, they presented us with the V-​Day menu, which has only their most expensive things on it, doubled in price. Hence, no chicken options, no veal options, just steak and lobster. Disappointing as even after I asked for the regular menu, they refused to oblige. And the prices were not the issue, but after knowing what to expect, to be blindsided by a $ 60 steak, when their most expensive on a regular day is $ 33 is a bit insulting. –1 star again.
I cannot begin to say how the service is here. It’s abysmal at best. The waiters walk, talk and look stiff, void of any personality, wit and charm. It seems that the more upscale the restaurant the worse the service gets. For me, that is a contradiction if I’ve ever seen one. The only normal waiter was a kid that was just learning the ropes and he did not know how stiff he needs to be. We tipped him extra just for being normal, clumsy but with a smile in his face. –1 star.
The food was normal. Nothing to go «wow» about but then again, nothing to be disappointed with. My wife’s steak was exactly what was expected, but my Prime Rib was never on the grill… Now I’m not an expert on how to cook rib-​steak but doesn’t it have to go on the grill too? Mine looked like it has been boiled instead of grilled. Another thing to mention, their fries are frozen, for a $ 60 meal, shouldn’t we get fresh fries? And the veggies were mushy, over-​steamed…
All in all I won’t drive all the way to Waterdown for their steak again. Come to think of it, even if I were at the main intersection again, craving for a steak, I don’t think I will stop here.

You know that you’re getting older and wiser, when your son asks «hey, Dad… my girl’s 19^th birthday is this Friday — where can I take her for a romantic dinner» — and only one upscale restaurant comes to mind… the Lord Byron!
Ably served by one of the owners, our son and his girl had a wonderful meal and wowed and wooHoo’d how much they loved the food, the tableside service, the atmosphere, the romantic settings and yes, the bill was big for our son, but he didn’t mind.
Said it was the best place in town to have that romantic dinner… and that now that he was a «regular» that they’d be back!
So thanks Chris for your hospitality… you did splendid for our boy and his birthday girl! And yes, we’ll be over too for our own dinner soon too!