Doyles Bistro - Kingston

I have been coming to this restaurant for a long time, but today's experience was very disappointing. There were many dirty glasses and plates left on the counter near our table for an hour without being cleared. This is supposed to be a good venue with normal standards, for goodness sake.

I went to Doyle's Bistro for a birthday dinner with my family tonight. We ordered a seafood platter for two, salmon mains, spaghetti marinara, and seafood saganaki. The food was average for a pub bistro and we felt it was too expensive for what we received. Doyle's is usually crowded due to its convenient waterfront location.

We had lunch at this restaurant on Friday, and the service was terrible at every level. When we asked to sit inside, we were told that sitting outside would be better because it's Christmas, even though there were available tables inside. When I asked about the menu, the young girl serving us said she didn't know and asked if she should find out. After coming back, I inquired about another item and she once again said she didn't know, making it difficult to order. My friend had finished his meal and when he went to the restroom, a staff member questioned him about paying, implying that he was trying to leave without doing so. As we went to pay, the staff member ignored us and just handed us the bill without making eye contact or saying thank you. When I mentioned the incident to another staff member, she dismissively replied that it wouldn't have happened, implying that it was our fault. It was clear that the faults in the service were a reflection on the management. The food was just average and overpriced. Overall, this restaurant does not deserve our patronage.

I attended my Uncles wedding at Doyles a couple of weeks ago and had a really good experience. The ceremony took place outside and was laid back and funny (perfect for my uncle). After the ceremony we moved into the bistro for lunch. We were seated in a private room with a big round table which was great. I ordered the Cob Loaf with garlic butter, and the Doyles Pumpkin Risotto. The cob loaf came out warm and was delicious. The risotto was also great, however probably a smaller serving size that I expected. Everyone else on the table seemed happy with their meals too, and there was a lot of options on the menu to choose from. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because the service could be improved my cousin had to give the menu's out to everyone on the table, and the waiter/waitress would walk away from the table before taking everyone's drinks orders. The meals are also a bit more expensive than I'd expect at a bistro. Overall a great experience though.

The bistro is very overpriced for the quality of the food and the service isn’t the greatest either. After being to both I do find the cafe staff more friendly. They are charging way to much in the bistro , hence why there is never as many people there in there as there use to be in years ago. The cafe and bistro food come from the same kitchen but you have to pay $10-$20 more for food in the room next door, personally not worth it! Great outdoor area , specially in the summer! Great local place to relax.