There is something to be said about a restaurant where you know that no matter when you go, or how big your party is, you will have excellent service from well trained staff and eat excellent food cooked exactly as you like it. There is also something to be said about a cozy restaurant where you feel like you could stay for hours... and maybe even have a nap without feeling uncomfortable (which I didn't do, for the record... but could have). The Keg Steakhouse and Bar is such a restaurant - and while we had to break slightly from our trend of "no chains" over the course of this adventure in order to go there, we certainly did not feel guilty. Not even for one second.
On their website (found here), The Keg invites you to "experience a steakhouse with a difference". The "difference", you may ask? Well, I was thinking about that, too, over the course of our visit, and ultimately I think the difference is that they pay attention. To the big details, to the little details, and every detail in between... there is very little that this franchise hasn't thought about in the development of their business - in fact, I would argue that there is nothing that they have missed. The result of this attentiveness? What I would argue is that the result is the making of not only the best steakhouse in Kingston, but even further, the operation of what could very well be the best steakhouses from coast to coast in this great country of ours - and even in some states, too.
To begin, I feel like I should talk about arrival at the restaurant. As you enter the door, you are quickly greeted by friendly staff. The hostess table is organized and truly operates like a well-oiled machine. No one waits longer than necessary, and staff work together to ensure that tables do not sit empty. While parking at the Kingston location can be slightly tricky (the joys of downtown!), if you are lucky enough to get a spot in one of the few spaces in the lot designated to the restaurant, the staff will put a parking validation card on your car for you... A pretty great touch when it is cold out and the last thing you want to do is wander back to your vehicle. Another great touch? The validation card treats you to a free slice of the ever-popular Billy Miner Pie on your next visit. Such a simple gesture on their part - but yet, I can't help smiling from ear to ear with excitement just at the thought of it as I type now! The restaurant is warm and inviting. Lights are low, but not so low that you feel as though you need your hands up ahead of you while moving to or from your table... If you arrive stressed, the atmosphere alone is enough to help you relax and un-wind. The simple pieces of art along with very comfortable seating options are welcoming and calming. Further, the acoustics in the restaurant are softened somehow - so no matter how busy it gets, you aren't stuck listening to someone else's annoying Aunt Gertrude tell a boisterous yet boring story to her family members about how she grew the biggest pumpkin at the annual fair from her corner booth in another section of the restaurant. The Kingston Keg is also somewhat of an architectural marvel, in my opinion... maybe my friend, Jason (an actual architect) would have another opinion... but those are the only words that I can find in this (educated but tired) brain of mine to describe a restaurant that inside consists of an unexpected space that goes on further than you could ever imagine while standing on the street and peering into the windows (not in the stalker-type way... no need for that!)... Twists, turns, and the occasional level change comprised of 2-5 stairs leave you in need of asking for directions to the restroom when you visit for the first time, and smiling at the idea of the seemingly infinite amount of space inside compared to the small outdoor footprint. All of this combined with exposed brick and limestone walls as well as wooden beams really amount to one word. Gorgeous. To top it all off, we were lucky enough to be seated at a booth with a fantastic view of Springer Market Square... adding a somewhat magical feel to the visit.
I suppose that at some point, I should get to the point of this blog and start to talk about the food... I think I could go on forever about the environment itself... but I will leave it to you to experience for yourself. So... the menu. Of course, as a steakhouse, the Keg is best known for its steaks; but there really is so much more offered. Salads, seafood, chicken, ribs, delicious appetizers, fabulous desserts and - something that they are certainly proud of - an extensive drink menu including a great variety of wines and cocktails. Whether you are a steak-lover or a vegetarian, I have no doubt that you could find something delectable to enjoy. And on that note, perhaps I will get to describing what we had! Tonia's mom, Shirley, joined us yet again (how could anyone pass this up?!), and it didn't take us long to make up our minds about what to order... Keg Classic dinners - including a salad to start, grilled vegetables and your choice of potato - being very popular with us! 
Complementary, deliciously warm bread was brought to the table in no time. Tonia and I ordered baked goat cheese (Warm goat cheese coated in crushed almonds, with tomato basil salsa.) to start. It is something that has caught our eye in previous visits, and for the sake of the blog (yeah... that's it... for the sake of the blog...), we didn't hesitate to ask for a serving during this visit.
Shirley enjoyed escargot stuffed mushroom caps with garlic and herbs to start... Something that fascinates me when I see it, but not enough to interest me in getting it... maybe one day that will change - Shirley certainly thought the order was well worth it!
Main orders:
Carrie and Todd: Teriyaki classic dinner; Caesar salad, (Spinach salad for Todd) and garlic mashed potatoes on the side with the delicious grilled vegetables (I also got to enjoy all of Tonia and Samer's mushrooms - yum!)
Tonia and Shirley: Filet minion classic dinner; Caesar salad to start, and garlic mashed potatoes with grilled vegetables
Samer: Creole Chicken (not surprisingly, a dish served with shrimp and scallops!), which he expressed he wanted our server, Steph (who was fantastic!) to "classic-it", adding a mixed greens salad, garlic mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables (minus the mushrooms... which again, landed on my plate).
As expected, we were very happy with everything that touched the table. Taste-buds were tantalized... so to speak... resulting in the following scores:
Carrie: 5 forks. I don't make steak at home, and The Keg gives me good reason not to. I just don't think I could do it justice. One of my favourite "small details" during the meal was that the Caesar salad arrived cold. Not just yummy - but COLD... making it taste fresher that "those other places" make 'em. Also - I wish they could tell me what they do to those darn mushrooms to make them so darn yummy.
Tonia: 5 forks. The Keg is definitely the best steakhouse in town. The baked goat cheese was phenomenal.
Samer: 4.5 forks. Samer was "speechless" after his meal (THANK YOU, Keg!... just kidding, Samer!) other than to say that his salad was beautiful and the food was delicious.
Shirley: 5 forks. While Shirley was so stuffed after her escargot that she didn't eat a whole heck of a lot, she insisted that what she did eat was absolutely delicious. Presentation was excellent, and the food was a great value for what you get on the plate.
Todd: 5 forks. Todd was especially impressed with his ability to request the spinach salad at no extra cost, and unlike many other venues we have been to thus far, he wasn't charged for a refill of his soda water - which was a huge bonus. Seriously, Kingston - if you are reading, give the man a break on his soda waters! Todd mentioned that his food was worthy of 4 forks, but the spinach salad and soda water kicked it up a fork.
Overall score: 4.9 forks. Pretty close to perfect. Some people hesitate to go to the Keg because they don't necessarily want to shell out a lot of cash, but in all honesty, Shirley is very right in saying that the food is great value - your plate (and belly) will be full, and everything is absolutely tasty. My only complaint? No way did I have room for Billy Miner Pie at the end of the night...
You'll be mine next time, Billy Miner... next time...
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| Anyone for onions? |
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| What you take home is put in a bag and made to look like a gift! |
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