Hamilton Cuisine

[Dr Awesomesauce]

I'd be interested in hearing from some of the oldtimers in the area. It seems inevitable now that most, if not all, of the Portuguese and Italian cafes, restaurants, clubs, etc. will go the way of the dodo. As thrilled as I am about James N's evolution, that would be a shame. It used to be the only redeeming quality the street had.

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by pEte fiSt iN Ur fAce

.... As thrilled as I am about James N's evolution, that would be a shame. It used to be the only redeeming quality the street had.

pEte, as a newcomer to Hamilton I have a different perspective on James N, to be expected I suppose.

For years I lived in downtown TO and watched the first wave of change on Queen St West. Small shops opened, artists arrived, the street had a buzz. No sense of prententious "yuppie-ness". The second wave happened, when the landlords jacked up the rents. The artists left, The Gap moved in, and the small shops moved much further west.

James North, to me, is great. I did all most of my Christmas shopping there, buying from the small shops with unique and reasonably priced goods. I like the vibe, which reminds me of the early days of Queen West in TO. Seeing the announcement of new restaurants is great.

I had a chat with an art gallery owner who told me that when he started renovating, one of the long-standing business owners on James N was ecstatic that the gallery was moving in. The business (a restaurant) does 80% of their sales on Art Crawl night.

The future of James N is bright. The worst thing that could happen is greedy landlords jacking up the rent. Goodbye small craft shop, hello The Gap.

To be honest, again as a new arrival in Hamilton, there are some pretty sketchy places on James N which I personally won't miss when they go. There's a large Portuguese restaurant which always looks empty.

There's a booze club with plenty of drunks having a smoke outside, anytime night or day. Sorry, my middle-class roots are showing but...good riddance.

[Jon Dalton]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

While it's always nice to see new places popping up on James North, it is kind of sad to see the traditional Italian and Portuguese shops pushed out as a result of this gentrification.

Apoligies if your post was intended to be sarcastic, but I wouldn't jump to conclusions about that.

The building Shane bought had been previously listed for sale when I was looking for property in the area, about 3 years ago. Asking price at that time was $250,000. The owners decided to postpone selling. Point being, nobody forced them out. They had contemplated selling for a long time. If anything, an increase in market value allowed the owners to do what they wanted to do for a while.

Both owning property and running a business in the area, I might be a good poster boy for gentrification. Thing is, I patronize a lot of the older businesses that people fear are being pushed out - the bakery, the fish markets, hardware stores, the corner store and meat market. I fail to see how I'm doing any harm being on the street. So who is pushing out businesses, and how?

Many established businesses on the street own their buildings and rent out apartments, so they stand to benefit from gentrification in the form of increased rents or cash value of their properties if they choose to cash out.

[markbarbera]

I thought I had began my original statement that I am generally glad to see new businesses setting up in formerly vacant locations. Having said that, I find it disappointing when someone buys a business like Atlantic, which has been an integral part of James North, and decides to gut the business to put in a restaurant.

For me, Atlantic is an important part of the street's heritage. Losing it is not unlike losing a heritage building in Gore Park. There used to be a time when buyers would continue with the existing business in the building, particularly if it was a well established business like Atlantic. It's a shame that James North doesn't have a business association that could help source prospective buyers that would carry on businesses like Atlantic rather than losing them and the heritage they represent.

[SteelTown]

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/artic...oversy-and-job-applicants-with-kijiji-ad

Hamilton restaurant draws controversy with a hostile help-wanted ad

A Hamilton restaurant that describes itself as “no place for the timid” has served up a rather hostile job advertisement.

Hillbilly Heaven owner Cameron Bailey took out some hostility on people who don’t show up for interviews when he posted an ad on Kijiji Thursday asking for servers and counter staff at the downtown location.

[Jon Dalton]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

Having said that, I find it disappointing when someone buys a business like Atlantic, which has been an integral part of James North, and decides to gut the business to put in a restaurant.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the building was for sale, not the business. I know that was the case when it was first listed several years ago.

I would have an issue with someone buying a business for the purpose of shutting it down - like Labbatt did with the Lakeport plant. I just don't think that was the case here.

I think I'll take a walk right now and find out.

[drpgq]

Tried out Culantro Cookery, the new Peruvian place beside the Baltimore House on King William yesterday. Food was decent and the prices were great. I think the hours are a little irregular right now starting out, so I would call ahead.

[CaptainKirk]

Ate at the new B&T location on James N and Vine with a group of friends. Food was fantastic, reasonably priced with very good service.

It was a Wednesday night in January and I was quite pleased to see how busy it was, as was Mex-I-Can when we drove past on the way home.

Love the restaurant scene in downtown Hamilton!

http://www.benthanh.ca/

[padthai]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

Ate at the new B&T location on James N and Vine with a group of friends. Food was fantastic, reasonably priced with very good service.

http://www.benthanh.ca/

This is the one that was on Cannon and Park, right? Is the James St location permanent? It looks like they are doing construction on the Cannon/Park location now. Wasn't sure if they moved the restaurant temporarily, or if they'll be expanding the grocery store at that location.

[mattgrande]

The James St location looks awfully nice, so I'd be surprised if it was temporary. I heard a rumor that they're expanding the grocery store that was beside the Park & Cannon location, so that could be the work you saw going on?

[matt602]

I loved going to the B&T at the old location. The new one looks really nice from the outside, I just hope the food is just as good. The old location was always crowded to capacity around the dinner hour, so I'm sure they will be happy to have the extra room at the new location.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by padthai

This is the one that was on Cannon and Park, right? Is the James St location permanent? It looks like they are doing construction on the Cannon/Park location now. Wasn't sure if they moved the restaurant temporarily, or if they'll be expanding the grocery store at that location.

I assume their James St location is permanent considering the extensive renovation they did there. It's beautiful inside. they even made the windows on James Street larger.

[bornagainbiking]

XXX Burrito has a New sign up @ 856 Lawrence Ave. In the strip mall at Lawrence and Cochrane. The sign is up but it looks like the restaurant may be awhile.

[oldcoote]

Originally Posted by padthai

This is the one that was on Cannon and Park, right? Is the James St location permanent? It looks like they are doing construction on the Cannon/Park location now. Wasn't sure if they moved the restaurant temporarily, or if they'll be expanding the grocery store at that location.

The move is permanent. The old location is up for lease.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by bornagainbiking

XXX Burrito has a New sign up @ 856 Lawrence Ave. In the strip mall at Lawrence and Cochrane. The sign is up but it looks like the restaurant may be awhile.

That reminds me. Went for luck at Burrito Boyz in Gore Park. Food was great. My burrito was quite hefty as was my wife's Quesadilla.

[drpgq]

Originally Posted by bornagainbiking

XXX Burrito has a New sign up @ 856 Lawrence Ave. In the strip mall at Lawrence and Cochrane. The sign is up but it looks like the restaurant may be awhile.

I always thought that Hamilton was dangerously lacking in burrito places. Good to see they're popping up everywhere.

[thistleclub]

Food Safety - Food Premises Convictions and Orders

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by ihateittoo

it was previously known as the Nicolo Jamesville Cafe

Work posted on their FB page an answer to what cuisine will be offered:

"ll i can say is that it will be canadian cuisine. multicultural society = my interpretation of a multicultural menu. foods from everywhere with a heavy center on french and asian flavours. we will be doing a lot of fermented, smoked, cured, and foraged foods. craft beers on the way."

Sounds terrific!

[Dr Awesomesauce]

'Canadian cuisine...foods from everywhere...with a heavy center on French and Asian flavours...'

The only part I understood is 'craft beers.' The rest of it sounds like gibberish.

Here's what I understand him to mean: 'Hey there. I'm opening a new restaurant on James North and I've got no f*ckin' clue what I'm doing. We're gonna serve whatever our dumba*s 18-year-old cook can manage...'

Personally, I think a restaurant's menu should be small and focused. I know it's too early to say but this guy sounds like he's all over the place.

[Pearlstreet]

Originally Posted by drpgq

I always thought that Hamilton was dangerously lacking in burrito places. Good to see they're popping up everywhere.

Try Ole Gourmet on Locke, near Main. The smallest little one room take-out spot in town, but good service and huge burritos!