Imperial Food & Beverage: Easy to love

On my first visit, I arrived at the restaurant looking for a low-key way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The regular menu wasn't available that day. Instead, a special St. Paddy's Day dinner was up for grabs, featuring an Irish beer stew, parsley dumplings, Irish soda bread and a sticky toffee pudding for dessert - all for a laughable $14. Since ordering was a bit of a no-brainer, my date and I both opted for the all-inclusive special and capped it off with a couple of bottles of John By Imperial Stout. This dark, almost chocolatey, seasonal craft brew is made locally, in Carleton Place by Heritage Brewing (www.heritagebrewing.com).

Two healthy portions of stew arrived at the table in short order. The hearty stew was pure comfort food, with its big chunks of carrot and potato, tender hunks of beef and beautifully glossy pepper-spiked gravy. I was pleased with the freshly grilled Irish soda bread on the side, and the large parsley dumpling that sat proudly in the centre of the dish. The sticky toffee pudding was also outstanding. The generous serving of moist cake was decorated with a fabulously rich caramel.

Impressed by what I had seen so far, I decided to return later in the week to see what the regular menu had to offer. I wasn't disappointed. The mushroom soup had a luxuriously thick texture, loaded with fresh mushroom flavour. The wild Waldorf salad was a lovely combination of sweet ingredients playing off sour, with Granny Smith apple, dried cranberries, celery, radish and wild rice all dressed with a light lemon aioli. The chorizo sausage lasagne was a substantial main; an uncomplicated affair that reminds you what home-style cooking should taste like. Their Balderson cheddar croque-monsieur is a perfect version of the French bistro classic, oozing with old cheddar and thickly sliced grilled ham. The sandwich came with a side of spicy pickled carrots, which are made in-house from the chef's family recipe. Be sure and grab a jar of these pickled beauties when you settle up at the cash.

This restaurant is fast becoming a favourite of mine. I wholeheartedly recommend the Imperial for its satisfyingly unfussy fare.

Imperial Food & Beverages
(329 Bank St.)
(613) 237-3636
Appetizers: $4.50-$5.75
Mains: $4.50-$11.50
 
 

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John By Imperial Stout     John By just won a gold medal in the Ontario Brewing Awards.
Donna Warner		March 31st, 2009
Delicious salmon dish and great beer     I had an equally awesome dining experience at The Imperial. Ordered an asian fusion thai salmon entree! I can honestly say it's the best salmon dish I have had. The value is excellent, if I had ordered that at Wilfred's down at the Chateau and spent 3 times the $13 price tag at the Impreial I would have considered it a great meal, but I don't think Wilfred's can match this dish at any price ;) The local Vankleek Hill Beau's draft on tap is very tastey, I asked the waiter about it, he says it is brewed with fresh spring water. Five stars for value and taste for the beer and food.
colin trethewey		March 27th, 2009

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