Harbour Diner

First time here. Had the sausage hash. The meal took some time to arrive but when it did it was wonderful, I would recommend this space for a casual meal with good friends. It has a very homey welcoming vibe.
Will come again.

Excellent food and service. Never a complaint. I think people who have complained about this place should stay home and eat Kraft Dinner.

Very disappointing given the good reviews. Service was very overbearing. The place was half empty (we were quite late) but the waitress asked us if we were done every five minutes and was very unfriendly in general. Made us feel rushed and unwelcome. Food was overpriced and mediocre at best. I can make better eggs when I am rushing out the door in the morning. Bacon was way overlooked. Extras like «lobster» and «shrimp» were probably from a can so I’m not sure why it cost an extra $ 7 or wherever it was.

Everything is absolutely amazing and portion sizes that won’t leave you hungry when you leave. The price will not leave your pockets empty. Try any of the specials they are always amazing. Oh and the pies and carrot cake are must even if you need to take some to go.

Good not great.
Decent breakfast but not a lot of seating. Do I enjoy being sweated while I am eating.
Not so much.
Good to try but meh — so many other choices where people aren’t standing on me for my table.

The food was really really good. However we wait for more than one hour to eat, the conditioned air was not working properly and the place was too hot inside. Also, the waiter brought the bill before we ask and before offering the desserts. It was not the best experience, unfortunately.

I loved the macaroni & cheese with lobster. Great cozy atmosphere and lovely people to talk with all around me.

Quaint and very wholesome place. The friendliest service I have every received. These people really care about your experience in their establishment. The food is average at best, nothing special, the décor is average and sometimes that’s what makes it so great. You expect a nonchalant attitude when you walk in and they role out the red carpet.

My car was in the shop and the mechanic recommended we try the Harbour Diner for breakfast while we were waiting. Excellent idea! What a cozy place! Kinda hipster. Food was delish! I had the eggs benny and my hubby had the blueberry pancakes. The portions were massive (I couldn’t finish mine). The server was very friendly and food came promptly. We will be back!

This restaurant was an excellent find. Came here for Sunday brunch. And was quite surprised at the quality of the food. My girlfriend got the special of the day — Mexican skillet. Massive amount of food. Potatoes, peppers, mushrooms, sausage, onions, avocado, salsa, sour cream, black beans, eggs, etc. Etc. Really good.
I got their standard eggs Benny. Was ok. Not that memorable.
Was a cozy little restaurant. Doesn’t look fancy but their reputation speaks for itself. We got lucky and didn’t have to wait very long but there was a constant wait at the door.

Went on Oct 15… Self seated and approached by server almost immediately after entering… Mildly surprised at the absence of customers as it was just after noon… Ordered The Midship with a coffee and water… My partner in crime ordered the same but omitted the coffee… Sausages were a little under cooked but not to the point of being inedible… Server was friendly and checked on us a little after we started eating to see how everything was… Came by to give refill without being asked… Food was average… Service was above average…

I don’t normally write reviews, but I saw the average rating of Harbour Diner and felt like I had to give my two cents and off-​set a few of the mediocre reviews.
Disclaimer: I’ve only been here for dinner, so I can’t say anything about brunch.
Every time I’ve eaten here it’s been a fantastic experience. The lobster Mac and Cheese is amazing, as is the service. Only trouble is getting a table in the first place: it’s a popular spot and seating is very limited. I usually call ahead to get an idea about the wait.
Anyway, go and try it out for yourself and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

This place is a GREAT breakie place. Prices are great, and it’s a fan favourite so you can expect a line up on any given Saturday or Sunday morning. Enjoyed my experience there very much.

Dinner at The Harbour fell short. The Turkey dinner ($ 14), seemed like microwaved leftovers smothered in coagulated (yes) gravy. Definitely not fresh (maybe the peas?). My husband who has a hearty appetite couldn’t eat ²⁄₃.
I had the Killer Seafood Soup @ $ 9. It was tomato broth-​like, very light on the vegetables, light on the seafood (small piece of whitefish, 1 scallop and 1 prawn with 4 mussels all well done). Broth was spicy, and the saving grace of this dish. OK maybe for a light lunch. The accompanying garlic bread was delicious. I’m not sure why it was called Killer Seafood Soup except that I might have died from hunger were it not for the Garlic Bread.
We had high hopes for The raspberry peach pie from a relations related bakery in Dundas. However it was dry, not juicy fresh, almost the texture of a jam tart, which could suggest it was a couple of days old or that the cooking techniques run in the family.
We had high hopes for The Harbour Grill considering the review from TVs «You Gotta Eat Here». Our neighboring table group (5 people) fish and chips looked sad… the fish looked bordering grey (no breading) and poorly presented, but the meatloaf looked very interesting and impressively presented. Not sure how it tasted, but we didnt hear ANY comments on the food.
Maybe it was a bad day??? On a Thursday Evg? Must mention though that the waiter was very at tentative and friendly. I hate to judge a restaurant by one visit but won’t be rushing back to spend hard earned cash.

I was iffy about writing a review of this place, because I haven’t eaten here. So this review will not be about the food because I never got a chance to try it. The reason I didn’t get to eat the food was because of the less than desirable service.
I arrived to the Harbour Diner around 7pm with my son (9 years old) eager to try this place because it came recommended from a close friend. The place is small and tight but based on what I could see, there were two tables available. So you could guess that I was less then impressed when the staff refused to seat us. My son and I were cold (it was winter), hungry and eater to try their cuisine and the waitress told me that the tables were reserved and that we would have to come back later, like two hours later at 9pm.
I was less than impressed with their attitude, especially considering that I was there with a child. This cozy joint can barely seat 25 and they’re taking reservations? The fact that they asked me to come back at 9pm was insulting since I was with a child who usually went to bed before then. We left and didn’t return, and based on how badly we were treated… I likely won’t go back anytime soon if ever.

I have to say this is the best place in town to get breakfast and be prepared to wait in line, but they do provide coffee and a heat lamp to stand under in cold weather. Don’t forget to check out Chef Chris’s other restaurant called Chucks on lock street. Everything burgers and poutine

AWESOME place with VERY TASTEY food! I had the meatloaf and my husband had the seafood mac’n’cheese. Both dishes were amazing, freshly prepared, and yes it took a bit for the food to come to the table because it wasn’t pre-​made! I definately appreciate the fact that my meal was made from scratch when I ordered it.
Portions were large enough that we didn’t need to order a plate for our daughter, she had some of both our meals! We were all stuffed.
Very small place and you cant be sure to get a table if you walk in, since it aired on ‘You gotta eat here’ the place has been packed every time I have driven by.
Make a reservation. You won’t be disappointed, unless you are a stuffy, prissy jerk lol

The Harbour Diner is awesome! I went here with some co-​workers for dinner and the food is great (I had the marinated roma tomato and mozzarella sandwich, my 4 co-​workers all opted for the crab and lobster macaroni), the service is good and the atmosphere is friendly.
If you plan on going to The Harbour Diner, you’ll definitely need to book a reservation. The place is quite small, but cozy. And after being on TV, it’s often quite busy! The parking is a little difficult since there isn’t a lot, but the experience at the diner is well worth the roadside parking.
I would definitely recommend The Harbour Diner to anyone looking to try something new. The prices are great and the staff are awesome. When you get your leftovers to go, they are packed into tin foil shaped like animals. My expectations were definitely met and exceeded and I will absolutely be returning.

RIBBIT’s Restaurant Score Card (from –4 to +10)
Taste:
Ok 0
Service:
Server prompt and friendly and food arrived on time 1
Ambiance:
Noise or background sound or music 1
Price:
Ok 0
Access:
TOTAL: 2
Found out about this place from Google Review…12 people gave five stars so had to try. We had Cajun eggs Benedict, Hawaiian French toast, and Seafood soup. Think the main taste theme here is undertone. The subtle coconut taste of the French toast, barely detectable Cajun spice, and almost non-​existing salty flavour of the soup — the soup was take out and I added onion salt and paprika to make the taste come out. Like other reviewers, the coffee was good but wouldn’t rate it as an out of this world experience. The total bill came out to be $ 49 incl. tips.
Hamilton seriously lacks a breakfast scene and after a while Cora, Apple Annie, and Egg and I can get tired and taste all the same. So in that sense this place is worthwhile but must say still does not compare to good old Eggstacy (gone many years ago) or Johnny G’s in Toronto.
Here is the full score card —
RABBIT Restaurant Score Card (from –4 to +10)
Taste:
Very good 2
Ok 0
Not good –2
Service:
Server came back and checked 1
Server prompt and friendly and food arrived on time 1
Ambiance:
Décor 1
Noise or background sound or music 1
Price:
Good 1
Ok 0
Pricey –1
Access:
Not crowded 1
Parking 1
Accessibility 1

The Harbour Diner looks like a quirky little neighbourhood eatery — and in some ways it is; cosy, family owned/​operated, mix & match furniture from the 60’s…
It is also the best home-​cooked meal in Hamilton! Chef Chris, his wife Erin and their friendly staff work hard to keep things moving (without rushing anyone). All the food is fresh & freshly prepared (and most locally sourced when available), so it’s not «fast food» despite the «Diner» moniker.
Two selections of All Day Breakfast every day and a full breakfast/​brunch menu on weekends. Daily specials are always interesting an delicious.
Something on the menu for everyone from «Killer Seafood Soup» to the comfort of homestyle meatloaf. The only thing they don’t make themselves are the fresh pies (made by Chef Chris’s Mom at her local Bakery & equally good).
Prices are moderate or less… and worth every penny. Beer & Wine available too.
Pyrate Approved™