Keystone Alley Cafe

Had lunch here with 3 friends. The service was impeccable and the food was delectable. Definitely a favourite of mine when I visit The Festival. Make sure to make a reservation though. At 11:30 there were a few table but by noon it was packed. Had the Asian Spring Rolls to start and then finished with the That Red Curry Prawns. Yum! My husband had the Duck Parfait appetizer and the Chicken Thai salad for his main, Again, YUM! What we loved most about this Café was the friendly service, the well presented and incredibly tasting food. Will definitely be back again next year.

Normally, I would never write a review a few years after the fact, but in this case, I feel compelled to as my group had serious reservations about a restaurant that normally has great standing in the town of Stratford.
Our group of four has been visiting the city of Stratford annually (with the exception of 2013) for over eight years.
This is to replace the missing review I made for the ‘Stratford’ App I have on my iPhone, which is no longer properly functioning and does not have my review.
Here are the issues, none of which was treated in an appropriate manner:
1) We made a reservation in person and when we went in at the arranged time, they denied that one had been made.
2) They fit us in and placed us by a dumpster in the alley and we were plagued by strange flying insects.
3) The staff seemed uncaring and uninterested in addressing the food allergies listed on an allergy card presented to them by one of our party members.
4) They served us a very nice wine and due to their lack of knowledge of decanting, we were served sediment-​filled wine.
It certainly seems that most people are favorably impressed with the restaurant, but due to the preceding issues, I feel that especially if one suffers from food allergies, that this is a place to avoid.

Six of us had dinner last week. It was our first visit but it will not be our last. While the scallops one of us ordered were disappointing, the remainder of our first courses and entrees were all outstanding. The wine list was not huge but with a wide selection of varieties and well priced. The kitchen was also very gracious in meeting the dietary needs for one of us.

Only had a main, but just made us not want to go back.
I had the fish of the day, which while cooked well, had little flavour and the sauce just didn’t go well with it. I had hoped for more than just a single cauliflower head, half a piece of broccoli, a small carrot, and two very small beans for the side of vegetables. A potato mash came with it, but it wasn’t smooth. I also didn’t like the bread enough to eat more than a bite even though I was quite hungry.
My partner had the feature of the day, which was a pan-​fried duck. The duck was very, very chewy. So tough, I could barely chew through and swallow on a couple of the pieces I tried. The mushrooms also had an overpowering taste, which did not go with the rest of the dish at all. And again, the potato mash just wasn’t purée well enough.
Service was okay, but somewhat inconsistent, because our waitress wasn’t even the one to ask us whether we wanted dessert. Overall, service was somewhat slow though the restaurant wasn’t full.

This concerns the restaurant, Keystone Alley, though it is attached to the Key’d Inn, which I’m sure is fantastic.
Keystone is definitely in my top five favorite restaurants in Stratford. Great food and service make it a definite recommendation from me, though I also recommend making reservations unless you plan to arrive when they first open. This last visit they were not as crowded, but it has not been unusual in the past to be unable to get in during peak times.
The place itself is fairly small, though it does seem to keep going the further in you walk. At the back near the kitchen there is a small bar, but most the seats are tables and booths. Décor is… I suppose contemporary casual is the word I’d choose. Very nice with comfortable lighting that manages to be both bright and dim at the same time. Clientele is usually all adults in nice clothes — clean jeans and a polo shirt are fine.
And the food…
well, it’s pretty amazing.
We dropped in for lunch, which is usually when we go for some reason, and partook of our typical custom of ordering one of the soups of the day. This time I gave the tomato-​lentil-​orange soup a try. At first bite, you mostly taste the tomato and chewy lentils, but after a second, the orange kicks in, leaving a mild citrus after taste. It was very different and I really liked it. The carrot ginger was also amazing — very thick and creamy. Honestly, though, you really can’t go wrong with whatever soup they’ve come up with.
Main courses… My Mom had the quiche of the day which was salmon and broccolli. Whatever the flavor, the quiche is always exceptional, though, with a flaky tender crust and creamy, eggy insides. It is served on a bed of greens and can be extremely filling.
Dad tried a seared salmon which had me questioning why I generally am not fond of salmon. Meaty flavor with a bit of tang, and absolutely no fishiness.
If they have it, both of my parents would heartily recommend any sort of poached salmon they have too. When available, it’s one of their favorite dishes.
I, meanwhile, opted for an old favorite — the crepes gourmet. This consists of three pan-​sized tender crepes, filled with a sprig of asparagus wrapped in ham. This is covered with a cap of melted swiss cheese, with a dash of Kirsch thrown in for a bit of a tang. It is gooey deliciousness, though it can be a bit messy.
I also have fond memories of a welsh rarebit they served one year, so if it’s a special, try it.
Dessert… definitely worth it.
This visit, I tried a chocolate pecan tart, which was like eating super creamy fudge. Very rich but not too sweet, it went wonderfully with the tasty cappuccino.
My Mom tried a trio of crème brûlée — amaretto, Irish crème, and orange. They were all amazing, with very strong flavors. I especially liked the amaretto.
And Dad had the amazing flourless chocolate cake, which again, reminds me more of fudge than cake.
Service is great. The lady who waited on us this time was very sweet and efficient.
Prices…well, Stratford. Lunch isn’t bad, though, with most meals around $ 10~14 for the entrée, and the portions are good and quite filling. Dinner is about twice that price, but some of the entrees and appetizers sound (and probably are) absolutely amazing.
So yeah. Definitely on my list of recommendations, and my list of favorite restaurants period.

I have been in and out of Stratford for 30 years and this is my first choice for dining. Fish and chips are the best in Stratford bar none. They smoke their own salmon and it is not unusual to find house smoked duck on the menu. I was there today and ran into the US Ambassador who was there, surprise, surprise, for fish and chips. And likely a play. Great wine list. Great atmosphere.
Thai duck curry is worth the trip alone. If you like beef, try the tenderloin.
Call for reservations, it is usually full with regulars. Like me.