Lombardi's Resturant

During a recent trip to Casino Rama, I was fortunate enough to stop in and grab a bite to eat at a wonderful Italian restaurant called Lombardi's. 

The menu was delectable, from the multiple pasta dishes to the wide variety of appetizers my mouth was watering just reading the menu. 

The restaurant is a must stop for casino guests, the reviews are what made the choice for me when deciding where to eat during my visit. The casino offers several different types of resturant, but none seemed to have the same charm as Lombardi's.

When you first walk into the restaurant you are greeted by two lovely hostesses. I found this intriguing, as usually restaurants only have one hostess on at a time. This added to the experience as we were never without service.

The service at the restaurant was incredible, besides the attentive staff, there was not one question the service staff could not answer. I asked about different drinks, menu items and the server knew everything. She knew what the cooking process was for each item, and how each drink is made. It was clear that training is a key factor in becoming a certified server at Lombardi's.

To give you a picture of the restaurant here is a sneak peak at the appetizer menu: 

 APPETIZERS 

CALAMARI FRITTI 

Lightly seasoned Calamari, served with a Mignonette Sauce  

CAESAR SALAD 

Caesar Salad tossed in Casino Rama’s Signature Caesar Dressing 

GREEN SALAD 

Our “Signature” Salad 

Fresh Garden Vegetables and our Zesty Italian Dressing 

TUSCAN BEAN SOUP 

Tomato Broth, Trio of Beans, Chorizo Sausage, Reggianno 

CAPRESE SALAD 

Ripened Tomatoes, Frisée, Radicchio, Arugula, Fresh Herbs, Bocconcini Cheese  

WARM BAKED GOAT CHEESE 

Roasted Peppers, Pesto, Olives, Eggplant, Mushrooms

STEAMED P.E.I. MUSSELS MARINARA 

Tossed in White Wine, Garlic, Fresh Herbs, Red Bell Peppers, Roma Tomatoes 

GRILLED AND CHILLED SHRIMP 

Grilled Jumbo Shrimp, Chilled, Chili Cocktail Sauce 

Lombardi's restaurant was an quiet the experience, I would recommend to anyone stopping in at Casino Rama. The restaurant will receive a: 

Herb & Sage

          During my reading week, I spent most of my time back home in Barrie and discovered a new restaurant that peaked my interest.  The restaurant is the only one of it's kind and was created to appeal to the healthier of appetites. 

The location of the restaurant really speaks to the character which the owner wanted to show.Located at the south end of Barrie, it allows people wanting to experience intimate dinning to just have a short drive or stroll.

When I first walked into the restaurant I was surprised with the maturity of their service staff. The hostess was friendly and was very educated with the menu. What is interesting about this particular restaurant is that every night has a chef’s special. They offer a three course meal and the chef surprises you with his choice of appetizer, entree and dessert.

The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. I found the vegetarian selections were very pronounced on the menu. The salad selection of the menu I found the most intriguing. Here is a look at the salad selections Herb and Sage offers, each of which can be turned into vegetarian selections: 

Beef Kebobs on Field Greens $12 

beef kebobs on a salad of field greens with our balsamic vinaigrette 

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad $13 

crisp romaine, homemade croutons, real bacon bits and Parmesan in our creamy Caesar dressing topped with grilled chicken breast. Salad only $9 

California Chicken Salad in Raspberry Vinaigrette  $14 

roasted chicken on a bed of California Greens, red onions, red peppers & strawberries with our raspberry vinaigrette, Cheddar and walnuts 

Cajun Beef on Thai Salad $14 

strips of tender Cajun beef on a bed of julienned Nappa cabbage, carrots, celery, peppers, red onion & cilantro tossed in our sesame Thai dressing 

Pork Tenderloin Skewers with Greek Salad $15 

fresh romaine, red onion, peppers, cucumbers, Kalmata olives & Feta in Greek dressing served with marinated pork tenderloin skewers. Salad only $10 

Grilled Salmon with Spinach Salad $15 

fresh Atlantic Salmon grilled and served with a baby spinach salad in a citrus ginger vinaigrette. For a flavor expedition ask for Tandoori salmon 

Herb and Sage located at 559 Essa road, unit 6. The restaurant will receive a: 

The Lakehouse

  Located at 3100 North Service Rd. Vineland, ON, this beautiful restored home is considered a Niagara Landmark.

  It's location creates and atmosphere to enjoy, with lake side views and decor to match. The patio which sit just metres from the lake offers breath taking views.

  Not knowing much about this restaurant I did some research before beginning my service-test, and what I have found was nothing but compliments. The Lakehouse underwent serious renovations several years ago on a little show called, Restaurant Makeover. Knowing the economy was faltering the owners decided to revamp the place, creating an at home feeling for their clientele.

  Last week I decided it was time to give the Lakehouse an opportunity to see what all the raves were about. When you first walk in you notice the beauty of the place right away, with its at home charm and spectaculars views you gasp for a minute in the beauty.

 Upon seating us our hostess let my date and I know of the daily features, and introduced our server to us.The service was incredible, to say the least. We were suggested items off the menu which included their baked brie appetizer, and the gnocchi pasta. These items are must haves. Lucky enough for the evening we were seated in a prime location right by the windows of the restaurant and could see the skyline of Toronto.

  When we were finished eating our main dishes the manager on duty came over to ensure our evening was going well. In the industry most manager only come table side when there is an issue, the Lakehouse instead asks about your meal instead of waiting for a complaint from a valued guest. I had nothing but praise for the service received and the quality of the food produced.

The Lakehouse is a place where I intend to visit as often as possible. The Lakehouse will receive a: