Best Comfort Food Restaurants in Barrie

Today was wintery and cold with a blowing wind. A day to be inside. A day for lunch at the Amsterdam. As always, the staff at the front door were welcoming and efficient, directing us to a table for two beside the fireplace. Bonus! Samantha (Sam) was our server today. She was friendly and chatty and seemed pleased to see us. We ordered “our usual”, as regulars to the Amsterdam (perhaps we are boring) and without much delay we were enjoying our fish and chips (for her) and the Tai chicken curry (for me), washed down with Diet Coke and an Amsterdam Blonde. The food was hot and nicely presented, particularly the curry, resting on a palm leaf in a custom earthenware (?) dark bowl. The beer, even on a cold day, was great. Although there are giant screen TVs in one section of the dining area showing (today) live tennis, the sounds and images were not intrusive. Ditto the musical ambiance. Although I would prefer NO music in a restaurant, the Amsterdam’s choice was reasonable acceptable and allowed for an audible conversation (I often wonder if the “music” in restaurants, or the grocery store, is targeting the customers or the staff). No desert today. Stuffed. But there was a little room for a cappuccino before paying the bill. Goodbyes from Sam who provided great service and who maintained a pleasant chatty presence throughout today’s encounter. We will be back. Jack H Toronto

We had the Valentine's Day dinner. Glad we had a reservation because they were slammed! We were given a glass of champagne and a chocolate covered strawberry while we waited, but seated at a great table in a very timely manner. Everything was wonderful, but the coquilles St. Jaques stole the show. AMAZING! Our server, Holly, was helpful, friendly and professional. We never felt rushed and had a wonderful dinner and a wonderful evening.

We had a great evening. Our table was ready when we got there. Our server Diana was great and attentive. We ordered from the Valentines menu for 2. The surf and turf was done perfectly and we both enjoyed it. Not once did we feel rushed or neglected at our table. Overall this is a great restaurant and the whole experience was perfect.

This was our second visit and we loved our dinners. The mozzarella appetizer is a specialty and is wonderful. My main was the the chicken parmesan and my wife the rigatoni. We topped off our meal with tiramisu and gelato. We were excited to discover there is a Scaddabush near us now.

Dined in with a friend of mine at Lone Star Texas Grill in Barrie. We ordered: Gator Bites were cooked perfectly. It had a tender and juicy texture from the meat of the alligator tail combined with the crispiness of the batter. The seasoning was great that eating these without the dip was highly satisfactory. Although the dip added a layer of tanginess and creaminess to the dish. Grilled Chicken Fajitas were also seasoned perfectly. The blend of smokiness with the cumin, garlic and the peppers went really great together. The tortillas were made in house. They were soft and easy to roll. The dish came with sides of shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, rice, salsa and sour cream. They also served complimentary chips and salsa. Overall, the food was delicious. I wish the Gator Bites had a bigger portion considering the price. The server, Nevada, was polite and friendly. They had a nice spacious space as well.