Eating on the Mountain

Hamilton is split into two distinct parts by the Niagara Escarpment, a long, jagged wall of rock that the UN officially declared to be a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1990. Filled with mini-waterfalls, trail systems, falling rocks, and vineyards, the escarpment is a wonderful place. The picture below shows a similar view of what I see of the escarpment from my house.

Everyone who lives in Hamilton knows these details, and they also know that the suburban/bedroom-community/upper-level of Hamilton city that exists on top of the escarpment, known as Hamilton Mountain (hence the capital in "Mountain" in this blog title) appears rather like an urban wasteland to some people visiting that area for the first time. If all they see is Upper James or Upper Wentworth, with the teeming cars, the strip malls, and the fast-food chains (including Hooters), then this area fails to provide an inviting vibe for most people to revisit. I had this impression when I first moved to the city about 15 years ago, and rarely visited the Mountain, except when I needed Walmart's or Zellers' low prices, or Fabricland's selection, or discounted shoes. Then, luckily, I discovered, with the help of the local Spectator restaurant critic (John Kernaghan) that many Mountain restaurants were unique and worth the trip to the often dusty and usually treeless main streets of the Mountain.
A friend told me that ratings things is a fun blog entry, so I will now rate 3 Hamilton Mountain restaurants that I find excel at their particular type of food.
This weekend, I introduced some friends to Licks, a burger joint that's a regional success story (and, I recently discovered, now has a location in Dubai, of all places). A Hamilton experience is simply incomplete without a visit to Licks, in the central Mountain area, where the burgers actually do look like the ad-pic on their website (inserted here).

And they even make a vegetarian burger, which has won awards. As a burger joint, I rate this three stars out of three, for giant patties, a slice of grilled pineapple as a topping option, and some of the best ice cream anywhere (flavours include bananarama with real banana puree and chocolate with real cocoa).
Address: 1441 Upper James St
Once you're addicted to their special sauce, you can buy it in bottles in local grocery stores.
For an overstuffed pizza experience, nothing bests Chicago Style Pizza Shack. Takeout is the best option here, and it's worth the drive to the East Mountain. They have a dining room, but it's tiny and reservations are a must. If you can't agree on which type of pizza to order, even ordering two SMALL pizzas will have you eating it for days, which is definitely not a problem and very economical, but I just wanted to emphasize how much food you get for the price you pay there. I give them three stars out of three too, for introducing me to the glory that is stuffed pizza, for maintaining a family business for all those years, and for providing good value for the money.
Address: 534 Upper Sherman
They also make traditional Italian pasta dishes, and they do have a local delivery area. Mmmmm, just thinking about the last time we ate there makes me want to go again TOMORROW!
Another three stars out of three place in my restaurant experience is a little hole in a strip mall on the west end of the Hamilton Mountain, called Lemon Grass. The interior is fine, and this is another place that is a must for reservations because of the small size, but here's the outside, nondescript (see pic below).

Address: 1300 Garth St., Unit #1
The parking lot is often full, many people eating here every night we've ever visited. We usually get takeout because it's just that busy. If you do eat in, the service is efficient and quick, even when packed.

They deserve three stars because of the many vegetarian selections on their menu, the freshness of their ingredients and their cooking methods, and their restraint with the oil (which often overwhelms so much food inspired by Eastern cultures when it is served in Western restaurants), and their care to present the food in an eye-appealing way too; the plates really do usually look like this pic from their website.
Their curry chicken is simply divine, with just the right amount of chicken and not too much heat. I tell everyone I know about this place, and I have tried quite a few other Thai restaurants, but Lemon Grass always comes out on top for me.
I'm making myself hungry, now, so I'll end this entry. If you are going to one of these places in the next little while, phone us, and we'll tag along!