Eating out in HamOnt

Sarcoa, 57 Discovery Drive in Hamilton, Ontario
This waterfront restaurant serves the kind of food that makes me want to be filthy rich (and I really almost never want to be rich!) so that I could eat there every week.

After I ate this appetizer plate of "Chicken and Waffles," I said, "Can we eat here every Friday for early supper and have the chicken and waffles?

Sarcoa Chicken & Waffles with herb gravy & pork belly.

The appetizer & salad parts of the Sarcoa menu were the most tempting to me, so we also ordered the poutine. A poutine like no other: thinly carved, tender beef brisket with authentic curds adorned hand-cut fries smothered in a jus as rich as any I've ever tasted, and my mother is the queen of gravy-making in my books! I don't think my description really does it justice, but brown food doesn't photograph well, so I'm not including that pic here. It was an enormous serving for an appetizer, so we shared it (I didn't share my chicken & waffles, not because there wasn't enough to share -- it is an ample serving too -- but because it was so delicious that I went into greed mode). I can still taste that brisket, when I cast my mind back to that evening.

I think it's probably best to let the photos tell the rest of the story about this amazing place, which sources as many ingredients as possible from local farms and producers.
Anyone who adores beets as I do must have this salad:

Roasted beet salad with pomegranate was simply divine.

The entree chicken dish arrived with the smoothest squash puree ever conceived by humans, and chicken so moist and tender that I couldn't believe it was real. I know I'm descending into hyperbole here, but this meal was seriously one of the best I've ever had in my life.

Most juicy, tender chicken breast ever, atop kale, squash, and spatzle.

Since we were there to celebrate my birthday, I had to try a dessert, and chocolate is the best way to dessert, right? The dish was delicious, of course, and spectacular to look at, but this is the one area where I was a teensy bit let down. For a chef who did a stint as "pastry chef at Vineland Estates Winery," the dessert menu is a little spare.

White chocolate & pistachio mousse (on left, my favourite!), macaron, & ice cream sandwich.

The servers treated us like special people, always a nice way to dine when you're splurging on a night out at a fancy place. The decor is modern and inviting, with surprising bursts of colour and wooden tabletops for a dash of eclecticism. Some of the best views of any restaurant in the city too, being right on the water down at the harbourfront.

View from our table at windowside at Sarcoa.

Overall, I would give Sarcoa an A+ and have been recommending the place to anyone who will listen and who wants to indulge.