/https://www.therecord.com/content/dam/therecord/life/food-wine/diningout/2022/01/13/dining-malt-barleys-williamsburger-was-calling-my-name/main_art_williamsburger_with_coleslaw.jpg)
New year, same pandemic.
These new lockdown measures have led me to seek solace in comfort food to soothe my many feelings, which I recently did with my lunchtime takeout from Malt & Barley Public House.
When I looked at the menu online I immediately knew I wanted the burger. I’m usually nervous about ordering take-out burgers because you never know what it’ll be like once it gets to you, but the Williamsburger ($16.95, plus $1 for Garlic Aoli) doesn’t. did not disappoint. With its thick beef and brisket patty between two warm French toast and a generous amount of toppings – including cheese and bacon at no extra cost! – this hearty pub staple, which I had with coleslaw, sated my comfort food cravings immensely.
Malt & Barley, co-owned by Mike Deveau and David and Sabrina Hutchinson of New Hamburg’s Scran & Dram Scottish Pub House, has been open since February 2019. Malt & Barley offers some of the house dishes found at its sister restaurant but differentiates by having a more maritime influence.
“About 30 percent of the menu is directly Maritime related,” says Deveau, a Halifax native with more than 30 years of restaurant experience.
Unfortunately, many seafood dishes – with the exception of Fish and Chips – are not available for takeout as they do not ship well, but we got a taste of the Maritimes thanks to my husband’s lunch selection – the Halifax Donair ($16.95, with a portion of fries). The lightly spiced shaved meat wrapped in a warm pita was tasty, but the standout ingredient for me was the mild garlic sauce as it was bold, flavorful and chewy without being overpowering. I ended up taking more bites than expected, due to the unique and delicious taste of the signature sauce.
Deveau, who is also the general manager, said he was inspired by the late-night fare that East Coasters are known to eat, but wanted to make something people could eat and return to. at work.
“It’s a real Halifax tradition. I wanted to get as close to the version as possible and I think we did.
In addition to our mains, we also had the malt salad ($10.95) which, with its hearty components including roasted squash and pears, would have sufficed as a meal. We also happily sipped our cocktails to go – the Crangria ($10) – a bubbly white cranberry sangria that was festive and refreshing.
We finished our meal with the Sticky Toffee Pudding ($7.95). The hot cake with its subtle spices and moist body was perfectly baked and topped with a sweet caramel syrup that completed a most heavenly experience. My husband, who is not usually a dessert eater, also took more bites than expected. Luckily the portion was large enough that there was still plenty left for me.
Apart from the delicious food, it’s worth mentioning that the restaurant’s website is one of the best I’ve experienced. Its intuitive and user-friendly interface created a seamless ordering experience that this phone-averse millennial greatly appreciated. Malt & Barley is also taking orders over the phone and through major food delivery apps.
Also note the eco-friendly packaging, including compostable clamshell containers, recyclable plastic containers and even the paper bag. Deveau shared that packaging is something they put a lot of thought into, wanting to make sure meals arrive hot and intact, but in a sustainable way. He said he tested every item on the menu by taking them home – he lives 30 minutes from the pub – to make sure everything traveled well.
As for the latest COVID restrictions on indoor dining, he didn’t focus on the negative. He instead took the opportunity to talk about the quality of his staff, not only with the latest changes, but throughout the pandemic. At a time when many restaurants are struggling to retain staff, most of his team have been there since the start and have become accustomed to switching to online orders when the need arises.
Malt and Barley Public House
1187 Fischer-Hallman Road, Kitchener
519-745-6460
orgemaltand.ca
Facebook: @maltandbarleypub
Instagram: maltorge
Twitter: @Malt_Barley
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Menu: Pub offering East Coast comfort food.
Payment: Cash, Debit, Mastercard, Visa
How to get your food: Restaurant pick-up. Can pre-order or order same day by phone or website. Online orders paid online. Delivery available from the restaurant if in its delivery area.
Other delivery options: DoorDash, Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats
Accessibility: The entrance to the restaurant is at sidewalk level. Automatic door opener. Free parking available on site.
The law project: $74.24 (taxes included but no tip) for two main courses, salad, dessert and cocktails.
Ordering food in the time of coronavirus: As restaurants make day-to-day decisions, check their social media or call them for updates. Lists of restaurants open during dining hall closures are available at bit.ly/3d2JV74 and wilmotstrongertogether.ca; a crowdsourced list can be found on Facebook Food In The Waterloo Region at bit.ly/3d1cKAX.
