Ballantine

“Miranda was my server. I had a moms night out where I came out to enjoy a night alone. Not only did she not judge me for my five martinis, or for charging my phone for me because it died, she was genuine, kind and just exceptional all around. She always attentive but didn't hover. She was absolutely fantastic and deserves a raise as well as praise. Hold onto her. She's an asset. Absolutely amazing service.”

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The restaurant was really good, but like anywhere, there were a few flaws. I’m a firm believer that if you seek perfection you’ll often be disappointed—but a good waitress can truly make or break an experience, and ours (Izzie) absolutely made it phenomenal. We ordered the Clam Bake, Pizza, Wings, and a Burger. The crackers for the clam bake were stale, the burger came out a little burnt (though still tasty), and the blue cheese dressing looked odd—as if it had curdled or separated. The steak was also cooked incorrectly at first (well done instead of the medium rare my wife requested). That said, the staff handled everything with professionalism. They immediately offered to fix the crackers, explained it was the end of a box, and brought out fresh ones without hesitation. I appreciated that they even tasted them themselves to check. The steak issue was also resolved quickly—the chef remade it perfectly once the mix-up was realized. Mistakes happen, but how a place fixes them says everything, and here they did an excellent job. The beer prices were very fair—$6 for a tall craft beer, which is phenomenal compared to most places. We ended with a brownie that was out of this world! Between the food, the attentive service from Izzie, and sitting by the open window overlooking the vintage Willoughby street scene, my wife, baby, and I had a great time. Do yourself a favor and see if Izzie is working—she’s a phenomenal waitress who will make sure everything is taken care of and address any issues with kindness and efficiency. If I had one suggestion, it would be to update the Happy Hour menu. Right now, it feels a bit stale. For example, the cheeseburger is $8, but it doesn’t come with fries, so it felt more like an à la carte option rather than a true deal (especially since the burger with fries is normally $14). Also, there weren’t any Happy Hour drink specials, which felt unusual. All that being said, we left very happy and will definitely return. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the service was top-notch, and the food (especially once corrected) was very enjoyable. Still 5 stars from me! Right, so can you stop”

“We were able to get a seat immediately, service was amazing! Didn't have to ask for water, they just brought it to the table. I got the pizza and it was absolutely amazing! I also got to try the Ballantine burger, their smoked mayo is out-of this world! Great prices for delicious food!!”

“Waitress was really friendly and provided great service. Food took about 45 mins to come out and there was no one in the place. Food was pretty good 👍🏼”

“Good local tavern with a popular bar and small but good menu. Getting a seat by the front windows gives you a nice view of the world walking by. The service was prompt and friendly. The small pepperoni pizza had a nice thin crust and plenty of pepperoni. The burger was juicy and done just as I requested. Good stop for a quick bite on the busy Downtown Willoughby strip.”