Guelph family food restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts with a fully licensed bar.
Come in and be wowed by the distinctive, cozy and inviting casual atmosphere of Symposium Cafe Restaurant Guelph: Think gourmet comfort food enjoyed in a stylish space with a Renaissance theme. Symposium Guelph, a multiple Readers’ Choice restaurants winner and top dining restaurant in the Guelph and nearby Fergus region. Located minutes off Hanlon Pkwy, directly across from Stone Road Mall and just south of the University of Guelph.
See why we’ve been voted a top favourite restaurant in the Guelph Ontario community. Open 7 days a week–early mornings to late nights – offering extensive menu options including: full service breakfast & brunch, lunch and dinner menus with burgers, seafood, pasta, healthy salads, hearty sandwiches, vegetarian dishes, and mouth-watering desserts as well as a licensed bar area with beer, wine, and great cocktail service.more...See more text
What a sad experience. We waited 45 minutes after ordering for food that was tasteless. I cannot believe that they think a 45 minute wait is acceptable.
My husband had the jumbalya, I had "flat iron steak" and my son had a pulled pork. The food was flavorless. We will not be back.
Decided to go with my friends, wished we went to Timmy's instead. First off our waitress took our drink orders (I got orange juice, btw, it was $3.25. YES 3.25 for a glass of juice! Outrageous). When she brought us back our drinks we said we needed a couple minutes to decide what we wanted to order. She did not come back for 20 minutes, no joke. She actually seated the people right behind us and took their orders, brought their food before she took OURS. Well I ordered the 3 egg breakfast. I wanted a nice simple breakfast of egg whites and fruit with whole wheat toast. The toast WAS NOT whole wheat. It was just dried out white toast, with way too much butter that was already cold when it arrived. Then the 3 scrambled egg whites I got looked actually like 1 1/2-2. I know how 3 egg whites should look being that I make them all the time. I also wanted to substitute the greasy home fries for fruit but to do so, cost 1.50. Yeuck, why not make that little substitute free? and ALSO, to get egg whites instead of regular old eggs cost an additional $1.50
Wait wait...I'm sorry, you're taking AWAY from my egg and I'm getting less of it yet you're charging me MORE?
The egg whites weren't even good, they were cold and runny.
And needless to say, our slow and incompetant received no tip from me.
I would never go back to this place
Quick note on the decor: modern and nice items on the walls and shelves, but it's way too dark and doom&gloom in there. Also it didn't even feel like the air conditioning was on this 85 degree day. We were sweltering
Our first visit to the Symposium Café on a recent Sunday shortly after 11:00 a.m., Seated quickly and server was quick to acknowledge our presence , coffee , tea ordered and delivered rather promptly (unfortunately they were out of Earl Grey my wife’s favorite tea, disappointing but not a huge issue). Waitress took our food order, in a timely manner, omelet for my wife, bacon and eggs for me, nothing out of the ordinary. So far so good .. we thought
Then the wait began 10 minutes, fifteen.. Waitress came by once, apologized and suggested it would be a few more minutes. Another ten minutes went by still no food. Finally after what we thought was 40 or so minutes breakfast arrived. Inquired of the waitress why the long delay, explanation was busy, rush, things got backed up. Manager came over to the table a little while later acknowledged that we had waited a long time (actually corrected our 40 minute estimate wait time and suggested he checked and it was 25 minutes…. nice touch being corrected as a customer!!!) Again explanation … sudden rush of many orders, busy ……
Anyhow breakfast was O.K although my wife’s omelet was somewhat runny and $8.45 for basic bacon and eggs, no coffee included a bit steep given other competetitors in neighborhoods. No attempt made to alter the bill total; I thought in the least they might have comp the tea and coffee
Needless to say, based on this experience, and staff response to our obvious displeasure we won’t be back Many other choice spots in Guelph for breakfast, that offer better value in equally pleasant surroundings.
An excellent kitchen should be rated on how they manage when things are busy not when situations are quiet. If you have a facility with considerable seating you should be able to handle the volume. If back-ups do occur management should acknowledge that the situation is inexcusable from a customer’s perspective and do something tangible to illustrate to the customer that their business and potential return is valued. Even fast food joints have gone out their way in the past with us to provide free coupons when unexpected delays have occurred. We would have expected at least the same from this level of establishment.
I have been to Symposium about 6 times and I feel ready to make a review.
The food has always been great, all day breakfast is always a treat and the Buger Special Day is a good deal.
The first time I went there was a line up and the Hostess reccomended we just go somewhere else ha ha! That left me with a "bad taste in my mouth" But I never judge a place based on one staff member, so I went back.
The next time I went we sat at the bar and we found a big black ant in the salt shaker, we showed the server and he laughed nervously and took it away, that was it!
I like the atmosphere, even when it is busy it isn't too loud, and the booths are bug and comfortable.
So overall the food is good, the prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is nice, it is just the service that is consistently poor.
went for lunch, service was slow, waitress was overly cheerful, food was OK, my chicken Parmesan sandwich was warm, the bun was an average sausage bun, hubby's burger was tasty not outstanding. The music is annoying, must use MSG as I drank about a gallon of water when I got home. May return.
A friend and I went for dinner last night - sat on the patio which is really really nice..and had an excellent meal. Our waitress was attentive but not pushy..food was really good....I always have the mediterranean tilapia..the beer was cold and cheap (Monday night is draft special night!)..and I really can't complain.
I have been here about 5 times since they have opened and have never had a bad meal...some times the service is better than other's...but really, I like this place and the back patio is very nicely decorated and relaxing....
I went here with my husband on a Saturday night. We were sat immediately and weren't approached by anyone for 15 minutes. Finally the manager came along and asked how everything was. I told him that I didn't know because we hadn't received any service. He apologized and sent a server over who didn't introduce herself. I usually like to get to know the staff when I'm dining out. As previous posts have said, their servers seem to have an IQ of a new born child. She took our order and continued to talk with the manager for a couple minutes before giving our order to the kitchen. It took over an HOUR for our food to arrive. Everything on the plate was overcooked and tasted as if it was two weeks old. My husband asked for a refill of his coke and our bill when we received our entrees. We finished our entrees and he never got his coke. It's easy for us to say that we will never go back. By far the WORST place to spend your money!!!
My family and I went here after moving my daughter into her new house. We wanted to relax and have a good meal before settling in at home. We sat down at around 6:30 with a packed restaurant. We were served immediately by a lovely server named Shay. We never came here before because, quite honestly, we had no idea it existed (it is located behind a gas station). Anyways, Shay offered my husband and I some Martinis. He brought them to us immediately and made some great recommendations from the menu. I had the tuscan chicken, my husband had a new york steak with shrimp and both my children had a chicken pesto pizza. The food was to die for! Shay was so wonderful. The young manager (I think his name was Allen) approached us and made us feel very welcome. He offered dessert and coffees and we couldn't refuse. The manager brought them to our table assisting Shay. The cheesecakes were divine! Thank you to Shay and the manager (Allen?) for a wonderful experience. We are going back next week for sure!
It was just an average food. Our waiter was very quick and helpfull. The atmosphere is good except the tile floor. We will be going back with friends.......
Very nice atmosphere.
Our waitress was quite ditsy. She took a long time to get our drinks even though it was not a very busy time of day (mid-afternoon.)
I ordered a club sandwich, and it arrived to me without any sauce on it at all. Totally plain - no butter mayo or anything. Had to remind the server twice to bring me some mayo. The turkey on it was disgustingly dry, I could barely choke it down. The lettuce was slightly wilted.
Very low quality for an expensive lunch.
Would never go there again for food, maybe for a drink.
What a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon...the patio is again wonderful, staff attentive and food divine
We have just moved to Guelph and found this treasure and have taken many friends and everyone said the same....we'll be back for sure. Thanks to management and staff for sharing your special talents with the people of Guelph and us
This was my first time eating at this restaurant...
This was my first time eating at this restaurant and i found it adequate. the interior design was beautiful the service was great but the food? I found the pastas have way too much spice but the seafood and fruit was so delicious and fresh. It was a good dining experience but id probably just go for a sandwich next time.
I come back for the food - thats it. This place...
I come back for the food - thats it. This place is as unorganized as the former establishment. Waited in line for 20 minutes. Hostess held up everyone in line trying to seat a party of 6. Lots of open tables and servers standing around. They do have a bar but no one offered a seat until table came available.
Second time back they sat the two of us in a booth for 8. Lots of tables around. We waited for our food while watching the bar staff eat.. It is the kitchen staff that keeps us coming back - food it good and so are the portions
Very long wait for food and the restaurant wasn't...
Very long wait for food and the restaurant wasn't particularly busy.
When served, 2 entrees were cold and dried out. Server forgot to enter one meal into computer, a simple burger with swiss cheese, so it wasn't prepared with the others. This may have been a good thing since the bacon cheeseburger (with cheddar) that they actually served was at least fresh. Clearly they gave me someone else's order.
Other entrees were adequate. Nothing to write home about, but not disasters either.
Dessert cakes were pretty good.
With all the other options for fresh food in Guelph, why go to a place that clearly serves institutional frozen food that has simply been reheated?
Picture two thick long brown breaded rolls. Pour...
Picture two thick long brown breaded rolls. Pour over them onions and green peppers stewed in an indifferent tomato sauce. That's Symposium's Tuscan Chicken. Visually it's very unappealing. And void of any flavor. Really. 100% tasteless. I don't normally add salt but even that didn't help.
It was cold night . Inside the cloth seats were cold. We ordered the Broccoli and Cheddar soup to warm up. The portion is enormous, and the china oversized. Too much for a starter. Soup was luke-warm. It was so thick the bottom of the bowl remained visible after you'd drawn the spoon through it. The soup is served with a pkg of saltines and toasted wedges of tasty baguette.
The entree arrived before we were half way through the soup. Given the size of the serving dishes and the narrowness of the table there wasn't room for starter and main dish. We relinquished the soup.
My friend had the pork and rosemary dish. Other than the occasional strong rosemary taste it too was devoid of any taste.
I have not given the food at Symposium a good review but ... this place has potential. As someone else said it's new and there are some kinks to work out. The decor is truly lovely. The dining area by the windows is open and airy. For those preferring a more private dining experience it looks like the more enclosed area away from the windows will offer that. There's an outdoor patio which will be very nice once the warmer weather arrives. The service was very attentive. Upon mentioning that we were ordering soup to warm ourselves up the waiter offered to turn the heat up which was very nice. Our meals arrived promptly. The desserts look amazing. Every night they have a different theme (Sunday is dessert and coffee night) and of course you can always order off the main menu. With respect to the menu options I have to agree with another reviewer - same old, same old. Still there's nothing wrong with the standards - if they are well prepared. I'll give them a try again. Might have been an off-night? AND they serve all day breakfast!
This was my first experience at Symposium. I must...
This was my first experience at Symposium. I must say that overall, my husband and I were quite impressed. Our server was very attentive, and even wowed us by bringing us fresh cutlery after our salads!!! Hard to find that kind of wow service in this city.
Our meals were fantastic! Good portions, and wonderful prices!!! Either the server, or the kitchen switched our sides, but we figured it out. No harm done.
As far as atmosphere goes, although my husband liked it, I found it a bit open, as I prefer a little more privacy when i'm eating out.
My only other issue would be wait times for food. Given it was a Friday night, 35-40 minute chit times is not acceptable. But i will not hold it against them at all, as they are a new place, and it takes a while to get into the swing of things.
Kudos Symposium!!! Keep striving for the best!!!
Our student server was great. Coffee was perfect. Breakfast best in the south end.
My concern was the manager insulted the staff and used their power to publically embarass the workers. His barks were so loud we left our meal early. His rude behaviour made me sick to my stomach. I will never return as long as he works there.
