J. Red & Co

Looked like a food new restaurant to try. Not impressed at all with the pizza. Noisy, nothing special. Disappointed with dining experience.

At first I was really excited to try this restaurant as I read a lot of great reviews on it. The food options on the menu sound really good too but I was not at all impressed with the food. My husband and I ordered the mac & cheese samosas as an app. These were a huge disappointment as they lacked flavour. Next we had the chicken and waffles and the Thai dish. Once again I was not too happy with the chicken and waffles. The chicken did not look or taste like your typical fried chicken that comes with waffles. I’m usually not a very picky eater but I was disappointed because the food was expensive. The Thai dish was somewhat good but the chicken was dry and over cooked.
We did not order drinks and our total bill for the food came up to about $ 70 before tip. We thought this was quite pricey for a place where the food was not excellent. The only good thing about this restaurant was the friendly service we received but we definitely will not return to this place.

Lee and I had completed an 80k bike ride the day we visited, and to be honest, this was actually our second choice in town. Our first choice, Sul Irmaos, closes at 7 on Sundays, so to here we went.
This is kind of a funny place, décor wise. It has very trendy looks, outside and in, a bit upscale and we almost felt underdressed at first. We noticed that most of the other patrons were in casual wear so that wasn’t really a big deal.
The slightly disappointing thing about this place is the limited draft menu. They only had macro brews (including their import of Estrella Damm, which sounds cool until you realize it’s and adjunct lager, not much different from Blue or Bud,) on draft. Their focus seems to be much more on wine than beer. They actually have wine on tap, which is kind of an interesting concept.
They do have some micros in bottles, which is what we ultimately ended up with.
Some of the dishes on the menu made my eyes roll a little with their twee-​ness (Thai Fighter pasta? Scoobi Doo Bolognese? UGH) but I will freely admit that I ordered the «Eh’Loha» pizza, which was a wood fired pineapple, ham, and bacon pizza. It was delicious, with a very thin, almost California-​style (think, crispy cracker like) crust.
Lee ordered Steak frites, which he really enjoyed as well.
So overall we really enjoyed the place, the service was friendly and very attentive, and although a little more pricey than our usual tastes, this would be a great place for a special meal.

Finally got around to trying J Red and it totally lived up to all the good things I’ve been hearing. The service was great and I was able to meet with Chef Jason, so personable.
We had the 3-​trio dip to start, the pesto so delicious. With a name like Thai Fighter, I had to get this dish which was inspired by Chef Jason’s travels to Southeast Asia. It was a good portion size and I while I shouldn’t have finished it, I could stop, it was so good. It was my daughters birthday and they brought out their Nutella Pizza — the crust was thin, warm and the Nutella spread was just the right amount of sweet.
I highly recommend J Red, it’s great to have one-​off restaurants like this with personality in Brampton. I’ll definitely be back — thanks Jason and the entire team!

Okay, so where do I start.
I’ve been there twice already and I still think the food is over-​priced.
First time I came here, I tried the Thai Street Fight, which was good. But $ 19? Kinda excessive. Also had the Mac and Cheese Samosas, which were good. On the other hand, the fire n ice app, which is sushi. Not so much. The rice on it is really thick and extremely chewy. The «fire» part which is probably pan fried was alright but the «ice» part was not. Did not enjoy that.
Second time I came here, it was on a Tuesday. Wanted to try their buck a shuck. Any way, they had a seafood menu for that day and I really wanted tacos. Two tacos for $ 15? And no side? Kind of disappointing. Oysters were alright. Should have more options on sauces.
Wish the presentation was also better. Why not invest in some stainless steel platters and an oyster fork.
Any way, I will probably return. Tuesday is half price wine. Also, service is great here as well.

Seriously great place! Brampton has needed a place like this for a very long time. The service was great, very cool atmosphere, and the food was amazing. The menu had so many great things to pick from.
I had the Thai Fighter noodle dish recommended by Dane our server, OMG it’s like crack in a bowl. Had the 3 dip appetizer with smoked avocado guacamole… yes… smoked avocado guacamole. My son had a pizza from the wood fired oven, amazing.
AND local craft beer. I am going back on Tuesday for the live music and ‘Buck a shuck’ oysters!
My new go to place.

That was a disappointing experience.
I hesitate to not let emotion get the better of me while writing this, because while I’m sure that the lunch and dinner menus are stellar, the Mother’s Day Brunch my family and I attended (the first such brunch that the restaurant has held, according to what I heard from the servers) was ultimately frustrating and not up to our expectations.
I had been meaning to visit J. Red & Co., as I was aware that there was a Unilocal Elite event several weeks back (which I hadn’t attended), and the guests who took part in it spoke very highly of the Thai-​influenced menu, specifically the «Thai Fighter» dish. It was a bit of a surprise to arrive at the restaurant and learn that not only was this the restaurant’s first experiment with a brunch menu, but that the options presented were ultimately limited and forgettable.
When we arrived, one family member had come in advance and had been waiting for 15 minutes for our eight-​person table to be set up, clearly annoyed with the situation. As we walked to our table, I noticed a scant number of the brunch items set out on a pair of tables. My initial confusion was somewhat allayed by our waitress’ note that there was also a station nearby where you could get a custom omelette made fresh for you.
The weakest part of the experience was the brunch itself. There was no information on it on the website itself, so we had to go in blind.
We were told that we couldn’t order anything off the menu due to the aforementioned brunch (if you came in and wanted food, this was the only thing you could order), and what was presented was basically a second-​rate breakfast buffet. Cold scrambled eggs, Caesar salad that tasted slightly mushy due to too much dressing, eggs Benedict that looked (and tasted) like it had been sitting out for hours, and prime rib that was a bit too pink for my liking. We did inform a server at the buffet station that the food was cold, and to their credit, they put lids over the trays and turned on the burners underneath to warm them up.
Considering the reputation I had seen here on the review page and through the glowing reviews offered by several prominent members of the Unilocal community, I was shocked and disappointed that there was none of the restaurant’s signature Thai flair on display. I sampled a bit of pasta they also had that reportedly one family member told me had «hot sauce» in it, but it was just some standard elbow pasta with the tiniest hint of spice.
Hell, they could have done so much with this buffet. Some more meat options, a platter of vegetables, more lunch options, something, anything! Even the desserts came off as being reheated from frozen and sporting bland taste.
The only thing that really saved the experience was the omelette station. We were able to choose any of five ingredients and watch as the omelette was made by a very chatty, pleasant chef who was more than happy to accommodate vegetarian or egg white-​only requests. Likewise, the servers were very outgoing and chatted at length with us about the restaurant itself and how busy it was that day — an estimated 250 – 300 people were expected to come through.
That being said, I wouldn’t have come here and paid $ 23 plus tax if I knew that all I was going to get would be a bunch of cold breakfast options, a tray of pasta, soggy salad and (admittedly-​great) potato salad. I would have just gone to a Golden Griddle or other breakfast joint in my local neighborhood and paid half the price for something with better quality. Half of our group basically swore off the place and said they’d never come back.
In spite of everything I just said, I’d likely return here for the dinner menu because I know how good it will be based on the recommendation of the community. The brunch as it stands was a wholeheartedly lackluster affair, even for a first try, and I hope my next experience here will be better.
I’ll amend my review if/​when I return.

Haven’t actually been there yet. Will write a review when I do, but it looks like a happening spot with lots people outside and the update look outside makes me want to take a look. Should really change the Osso Bussco sign on the outside sign by the sidewalk… a bit misleading.

I went with a group of friend and the food is mediocre and over-​priced. Below are what we ordered:
Bod and Doug burger: good
Superfood Salad: not good, there’s cumin in the vinaigrette, which is very odd. The kale was blanched. Nothing special, I can make it at home, though I would not put cumin in it.
Thai Fighter: meh… for $ 19 I would expect something more stand out. The chicken bits were dry.
I would not recommend unless you want to go just for the ambiance. No comments on drinks as I didn’t order any. Would rather spend my money on a hole in a wall for a great food experience

Came here with a friend for a late lunch and the atmosphere is quite unique and hipster. We shared a popcorn shrimp appetizer and the beef bourguignon farfelle pasta dish. The popcorn shimp was quite unique in the presentation with it coming in a popcorn bag mixed with real popcorn. The beef bourguignon was quite tender. Would come back to the place if back in area.

Had the Bob and Doug burger and it was fantastic.
I would definitely go there again and would recommend it to anyone.

We went here based on good reviews. I will review the following items we ordered:
Mac and cheese Samosa=good
Meat pizza=burnt
The king pizza= burnt
Wings=no taste
Grilled chicken= was okay but rice was not good
Zucchini fritters=good
Would not recommend this to anyone.

I’m so impressed that I might make the trip up to Brampton just for this.
After an amazing Unilocal Elite Event held here, I decided halfway that I was already going to stay behind to have more of the deliciousness I had experienced. Our server, Sonya was ah-​maaazing. She was very sweet, taking care of our needs while making sure all our orders were coming on time.
We all ended up ordering a variety of items from the menu. I probably had the most ‘boring’ one because I was recovering from being sick, but it was far from boring to me. I had the soup of the day, which was a cream of celery with bacon. Wow, it was so flavourful and they definitely did not use those fake af bacon bits that barely cost a dime. I was pleasantly surprised to find thick chunks of bacon in a creamy soup that did not stink of celery.
The boys mostly ordered burgers, which was the biggest, most intense and meatiest burger I’ve ever seen. With thick slabs of bacon and a juicy beef patty, it was every man’s dream. I thought it’d fall apart in 0.2s but the pretzel bun held it’s own throughout every bite the boys sank their teeth into. Impressed! Lambert P. had these shoestring fries that reminded me a lot of my favourite fries of all time — Mickey Dee’s! They looked so good that I almost forgot I had a sore throat and wanted to grab a bunch to shove down my throat. Almost. Cherrie T. had these mac and cheese samosas that I just could not resist. I had to take a bite of one of the most interesting dishes I had ever heard of and I was not disappointed. It’s exactly what it offers. And who can forget Kris U. and his love for the thai fighter dish. It disappeared faster than anything else on the table. That dish must be spectacular in itself — the owner actually used all his determination to get the recipe from a legit thai guy with a mo-​ped in thailand. How freaking cool!!!
Overall, it was a very enjoyable meal and the gorgeous restaurant that doesn’t stick to any theme in particular. Will return for sure.

I just visited this place for the Unilocal leap year event this year and I was honestly pleasantly surprised.
Located in Brampton with plenty of parking in a small strip mall, from the outside the place looks on the shall side. But upon entering it was actually more spacious then I anticipated, the layout has the bar to the left of the entrance which has a long narrow shape where as the dining room is to the right with ample space and tables. The design is very fresh and modern, not cluttered and gimmicky I find the aesthetic welcoming but classy.
I wasn’t able to fully experience the full range of what this place had to offer as I had to leave for a family emergency but while there I was able to sample some incredible craft beer. Nice to know they have one of my all time favorite beers, Fruili! It’s light and mildly sweet with a refreshingly clean after taste … Seriously one of the best fruit beers I have ever had!
The staff I found incredibly friendly and helpful, they seemed to handle the large crowd very well and were on point telling patrons about all the delicious treats rolling out of the kitchen, which as I mentioned was open concept. Very modern and clean the kitchen really seemed like a well oiled machine silently pumping out deliciousness. I will say that the bar is a tad on the small side but it is surrounded with Windows making it seem much less cramped then one would expect.
I most certainly will be back to try some fire oven pizza, I noticed it while chilling at the bar and was seriously intrigued. I shall be sure to update you as soon as I do with mouth watering pics too

I hardly ever go to Brampton. If I’m lucky it’s maybe 3 to 6 times a year. For a city that’s as close as it is to where I live it’s seems much further than it actually is probably because of the traffic up the 410 which is practically a deterrent to want to drive there. I actually asked somebody if Main was was extension of Hurontario because I really had no clue.
Because of my clear lack of experience with this city I hardly make the trip. For some reason I think that may change and if it will I would have to say it would probably be because of this place.
I ended up ordering a Hop Bot, some fiery crispy Nashville style chicken wings and the Bob and Doug burger.
The bar side is more than adequate for a good number of people and the lighting and décor is done tastefully. This place gives me the feeling of being easy on the eyes while not being out of date. I like the modern look to the place while it seems functional, esthetically pleasing and comfortable all at the same time.
The wings came out first and I shared them with several others. For some they seemed rather spicy but for me and a few of the others who are more accustomed to spicy hot they seemed rather mild but tasty. They had a side squeeze bottle of tasty hot sauce that has flavor and tang, not just heat. I really liked these wings. I’m used to battered but these are crumb breaded, dry not saucy and it’s a nice texture change to your every day crunchy heavily battered or even lightly battered or naked wings.
I am already a fan of this place based on how they cooked their chicken wings and if you know me, fried chicken is a staple of mine and I have to say this place does it differently than most and they are very good.
The burger choice I selected was actually the same choice as 2 others at our table so the 3 of us all ordered the same burger but everybody had a different side. I had asked for mine with shoestring fries. The burgers are served on a plank and is described as follows, «Peameal bacon, maple glazed double smoked bacon, crispy Vidalia onion ring, Ontario cheddar maple mayo on a pretzel bun.»
So… that description is essentially 19 words, 3 commas and a period. That ranks right up there as the most efficient use of 19 words I’ve ever seen. Of course it’s not like the establishment can or should write a Declaration of Independence document to describe this thing but I get it. They just have to say what’s in it. How you perceive it after the fact is up to you. If not for fried chicken I can safely say I love my burgers. This Bob and Doug description is IMO probably the most underrated and simplistic description of a burger I’ve read in comparison to what the end product is. Unassuming? Umm, ya?
Bob and Doug of course is in reference to the McKenzie brothers. I will tell you what it’s like in a not so humble way without only telling you what the burger’s parts are made from. This burger to me is the cultural epitome of a Canadianized burger. There, I’ve said it. I don’t give such specific praises to great burgers because while there are countless establishments in the GTA nevermind the entire continent but what makes up this burger and how it’s put together to me is what makes J. Red stand above some of my other 5* burger loves in which to date there are only 4 that are still around for me.
Still this version from J. Red is simply the most Canadian version of this food to date for me and just because it is so patriotic isn’t what makes it great. Bacon on bacon? Yes that’s been done but the maple and maple with bacon and bacon is a double/​double. Granted sure the vidalia onion is help from the great state of Georgia but what an amazing choice.
This burger will drip a bit. It’s juicy and the soft pretzel bun is probably perfect to balance out this burger. The overload of meat and insides require such a bun with the kind of structural integrity that can be had with a durable but fresh pretzel bun so kudos for that decision. Honestly I’m more partial to brioche but it’s probably too light for this heavy requirement.
While I’m not really a fan of non-McDonald’s shoestring fries because many places don’t do a good job, J. Red’s shoestring fries are good. To start off they are piping hot fresh when I received them. That in itself believe if or not if a challenge for many places. LONG fries, not itty bitty pieces but long, hot, skinny strings of sunshine.
This burger alone to me is worth the drive to Brampton. Thankfully the government is widening the 410 right?
Our server Sonya made myself and the others feel quite welcome and was very attentive and friendly. In the end the service was beyond great.
So with a tasty wings, an exceptional burger and great service to me J. Red & Co. is an easy 5. If anything it probably sets a new standard for my favorite burger.
J. Red & Co. will be my first review to make both my fried chicken and burger lists.

So decided to eat here after the Unilocal event to try more items on the menu because the food was so good! As we get out Bob and Doug burgers omg it’s definitely one of the best burgers and most filling burgers or all time! I had to sub a soup for my side because I was so full from early and it was deeelicious. Sadly I didn’t finish the soup as the burger was the real money maker haha!
Once again the service is one of the best service I’ve had in such a long time! Definitely a million out of 10! We had one of our friends burgers drop to the ground and no hesitation on a sorry and right back to kitchen. The mac and cheese samosas are definitely something to try! The fries are amazing omg definitely if you could get these fries they are on par with like all the great fries out there!
Definitely come here for your money’s worth and then some!

Visited on Saturday 27÷02÷16 at about 9:00. Dining area was packed so we asked for the booth in the bar, they seated us within seconds. Hostesses were pleasant and very efficient at their job.
I think I have found my favorite hang out in Downtown Brampton. Each dishes flavours were distinctly different and simply amazing. The atmosphere and design is trendy and energetic.
My boyfriend and I had decided to walk to this establishment after our meal and get drinks, but we stayed over 3 hrs in a comfortable booth in the bar area, talking and just enjoying the general ambiance of the place.
Our server was such a lovely person, engaging and good spirited, I adored her.
Drinks were different and very VERY good.
In all this experience was deserving of 5 stars. I hope to be a patron for a very long time.
Atmosphere ⁵⁄₅
Food ⁵⁄₅
Drinks ⁵⁄₅
Prices ⁵⁄₅
Service ¹⁰⁄₅ (She was exceptional)

I was looking for a new (and hot) restaurant to check out and I came across J. Red. After looking at the menu I was personally convinced, sent it over to the boyfriend for approval and once he saw Mac and cheese samosas it was no contest.
The restaurant itself is pretty big and the inside is a cool vibe, the bar is kind of sectioned off, cool art very «Toronto» feel. We did a reservation and it is a good thing! It completely filled up by the time we left.
For apps we obviously got the Mac and Cheese Samosas which were completely delicious. The red curry ketchup they come with is awesome, now regular ketchup just won’t do! The other app was the Green zucchini fritters. They were crispy perfection! Highly recommend these two apps.
For my main I got the Crispy Eggplant and Cheddar Stack (crispy fried eggplant with smoked cheddar, vine tomato chutney, onion sprouts and chickpea relish on cranberry multi grain focaccia bread) sans cheese. It is a small portion which works fine for me, but would probably not fill most people up (so get an app or dessert!). The bread it came on really made the sandwich.
My boyfriend got the Bob and Doug burger — pemeal bacon, maple glazed double smoked bacon, crispy Vidalia onion ring, Ontario cheddar maple mayo on a brioche bun. I don’t eat meat but I will admit it looked epic (refer to pics) and he confirmed it was the best burger he has had as far back as he can remember. Also, there was a woman at the table beside us that got the same and I overheard her saying it was the best burger she had ever had in her life.
For dessert I was a bit disappointed. I was pretty excited and got the Smashed Lemon — warm short crust cookies with house made lemon meringue, toasted coconut and sweet lemon candy. Yah nothing was warm at all! What a let down. It was a celebratory dinner so I was totally all in for dessert but it tasted like cookies straight from a box :(
All in all I am still giving a 5 star for their inventive menu that tastes as good as it sounds and great customer service.

Cute new joint… I’d definitely try it on a Friday or Saturday night. We went for brunch and it was quick and fast and the service was great.
Their dinner menu looks pretty good so definitely a place to try if you live around here.

I had to check out J. Red & Co because it was getting such great reviews and I had a couple of friends who were raving about this place. I am glad to say that they didn’t disappoint. I had the Bob and Doug burger which was full of flavours and tasted amazing, but the item that truly made this place was the Nutella pizza which is a simple concept but it was so good.
This will be one of go to spots from now on.

This new restaurant gets a big five stars here, but it’s not only for the food: it is for the full package, including above-​and-​beyond levels of service. But, let’s start at the beginning:
My husband and I went here about a week ago because I’d heard about it and wanted to try it. We were pretty early, arriving at a little after 4 pm., and most of the restaurant’s patrons at that point appeared to be employees gearing up for dinner service. It was nice seeing people who knew each other chatting and prepping, so that was pretty cool.
Our server, whose name I did not catch, was clearly experienced. She was serving in the bar area, and she was in her element, presenting as friendly, knowledgeable, and appropriately humourous.
The food was excellent, though the brisket bombs weren’t quite what I was expecting. Part of what I think of when I think of brisket is that texture of the meat, and that’s missing from these. That said, the flavour, texture of the breading, and the adorable presentation (with a Thai chili) was good. I enjoyed them a lot, both with and without their accompanying sauce.
I also tried crispy eggplant, which was a bit on the plain side, but very well-​prepared and completely delicious. I love eggplant, and I loved these. I could eat them every day.
For my entrée I had the Bob and Doug burger, which was perfect. I, like another reviewer, wasn’t quite sure where the onion ring was, but all the textures and flavours and generous helpings of peameal bacon among other things, was out of this world. Indeed, at one point I was full and opened the burger to snag the last nibble of peameal, and I think I figured out where the onion ring was… if that is indeed what I was seeing, it was so generous and tasty that it became one with my pretzel bun. In a good way. I promise.
I got Caesar salad on the side since I was already getting the fried eggplant and the brisket bombs came with fries. Also tasty and well made.
My husband got the «Smurf and Turf». It was really, really good… the tender filets were cooked beautifully. The crab stew was rich and. I guess it was good. I don’t like crabs. My husband vouches for it, however. ;) The one confusing thing was that in the wording of the menu we thought there would be an actual crab or pieces of a crab along with the filet, and that it was all topped by the crab stew, but it was not the case. That said, no complaints about the content of the plate. It was beautiful, had grilled veggies and super-​tasty potatoes, as well as a generous portion of crab stew and yummy steak.
Next time I plan to try the mac n cheese samosas, or maybe the OG pizza. Or both. Because reasons.
So the thing that topped me off from four stars to five (I was on the fence) is that my husband accidentally left his backpack here. It had computer equipment in it and stuff like that. We initially called and they said they didn’t see it, and so we were stumped. We thought maybe it had been stolen. But, a week later, thanks to some incredible detective work on their part, we got a call about it. They had it after all! So our computer stuff is recovered, and so, perhaps, is a bit of our faith in humanity.

I visited J. Red & Co on a Friday night with very high hopes. There was a long wait but we were invited to sit at the bar until our table was available. The hosts were both very pleasant, professional, and polite. When our table was ready, we were seated and decided to order the mac and cheese samosas. These were awesome and if I was in the area, I would totally drop in for more of these! I ordered the Crispy Eggplant and Cheddar Stack sandwich as my main, and it was alright. The flavours of the sandwich were good, but not one part of the sandwich was crispy. It was mushy. The others in my party ordered steak (well received), chicken (slightly dry), chicken and waffles (very pretty, but a little too sweet for this person’s taste), and the thai fighter (well recieved). The service was pleasant and friendly, but a little slow especially for 9pm, when the restaurant is emptying out.

I wanted to love this place. It’s been a long time coming that the west end gets more reliable, casual go-​to restaurants where you can undoubtedly say, yes, the food’s decent too. Sadly, this isn’t the spot for us — unfortunately, regrettably, despite looking forward to a nice Friday evening meal, the food here fell pretty flat.
Normally, I base a review on the overall picture (food, service, ambiance). But unfortunately, our meal here was so tasteless, overtly mediocre and lacklustre that, these 2 stars are pretty much a reflection of the food. Coupled with the price point, the meal left us pretty disappointed. First, the Chicken & Waffles (at $ 21) was a bit of a disaster. The waffles were so soggy and overly soaked in its savoury sauce that when you cut into them, they actually completely fell apart. I was basically eating rice and chicken, if I went by texture. Second, the Bog & Doug burger was as hard as bricks, and a bit lukewarm in the middle, which makes me wonder if the meat was frozen and just re-​heated. Plus, the menu said the burger came with a «crispy Vidalia onion ring»… first world problems jokes aside, where was the onion ring? It wasn’t in it! On the plus side, I loved the shoestring fries. While it was definitely over-​salted, I don’t mind salty fries (hence, my trip to McDonald’s after this meal). Lastly, our Nutella pizza was decent. Although, at $ 9? Not quite sure it was worth that price point.
On a positive note, our server, Dain, was sweet and fantastic, and saved what would have solely been a downright terrible meal. Great, friendly service. Also, the restaurant is set in a fantastic, large open space, which is great for big groups. But, unfortunately, that’s where the positives stopped for us.
For two people, with tax and tip, we paid around $ 57.00 (keep in mind, that’s with no drinks).

Had lunch here today and when we walked in we were greeted and seated immediately. Their décor is very urban, reminds me is downtown Toronto and their food is great. They had a good mix of all sorts of things including burgers, wood over pizzas and sandwiches. I had their beef dip sandwhich which has plenty of beef and a great horseradish mayo that gave it a nice kick. My partner ordered a bento box which allowed him to sample many other items on their menu. The bento comes with a soup, salad, sandwich, a few pieces of an app and dessert. He enjoyed the chowder and the Montréal smoked sandwhich. I also tried their brisket ball, it was filled with flavor. I think this is a restaurant Brampton has been missing and I see it becoming one of our favorites soon!

I don’t know much (
) but I know I love you…
So while the old sounds of Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt fill your ears let me describe the love affair that began this week as I visited
& Co for the first time — it’s a story of food that not only filled my belly… but filled my soul as well!
HA HA… OK I really wanted to do this review as cheesy as possible but as I sit hear listing to this song, I can’t keep a straight face (mostly because I’m asking how in the heck Aaron Neville was popular in the 80’s with that Jerry Curl and that yawn-​like voice), but you know when you have a crush on someone and anytime you think about them you just smile. Yeah well I’m thinking about my meal yesterday for lunch and I’m literally beaming from ear to ear.
So
& Co is the passion project of head chef and owner Jason Rosso who has been cooking all over the world for nearly 30 years. The moment you walk in the smell of firewood hits you, not because the building is on fire but because their giant stone oven is blazing, fired by wood and cooking pizza to order. I’d describe the décor as an eclectic mix between refined and rustic, settling somewhere in the casual dining area.
I didn’t bother to look at the menu much once I was seated and essentially let chef choose for me so he suggested I start with the Mac’N’Cheese Samosas and follow it up with his signature dish. Now before i go any further, yes you heard that right, Samosas filled with hot and gooey mac’n’cheese. What a crazy combination, but it totally works! You get about 4 – 5 samosas in an order with each being about 2 – 3 bites. These were incredible… just incredible.
Now on to the signature dish: The Thai Fighter. I learned that Chef Jason was at one point in time not only a chef in Thailand but also training in Muay Thai (Thai boxing), and while he was there he learned how to make a unique Thai street food dish from a local who would cook it fresh daily off the back of a mo-​ped scooter which he’d fashioned a small kitchen to the back. Bringing this recipe in it’s exact form back to Canada with him, it’s a flavourful perfectly spiced, delicious dish that you can easily ask to have the heat kicked up on, but for the timid the standard offering is… «just right» so it’s good for all tastes. I’d like to tell you more about this dish but it’s the reason I’m smiling today… seriously. It’s not quite a thai curry, not quite pad thai, it’s shrimp, noodles, chicken, veggies, basil and a little bit of heaven. So rather than me ruin it for you… just get in there and try it.
I was drinking water but I did make note of their on tap offerings which included two wines on tap! They’ve got a super diverse bottled beer selection so I think you’ll be impressed with it if you’re into «good beer». I’m excited to come back next week for lunch again so I can try more of their menu
So to quote Mr. Neville once again «And that may be all YOU need to know…»
Eatcrest Out

Well this spot just opened up in the Brampton area and it has been open for about 2 weeks now. My girls really wanted to check it out so I joined them.
Now I hate to give this restaurant 4 stars, but there were some areas where they fell slightly short on getting the 5 star rating. Now remember, 4 stars is not a bad rating at all.
So let’s get started. We were a group of 5 women who love food to the fullest, so we wanted to try as many things as we could.
Appetizers:
— Rick’s Mac and cheese samosa (these were good… great crispy outside and yummy Mac and cheese inside)
— Crispy Nashville style wings (the wings were my favourite, I would have salted it with a tad more of flavour. But overall large sized wings fried to a crispy gold)
— Creole spiced brisket bombs (this was probably my least favourite, I didn’t really like the texture of the brisket inside and it was heavy on the cumin… I think that was the spice in it)
— Green zucchini fritters (these were good as well, reminded me of a vegetable pakora)
— A trio of roasted red pepper hummus (the bread was nice and soft, out of the 3 dips, the warm spinach one was my favourite, not so much the hummus.)
Now our entrees:
— Le Frenchie salad (I personally ordered this dish and I must say, I love salads and this really didn’t do it for me. It was missing that oomph of flavour, more acidity would have been nice. Also, I think if they used a seared ahi tuna, would have made the salad better. The ahi tuna seemed like it was from a can and the texture wasn’t the best)
— Prime squared burger (hands down, this was the best thing from our mains. The burger was so tender and juicy)
— Fire grilled steak frites (the fries were cooked nicely and crispy. The steak could of had more seasoning. It wasn’t bad but it needed something.)
— Pappardelle bourginon (the pasta was cooked nicely, but it did lack in flavour. It needed more salt and possibly more garlic would have brought out the flavours. Beef was tender though)
— Montréal clubhouse sandwich (this sandwich would have been good if there wasn’t so much whole grain mustard. It overpowered the sandwich and gave it an off taste. Suggestion would be to have it on the side to control the mustard portion.
Now the service…
Everyone who came to our table were extremely pleasant and friendly. Our table was wobbly and they tried to fix it right away. Also, the server was very diligent in keeping us informed or aware of anything that may not be up to par. For example, she let us know ahead of time that the glassware for the wine was not in an actual wine glass and asked if that was ok. Also, when the wine we ordered wasn’t chilled, she informed us of the issue and suggested another similar wine instead that was ready. The food came out in a timely manner and we got a complimentary Nutella pizza for dessert! Which was yummy!
The décor is very modern and inviting. I like the layout and the colours. Great for large groups.
Overall, for a brand new place… I think this place is doing well so far with the menu, just minor tweaks. Great atmosphere and staff. I definitely want to come back to taste the brunch menu. I think this place will be good in Brampton, we’re missing a place like this in our town.
Everyone should give this place a try!
Thank you again for a nice evening!

I’ve been eagerly anticipating this place’s opening as they’d been building. The thought of a unique, modern and upscale restaurant in Brampton was exciting enough; however having one only a stone’s throw from my place (well, if Jose Bautista was throwing) only built up the anticipation that much more.
I finally made it in today and was floored by how gorgeous and spacious the place is. It’s modern décor with quite a bit of flair, and the place could probably fit 100 people. Very friendly and attentive staff to greet and service us throughout the meal.
I was with the little guy, and figured the safest thing to do would be order pizza for him. The pizzas on the menu are all around the $ 15 range, but when I described that he just wanted pepperoni and they figured it was just for him, they said they had a kids one. It’s not on the menu, but a great option to have, especially since it’s ½ the price of the pizzas on the menu. Not the cheapest item you’ll find for kids if you compare to other places; but a fair price since it’s still great quality and cooked in a wood-​fired oven. He loved it naturally.
I went for «Backyard Special» burger which is essentially a standard burger with cheddar. That said, all of the ingredients are premium, from the brioche bun, mixed greens and fresh angus patty. That quality was evident in the tasting and even the cheese really stood out. There was a great house-​made relish on the side which was nice. I went for the house salad, and glad I did since it was made with top quality greens, as well as roasted peppers with cheddar in a subtle chilli vinaigrette.
It’s only my first visit; however I can confidently say this place is primed to be the best restaurant in town in almost every respect. Moreover, J Red and Co. would stack up against virtually any comparable place in the GTA. I’m so glad there’s finally a place like this locally. Now it’s up to others — Bramptonians in particular — to discover this place for themselves and celebrate something that’s been lacking for so long until now.