KB

Really nice restaurant in the heart of Whitby. Great food with wonderful ambiance. Friendly and attentive wait staff
Really liked the Flat Iron steak with mashed potato, fiddle heads and crab cake. Menu features local and organic ingredients and is changing constantly so you can keep coming back for new finds.
Good selection of craft beer on tap as well as various other libations..

After being told numerous times to check this place out, me and my girlfriend finally decided to go. We made reservations for 8 and were promptly seated. We were given paper menus and told that it was because the menu changes on the daily basis, which I thought was pretty cool. They told us they use organic, sustainable ingredients whenever possible and that most of their stuff is local as well.
We ordered cocktails to start. I got a caesar, which is how I base a restaurants cocktail ability, since a properly made caesar isn’t easy, and it was good. On the spicier side because they used Walter mix but very good. The girlfriend got a Kbana, which was a rum drink with fruit juices and other stuff. Not for me but she enjoyed it.
Then appetizers. We ordered buns, which I thought was a little strange they didn’t simply come to the table, but they were amazing. Hot and fresh, with herb butter. So good. We also ordered the grilled octopus, which came on top of fingerling potatoes and was great as well.
On to mains. For myself, I got the venison sirloin, on top fingerling potatoes, with a beet salad, sautéed greens and jus. It sounded a little fancy for my taste, I like simple food, but it was actually really good. The deer was cooked perfectly medium rare, and the potatoes were crispy. The slightly bitter greens offset the sweet beets and the balance of the entire meal was perfect.
The girlfriend ordered hanger steak, which was tender and well marinated. I didn’t have any of her sides but they came more or less the same as mine, since the deer was on special as a protein and was probably just integrated into the ingredients they already had.
Finally, dessert. We were given a dessert menu, and asked if we wanted coffee, which we did. The dessert menu contained multiple options, as well as a list of gelato and sorbet. We settled on the «share plate» of 3 items. Flourless chocolate torte, crème brûlée, and mango sorbet. We waited a few minutes, and our coffee arrived, and it was really good. More of a diner style coffee, which I love. Then the desserts came out and we were NOT disappointed. The chocolate torte was so decadent, the girlfriend could only handle a few bites, but I devoured it. We moved onto the crème brûlée which was rich and creamy, with a perfect crispy top and a sugar art presentation. We both agreed this was our favourite of the trio. Then we finished off with the mango sorbet. It was creamier than most sorbets, which made it all that much better, and the mango flavour really came through.
All in all the experience left us full, satisfied, and with a slightly expensive cheque, but we both agreed again, it was totally and completely worth it. You truly get what you pay for, and we got a fantastic evening full of delicious food.

Honestly my DC and I had reservations here in October on the way back from Montréal but we over ate way too much to eat anything else for the week.
Fast forward 5 months another mistake lead us here. Mistakenly bought Oshawa tickets for marianas trench instead of toronto so with 3 hrs before the concert when we found out dt we sped over this way when I remembered this gem.
Best mistake ever! Great friendly faces and service. Everyone seemed genuine and professional.
For appetizers we had veal meatballs and tripe parmigiano. First the meat balls, tender and jam packed full of flavor! The sauce was definitely tomato base but almost had the texture of butter malsala sauce without the curry base. The tripe was in its own category overall, tripe was soft and not chewy with a great refreshing tomato sauce and baked with cheese and topped with a thick rusty piece of bread. Great thing was both tomato and meat base but totally different flavors.
Mains we got the asian artic char cooked in a banana leaf, I’m normally really iffy about getting asian food or even fusion but great choice. Fish was perfectly cooked, flakey and moist. The coconut with ginger really flavored it lightly but well.
The second entrée was the fried buttermilk chicken (brined in bourbon) with and spicy slaw. Frites were meh but the sandwich on a potato roll was delicious. I was too involved in my fish to care much about that though lol
Overall amazing farm to table type dishes with a lot of creativity and heart!
One of my favorite dining experiences in 2016!

This was our first time to the restaurant and we went on Valentine’s Day. Upon arrival (on the exact time of our 7:30pm reservation) we were told that our table would be a few minutes and to go to the bar to order a cocktail. Yes, this is an old technique by servers to drive up the bill but if I could suggest that they don’t do this when there are clearly 5 tables of two set and ready on the floor and no line up at the door.
I ordered a «Glamour Girl» cocktail at the bar «while we wait for our table» and it was just ok. Served in a wine glass with ice and a straw (one of my pet peeves) it was watered down and maybe better suited for a summer beverage on a patio.
For starters we ordered the lobster Mac and cheese which was very tasty but came as an entrée size (I recommend sharing this). The bone marrow which was good but under seasoned — a little salt on this dish would have elevated it to the next level. The toast points that accompanied it were done perfectly. We also shared the house pickles which consisted of beets, onions, pickle and carrots. The pickling flavours on this plate seemed to be quite basic. I probably wouldn’t order this again.
Entrees were sirloin and pasta (apologies, I can’t remember the exact name of the dish) and it was quite good. The pasta was cooked to absolute perfection! If the culinary team is reading this may I suggest pairing these noodles with a braised meat and rich sauce on a future menu as it would be amazing!
The second entrée was the rack of lamb which I ordered a glass of red wine with. Although there wasn’t a lot of meat on the rack, the squash ravioli it came with was quite filling. There are a lot of flavours on this plate which I liked but might be too much for others (depending on your taste).
Earlier in the evening while waiting at the bar, we heard a server talk to another guest about the delicious Butterscotch Torte so we knew that is what we wanted for dessert. However, when we tried to order it, we were told they had ran out. Again, it WAS Valentine’s Day but it seemed a little early to run out of a dessert offering. So instead of each of us getting a dessert, my partner ordered a café late and we shared a crème brûlée. I do not like coffee, mocha or espresso flavours AT ALL so you can imagine my disappointment when I tried the crème brûlée and it was pure coffee flavour (although there was no indication of this on the menu or description from the server when we ordered it). Sadly, this was how my meal ended.
Overall the meal and experience was «ok — good» and I will go back and try it again.
I think there is room for some finessing within a few areas of the restaurant but like I said, I would go back and try a few more dishes and cocktails.
Let me know what YOU think and if I should try something specific next time.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I made the trip from Toronto to Whitby to eat here but it ended up being a real treat. It’s a farm-​to-​table, local produce-​type restaurant with none of the pretentiousness you might expect.
Firstly, hats off to the service. It was really good. The waiters on both occasions were very pleasant and the water was always promptly refilled.
Now the food. Given the frequency at which the menu changes, what’s there today might not be there tomorrow. Saying that though, there were a few standouts. We really loved the mac and cheese appetizer and the pickled vegetables. For the mains, the first time I went, I had some fantastic pork chop. The second time, with no pork chops on the menu, I opted for the short ribs. The short ribs were a bit salty but it was still pretty decent. My partner ordered the home made ravioli which we both agreed was really good.
All in all, a solid place to have high quality meal.

Came for an early dinner one night on a friend’s recommendation. Because it was early were were seated right away and basically had the place to ourselves.
The service was superb. I have never met a waiter that was so friendly and engaged with us so well. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, and very helpful with making our selections. Unusually for us, we got both a starter and a dessert.
We started with the aracini rice balls. They were fried perfectly and filled with curried cauliflower. Super yummy. I had the pork, and my friend had the meat platter which came with house sausage, duck confit, and a third meat that I can’t remember as our visit was a few months ago. I don’t like duck particularly but would have ordered that duck in a heartbeat.
Everything was fantastic.
We finished with the lemon Panna Cotta and it was accompanied with goose berries. Delicious.
Everything here is homemade, seasonal, and in most cases, local.
Looking forward to an opportunity to go back soon, and write a review when the meal is fresh in my mind.

We have been to KB several times for date night. The food/​wine is always exceptional and the service is great. Make sure to have reservations otherwise the wait is quite long on the weekends.
We had the lamb shank and the hanger steak. The lamb melted in my mouth and was well seasoned. The hanger steak was cooked to perfection and the sauce was amazing.
Definitely one of rare great places to eat in Durham!

We have been here a few times. absolutely love their food and the atmosphere. No matter what we’ve tried, it’s been delicious! Love KBs! :)

As Whitby natives we have been to KB a handful of times now. The service is always top notch. The staff is friendly and accommodating. We actually had a chance to sit down for a drink with Kevin one evening and get to know who is behind everything.
The food at KB is definitely in the upper tier of Durham region. We recommend the duck liver plate. Delicious.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the food and service at KB.
First off the waiter was just amazing. So accommodating and personable. His recommendations were spot on for us and we bantered back and forth like we were old friends. we will come back just for the service alone.
I ordered tuna tartare, bone marrow and then finished with the Venison rib eye. My wife ordered braised pork belly. I can say this is in the top ten meals I’ve ever eaten, with the Venison so perfectly rare it melted in my mouth.
We can’t recommend this little Gastropub enough. Love it!

Love this place. Been once with my boyfriend and once with my family, everything was excellent both times. The wait staff is extremely friendly and helpful, and the food is incredible. Will definitely be going back in the future.

Wow! The food was amazing. Delicious meals made with local ingredients with an ever changing menu. Dessert was to die for. Excellent service, our waiter was excellent and the staff was very friendly

It would be difficult to recommend KB on the strength of a particular dish — I’ve never seen a menu that changes so often! However, because they make the effort to change the menu to suit the produce and meat available, you’re probably going to enjoy whatever dish you do order.
The restaurant is very central to downtown Whitby and I’ve never had an issue finding parking. The interior is a bit eclectic… it’s modern and hip, but also has some odd murals painted that detract from the overall look. It’s unique, but not as professional as the rest of the restaurant.
Service has always been good, and a few servers are really excellent. We’ve been recognized after only a couple of visits. We’ve also been for brunch — excellent choice if you’re sick of the standard brunch faire other restaurants offer.

My boyfriend and I came back here for valentines day dinner. When I made a reservation online, within an hour someone had called to let me know they were doing three seatings on valentines day, 5pm, 7pm and 9pm and was I okay with the 7PM instead of the specific time I’d asked for. All was good and I got another confirmation email a day or two before.
I’ve always liked KB but this was one thing I felt warranted a re-​review. We arrived a bit early to find a lineup at the front door. Luckily we were at the front of the line up because it was very cold outside and the line went out both doors and onto the sidewalk. I cannot fathom why the maitre’d wouldn’t start seating people as they arrived for the 7pm seating. He kept coming and going from the podium, organizing the one-​pager menus in order. While he did greet us and the couple ahead of us, I felt like we were all being ignored. It would have made more sense for him to stick his head out the door and greet the customers waiting and assure them it wouldn’t be long.
Standing there, waiting to be seated was frustrating. Especially when only there were at least 6 tables open in the main room, dressed and ready for people to sit at. We waited to be seated, and then were taken to one of the tables that was ready to go in the main room. Someone wasn’t on their game — to make your customers wait outside in the cold because you haven’t got your tables sorted it out is bad. Don’t have a 7PM seating if you’re not prepared to receive everyone at 7PM and seat them PROMPTLY.
To make matters worse, with the doors open because people were waiting, the front of the restaurant where we were got very cold. A table next to us had both people with their winter coats on (and they’d been there since before we arrived) and they ended up being moved to the back room because they were too cold. We were cold as well but knew it would warm up once everyone was sat.
Aside from the rocky start, everything was very good. I can never say no to the arancini here and they didn’t disappoint. We also shared the pear bruschetta, which is an experience to eat, so totally different than a traditional bruschetta but just as delicious. I believe I had steak for my main and it was excellent! This was one of those plates where every single individual item is stand out on its own, but together, its a flavor medley that makes you keep going back for more. Such a skillfully put together dish (as expected!). We didn’t opt for dessert — I haven’t been here and had a dessert that blew my mind or that I really felt compelled to get. I’m hoping they update their dessert options as right now, they’re kind of boring.

I don’t visit Whitby often. Usually I am here because my camera has some issue and I need to bring it in for factory warranty work. For every time I am in the neighbourhood, I always try to go to a «new» restaurant I never been with recommendation from my Unilocal App. So that’s how I ended up at KB.
For lunch you can either order from the Main menu or their limited lunch menu with a sandwich for $ 12 or an entrée for $ 15.
Fried Chicken with Side Salad ($ 15) — Nappa Cabbage-​Apple Slaw/​Sweet Chili Glaze/​Toasted Almond
Crispy Chicken is definitely my weakness.
The dinner menu is really promising and I guess I need to come back again.
KB also serves coffee from local coffee roaster Treblicock which is my favourite coffee beans supplier.
So next time, I need to have a cocktail and a coffee to end my meal!

Came here to celebrate a girlfriend’s birthday. Great food, good wine, excellent service — I will definitely be back. Love that the menu constantly changes to feature seasonal/​local ingredients! And that they have options for vegetarians :)

Pros: Very central location and great ambience. Wait staff seemed very knowledgeable about the wine.
Cons: food is well done but bland. It seems ideal for the white buffet crowd. I had the flat iron steak, crab cake appetizers and my wife had the beef short rib. Food was well done and well presented just bland. Seems like they missed a great opportunity.
Physically it is very small so even getting in the door Saturday or Friday is a challenge. We had a reservation but there is really no where to wait but the front door.
Overall: if you like well done but bland food hit the keg. If I could speak to the chef I would say you are almost there so why not be more daring with your seasoning and make it memorable.

My first Farm-​to-​Table restaurant that was highly recommended by a friend. Sometimes ‘highly recommended’ means ‘if you don’t go, I will drag you.’
Well, FINE then.
I headed there after work. Traffic was fabulous, as usual, so I was starving when I arrived and my mom was super impressed how late I was. Needless to say, an appetizer was in order! Burbs Bruschetta was our selection. Little cubes of sweet pear on a crunchy crostini topped with basil and garlic. I could’ve eaten 10 plates of these. The flavours were perfectly balanced and, not to mention, a great way to wake up those tastebuds!
Our main courses consisted of Willowbrook Farms Porchetta and the Breast of Chicken. The chicken was proscuitto wrapped and pan roasted. My mom said it was seasoned so that it didn’t even taste like chicken; she wasn’t sure she was given the right dish! It was served on a bed of beans and jus. Her plate was promptly cleaned!
‘ve heard so much about pork belly, that I couldn’t resist. If you haven’t had it before, it was daunting at first; the word ‘belly’ was a bit off-​putting. It was so tender, so tasty, so juicy. I expected to enjoy it, but I didn’t realize I’d like it THAT much! The pork was slow cooked and rolled with a healthy layer of fat. I’m one of those people that cuts the fat off everything, but I had to try it as it was intended and I’m glad I did. It actually had a pleasant texture. The meal was served with mixed veggies in a tomato based jus.
Desssssserts! Since, I’m a bit of a crème brulee fanatic, I chose the Avocado Crème Brulee. I know you’re thinking the same thing as I was, but I HAD to. My mom picked the Homemade Pecan Tart. The tart was topped with merengue and whipped cream. After my mom’s first bite, she definitely caught the homemade taste; the pastry was just like Nan’s! As for my dessert… it was the most unique crème brulee experience of my life. I cracked the hard, sugar coating and went right for the custard. This was followed by immediate confusion; I literally tilted my head. Trying to taste the avocado was difficult at first and then there it was. Subtle, it gave the custard a smooth texture. It was delightful (not warmed though!). Luckily, my mom tried it and was also confused, so I knew it wasn’t just me. :D
The servers were great. Quick and knowledgeable, they were not afraid to joke with us. I think my favourite moment was when we asked the gentleman for the dessert menu and he said no and walked away, completely straight-​faced. Cracked us up!
We had a great experience at Kb and recommend anyone to go there for either a family gathering, drinks or date night. As a bonus, the menu changes all the time! You’ll never be bored!
Made it worth getting in traffic for!

My real rating is 3.5÷5 but I’m rounding up because I’m all for local restaurants opening up in Whitby. There is a serious lack of original and local restaurants in our town and everyone should check out KB — it’s definitely worth checking out. Considering the menu changes with what’s in season I’m judging mainly on service, décor and price point.
I ordered the Burrata cheese appetizer ($ 10) and the homemade ravioli ($ 22 I believe) and finished our meal off with peach cobbler ($ 8).
All of the food was fresh, seasonal, well priced and GREAT portions. Great food that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Our server was attentive and entertained my questions about where the food comes from, which I appreciated.
I took off 1 point for the décor/​music. There was a mix of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s music playing. It was very distracting, a little too loud you could almost sing along. The ambiance didn’t match the food — it made for a confusing dining experience.
I’ll be back to KB.

*WHITBYLICIOUS REVIEW*
While Torontonians scrambled around to secure reservations during the Summerlicious craze, I decided to take a short drive East to check out Whitbylicious — who can say no to free parking?
This year’s Whitbylicious featured prix fixe menus from 9 restaurants. Downtown Whitby is actually quaint but you can find a handful of amazing restaurants all within walking distance. My favourite restaurants in the area are all around Dundas Street + Brock Street intersection.
This year, we decided to go to kb (the initials of chef Kevin Brown) formerly at the now defunct Burbs Bistro. While his new restaurant is void of white linens, the delicious food is here to stay!
The $ 35 prix-​fixe dinner menu consisted of an appetizer, main and dessert.
We started with a bottle of Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc, quite reasonably priced at under $ 25 a bottle.
To start we had Local Organic Lettuces, green and yellow beans, toasted almond + rhubarb vin. Unfortunately, my dining companion was not too fond of this salad. So…
Take 2: The Grilled Romaine with heirloom beets, egg, house Ricotta + sweet onion vinaigrette. Always been a fan of this salad and the sweetness of the beets played off well against the saltiness of the cheese.
I opted for the Celeriac Bisque with house Guanciale lardons as I was feeling under the weather and this hit the spot!
For my main I opted for Local Organic Berkshire Suckling Pig with beet syrup glaze, local cucumber salad, potato and yam purée in jus. This was quite delicious and the bounty of local Ontario produce made it even better! I always think crispy, roast pork whenever I hear the term suckling pig so this was a bit different than what I imagined. More like a pulled pork or slow-​cooker pork. Nonetheless delicious.
The Artic Char was good, save for the bit of albumin that reared its ugly head on the surface. I really enjoyed the grain salad of bulgur, local beets, greens + rainbow chard that came with. It had a lot of different textures and flavours that just melded well together.
Dessert featured a Local Cherry + Passion Fruit Bread Pudding which was very moist, not extremely dense, and the tartness of the fruits made this dessert just right.
The Lindt Dark Chocolate-​Espresso Mousse was more chocolate than espresso, interlaced with layers of Chantilly and topped with fresh raspberries.
KB is one of two go-​to restaurants for me in the Durham region (the other being PORT in Pickering). It’s hard to find restaurants in the ‘burbs who aren’t «playing it safe.» KB also offers cooking classes and a Sunday Roast (from 4−9PM) for $ 25, which is also a 3-​course endeavour.