Koi Seafood House - Hamilton

After a recent renovation, this place is a fantastic hidden gem. The seafood is cooked to perfection—neither overcooked nor undercooked. The calamari was absolutely spot-on (and I’m quite particular about it). We ordered it to share, but it was so delicious that we had to order another serving. You can really tell that the chef is passionate about food. I will definitely be coming back time and again. The service was excellent, and the staff was friendly and welcoming.

This restaurant has the best food in Hess Village, hands down! Nothing else in the area comes close. They also have some fantastic specials, and the staff is extremely friendly. You definitely need to try this place!

The restaurant has a lovely atmosphere, and the staff was very accommodating. However, I would recommend avoiding the outdoor patio for dining. You might wonder why—there are quite a few homeless individuals and smokers nearby, which can detract from the overall experience. While I understand the management has limited control over this situation, it made for an unpleasant dining experience, especially for non-smokers like me who have to deal with the smell while eating. Although the manager was thoughtful and came to check in, this issue needs to be addressed because it will likely discourage customers from dining outside if they have to contend with smoke during their meal. I won’t be returning for this reason.

Hess Village, what can I say? It’s lively, bustling, and has a diverse crowd of all ages on a Saturday night. The music is fantastic, with a DJ playing popular club hits. There are plenty of areas to relax, including a separate lounge with windows, and a small indoor dance floor surrounded by loudspeakers. The outdoor patio is huge, and there's additional seating upstairs along with food options. The bathrooms are adequate, and the staff is friendly, although the drink selections could be improved. I didn’t eat here or visit the upstairs area, but my friends said it had the same great vibe. It was a good night, especially since it coincided with frosh weekend, attracting a lot of people in their early twenties. I recommend this place for anyone seeking a relaxed atmosphere with reasonably priced drinks—$10 cover, $5 Jagerbombs, and $7 for mixed drinks, beer, or shots, if I remember correctly! Overall, it was a fun experience for everyone. The door staff were very friendly, and the bartenders were quite helpful.

As for kid-friendliness, the waitress was delightful and cheerful. I had the chance to sample the menu and she mentioned that the ice cream would be amazing—and it definitely lived up to her recommendation! I ordered a carbonara and pasta dish, and it was delicious. My friend had the shrimp and salad, which was also very impressive.