Claudio's

Wow! I was completely amazed with this gem of an establishment. Located in a beautiful historic home, it exudes charm even before you walk into the door. There is a free public parking lot adjacent to the restaurant for easy access as well as the Go station just 5 minutes away. Once we entered, we were greeted by Claudio, the gracious owner. He seated us and provided us with an elegant Prix Fixe menu for New Year's Eve with a wonderful selection of choices ranging from meat, pasta and seafood dishes. He recommended we begin with Prosecco to toast the evening. We then ordered grilled shrimp and grilled calamari. Both superb appetizers. Flavoured perfectly. For the main course we chose spaghettini di mare, a generous array of seafood atop a bed of pasta. It literally melted in your mouth. There were two variations, marinara and white wine sauce, both equally enticing . To end the meal, which seemed like a let down, because the food was that good, was the lemoncella cake. I have never tasted a cake like this before. It was made with real lemon. The generous portion included 2 pieces. It was so good I ate both even though I barely had room. It was an explosion of smooth flavour in your mouth with every bite. A decadent and wonderful way to end a perfect meal. The bread came to our table warm, accompanied by a medley of olives. The wait staff was attentive and personable. The decor created an old world atmosphere throughout the charming building. A cozy fireplace added to the romantic and welcoming ambience. Touches of crystal and silver in the gorgeous ceiling light fixtures, and silver wreaths in the windows as well as candles made you feel right at home on a frigid winter's day. A lovely garland of greens embellished the high ceilings. Dark wood floors and white table cloths created the right sophistication. Chef Kristine was an artist with her culinary skills. From the moment we walked in, we felt like family. Claudio even greeted us at the front door as we left and wished us a Happy New Year. It was our first time and I would visit again and again, and I would highly recommend Claudio to everyone. His restaurant has surpassed all of my expectations. It was the perfect backdrop to a New Year's Eve I will never, ever forget for the rest of my life. Not sure if Claudio will ever know that he helped to create a memory that I will look back fondly on forever. ❤

Amazing experience for a date in Hamilton.  Probably the best pasta I've had not only in Hamilton but anywhere in Canada.

Make sure to try the Gnocchi Quatro (4 cheese) and the Veal Henry.

Will be back next time I'm in Hamtilon!

The 3 of us couldn’t have been happier with our experience. Our server Rinaldo, an older gentleman dressed to the 9′s in his suit, was FANTASTIC! He was attentive without being overbearing. He answered all of our questions and was happy to give suggestions wherever he could. We couldn’t have asked for a better server. We were fortunate to have a quiet dining area (we dined early on a Tuesday) with some light music in the background. I didn’t get a photo of the decor as there were other patrons around us that I didn’t want to disturb. It felt very much like going to an old Nonna’s home. The staff and ambiance were very friendly and welcoming. Everything was top flight. While I wouldn’t call it my favourite restaurant in Hamilton, I’d definitely say it was a great experience and would highly recommend dining at Claudio’s Ristorante.