Janet Lynn's Bistro

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Janet Lynn's Bistro is located in uptown Waterloo. They are known for being one of the pricier and fancier restaurants in the area. We came here with high expectations of fine dining. I think we were a little disappointed in that the high prices weren't backed by superior service or food quality. The food and service were both good and above average, but didn't seem worth the extra cost.

Cost

Entrees are $20-$40. Our bill for two without drinks and dessert came to around $80 after tax and tip.

Dress

The restaurant is a little fancy. I called and asked if they had a dress code, and they said they didn't, so we went fairly casual. During our visit, the restaurant was pretty much empty so we didn't feel out of place with how we were dressed.

Items Ordered

Bread

Bread

The bread at Janet Lynn's seems to be quite famous and a conversation starter when you first sit at your table. The bread plate comes with a large flat bread placed standing between slices of white bread. It's a bit of fun trying to break pieces off of it without it falling over. The flat bread is actually quite tasteless unless you add some of the provided butter. The white bread was also fairly plain but tasted fresh.

Janet Lynn's Caesar Salad

Janet Lynn's Caesar Salad

The Caesar salad was a bit better than usual. The dressing and croutons had an extra nice flavor. Otherwise, it was what you would expect from a Caesar salad. The portion was just enough for one person.

Thai Soup

Thai Soup

The soup was fairly spicy, but good. It had a strong coconut Thai flavor. It was mostly broth with a few pieces of chicken and vegetable in it.

Risotto & Pork Tenderloin

Risotto & Pork Tenderloin

The risotto had a nice mushroom flavor. There were quite a few mushrooms in the dish. There were also some red pepper pieces. The pork was sliced thin and was quite tasty. Overall, this dish was quite good. I would order it again if I happened to find myself here.

Black Angus Beef Tenderloin

Black Angus Beef Tenderloin

Yukon Gold Latkes

Pictured is the 3 oz. Being a small eater, I was pleased to see a meat portion that I can actually finish. The beef was ordered medium-well and it was served medium. The sauce and mushrooms were really good and went very well with the tenderloin. I did find the sauce a little bit too salty (although it was also quite flavorful). The few vegetables included broccoli, carrot, asparagus, and beet. The vegetables tasted very buttery.

I thought it was a bit strange that the potatoes were served on a separate plate, and didn't really fit with the rest of the dish. They were delicious on their own anyway. They were served with a bit of sour cream on top. The potatos were nice and crispy on the outside while soft on the inside.

Parking

Dining Room

The restaurant is located across the street and down a few stores from Waterloo Town Square. There is lots of parking spaces available there.