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If you’re looking for a restaurant to host a celebration near Brantford in Ontario, the first thought you might have could be a chain restaurant like The Keg or something mid-range like a Montana’s. You could also drive a little further to something in another city that might turn up on some of the fanciest lists of “must dines”.

However, there’s a hidden gem near downtown Brantford that not only should be your first stop, but is absolutely delicious enough to travel for. That’s On The Lam, which boasts an intimate seating area and a truly next-level menu for smaller-town dining.

The Food

The menu will rotate to seasonal offerings, so what was on order in February 2025 may not be the same. However, every single bite I had was amazing. Plus, the quality of food you get for the price is fantastic.

The Korean Fried Chicken: This is prepared with scallion, soy, toasted sesame, and spicy aioli. The chicken was tender and there was a fantastic amount of crunch and a hint of spice from the sauce. The small microgreens helped balance and the sesame and soy gave it a unique flavour profile. Absolute winner of an appetizer and would definitely choose this again.

We also ordered bread & butter, which was an additional upcharge, but found the quality of it to be higher than if it was just for the table. The amount given to us was more than enough to share between three people.

Squash Ravioli: (Note, this is currently not on the menu but may return in the winter). This ran the risk of being overly creamy, but the sauce was balanced extremely well. It tasted lighter than it should have been given that it’s a winter squash dish. It was a good portion and didn’t leave me feeling stuffed.

Puffed Potatoes: When we ordered these, we had expectations that maybe they would be airy and fried. In fact, they’re one of the more unique things I’ve ever tasted. On the outside, they’re absolutely fried given their appearance, but inside is actually the texture of whipped mashed potatoes. They’re creamy, delicious, and served with a sour cream and chive sauce. It’s a totally unexpected texture, but in the very best way. I highly recommend this because it’s the first time I’ve been truly shocked at what you can do with a potato.

The Drinks

There’s a decent range of drinks to be had here and the wine menu offers some higher quality items that aren’t that high in price. You can also choose several cocktails as they have a bar close that will make them for you, but you won’t go wrong with choosing a glass of something to go with the meal, whether that’s red or white.

The Service

The service truly shines here. In our case, the host and waitress for our table was also the owner of the restaurant. It became quickly evident how much of a labour of love that On The Lam is. They’ve worked really hard to rebrand and create a menu for people who are looking for delicious food in the Brantford area. Our waitress gave us great details about the food and the service was extremely prompt. There’s always proper attention to your table thanks to the limited number in the restaurant.

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Overall, I highly recommend On The Lam for your dining needs. It’s a great restaurant for a celebration, but it’s also just a good place to get dinner overall if you’re in the area.

Check out their menu to see what seasonal specialties they’re serving up and give it a try!

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