Born & Raised

I gave it a 4 but based off my first experience it’s more of a 3.5 Service: 3 Bao buns: 3 Atmosphere: 4 I was trying to get Bao Buns at 11pm on a Sunday. This was the only place that had them available. I had originally called bcuz the online menu said it had pickles on so I wanted to know if they were dill. The hostess wasn’t sure , she asked someone else they weren’t sure and then she asked me to call back later to see if someone could answer my question cuz they were busy. I also wanted to order pick up but it was unavailable at that time prob also due to busyness I ended up going in and did wait a bit to be greeted. I wasn’t sure who my waiter was so I did end up asking someone if they could take my order. She mentioned she can’t take orders but the bartender will help me. He was very busy making drink orders so someone came up and took my order. They confirmed the pickles are dill. I didn’t have to wait long after I ordered to get my food tho maybe like 10mins. I’ve been trying Bao all around the city. I’ll say the chicken part was delicious, slightly spicy, nicely sauced and a good portion. The bun itself was gummy, chewy, tasted slightly undercooked as opposed to the traditional pillowy softness of a bao bun. I asked for the pickles on the side. It was 2 for $20 they aren’t very big but they are filling especially for an appetizer. Im on the fence if I think it’s worth it, idk if I would go back for them … specifically bcuz of the bun texture. You can go to Plank get more for the same price and they’re sooo yummy (I do ask for them extra sauced tho). I will say again tho I think the born and raised chicken part of the Bao is my fav out of all the ones I’ve tried so far Overall I would go back to try something else. Atmosphere was cool, ambient lighting, live music/karoke and the mc is engaging. The staff were nice. The bartender makes the drinks with good energy. He made me a mock tail called a flightless bird slight similar to a mule but tropical it is was really good pineapple, ginger beer and something else ?? If you like ginger beer I would ask for a higher ginger beer to pineapple ratio

December 31, 2024 on Google

Fantastic service, everyone was so attentive and nice. Dined after the final game of the HAMILTON TIGER CATS 2024 season. 42-20 victory. Born & Raised gets a 5 stars ⭐️ from me. 🖤💛 - cheers 🥂 - JAY T WARSH ~ @JayTSandals on instagram

October 19, 2024 on Google

This place is really good, everything from the customer service, the place and the food was really good. I got the rigatoni Pasta and it was really good. I would really recommend anyone to go here and try out their food. The meatballs were a bit cold but aside from that everything else was really good 10/10

September 21, 2024 on Google

Great food and service. Their pizza was soo delicious I will definitely order it again. Smash burger and fries were average, plus fries were over salted. This restaurant has a good vibe.

September 17, 2024 on Google

Amazing good. Great service. Great place to dine, although it gets quite noisy when patrons are filled in. Highly recommend the Spicy Brussels appetizer (not that hot). Overall, most food items were delicious but quite salty (if you don't like salty food, try to remember to ask for less salt with the server). The spots fill up fast so recommend to make reservation. 🌱 Has a couple more vegetarian dishes that are not called out with the Vegan icon on the menu (e.g., Rigatoni Rose).

May 5, 2024 on Google

Born and Raised: Mixed Experience with Some Concerns My recent visit to Born and Raised had some positive aspects, but overall fell short of expectations. Pros: Lively atmosphere: The restaurant had a fun and energetic vibe. Excellent service: Our server was friendly and attentive, despite apologizing for slow food service. Enjoyable appetizers: The Japanese beer and garlic parm fries were delicious. Cons: Overcrowding: The restaurant felt cramped and potentially unsafe due to the number of people. Accessibility concerns: A chair blocking the entrance created problems for those needing assistance. Unsatisfactory cleanliness: The downstairs washrooms needed better upkeep, with issues like broken doors. Disappointing food: Garlic bread was soggy and overly salty. Pastas and meatballs were heavy and lacked quality compared to similar restaurants. Mislabeled flat iron steak was small and overcooked. Fries were too salty. Automatic 18% tip: Felt inflexible and discouraged fair tipping practices. Compared to recent reviews: My experience mirrored several negative reviews highlighting a decline in quality, except for catering and private events. Recommendations: Consider pizzas and smash burgers, requesting less salt if needed. The prime rib might be a safer choice. Overall: While some aspects were enjoyable, the overcrowding, cleanliness issues, and disappointing food led to a negative experience. Based on this visit and recent reviews, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend Born and Raised.

July 15, 2023 on Google

Unassuming spot, good place to take friends. The food here is tasty, very much enjoy the pizza and tiramisu, which are both light and easy to devour. They have a large pizza oven and product Neapolitan style with the nice char on the crust. Oysters here are fresh and delicious. They have half off oysters on Thursday after 5pm and Sundays!! Their pineapple habanero sauce is delicious! They shuck them really good here too. Very good size too. Cocktail menu could be better. Staff is attentive. I really enjoy their Steak Tartare, they have 2 sizes which is great for sharing or having all to yourself. The pizzas are great, and they have a massive pizza oven inside the restaurant. The Gnoochi is usually my go-to on a cooler day, so filling and savoury. Great portions, food is always good. I LOVE their cookies, omg they are soo delicious and can never just get one. Always busy on the weekend so book a reservation. Would recommend, one of the best spots of James St North in my opinion.

May 6, 2023 on Google

Well worth the drive from Toronto. We had a terrific meal here, including the rigatoni and meatballs, scallops and smash burger. Everything was outstanding. The ambience here is wonderful. Warm and inviting, albeit a little eclectic, it certainly doesn’t strike you as an Italian restaurant when you walk in. But so be it. Everything here is terrific. 🌟 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

April 7, 2023 on Google