Fox and Fiddle: Great food, lost theme

By Sharon Ramirez

 

I have been in the Fox & Fiddle restaurant twice now and both times I was impressed with the food.

The first time I was able to get a soft drink, the potato boat appetizer, the macaroni and cheese and dessert for $40, including the tip I gave to my sweetheart of a waitress. The second time, I tried the spinach, cheese and bacon dip as appetizer, a glass of wine and the mushroom cheese burger which came to around $38 including a tip.

Not only did I get so much for little, I got some incredibly delicious food. At other restaurants, I would have paid a $100 or more for all of that.

Despite the delicious food at low prices, the restaurant’s theme was far from British.

Fox & Fiddle calls itself a British-style pub, but if they had removed the nameplate from the building, I would have thought I had entered a themeless, no-name restaurant.

When I think of a British pub I think of old, cherry or mahogany tables, Victorian-style, black wrought-iron chandeliers with light bulbs meant to look like flames. I also think of a more rustic feel, one exhibited through autumn-coloured walls.

Instead, what I got was a bar with a white marble counter top, black leather seats and black and grey walls. I’m assuming the point was to take the original old-English, British-style pub and modernize it, but in doing so they lost the British aspect altogether.

The only thing that felt British to me was the live band playing instrumental songs reminiscent of old English pubs. This band only plays on Tuesday, so on any other day they play the same music I hear on my radio.

The waitresses wore kilts that were incredibly short and not made for manoeuvrability when they had to clean the tables. For a British pub, the kilts were culturally off-base, not to mention completely impractical.

Despite their attire, the waitresses were very sweet. My second time there, one drew a heart and a smiley face for me on my bill, so that was new. I’ve definitely never had that before.

The British theme was more obvious on their menu, offering Shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and a beef and Guinness pot pie.

I give this establishment seven out of 10 because although the theme was lacking, their food was incredible. I would recommend it to those who are interested in great food and able to overlook the inability to match their establishment to their theme.