Watercress Bistro (Ashanti)

Watercress Bistro in Kincardine exceeded my expectations! The atmosphere was charming, and the service was outstanding. I had the soup and a BLT, both of which were absolutely amazing. The soup was rich and flavorful, and the BLT was perfectly crisp and delicious. Highly recommend this gem for a delightful dining experience!

Nice discovery. Thank you to the random on the street lady that suggested this eatery to my wife and I. Huge portions and oh so good. Pleasant staff. Vegan and vegetarian options. Will probably return here on our next trip here from Niagara. Just a little pricey but what isn't in this day and age!

This restaurant has changed ownership since our first review. It's now more of a breakfast place... The service and food are great. The hostess/waitress is really nice and it's great that she recognizes us and remembers what we like. I would highly recommend this place for a laid back pleasant dining experience.

Delicious breakfast! Staff all had masks for safety. There is a nice but small patio out front, but also seating insdie. It's on the first floor but there is a slight step up to enter the shop. Staff were very nice but the order took long (maybe because it was busy). Very popular breakfast spot. W3 had the omelets and eggs benedict. The ham serving size was huge! Coffee was good, and nice assortment of breakfast drinks like mimosa!

Coffee and breakfast where terrific
Middle of construction made it hard to get too and construction workers ordering lunch caused some delays. Recommend a try.

This is an amazing place to eat! I couldn’t believe the amount of food they give you! Great and friendly service and amazing food! A must to try!

Sunday is brunch only with a nice selection of plate options and belini and sangria. Food in plentiful and fills you up. Selection of indoor and outdoor seating. Payment preference is debit cards and cash.

Very nice cafe/bistro. Friendly service and good prices. We had the Chai Latte, Coffee, Carrot Cake and Bacon Cheddar Scone. All delicious.

This is an amazing little bistro with a great selection of foods and drinks. They also have freshly made pastry options and the most delicious coffee. I would recommend it as a stop for anyone coming to Kincardine for breakfast or lunchtime.

The owners and staff are friendly and helpful. They are delight and part of the experience.

Lovely place for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Food was delicious and staff was friendly.

The burgers are amazing! I have been there several times and loved it everytime!

Lovely! So friendly and helpful. Casey was able to help us find our way around the area. We enjoyed a filling lunch out front at a patio table with our small dog. The inside and bathrooms were clean. Sandwiches were phenomenal and I appreciated the repurposed second hand plates that made the experience quaint, humble and comforting. Fantastic experience! Kid friendly and I highly recommend trying it out. Love Bistro!

Really enjoy having the new owners of the restaurant take over. Love the little changes they have done to the menu. Their custom coffees are always a fan favourite, as well they have a yummy egg benedict.

*I'm amending my original review (below) to a full star rating. The service has gotten a lot better while quality has remained. The servers were always sweet and now more so, also it's a more manageable time from sitting to eating. A huge leap in a positive direction in only a couple of weeks speaks volumes. A great place to eat!

(Original)
I want to preface this with, I 100% support this business and have for over two years. Also this is hands down the best place in Kincardine for breakfast!
However I want to share some constructive criticism as an avid restaurant goer across Ontario and someone who has worked in restaurants in my time.
Things to improve:
-Additional training for some of the staff. Since new ownership, I've been three times. Both times with the young waitress, she didn't notice me. Or if she did she forgot about me. Once the person in the kitchen had to call out to her to let her know I was there as she had served a larger group that came in after me. Some extra barista training can go along way as well. There's some amazing coffee shops in this town to take tips from.
-Also the tables I sat at twice were cleared but not clean. Even when the waitresses came over they didn't notice. I'm going to chalk that up to just a bit of extra training could fix those things.
-Maybe just make the chalk board a lil less crowded. Keep it for most things that change regularly and put the things that are permanent on the menus. (bagels options can be moved to menu, same with new sides)
-Also I feel the tv kind of hinders the vibe of this Bistro. No other non sports bar restaurants in the area do that and I don't feel it's necessary. (Personal opinion)
-I think a printed out drink menu would benefit both the wait staff and the customers. You have a lot of options and it's hard for anyone to remember them all (not a bad thing!)

As for speed of service, watercress has always been on the slow side. I don't mind that, everything is made in house. The wait time is worth it for house made food.
Pros:
Love the addition of ketchup packets, finally enough for the meal!
Love the things that were kept the same
Love the new coffee choice, despite the speciality drinks needing a more trained hand to make them, the coffee brand choice is better.
Love the small menu, it's a very smart choice for a restaurant especially after the change. The few things on that menu I know are getting the love, care, and attention desired.
Love the addition of gluten free bread. It's hard to find a good brand and places that offer it. It was a great surprise.

From what I've seen, there has been some smart choices made by the new owners. I know being new is a huge factor into some of my critical however I think they're things that can be addressed early to avoid any poor reviews.
I have brought friends here, I've come here often alone. I've even come here when I was struggling to eat due to emotional stress and felt relaxed and comfortable here. I have a love for this business and I'm so so glad it remains open and in operation. Even if my gripes aren't addressed I will continue to come here as it is still the best place in town for breakfast!

Great food and service . Coffee is excellent, food came quickly. Good prices. Will be back. They also have gluten free options.

Very cute Bistro!!! Clean atmosphere Friendly staff the Food was top notch And Huge portions .Highly Recommend this place. Five stars

Delicious lunch! Huge latte cups. Huge coffee cup. Enjoyed a pear, brie, and bacon panini with a cup of tomato lentil soup. The cup of soup was in a regular soup bowl size and the bowl of soup of humungous. Good prices, good food, and good service!

We got an iced latte with ice cubes that were made from coffee! Best idea ever. Also loved our ham, apple spinach sandwich with chips and dill dip. The dip was to die for. Would definitely come back, and the owner is so friendly!

Looking for a simple yet healthy and delicious lunch? Look no further than the Watercress Bistro! They have various daily specials and their simple ingredients are blended to create wonderful flavours. They also have specialty drinks, desserts and free wifi. They are attentive to allergy concerns and are willing to accommodate most allergies.

We loved this Bistro, they had a great lunch special, the service was excellent and we sat outside and ate our lunch while watching the people and traffic go by. Wonderful!

My favourite breakfast restaurants in Kincardine! The service is excellent, the prices are right, the food is great, and they're Ontario roasted coffee (from Espanola Ontario) is extremely good. It's even better then the coffee at Beans Bistro but is cheaper. Definitely check this place out if your looking for breakfast.