Teo Paul owner of Union and Cote de Boeuf in Toronto has brought his magic to Le Tambour Tavern in Hamilton.

Teo Paul has taken a former rooming house and live-music avenue and converted it into a rustic Parisian Steakhouse in downtown Hamilton. Le Tambour Tavern is the latest addition to James St. North’s amazing restaurants and the buzzing food scene in Downtown Hamilton.

I am heading to Le Tambour Tavern to celebrate my 22nd wedding anniversary. Kendall did call me about my reservation and I told her that we are looking forward to coming and celebrating our anniversary.

As you enter the Tavern, the bar is impressive. The dining room is behind and the high ceilings and original flooring give it a relaxed atmosphere.

I like to see all the action and decided to sit at the extended bar section.

It gives you a good view of the bar, the dining restaurant, and the kitchen.

The food menu is classic Teo Paul, homespun, back-country, bold flavors in your face, and changes daily. The piece de resistance and game changer that adds that extra flavor and smoke to the food is an open-fire grill. This is primal cooking at its best.

The beverage menu is nonfussy and shouts try me with any of the rustic meals.

Debbie orders a Cosmo and I have a glass of Jean-Paul Daumen Mediterranee. The earthy and spice-driven red gets me ready for the evening.

We order the Cote de Boeuf and know it will be an hour before it will arrive. Who cares? I am surrounded by hip servers, and bartenders and the crowd is humming.

Debbie wants another cocktail. I tell her to tell Kendall what alcohol she likes and see if they will make her a cocktail. The versatile bartender acquiesces to her wishes and comes up with Bee’s Knees. I have another glass of La Paria.

The Cote de Boeuf with grilled vegetables and French Fries arrives.

The steak is delicious, the vegetables done over fire are amazing and the food is more than enough for two people.

It is time for dessert and we go with the Sticky Apple Cake and it is scrumptious. Debbie wants a cocktail and I tell the bartender to make something with the dessert and he delivers again.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Le Tambour.

When I go to a restaurant I want the host to greet me warmly and have a sense of humor, check. I want the place to be clean and the washrooms to be extra clean, check. I want the servers to be friendly but also have their own unique personality and style. Every server is warm, and friendly, with great smiles and funky tattoos, check. I want the food to tell a story and deliver in taste, texture, smell, and flavor, check. I want the bartender to be open to serving something from outside the menu, check.

Go and have a meal at Le Tambour. I had a great experience and strongly recommend having a meal here. Kendall is hands down, the best server in Hamilton.

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