LOCAL Eatery & Refuge

I join a friend at a new concept restaurant in Burlington to see what all the buzz is about. I discover an urban / fun / young (& young thinking) clientele who are quite happy to get to know the folks on the bar stool, or in the booth, next to them and strike up friendships.

I feel a bit of a 50's Drive Inn/Happy Days nostalgia, or perhaps Cheers, mingled with the modern comforts of about two dozen flat panel TV screens and attractive decor. It's a comfortable place. The sports buffs here are also clearly at home.

The food and wine focus are local Ontario, and very fresh. They have big plans to continue finding new discoveries in Ontario wines. Gems you won't find in LCBO. They're talking my language!

I order a pint of Guinness to start. There's a way to dispense Guinness.  It is properly poured, I might say. Good start.

We order Southwest Rolls (a hint of spice, and delicious), Pulled Pork Taco with pineapple (excellent), and Avocado Burger (fresh, savoury, and mouth-watering). I am not that easily impressed, so all 3 of the dishes come as a welcome surprise.

I plan to go back and meet more cool people, enjoy the genuine friendliness and product knowledge of the staff, and try out some of those new wine discoveries.

LOCAL is part of the Tortoise Restaurant Group Inc family, well known for Turtle Jack's.

Locations:

4155 Fairview Street, Burlington, ON
Telephone: 905-633-9464

2 Fisherman Drive, Brampton, On
Telephone: 905-495-1126

Web: http://mylocalrefuge.com

Our favourite #lcbo #Vintages stores and why ...

The Vintages section of your local LCBO is a treasure trove of the most exciting wines at LCBO.

Vintages carries the world's best wines.  The Product Consultants (you'll recognize them by their white shirts) are truly expert in all things wine! Get them to point you to one of the Viewpointe wines pictured, or to any of the other stellar wines in their section!

Following are our 11 favourite Vintages stores, for selection, staff knowledge and layout.  These stores are all members of Viewpointe's "Go-To-Market" connection. We deliver directly-to-their-doors.

Photo: Viewpointe High Pointe Syrah and Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, stacked high and ready to wow your senses. These reserve wines do NOT take a back-seat to the Rhone or Burgundy!

BURLINGTON

LCBO Store # 481 :

FAIRVIEW AND MAPLE (MAPLE MEWS)

1235 FAIRVIEW STREET

MAPLE MEWS PLAZA

BURLINGTON, L7S 2H9

Telephone: 905-333-3111

Fax: 905-333-3218

GUELPH

LCBO Store # 495 :

SCOTTSDALE & STONE ROAD WEST

615 SCOTTSDALE DRIVE

GUELPH, N1G 3P4

Telephone: 519-823-5080

Fax: 519-823-2139

TORONTO - ETOBICOKE

LCBO Store # 149 :

BLOOR & ROYAL YORK (KINGSWAY)

2946 BLOOR STREET WEST

TORONTO-ETOBICOKE, M8X 1B7

Telephone: 416-239-3065

Fax: 416-239-5266

TORONTO

LCBO Store # 10 :

YONGE & SUMMERHILL

10 SCRIVENER SQUARE

SUMMERHILL SUBWAY

TORONTO-CENTRAL, M4W 3Y9

Telephone: 416-922-0403

Fax: 416-922-3104

LCBO Store # 217 :

QUEENS QUAY & YONGE

2 COOPER STREET

QUEEN'S QUAY

TORONTO-CENTRAL, M5E 1A4

Telephone: 416-864-6777

Fax: 416-864-6863

WATERLOO

LCBO Store # 115 :

KING S. & WILLIAM (WATERLOO TOWN SQ)

115 KING STREET SOUTH

WATERLOO, N2J 1P2

Telephone: 519-886-4970

Fax: 519-886-1572

WINDSOR

LCBO Store # 34 :

WALKER & OTTAWA

1320 WALKER ROAD

WINDSOR, N8Y 4T9

Telephone: 519-254-1543

Fax: 519-254-1291

LCBO Store # 153 :

HWY. 18 & ERIE STREET

16 SEACLIFF DR. EAST

LEAMINGTON, N8H 3C4

Telephone: 519-326-3481

Fax: 519-326-1645

LCBO Store # 278 :

E.C. ROW & MANNING

15 AMY CROFT

TECUMSEH, N9K 1C7

Telephone: 519-735-2661

Fax: 519-735-2310

LCBO Store # 367 :

HOWARD & E.C. ROW EXPWY (ROUNDHOUSE CTR)

3165 HOWARD AVENUE

THE ROUNDHOUSE CENTRE

WINDSOR, N8X 3Y9

Telephone: 519-972-1772

Fax: 519-250-1206

LCBO Store # 490 :

LAUZON PKWY & TECUMSEH (PARKWAY PLAZA)

7201 TECUMSEH RD. E.

WINDSOR, N8T 3K4

Telephone: 519-944-4014

Fax: 519-944-3527