It's been a long time since I have visited a Pickle Barrel--what a change! The new location in Newmarket ON looks like it has cloned the feel of a Cheesecake Factory. Nice decor, a thick paged book for a menu, complete with advertising and stunning photography. And the menu was no longer the classic home style food of the old Pickle Barrel. I remember their Belgian waffles from years ago--yum.
I had the Rose Reisman inspired Paella because the picture looked very tasty. The presentation was good on all the plates at my group's table. Unfortunately the paella was a 3 dressed up as a 9. I could not figure out why the plate was screaming hot, but the food was cold. I bit into a piece of chicken so cold that felt like it was partially thawed. For $17 the dish contained 3 medium shrimp and 4 tiny mussels. The flavor was surprisingly bland.
The desert sampler was six mini martini glasses filled with a variety of deserts for $11. All of them were very good, but the Tiramisu was the best of the lot and the only item I had that was worthy of my expectations.
This was my second attempt at the new Pickle Barrel in Newmarket. I went the prior Saturday morning for breakfast. The picture of the Eggs Florentine was enticing, so I asked if they made their hollandaise sauce from scratch. I discovered they make it from a powder. I skipped the Eggs Benedict and went for the safety of eggs over easy with bacon and multigrain toast. The eggs came out undercooked.
Powdered hollandaise, possibly frozen ingredients and pale flavors--try this restaurant once for the experience, but I doubt you will be able to rationalize the price with the result. I wish there was a Cheesecake Factory closer than Buffalo NY...