Jen P.
Yelp
My husband and I recently dined at Red Onion for a special anniversary dinner. We were staying in Willow, about 15 minutes away, and our Airbnb hosts recommended this place as somewhere to enjoy a great meal and great atmosphere. We made a reservation about 2 wks in advance, and the Resy app they use allowed me to add a note that we'd be there for our anniversary.
Upon arrival, the owner, who was also the host that evening, greeted us very warmly, thanked us for choosing Red Onion for this occasion, and offered us a complimentary cocktail while we waited the few minutes for our table to be ready. We immediately felt at welcome in this very cozy restaurant, and honestly, it set the tone for the rest of our evening.
Our server met us at our table and introduced himself, welcomed us again, wished us a happy anniversary, and then proceeded to go through the specials, with their prices. Already off to a great start!
We decided on an appetizer to share and then each ordered mains - we were initially thinking we would have dessert, but ended up too full. Every bite was great! Now, their menu changes all the time, so most likely what we enjoyed won't be what you see when you go for your meal....but here's a sampling nonetheless:
-- cod salad appetizer - full of delicious and well prepared smoked cod pieces over a bed of mixed greens, fennel, apples and nuts, with a light citrusy dressing - delectable
-- roasted steelhead trout (like salmon) over a bed of mushroom risotto - every bite was rich and delicious; fish was cooked perfectly and the portion was generous
-- rack of lamb with au jus, mashed potatoes, peas and pearl onions - this dish was impressive! When you see an entire rack, cooked to perfection, served with equally delicious sides....well, it is the stuff anniversary meals are made of.
Throughout the meal, our server was extremely attentive, making sure we had beverages and confirming everything was to our liking; there was no rushing, or hard sell for additional cocktails or pressure to have dessert, just a super friendly vibe that we really liked.
At the end of the meal, we asked for a recommendation for a spot for brunch the next day, and our server suggested a restaurant in Kingston, which we visited and also loved. There's really nothing better than being served in a foodie-focused restaurant by a fellow foodie!
Overall, a really, really enjoyable experience, and a place that we look forward to returning to. Highly recommended!