please don’t change a thing, love the new place, food and staff.

congrates on your purchase

Cimo’s still fires up a better Filet Mignon any day of the week.

Josh, can you check into the way that the waitresses are expected to receive a certain amount in tips, or they get penalized. Heard a rumor about this.

The food is OK for a steak house.

We are quite fortunate with the quality of restaurants available in Prince George. The Copper Pig, Nancy 0’s, 54 North, Chimo, Hummus Brothers. Of which anyone of these independents are of franchiseable quality.

Josh, Congratulation is in order firstly. Sorry for critiqueing first.

If the restaurant is run like the greenhouses, your methods of taking the high road should make for a great success in the new venture. Wish you all the best.

Well, that’s great! After a few mediocre experiences we had given up. But now we will give it a try again!

Congrats to Jos on the purchase. We go to the Keg a couple of times a month and enjoy the atmosphere. Great staff. I know your family will take very good care of it.

Great news! Josh is a super classy guy. The Keg will be in good hands.

Will the Keg finally open for lunch, or are they still braindead?

The Art Knapps on Highway 97 South closed a few years ago. So we now have two. One on the Hart and one on 16 West.

Congrats! When I’m in town, I love going to the renovated Keg.

The lounge has quickly become my fave in PG. :)

thanks for the update Palopu,

Great news Jos!

Expensive food for what you get; have been to the reno’d one twice with much disappointment. Copper pig is way more fun.

Congrats Jos, good purchase. It hasn’t been luck that’s kept the restaurant open as long as it has in fickle PG.

I agree with one of the posters above that it needs to open for lunch.

We did our 30th anniversary there after the grand reopening. They completely blew it. Won’t go back.

wow excellent news! gave up on the Keg long ago, was disappointed when i heard they took down all the old pictures, have not been to the renovated one, but will certainly try it know that a reputable businessman has purchased it, can only get better now.

Dragonmaster, going there with a large group, as soon as it opens. I think your expectation was unrealistic.

Anyway, Josh, you must feel pretty good about it, knowing your well respected.

I think they would need to do a soft open, like lounge service if they do the lunch thing. They would need a different meal idea to hit the lunch crowd. I think the entrée need to be under $20.00 if they want the lunch market place. Still a lot of people work downtown.

Ohhh Chocolate, great candy and sweets, but beyond that, its pretty bad service outside of lunch time. They better nip that in the butt pretty quick. Went there a couple of times and it was, oh I will get your order in. Half hour to get a sandwich in a empty restaurant is lack of management.

He Spoke,

Where did DM say it was a large group? And why should he have lowered expectations?

Pylot, you are correct, I made a assumption he had graduated in Prince George and his group would have been at least 30 plus.

If the restaurant had just opened a week earlier, the staff would all be new workers, they may not have waitering experience, etc. Thus not knowing how to expedite. True that would also be middle management to ensure this is not a problem, but in reality, middle management is hanging out in the lounge.

YOu have to remember the restaurant was closed for 18 months at least, so it would be all new staff.

The important thing is, We have a new owner, he will make the required changes and we must all try it out.

Two is a large group? Two weeks advanced reservations, a table for two beside the kitchen right next to the stairs. Pitiful!

Graduated? Group? 30 plus? A week earlier?

I have been to the keg about 20-25 times since it opened. Never once have I had any complaints.

Went to copper pic for lunch one day, have not been back, did enjoy dinner at north 54 last weekend, always have great lunches there.

I find when it come to restaurant food it’s each to their own. Have heard numerous times about people cooking a better steak/meal at home. Then stay home :) I love being well taken care of and no dishes. But as I said, each to there own.

“Expensive food for what you get; have been to the reno’d one twice with much disappointment. Copper pig is way more fun.”

I’ve been to both. The renos at the Keg are excellent. I too love to just go to the lounge. No reservations requires, can always walk right in and its the Keg. I’ve been to the Copper Pig. It reminds me of my Grampa’s rec room. Benches and pine décor tell me it’s a place to simply go fill your face. I guess I don’t go to the local restaurants to have fun.

I have had nothing but good service at the Keg. If I had a dig, the layout in the main part is a little choppy. I guess it’s good if you want a little privacy. Again, service has always been good. Just my humble opinion.

How are people keeping track of all these businesses they boycott because of one bad experience? It all seems like a lot of work to me. :-)

Over the years I have become a foodie. I love going to Vegas, for the great restaurants from the best cooks. Sure its over priced, and your paying $60 for a steak, another $15 for the side vegetables, extra for the Au jus. But man is it good.

Prince George don’t compare to this level yet, but its not too shabby for the price.
54 North, does it spot on with Rene being the waiter. He comes across very sophisticated, but humorous. The food is perfect, the service is impeccable, never in the past 20 plus years disappointed.

Nancy o’s the Poutine is the best in town. There soups are good, but they need to preheat their dishes. The soup is cold by the time you get it.

If you like smoked food, go to the Pig.

I haven’t been to Chimo’s enough, but what I had there was good.

Hummus Brothers, great bunch of Tapas. Very good way to get your fill.

I like the independent establishments because they do a better job on changing things up.

The Keg will not change their receipe’s, its not in there vocabulary to have each restaurant to do their own thing. So, you can go this month, next year, and its still all the same ole, same ole.

We always had good meals at the Keg when we lived in PG, no complaints. That said, I wouldn’t compare it to a “true” steakhouse you’d find in a bigger centre. There is a difference IMHO. The Keg, after all, is still a franchise operation. Like He spoke said, there are many things that independent restaurants can do that the bigger chains can’t. Local produce, flexible menus, etc.

From a culinary perspective, I’d say that North 54 and Cimo are excellent. In fact, I think they would more than hold their own in a larger city where diners have many choices when it comes to smaller independent restaurants. The White Goose Bistro was also excellent IMHO. One of my absolute favourites in PG before it closed was Meteora Taverna. I loved the food there. I’ve never been to Nancy O’s or the Copper Pig, so I can’t comment.

It’s too bad that folks in PG can’t take in the rustic charm of a breakfast at a sugar shack here in Eastern Ontario or Quebec in the Spring. Fresh maple syrup right from the tree, locally smoked ham, fresh bacon, pancakes, sausage, cast iron omelettes and on and on and on . . .

I’m drooling just thinking about Saturday!

Pretty hard to beat the 2 beef and cheddars for 6 bucks at Arby’s

JB says “How are people keeping track of all these businesses they boycott because of one bad experience?”

Its easy JB, you just start scratching things off the list based on heresy and pretty soon you never leave the house, just sit on the computer and whine. ;)

Congrats Jos, the Keg has been very good since the renos.

He Spoke, you are right on the money with your assessment of local places IMO. We have some great food in this town.

Congrats Jos, you have made an excellent investment. Will you be cooking? A hidden talent, I hope?
Man, you could turn it in to a real jungle with plants, ponds, fish, couple well behaved spider monkeys…….
Wish you well.

Waste of money. I can cook a better steak at home.

If your daughter is even a bit like you Jos in the plant business. This will be a huge success.
Congratulations!

chevy2000, ever go out for a drink ? if you do cant you pour or open a better one at home..lol

I don’t know about chevy2000, but I definitely can pour a better one at home. I didn’t let that bartender course I took in my 20’s go to waste.

Life is too short for cheap crap food and alcohol. :)

I hope The Keg the best success though. My sister and bro-inlaw love the place.

Will I get a potted plant if I place an order?…lol

Anyway, best of luck to all.

I guarantee that my steak is 10 times better than any steak that you would get at any restaurant in PG My drinks are stiffer too.