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Monday 21 July 2014

Isaac's Way

In the old York County Courthouse, in Fredericton's Downtown, sits Isaac's Way. I'm told Isaac's Way has expanded a lot in recent years, having come from a small location. The spot really couldn't be better, located right in the heart of the city (I've no doubt that it's packed at lunch on weekends). The beautiful historic building on the outside hides a swanky modern design on the inside, and there's no doubt that this is one of the better decorated restaurants I've been to in Fredericton. They also have a lovely deck out back, should the weather permit. I've been to Isaac's Way twice so far- once just for dessert, another time for a full meal (which will be the main focus of this review). We arrived when it wasn't so busy yet, and were promptly seated, and provided with plenty of water, and very friendly service. The service remained friendly throughout the meal, although, as the restaurant became busy, it was abundantly clear that it was also under-staffed, and we were left without drink refills, and then waited a long time to pay the bills. This isn't the staff's fault, of course-it was busy at an odd hour, and everyone remained really friendly throughout-but it was a bit of a nuisance. I ordered the special, Fish and Chips. It was served in a light batter, very non greasy, and well-proportioned between batter and fish. The fries were also nicely done. It was certainly not a bad fish and chips however, given the restaurant's reputation (and décor), I was expecting something a little better-it was quite average,really. My fellow diners tried a wide range of foods- the menu has some interesting choices- and the burgers, chicken, and tofu and peanut butter noodles all received positive reviews (I can vouch for those noodles-they were quite good). The prices for our orders were quite reasonable-the Thai peanut and tofu noodles, coming in at $16, was the most expensive at our table-although there were much pricier options available. The real treat at this restaurant, both times I visited, was the dessert. Their menu contains what appear to be home-made desserts, and they have the essentials: carrot cake, pie, and chocolate cakes. I've tried the brownie chocolate cheesecake both times, and it's, without any doubt, worth returning for. I've heard similar things about the carrot cake. Overall, Isaac's way has great atmosphere-well decorated and in a historical building, it will impress family, dates, good friends or business colleagues. There's a wide range of menu items-mostly the standard burgers, sandwiches, etc. but with a few fun twists-and the prices range from surprisingly reasonable (the burgers were around 12-14$ each) to a little pricier (but on par with the atmosphere). The service did really lag towards the end of the meal, however, and that is one of my bigger bet peeves. I also want to make a point of noting one thing that did impress me very much- a waitress taking the time to explain menu items in French to francophone diners. This isn't something I see nearly often enough in Fredericton, and I was extremely pleased to see it here.