On a recent visit to Applebee’s in Windsor it was nice to see that they are promoting some local wines. Table cards titled “Local Wine Features” were left on every table advertising Pinot Grigio and Merlot Reserve from Pelee Island Winery were available by the glass, litre, or bottle.
This is the first corporate type of restaurant that I am aware of locally that has made an attempt to offer local wines in their restaurant. I applaud them for doing this.
Applebee’s gets it while other corporate run restaurants are missing the boat. One of the main reasons I started the web site Essex Wine Review was on a visit to the downtown Windsor Keg I asked if they served any local wines. When I was offered the wine list the Keg believes that local wines come from the Niagara Region. They just don’t get it.
It was explained to me that the Keg’s wine list is set by head office out of Toronto and that while the local manager would love to serve wines from Essex County he couldn’t.
Just last evening (New Year’s Eve) on a last minute whim we decided to go out for dinner after a movie. Bed Time Stories with Adam Sandler was the movie in case you were wondering. Having no reservations on one of the busiest evenings of the year for restaurants left us with little choice. We decided to see if we could get into Tony Roma’s at the Devonshire Mall. We had been at the one in Banff and really enjoyed it.
It was busy there but our timing was good as they did have one cancellation and were able to seat us right away. The ribs were good, our server Ashley was fantastic but like the Keg, they do not offer any local wines. They also do not get it.
If anyone from the Keg or Tony Roma’s reads this and has enough power and sense to change this no local wines policy let me know and I will return to your restaurant. Until then, I am going to Applebee’s.
Happy New Year!
Gary Killops