Visited August 20, 2026, for dinner.
Jack Astor’s in Kanata delivers the lively bar-and-bistro atmosphere the chain is known for, but our dinner was not uncomfortably noisy. Bar music played throughout the evening, while the crowd remained manageable enough for conversation. The menu covers handhelds, salads, appetizers and an extensive drinks list.
Birria barbacoa tacos
The birria barbacoa tacos were the unmistakable highlight. They delivered an explosion of flavours, and every bite felt satisfying and worth the order. The meat, toppings and seasoning worked together without one element overwhelming the rest.
Cocktails
The pineapple in the piña colada tasted notably fresh and gave the drink a bright, natural flavour. The mojito was the opposite experience. Despite ordering it with double liquor, it remained bland, and the mint, lime and other intended flavours never surfaced clearly.
Thai curry
The vegetables were crisp and blended well with the dish, but the sweetness of the sweet potatoes became overwhelming. The rice was difficult to identify by variety, yet it was superb.
The curry needed roughly twice as much sauce. More than half of the chicken seemed glazed rather than properly coated in a generous curry sauce, leaving the dish less cohesive than it could have been.
Service
Service was very fast. Our server, Tom, kept the meal moving efficiently without making us feel rushed.
Verdict
The birria barbacoa tacos are the reason to return: bold, satisfying and consistently good from the first bite to the last. The piña colada also benefited from genuinely fresh-tasting pineapple. The Thai curry had strong components but needed more sauce and better balance, while the mojito was the clear miss.
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