Dear Brian,
Just wanted to thank you for all of your care in making the team feel at home and comfortable last week.  They had a great meeting and really enjoyed spending time at the pub.  They really enjoyed the second day when the weather cooperated enough to sit out on the patio.
Joanna especially appreciated all of your thoughtfulness with her gluten allergy.
I especially appreciated your patience when the team had the dates wrong and asked me to change it (after we had arranged everything!).  
Thank you so much for everything!  Hope to join you again soon!
Warmest wishes,
Laura

We had our party last night in your room and it was amazing.  Two people (the same waiter who looked after us a year ago for my son's 16th in the party room). SO wish I could remember their names - I believe the waitress was Betty.
They were PHENONEMAL.  They made sure the children ate first, that we all had everythign we could possibly need.  It was loud and insanely busy and they were like our best friends.  I was so so so impressed - please, tell them they made our night.  Forgive the silly and ridiculous people who complained (let THEM try and look after 52 people) and please let them know how much I appreciate everything they did?
Thanks to you from the bottom of my heart for everything.
Denise

Hi George, Brian and Carol,
About a year a go, we had visited your pub and I was struck by it nice setting.  So we drove out of the city hoping to find it again. Lucky we were, we did find it. My partner and I visited your pub on the Monday of the last long weekend(Victoria Day).  We were the second lot of folk who arrived to enjoy a meal.
We were unsure if you were open, so my partner went onto the outside deck to enquire, and we were warmly welcomed by your staff member.
Since this world is filled with people who are so ready to complain, I thought I needed to take the time to let you know what a nice time we had at your pub.
The server was attentive and courteous and offered us a few suggestions about the menu.  We had a wonderful time at the pub.  The meal was well presented, the food was good and the server I would say, is the essence of what you want in someone serving the public.  As time passed on, the deck became really busy, but he continued his steady pace and great attention to each of the tables.  
Besides the great setting, he alone would be a good reason for us to return to The Black Dog.
Please pass this on to him, since he needs to know what a great impression he left us with.  He may remember us, I'm not sure.  Doesn't matter really, he should know what an asset he is to your pub.
Thanks a mil for a great visit!
Best wishes,
Rosie Da Silva and Soren ChristensenBrian,

I just wanted to let you and the staff know that we had a fabulous time on Saturday night.  The two servers were fantastic, Phil made some awesome drinks, and the food was excellent.  So many of our guests commented about the place and service -- I think you may get some additional business out of this! :-)
'til next time,
Juli

I would just like to start off by saying we had an event @ your location on Saturday Oct 17th, it was a surprise engagment party, it went over incredible.
The service was outstanding, the servers were incredible, the setup, and location could not have been more perfect for our event, I just wanted to send you an email to extend a huge thanks for all your help in planning a very important event to me. I wanted to make this as special as possible for my best friend and her future husband as well as all their family and friends. Everyone had an amazing time, it went perfect..there were no mishaps and I couldn't be happier.
They were completely surprised and did not have a clue, and to be honest with you I did not know how we would get them from upstairs to downstairs without them thinking something and Carol did an amazing job at getting them down to the party location, to be honest I was blown away by how personable, helpful, speedy, and accomodating the servers were..i mean I have been coming to this restaurant for YEARS, but I have never done an event there before. I will definitely be recommending your location for any future events I hear of as well as my own,
Thank you so much again the black dog pub…Kristal and Sarah were AMAZING!!
Sincerely,
Jessie Stockman


Dear Carol, 
We just wanted to thank you for all your help on Saturday. The night was beautiful and everyone had a wonderful time. I also wanted to tell you how incredible your staff was, and to please pass on a very big thank you to them - they were just amazing. They were so kind and helpful, down to earth and made the night flow so beautifully.
Thank you!
Take care,
Serena and Sean


Hi Carol
Just a quick note to thank you and your staff for all the hard work that you put in to make Sean & Serena's wedding day such a special one for them.
The dining room looked beautiful, the patio with the canopy was the perfect backdrop for the ceremony and the bride looked like a movie star coming down the stone stairs with her dad.
The two girls, Ramona and (sorry - cant remember her name) were absolutely lovely to work with - and both have the most amazing memories - never getting a drink order wrong.!!
The dinner was delicious with the serving and clearing of the tables performed flawlessly.    The few little glitches that I heard about after, went totally un-noticed by everyone in attendance, including me.
Paul Evelyn who did the pictures has some beautiful shots of the dining room which he will be forwarding to you shortly.
Once again, thanks for everything you all did.   Should you ever need a recommendation for anyone else planning a wedding at the Black Dog, please feel free to use our names.
John and Pat Ellis
(Sean's mum and step-dad)
 

The Black Dog Pub has a New Owner     by Peter Brannan
Having spent our young adult life in Britain, with its warm and welcoming village pubs, coming to Canada in the late 50s was something of a culture shock. There were these cold stark places, with sawdust-covered tiled floors, and sections labelled "Men" and "Ladies and Escorts." We almost gave up on drinking altogether, but not quite. There was the old Pilot Tavern, formerly up on Yonge Street, and the Silver Rail down opposite the old Eaton's store.
Buying your bottle of favourite tipple came as something of a shock also. You lined up in front of this steel-cage-protected counter, selected your choice of liquor from a printed list and wrote the applicable number on a slip of paper. You signed your name assuring of your adulthood and the fact that you weren't on drugs or had a criminal record, and were handed your purchase hidden in a brown paper bag.
Then we found the Rouge Valley Inn with its cosy bars and log fire and we were delighted, but our pleasure was short lived when fire destroyed the building. The Robin Hood Inn on Altona Road wasn't as cosy or welcoming, but it sufficed until it was closed some years ago and now, I notice, is being replaced by sub division homes.
Finally, Hallelujah! The old Esso Gas Station was transformed into The Black Dog, a delightfully warm and inviting pub, complete with log fire, not to mention a lovely and welcoming young staff. (Forgive me for telling the story once again that my brother-in-law ran that Esso station in the 60s and I changed the transmission on my 1952 Ford while it was up on the hoist in what is now the main bar.}
Now, after years of successful operation of The Black Dog, providing food and service second to none, Ken Reuter has moved on. George Voulgaris, the new owner of the Black Dog, had visited the pub on many occasions, and been intrigued by the friendliness of the staff and the caliber of its patrons. Ken had the Pub for sale for two years, which George was able to find out while investigating other pubs in different locations. But he always came back to the "Dog" and to this special West Rouge community.

Having had 30 years' experience in the restaurant/bar business, George promises to maintain the fine tradition of service excellence we have enjoyed at the "Dog" for many years. He is delighted to be here in the Rouge and looks forward to the challenges and opportunities for this landmark Pub in the future.
I just wanted to say thank you.  We had a wonderful time on Tuesday evening and would definitely recommend your establishment.  Our server was absolutely amazing, the food was delicious and everything about the evening went very well.  Our thanks to the Black Dog Pub for making our gathering such a great event!! Cheers,
Corina

I just wanted to let you know that our retirement party went very well despite the weather not being on our side.  The two servers who worked at our party were excellent.  They worked hard to deliver food and drinks promptly throughout the evening and to ensure things ran smoothly.  They assisted with the sound system, offered to help with our set-up and took care of heating the patio when guests started to move out on it.  They were professional and courteous at all times.  Please send my thanks to both of them.I will happily recommend your pub to others looking to host an event.
Have a nice day,
Dawn

Hello there,
We’ve had an excellent experience during both of our previous visits.  Someone recommended the pub to us and I have to tell you, pub grub isn’t necessarily high on my list.  My girlfriend and I reluctantly visited you during one of your jazz nights and we were really impressed!!  The food was fantastic, far, far from your run of the mill pub fare.  The service, atmosphere and overall vibe of the place convinced us to try a second time – St. Patrick’s Day.  Your staff, although the place was so packed you couldn’t move and they were obviously under a lot of stress to serve everyone – went out of their way to sit us as quickly as possible and the service was amazing.
We are going to be regulars, that, I can promise you.
We love the place!
Good for you, keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Erika Bradbury


My husband and I discovered the Black Dog Pub a couple of years ago and developed a great affinity for this pub, its terrific food and wonderful service and atmosphere. We dine out frequently and love to try new places, however we always come back to the Black Dog. When we heard that the pub had new ownership, we were eager to meet the new owner (as we had never met the previous owner) and see what changes he might be contemplating. The staff all seemed enthusiastic about the new owner and we can see why. George is an experienced operator of pubs and restaurants, and is obviously passionate about the business. He is charismatic and charming and shows a real interest in his customers. The only changes we have noticed are positive - the food continues to be great, portions appear to be larger, and prices are a little lower. The specials are to die for and the wine selection is outstanding! Despite the doom and gloom that we hear about the economy right now, the Black Dog appears to be thriving! Congratulations George, we look forward to many years at the Black Dog!
Fan4Life
 

They've got the best wild salmon burger and sweet potatoe fries ever. It's also the only "true local" pub around. The servers are very friendly and on top of things. The change in ownership seems to have gone very smoothly. Will keep returning.
Ridoga
 

We are weekly regulars and love everything about this place!! The servers, the atmosphere, the FOOD is to die for. Lots of vegetarian options. Wine selection is perfect. Keep up the good work. Always a happy place togo to. Jazz was there on Saturday night. What a great experience-again!
ColleenJC