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Eats

radius® Restaurant: Honouring Hamilton’s Past and Future

Imagine you’re out with friends on a Friday night, chatting over charcuterie and sharing Chardonnay at one of Hamilton’s most popular restaurants, which sits prominently at the cozy corner of James South and Augusta Street.

As you toss back the last sip of wine in your glass, your eyes climb the restaurant’s height, eventually catching original 1800s tin ceilings divided by a sturdy, aged wooden beam that meets towering walls of light-splashed exposed brick. ‘How long has this building stood in this spot? What came before?’ you wonder.

As you may have guessed by now, you’re at radius®; a restaurant and event space – with the best outdoor patio in the city, to boot – that marries decadent bistro fare with a sleek modern aesthetic paying homage to the building’s historical roots.

“Our vibe is unique. It’s a contemporary feel, combined with historical charm,” says Lisa Mercanti-Ladd, co-owner of radius®.

The building’s roots are fascinating ones. The large space was once home to Hamilton historical icon Isaac Buchanan, a local political figure and businessman who had previously lived in the famous Auchmar Estate mansion on the mountain before downsizing to the current spot radius® operates out of.

Much of the historical radius® building since Buchanan’s time has been lovingly restored, maintaining key pieces of the centuries-old history and the building’s legacy while functioning as one of Hamilton’s finest modern restaurants and nightlife spots today; one that puts exceptional hospitality at the forefront and always has innovation on its mind.

“We’re always researching the latest trends and innovations in cuisines, wines, cocktails, beers, and entertainment,” Mercanti-Ladd explains. “But we continue to stay true to our values, and simply follow the golden rule of taking care of guests.”

With the assured hands-on support of the hospitality staff and the restaurant’s General Manager and Managing Partner, Dan Trevisani, radius® achieves a solid balance of these elements in crafting their optimal ‘urban casual’ dining experience. It’s the harmonious marriage of old and new that makes the restaurant stand out.

The efforts have noticeably paid off. Passing by radius® on a weekend, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see a packed house through the window and a line of eager patrons waiting outside for their turn at a table. The restaurant has cemented itself as an indispensable Hamilton staple.

The local aspects of radius® are as important as anything else, according to Mercanti-Ladd. “Our Executive Chef, Gordon Goss, is as fine as they come, and he accepts nothing but the best. Our tagline is ‘love local™’ and we source only the finest products and ingredients.”

One such example is the restaurant’s recent partnership with Dundas-based butcher shop Cumbrae’s; a partnership which allows radius® to set themselves apart by offering exquisite locally sourced products such as 45-day dry-aged cuts of Canadian Prime steak.

But that’s hardly the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the extensive brunch, lunch, and dinner offerings radius® provides; sandwiches, tasting boards, pastas, seafood dishes, and salads are vessels for a variety of curated ingredients that showcase the best of the region’s farmers and food purveyors.

The popularity of radius® doesn’t stop at the food, though. Recently, the restaurant’s sizeable space and sleek-yet-hip atmosphere has become increasingly in-demand as a high-end event venue in Hamilton, attracting the attention of everything from smaller private parties to complete bookings of the entire radius® space, including its famous multi-level patio.

The increasing focus on event booking, Mercanti-Ladd says, happened pretty organically and is largely due to the attractive qualities of the restaurant’s stunning space. “It’s a classy venue with a big city-like casual feel, and a strong brand in the community. We’ve always done events for businesses or private clients and realized that it’s an area our team really enjoys,” she explains.

With its versatility and considerable size, radius® has seen everything from private corporate events to fashion shows, from work parties to special celebrations. The restaurant and its offerings only continue to grow, and after years of established Hamilton presence, Mercanti-Ladd says that radius® has its sights on plenty of exciting opportunities in the future; including early plans to open a second location somewhere else in Hamilton.

“We have amazing service and kitchen teams that are always focused on raising the bar,” she says, adding that radius® is also expanding their offerings by working with Ontario’s top wine sommelier, José Luis Fernández, on intensifying the restaurant’s wine selections.

A thriving local staple with ambitious plans forthcoming and no signs of slowing down, it seems that radius® will stick around in Hamilton for years to come, continuing to honour our city’s past while helping to drive its culinary identity into the future.

Photography: Peter Sirisko.
Models & Fashion Show Production: Vogue Models & Talent.

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