History revived as new restaurant opens in iconic Burlington location

You know the building. It’s been a mainstay in Burlington since 1860.

But what you will find inside is entirely new…and is now open for business.

Called 400 Brant Kitchen & Bar — the name comes from the building’s address  — the restaurant has taken over the location formerly occupied by the Queen’s Head pub and what customers will find is a completely renovated interior that provides a casual upscale dining experience and presents an atmosphere that the old building has never experienced before.

“The space has undergone quite a change,” said marketing manager Tarah Solomon. “It’s been a beautiful transformation that we believe customers will enjoy.”

Owned by Sarah Millar and her husband with Stewart Schmidt serving as executive chef, the menu is wide-ranging with soups, salads and sandwiches along with steak, chicken, lamb, seafood and pasta, all available depending on the time of day.

With a soft opening earlier this month, 400 Brant will officially open on April 5, but a made-to-go area has already proven successful since it launched in January.

“The 400 Burger has proven to be a hit through our take-out area,” said Solomon.

While the operators expect the dining experience to be the main attraction, they acknowledge the building itself is a calling card, especially for those from Burlington who recognize its history and are used to it being a gathering spot.

“We love this building and we know that Burlington loves it as well,” said Solomon. “We’re in a historic place and that makes us a little different from other restaurants. People have always loved coming here and we’re excited to welcome back people into this space.”

This is how 400 Brant Street looked more than 100 years ago.

As such, 400 Burlington has worked with the Burlington Historical Society to acquire photos of the building during its 164-year reign which will be placed in the dining area and extended events room.

In the upcoming weeks, Solomon says staff are working to prepare the outdoor patio which will open along the Elgin Street side of the restaurant in the spring.

In the meantime, the City of Burlington is in the process of putting a heritage designation on 400 Brant Street which will restrict future redesigns of the building and help preserve it in the long term.

While they own the business but not the building, the operators of 400 Brant say they embrace the designation and expect the historic site will be around for future generations to enjoy.

“The history is so deep in such a beautiful building and we’re happy to pay respect to that,” said Solomon.