Stacerella

Went out to dinner last night at E.S.M. (I’m sure you can guess what the initials stand for), and while there for a quick meal, one waitress who was cleaning up tables came over to give us cutlery and I wasn’t paying attention but Joe noticed a few minutes later that we were given two knives and one fork. It didn’t matter to much because I planning to order a panini sandwich that came with fries on the side so I gave him mine for his pasta and salad dinner.

When we ordered our dinner, the waitress asked Joe what he wanted for his side and I thought, “She didn’t ask me. Weird. Okay, maybe this will jog her memory.” Nope, no such luck. She walked away to place our order with the kitchen. “Okay,” I thought, “I guess she assumed I wanted fries and it will come that way.” I was planning to order the fries anyway, so I didn’t think much of it.

A few minutes later the waitress came back and apologised for forgetting about our drink order, that she would get that now. I had forgotten all about the drinks, so when she brought them at lightening speed I felt better about the rest of the dinner service from her.

Um, yeah.

Our food arrived at bit past what I felt was appropriate, but since we sat down in the middle of a very busy rush time, I didn’t think too much of it. The second she put all the plates down, I realised she wasn’t bringing me anything on the side. I was going to say something but she ran off to quickly. I didn’t panic, I would just grab her when she came back to ask us how things were like wait staff is trained to do.

And then I started to eat my sandwich. It was lukewarm on the outside, almost all the contents were cold. I was confused. It had clearly been grilled on a press of some kind because there were marks on the bun and the cheese looked like it had been melted at some point in the evening, and yet the guts were cold. The only way this could happen is if this sandwich had been sitting under a heating lap for a long time after it was grilled. This irritated me. Now I really wanted the waitress to stop by to ask me if everything was okay.

She never came. I waited and waited, and long after I finished my small, cold sandwich, I waited some more. I finally caught the attention of another waitress who grabbed a menu and verified for me that my order did in fact come with a side that never got ordered. And then she grabbed the manager’s attention. This is where it really got good!

A nice man came over to chat with us, and he told us he had been brought up to speed on what our complaints were. He then said, to be fair, the waitress already brought me a salad. We explained that was the side to Joe’s meal, and that she never even asked me about one for my meal. He said he didn’t get that part of the story from either of the waitresses. We then laid out everything that went on (aside from the cold sandwich - I forgot all about it since that was a distant memory, resting my half full belly), and what was forgotten while we were there, and he said he was sorry to hear about all of it and that he could bring me my side now. I said I was past the dinner stage, but I would be interested in dessert. I asked him if I could get the $2.25 dessert instead, and he said - I hope you’re all ready for this - no, the best he could do was the gift certificate.

HUH?!
I’m hungry!
I want food now, not later, Food Nazi!
Joe pointed out to him, incredulously, that it would cost him less to give me the dessert instead. His response was, and I quote, “No, I can’t do that.” I replied, sorta kidding, “So, I don’t get any dessert either??” To which he replied, No, sorry. I can’t do that.” He won’t place a dessert order for me? OMG, he’s not going to place the order for me. :-0

I was going to take the gift certificate and pay for the dessert. It’s only a measely $2.25. But, noooooooo, he wasn’t even going to ask me if I was serious and willing to pay. He clearly didn’t understand that I was still HUNGRY.

UUTeeEff. Who lets a customer leave their restaurant hungry?!?!?!?

I was stunned. I looked at him, then at Joe, and then back at the guy. He was serious. He wasn’t budging. I told him we will be leaving straight away and to bring us the bill. When the waitress arrived with our bill and gift certificate, she apologised for everything. I told her it was ok, it was busy there and we understood. Lots of mistakes are bound to happen over any given night in the restaurant and it’s not a big deal, however we are more upset with the way her manager chose to deal with the situation.

I now have a gift certificate that I can only use at a location I never want to go back to. I can’t even use it at another location! This is so UUTeeEff!?! Joe and I will probably go there, but just for dessert to use up the coupon, but after that, we will be driving in the opposite direction from out home to the next E.S.M. location the next town over. This suits Joe just fine because the man who used to own the location in Oakville sold it because he also owned the location one town over. We don’t mind giving him our business. Joe assures me he would NEVER let me leave his restaurant until I begged to have my stomach pumped to relieve the pressure in my stomach. I like the sound of that business practice.

Seriously, I’m about thisclose to giving up on the dining industry in Oakville. Long time readers will recall this isn’t the first time I’ve had a shitty experience at a “finer” or even “upscale” restaurant. I would expect this kind of bullshit at the fast food joints, but they are actually more pleasant to visit than sit down restaurants. *scratches head* I just don’t get why.

Is it me? I’m a shitty wait staff magnet?!?

Chocolate chip cheesecake, a.k.a Italian ricotta pie, cross section.

As you can see, it’s just as fluffy and crumbly as a cheesecake made with cream cheese, just without all the chalky aftertaste that makes you beg for a drink of water to clear your throat.

It’s so tasty and moist. It was hard to put it away even after our bellies ached for us to stop.

Made up two pans of chicken, veggies, pasta sauce, rotini and two shredded cheeses baked at 375 for 25 minutes and left to set in the fridge before serving. Lovely hot or cold.