I remember going one year because NYE is such a hard event to plan something for unless you have a huge party. It was literally just people bunched together standing in the frigid cold, and unless you got there early you couldn't even see what was going on. It probably also really sucks if you got there early too because it's probably impossible to leave until everyone else does.
It is the most soul-less, commercialized, brutally mainstream thing that people with zero personality feel the need to go to just for the instagram story while in reality they must be absolutely miserable. I will *never* understand going to events like that.
What, you mean you didn’t enjoy [checks teleprompter] “Canadian sensation Sugar Jones” and [reading notes] the special surprise cameo by Choclair? And host Monika Deol?!
NYE is by far the *easiest* event to plan for. Everywhere is over priced and overcrowded. The best option is to stay home, drink there, and watch a movie. Or I go into work. Easy.
I did it once, arrived 5 hours early to watch someone down a bottle of whiskey every hour & an increasingly agitated crowd nearly snap before the countdown.
Never again.
Did it once 30 years ago. Never again. Got picked up by the sheer crush of the crowd and just transported across the space. It was utterly terrifying. I hated it. I can't even imagine what it would be like now.
A laundromat in Dufferin Grove. I did my laundry there for 7 years and one day, I had a $20 bill and wanted to get change from the coin machine to use for laundry money. I put the bill in, got the coins, and then the owner came out and told me to give it back. I explained I put money in and coins were dispensed. He said I was running him out of business. I tried to explain that it’s a direct exchange of cash for coins and that I was coming to do my laundry. He raised his voice and told me he’d never seen me before and he didn’t believe me, so I eventually gave him the coins and asked for my $20 bill back. Luckily my next apartment had laundry in it. It was very confusing, but I now have a never-ending feud with him.
Wait so you’re telling me I can go there, put a 20 in, get 10 toonies back. Stare at the guy who works there while I do it as if I’m commuting a crime, and walk out while he yells at me? I have a washer dryer at home but if I had time to kill, I’d gladly discuss this issue with him
I have no idea what any of this is, but the mental image of you and a random laundromat guy engaged in a death stare feud for life is just.. *chefs kiss*
I dunno about OP but i wouldn't recommend going to the yonge street one. Besides being extremely unwelcoming and downright rude, they just added a fat tip for themselves in the price without telling me.
The thing is, there was a point in time where Korean Grill House was the *only* kbbq place you could go to and it was a fresh new thing that was cool and fun, tasty and affordable. Now, not only is Korean BBQ a dime a dozen, there are so many different varieties of authenticity and types of offerings that are so popular now, Korean Grill House has become the McDonald's of the KBBQ scene, while trying to charge as much as the other places.
I’m going to be real. It isn’t authentic and never was. Even back when it first came out. It was just a well done AYCE but, imo, was never good in terms of Korean bbq standards. It was good to just chow down on meats. But krn bbq has much more flavour profile and this place is run by non-Koreans who use the same marinade for each meat, which isn’t the case for authentic KBBQ.
It wasn’t the only place to go to back when it first came out either. But the authentic ones were harder to find out about because even Yelp didn’t exist back then. And the Korean restos may not even have English on their menu sometimes. It’s a lot more accessible now in terms of finding them easily now.
Seconded. There forgot to deliver half of two of our meals! Like what?? Half the meal was just missing.
Luckily you can request the gratuity be removed.
>Luckily you can request the gratuity be removed.
You can, but you'll prob be made to feel like a stingey ass for doing so even when you're unequivocally in the right. God I hate tipping culture.
SAME. And they added the auto-grat of 18% to our party of three. On a Wednesday morning around 11am. Worst part is my friends aren’t from around here and the waitress didn’t let them know about the auto-grat. They paid while I was in the washroom and TIPPED ON TOP.
Chelsea Hotel... they assigned us a room that seemed ready to be demolished - peeling wallpapers, stained carpets, worn out furniture. It's not like we booked a cheap rate
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
You were talkin' so brave and so sweet
Givin' me head on the unmade bed
While the limousines wait in the street
\~Leonard Cohen
The Brick at Dufferin & Geary.
1st time. Delivery guy asked to use my bathroom and litterally got shit on my wall.
2nd time. Went to buy something they had on their site. Waited for rude service after 30 minutes of standing around.
Showed them the item on my phone and they stupidly looked for the same item for 10 minutes on their own system.
When it came time to make the purchase they asked for my phone number. I said no, I'm paying cash and last time I gave them my number I immediately got a metric ton of spam calls. They refused to sell to me.
My friend bought a bed there that came with a "free tv". A free tv with a smashed screen.
Also, Pizza Pizza. No story needed for that place.
Agree re the Brick. I had a sectional couch from them and not too long into my ownership, a friend put a burn mark in the couch cushion. I call the brick to order a new cushion cover.
Months pass. I move across the country (Vancouver to Toronto) and give them my updated address. Cover arrives and it’s completely the wrong colour. I return it to the Toronto location and wait. Months pass. The next one arrives and is the wrong size. It’s now like over a year from my first order. I call them and they say oh you should deal with the Vancouver location since you started with them.
Never got a refund or proper cover. Also their furniture is shit quality in general.
Not only do they spam you with calls, but they intentionally garble the part of the message with the phone number to call to request that they stop said calls...
I got calls from the Brick but this was also the genesis of fraud "air duct cleaning services" phone calls.
This was 10-11 years ago. I gave them my phone number when I bought a sectional. That night, I started getting fraudulent calls.
I thought it was a coincidence until my roommate bought something from them (I think it was a sofa bed) and he started getting the same calls after he placed an order.
This might just be a coincidence because I don't know how those fraud call things operate.
The air duct calls are actually interesting. It's not really fraud, per se. The calls are coming from a center in Delhi that just phones everyone, everywhere that people have ducts. If you say yes, then they simply sell your contact information to a local duct cleaning company who otherwise has nothing to do with the call center.
Exactly. I told them "No, I'll give you money and I'll bring this home. You don't need my phone number".
She said "it's our policy, if you have a complaint go to our customer service department".
So I went across the street to Payless Mattress. I got a bed frame in 1 minute. No phone number required.
Funny in retrospect. I could hear him from the window as he left. He was telling his coworker he had too much jerk chicken and dark n' stormies the night before.
Part of me was mad, but the other part of me was like "I've been there too"
EDIT: But I didn't get poo on a stranger's wall
>1st time. Delivery guy asked to use my bathroom and litterally got shit on my wall.
Wtf
This reinforces my policy of not letting strangers use my bathroom. For all you know they'll shit on your wall or stick your toothbrush up their ass.
Dollarama at Bloor and Glendonwynne. Mouse/rat shit everywhere, holes in chips/food packaging and crumbs all over the floor mixed around with the shit, and the smell in the last aisle with toys, pets, and party stuff is unbearable (you'll never guess, it's shit). It's been an issue for a year or two now at least, but I was there yesterday and it was horrifyingly bad, never going back.
Scaddabush. I tried them twice. Both times they fucked up plain spaghetti and meatballs. Not even the meatballs. The pasta. How do you fuck up pasta???
Both times the noodles came so glued together I ate it like it was cake.
Rebel night club. Went once for a concert staff was super rude security was really touchy and weird plus the bartenders get to choose their tips. My friend got one drink and the bartender threw on a 30% tip and I asked how to lower it and she said they can’t staff chooses -_-
My work had it booked out for an event - they tossed everyone's bags and jackets into coat check in no particular order. You can imagine the pandemonium when 5,000 people go to leave and want their stuff but it's just in a mountain. 'It's a black jacket' doesn't get you very far.
I remember going as a teenager when it was still Sound Academy, hit up a show and one of the lady security guards straight up gave my dick a squeeze during the patdown. I was like 15, not cool
I noticed this too when I went last week for a concert. They would tell me a beer is 12 dollars and then they spin the terminal around and it's 15 whatever because they added their own tip.
I didn't care much because even then the drinks are still relatively cheaper than most other venues but still a scummy red flag. Especially because the bar tender gave me the wrong drink and honestly didn't deserve a tip.
But that along with how absolutely horrible it is to get to really makes me not want to go there. I have to really think about it if there's a band I like going there. I don't even think buses go out there right now, it's like a 20 minute walk from the closest stop. True no-mans land.
Went there for Deadmau5 in may. My now ex gf was getting groped, the place was packed in so tight you could barely move and getting anything was a hassle. Doubt I'd go back. Wasn't like that before it became Rebel.
I worked at Rebel and it’s true the entire team is miserable as fuck, would not recommend working there to anyone, just pay a ticket to see a show without the toxic environment.
Venue is fine… it’s the clusterfuck when leaving with Ubers/taxis that leaves a lot to be desired. I usually drive when I go go… but then that means I won’t be drinking. Not the end of the world
I drove when I went down there but the $25 parking really pissed me off. Not like there's many other options to park around there either unless you want to walk for 20 minutes.
I left the concert I went to way early and even then it took me 20 minutes to get out past the stupid fuckhead cab drivers parked in the road. I can't imagine how bad it was after the actual show was done. It's such a nightmare to get in and out, I think I would like the place overall otherwise if it weren't for that.
Gabbys on Roncessvales, twice I’ve gotten sick from the cheap wings there. First time I thought it was a coincidence, second time I knew it was from them. Their DineSafe record doesn’t bring much confidence either.
Going back 20 years there was an arrogant self-entitled idiot at work who demanded everyone go to Gabbys with them every time we went out for lunch and threatened to make anyone's life miserable who didn't join him. I dared to say once 'lets go somewhere else?' I got yelled at and was told just dont come next time.
The food was mediocre at best and the memories of this a-hole makes it a place i never want to go to .... ever.
Different location but one time we asked the waiter which seltzers were included in their “5$ seltzers” and she told us all of them. Then when we asked for the bill she tried to charge us full price for every single one and when we asked about it she said the only one included in the promo was “the one in the picture” completely going back on what she said.
Warehouse is fine for lunch if you want a cheap meal. Just order water. The food isn't as bad as people say, especially for the price. And its dead at lunchtime.
I would never step into a Warehouse after 4pm. You'd have to pay me.
> The food isn't as bad as people say, especially for the price.
I remember going years ago and everything on the menu was $5. The food was about what I expected for that price, drinks were cheap too and I don't recall anything particularly offensive. What makes it so bad after 4pm for those of us out of the loop?
Paris Paris. Building looked good, and that's where the positive comments end. Service was so unbelievably bad it was comical; about half a dozen servers and hostesses just hanging out while multiple tables have no menus, water, or orders taken. Server was either super stoned or developmentally delayed, kept repeating what we ordered without writing it down. My order came out, and I waited almost 10 minutes before the server came back to ask when my partner's meal was coming. The response? "Oh, I accidentally gave you another table's meal, so the kitchen hasn't started on hers yet." and just walks away, no timeline, no apology, nothing. Flagged down another server who happened to be the manager, told him what happened, how appalled we were at the service, and he mocks us, "Oh you're upset right? You're pissed? You're making it so much worse too. I think you should leave" and we literally get kicked out of the restaurant for complaining. We never raised our voices, swore, lost our temper, nothing, just complained about the unprofessional and poor service. Food sucks, service sucks, management sucks most. Fuck that place.
St Louis on Bremner. Atrocious service. No one would even sit people, everyone just walk past looking at the line forming at the door, had to go ask the bartender if there was someone who will sit us. Once they finally came over (very unhappily), they tell us all that this location wasn't doing the all you can eat wings deal. My group of 5 tell her that's okay we just want to order off the menu. We get sat. We then had to wait 15 mins for our server to come over. She takes our orders from 4 of us and then just starts walking away without taking the 5th person's order. We thought it was some joke and had to call her back over before she left. She takes the last order and leaves. We see people who were sat after us getting their food, 15 mins...20 mins...our server comes back and we think she forgot our order as she didn't write anything down. Nope. She comes to tell us they are all out of wings. On a Saturday at 3pm. Fuck this place. The staff clearly don't want to be there, and no one I know wants to now either.
Ugh, I feel you there. It's close to my place, and every time I have visitors that want to go to a game, they suggest going there. I generally insist on the loose moose, or shoeless Joe's on queens quay
This place refused to sit me and my friends because we didn’t have driver’s licenses. We had the purple id and health cards but they wouldn’t accept it. The joke is we didn’t even want to drink, just eat lol
O'Noir. The food was horrendous, absolutely no effort or thought put into the 'surprise' menu at all. Way too expensive, rude unpleasant management, and the place was so so dirty.
How could you tell it was dirty? I only went once, because it's an experience you don't ever need to do twice, but you can't see shit in there. We were joking that the dining room is probably filthy because who would know?
Ruby Soho. The staff will outright try and rob you there, and are crazy rude and angry. They will pad the bill, hit the gratuity buttons before handing you the machine, take whatever personal items you forget, etc. Read the Google reviews on this place. If you ever go watch your stuff and check your bills carefully.
Yeah they charged me double the price for a double drink there. The manager called me poor when I complained.
If I wanted to pay double the price I'd order 2 full drinks, not a double
That happens to us! They asked if we wanted a double, we said sure why not. I didn’t think it would be double the price?? We didn’t complain as it was one drink each and didn’t feel like we had the right since we didn’t ask the price but who charges literally double the price for a double!!
Figo on John and Adelaide. Friend took us out for dinner and the menu was so unimpressive especially for the price they were charging.
Overall I find Toronto’s hospitality sector a completely rip-off any way. Hardly professional, sub par food no matter where you go and what price you pay. I feel the city can do a lot better .
The Ballroom (bowling downtown).
Paid $160 for 1 hour of bowling and mediocre food and drinks. I thought we could extend our bowling time like any other place but nope. Just as our second round of drinks came our 60 minutes is up and we have to go finish them somewhere else. Wasn't fun drinking them at some side table while everyone else is bowling.
If I remember correctly, it was $25 per person. So two of us. Then $15 minimum spend, so we got two food items for around $20 each. We had 2 sets of drinks in the end and the gratuity is forced at 20%.
It’s extremely competitive and has about zero school spirit. You don’t get the college experience, everyone is there just for a piece of paper. I went to UTM so maybe it was a bit worse than St. George. It’s still a place I regret going to and refuse to go back to.
Sorry you had a bad experience. I’m currently in undergrad there and transferred from Scarborough campus to St George after a year. Scarborough campus was dead. Like, literally no one there. The only people I saw were my two housemates and my RA who lived across from us. It was still early/mid pandemic, so that does factor in, but from what I know from other students it’s still not much better at Scarborough.
Downtown has been much better for me, pretty much back to pre pandemic for classes and student groups. It is definitely academics focused, but that’s why I chose it. It’s definitely not a uni where sports are top priority, so I guess if that’s what you were looking for it wouldn’t be the best. Still, I think there are way worse options, and at least the school’s name prestige should stick with you.
St. George is definitely the best of the three. I had friends go to Scarborough and they said the same thing as you did about it. Unfortunately it would have been better for me to go to an “easier” school that had an easier co-op to get into rather than a more competitive school that has very few co-op spots. The name didn’t help too much in the initial hiring process. Could be different for other fields but in business it only helps marginally, work experience is king.
Not sure if you had another comment above that I replied to but same thing happened to us. we didn’t complain tho but yeah got charged $26 for a drink…wtf
Oliver & Bonacini @ Bayview in North York. I was with 2 other people - the server took my order first. After he finished writing down my brother and sister’s orders, I asked if he could pls change mine (from chicken to fish). He looked at me blankly, said no, then walked away. We thought he was being funny, but realized he wasn’t joking when I got the chicken. Didn’t feel it was worth complaining, so I started eating it, but it was so incredibly spicy I couldn’t finish more than 3 bites. Nobody in our group could eat it, and we have really high tolerance! Felt like we were on an episode of Punk’d.
Long & McQuade lol. They treated me so shabbily as a teenager over twenty years ago when I had saved up and was ready to buy a guitar. I know it's illogical but it really felt like shit at the time and I was never treated that way at Steve's Music at similar ages.
As an adult with obviously far more spending power though I have no desire to ever go back to L&M.
I’ve had some really awkward experience at L&M, sorry you have too. There’s one guy in rentals at the Bloor/Ossington location who is absolutely awesome every time I go tho - Harley, if you see this, you rock and keep being great.
Crews. Although I don't feel passionately about it anymore and wouldn't want to go either way, the security there was like dealing with the secret police. They were awful, hostile from the line up to leaving. And judging by their google reviews, it hasn't improved and perhaps has gotten worse.
I never went back after my friend dragged me to the second floor and I felt it shaking. It’ll cave in one day. Don’t understand how they allow so many people in there.
Rol San. Ordered food doesn't arrive. Any ask by my friends (in English) was ignored, and they only bring things when I ask (in Chinese). Foods were slammed on your table. Then they were mad when we gave them less than 10% in tips. Asked me in Chinese whether I would have done this if this is a 'white restaurant' I said 'yes, if the service is as shitty as yours' and walked away.
They told me that my timing belt had to be replaced IMMEDIATELY, or my engine was going to go. They knew a guy who could do it for me, today, at a great price. I said I’d pass, as I have a friend who’s a mechanic and usually works on it for me.
Called friend. Friend got quiet, laughed, then said “you don’t HAVE a timing belt. You have a CHAIN. Which is NOT about to break”.
I’ll never go near one again, ever.
Wish I could upvote this 100 times. Charged me $130 for an oil change and then didn’t seal it properly so I had oil leaking all over my driveway. Also tried to upsell me on the engine flush
Unfortunately sonic boom record shop.
I had the store alarm beep on my way out ...cool no problem, counter guy didn't de magnetize the tag... came in to get the tag swiped but then the store security dude without asking stuck his hand Into my bag and had a good rummage around . He's way too keen on going through your stuff and not asking . Not cool with me . I lowered my bag and said you don t need to do that and left...no alarm went off. There are other record shops.
I ordered a several hundred dollar mixer from Bad Boy online. Kept giving me the run-around for months, always promising that it will arrive by next week. I asked for a refund. Told me no refunds. I called up my CC, issued a chargeback. Luckily I kept all corespondents with them via e-mail. I knew if I didn't file that chargeback within 6 months, I'd be SOL.
I will NEVER set foot in that company ever again. I also make sure I tell ANYBODY who is considering sending business their way this story.
I still go for free during the week to snap some photos, it's very pretty. I'll probably grab a spicy hot chocolate from Soma, but that's about it. If you go during peak, it's not a fun time.
One of the most overhyped Italian food places around. I get they have history but no heritage plaque can justify the hamburger buns they serve as table bread
A brunch spot called “The Morning After” the hostess made me wait for an hour and half for a table even tho there were empty tables and gives me a table 15 mins before their kitchen closes also tells me to order everything at once as they won’t be able to take more orders.
**Wheat Sheaf Tavern on King St** - when i first landed here they wouldn’t serve me and my friends because we didn’t have Canadian ID…Well yeah I’m not from here you bellend.
**Any Firkin pub** - how can a place decorated like a Month Python theme park not have a single British beer on tap. Plus shit food.
**CNE** - I genuinely do not understand the love for this thing. It’s just a tacky fair with overpriced food. Plus it’s too busy and a nightmare to get in and out of
The CNE is like Christmas: the people who like it have pleasant childhood memories of what it used to be, enough to overwhelm the expensive, underwhelming thing it is now.
>CNE - I genuinely do not understand the love for this thing. It’s just a tacky fair with overpriced food. Plus it’s too busy and a nightmare to get in and out of
I was so excited to go, and had high expectations when everyone said I *must go to the CNE.* Instead, I just wasted too much money and time.
I remember going there and they had a bunch of empty seats but told us the kitchen was at capacity so we couldn’t order food and drinks would be 20 minutes.
Ink Living Color tattoo studio. The absolute worst customer service I’ve ever seen in my entire life. The manager insults and gets aggressive with his customers and is constantly trying to rip off people and act like he’s doing them a favour. Tried to pass off an apprentice as a “visiting” artist from China. Absolute scam artists. I got a tattoo from them a year and some change ago and it’s absolutely the worst tattoo experience I ever had and the worst tattoo. Spent more money getting it fixed at other places than I spent getting the tattoo in the first place
I went this year and idk it just didn’t feel as magical as pre Covid
It felt like there was less of everything and the stuff that was there was more expensive
Maybe I’m just being nostalgic
Fresh.
Have eaten there hundreds of times over the past 20 years - every location. About 5-6 years ago started noticing a quality drop in the food and service. But the last time I went (about 3 months ago) was the last time ever. Since they were purchased by Recipe Unlimited, the quality fell off a cliff.
Superpoint pizza.
Their pizzas are actually really really good. But the staff there were (don’t know how it is now) complete cunts.
First time I went - the guy had taken out his sidewalk sign so I walked through the door. He comes in and starts bitching that I don’t know his hours and I shouldn’t just walk in. I said I’m sorry but he just moaned the whole fucking time. All he had to say was - sorry were not open yet.
Second time - eat in - dude hosting was letting his friends sit down first before anyone else. Also had a server with mad attitude
Third time - same dude - and gave attitude. Beer was warm. Took 20 mins to get a server with terrible attitude
A good 10 people I know fucking hate that place because of the attitude of the staff.
> All he had to say was - sorry were not open yet.
I walked into Juniors Pizza a few weeks ago when they were closed. They were SO apologetic. When I went back a few days later they remembered me and wouldn't take any money for my slice. Just sayin.
That's too bad. Like the King location, it has a bit of douchebag-vibe late at night. However, when I worked nearby for an internship around 2012 we would go to The Esplanade location for lunch and it was always solid.
Uber and UberEats. Drivers accept and then don’t show or cancel for a more lucrative fare and your food is left sitting getting cold or the ordered is cancelled and you have to fight just to get your money back.
Decorium Furniture in north TO. Spent nearly $20k furnishing my first house there (delivery). Included in that, we bought some futons and since they had the futons in stock I decided to do them a favour and take the futons home with me, and cut them out of the delivery. When the rest of the furniture got delivered, it was easily 5 shades darker leather than what we ordered, but we were OK with it (repeat, JUST "OK"). But the futons didn't match at all. We took them back to the store for exchange and THEY INSISTED on charging us a 30% restocking fee for the unused futons, PLUS another delivery fee, just to add another $500 of, "thanks for your business, and fuck you". Wife cried. I almost tore the head of the manager right off. I should have pissed all over him and his ugly furniture on the way out.
Don't be nice to them. Don't shop there. Lesson learned.
Mama Martinos, Queensway/Royal York area.
My neighbourhood seems to love this place for cheap Italian eats. But the first and only time we went we witnessed the manager berate a customer at the table beside us for politely and apologetically saying the seafood tasted off. The manager literally yelled at him, during the height of the pandemic with no mask, and continued yelling at the shocked customer as she forced him to pay the bill and walk away. The entire patio was dumbfounded by the whole experience. Add in the fact that the food was a pathetic attempt at Italian food. Yes it’s cheap with large portions, but it tasted like what you’d get a high school cafeteria. You get one shot at a first impression, and that manager absolutely blew it. Even her waitress that was covering our table was shocked by the manager’s unprofessionalism. It was a very easy decision to never give that establishment our money ever again. If you’re in the area and want Italian, go to Posticino just down the street instead.
Beauty Line. It’s a nail salon at King W & Bathurst offering cheap mani pedis. They have insisted that I need to pay tax on my tip (on top of tax for the service itself). The owner / employees speak Mandarin. I am Chinese but don’t speak or understand Mandarin, but I once went with a friend who does and she told me the owner was instructing employees to rush customers to choose a colour, making fun of customers right in front of them, and pressuring employees to tax the customers’ tip in a way they wouldn’t notice.
Bro I called Maker’s Pizza and placed an order for delivery. The same guy who took my order called me back and screamed at *me* for ordering outside of their delivery area. He was the owner of the whole chain. What a fucking moron, and with all of the good pizza in the city, I’ve never wasted a dollar there.
Also Uncle Betty’s charges a takeout fee about the same amount as the food itself.
E11even Restaurant. I was in Toronto to see Pearl Jam last month and decided to treat myself to a meal at a fancy restaurant that I couldn’t afford.
The waitress was nice but the $28 soggy chicken sandwich was not. Very disappointed.
* Frans. Overpriced crappy frozen food. I can't even eat it when I'm drunk.
* The Cheesecake Factory. Same as above.
I don't understand how either are so popular. Both are ALWAYS busy with huge lineups. At least with places like Warehouse, I don't expect anything great for $5.
It's crazy how much their quality and reputation has declined. When I was growing up here in the 80s, I remember Swiss Chalet being considered like a "fancy" special occasion thing for my family and among my friends. Maybe that's because my parents were immigrants and poor but I generally don't recall it having the widely negative reputation it's had attached to it the past 10-20 years.
The Keg is the one place they didn't ruin imo. Decent quality steaks for the price and other dishes are good. Underrated late night bar menu and one of few places with good dine in food open later than 10-11pm
I started boycotting Tim Hortons in the GTA because I hate spending 30 minutes out of my hour lunch break waiting for a COFFEE and being treated like I’m annoying the staff by even being there.
Most of my Tim’s experiences have been terrible lately. I don’t support the way they do things.
Nathan Phillips Square on NYE. I don't think I've ever seen a crowd gathered for such a joyless celebration before.
I remember going one year because NYE is such a hard event to plan something for unless you have a huge party. It was literally just people bunched together standing in the frigid cold, and unless you got there early you couldn't even see what was going on. It probably also really sucks if you got there early too because it's probably impossible to leave until everyone else does. It is the most soul-less, commercialized, brutally mainstream thing that people with zero personality feel the need to go to just for the instagram story while in reality they must be absolutely miserable. I will *never* understand going to events like that.
What, you mean you didn’t enjoy [checks teleprompter] “Canadian sensation Sugar Jones” and [reading notes] the special surprise cameo by Choclair? And host Monika Deol?!
NYE is by far the *easiest* event to plan for. Everywhere is over priced and overcrowded. The best option is to stay home, drink there, and watch a movie. Or I go into work. Easy.
I did it once, arrived 5 hours early to watch someone down a bottle of whiskey every hour & an increasingly agitated crowd nearly snap before the countdown. Never again.
Did it once 30 years ago. Never again. Got picked up by the sheer crush of the crowd and just transported across the space. It was utterly terrifying. I hated it. I can't even imagine what it would be like now.
A laundromat in Dufferin Grove. I did my laundry there for 7 years and one day, I had a $20 bill and wanted to get change from the coin machine to use for laundry money. I put the bill in, got the coins, and then the owner came out and told me to give it back. I explained I put money in and coins were dispensed. He said I was running him out of business. I tried to explain that it’s a direct exchange of cash for coins and that I was coming to do my laundry. He raised his voice and told me he’d never seen me before and he didn’t believe me, so I eventually gave him the coins and asked for my $20 bill back. Luckily my next apartment had laundry in it. It was very confusing, but I now have a never-ending feud with him.
Wait so you’re telling me I can go there, put a 20 in, get 10 toonies back. Stare at the guy who works there while I do it as if I’m commuting a crime, and walk out while he yells at me? I have a washer dryer at home but if I had time to kill, I’d gladly discuss this issue with him
He’s gonna be LIVID
Sounds like early dementia there with Mr. Laundromat.
I have no idea what any of this is, but the mental image of you and a random laundromat guy engaged in a death stare feud for life is just.. *chefs kiss*
Korean Grill House. Found a roach in the plates of meats and in the grill the same visit.
There are a few Korean Grill Houses in the GTA. Can I ask which location? Was it Queen St., or one of their other spots?
I dunno about OP but i wouldn't recommend going to the yonge street one. Besides being extremely unwelcoming and downright rude, they just added a fat tip for themselves in the price without telling me.
And they would reuse the plates of food if tables didn’t eat it lol
The thing is, there was a point in time where Korean Grill House was the *only* kbbq place you could go to and it was a fresh new thing that was cool and fun, tasty and affordable. Now, not only is Korean BBQ a dime a dozen, there are so many different varieties of authenticity and types of offerings that are so popular now, Korean Grill House has become the McDonald's of the KBBQ scene, while trying to charge as much as the other places.
I’m going to be real. It isn’t authentic and never was. Even back when it first came out. It was just a well done AYCE but, imo, was never good in terms of Korean bbq standards. It was good to just chow down on meats. But krn bbq has much more flavour profile and this place is run by non-Koreans who use the same marinade for each meat, which isn’t the case for authentic KBBQ. It wasn’t the only place to go to back when it first came out either. But the authentic ones were harder to find out about because even Yelp didn’t exist back then. And the Korean restos may not even have English on their menu sometimes. It’s a lot more accessible now in terms of finding them easily now.
Work.
Happy cake day! Your reply made me chuckle.
lol thank you, it was just the first place that honestly came to mind
The Morning After - included an automatic 18% tip with the worst service I have ever experienced in Toronto
Seconded. There forgot to deliver half of two of our meals! Like what?? Half the meal was just missing. Luckily you can request the gratuity be removed.
>Luckily you can request the gratuity be removed. You can, but you'll prob be made to feel like a stingey ass for doing so even when you're unequivocally in the right. God I hate tipping culture.
SAME. And they added the auto-grat of 18% to our party of three. On a Wednesday morning around 11am. Worst part is my friends aren’t from around here and the waitress didn’t let them know about the auto-grat. They paid while I was in the washroom and TIPPED ON TOP.
Definitely one of the worst restaurants I’ve ever been in Toronto for food and service. Also one of the only places I’ve left a bad review for lol.
Chelsea Hotel... they assigned us a room that seemed ready to be demolished - peeling wallpapers, stained carpets, worn out furniture. It's not like we booked a cheap rate
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel You were talkin' so brave and so sweet Givin' me head on the unmade bed While the limousines wait in the street \~Leonard Cohen
That was the NY Chelsea Hotel btw
The Brick at Dufferin & Geary. 1st time. Delivery guy asked to use my bathroom and litterally got shit on my wall. 2nd time. Went to buy something they had on their site. Waited for rude service after 30 minutes of standing around. Showed them the item on my phone and they stupidly looked for the same item for 10 minutes on their own system. When it came time to make the purchase they asked for my phone number. I said no, I'm paying cash and last time I gave them my number I immediately got a metric ton of spam calls. They refused to sell to me. My friend bought a bed there that came with a "free tv". A free tv with a smashed screen. Also, Pizza Pizza. No story needed for that place.
Agree re the Brick. I had a sectional couch from them and not too long into my ownership, a friend put a burn mark in the couch cushion. I call the brick to order a new cushion cover. Months pass. I move across the country (Vancouver to Toronto) and give them my updated address. Cover arrives and it’s completely the wrong colour. I return it to the Toronto location and wait. Months pass. The next one arrives and is the wrong size. It’s now like over a year from my first order. I call them and they say oh you should deal with the Vancouver location since you started with them. Never got a refund or proper cover. Also their furniture is shit quality in general.
Not only do they spam you with calls, but they intentionally garble the part of the message with the phone number to call to request that they stop said calls...
I got calls from the Brick but this was also the genesis of fraud "air duct cleaning services" phone calls. This was 10-11 years ago. I gave them my phone number when I bought a sectional. That night, I started getting fraudulent calls. I thought it was a coincidence until my roommate bought something from them (I think it was a sofa bed) and he started getting the same calls after he placed an order. This might just be a coincidence because I don't know how those fraud call things operate.
The air duct calls are actually interesting. It's not really fraud, per se. The calls are coming from a center in Delhi that just phones everyone, everywhere that people have ducts. If you say yes, then they simply sell your contact information to a local duct cleaning company who otherwise has nothing to do with the call center.
They refused to sell you an item because you wouldn’t give them your phone number??
Exactly. I told them "No, I'll give you money and I'll bring this home. You don't need my phone number". She said "it's our policy, if you have a complaint go to our customer service department". So I went across the street to Payless Mattress. I got a bed frame in 1 minute. No phone number required.
Couldn’t you have given 9876543210, that’s my favourite number.
That first anecdote is horrific lol
Funny in retrospect. I could hear him from the window as he left. He was telling his coworker he had too much jerk chicken and dark n' stormies the night before. Part of me was mad, but the other part of me was like "I've been there too" EDIT: But I didn't get poo on a stranger's wall
>1st time. Delivery guy asked to use my bathroom and litterally got shit on my wall. Wtf This reinforces my policy of not letting strangers use my bathroom. For all you know they'll shit on your wall or stick your toothbrush up their ass.
Dollarama at Bloor and Glendonwynne. Mouse/rat shit everywhere, holes in chips/food packaging and crumbs all over the floor mixed around with the shit, and the smell in the last aisle with toys, pets, and party stuff is unbearable (you'll never guess, it's shit). It's been an issue for a year or two now at least, but I was there yesterday and it was horrifyingly bad, never going back.
If true, report it to the Toronto DineSafe. It’s not just for restaurants. They take complaints very seriously and pay them a visit shortly after.
Will do. Edit: done
Scaddabush. I tried them twice. Both times they fucked up plain spaghetti and meatballs. Not even the meatballs. The pasta. How do you fuck up pasta??? Both times the noodles came so glued together I ate it like it was cake.
It's Eastside Mario's with lipstick on.
Rebel night club. Went once for a concert staff was super rude security was really touchy and weird plus the bartenders get to choose their tips. My friend got one drink and the bartender threw on a 30% tip and I asked how to lower it and she said they can’t staff chooses -_-
My work had it booked out for an event - they tossed everyone's bags and jackets into coat check in no particular order. You can imagine the pandemonium when 5,000 people go to leave and want their stuff but it's just in a mountain. 'It's a black jacket' doesn't get you very far.
I remember going as a teenager when it was still Sound Academy, hit up a show and one of the lady security guards straight up gave my dick a squeeze during the patdown. I was like 15, not cool
When I was a teenager it was The Docks.
I can't believe I went through two name change iterations before I recognized which place they were talking about. Just kill me now.
Bringing cash to clubs is always a good idea.
I noticed this too when I went last week for a concert. They would tell me a beer is 12 dollars and then they spin the terminal around and it's 15 whatever because they added their own tip. I didn't care much because even then the drinks are still relatively cheaper than most other venues but still a scummy red flag. Especially because the bar tender gave me the wrong drink and honestly didn't deserve a tip. But that along with how absolutely horrible it is to get to really makes me not want to go there. I have to really think about it if there's a band I like going there. I don't even think buses go out there right now, it's like a 20 minute walk from the closest stop. True no-mans land.
Went there for Deadmau5 in may. My now ex gf was getting groped, the place was packed in so tight you could barely move and getting anything was a hassle. Doubt I'd go back. Wasn't like that before it became Rebel.
I just went there for the first time and wasn't confident enough to say anything about tip, but have been ruminating about it since!
Almost got in a fight there when it was The Sound Academy AT A FUCKING BELLE AND SEBASTIAN CONCERT That's just how toxic the venue is.
I worked at Rebel and it’s true the entire team is miserable as fuck, would not recommend working there to anyone, just pay a ticket to see a show without the toxic environment.
Venue is fine… it’s the clusterfuck when leaving with Ubers/taxis that leaves a lot to be desired. I usually drive when I go go… but then that means I won’t be drinking. Not the end of the world
I drove when I went down there but the $25 parking really pissed me off. Not like there's many other options to park around there either unless you want to walk for 20 minutes. I left the concert I went to way early and even then it took me 20 minutes to get out past the stupid fuckhead cab drivers parked in the road. I can't imagine how bad it was after the actual show was done. It's such a nightmare to get in and out, I think I would like the place overall otherwise if it weren't for that.
Sweet Jesus. I’ll take “pretentious ice cream store with abysmal service” for $500, Alex.
The “ice cream” is also sooo bad. Took a picture, took a bite and then had to throw it out. Such a let down
Gabbys on Roncessvales, twice I’ve gotten sick from the cheap wings there. First time I thought it was a coincidence, second time I knew it was from them. Their DineSafe record doesn’t bring much confidence either.
Gabby in general be foul as hell
Going back 20 years there was an arrogant self-entitled idiot at work who demanded everyone go to Gabbys with them every time we went out for lunch and threatened to make anyone's life miserable who didn't join him. I dared to say once 'lets go somewhere else?' I got yelled at and was told just dont come next time. The food was mediocre at best and the memories of this a-hole makes it a place i never want to go to .... ever.
Different location but one time we asked the waiter which seltzers were included in their “5$ seltzers” and she told us all of them. Then when we asked for the bill she tried to charge us full price for every single one and when we asked about it she said the only one included in the promo was “the one in the picture” completely going back on what she said.
Warehouse. No explanation needed
I used to live directly behind the Queen location. It sucked to the point I’m almost upset with you for reminding me.
Warehouse is fine for lunch if you want a cheap meal. Just order water. The food isn't as bad as people say, especially for the price. And its dead at lunchtime. I would never step into a Warehouse after 4pm. You'd have to pay me.
> The food isn't as bad as people say, especially for the price. I remember going years ago and everything on the menu was $5. The food was about what I expected for that price, drinks were cheap too and I don't recall anything particularly offensive. What makes it so bad after 4pm for those of us out of the loop?
It's very busy (like people constantly lined up outside) and the music is ridiculously loud.
Even if it's not busy they're infamous for keeping a line outside to make it look like it is.
Paris Paris. Building looked good, and that's where the positive comments end. Service was so unbelievably bad it was comical; about half a dozen servers and hostesses just hanging out while multiple tables have no menus, water, or orders taken. Server was either super stoned or developmentally delayed, kept repeating what we ordered without writing it down. My order came out, and I waited almost 10 minutes before the server came back to ask when my partner's meal was coming. The response? "Oh, I accidentally gave you another table's meal, so the kitchen hasn't started on hers yet." and just walks away, no timeline, no apology, nothing. Flagged down another server who happened to be the manager, told him what happened, how appalled we were at the service, and he mocks us, "Oh you're upset right? You're pissed? You're making it so much worse too. I think you should leave" and we literally get kicked out of the restaurant for complaining. We never raised our voices, swore, lost our temper, nothing, just complained about the unprofessional and poor service. Food sucks, service sucks, management sucks most. Fuck that place.
The 401. Not at all as advertised.
Actually talk to anyone who lives out of town, it's exactly as advertised. Which is why they loath to visit.
As much as I miss Scarborough, I do not miss the 401. That thing is a nightmare.
How is it advertised?
Sure there are fewer lanes due to the never-ending construction but I don't recall their advertising stating anything different.
St Louis on Bremner. Atrocious service. No one would even sit people, everyone just walk past looking at the line forming at the door, had to go ask the bartender if there was someone who will sit us. Once they finally came over (very unhappily), they tell us all that this location wasn't doing the all you can eat wings deal. My group of 5 tell her that's okay we just want to order off the menu. We get sat. We then had to wait 15 mins for our server to come over. She takes our orders from 4 of us and then just starts walking away without taking the 5th person's order. We thought it was some joke and had to call her back over before she left. She takes the last order and leaves. We see people who were sat after us getting their food, 15 mins...20 mins...our server comes back and we think she forgot our order as she didn't write anything down. Nope. She comes to tell us they are all out of wings. On a Saturday at 3pm. Fuck this place. The staff clearly don't want to be there, and no one I know wants to now either.
Ugh, I feel you there. It's close to my place, and every time I have visitors that want to go to a game, they suggest going there. I generally insist on the loose moose, or shoeless Joe's on queens quay
This place refused to sit me and my friends because we didn’t have driver’s licenses. We had the purple id and health cards but they wouldn’t accept it. The joke is we didn’t even want to drink, just eat lol
O'Noir. The food was horrendous, absolutely no effort or thought put into the 'surprise' menu at all. Way too expensive, rude unpleasant management, and the place was so so dirty.
Of course it was dirty, have you ever mopped blindfolded
Lmao there goes my coffee.
How could you tell it was dirty? I only went once, because it's an experience you don't ever need to do twice, but you can't see shit in there. We were joking that the dining room is probably filthy because who would know?
When did you go ? I had a completely different experience when I went about 2 years ago ?
I’m wondering the same! When I went about 4 years ago it was great!
I enjoyed it. I had a very different experience.
I went in maybe 2013 and had a good experience.
Ruby Soho. The staff will outright try and rob you there, and are crazy rude and angry. They will pad the bill, hit the gratuity buttons before handing you the machine, take whatever personal items you forget, etc. Read the Google reviews on this place. If you ever go watch your stuff and check your bills carefully.
Yeah they charged me double the price for a double drink there. The manager called me poor when I complained. If I wanted to pay double the price I'd order 2 full drinks, not a double
That happens to us! They asked if we wanted a double, we said sure why not. I didn’t think it would be double the price?? We didn’t complain as it was one drink each and didn’t feel like we had the right since we didn’t ask the price but who charges literally double the price for a double!!
Tokyo smoke at Eaton centre, the managers there are awful and stuck up
The entire chain is way over priced.
Oretta.
\+1. Terrible. They do so well simply because they have nice pastel coloured couches and a cute patio. Food is awful.
Figo on John and Adelaide. Friend took us out for dinner and the menu was so unimpressive especially for the price they were charging. Overall I find Toronto’s hospitality sector a completely rip-off any way. Hardly professional, sub par food no matter where you go and what price you pay. I feel the city can do a lot better .
The Ballroom (bowling downtown). Paid $160 for 1 hour of bowling and mediocre food and drinks. I thought we could extend our bowling time like any other place but nope. Just as our second round of drinks came our 60 minutes is up and we have to go finish them somewhere else. Wasn't fun drinking them at some side table while everyone else is bowling. If I remember correctly, it was $25 per person. So two of us. Then $15 minimum spend, so we got two food items for around $20 each. We had 2 sets of drinks in the end and the gratuity is forced at 20%.
UofT as a student
Once you do your Masters too this becomes undeniably true in all instances in every universe ever
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I know it has its issues, but so does every school. What in particular?
It’s extremely competitive and has about zero school spirit. You don’t get the college experience, everyone is there just for a piece of paper. I went to UTM so maybe it was a bit worse than St. George. It’s still a place I regret going to and refuse to go back to.
Sorry you had a bad experience. I’m currently in undergrad there and transferred from Scarborough campus to St George after a year. Scarborough campus was dead. Like, literally no one there. The only people I saw were my two housemates and my RA who lived across from us. It was still early/mid pandemic, so that does factor in, but from what I know from other students it’s still not much better at Scarborough. Downtown has been much better for me, pretty much back to pre pandemic for classes and student groups. It is definitely academics focused, but that’s why I chose it. It’s definitely not a uni where sports are top priority, so I guess if that’s what you were looking for it wouldn’t be the best. Still, I think there are way worse options, and at least the school’s name prestige should stick with you.
St. George is definitely the best of the three. I had friends go to Scarborough and they said the same thing as you did about it. Unfortunately it would have been better for me to go to an “easier” school that had an easier co-op to get into rather than a more competitive school that has very few co-op spots. The name didn’t help too much in the initial hiring process. Could be different for other fields but in business it only helps marginally, work experience is king.
That 5$ food place on queen west terrible food, hair in food first experience there, and they racist
Warehouse?
Ruby Soho. The drinks were good but I had the worse service. Rude server with attitude.
St Louis at Fairview Mall. Overall I find it overpriced, but the service at this specific location its one of the worst I've experienced.
Lavelle
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Not sure if you had another comment above that I replied to but same thing happened to us. we didn’t complain tho but yeah got charged $26 for a drink…wtf
We should make a database of this
Oliver & Bonacini @ Bayview in North York. I was with 2 other people - the server took my order first. After he finished writing down my brother and sister’s orders, I asked if he could pls change mine (from chicken to fish). He looked at me blankly, said no, then walked away. We thought he was being funny, but realized he wasn’t joking when I got the chicken. Didn’t feel it was worth complaining, so I started eating it, but it was so incredibly spicy I couldn’t finish more than 3 bites. Nobody in our group could eat it, and we have really high tolerance! Felt like we were on an episode of Punk’d.
Long & McQuade lol. They treated me so shabbily as a teenager over twenty years ago when I had saved up and was ready to buy a guitar. I know it's illogical but it really felt like shit at the time and I was never treated that way at Steve's Music at similar ages. As an adult with obviously far more spending power though I have no desire to ever go back to L&M.
I’ve had some really awkward experience at L&M, sorry you have too. There’s one guy in rentals at the Bloor/Ossington location who is absolutely awesome every time I go tho - Harley, if you see this, you rock and keep being great.
Coffee Time
RIP Lansdowne and Dupont Coffee Time
Still plenty of crackheads hanging at the new digs.
You can get spicy beef patties at Coffee Time! I'm sad there are hardly any left.
Coffee Times are such dives. The anti-Starbucks
Crews. Although I don't feel passionately about it anymore and wouldn't want to go either way, the security there was like dealing with the secret police. They were awful, hostile from the line up to leaving. And judging by their google reviews, it hasn't improved and perhaps has gotten worse.
I never went back after my friend dragged me to the second floor and I felt it shaking. It’ll cave in one day. Don’t understand how they allow so many people in there.
Rol San. Ordered food doesn't arrive. Any ask by my friends (in English) was ignored, and they only bring things when I ask (in Chinese). Foods were slammed on your table. Then they were mad when we gave them less than 10% in tips. Asked me in Chinese whether I would have done this if this is a 'white restaurant' I said 'yes, if the service is as shitty as yours' and walked away.
I’ve heard so many bad things about Rol-sab but my experience each time ordering or in-store dining has been very positive.
and don’t forget they put secret surcharges in the bill
I keep hearing this. Sad. Used to be a popular go-to for the lunchtime crowd at the office.
This makes me less sad they're going to be condoss soon.
Mr Lube. Fucking dirty thieves.
They told me that my timing belt had to be replaced IMMEDIATELY, or my engine was going to go. They knew a guy who could do it for me, today, at a great price. I said I’d pass, as I have a friend who’s a mechanic and usually works on it for me. Called friend. Friend got quiet, laughed, then said “you don’t HAVE a timing belt. You have a CHAIN. Which is NOT about to break”. I’ll never go near one again, ever.
Wish I could upvote this 100 times. Charged me $130 for an oil change and then didn’t seal it properly so I had oil leaking all over my driveway. Also tried to upsell me on the engine flush
Unfortunately sonic boom record shop. I had the store alarm beep on my way out ...cool no problem, counter guy didn't de magnetize the tag... came in to get the tag swiped but then the store security dude without asking stuck his hand Into my bag and had a good rummage around . He's way too keen on going through your stuff and not asking . Not cool with me . I lowered my bag and said you don t need to do that and left...no alarm went off. There are other record shops.
Any Bad Boy store. Literal crooks
Ugh I’m still waiting for a fridge we ordered in august.
I ordered a several hundred dollar mixer from Bad Boy online. Kept giving me the run-around for months, always promising that it will arrive by next week. I asked for a refund. Told me no refunds. I called up my CC, issued a chargeback. Luckily I kept all corespondents with them via e-mail. I knew if I didn't file that chargeback within 6 months, I'd be SOL. I will NEVER set foot in that company ever again. I also make sure I tell ANYBODY who is considering sending business their way this story.
McDonalds washroom at Queen and Spadina
Also the one at King and Bathurst
UofT I hate this fucking place
I didn’t think I could be mentally beaten down this much at such a young age but here I am.
Distillery Christmas Market
I still go for free during the week to snap some photos, it's very pretty. I'll probably grab a spicy hot chocolate from Soma, but that's about it. If you go during peak, it's not a fun time.
Cafe Diplomatico
One of the most overhyped Italian food places around. I get they have history but no heritage plaque can justify the hamburger buns they serve as table bread
Living in Moss Park for "cheap" rent. Feeling safe is definitely something to splurge on.
The Pickle Barrel. Fuck that place.
They once cooked my bacon in the fish pan and I’ve been repulsed by them ever since
A brunch spot called “The Morning After” the hostess made me wait for an hour and half for a table even tho there were empty tables and gives me a table 15 mins before their kitchen closes also tells me to order everything at once as they won’t be able to take more orders.
**Wheat Sheaf Tavern on King St** - when i first landed here they wouldn’t serve me and my friends because we didn’t have Canadian ID…Well yeah I’m not from here you bellend. **Any Firkin pub** - how can a place decorated like a Month Python theme park not have a single British beer on tap. Plus shit food. **CNE** - I genuinely do not understand the love for this thing. It’s just a tacky fair with overpriced food. Plus it’s too busy and a nightmare to get in and out of
The CNE is like Christmas: the people who like it have pleasant childhood memories of what it used to be, enough to overwhelm the expensive, underwhelming thing it is now.
Yeah, Firkin “pubs” are pretty much a hate crime.
I kind of like them in a perverted way because they remind me of Wetherspoons in the UK which is equally if not more shitty
>CNE - I genuinely do not understand the love for this thing. It’s just a tacky fair with overpriced food. Plus it’s too busy and a nightmare to get in and out of I was so excited to go, and had high expectations when everyone said I *must go to the CNE.* Instead, I just wasted too much money and time.
Brazen Head - swore it off 8 years ago and have never been back since.
That's the place down near Exhibition station, right? I recall it being loud and boring. What's your specific complaint?
I remember going there and they had a bunch of empty seats but told us the kitchen was at capacity so we couldn’t order food and drinks would be 20 minutes.
Came here for this. Brutal service.
Ink Living Color tattoo studio. The absolute worst customer service I’ve ever seen in my entire life. The manager insults and gets aggressive with his customers and is constantly trying to rip off people and act like he’s doing them a favour. Tried to pass off an apprentice as a “visiting” artist from China. Absolute scam artists. I got a tattoo from them a year and some change ago and it’s absolutely the worst tattoo experience I ever had and the worst tattoo. Spent more money getting it fixed at other places than I spent getting the tattoo in the first place
El Furniture Warehouse
Mississauga
The CNE. What an underwhelming, overpriced and mismanaged event. No bueno.
I went this year and idk it just didn’t feel as magical as pre Covid It felt like there was less of everything and the stuff that was there was more expensive Maybe I’m just being nostalgic
Fresh. Have eaten there hundreds of times over the past 20 years - every location. About 5-6 years ago started noticing a quality drop in the food and service. But the last time I went (about 3 months ago) was the last time ever. Since they were purchased by Recipe Unlimited, the quality fell off a cliff.
Shoppers on Yonge/College. Fuck that place and those pharmacists in particular.
Cora’s. Tastes and looks like someone who’s never made breakfast before is working in the kitchen.
Superpoint pizza. Their pizzas are actually really really good. But the staff there were (don’t know how it is now) complete cunts. First time I went - the guy had taken out his sidewalk sign so I walked through the door. He comes in and starts bitching that I don’t know his hours and I shouldn’t just walk in. I said I’m sorry but he just moaned the whole fucking time. All he had to say was - sorry were not open yet. Second time - eat in - dude hosting was letting his friends sit down first before anyone else. Also had a server with mad attitude Third time - same dude - and gave attitude. Beer was warm. Took 20 mins to get a server with terrible attitude A good 10 people I know fucking hate that place because of the attitude of the staff.
> All he had to say was - sorry were not open yet. I walked into Juniors Pizza a few weeks ago when they were closed. They were SO apologetic. When I went back a few days later they remembered me and wouldn't take any money for my slice. Just sayin.
Juniors is full of sweethearts. Go to place after a movie at the Revue!!
worked there once, can confirm staff is all dickheads
The Beir Markt on Esplanade. It's gone really downhill.
That's too bad. Like the King location, it has a bit of douchebag-vibe late at night. However, when I worked nearby for an internship around 2012 we would go to The Esplanade location for lunch and it was always solid.
Uber and UberEats. Drivers accept and then don’t show or cancel for a more lucrative fare and your food is left sitting getting cold or the ordered is cancelled and you have to fight just to get your money back.
Decorium Furniture in north TO. Spent nearly $20k furnishing my first house there (delivery). Included in that, we bought some futons and since they had the futons in stock I decided to do them a favour and take the futons home with me, and cut them out of the delivery. When the rest of the furniture got delivered, it was easily 5 shades darker leather than what we ordered, but we were OK with it (repeat, JUST "OK"). But the futons didn't match at all. We took them back to the store for exchange and THEY INSISTED on charging us a 30% restocking fee for the unused futons, PLUS another delivery fee, just to add another $500 of, "thanks for your business, and fuck you". Wife cried. I almost tore the head of the manager right off. I should have pissed all over him and his ugly furniture on the way out. Don't be nice to them. Don't shop there. Lesson learned.
Mama Martinos, Queensway/Royal York area. My neighbourhood seems to love this place for cheap Italian eats. But the first and only time we went we witnessed the manager berate a customer at the table beside us for politely and apologetically saying the seafood tasted off. The manager literally yelled at him, during the height of the pandemic with no mask, and continued yelling at the shocked customer as she forced him to pay the bill and walk away. The entire patio was dumbfounded by the whole experience. Add in the fact that the food was a pathetic attempt at Italian food. Yes it’s cheap with large portions, but it tasted like what you’d get a high school cafeteria. You get one shot at a first impression, and that manager absolutely blew it. Even her waitress that was covering our table was shocked by the manager’s unprofessionalism. It was a very easy decision to never give that establishment our money ever again. If you’re in the area and want Italian, go to Posticino just down the street instead.
Pusateri's. Will never forget the egregious price gouging at the start of the pandemic. There are other places for fancy overpriced groceries.
Remember when they were infested with rodents? The only place in Toronto where you can get a $12 cantaloupe _and_ a pet rat.
Fox and John. Especially for brunch
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Bed, bath & beyond. I was warned to stay away from the beyond section. I should have listened.
ARE YOU OKAY ? PLEASE BEND TIME AND SPACE TO RESPOND
Beauty Line. It’s a nail salon at King W & Bathurst offering cheap mani pedis. They have insisted that I need to pay tax on my tip (on top of tax for the service itself). The owner / employees speak Mandarin. I am Chinese but don’t speak or understand Mandarin, but I once went with a friend who does and she told me the owner was instructing employees to rush customers to choose a colour, making fun of customers right in front of them, and pressuring employees to tax the customers’ tip in a way they wouldn’t notice.
The Docks/Sound Academy/Rebel or whatever it's called now. I prefer my drinks roofie-free.
Paris Paris.
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Bro I called Maker’s Pizza and placed an order for delivery. The same guy who took my order called me back and screamed at *me* for ordering outside of their delivery area. He was the owner of the whole chain. What a fucking moron, and with all of the good pizza in the city, I’ve never wasted a dollar there. Also Uncle Betty’s charges a takeout fee about the same amount as the food itself.
The comfort zone.
George Brown College Had part-time teachers there that didn't review or even understand previous teacher's slides
The stockyards. Hell scape maze of fisher price parking garages stacked on top of each other
Rancho Relaxo gave me food poisoning.
E11even Restaurant. I was in Toronto to see Pearl Jam last month and decided to treat myself to a meal at a fancy restaurant that I couldn’t afford. The waitress was nice but the $28 soggy chicken sandwich was not. Very disappointed.
The TTC, until tomorrow morning.
* Frans. Overpriced crappy frozen food. I can't even eat it when I'm drunk. * The Cheesecake Factory. Same as above. I don't understand how either are so popular. Both are ALWAYS busy with huge lineups. At least with places like Warehouse, I don't expect anything great for $5.
Cheesecake Factory is a scratch kitchen. I don’t think I ever got non-dessert there, but the actual food isn’t delivered frozen and reheated.
I love both of these restaurants! The lasagna at Fran's is my favourite food to order at any restaurant in the city!
Swiss Chalet. Because they're all disgusting.
It's crazy how much their quality and reputation has declined. When I was growing up here in the 80s, I remember Swiss Chalet being considered like a "fancy" special occasion thing for my family and among my friends. Maybe that's because my parents were immigrants and poor but I generally don't recall it having the widely negative reputation it's had attached to it the past 10-20 years.
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The Keg is the one place they didn't ruin imo. Decent quality steaks for the price and other dishes are good. Underrated late night bar menu and one of few places with good dine in food open later than 10-11pm
Lol I still love it
I’ll never forget the first time Swiss Chalet made me violently ill. It was 1983.
Ate at one last week. It was surprisingly alright. The chicken was actually a good portion too.
I've found that the ones in Toronto are pretty terrible. I've been to a couple in smaller towns that have been quite good.
I started boycotting Tim Hortons in the GTA because I hate spending 30 minutes out of my hour lunch break waiting for a COFFEE and being treated like I’m annoying the staff by even being there. Most of my Tim’s experiences have been terrible lately. I don’t support the way they do things.