One Plate Catering & Event Management — Local services in Ottawa

The purpose of this review is to express our deep disappointment with the catering service provided by The River Lounge. We were shocked by the poor quality of service, food, and dishonesty from The River Lounge. We booked The River Lounge (Marlon) over a year in advance, meeting with him on multiple occasions to carefully plan the food and service. Unfortunately, Marlon misled us in several key areas: (1) the quality of presentation, (2) the quantity of food, and (3) the level of service we were promised. Specifically, we met with Marlon twice for tastings—on June 5th in the Gallery cafeteria and on June 21st at The River Lounge. These tastings gave us confidence in the quality, presentation, and quantity of food that had been promised. Unfortunately, the reality on our wedding day was dramatically different. The presentation fell well below the standard we had been shown, the portions were inadequate—so much so that many guests remarked they left the wedding hungry—and the overall service was disorganized and unprofessional. To illustrate these concerns, we have attached images comparing the presentation at the tastings with what was actually served at the wedding. Marlon had committed to serving a traditional Lebanese Mezze—consisting of multiple shareable plates followed by a main course—but what was delivered fell significantly short of that promise in terms of the presentation. The difference speaks for itself.

The quantity of food per person was significantly less, rather than the 1.5 times more that had been promised. Marlon assured us there would be more food per person at the wedding, not less. He also promised an additional 20% of food would be available to replenish plates that were finished quickly. However, no extra food was provided. When we raised our concerns with Marlon during the event, as guests were still hungry, he attempted to shift the blame onto our wedding planner, claiming the plates used were too small. This excuse is unacceptable—if plates are small, they should be filled to the top, additional plates should be used, or food should be replenished as promised. Leaving guests hungry after we paid The River Lounge $36,313 for food and drinks alone (excluding rentals of plates and cutlery) is simply indefensible.

Next, we would like to address the service. We had purchased two bottles of wine per table from Marlon/The River Lounge, but bottles provided were cork-sealed and required an opener. Despite this, the staff made no effort to open the bottles, pour the wine, or serve it to guests. As a result, only a small number of guests drank the wine, and at the end of the evening the staff collected all of the bottles, even though they had already been paid for.

In addition, the main courses were cleared away prematurely. Guests who left their tables briefly to dance returned to find that their meals had been removed before they had finished eating..

Another issue was with the wedding favors. We had purchased favors for all of our guests and placed them on each plate at the start of the evening. However, by the end of the night, the staff not only collected the wine bottles we had already paid for, but also removed most of the favors we had personally purchased from Etsy for guests to take home.

Lastly, The River Lounge used the plates we provided for the event but returned them in poor condition—covered in food, mishandled, and not properly cleaned. Several plates were damaged, and many wine glasses were broken. We believe it is only fair that Marlon and The River Lounge take responsibility for these damages and cover the associated costs. The following images speak for themselves.

We would highly recommend against contracting with the River Lounge for catering your next event as we are highly disappointed by the serviced they provided on our once in a...

There are no words to fully explain how thankful I am to OnePlate. Our wedding was absolutely perfect. I know it sounds cheesy but they really made our dreams come true.

During the planning process they were never annoyed by our many questions and changes through the year between booking and date. They listened to what we really wanted and gave professional recommendations that would help build what we wanted. Marlon and Clem were more like family by the end of the planning.

When we did our tasting the food was outstanding, to choose what to serve was so challenging because we wanted to offer it all. We landed on the truffle mushroom soup, fattoush salad, the chicken and steak medley for main and tiramisu for dessert. My dad owned Louis Steak House so the expectations for the steak and food in general was very high. Day of the wedding everything was exactly to standard from the tasting and more. All of the steaks were cooked perfectly medium as requested, flavourful and beautiful cut. The chicken was all moist and juicy not just us but the whole room. The soup was a hit, I skipped the salad and got 2 more soups (bride privilege indeed hahah) my husband went nuts over the salad, the pita chips were crunchy and flavourful and not soggy at all which is very challenging for a group that size. The tiramisu was delicious, I’m a huge fan and this is easily the best I’ve ever had. Then the presentation was gorgeous, each plate was made like an art piece more than just a meal. We had an amazing Saj midnight where they were made fresh, this was such a hit!

Then we have the service throughout the whole night, every server, bartender, busser, every single person in staff treated everyone like family. We felt like they truly wanted the best for us and would do whatever it took to make it happen.

There is so much for I could say but truly thank you Marlon, Clem & team. You will definitely be seeing this crew again for baby showers, baptisms and anniversary parties!!

Ps, it’s been a week and we still have people reaching out to tell us it was the best wedding food they ever had and the best wedding period!! Deffo have the Louis Steak House stamp of...

My family and I had the most incredible experience at The River Lounge, and I can't help but give it a glowing 5-star rating! From start to finish, our journey with this event space was absolutely amazing. The owner, in particular, deserves a special mention - he was an absolute delight to work with and played a crucial role in turning our dream Italian wedding into a reality.

One of the standout features of The River Lounge is undoubtedly the food. It's clear that the owner and chef takes immense pride in serving top-notch cuisine. Each dish we tasted was not only delicious but also showcased high-quality ingredients and generous portion sizes. Our guests couldn't stop raving about it!

What truly sets The River Lounge apart is their unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. The owner went above and beyond to accommodate our needs, meeting with us multiple times to discuss every detail and patiently addressing all our questions. Throughout the entire process, he treated us with the utmost respect and professionalism.

The event space itself is nothing short of enchanting. The stonework arches and the soft, fairy-like lighting that graces the venue at night create a truly romantic and inviting atmosphere. It was a magical backdrop for our special day.

ALSO, the owner just recently renovated their patio, and it's an absolute gem! It's not only beautiful but also incredibly spacious, overlooking the Rideau River. The panoramic view from the patio adds another layer of charm to an already wonderful venue.

In all honesty, I'm so enamored with The River Lounge that I wish I could get married all over again just to have our reception there one more time!!

If you're searching for the perfect wedding venue that combines exceptional service, delectable food, and a stunning ambiance, look no further than The River Lounge. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking to create unforgettable memories on...