Cabeza Grande — Restaurant in Alberta

Food = Great Patio = Great Dog Friendly = Great Vegan Friendly = Great Service.... OUR service = Great

It was only reading consistent reviews around tipping that I even decided to write a review.

After receiving our food we overheard an older server asking if everything was okay and then explaining that in our country it is typical to give 15% - 18% to the servers, after they had tipped. She then hovered over the young group of Australians (under 25) until they provided her with a larger tip.

When she left I talked to the table and let them know that they are able to tip whatever they feel like and that is where I found out they were Australian and informed me that it was abnormal for them to tip, but provided one anyway.

When they left, the server came to our table (which she was not serving) and confronted us wondering what we had said to the table. I let her know that they should not have intimidated them to provide a larger tip. She told us that she wanted to let them know that tipping in this country was a norm and wanted to educate them on that. She also mentioned that she had to tip out the kitchen (which I know is a norm) and that she shouldn't have to pay for them to go out and eat.

She agreed that the tipping culture here is a broken system and that she came from the U.K. where they do not tip their servers there either, but stated that she needs to pay her bills. I let her know that her employer should be paying her a fair wage and if he is not, that is simply a bad boss. Regardless, customers should not be confronted about their tips.

My main issue for customers who go through this are having this poor experience associated with Canada. Ironically, this is being delivered from someone who does not agree with the tipping culture, and comes from a culture without tipping.

Simply wondering if this shakedown would have happened with someone older than these customers.

Finally, I would like to say this no way impacted my tipping to my actual server. This poor woman had to continue to serve us, visibly nervous, after that interaction. She was lovely and did an incredible job.

I hope that this does not sour the experience of the other guests, or push our wonderful server out of the industry.

Based on the reviews over the past 5 years, clearly this is a workplace issue and the employer should pay employees a living wage so they do not have to rely or shakedown customers to pay their bills. The response of paying "the same as the Bow Valley area" clearly isn't enough. I will pay for the food, the employer can pay...

I am giving this place one star because of the service and behaviour from the server! Food was really delicious, no doubt. We put our name down in wait list. We were told it will be 15-20 min. It was table of 5 with 2 year old kid. After 15 min we received the first call and was told that it will be another 20 min. Fine! It happens. After 20 min, we did not receive any call so I went in to check the status. The server told us it will be another 20-30 min. So I kindly ask them we have a 2 year old kid with us. By the time it was about to 9 pm. She suggested that either we can wait for our table or to go somewhere else but she will call us regardless when table is available. So we decided to wait. After 10 min patio has two table available but we did not get any call. Waited another 10 min but again no call. So I went inside to ask about estimate time. Finally we got the table. Yay !!! We were not mad or upset until now. We are all busy and forget things. After this, server told us that Reasturant has a policy that anyone who is dining in 6 or more that add 18% tip by default! Ok no problem but we were 5 adults with one 2 year old kid. (By d way their Kids menu was offered for 12 year or plus). So we asked again how did she count 6 people. After some back and forth she said she will exclude that tip policy from our table. Her behaviour was total change towards us.

By this time, we were very upset. Firstly we waited for our table for 1 hr 15 min yet there is no apology and then you guys are asking for a tip for 2 year old kid who literally ate not even single bite (plate was not served to him) not even single smile. This was clear indication from excluding tip from the table.

So finally we decided not to pay any tip (generally I tip for the service but because of no empathy for wait time and asking for a tip for 2 year old was very disappointing)

Lastly, she is looking at the receipt and in sarcasm she is telling us “thank you very much” omg her tone was so obnoxious.

I feel so sorry for the owner of the business. I am pretty sure it was not her first time with us. The owner must have difficulty in finding good staff but I hope the owner can find someone good who looks after the customer rather than just looking forward for a tip ! Again your food was so good. It just little too much from...

The worst experience I had.

Don't waste your money and go somewhere else until the issues are fixed.

1.- Total time we spent was almost 2 hours. I had to renew my parking while waiting for the food.... I am okay with that though. 2.- What do you expect during an outdoor meal under a hot weather? Let me help you: What about an icing cold beer? Well, good luck with that. The beers we ordered was almost boiling hot. When asked for ice, the server was quite reluctant and said there is not much available ice. 3.- The appetizers took quite long to arrive. Texture of the Queso cervezo (or whatever is called) was awful.... tasty, but awful. 4.- The food took about an hour to arrive and, when it did, the food was cold already.... cold tacos, no good "señor", at all. 5.- The carne asada tacos was the worst. There is no "asada" at all. Beef was not on the grill (asado) at all. The texture was like they boiled the beef, cut in little squares and barely seasoned... I mean, seriously? just a tip: "asado" in spanish means, on the grill. 6.- No music in a mexican-style restaurant, are you serious right now? The whole restaurant was overwhelming so quiet, I mean c'mon guys.

Message to this place owner(s): You have serious issues folks, and based on my (and my family) awful experience, I'd resume into 2:

1.- Kitchen: You either better train your kitchen staff on how prepare food or replace them entirely with a more experienced personnel.

2.- Management: Same as above, your restaurant manager needs an intensive training in logistics, how to manage a restaurant or replace it by an experienced one.

The servers were quite friendly and very customer oriented... but as I told to one of them, no matter how hard you work, if this place logistics and the lack of management is a fiasco, then you girls, as the image of the restaurant before its customers, will receive complains right out of the bath... I actually felt sorry for them.

Folks, you have a gold mine right there, in the beautiful town of Canmore... keep it, embrace it and your business will thrive and flourish beyond any comprehension.

I...