Boston Pizza — Restaurant in Courtenay

I hate leaving bad reviews (see my other reviews) because as a top reviewer I know it stays on the top. I attempted multiple times to have my issue rectified but instead I was lied to by management and was left extremely disappointed. I do not recommend spending money here.

I was trying to use an e-gift card I got 6 days prior. I even showed the manager the email I got and told them the company I got it from. They made us wait over 25 minutes while they called their office and our food sat there getting cold. The gift card never wound up working which I'm dealing with on my end but they expected me to pay for cold food when I had mentioned repeatedly that the food was getting cold. They said the gift card was used in May and treated me like a scammer after I showed them the email came Monday. Didn't get to eat until 2 hours after I placed my order (at home) and left hungry. I called and asked where I could email about my experience. I was told there was no email to email and then they wound up giving it to me. I was treated like I was some sort of problem customer or scammer. The email I sent was kind and understanding.

They called me instead of emailing back and left a voice mail explaining how gift cards work despite me saying in my email that I've worked at 2 BP locations and have decades of experience. I told them my issue was cold food not the gift card so this voice-mail was insulting. I emailed again and they said the manager had not read my email when he left that voice-mail but he read part of the email in the voice-mail. If you want to be crappy fine- but don't insult me by lying to me.

This is an edited review after my bad experience. Here was my first review: I honestly gave up on Boston Pizza a decade ago but this location is amazing. We have had 2 visits back to back where the service and food was flawless. Nick was our server and he was so prompt with quality checks and could maintain an interesting conversation. He seemed happy to be there so I hope it's a sign they treat staff good. Thanks for giving me a spot to get my great white...

This specific location should not be at 4 stars for the complete failure of food safe procedures and mismanagement of service. My friend and I ordered calamari and some other appetizers during dinner service, the bartender mentioned it was a slow night. My friend and I waited for our food and chatted, it all came out at once and instantly the plate looked off. In the very dim light I could tell it was white and undercooked as the breading had yet to even show a sign of color. I touched a piece with my finger, the breading was paste like and greasy. I left the plate on the side of our little table. We ate our other food as it was to the best of my knowledge the standard quality from BP. The server came up with her hands full and asked if everything was fine. I simply stated the calamari looked deplorable hoping she would see the complete failure at cooking it properly. When she came back out with the reorder, I instantly jumped into the first bite of the new crispy golden brown calamari. The bland mundane tzatziki and the texture of a crusty shoelace threw me off on the first bite. My friend and I persevered and had another just incase. It was at that exact moment the second flat rubber crunch stopped, there was a familiar looking piece on the plate. Instantly grabbing the piece, checking if it was the piece I earlier touched with my hand I saw it. The same spot where I wiped the greasy breading off with my finger not 5 minutes earlier. I left the plate on the table for a second time now and as we came to our last bites of the meal our server came. Politely I mentioned that the same food I touched with my hand, was Infact the same one brought back out to me. Understandably the calamari was removed off the bill. That was about all the mention that happened of the horrid misfortune of a simple order of calamari. Disclaimer I totally understand you shouldn't expect quality calamari anywhere for the most part, but it should at least be cooked the first time.Never a second time after it...

We only recently started returning to BP after years of bad service, long waits, and poor value meals. Last night reminded me why we have avoided the place........

Myself, my wife and our four adult children sat down for what we hoped was going to be a social outing over dinner. The female server took our orders, and drinks and appetizers arrived in short order........no issues here.

Two entrees arrived, and my sons, who despite admitting to being famished, opted to wait until the rest of us were served before diving in.

Approximately 10 minutes passed, and then two more entrees arrived. I then told the boys they better eat because their food was getting cold.

Another ten minutes later the last two entrees arrived....minus the fries that were supposed to accompany the one entree. The server was oblivious to this and the fact the boys had finished their meals as the last two entrees arrived.

She returned a few minutes later and asked how things were, flashing a "thumbs-up" accompanied with a smile. At that time we were able to draw to her attention that the fries missing from the last meal to appear.

No apologies, just brought the fries another five minutes later, and then had the audacity to ask if we were interested in dessert as most of us had finished our meals.

We politely declined, and someone at the table quipped we would have the fries that just arrived as our dessert. The server did not get this barb shot her way, and happily toddled off, only to return with our bill shortly after.

The only reason I did not bring the matter up with her or the manager was the fact she knew my two sons who asked me NOT to say anything as to embarrass them.

I begrudgingly agreed and paid the bill with the 15% tip included (normally I tip 20). The total cost of this fiasco: $206.93. This was the LAST time we will be passing through the doors of this or any other Boston Pizza, as we discussed on the drive home since we have experienced poor, slow service at other...