The Local House Cafe — Restaurant in Drayton Valley

Been lots before. Food and service is fine enough. But today my husband was asked what kind of toast with his steak & eggs (Menu says "ALL BREAKFAST served with toast & hashbrowns"). He asked about sourdough, they said it was an upcharge of $2-no biggie, not needed. Then I go to order my meal (in the same section of the menu) and am told it doesn't come with hashbrowns or toast. I was confused and asked why and she said it's not included in my 2 eggs and bacon. I ask why his is in the same section. She says it's not it's a couple bucks more for any toast and he will be charged. But he was only asked (she asked him not the other way) what kind of toast and that sourdough was an upcharge. Tried to explain it was confusing and the waitress agreed and said she had only been there 3 weeks. Ok not her fault so she took our order and, keeping a menu we tried to flag the manager server who was finishing up at the table beside us. 3x eye contact but no acknowledgement so I went up to her at the TV hoping she could clarify.  She said that there is a $2 charge for toast.  Manager says she served husband last week and she charged him, (he hasn't been in in 3 weeks due to travel nor has he ever seen the charge before on his bill).

So we waited for our food to come. When it did, we asked if we were being charged extra for the white toast and the server said yes. Ok, then can we please have the sourdough he asked for listed at $1.25/slice (we would be paying the $0.50 upgrade). The server said no its two pieces of white or brown toast for $2 and we asked why side toast of white, multi, sourdough or rye is all listed as $1.25/slice.   Server said it was actually $2 charge for toast PLUS the $1.25 is an upcharge for the speciality breads even though all are listed as same as they are upcharge not sides. So that would mean it would have been $2 + $2.50 for sourdough. Still super confused we asked where the $2 charge is listed so we would know what we're being charged for order. It's not there so she said (rudely) that she will send the other lady.

Manager explained that it SHOULD say those are up charges NOT sides but yes it is NOT on the menu anywhere. So now I'm confused because I can order an extra side of bacon or whatever as a side a pre extra charge?

The manager said well the girl was new. Yes we know & told her specifically "we're not trying to be difficult but if she is confused and we're confused then the menu is needing rewording". She then said the owner doesn't speak English as he's East Indian (she brought up his race & language abilities NOT us) and said she was the one who went through the menu for commas and spaces etc... ok but that's not the issue. The menu says ALL BREAKFAST includes toast & hashbrowns but some do at the top and in the middle and some are an upcharge that they don't tell you about even within the same box. She said it's just the way they do it. Ok, just where on the menu would we know that?

She was clearly irritated by our question and did not appreciate our saying the menu was confusing. First blaming it on the new waitress, then on the language abilities of the owner, and then it seemed WE were the problem by sharing the menu was confusing.

By this point I don't feel it is my fault that the menu is so confusing and she is making it out like we are the issue. So I thanked her for clarifying and said, "we came here while the River Rock restaurant was closed (has just reopened) and that this experience has led me to no longer come back. Not at all about your pricing, but how this has been handled.". He response was "Sorry, anything else?". Didn't care at all.   Super easy to have said "yeah, it's confusing, don't worry about it today just know moving forward that's how it is and we will look at fixing the menu. Instead it was all our fault and made to feel like we were difficult for (actually pretty politely) asking a question.

Terrible experience over such a little thing means neither of us will be back nor will we recommend a place that blames customers &...

I had to kill some time in Drayton and stopped here for a quick breakfast. The place was quiet which was nice first thing in the morning. I ordered the breakfast with farmer's hash, soft bacon and overeasy eggs. It was perfect!! The eggs weren't snotty and the yolk was nice and runny, the bacon was perfect for me and I love that they have the farmers hash. Not many places do. I highly recommend their breakfast. I'll be back another time to try their lunch and dinner options 😋. Edited to add pics. Well found myself here again and just wanted to let you all know it wasn't a fluke! The food was just as good a second time. Cooked to perfection. I remembered to take pictures this time. Highly...

Went out of the norm going to Edmonton for a nice meal and chose to do something a bit different. Settled on a scenic drive out to Drayton and a meal at The Local House Cafe - incredibly glad we did.

The staff were incredibly pleasant. Who we presumed to be the chef checked to make sure we were happy with the food, and the waitress was friendly and had great advice on where to go for a walk afterwards.

We thoroughly enjoyed our date night - quite possibly the best one yet in seven years...