The Small Axe Road House — Restaurant in Enderby

TLDR: not safe for people with celiacs and the staff are not trained to answer questions about menu over the phone. And the "manager/head cook" doesn't think it is the restaurants issue.

I would like to preface this review by mentioning that I am a concerned parent of a child with an autoimmune disease that requires special attention. Every year, myself and a group of approximately 15 friends visit Enderby for camping trips. During our stay, we usually visit Small Axe for a meal, typically on the day we are preparing to leave. The restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere and the staff is usually friendly and accommodating.

Over the past four years, we have experienced minor miscommunications that have led to errors in our orders. As a large group, we understand that these mistakes can happen. We take it in stride as long as the staff acknowledges the miscommunication and takes steps to rectify the situation. Unfortunately, I am usually the one whose order is impacted, especially when it concerns meals for my daughter. Interestingly, another person at our table may order the same meal, yet ours will come out incorrectly. We simply request corrections, and the staff and kitchen are usually happy to accommodate us when necessary.

However, on this particular occasion, we called ahead to ensure that the menu offered options suitable for those with celiac disease. The staff member who answered the phone assured us that the menu was indeed celiac-friendly. It is likely that the staff member misunderstood and assumed that celiac disease is a dietary preference rather than an autoimmune disease. When we arrived with our large group, I examined the menu and realized that the items were not suitable for individuals with celiac disease; they were only gluten-aware. I discussed the matter with our server, who was understanding and addressed all my concerns. The server informed me that the kitchen did not have specific facilities for handling celiac allergies, emphasizing the associated risks. However, they mentioned that other patrons with celiac disease frequented the restaurant and did not experience any adverse reactions, particularly with regards to the french fries. To err on the side of caution, we ordered a poutine with cheese curds and chickpea gravy on the side.

Unfortunately, the meal arrived with all the items mixed together, as you would expect in a regular poutine. I brought this to the attention of our server, who informed me that my daughter's order would have to be prioritized last due to the busy workload. The manager/cook overheard this and made my daughter's meal a priority, which we greatly appreciated. When the correct meal finally arrived, my daughter took a few bites of the french fries and immediately felt her stomach upset. This experience confirmed that this restaurant is not safe for individuals with celiac disease who have heightened sensitivity to gluten. Therefore, we made the decision to leave the restaurant. As I was leaving, I suggested to the manager that additional training might be beneficial for the staff who answer phone calls, specifically regarding the fact that the menu is not suitable for individuals with celiac disease. In response, the manager remarked that it was clearly stated on the menu. I acknowledged that fact but mentioned that we had called in advance to inform them about our party members with celiac disease and to ensure they had the option of ordering safe food. The manager's response was, "You are never happy when you come here." This was the final straw for me, considering that celiac disease is a potentially life-threatening condition, and my child is under the age of 10, managing a disease that could result in hospitalization or worse. The manager's flippant response was rude, disrespectful, and unwarranted. I settled my bill and kindly requested that the manager educate her staff on the seriousness of celiac disease, ensuring that they provide truthful and honest information when customers inquire about their menu's suitability for individuals with...

We came based on the great reviews, but unfortunately arrived during brunch hours on Sunday. There were 5 or 6 breakfast items on the menu that you can order between the hours of 11pm till 2pm. The regular menu that we saw in reviews looked affordable and great, but no one wanted breakfast so we went window shopping for 30mins and then came back. The menu we saw online, and the menu we got were not the same at all. Already invested in timewise and starving we pushed on trying to salvage our afternoon. They were totally out of coffee, so that was another unfortunate hit. The decor was nice, but the tables are wobbly, and the chairs are uncomfortable. The place was really cold and unfortunatly the bathrooms were dirty. My son ordered the chilli, but found it to be too powerful. My husband and I tried it and liked it but it was very heavy on the chilli powder. Aside from the poutine the chilli was the closest kid friendly item we could find. My husband and I shared the Yorkshire pudding. It tasted good but at the $18 price point the size and lack of a side made it too pricey. I only had two small bites and he was still hungry after the meal. Here's the thing, it costs a lot of money to eat out now a days. Honestly for most people in the middle class income bracket it's something you only get to do once every couple of weeks. If that. Finding a place that is affordable and serves something better then you can make at home is really hard! These guys are close to being something great, I think a few tweaks to the menu would go a long way. Making the menu easier to read, having some kid friendly options, and maybe adding some lighter soup and sandwich type options. The server was really nice and they did put a lot of thought into the atmosphere. The food was...

The Small Axe is arguably the worst run small business that I have tried to do business with. The Small Axe is in a very small town, Enderby, BC, with no real competing restaurants in town. Being local and wanting to support local business, we called on a Friday or Saturday at 4pm. for pickup at 6pm. We were told they were busy and hung up. We phoned back about 5pm. for pick up at 7pm. This time we did not let them rudely hangup. We were allowed to place our order for 7pm. pickup. We arrived at 7pm and had to wait 45 minutes. Tried the burger and threw it in the garbage. Called them on a Wednesday and got their voice mail. Told them what I wanted and to please call me back. Come Friday I decided to go in and talk to their manager. As they were busy we were forced to talk at the bar. It was a quiet, professional conversation. I was told that they did not do take out when busy. That is all they had to say as opposed to hanging up. I told her about the message I left on Wednesday asking for a return call. Then I was informed that they do not even check their voice mail. Finally I asked to make a reservation for 6, and was told to just send an Email with my request, which I did in the next 10 minutes. Why she could not take it personally I do not know. Within minutes I got an Email boxed reply saying they do not take reservations. DUH! Strike 1,2 and 3. The final nail in the coffin. I will never attempt to ever spend a dollar in this local business, nor will not ever recommend them. I am quite sure that if there was any competition in Enderby that Small Axe would be out...