Canthooks Restaurant — Restaurant in Greater Madawaska

We stayed at a cottage in the Calabogie area with another couple for 10 days at the end of June/beginning of July. We decided to find a really nice restaurant to have a great meal at on a Saturday evening. One couple is getting married in a few weeks and we wanted to have an amazing food experience during our vacation together. After searching online and checking out some reviews, we settled on Canthooks and made reservations for Saturday, June 29th.

The server who greeted us was very nice and was the only bright light regarding service during the entire visit. There were two servers, this one was taller and a little older and clearly more experienced. I’ll refer to her as server #1. As we waited to be seated, the other server was asking how to make a dry martini. After trying to explain, the taller lady asked the other to seat us while she made the martini. Server #2 tried to seat us at a table which was reserved for 20 people, asking if we were all there. We clarified that we were only 4 and she moved us to our table. No friendliness, no charm, no attempt to engage or chat. She was holding out menus before we were even settled into our seats. Within 2 minutes she was asking to take our drink order, with no indication towards the wine list on the table. We asked for a minute and she spun on her heel and walked away.

Server #1 then appeared and took our drink order. One person ordered the Sandbanks Rose. They were served the Sandbanks Pinot Noir. When we told her, she apologized and quickly brought the correct wine. She also asked if server #2 had told us the specials, which she hadn’t.

We ordered 2 mussels, a burger and the penne chicken special. When the food arrived, we dove in. Within 2 bites we knew the mussels were a complete salt bomb. We flagged down server #1. Again she apologized and asked if we’d like them made over, which we declined. We ordered honey garlic wings and another burger.

Unfortunately, we ordered before our friend started into his burger. The meat was way over cooked and grey. Decent flavour, but no moisture or pink in the middle. The pasta special was bland, gloopy and mucky. The friend with the pasta declined mentioning it and simply left more than half behind in her bowl.

The replacement meals arrived. The honey garlic wings were a plate of plain wings with a bowl of Franks RED HOT sauce on the side. The other burger was cooked properly, pink in the middle and juicy, but was served with NO ketchup or mustard on the side, which the first burger had.

Server #2 was the one who brought the replacement meals, but again, zero interaction, friendliness or concern.

One guest then asked her:

‘Do you have specialty coffees?’ ‘No’ ‘So, no lattes, espressos?’ ‘No’ ‘Coffee?’ ‘Yes’ ‘Ok, I’ll have a coffee please’

No response, just left to supposedly get a coffee. Did he get a coffee?

No.

We watched her serve drinks to 6 other tables. We never had either server approach us again. Not once.

After 20 minutes of sitting there waiting, we went up to cash and asked to cancel the coffee, a container for the wings, honey garlic sauce for the wings, and the bill.

Server #1 brought us the bill and said ‘sorry for this’ as she waved her hand towards the table. We went to cash where server #2 took the bill and sternly asked ‘what’s it on?’

When the person paying said ‘pardon?’, she again said ‘what’s it on?’ Instead of adding a standard 10-15% tip, which we were still prepared to do, we tipped nothing.

At least 10 mistakes in one dinner for 4. Little to no acknowledgment or accommodation, and then blatantly surly ‘service’ from one of the servers.

The 4 of us eat out regularly. This is the worst experience we have collectively been subjected to. I immediately emailed the resort/restaurant, rather than posting online reviews. After 5 days, no response.

We shared this story with locals in the area and a couple business owners. Every one of them said that Canthooks used to be good, but changes to chefs and management have resulted in failure.

Go to the Black Bird Cafe instead,...

Make sure you read the menu in detail and ask questions. I ordered a swiss burger that had some really stinky cheese on it. One bite and had to spit it out. I suggest you ask the server about the menu items. The French onion soup was good and the French fries were good. If you go for the fall colours make sure to leave early enough to arrive by around noon as the ski lift stops operating at 3pm. We arrived at 2:50 and the lift was already shut down. Unfortunately this is off season and the bathroom had one toilet out of 3 working. The disabled toilet was also out of order. The unkept nature of the washroom did not do this hotel any favor's. We checked out a meeting room that smelled quite bad and like it had not been aired out in many months. I would hate to see what the rooms were like as far as cleanliness. This place needs management that provides the level of cleanliness and service of a...

First (and last) time visiting Calabogie Peaks to see the fall colours and have lunch at the Canthooks. Very limited paper menu, so not much selection. My husband order the large Caesar salad which was fairly priced at $16. However, it was surprisingly small and very bland. I ordered the hamburger and fries so we could share. The hamburger itself had zero flavour. The bun looked basic and overall flavour was mainly a soggy spinach taste with a mild cheese. I had a Pepsi and my husband had a coffee. We had to swat flies the entire time we ate. After waiting for our bill(we were the only ones there) we walked up to the bar to pay. Server was very friendly. Chef asked how the food was and we both said “Ok”. Honestly, it was way below our...