Leopold's Tavern Edmonton - Strathcona — Restaurant in Greater Strathcona

The server/Bartender Reece is extremely unwelcoming, rude and is clearly on some kind of a Power-trip.

Thanks to her, in my three years of going to Leopald's Tavern, a loyal customer and occasional visitor, have had my first negative experience.

It's clear she feels confident and secure enough in her Job, to feel she can be as rude as she has been to me today. She, like an upset Toddler, chased me from table table, saying I had to sit at the bar--a first, in my experience.

What happened to showing someone the Menu, of filling their cup with water, and just generally, being hospitable.

She told me quickly, "if that's a problem, you can just Go." How belittling and condescending.

I told her outright, "that's alright, I'll go to the bar then," feeling still kind of shocked. I did as she wanted, as I didn't want things to escalate, seeing her grin at how sad and frustrated I'd quickly become.

She has the opposite mannerisms of Bailey, who also works here; a gracious, kind and welcoming Woman, who celebrates life and everyone with Equality, Respect, and dignity. Things Reece seems to know little to nothing about.

I just turned 30. So I've been around a while. When I'd gone to another Bartender to speak of my discomfort and to let him know that I was upset and would be heading out immediately... adding "I just had my first negative experience thanks to Reece " he smiled and said "Oh? What did she do?"

I told him, "it's okay, workers always side with their coworkers, there's no point in discussing or sharing"

He was gracious enough and honest enough to say "that's a good point, she is my manager after all." That's explains so much. The confidence. The rude "Im above you" demeanor. The behavior exhibited by this young woman, who shouldn't have been promoted as easily as she has.

It clearly got to her head.

The place is poppin' yes, and there is consist, loyal customer base (Till today, I was one of them). But that doesn't give anyone a right to make anyone feeling unwelcome.

I honestly don't feel comfortable enough to come back and I did feel immense joy at visiting my once favorite spot on Whyte Ave. I had a sweet spot for this place, love the 80s vibe and have had great appreciation for photos on the wall.

Sadly, Reece took great joy in making it a negative experience for me. Thank you. I'm not unused to being unwelcomed unfairly, especially as a Black Man.

With respect comes Respect, and I got none of that here today. Instead, someone allowed me to taste a bit of Malice and Hatred. Feelings that are uncomfortable. That I like to stay away from.

Which is precisely why I have one less Favorite thanks to One Person, among all the Bartenders I'd gotten to know. Goodbye. Have...

I was gonna rip this place without reservation but the server Deanna really took me back in how professional and selfless she was. They removed the other drinks off our bill aside mine, which I insisted I would pay for regardless, as I don’t believe in comp culture. Still she insisted. Sacrificing her table/bill, I insisted she let me tip her still and her response was “Tip me by coming back and giving this spot another go”. This is the only reason I’m not putting 1 star instead.

Came by for the first time after waiting to try this spot for over a year. They were out of a couple products, including Clamato juice, which anyone who’s in the industry knows is an easy run across to circle K or down the road to Safeway to keep your menu fulfilled, actions of a proactive manager. No biggy, find something else. Ordered a couple beers and cocktails instead.

The menus were covered in food splatter and grime. Our waters were served in the absolute filthiest glasses I’ve ever been provided at a restaurant. I thought maybe it was just the water glasses but lo and behold the beer and cocktails also came in the same form. A layer of grime coating the entire glass that can be felt by the human touch. Huge health hazard and off putting. Instead of bringing this to my servers attention I went straight to the bartender. Instantly I was greeted with the most condescending attitude a person could receive. Zero accountability, 100% false superiority. I was even willing to keep the beer I had but just wanted a clean glass. She pulls a glass off the cleaner belt and hands me a wet glass. I ask if she can wipe it down, she gives the outside a gentle effortless wipe which leaves the layer of grime on and doesn’t touch the inside at all. When she put the rag down and handed me the glass again I picked the rag up to wipe the glass properly myself. She proceeded to take the rag out of my hand and said she will do it. At that point it was time to pass on a new beer and take my business elsewhere. Passing on the food we came for all together. Bartender should learn how to put in the right effort and be touched up on customer service etiquette. Her high horse was at least 18 hands.

As much as Deanna tried to save the situation created by her coworker, I would never come back here. In a world with so much competition, you...

Might have just had the worst restaurant experience in my entire life thus far.

While the food is good, it’s absolutely not worth what we dealt with. Sat on the patio this afternoon to grab some drinks and food before the game started. We wanted to get in and out so we wouldn’t miss the hockey game, and since we sat down around 4:30 that should’ve been plenty of time to eat and get home. Ordered our drinks and food, and waited… and waited:.. and waited…

No food came out. Sitting there for about an hour and still nothing. Tables who sat down after us were getting all getting food and drinks while we waited over an hour for nachos and wings. Was told by our server she was sorry for the delay but they were backed up due to game time starting earlier. She said she would try to get a discount on our food and went on her way. Still we waited a good 15 minutes again before the food came. When the server (who was a woman in an orange top and dark hair) brought our food, she said “We’ve decided to comp your entire meal so it’s totally free and on us.”

Since the food was good and we felt the service had been rectified we decided we wanted to still tip the server. We asked her to bring the machine so we could give her a tip. She brought us out the machine and also THE BILL for the food and stated “We’ve gone ahead and taken 20% off” when we were already told the meal would be free. My boyfriend paid and didn’t even mention it to me that he wasted $80 when we were told the meal was free, and if I had known I 100% would’ve argued to get our money back. He didn’t want me to go back after he had told me.

How can you say that our meal is free and then send out a bill afterwards with only 20% taken off the cost? And then while my boyfriend is paying the waitress is smiling and trying to joke with us. Like, are you serious?

Last year we sat on the patio and enjoyed the food but also had terrible service again. Because the food was so good, we wanted to give it another chance today. Well, that was the last one I guess. Missed the first period of the hockey game too.

Edit: Emailed the owner after he gave me the email in response to this review and said he’d be sure to get back to me. 3 months later and I’m still waiting for that response....