The Loghouse Pub — Restaurant in Langford

This one star is devoted to the host of the Loghouse’s Open Mic, Mike. The staff, establishment, and other patrons offered a wonderful experience but, in my years of open mics, I’ve never seen quite as unprofessional and inconsiderate of a move as executed by this particular host.

In the hope’s that someone else’s time is not wasted as mine was, I’d love to share the following experience.

I arrived for my first time at the Loghouse and found a sign up sheet that had about 30 blank lines for participants to sign up on. However, only 10 of these lines had a number noted beside them.

The first 10 lines, with the numbers 1 through 10 beside each line, were each already claimed by the name of a performer. However, with two thirds of the lines on the sheet still blank, I wrote my name on the 11th line, the first without a number beside it.

Throughout the night, I met the host, Mike, met many friendly musicians, my personal favourite being a regular named Nate. Some invited me to join their spontaneously created bands to play a cajon, rhythm guitar, and sing backing vocals. It was lovely.

Nate was 10th on the list. He was amazing. His original songs were clever and moving.

I was excited to follow him.

After Nate’s set, Mike took the corner stage to announce that the night was over, and then made a straight dash for the door. I followed him, calling his name. Whether he was hard of hearing or trying to avoid my inquiry can only be speculated. I caught him by the door and told him I was confused; I’d really hoped to play. He explained that only the first 10 lines on the list were valid. The 20 other blank lines were simply a by-product of inept page formatting.

Very understandable, there can only be so many performers in a night. But how many opportunities did Mike have to mention a very simple fact to me? How many times had he looked at the list that night and seen a new name just below the “valid lines?” How hard would it have been to walk over and explain that his list, in spite of all the blank lines, was technically full? He was well aware of my unawareness as a newcomer to his open mic and demonstrated a laziness, a lack of consideration, and a smell of exclusivity that taints the spirit of what an open mic should be.

A friend told me, before I left the prairies to visit Vancouver Island, to brace myself for a potentially clique-y culture in the music scene. The number of friendly, welcoming musicians on the Island greatly outnumbered the jaded ones, but make no mistake, they’re there.

My bad, for not realizing that the absence of a number 11 on the 11th line of the page might imply there was no number 11.

Would it have killed you to have brought that up at any given point in the night, Mike?

If my girlfriend and I had been informed that the list was technically full early in the night, we likely would have stayed for the good company of Nate and the wonderful music but, at least we would have been aware that we weren’t waiting to perform and could have felt free to leave, if we wanted to.

Anyways, thanks to Nate, the lovely staff, and the other jammers, especially those who invited me to play with them. The night was not wasted. And Mike, thank you for the new appreciation I have for attentive, caring hosts.

Newcomers, watch out for this host. He...

Was there August 23, 2018. I live on Bear Mountain and have brought visitors down to this place for some bevies & music bingo quite a few times. They make a really good Caesar salad with garlic bread. But this review is more about the servers lack of hospitality. Just 6 months ago they offered a starter Caesar salad which I was looking forward to and now the menu doesn’t even offer it. When our blonde haired middle aged waitress came to take our order she was okay. I should mention when I came in alone I sat near the food window. After getting menu’s and while Waiting for my other party to arrive I used the washroom. I couldn’t help but notice as I walked by the kitchen pick up window all the delicious food the Reuben sandwich and a few other yummy looking choices waiting for service. When I came back I sat down & sooner than later I could hear a bell ringing for pick up to my shock I look over and all the food that was there even before I left it’s still there it took someone over eight minutes to go get that food the place was not busy and there were two other servers on the floor. To be honest I was kind of upset about it it shouldn’t take that long and people are paying a fair amount of money to eat there even the salads start at $15-. After my friend arrived we looked over the menu and then had to call out to our waitress as she kept swerving us I explained how good their salad was and asked could I have a starter size.. “no”. Wow okay I ordered garlic toast big whoop. #disappointed. Food came and looked good, my friend had beef & cheese melt & green salad. She did not come over again until we beckoned her over. She was great at refilling water but had all the charm of a venomous snake. She wasn’t UNcharming but definitely came off as not enjoying her job. When we were done we had to try to make eye contact and finally I had to put my hand up to get her over. I told her how much I had been looking forward to the salad and shared that I quite often would call in that order for pickup. She said ‘well there’s a guy here you should talk to ‘ And I said great can you send them over? Well that was a waste of time never figured out who she was talking about and she certainly didn’t offer any further explanation.. I think my friend left her about a 2.50 tip I normally tip 20% and I don’t care if I wanted a starter a salad it was more for practical reasons than financial. I tipped nothing as a matter fact if I would’ve had a penny I would’ve left it and I haven’t left a little tip for anyone in over seven or eight years. Be warned! And if they’re rude try jacks on...

I’ve been here twice now in a about a month, while the food is pretty good for the price and portions are great. The service is awful, my first time I brushed it off to our party being too big (birthday dinner). There seems to be an issue with the consistency of their bartending. The first time my Long Island was off tasted like straight water. Bartender fixed it so no big issue, but tonight on my second visit. My strawberry daiquiri frozen tasted like straight shaved ice and water not even a hint of strawberry to be found. I asked a lovely gentleman to ask the bartender to remake it. Unfortunately was told that’s how it was made, even though I only prior had one that was perfect and delicious. I decided to ask the waitress who served us personally. I was met with attitude and about how I was wrong and that she personally watched the bartender put liquor in the drink. Which wasn’t my complaint, if I order something strawberry flavoured I expect it to you know taste like strawberry. If I wanted water I’d order a vodka soda. Also she mentioned that the previous bartender had finished their shift? The drinks should be consistent across the staff, and that shouldn’t really matter regarding the overall taste of a drink. After this interaction she personally avoided speaking with me and acknowledging me. I won’t be coming back and I will not recommend this place due to...