Earls Kitchen + Bar — Restaurant in Medicine Hat

My wife and I have been long-time supporters of Earls and enjoy the food, atmosphere, and typically good service. However, we were very disappointed in our experience last night. We arrived after a movie at around 9:15 p.m. We were greeted by the hostess/server/drill sergeant “Shay” not with a smile and a “Hi!”, but with a terse, “the kitchen is closing, but if you order quickly, I can get your order in”. We were quickly seated, and ordered our food and drinks. After only a few sips of our drinks, Shay was back and stated, “It is last call, if you want another drink you need to order it now”. My wife and I looked at each other and almost laughed, wondering where we were, Utah? Last call at 9:30 p.m.??? Shay then explained that their new closing time was now 10:00 p.m. It would have been nice to know that when we arrived. From that point on, we felt like we had to gulp down our food and drinks as quickly as possible so as not to inconvenience Shay and her crew who obviously wanted nothing more than to get out of the place. We felt about as welcome there as a new bout of the flu. May I suggest that when you are “open” you are engaged until you actually lock the doors. If this means putting on your “game face” to smile, be polite, respectful and make your customers feel welcome, than do it. After all, it is your customers, both the first lunch customer and your last customer of the night that is paying your wage, overhead, etc. Just ask other local restaurants that have shutdown recently due to the tough economy. Competition is fierce, and with money being tight, people are going to spend their money where they feel welcomed. Don’t worry, we won’t be inconveniencing you anymore…we’ll take our...

(Follow-up to the comments left by Management) As Earl’s is my absolute favourite place to eat on my travels, I feel Feedback is important as we customers are normally asked how our meal was.

Reference to my last visit, I wanted to have the Large Bowl of Soup. It appears that what is needed is consistency in the quality of the Clam Chowder Soup!! I ordered the Clam Chowder Soup but soon realized it was horrible (occasionally but rarely, are the Clams are edible!).

I keep giving Feedback to the Waitress in hopes that the Clams in the Clam Chowder will be edible my next visit. Couldn’t chew the rubbery Clams this visit. Told the Waitress but she just ignored my feedback. ALL Clams left on the plate as were like RUBBER !

Note: All other Soups I’ve ordered previously are usually very good (except the Clam Chowder, which sadly, is not consistent in quality and your Bean Soup this visit, which I tried a sample was extremely spicy).

Also, ordered the Margherita PIZZA and I was not satisfied as sloppily put together with what appeared to be a Pizza Crust with only a splash of Tomato sauce on it!

Of note, as per Management’s comments provided, please hold your comment telling me to try another restaurant (?? Queen Bee…don’t know this place) for pizza. I find that comment was not appropriate and hurtful.

Note: Please note, I do not want to be confronted nor attacked when I return to Earl’s Medicine Hat as Earl’s has been my favourite place to stop to eat on my travels). All I did, was provide feedback (positive or negative) that...

Attached is a picture of the size of chicken that I received in my Chicken Brie and Fig sandwich. What even is this? It was completely overcooked and dry as sand. I mean how could it not be when you're cutting your chicken to be paper thin, it's impossible to cook it properly.

The sad part is Earls has been a family favorite in our household for over a decade but even since COVID hit the prices have soared and the quality has gone down. This picture here is shrinkflation at its finest. A 22$ sandwich and you can't even be bothered to put a normal sized chicken breast on it? It's not just a sandwich thing either, my mom ordered a salad, and her chicken was the same. Paper thin, over cooked, and dry. If there was even 3oz or chicken on my sandwich or in her salad I would be surprised.

We were also there a few weekends ago for brunch, the potatoes we received with our brunch were essentially overcooked, burnt, potato chips with no seasoning. When we asked the waitress if this was what they were supposed to be, she went back to the kitchen to ask the chef. When she came back she told us that yes, the chef in fact said that is how they are supposed to be.

My honest review is don't go to Earls anymore. They keep raising their prices but the food has gotten...