Turtle Jack's Erin Mills — Restaurant in Mississauga

The food was very good, and our server was great. We gave her a $30 tip (in cash) on a $58 bill. We hope that she doesn't need to share the tip with others. She was the only staff member who seemed to understand customer service.

The hostesses and the manager needs some training.

We arrived and asked for a booth and were told that none were available, so we accepted a table - not a problem. We sat down, and within two minutes we noticed that a booth near to us was being vacated. We asked the hostess if we could move and she was unsure. She consulted with the other hostess. Then she told us that customers 'are not allowed to move after they have been seated'. Huh? We had been seated for like two minutes. We had no food, no drinks, nothing. How does that make any sense? I sarcastic quipped... 'perhaps it is too complicated for you'... there was no response, and she walked away.

Then our server came and we asked her about the possibility of getting the empty booth. She told us 'yes for sure I'll have it cleaned right away'. We walked to tell the hostesses and then we were told by the hostess, again, that we were not 'allowed' to move. The restaurant was not full, and there was no one waiting to be seated.

We decided to ask for the manager. This took a while, but when she arrived, she was quick to say that the policy is that 'customers are not allowed to move after being seated'. I got a little (or maybe a lot) sarcastic with her, as was deserved. She said that the reason was that maybe the other table was reserved. WELL, WAS IT? If that was the case, just say so, and we would completely understand. But otherwise, how about some common sense?

I told her that we would be leaving now, and that I would be calling the owner, at which point she told us that she would get us a booth - the booth that we had asked for was now filled by people who had arrived after us, and another one was then free. I guess she decided to make an 'exception' to the rule since I was getting a little loud about the silly rule.

Very limited common sense, likely due to lack of training.

In hindsight, rather than argue with the manager, we should have left, and then returned immediately and asked for a booth (since there was one available)... by doing so, it seems that we would not have been violating the restaurant rules of moving...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Turtle Jack’s, and I have to say, the highlight of my experience was our incredible server, Jessica. From the moment we sat down, she made us feel genuinely welcomed and taken care of, going above and beyond to ensure our visit was exceptional.

Jessica’s warm and friendly demeanor immediately set the tone for the evening. She greeted us with a bright smile, took the time to introduce herself, and made sure we were comfortable. Throughout our meal, she demonstrated the perfect balance of attentiveness and professionalism—always available when we needed her but never intrusive.

What stood out most about Jessica was her deep knowledge of the menu and her willingness to provide thoughtful recommendations. She took the time to answer our questions, suggesting dishes based on our preferences and even customizing a few things to accommodate dietary restrictions. Thanks to her, we ended up trying a couple of items we might not have otherwise ordered, and they were absolutely delicious!

Beyond her excellent service, Jessica’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious. She engaged with us in such a genuine way, making sure we were enjoying every aspect of our meal. It was clear that she truly cares about her guests and takes pride in delivering an outstanding dining experience.

Not only was Jessica friendly and knowledgeable, but she also demonstrated incredible efficiency. She managed to stay on top of everything with ease. Our drinks were always refreshed, our food arrived promptly, and she even checked in at just the right moments to ensure everything was perfect.

By the end of our meal, we felt like we had been served by someone who truly values her job and the people she interacts with. In a world where good customer service can sometimes feel like a rarity, Jessica stands out as a shining example of what hospitality should be.

We even bonded over going to the same leafs game the night before!

If you’re dining at Turtle Jack’s, I highly recommend asking for Jessica—she will make your experience unforgettable. A huge thank you to her for making our...

EDIT: I am editing my review to reflect my latest visit in May 2023. My original four star review from 9 months earlier is now at the bottom. My comment on the excellent food and super slow service from that review still stand.

Regarding our latest visit, the food was amazing, but the service was very slow again. Our waiter was friendly, and I don't think the issue was him. He was also manning the bar, and it was obvious he was too busy to also be waiting on tables. We waited forever to place our orders, for our table to be cleared of dirty dishes, for drink orders all night long, and to get our bills when asked. It's clear the restaurant isn't well managed. The icing on top, and the reason I will never step foot in this establishment again, is the unprofessional owner who was drunk after throwing back tons of shots all night at the bar, and who literally had a screaming match with a customer. The owner was cursing and calling the customer to come outside for an actual brawl. He TOOK HIS SHIRT OFF and yelled things like; "I'll take all three of you on" and calling the customers all kinds of colourful names. He had more ego than brains, and zero professionalism, as did his staff, one waitress in particular, who started yapping at his defense. It was disgusting, to say the least, and it felt like I was at a dive bar, or some all ages club with drunk teens, not a restaurant.

Service was a bit slow, but the owner came out personally to apologize. The food was amazing and totally worth the wait. I had the blackened basa and WOW was it ever good. We were on the patio. It is not covered, btw, but...