La Medusa — Restaurant in Montreal

The worst restaurant experience I’ve had in this city. We had a reservation, I arrived first, the place was half empty, the employees were not busy. I waited for at least 10 minutes by myself in the entrance without anyone greeting me. I intercepted an employee, very politely (I work in customer service too by the way), he didn’t say anything, just looked me up and down. I was so confused, because honestly I was dressed accordingly, I was polite, I still don’t get it.

My friends arrived, we are now all waiting at the entrance. 10 minutes passed, still nothing. My friend intercepted another gentleman, saying we had a reservation 10 minutes ago. He responded very abruptly, but seated us. We then waited again without menus and water for another 10.

Our waiter finally arrived, gave us menu without greeting us. He came back 2 minutes later, saying « so where you at??? » , meaning hurry up pick something. My friend asked something about the cheese and he responded like she was a complete idiot, fully disrespectful. We were trying to be the bigger people and kept our calm. It’s hard to describe how condescending and rude he was during the whole meal.

They didn’t offer dessert, or drinks. I had to ask for water. The food was low tier mid, pastas were too salty, the pizza was burned.

Finally time to pay, for the first time in my life I left 0$ tip. I felt disrespected the whole time, I genuinely still don’t understand why. When the server saw my receipt, he said « you leave nothing?! » I calmly explained that it was the worst service I’ve ever received, it was disrespectful from the moment I arrived to the end. He then proceeded to insult my friend, saying she must work in a low tier « cocobec » restaurant… I don’t like to make those allegations but my friends were the only POC in the place, something about how we were treated felt like it might be that? He also told us that it was a « classy place here », implying that we weren’t at that level. Oh and cherry on top, while we were walking out he whispered « allez...

Every year I try to take my grandma out for her birthday to make her feel special. That's why I always also try to go to higher end restaurants where that quality service is usually implied. I called the day earlier for the reservation and asked for just a little piece of cake with a candle to end the evening nicely. The person said "no problem, I will do that for you".

This is what happened when we came: Some of the staff saw us (we even said hi) and then disappeared. After standing around waiting we stepped in to see if we can talk to someone. (everyone was seated the whole time, no new people were being seated before us) What looked like the owner came out. After I said hello, I said "we had a reservation for-" after which he interrupted and dryly pointed at a table for us to sit and then left. The whole time the what again looked like the owner would go to big tables and people who seemed like regulars with a smile and cracking jokes and not ONCE came to see us and always gave a dry and negative look whenever he would catch my eye. (the restaurant was not full and it really didn't seem like he had his hands full) The server himself just gave our plates dryly and didn't come to see us again except for desert after a good 20 minutes of sitting in front of an empty table. And then had to call him again after 15-20 minutes long after the desert was brought back. No one ever brought the cake for my grandmother.

No one acknowledged us and it just felt like they wanted us out of the way for their real clients, if there's such a thing. I really was looking forward to finally trying this restaurant and was sorely disappointed. It was her 80th birthday so I especially was hoping it would be nice. I guess the point is if you don't have a dollar sign on your forehead you will be completely ignored. I work in a 5 star hotel and sadly I have to say I could never risk recommending that restaurant for the risk of such...

I made a reservation for 9:30, my friend who arrived at 9:25 explained she had a reservation for 4 under my name and was then ignored. (They let an older couple who walked straight in sit down immediately)I arrive at 9:30 and we are left waiting by the door for another 15minutes. I explain the situation when a waiter finally greets us again and they explain to us that we have to be patient because there are no available tables. Bear in mind we made a reservation oh and the restaurant is half empty. When we’re finally sat (after another 10 minutes) we’re not given the menu or water for another 10 minutes. And the absolute cherry on the cake, our waiter. Never in my life have I experienced such horrible service at a restaurant. Not only was he rude but he was condescending. Our interactions were kept short almost as if our presence annoyed him. He rushed us to take our order and told us “it’s about time” instead of offering help/suggestions with the menu. He would answer basic questions with snarky remarks and when we left our plates half empty didn’t even bother to question whether or not we found everything good (we didn’t). Just cleared the plates aggressively and was surprised when my first friend didn’t give him a tip. Which he confronted her about and she proceeded to tell him very politely that she works in a restaurant and that his service was unacceptable and that his remarks throughout our dinner were downright rude. Bare in mind I’m mid way through paying and he starts arguing even more which just entices me to give him a tip that reflected his service. Which he proceeds to get even more mad at and reminds us that la Medusa is a “classy” restaurant. And made insinuations as to us not being their clientele. His final words to us as we left the restaurant were “casez vous”. Oh and I hate to play the race cards but we were the only women of colour in the entire restaurant. But yeah never again. My friend explains it in...