Resto Cafe Oxford — Restaurant in Montreal

IF YOU READ THIS, DON'T GO HERE!

Now that I saved you from a horrible experience, let me tell you why. A major part of running a restaurant is good customer service. The owner, in her previous replies, likes to cite sources about why servers should be tipped irrespective, well here is a fun fact for you:

"Happy customers generate more positive feedback and reviews for your restaurant." (Indeed, 2023)

The owner (our server) was rude with my friend and I right since the moment we sat down. We ordered a cappuccino which had no foam design (we can make that at home) not even a simple heart. She told us we can't just order items that valued less than $50. There was a table behind us who ordered just ice-cream but apparently our table needed to be billed $50. She told me when I went to pay, and HERE is where she made it worse for herself, she told me why me giving her feedback was not required, that I am an "Indian" so I should learn how cultures work, that I'm not from the neighborhood so I don't know how restaurants here work. I wasn't going to tip her because she was being so rude, but she went ahead and tried to tip herself and asked me to just tap and leave. I left her a tip for being rude to me and my friend.

All of this, for just wanting to give her 2 feedback.

Now speaking to the owner directly:

I told you I would leave you a review, HERE IT IS! You may think ALL we "Indians" are the same, we're not! We are very generous people and appreciate kindness and reciprocate with kindness. But know this, my friend and I walked into this cafe to eat and drink coffee and instead we walked out disappointed! You talk about how you survived all these years, well with service like this, definitely not too long. I walked by your "restaurant" : a complete joke! shortly after we left and y'all were completely empty.

May this review be the cherry...

I usually don’t write reviews for restaurants but I had such a rude encounter with the owner today. It’s unfortunate because my brother and I would often have brunch here together & had good conversations with her which is why I’m so shocked. I understand if business is hard right now (I’m a business owner myself) but it’s no excuse to be rude at any time, especially not to someone who’s giving you their business.

Today, I went alone to just grab a quick drink and had my Maltese with me (it’s a hot day) and some restaurants allow you to wait inside with your dog.

Rather than telling me from the beginning “can you wait outside while I get your drink because we don’t want to get in trouble for having your dog inside?” (Which is totally reasonable and any sane person would happily comply) She took my order, didn’t say anything about the dog the whole time I waited inside, and just before I paid she proceeded to scold me about having a dog inside & how "I should know better as a dog owner" - word for word. She didn’t give me an option to tip, and essentially literally said “just get out” after I tapped my card…

I was so shocked (never been treated that way at a resto). I didn’t even have the capacity to say anything because I froze from the mistreatment. Had to come here to share because I don’t want the next person to experience the same thing.

I sincerely hope you treat the next person differently. You can be proactive about a dog rather than the way it was handled today. I don’t have a list of restaurants that allow dogs VS ones that don’t - it’s Montreal after all, many are open to them. And would’ve happily waited outside if you just asked from the beginning.

I won’t be returning & will be sharing about my experience with my NDG...

I have never felt compelled to write a review of a restaurant, but felt compelled after my experience at Oxford Cafe today. Like so many other reviewers have mentioned, the owners have unflattering personality traits. A short list would include rude, angry, disrespectful and defensive.

20 years ago, our group of 4 were waiting 15 minutes for service, within 5 feet of their coffee station. We decided to pour ourselves a cup of coffee while we waited. The female owner yelled at us from 3 tables away! We were a mixture of shaken and astonished. The neighbouring table of 4 informed us they felt the same way. I made a pact with myself to never return to this place.

Fast forward 20 years, I ended up going back. This time, I noticed a wasp in the sugar container. I brought it to the attention of the female owner. She was miffed, didn't say a word and went to replace it. A second wasp appeared in the replaced container. Again, I brought to the attention of the owner (this time the male). He told me, "Wasps like sugar. There is nothing I can do about that." I recommended that they use wrapped, individual servicing of sugar. He told me, "They would just blow away".

The review of the breakfast (2 Eggs and 2 Meats) The breakfast was typical diner fare. The bacon had been cooked recently so it was soft and tasty. The coffee was brown water. When the bill came in, I enquired about the total being more than I had anticipated. The male owner told me, "Coffee is not included with our breakfast." I was charged an additional $2.35 for warm, brown water.

Not all is lost, however. There is one reason I would recommend going to Oxford Cafe; to view firsthand "how not to run a...