Opal Palace (Boutique Banquet Hall) — Restaurant in Oakville

Unfortunately this is my honest and disappointing experience with Jamil Fares Salameh (the owner and Samer Sbeetan his partner and accountant.

I worked with them, and since February I’ve been trying to get the rest of my payment. I kept following up, but they ignored me.

I called Samer — he pretended not to know anything. After I explained everything, he said he’d handle it… then disappeared. I kept calling the whole day until he finally answered, and told me “you’re only getting $850,” even though he knows I’m owed around $1500 or more not including tips.

When I insisted, he hung up on me. Then Jamil called me back threatening me, saying “let’s see what you’re going to do.”

I have screenshots and chats proving everything, but I won’t post them here to respect Google’s privacy policies.

They admitted they owe me money, but refused to pay the rest just because of my “attitude.” So I work, I sweat, and they keep the rest and threaten me?

I’m not the only one. Many others are owed money by them but are too scared to speak up.

We used to work at Opal Downtown, and they are going to sell it or sold it, Jamil and Samer disappeared without settling people’s wages. I want to add something important: several people reached out to me saying they went through the same thing. They have proof too, and they want to write reviews, but they’re afraid.

To those people: don’t be afraid. Speak up and write your story honestly. People in this country do not support corrupt businesses that steal from workers..

May God not forgive them. This is the least I can do — warn others. If you’re considering working with them, be very careful and document everything.

This review is a truthful account of a personal employment experience and is protected under Canadian law.

Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of expression, which includes the right to share honest experiences about workplaces, especially when they involve wage disputes or mistreatment.

Under Canadian defamation law, as outlined in Grant v. Torstar Corp., 2009 SCC 61, the Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that statements of opinion, especially those relating to matters of public interest and based on factual experience, are not defamatory.

Furthermore, truth (justification) is an absolute defence to defamation in Canadian law (WIC Radio Ltd. v. Simpson, 2008 SCC 40). I am confident that any factual claims made are supported by documentation, including messages, records, and witness accounts.

Threatening legal action in response to a review may itself constitute a form of retaliation or intimidation. If this business believes a legal case exists, it is entitled to pursue proper legal channels. I welcome any such process and am prepared to provide evidence.

Until then, I will continue to stand by my statements, which are grounded in truth, made in good faith, and fully...

Opal Palace in Oakville offers an experience that truly feels like stepping into a luxurious 7+ star hotel. From the moment you walk in, you're enveloped by an atmosphere of sophistication and elegance, with every detail carefully designed to provide an unmatched dining and social experience. The ambiance is refined yet welcoming, combining modern luxury with comfort. It’s the kind of place where you immediately feel like you're in the best hands.

The quality of the furniture is second to none — everything from the plush seating to the meticulously crafted tables reflects the high-end nature of the establishment. It’s evident that no detail has been overlooked, creating an environment that feels both opulent and incredibly inviting.

When it comes to food, Opal Palace truly excels. The quality of the meat is phenomenal — the steaks, lamb chops, and other cuts are of the highest caliber, offering an exceptional taste and tenderness that you’d expect from top-tier establishments. Every dish, whether it’s a perfectly seared piece of protein, a fresh salad, or one of their mouthwatering desserts, is crafted with premium ingredients. Each bite is a testament to the culinary expertise behind the scenes, and there’s absolutely nothing on the menu that I could say isn’t outstanding. The balance of flavors and textures across all food categories — from carbs and proteins to desserts — is nothing short of impressive.

What makes Opal Palace even more special is the team. The owners, Tawfeeq and Jamil, are incredibly warm and welcoming. They not only know how to greet their guests but also genuinely care about the experience of each customer. Their friendly demeanor and attention to detail ensure that every visit feels like a personalized VIP experience.

The service is impeccable, with Zara and Dana, the waitresses, standing out as true professionals. They’re not just efficient and attentive, but their friendly personalities make every interaction a pleasure. They’re always ready to offer recommendations and ensure you’re well taken care of from start to finish.

For shisha lovers, Opal Palace offers some of the highest-quality shisha in Toronto. The tobacco is top-of-the-line, and the flavors are rich and smooth, creating an experience unlike anywhere else. The shisha service is equally impressive, with Nasser, the shisha expert, providing fast, professional, and courteous service. His attention to detail in preparing and maintaining the coals ensures an uninterrupted, high-quality shisha experience every time.

Opal Palace is a must-visit. The combination of luxury, amazing food, world-class service, and attention to detail makes it stand out as one of the best spots in Oakville. Whether you're looking for a fine dining experience or a relaxed night out with friends, this place is highly recommended and...

Horrible customer service. I’ve been to opal a few times and it just collectively gets worse every time. The most recent was this past weekend and I’m so embarrassed that I unfortunately recommended this place to my friends for a birthday party. I called to reserve on the patio. Simple, 8 people at 6:30, prime dinner time. I had to modify this reservation and there was a bit of a miscommunication on the timing so I literally spoke to whoever took the reso about 4 times on the phone. Not once did she think to mention that they wouldn’t be able to serve dinner till 8 pm. We only find out when we arrive the day of and their excuse is that the lounge is booked for a baptism and the banquet is booked for a wedding so the kitchen staff is too busy. Surely these events were not booked last minute…common courtesy would have been to let us know ahead of time that there would be no food available at 6:30. Anyway we waited and of course at 8 pm they tell us we can’t order still because the kitchen is still backed up. To make a long story short, we didn’t see any food till around 9:15 and that was after we told them to cancel our order since some of the guests had already left and we were beyond frustrated. The owner was there and aware of all this and not once did he come speak to us or try to fix the situation in any way. Everyone just kept saying the food is coming asap. We got to see everyone around us get their food and they’d arrived way after us and we were promised our food would be put in first. If I was the owner and something like this happened, I would offer some sort of incentive to help and fix the situation and make people want to come back and give me another shot. Offer water? Tea? Bread? lol nothing. They’re so cheap, and it’s not like their prices are reasonable; A can of coke is $5 btw. We understand that sometimes things happen that are out of your control but this was just bad planning with a greedy mindset. If you can’t handle three different events, close one of them or give people a proper heads up. I hate that I ruined my friend’s milestone birthday by suggesting we go here. Anyway please don’t reply to this with a generic message with your email address so I can email you and resolve the issue, cuz like I said, the owner was there and if he wanted to resolve this or help in any way, he should have done it when we were there. Oh and one more thing I forgot to mention, there were multiple people smoking cigarettes on the patio. Waiters and the manager were well aware and could see them. Last time I checked, that wasn’t allowed. Being around shisha smoke is normal and expected at a shisha place, but cigarette smoke and the stench that it comes with, that’s not...