Roti Bowl & Soul — Restaurant in Ontario

Worst customer service ever. I'm just going to state facts for this review

4:15pm - called to place an order. I was told by the gentleman who answered the phone that my order would take about 30mins for it to be ready.

5pm - I arrived at the restaurant. I walk in. The place is empty except for 1 guy and lady sitting at a table. I assume they are customers I walk to the counter and tell the lady behind the counter that I am here to pick up my order. She then yells to the guy at the table and says "He's here to pick up an order"

After a few moments, he gets up and the lady from the table walks out.

He walks over to me and asks me what my order is. I tell him that I ordered 2 oxtails, 1 chicken roti, 1 beef roti.

He then tells me "ohh man..give me 5mins for the beef roti. It's been a busy day"

He then goes behind the counter, and starts making my order. I do not see him wash his hands. But for the benefit of the doubt, he may of washed them in the back where the kitchen is. I do not know for sure though.

Also, please note: he is NOT wearing a mask. He is NOT wearing any gloves while making my roti and literally touching the chicken with his hands.

Also note - he has what appears to be a pair of white apple corded headphones dangling around his neck as he is preparing my roti.

Very unprofessional and not very hygienic, especially during these times when EVERYONE is concerned about proper hygiene.

Keep in mind - this is during COVID-19 where it is mandatory to wear a mask indoors. The lady behind the counter has a mask on.

I see another guy in the back who brings out my oxtail, and he has a mask on.

The time is now about 5:20pm and this is around when I get my order.

So this is ONE HOUR after I placed my order!! The order which he only started to put together at 5pm when I entered the empty restaurant which he said he was SO busy that he couldn't make a roti 30mins ago.

Also - no apology was made. Nothing was said in terms of "sorry for the inconvenience"

The oxtail I received was small pieces and majority of them had on TONS of fat. The fat was not cut off at all. I've eaten at other caribbean restaurants and ordered oxtail many many times. This is the first time where I've received oxtail where there was so much fat.

In all honesty - the food was just OK. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great.

The beef roti was extremely tough. Chicken roti was just ok.

I wanted to give this restaurant a try since it's new, there are not many caribbean restaurants in the city and they just opened a few months ago

perhaps they are going through a learning curve as a new business. But - you only get ONE chance to make a first impression

And this first impression...

Ordered the large oxtail and it's the size of an average oxtail anywhere else. Oxtail is under seasoned, and that's being nice. Pretty confident it's just the Grace marinade. No heat, no scotch bonnet flavor, basically just tastes like beef simmered in a dark soy gravy. To top it off, it's served with minute rice. Not even a basic rice and peas.

Candied yams were heavy on the cinnamon or cloves or something, not what I expected. Fried plantain was just fried, no seasonings. Fried chicken was really juicy and well seasoned, but a thigh and a drumstick for 10.99 is insanely overpriced.

Peanut punch is a Grace box. Lol.

Haven't tried the Roti yet but it looks very disappointing. Mac and cheese was bland, my kids didn't like it either. Can't possibly recommend Roti Bowl and Soul and we won't be going back.

It also took 2 hours from order to table. Idk if that's on Doordash but this is the worst $100 dinner I've ever ordered.

tl;dr Underseasoned, very small portions, took forever, and expensive. Makes Island...

DANG. I have seen the light. I was going to Carribean Island Spice for their veggie dinner and side platains. But one day they said it would be a wait for plantains. And another day they said no plantains today. Plus I got rice and peas there one day and the cook gave me a hard time for taking 30 seconds to add soy protein on top because you can't eat in the restaurant during the lockdown. I wasn't eating I was adding my own topping to eat outside. Anyway. So when I walked into Roti Bowl and Soul I immediately felt a different vibe. There's a brother behind the counter doing honest work. They always have plantains. And the food is exceptional. Today I went there twice! And I'll be back tomorrow. One thing I'm learning is that it's one thing to own a business and sling out food. It's another to live breathe and BE your business wholistically. I found that in House of India and now I've found it in Roti Bowl and...