Dines Family Restaurant — Restaurant in Oshawa

I have been to Dines a few times in the past and found it ranging from good to mediocure. However tonights experience was the worst and due it I now refuse to ever go back. I took my daughter & 2 yr old granddaughter there for dinner tonight. I ordered the Hot beef sandwhich, the vegetables looked dull, limp & gross more than likely signifying canned. mashed potatoes were drier then a popcorn fart, if not for the gravy they would have been unable. My daughter ordered a chicken wrap, the pita and food inside was so hot to the touch when it first arrived at the table she couldn't eat it. with days old lettuce which was browner then a brownie. The service was terrible, not once did a waitress come to see if we needed anything or if the meal was okay, & there was 3 waitress's on duty of which they were all taking care of all the tables which was probably about 4-5 tables, it was not busy at all for experienced staff or even for beginners. However the best part was one waitress had come to clear away 2 of our dinner plates. good ....but remember not once in the half hour we were there did any one of them come by to check if we needed anything, one waitress while walking past our table while we were waiting for the toddler to finish literally leaned almost into my shoulder looking at my cell phone screen to see which game I was playing and starts to talk to me about how she is addicted to the game!! REALLY???? crap service then you come to talk about a game, while almost in my lap....

We are NEVER going back there again... First time in my life I have never...

Went around 11am today (September 10th 2025)

This place is outdated and not sure how this place stays open... Let me explain.

The ceiling fans. Filled with dust. The ones that are off. You can clearly see the caked on dust. The ones that are on are throwing the dust around quicker than a firework going off into the sky.

The red ceiling lights that are over the dining tables are filthy and have dust all over them.

The seating area has old food in between them, grime, dirt, and dust.

The tables are screaming (if they could talk) please upgrade me!!!

The floors look like it's the same old bucket and the same old mop (that should have been replaced in 1999) are doing a F for effort in so called cleaning the outdated floors.

The bar area looks like the last visitor to sit in the area left the country many centuries ago.

I understand the business has been around but what I do not understand is how the blinds at the window seats have more caked on dust and grime on them than a home that has been abandoned for a year (I've explored one or two in my day)

Makes me wonder. If where we enter and look at in the front of the restaurant is like this. How is the rest of the place ? Such as the kitchen ? Are things labeled right? Is the food sealed and at the right temperature before cooking ?

Might have to get the professionals in there and let them see for themselves and make a decision what to do because I sure wouldn't...

The food was great first off! Great job to the cooks!! Bacon was cooked perfectly!! Atmosphere was old and out of shape it needs some love!! The service on the other hand was below average! When I walked in there was no one to greet but when I found the server they then greeted me and were extremely friendly at the time! When my company arrived she came to take our order, they order their food and said they would like to change the fries to a poutine, the server then uncomfortably paused and took a moment to say “ umm well that’s going to cost you more just so you know” with a rude tone then smiles after?!?! I go to order my food, now I order the jumbo dog with and I quote from the menu “with all the above and fries for 3.99” she said ok and took the menus, when we get our food my company’s food is right but I’m missing “all the above (cheese and bacon)” so I bring it up to the server and she gets very defensive and sharply says “it’s 3.99 extra just for fries and it cost a extra $2 for cheese and bacon”.

This was how it was written, under there burgers on the last page of the menu!

Jumbo dog 8.99 With cheese or bacon 9.99 With all the above and fries for +3.99 So she charged me 8.99+3.99+2(bacon & cheese)

The point is I don’t expect to be treated like that and charged extra for it, when she could have been polite and earned a greater tip the the extra $2...