High Fives Sports Pub — Restaurant in Ottawa

Update: High Fives management met with us today. They were great in taking ownership of the issue. They apologized, advised of some action they had taken following the incident and advised they will be doing training and refreshing Smart Serve.

For now, I will leave the original review up because actions speak louder than words, and it did happen, but I am optimistic.

Original Review:

❗️High Fives is not a safe space❗️

Went to High Fives today. I was harrassed, and staff would not take accountability.

I was seated at the patio, and wanted to wash my hands before eating. I still wear face masks inside, as I got in I was immediately told "you don't need to wear that" by a patron. I ignored, went to the bathroom, and men's was occupied, so I used the women's (empty), and I briefly locked the door, so I would not alarm any woman entering. I hear screaming about using the wrong bathroom from the same woman. I realize what her attitude is, what her likely sobriety is, and ignore it. I then hear shaking of the door handle and literal pounding on the door. She was screaming that I was a little girl, and I wasn't allowed in there. She keeps going on for about a minute. She says she "going to get me" when I got out. I was trapped. When the pounding stops, I waited a moment, and I then left. She decides to block my way out of the restaurant, pushing me. She's telling me I'm all sorts of inappropriate things, many homophobic in nature. She's telling me she's a licensed medical tech (I think), and I shouldn't be wearing my mask. She keeps going at this as I make my way out, I tell her she's harassing me, and I want to get out.

I'm at the door now, as she tells me to run outside, finally a person intervenes. I don't know his name, but he's staff. He tries to play it off, and saying to cut it out. I tell him that she's harassing me, and she needs to stop. He keeps playing it off, with a big smile. I planted my feet, and said 'what are you going to do about this?' He stayed smiling and said I should go back outside. He told her to stay inside. She was welcomed in, as I was pushed out. She was ready, saying she wanted to fight outside. Again, I asked the guy intervening 'what are you going to do?' And he just encourages me to leave...the one being harassed has to leave. I just had it, and I walk out to get my boyfriend so we can pay for our drinks and leave.

We go back in, she is quick to greet me. I go to the counter to pay, ignoring her continuing to heckle me. The guy who intervened earlier comes back smiling, and says since we only had two sodas, we can leave. Horray, I saved 5 dollars.

So all in all, I was: -bothered for wearing a mask -scolded for using an empty bathroom -bonus points for a subtle transphobic attack for her apparent beliefs about washrooms -physically accosted -had multiple homophobic comments thrown at me

I wouldn't high five...

I come here from Hamilton to support my stores and I can't tell you all please give them a try the food and service is second to none - poutine is a must wings unmatched perogies omg give them a shot you 💯 will not be disappointed Mark runs a tight ship and takes care of his customers give 10 stars if I could.

Update Sept 2024 visit - unreal the personal attention Mark knew me by name after months of being back at my home store in Hamilton and made me feel like I was part of the regular patronage with unbelievable service and yet again incredible food it's so good you can really tell all made fresh with attention to detail thanks Rick for feeding me all week with delicious food man and I want to give a special shout out to Derrick Mark's right hand man he's very dedicated to the best customer service and runs around making sure everyone is taken care of don't worry won't forget you Eden with that pretty smile and great service - people you won't be disappointed GO and I guarantee you will feel like family thx to the whole...

I order via UberEats

I ordered 6 oz steak sandwich and lava cake.

The steak sandwich was not the greatest; I was expecting an open face sandwich, with actual onions and a mushroom type of sauce; I received a bland steak, no sauce (it doesn’t say there was a sauce, I assumed) and onions rings on top and the mashed potatoes were also bland

The lava cake on the other hand, is absolutely delicious and they have lots of ice creams and whipped cream, so that definitely made up for it and for that reason, I will try another dish another time :)

I am not trying to be rude by my review by any means, maybe other people like the sandwich and think it’s good but I just...